Why are you Still here

Editing in Progress…

~Chapter 48~

"So, why are you still here?" Lady Samara asked, staring at the butler, who seemed to be so lost in thoughts. Sir York lifted his eyes to meet with the emerald shade eyes. Lady Samara looked genuinely curious as she wondered why he was still here, though mistreated.

She already knew why Marina was still here, (as she had connections with the Chamberlains), but York wasn't from Aswines, so why was he still here?

It surely couldn't be because he respected Lint Chamberlain… could it? She genuinely didn't want to believe it was possible. Just how much respect did he hold dear for Lint, that he planned on wasting away his life here in this poverty hidden manor? 

His wife worked in a high-ranked noble woman's house, while his TWO sons, not ONE but the TWO of them, had been enlisted to join the Royal Knight squad. And on the decree and Law of the Empire, their family or connected families are protected and are given a certain quota of stipends if they have an old and retired guardian or parent.

Therefore, if York wanted to leave and not work for the rest of his life, he very much can do it. That was why Lady Samara thought it was a foolish reason if he just stayed behind, all because he respected the previous owner. And besides, it wasn't as though there was a certain level of respect one could have to revive the dead. 

Stupid.

Foolish thought.

"The lord-d asked me to ta-ke care of his d-daughter, Little Lady Ye-Yeona"

"And that's why you are still here?"

"Indeed." Sir York paused on his lips as he picked carefully on the next words he thought to say. "A-As you know, La-Lady Y-Yeona is already of a ma-marriageable age—" he began as he steadied his eyes on Lady Samara's own. 

"I am aware"

York nodded and continued, "And she is still here acting as a servant girl to the Rutherfords." 

Lady Samara's brows furrowed at the continuous reminder of the disgusting and shameful role that Yeona had taken upon in her parents' house. The noble lady was no fool, as she knew the direction the butler was heading. But it was already in the plan. As from the moment the spell Claire had placed on them had lifted, she promised she would do ANYTHING for the child. But it's rather fun, watching the old man stammer around, his words picking out the best way to convince her without it sounding rude and pushy.

"Th-therefore, I pray you would take the-the Little lady into your e-etiquette class and te-each her the way of a no-noble woman. And also—" Sir York stopped talking as he knew he was already being a burden to the noble Lady, but what was he supposed to do? 

It had been a long while that any noble family came into the house. They did come, back when Lint was still living, but since his death, York was ashamed to say that they were the only noble that had ever stepped foot in the manor. 

York hoped to use this chance to send Yeona off for an etiquette class and also balls and banquet, just so she could get some male's attention. 

"I-I hope you match h-her with a suitable man, be-befitting for a Lady bearing the Ch-Chamberlain name" 

Lady Samara's brows arched in surprise, as she was shocked by the butler's request for marriage. If she was, to be honest. That was not part of the plan in the slightest.

Marriage?

Yeona had so many things lined up for her, and marriage was none existing. But she was a gracious lady, a good one if she wanted to twig her horn, so she aimed to humor the old man a little.

Just a little. 

Not too much. 

Sir York stayed in his pleading position as he waited for the lady to give her a response. He would be beyond pleased if she accepted his request, as he would be much closer to completing his Master's last request to him. 

Sir York knew he had a limited lifeline on his belt, and he was prepared to use it for the Chamberlain. But what he didn't want was to use it and be a servant to the rotten family who wrongfully occupied the manor. He didn't want to die without fulfilling the Lint request. And now that he had finally found someone, he was ready to gravel and roll on the sharp grass if it would satisfy her ego and accept his wish. 

He continued pulling more satisfying points to convince the lady, "If-If it's the cost, th-that is a p-problem, I p-promise. I kept some uolas and e-xpen-sive items a-way that would be of su-suitable pa-yment".

"You kept uolas?"

"Indeed. As I noticed how the Rutherfords squandered their money at a rapid rate, I took it upon myself to leave some out for the little Lady. I reassure you, It is truly a sizable amount".

