Chapter 67

I continued chatting with Sir Ajax when I saw Dame Holga and the other knight come out of the inn.

"If I may ask, my lady." Sir Ajax turned to me. "Who were those two with you that were dressed in rather poorly?"

"Those were people I picked up earlier." I smiled at him meaningly. "I decided that I want them to work for us and just went with it."

"Then those people are of unknown background?" He looked surprised.

"Not for long." I place my hand on the cup and smiled. "Sebastiene is a highly skilled investigator. I will have their entire life reported to me later."

"It seems that you butler is quite skilled indeed." He smiled. "But why do you have a butler instead of a maid?"

"Oh? Didn't you hear about the attacks towards us not long ago?" I smiled at him mischievously. It was impossible for someone from inside Westreon not to know it.

"I did." He answered without pretense. "But what does it have to do with your maids?"

"The butler, the knights AND the maids who betrayed us." I smiled at him sweetly.

Sir Ajax's face went from stunned to disbelief to furious! His entire face turned red and veins started to become more visible.

"They had the audacity to do that? To you? To the Castellans? What happened to their Oath of Loyalty?" He yelled. The arm of the chair he was holding crumbled under his hand. The walls and floor started cracking and the other decorations got destroyed. Extreme bloodlust could be felt.

This old man is strong!

I picked up my teacup and looked at him sharply.

"It had happened. I took care of it. There's no need to be agitated at your age." I tried to calm him down.

The knights outside peeked at us and immediately came in when they saw the state of the room.

"Eldest lady, are you alright?" A knight asked.

"Hmmm.." I nodded.

Sir Ajax composed himself by doing some king of breathing exercise.

"Go out and wait. We are still not done talking. Do not let anyone in, unless it's Seb." I instructed the knights who hesitantly went back out.

"I apologize for the outburst, my lady." Sir Ajax hung his head.

"I understand." I waved. "Your loyalty to house Castellan did not change even if you had faced injustice."

"I did not, my lady." He smiled.

"Being lessened to a mere caretaker of the castle is injustice." I looked at him seriously. "An Ajax's place is beside the Archduke. Isn't that right?"

Sir Ajax looked down and chuckled sadly.

"Indeed, I was mistreated as an Ajax. Even my children couldn't fulfill their duties as someone who bears the Ajax name."

"How many children do you have sir Ajax?" I asked him.

"Five, my lady." He answered with a smile. "Four of which are girls."

"You only have one son?"

"Yes, Ragnar, my lady." He smiled proudly.

"Ragnar." I whispered. "I look forward to meeting him Sir Ajax."

"It would be our pleasure to meet and serve a Castellan, my lady." He smiled, proud.

"You said you have four daughters?" I asked, indifferent.

"Yes, my lady." He smiled.

"Among those daughters, who do you think will be the best to serve as a maid in waiting for us?" I asked as I put down my cup.

Sir Ajax was about to take a sip of his tea but my question had made his hand stop mid-air.

"M-my lady, do you mean that the ladies of House Castellan also has no maids?" He asked, flabbergasted, and carefully put down his cup.

"No." I shook my head lightly. "Among us, only I and my youngest sister has no maids."

His face went black.

"I shall send three of my daughters and my eldest granddaughter to serve you, my lady."

"That would be more than welcome." I sighed. "We also lack knights and soldiers, would you happen to know where we could get them?"

I decided to ask Sir Ajax about everything we needed as he is someone old and would be knowledgeable. I do believe that wisdom comes with age.

"With knights, it would be a bit tricky, my lady." His eyes glint with knowledge.

I spent the next moments talking with Sir Ajax about how and where to look for large numbers of people that could potentially become our knights. I was taken by how prim he was, how clever he was, and above all, how good he was at scheming. He would have been such a good pair with my father who always go head-on.

"Those are the things and places you can acquire potential knights, my lady." He breathed.

"I see. Those are indeed places that has enough strong men to work on." I said as I tried to remember all the things, places and tips he just gave.

"But do not ever underestimate the power of fate, my lady." He straightened on his chair and looked outside. "A future general could be met on the streets in rags, just like those kids you picked up."

Sebastiene was crossing the street with the siblings close behind him.

Sir Ajax narrowed his eyes at Sebastiene.

"You have one powerful butler, my lady." He commented. "He feels familiar but I just can't seem to remember where I met him."

"You must be mistaking him for someone else." I said as I wiped my mouth with the handkerchief. "Sebastiene has not been here for long so I'm not sure where you met him."

Sir Ajax tried hard to remember but still cannot seem to remember.

Sebastiene knocked on the door and announced his arrival.

"Come in." I said monotonously.

Sebastiene came in and was slightly startled at the appearance of the room before smiling brightly again.

"My lady, I have brought Sir Aspez and Miss Elaheh as per your order."

"Let them in." I purposely did not introduce Sebastiene to Sir Ajax.

The siblings came in all cleaned and tidied up. Now I could see their appearances clearly, I can tell that Aspez is quite handsome if only he was not made of skin and bones. Elaheh was pretty and her scar only made it more pronounced. Without it, she could be compared with the noble ladies in terms of looks. They were still holding hands, a sign that they do not fully trust us yet. I don't care though.

"You two look better now." I commented.

"Thanks to your kindness, lady Castellan." Aspez replied.

"Now you can meet with the others with no problem." I nodded and looked at Sir Ajax. "Would you like to meet my father?"

I thought he would be ecstatic but he actually shook his head.

"I am unworthy to meet his grace at the moment." He smiled. "I will expect to meet him when my Ragnar has become his butler, but for now, I shall leave in peace and send your invitation to my children."

"Okay." I stood up with the Sebastiene's help. When we got outside the café I looked up at Sir Ajax. "I have high expectations from the Ajaxes. I hope I won't be disappointed."

"I will punish them myself if they fail my lady." Sir Ajax bowed to me. He put on his hat and nodded to Sebastiene before going off.