Servant

With that settled, she hired a two wheeled carriage and told the runner her destination. She took in the sights as she passed and before she knew it, she arrived at a professional-looking building.

Entering it, she was greeted by an old receptionist dressed like a butler. Seeing Savine's age and priest's clothes, a trace of disappointment flashed by his eyes, but of course, none of it reached his expression.

"How may I help you?" he asked.

"I'm searching for a personal butler. Someone who's knowledgeable about various things and can help me become familiar with the Fest duchy as soon as possible. I've just arrived to the city."

She learned many things from Eliseline, but most of that pertained to only the temple and the nobility. There was a need for someone who knew the city's other parts.

The old butler's expression remained the same, but his eyes sparkled with interest. He soon replied politely. "If I may ask politely, what kind of activities will you be doing?"

"I'm a Priest at the temple so I'll most likely be most busy with Ceremonies and whatnot. But aside from that, I expect I will deal with other nobility and I also might move some of my businesses in the Magicracy to here. Since I deal with many sensitive informations, I would prefer someone with a tight lip as well."

She didn't say that she was going to create a new business, as that sounded too much like the braggings of a child. It was easy to say one was going to create a business in the future, but an existing business was much more reliable.

Just like she expected, the old butler seemed to trust her words a bit.

"I believe you are in need of one of our veteran butlers," the old man spoke. "They're butlers who used to do work for various high nobles, but due to the recent civil war, they've found themselves out of demand. They're currently teaching here at the association, but they're more than happy to work for you."

Savine smiled. "Someone on the younger side would be preferable as well. I expect I'll be running around quite a bit."

"Oh, young mistress shouldn't worry about that. They are called veterans, but they're not so old."

"Please gather five of the best ones in an empty room, I'd like to talk to them personally. And have them prepare something to write with."

"Of course, of course," the old man was about to speak but Savine interrupted him.

"How much do I owe you?"

"I'm merely a guide, young mistress, there's no need for payment. As for your veteran butler, their weekly salary will be fifty mixed silvers."

After saying that, he whispered Savine's instructions to a girl nearby, and the latter scurried off, likely to call the five candidates for Savine.

"As we wait, perhaps you'll be interested in choosing a few handservants and maids?"

Savine shook her head. "I'll leave the decision to my future butler."

The old man bowed and directed Savine towards an empty room. He served snacks and tea and asked forgiveness for the delay.

<Sir Wilfred, there's a priest who might hire you?>

<A priest?>

<It's a teenage girl with white hair, and she has some demands...>

Five similar conversations occurred across the place and a few minutes later, five butlers appeared inside the room. Three were men and two were women.

The youngest looked thirtyish and was a woman with glittering eyes and the oldest was someone who looked about fiftyish, maybe in his late forties.

As for their behavior, naturally, there was nothing to complain about. Savine wasn't someone so picky either, she simply had a few non-negotiable demands.

"Sorry for taking your time," she began. "Has the receptionist explained my demands to you all?"

They nodded their heads in unison.

"In that case, things will be simple. Today, I'll only examine you on your abilities and your decision-making skills. Let's start with a small test."

Saying so, Savine gave them five pieces of paper with math and other logic problems and also extra questions were real-life situations were described and they were asked for their actions and reactions. She gave them thirty minutes and watched as they scribbled down the answers.

Surprisingly, two of them managed to get half the answers right. It was the oldest one and the youngest one respectively. Their answers to the extra questions were quite interesting as well. One of the male butlers barely managed a 45% and that normally would've been enough to get him into the interview… but since there were two passing candidates, Savine's choice was clear.

"The two who passed, I'll hold an interview. The rest are free to leave. Who wants to start?"

The five bowed respectfully and soon the three quickly left. 

"This old man shall go first."

"Very well."

The two were left alone together and Savine asked her first question.

"On this extra question where it was described that your master had made a faux pas, your response was to insert yourself into the conflict, resolve it somehow, after which you admonish your master. Why?"

The old man bowed with his head and answered. "Though it is something that I may get fired for, I believe it is a servant's duty to make sure their master is as perfect as possible. For a mistake like this, it's better to suffer a slight embarrassment and learn from the mistake, instead of letting the situation become worse and worse."

The mistake in question was the hypothetical master going to a tea party and acting out of line. Perhaps acting out of line was an understatement, as she was literally arguing with another attendee on a personal matter. It was described that both sides hadn't devolved to shouting profanities at each other, but the argument was clear and their voices were hostile.

"Let me ask you a question. Why is the master arguing with this other attendee?"

"They clearly don't see eye to eye, and one side must've mentioned something that shouldn't have been mentioned."

"But if that was the case, then the other attendees should berate the one that started the argument, no?"

"Since no one else tried to stop the argument, the argument's contents are justified for both sides."

"So? Why do you intervene?"

"Even if my master ends up winning the argument, I believe the fact that they've joined an argument itself is debilitating to one's reputation. And, though it might sound condescending to you… I've lived a long and arduous life. I know that it's best to not say the things one says at the heat of a moment."

Savine smiled.

"In that case, I have another question for you. What did you think about the test you've just finished?"

"It's a well-crafted test, young mistress. I daresay I haven't been challenged like this in a long, long time."

"If I said that I designed that test, would your answer to the previous question change?"

The old man's expression faltered briefly.

"Let's add another point. Who do you think that hypothetical master was in the test?"

"…You."

Naturally it was Savine. Since this test was to hire her own butlers, naturally, all the hypothetical masters in the question were her.

Savine smiled. "Very good. Your mind is still open to learn and accept new things. It's an admirable trait to have. However…" she handed him the younger woman's answer sheet. "There's someone who understands these things without me hinting it at them."

To the same question, the younger woman's answer was such.

[I will argue with the other attendee in my master's stead.]

"What does this answer tell you about the person who wrote it?"

The old man fell into thought.

"As young mistress has hinted to me, she understands that her master will not make rookie mistake like arguing with someone in a tea party without reason. Since her master is willing to risk embarrassment, she must have some plan in mind.

"Moreover, she is also protecting her master's dignity. She is, after all, only a servant. Her harsh words can be overlooked, but her master's cannot.

"And finally, she is expressing that her relationship with her master is quite deep. Since she's willing to argue in her stead, they must've definitely agreed upon this beforehand."

"Everything correct besides the last one," Savine said. "She wasn't boasting her relationship with the hypothetical master. She was boasting her own abilities. She is basically saying that even if she doesn't know that an argument could happen, she will be argue properly without issues. That in turn meant that she would be highly familiar with everyone her master interacted with."

The old butler nodded, deep in thought.

"I'll inform you of the results after I interview the woman."

The interviewee walked out and soon, the woman came in.