Chapter 57
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57
For a noble, a butler is a symbol of their standing.
A son who has yet to inherit the family headship or a low-ranking noble with a minor title has no real need to employ one. Since their visitors aren't of high status, ordinary servants are more than enough to handle them.
However, as one’s status rises and they begin to rub shoulders with the elite, the story changes.
‘Because mistakes are bound to happen at the insurmountable wall between commoners and nobility.’
As status increases, the required etiquette naturally becomes more demanding. From a simple greeting to the specific terminology used, and even the posture when withdrawing or the soundless manner of one's footsteps. No matter how experienced a servant might be, there was no way to know these minute details without professional training.
‘In the worst-case scenario, a guest of higher status than the master could be mistreated, leading to a disaster. Whether a retainer or a servant, those who serve a lord are the face of that lord.’
This was where a butler became necessary.
An employee of lower-noble birth who was thoroughly educated in etiquette and possessed a certain level of political understanding. As long as they were trustworthy and well-versed in noble affairs, they could handle almost any emergency. If one had frequent opportunities to meet high-ranking nobles, hiring a butler was essentially a requirement.
“Young Master... me, a butler? What are you talking about all of a sudden? Did you get something mixed up?”
Hans blinked blankly for a long moment at Lucian’s words before asking back. He looked so shocked that he seemed to wonder if he had misheard.
“Mixed up? I’m the one who asked for you to be given butler training.”
“But isn’t being a butler a job for noble folk? I’m a commoner.”
“I know. That’s why I’ll have to have you elevated to the nobility later.”
Hans’s eyes widened as if they might tear. He hadn't even performed any feats on the battlefield, yet he was being promoted to the nobility?
“Is... is that even possible?”
“It’s possible as long as one has the title. From the rank of Count upward, a lord can elevate a commoner to a Baronet. There’s a limit to how many times this can be done per generation, so it can’t be abused, though.”
In other words, even without any merit, a Count-level noble could promote someone if they set their mind to it.
The reason they usually only granted such promotions for battlefield merits was twofold: it served as proof of the individual’s talent, and without such recognition from others, they wouldn't be treated as true nobility anyway. There was no point in being promoted if everyone around you continued to look down on you as just a lucky commoner.
“Well, that’s the rule of thumb among nobles from knightly backgrounds. It doesn’t really matter for a butler who stays glued to the family head’s side.”
While a knight required public recognition, a butler only needed the master’s absolute trust. What use would a butler, who only handled internal affairs, have for external fame? If too many people tried to contact them because of their reputation, it would only invite suspicion within the house. For a butler, the master’s trust was hundreds of times more important than some useless fame.
“So, learn well. You’ll lose a bit of sleep, but if you want to keep helping me in the future, you need to learn this now.”
“Young... Young Master.”
Hans felt a lump in his throat at Lucian’s smile. He had thought his master might have forgotten about him, but instead, Lucian had even been planning to make him a noble. A mixture of guilt for doubting his master and overwhelming gratitude for such undeserved treatment made his voice catch.
Hans finally managed to speak, bowing his head deeply.
“I will never, ever let you down. I’ll learn everything properly and make sure I’m useful to you, so please wait for me.”
“I’m counting on it. But don’t overdo it. It’ll be a problem for me if you collapse before you finish your training.”
Lucian answered casually, but Hans was dead serious. To follow a master who continued to soar toward the heavens, he would have to run with everything he had.
Unlike usual, Lucian’s only escort to the capital was Raymond. Even considering that Raymond was a Black Lion, it was an excessively small party.
However, neither the Grand Duke nor Lucian was particularly concerned. Part of it was the short distance, but more importantly, the security was excellent.
‘Who would dare touch the road from Kelheim to the capital? You’d have to be insane.’
One end was the heart of the Grand Duchy of Valdek, and the other was the capital of the Empire. The two territories were connected by a well-maintained highway, with post stations and guard posts built at regular intervals. To attempt an ambush in the middle of such a road? The culprit would likely face summary execution, if only to save the face of the Grand Ducal House and the Imperial Family who managed the highway’s security.
“To be honest, if we’re just talking about safety, the path to the capital is probably safer than the capital itself. There are scammers, pickpockets, and thugs inside the city, but even those types don't dare show their faces out here.”
It was telling that Raymond, riding alongside him, could crack such a joke. The journey was as smooth as expected, and Lucian and Raymond soon arrived at a village relatively close to the capital.
Perhaps because of its proximity to the capital, the village was quite large—almost a small town—and the inn was luxurious.
“Give us your best room. My escort will be staying with me, so make it a double, not a single.”
“Understood, milord! When shall I serve your meal?”
“We’ll eat after a bath. Prepare the water.”
“Then I shall have the water heated immediately!”
The innkeeper took Lucian’s order with a brisk, professional attitude. Judging by his practiced bowing, he seemed to have handled quite a few noble guests before.
Once they entered the room, Raymond spoke as if he had just remembered something.
“Now that I think about it, I heard you’re going to the capital to find someone. Who are you looking for?”
“An alchemist.”
“Pardon? An alchemist? Aren't those the fellows who had all their secrets sucked dry by the Imperial Family, leaving them as nothing but empty shells? You won't gain anything by going to them.”
Lucian gave a bitter smile at Raymond’s blunt assessment. At this point in time, the prestige of the Alchemist Guild was indeed at that low level.
“Just in case, don't say that in front of them. They’re people who have nothing left but their pride; they’ll have a fit if you trample on that too.”
“What can those lot do even if they have a fit? They’re the ones even the Black Mages threw away as useless.”
