A Presentable servant

"What was all that about?" Lucy asked as they walked toward their next destination.

Cassian, while pulling out some silver coins, handed them to her and said, "Thanks for playing along, Miss Lucy. Here's the amount you paid for me."

Lucy pretended not to notice his outstretched hand and the coins, replying, "Just think of them as a welcome gift from me. Sorry I gave it a bit late..."

Surprised, Cassian still insisted, but Lucy waved it off, asking instead, "So, are you going to tell me why Mrs. Purner's face looked like she had eaten something foul?"

"Like she'd ever make that face while eating anything," Cassian scoffed, pocketing the coins again. Lucy watched him with an amused expression as he continued, "She was trying to scheme me, so schemed her back."

Lucy's smile faded slightly but remained amused as she asked, "Oh? How so?"

Cassian explained the scheme they were using to overcharge customers. Lucy listened carefully, nodding, but didn't seem angry. Instead, she shrugged and said, "At least they're not outright stealing. They are giving people what they pay for, in a way."

Cassian agreed. She was right; it was more of a clever sales tactic than outright theft. Still, the manipulation and dishonesty didn't sit well with him. What if some gullible person agreed to pay a whole gold coin for ordinary clothes? He didn't voice his thoughts, though. Instead, he shifted the conversation and asked about their next stop. "We're going to the bookstore, right?"

"Yeah, it's for the lady," Lucy replied with a smile. "As you can see, she reads a lot, and not just books on magic or other scholarly things—she also enjoys storybooks."

Cassian was a bit surprised. He had assumed all the books in Katherine's room were related to magic and other knowledge. He'd never dared to pick one up, fearing she might get angry.

"You know how to read, right?" Lucy asked, but before Cassian could answer, she added with a grin, "Obviously you do, since you learned those massage techniques from books."

"Yeah, those massage techniques... Why does the lady need me to learn that on top of memorizing every little thing in her room, down to the smallest detail?" Cassian asked, looking a bit worn out.

"I don't know..." Lucy shrugged, her large breasts jiggling with the motion, briefly catching Cassian's attention before he quickly looked away. She continued, "She's been like that since childhood—really particular about her things, like food and such. As for the massages, she started making Sumina do them a few years ago."

"Why?" Cassian asked, still confused.

Lucy shrugged again, causing her chest to jiggle once more, drawing his gaze before he quickly shifted his eyes back to her face. "I don't know, and honestly, I don't want to know." she stopped and turning to look at him. "Cassian, let me give you some advice," she said, her tone serious. Cassian snapped his attention back to her face, sensing the shift in mood.

"Don't get curious about nobles affairs," Lucy continued. "It never ends well for servants like us. Just do what they ask unless it's something morally wrong, like killing or something else shady. In that case, go straight to the head butler—he reports directly to the duke, you will be safe."

Cassian nodded, making a mental note of her warning. Lucy, seeing his understanding, seemed satisfied. "Good. And while we're on the topic, there are a few more things you should keep in mind as a servant to one of the duke's children."

"Like what?" Cassian asked, not minding the advice. He figured it didn't hurt to listen while they walked.

Lucy glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot before lowering her voice, though she maintained a casual air. "First, never talk about Lady Katherine to other people's servants. Especially not in detail," she began. "It's tempting to gossip, but nobles are always competing with each other, and they use us as pawns in their games. The last thing you want is for someone to twist your words and get you or the Lady in trouble."

Cassian nodded again, taking her words seriously. "So, keep my mouth shut. Got it. Anything else?"

"Oh, plenty," Lucy replied with a smirk. "Nowadays, since slavery's been banned across the kingdoms, nobles like to show off their servants more than ever. It's a status symbol now. A well-groomed, obedient servant who knows their place reflects well on their master. They'll parade you around like an accessory at banquets or events, so always be on your best behavior in public. Stand straight, speak only when spoken to, and make sure you know how to address other nobles."

Cassian raised an eyebrow. "It's like we're part of their collection or something."

"Exactly," Lucy said with a nod. "Nobles love that. They can't own people outright anymore, so now they take pride in how well they treat—or control—their servants. It's like a competition to see whose servants are the most refined or loyal. We're actually lucky the head butler was a friend of the previous duke. It means life in the castle is better for us than in most noble houses.

"Only a few members of the duke's family are what you'd call 'bad seeds,' like those arrogant nobles. Most are either good or too busy with more important things than showing off their wealth through servants. As you've seen, our lady doesn't care much for that either, but you still need to stay presentable."

Cassian furrowed his brow, unsure what she meant by "presentable." After all, he only had his servant's uniform, which was professional enough. "But how can I be more presentable?" he asked, confused.

Lucy looked him over thoughtfully. His red hair, neatly combed but slightly tousled, gave him a charming, somewhat rugged look. His milky white skin, with a touch of redness like the Ven Dyke family, and his striking red eyes made him stand out. Though he was still young and a bit slim, he had a certain handsomeness, even a youthful cuteness.

With a smile, Lucy said, "You're already presentable. Just keep it that way—stay neat and clean, and make sure your uniform's always in good shape."