“‘Being an adventurer is that lucrative, huh?’ Severin could hardly believe what he was seeing. And that was even before he had seen the full extent of it.
But what he didn’t forget was to question, “Why did you bring me here? Didn’t you say we-”
Immediately upon recognizing the master of the estate had returned, the man approached them as fast as the decorum of someone in his position allowed him to.
““Anything noteworthy happened in my absence?”
“Nothing,” he shook his head, a fact which Mylana acknowledged with a nod of her own.
“Please, I am at your service. Anything I can help you with?”
“Go inform Perc that my guest and I will be in the tearoom,” she instructed, without ever halting her steps.
“Of course, Madam. Anything else?”
“No. Thank you. That will be all.”
“Madam,” the man acknowledged before scattering off, not just to inform Perc but the whole mansion of their mistress’ return.
Once seated, he ordered his thoughts and picked up where he had left off.
“
He strongly suspected that his own employees, Sabina in particular, would not be this committed.
Was letting him experience this, what Mylana had in mind when bringing him here? He asked as much.
“It’s part of it,” Mylana admitted. “But no, while I might have maybe a hundred members of staff working here, and could certainly afford to appoint some of them to the Emporium, that is something I will most definitely not be doing.” She said, shaking her head disapprovingly. “I wouldn’t be doing you a favor if I did, and the fact that I have to tell you that only means you still have much to learn.
““Madam. I’m glad being able to serve you again. Sir,” the butler briefly but with a polite bow acknowledged Severin’s presence before putting down his tablet and serving the tea as per his mistresses’ instructions.
“Anything else I can do for you?” the elder gentleman asked once he had finished his task and had re-assumed his straight posture.
“There is. That’s why I asked for you in the first place. Please see if Mr. Everheart has some time available to join us. Let him know it is business related.”
“Of course.”
“Also, I trust you have kept up with local affairs while I was gone?”
“Of course.” The reply was the same as the previous one, but Severin could have sworn that this time the man sounded as if he had just been slighted.
“Good. Tell me then, are there any auctions held in the White Hall today?”
“In the early afternoon there is an art auction featuring-” Without having to think about his answer, the well-prepared man started his reply. But was soon cut off.
“Who leads the auction?”
“Miss Evelyn, madam.” If Perc, was annoyed by the rude interruption, he was too professional to let any hint of it show.
‘He is probably used to it by now,’ a bitter Severin joked to himself, fed up by Mylana’s incessant reprimands and interruptions.
“That’s it? Nothing else?”
“There is also another private auction later in the evening-”
“The auctioneer? Again, she interrupted.
“Mr Reigh.” And again came Perc’s immediate and plaintless answer.
“Great. Be a dear and make sure we are on the guest list, will you?
“Of course.”
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.“Madam? Please excuse my impertinence, but if you would allow me the question. What are your plans for the coming days? Are you planning to stay? The kitchen staff, in particular is very concerned about this question.”
“
“We don’t have too much time now. If he hurries, the messenger will be there in about fifteen, twenty minutes.”
Following her words, Mylana saw the incomprehension in Severin’s face. She explained further, “Mr Everheart. If he is available, we can expect him in maybe an hour.
It would be for the best if by then you’ve figured out how many people you actually need.”
““...the headmaster of the country’s most prestigious butler school. Most of my staff have graduated from there and I am very satisfied with their skills and services.” Severin suspected that coming from Mylana, those words were the highest praise one could hope for, but kept those thoughts to himself.
“Short of investing a whole lot of money, time, and effort to train them yourself, I’d say they are the best money can hire. If you have a referral, that is.”
““Among other things, yes.”
“But a butler school? Isn’t that a bit much? I don’t need anything so fancy, just some regular staff. Like a new server and a cashier. Not someone like that,” he nodded towards the door.
“butler or school fool you. Besides, you really have other things to worry about if you consider only hiring two people.”
“I wasn’t,” Severin crossed his arms defiantly. “Assuming Krill and Sabina will take on the new roles I’ll offer them, two people fill their positions are just the bare minimum. That’s all I was saying.
““I don’t even know if the relevant parties will agree.”
“This again,” Mylana sighed in faux exasperation. “If you can offer them what they want, then of course they will.
You don’t plan for failure, but for success. Remember that. And it’s not like having some additional people at the ready will do you any harm.”
“Another six then,” he concluded after some calculation.
“Very good,” Mylana nodded in satisfaction, a sight that was almost impossible for Severin to imagine after all her complaining and prodding he had to endure this day.
Instead of the estimated one hour, not even forty minutes had passed when there was another knock on the door.
“Mr Everheart,” announced Perc as he stepped inside and made way for an immaculately dressed man with puffy red cheeks who followed closely behind him.
“Lady Mylana! Always an honor and a pleasure. I came the moment I learned you were in need of our services.”
“Much obliged. But it isn’t me who requires your services.” She gestured towards the other person in the room.
“Severin. No, Sir.”
“
Severin was amused by the man’s excitement, which fit not at all the image he had of a person of his apparent status.
‘Or maybe it was exactly his experience that lets the man know how to best deal with each person individually,’ Severin surmised; this certainly beat dealing with the kind of people said [Princess] surrounded herself with, and as long as his services were satisfactory, then that was all that mattered to Severin.
“If you’ve heard of my store, then that should make it easier. I require staff. Not to take care of nobles or retired adventurers, but to run a business.”
““We indeed don’t offer these services, but I don’t think Lady Mylana would have referred you to me if that was what you are looking for.
But if you are looking for anything else, say a salesperson, a server, a clerk, a maid or a cleaner- anything along those lines- then please rest assured. My people are well up to the task; they have proven so many times over. You wouldn’t be the first to approach us for such purposes.