The 'Black Mages' Raymond referred to weren't actual practitioners of black magic, but the mages who had rebelled three hundred years ago. At that time, the alchemists had sided with the Imperial Family rather than the mages, and thanks to that, they were able to remain an officially recognized school to this day.
The Alchemist Guild often spoke of this history with pride, but most people responded with ridicule.
“The alchemists claim they were just that loyal, but it’s all nonsense. They only stood with the Imperial Family because the other mages didn't consider them their own kind to begin with. Loyalty, my foot.”
Mages looked down on alchemists as 'those without talent who mimic magic with medicine.' Even now, when the status of mages had fallen significantly since the rebellion, that sentiment remained. One could only imagine how it was during the golden age of mages. It was said that even the rebelling mages never even bothered to ask the alchemists to join them, which spoke volumes about how they were perceived.
“If they were at least helpful to the world, people might recognize them, but that’s not the case either. They’ve been living idly on Imperial support for hundreds of years; they deserve the criticism.”
They couldn't improve the effects of existing potions, nor did they create anything new. At most, all they did was refine already invented potions to a higher purity. Furthermore, since their manufacturing methods had long since been seized by the Imperial Family, nothing major would happen even if they disappeared.
‘It’s strange to feel this old atmosphere again after so long.’
Lucian smiled thinly at Raymond’s grumbling. Indeed, the treatment of alchemists in this era was exactly as Raymond described. Dregs living in idleness, unable to forget their past glory.
To think that this evaluation would be completely overturned in just a few months.
“You’re not planning to hire an alchemist to develop some new elixir, are you?”
“It’s not that, so don't worry. I have no intention of investing in something with no potential.”
Lucian answered sincerely to Raymond’s suspicious gaze. What Lucian wanted was an adventurous genius of the century, not a coward steeped in inertia. And as Raymond said, the vast majority of current alchemists fell into the latter category.
“The Guild would have much better facilities for developing new elixirs anyway. If they couldn't develop anything there, then it’s over.”
“Exactly. I don't know what they’re doing with those great facilities and Imperial support.”
“But no matter how rotten an organization is, adventurous people don't disappear entirely. First, we’ll go to the Guild and...”
CRASH!
—What kind of nonsense is that?!
A loud voice from downstairs cut Lucian off. It seemed trouble had broken out below.
“Sounds like something’s happened. Did some ill-tempered noble arrive?”
“Shall we go down and see?”
“Let’s. If we leave it be, there’s no telling when it’ll end.”
Sometimes, noble pride led to extreme confrontations. If left alone, things often escalated rather than calmed down. It was best for someone of higher status to step in and settle the situation before that happened.
‘I’d rather not reveal my identity if I can help it, but it’s better than getting caught up in a headache by hiding it.’
Lucian grabbed his weapon just in case and headed downstairs.
“Why on earth won't you take it?! Do you have any idea how much this item is worth?!”
“How should I know? I’ve never even used a proper potion before!”
“Then ask others! If you sell this, it’ll cover a month’s worth of lodging!”
“Even if you say that, I’ve never sold such a thing, so...”
Lucian saw the innkeeper dealing with a guest while breaking into a cold sweat. The guest shouting in his face was currently shaking a medicine bottle right in front of the man's eyes. From the sounds of it, he was trying to use the potion as payment.
“You blind fool! This potion contains Moon Sugar, Pearl Powder, and even Silk Scales! These are ingredients you wouldn't be able to touch in your entire life!”
At those words, Lucian and Raymond looked at each other. The man was claiming he had made the potion himself. Moreover, each of those ingredients was incredibly expensive. There was only one profession capable of procuring such materials to craft a potion.
“That man... he must be from the Alchemist Guild.”
“They say a beast appears when you talk about it.”
Lucian smiled bitterly and walked toward the two men who were arguing. The man looked like a total washout, but if he was a member of the Guild, he would have internal information. It wouldn't be bad to hear from an insider before reaching the capital.
“Now, that’s enough. Calm down. Coercion isn't a good look.”
“Who do you think you are, interfering in someone else’s... oh?”
The alchemist, who was about to snap, lowered his voice as soon as he saw Lucian’s attire. Though the design wasn't flashy, he seemed to notice the high quality of the fabric.
“It seems you need to pay for your room. I’ll pay it for you. In exchange, would you mind telling me a bit about alchemy? I hear you have quite the expertise in the field.”
“Ahem, well, if you insist...”
Thinking it wouldn't do any good to keep throwing a tantrum, the alchemist backed down. When Lucian placed a few brightly shining gold coins into the innkeeper’s hand, the man’s waist practically snapped as he bowed.
“Thank you! Thank you so much, milord!”
“That’s enough. Just bring a meal up to the second floor. I’ll pay for his share as well, so don't worry.”
“Yes! I’ll bring it right away! The bathwater...”
“Later.”
After dismissing the innkeeper, Lucian led the alchemist to the second floor. Once they were away from prying eyes, the alchemist cleared his throat repeatedly.
“Ahem, cough. So, what is it you want to know about alchemy?”
Lucian chuckled inwardly at the alchemist, who jumped straight to the point without a single word of thanks. It was amusing to see him clinging to his pride, acting as if he didn't owe a debt because it was a 'trade.'
“Let’s introduce ourselves first. We don't even know each other’s names yet.”
“I suppose so. I am Heide. Heide Pobor. And your name?”
The moment Lucian heard the response, the smile on his face froze. Out of all the alchemists he knew from his past life, the only name he remembered had just come out of this man's mouth.
‘The creator of Nectar, Heide Pobor.’
The man before him had just introduced himself by that legendary name.