"Hmm, I see. You have being calculating for this for a while now".

York folded his lips, not knowing if he was slowly digging himself into a deeper hole. "I-I guess you could say th-that, my lady."

"And the Rutherfords didn't know their Uolas were being stolen?" She quizzed, smiling suspiciously. 

In all truthfulness, it looked like Sir York was starting to rub off on in Samara in a good way. 

Sir York let out a disgusted grunt, joined with an eye roll. "They wouldn't know, even if I placed all the evidence in their presence. And be-besides, I am the one who han-han-handles their account books".

"Really? Even with your old age? Don't they think old age will catch up to you?"

He gave a dry shrug as a response. "I-I am grateful that th-they don't think. And besides… they are too prid-eful to em-ploy another worker, after all they wouldn't want their destitution to reach the so-so-cialites, and similarly… it wasn't like they had the uolas to pay any ad-ad-ditional worker".

"I see."

Sir York gulped as he prayed to the gods for a positive outcome, "So what do you say, my Lady? Would you help Lord Lint and Lady Claire's child?"

Lady Samara's face lit up at his question. She gave him her most charming smile. She walked towards him as she held his hands in hers. With bright eyes and smile, she replied, "Yes, of course".

The poor old man didn't even realize that he had being holding in his breath in anticipation of her answer. Slowly, tears streamed done his eyes, and he felt as though someone had giving him the greatest news of being alive at the moment. 

"Thank you." His word came out like a whisper as he nodded. Lady Samara only smiled at him and nodded along it toward him.

"It is alright. Claire was my friend before she died. I have being so busy. That's the reason I haven't come around, even though she died for a long time".

She made up that excuse on the spot. Samara knew if she were to get her hand on her spirit… the things she would do to her. Lint will have no choice but to sit and watch. 

How dare she tamper with her memories just because she could? Didn't she know how important thoughts and memories were?

Sir York wiped his tears as he looked like had more to say, "A-and don't wo-rry about the clothes and jew-elries from the Late Lady of the house"

Lady Samara looked dumbfounded at how expertly the old man could hide such things without anyone knowing. But truthfully, the only thing that was tangible or suitable in Lady Samara's opinion was Claire's clothes and jewelries. 

Lady Samara knew of Claire's expensive taste, as everything she wore was either an up-to-date fashion trend in the empire or she was the one making the trend. And the Jewelries were no joke as Lint, being an Artisan, helped with it. 

Lint, who was crazy in love with his wife, would gladly turn any Gem stone to Jewelry just to his it on balanced beautifully on his wife's neck. There were even times when he would make special edition jewelries only for her, and she would be the only one in the empire with such jewelry. 

Which would sometimes cause gossip to spread, both good and bad. Some would say it was sweet that he loves his wife so dearly and would most times pray to the gods for a man who would treat them like that. 

But others, especially the men, thought it was outrageous and Lint should show some level of decency, and wondered why he would act in such an atrocious way. 

But they said all these behind his ears and behind closed doors. They didn't have the gall to say anything to his face, and also couldn't report him to the Emperor. After, the Emperor had no views or concubine, so there was no need for him to be bothered about a flimsy female jewelry. So the jealous and spiteful men had to chew on their pride whilst listening to their wives continuously compare them to Lord Lint and Lady Claire.

Lady Samara, "Rather than the Uolas and expensive items, I would take the dresses and jewelry. " 

Even though she would not admit it, Lady Samara knew in terms of Jewelries and Clothes, Claire was far superior as she was.

"Were you able to store away Some shoes and bags?"

Sir York nodded, "Yes, but s-sadly not as m-much as the jew-jewelries and d-dresses"

Lexicon

With the pride and pedestal, the people, ESPECIALLY the women of Aswines, put themselves up to. The lady-in-waiting HAS to also be a noble woman, with either similar or 'almost' the same rank and status as the person they are serving.