[S1] 013 Money Friendrelations?

　　"What are you doing there? Have you been injured for a few days and rested, forgotten how to serve someone?"

　　Chad rushed forward and took the belt from the servant, tied it around Orville's waist with ease.

　　She leaned down behind the Duke to fix his clothes and accessories, Orville turned his head and saw the top of her head, short, chestnut-brown, slightly curly hair, had a satin texture in the bright candlelight. Further down are thick, long lashes and closed lips. Anyone who saw him must have thought he was just a good-looking young people, hard to tell if he was a man or a woman. If he hadn't "seen" it herself yesterday, he might have been fooled..... forever.....

　　Orville watched the redness gradually spread over Chad's ears, and with a sneer, suddenly he reached out and touched her ear with his fingertips.

　　This startled Chad, who stiffened and looked at Orville in dismay.

　　The Duke, without blushing, said: "Your ear looks hot."

　　Chad hurriedly reached for his ear and felt it, was hot, was burning.

She gestures quickly, "It was baked by the indoor fireplace."

　　Orville just smiled and didn't say anything.

　　The next moment, Lionel tapped on the doorframe and warned: "Lord Duke, the carriage is ready."

　　Orville then made his way towards the carved doors of the inner room, as he passed Chad, he paused in his steps and asked knowingly, "Are you all healed?"

　　Chad nodded hastily.

　　"Now that you are well, you will accompany me to the royal gathering today."

　　Chad pondered Orville's words over and over again in his mind until he sent him down the long steps. But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't see anything different about His Highness than he had in the past.

　　At most, he had spoken to him a little more, didn't even feel the rustiness of not having seen him for days.

　　It seemed that Hans had not yet reported this to His Highness.

　　Despite this conclusion, Chad couldn't help himself.

　　If Hans didn't reveal him now, he might later. She had already been caught in his crosshairs and there was no telling what would happen to her in the future.

　　Hans' presence is like gunpowder, bound to her every second of every day. She is on fire, and she can't move an inch.

　　She looked up at the sky over the estate, the clouds have cleared, the sky is blue.

The sun is still shining.

　　And Orville, in his long, straight, gorgeous shawl coat, is walking up the stairs, his stance was strong and fit, his face as handsome as a god, like the most dazzling diamond in the royal city. But the surface of such a diamond is covered with venom.

　　If someone touched, the risk of death is high. So it is only a diamond in a safe, should only be viewed, not touch.

　　But Chad felt that protecting the Duke, and looking at him from afar. She was happy enough.

So she would rather die than Orville know the secret she would never dare to tell.

*

　　There was a lot of commotion inside Buckingham Palace, the people waiting outside don't know what's going on. Chad, who was waiting at the bottom of the long staircase, looked upwards with concern, saw no sign of his Duke.

　　Just in time, a familiar little footman emerged from the side of the palace, Chad and Ray followed him up and caught him for questioning.

　　The little footman was the pupil of Mark, the head footman of the Emperor, although he did not know Ray, he did know Chad, who was always with the Duke of Orville.

　　All the knights in Ackerman's domain had titles of nobility, this is partly because most of the knights in Orville's order were his staff or relatives, as well as some of his fellow nobles. Enoch and Ray, for example, were minor nobles in their own right.

　　Only Chad, who is only a titular knight, in reality she is a commoner. Although, because of her professional abilities, being seen by Orville, who has always been averse to following rules. So she was appointed to the rank of deputy knight commander and received the same salary.

　　Evrn earlier this year, Because Chad has won first place in the fencing tournament held in the territory for four years in a row, Orville had verbally promised to take her out of commoner status. But because she easily trusts Gill, the spy, and angers Orville, the matter was dropped.

　　However, the little footman took one look at him, still addressed her respectfully with the words: "Greetings, Lord Chad, is there anything I can do for you?"

　　Chad raised his hand and gestured, and Ray, who was beside him, translated in a low voice: "What's going on in there?"

　　The court servant pondered, pulled Chad aside and leaned in closer to her, whispered: "King William was very angry just now and broke some porcelain and tea."

　　He handed her the silver tray with the broken pieces of porcelain in his hand and showed it to her, a note of regret in his tone, "Look at that - imported Eastern porcelain."

　　Chad didn't look at the tray, only signalled anxiously, "Does this have anything to do with the Duke of Orville?" She gestures, and Ray dictates for her.

　　"It's about the Duke of Orville."

　　Chad's heart was in his throat again.

　　Before he could ask why, the little slave added: "But Lord King's fire was not directed at the Duke of Orville, was not angry with the Duke of Orville, but with Privy Council Kevin. He said that the Privy Council held his position and did not do his proper work, who daily knows nothing but to falsely accuse loyal noblemen. So the King intends to convict him."

　　Chad was relieved to hear him out.

The little footman smiled at Chad with a sly glint in his eye:

　　"Privy Counci Kevin was a member of the Duke of Spencer's faction, always had a bad relationship with the Duke of Orville. I'm sure he'll behave himself for a while after his conviction and save the Duke the trouble of...I'm only a footman, that's all I know..""

　　Chad is very good at judging the situation, unziping the cowhide pocket at his waist and place the heavy pouch of coins in the tray in the hands of the footman: "A small token of appreciation, please pass it on to Lord Head Footman for me, and please keep some for yourself, I'll treat you to a snack."

　　At Ray's translation, the little footman was all smiles, he didn't push his luck, but said: "King William and I have the Duke of Orville in our hearts, i will not let anything happen to him for no reason, but please don't worry, Lord Chad."

　　When Chad got down the steps, Ray could not resist asking him: "How many coins did you just give him?"

　　"Ten gold coins." Chad replied nonchalantly.

　　"Ten gold coins?" Ray froze with a very distressed hiss, then he said, unevenly: "You only get paid about ten gold coins a month. Doesn't it hurt you to give so much money all at once?"

　　Chad was unconcerned: "I do have some friendships with that footman, but if I don't send some gold coins, next time something comes up, he won't talk about it easily."

　　Ray was silent for a while before he sighed again in an unspoken way: "You do deserve the promotion Lord Orville gave you."

　　Chad had been in the territory all these years, was not fussy about the food in the dining hall, no matter how bad it was. The knights occasionally gathered for a few rounds of cards, she never played along, wore knight's clothing in all seasons. And she even wore knight's clothing in all seasons, and was only semi-forcibly dragged by Enoch to buy a new suit for New Year's Eve.

　　Ray had thought she was frugal, thought she was saving that money to buy a small estate later on, marry a beautiful wife, have a beautiful concubine and have some babys.

　　Ray didn't expect that Chad saved money diligently and thriftly, so that she could use the saved gold coins to maintain her worldly relationships. Ray admired the strange professionalism of the deputy head from the bottom of his heart.