Chapter 2 (1/2)

Roasted goat, boiled lamprey, a slice of apple and pear pulp, wheat beer with hops, and white bread made of fine flour.

This was Liszt’s dinner.

He did not really like western food, but he couldn’t make his favorite foods at all. Also, nobles were not expected to go to kitchens or warehouses in this world, or they would be laughed at.

Of course, the court was an exception.

The cooks and servants of the court were all nobles of lesser rank. Liszt’s father, Earl of Coral Island, was once the stable boy for Archduke Sapphire. He was responsible for feeding the archduke’s beloved horse which carried the bloodline of dragons.

Even today, the Earl of Coral Island was summoned into the palace as a groom now and then.

He couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Actually, he often feared that other nobles would replace him as the groom and disrupt the intimacy between him and the archduke.

Also, Archduke Sapphire was once the valet for the monarch of the Iron Mountain Kingdom, catering to all of his liege’s needs.

Basically, civilians were nobles’ servants, and lesser nobles were the big nobles’ servants.

Only the king of a country could be a master.

Thankfully, in Flower Town, I am the only master, and I don’t need to serve anyone, Levis thought delightedly while having the unsatisfactory dinner.

His father disliked him and barely visited him.

After dinner, Carter ordered the maids to clear the table, and the valet fetched mouthwash for Liszt.

After everything was done, Carter left with the servants. “I’ll be outside the door. Please give me instructions if you have any.”

“Thank you, Mr. Carter.” Liszt smiled like a real gentleman. Thanks to his former self, he did not need to learn noble etiquette at all.

Even the humble servants must be treated courteously. The manners of nobles must be maintained on the surface, no matter what their real attitude was.

“It’s my honor to serve you.” Carter closed the door.

“Liszt,” said Goltai after sipping some honeyed tea, “we should make use of the elvish insects as soon as possible, but the finances of the town are too horrible. The last administrative officer was an idiot who did nothing but suppress the town. He left us a mess!”

“I know. Please find a suitable place for the elvish insects as soon as possible.”

“Of course, that’s my responsibility.”

Liszt turned to Marcus. “Will it be difficult to investigate the monsters between Thorn Hill and Flower Town? They harass the farmers now and then. As their liege, I must protect them.”

Marcus replied, “Thorn Hill is a large place. The monsters are not in a fixed area. Since you have only four squires, even if I figure out the hideouts of the monsters, it’s still impossible to resist them. The town’s patrolmen will only pee their pants before the monsters.”

Flower Town was located at the northeastern corner of Coral Island and neighbored by Thorn Hill. It was also frequented by monsters, so few merchant caravans were willing to come.

Without the aid of elves, it was barely possible for the farmers to make ends meet, not to mention that they had to pay taxes to the Tulips, the rulers of Coral Island.

The nobles cared only about their revenue. They were not concerned about the quality of life of the farmers.

The Tulips were not an exception.

Liszt, however, could not turn a blind eye to it. As a young man born in the modern age, he considered it his responsibility to save his people from disasters. Besides, only if Flower Town was wealthy could he enjoy more as its liege.

For the public and for himself, he had to develop Flower Town.

“There are ways to deal with them. Mr. Marcus, will you accompany me to visit Thorn Hill tomorrow? I haven’t gotten the measure of Flower Town yet.”

“Liszt, that’s not a good idea. You’d better stay in town. Don’t forget that you almost died in Thorn Hill.” Goltai immediately stopped him.