Chapter 71 The festive atmosphere of the seagoing festival

Before dawn, Butler Carter's voice echoed throughout the castle, upstairs and down.

"Tom, wake up!"

"Thomas, get Master Frac Abie's festival attire ready! Not a single detail can be amiss!"

"Mrs. Mo Sen, there's dust on the second-story windows. Have the maids clean them pronto. We can't afford to give our esteemed guests the impression of sloth."

"Goodness, why are the oysters out in the sun? Fetch them away... No, no, Irene, not today, absolutely not!"

"I want to see water overflowing from the castle cistern, but Jesse, you don't need to fetch more. John and Parker will take care of that. You, hurry and inspect the cordyceps; even on this festive day, we mustn't neglect the essentials!"

"Don't expose them all at once. You should break them into pieces. Smaller chunks of ice will melt faster." Carter wiped his brow with a handkerchief. Today was indeed hectic, with a mountain of valuable crystalware still to polish, but he had to delegate these trivial tasks first.

He watched Jim, a new footman, struggle to move the ice-making barrel into the sun's glare. He couldn't help but advise the young man to think more critically.

Jim was tall and quick-witted, though inexperienced. Upon hearing Carter's words, he immediately apologized. "I'm sorry, Mr. Carter. I didn't consider that. I'll break the ice now and store it in buckets and basins."

"Don't spill it, this contains... saltpeter. Master specifically mentioned that it's quite valuable."

"Rest assured, Mr. Carter."

After patrolling the castle grounds, Carter ascended to the second floor and caught sight of Thomas carrying Frac Abie into Liszt's bedroom.

He knocked and entered as well.

"Master, you're up quite early today."

With Thomas's assistance, Liszt reluctantly donned his despised attire, along with the uncomfortable ruffled collar known as a "ruff."

For a moment, he wasn't in the best of moods. "With all the noise in the castle, it's rather difficult for me to sleep."

Carter immediately bowed, looking somewhat uneasy. "I apologize, it was my mistake that disturbed you, Master."

Liszt had only been grumpy due to waking up, but seeing Carter apologize, his irritation dissipated swiftly. He shouldn't make the loyal old man shoulder such a trivial consequence. "This has nothing to do with you, Mr. Carter. Don't blame yourself. Today is Seafaring Festival, and I must rise early."

Carter sighed in relief.

Thomas cast a sideways glance, somewhat disappointed—he had been looking forward to seeing the lord scold the butler.

Dressed, Liszt hastily finished his breakfast and mounted his Fire Drake, preparing to make a round of the town—today was a holiday, and even if only the nobles celebrated, he still needed to join in the joy with his people, basking in their adoration and flattery.

At that moment, he spotted Gort, who was also dressed in his finest attire.

As well as Marcus, Blair, and Isaiah, who were all yet to attain noble titles, and were attired more formally than usual.

"Baron, Gort extends his holiday greetings to you."

"Milord, Marcus extends his festive greetings to you."

"Baron, Isaiah extends his festive greetings to you."

"Baron, Blair extends his festive greetings to you."

The four of them, in turn, greeted Liszt with utmost formality, executing their noble etiquette with great precision.

Lister returned the greeting with equal nobility, "Happy festivities."

Following him were his four sworn knights and twelve squires, who stepped forward to pay their respects and offer festive greetings. Lastly, the castle servants, led by Carter, paused from their duties to extend their holiday wishes as well.

As he walked around the town accompanied by Gort and the others, the knights and squires, various voices rang out along the roadsides with "My Lord, XXX offers you the season's greetings." The freemen knelt on one knee while the serfs bowed down on both. In such rituals, the authority of the nobility was continually reinforced and ingrained in the hearts of the people.

When kneeling became a common practice for the common folk, the foundation of rule would be unshakable.

"Sir, I have good news," Jesse Rice Water, who had been promoted from assistant footman to full footman with a daily wage of two copper coins, said when Liszt encountered him during his patrol of Tomato Village.

"What good news do you bring, Jesse?"

"I just inspected the tomato worm grass in Tomato Village, and I discovered that the tomato elf worm has hatched."

"Is that so? That truly is excellent news." Liszt was delighted; the seventh elf worm in the castle had arrived. He immediately led the patrol to John Pole's tomato field.

In the center stood a towering tomato worm grass, its branches bearing ripe red tomatoes.

On one of the dainty yellow flowers, a plump, red-furred fairy worm was basking in the sun with a lazy air. John Pole watched it nervously, for he had the duty to protect the fairy worm from any harm and prevent it from being contracted by anyone other than the lord.

Only the lord had the right to contract a fairy worm.

And only those with Aura or magical abilities could establish such a bond.

"Lord, John Pole offers you greetings on this festive day."

"Greetings, John. Happy holiday," Liszt replied briefly, then approached the tomato worm and sprinkled some jade powder to captivate its attention. He then coated his finger with the same powder and extended it towards the little creature. The Aura in his fingertip swirled as he exerted both his magic and the allure of the jade powder. Without hesitation, the tomato worm chomped down.

A fleeting sensation of telepathic connection passed, and the tomato worm had now formed a bond with Liszt.

Gort looked at the tomato worm enviously and chuckled happily. "What a joyous day it is! It seems the tomato worm chose this day to hatch as a gesture of holiday greetings to you, Liszt." If he had had a fairy worm in his fief back then, perhaps he wouldn't have ended up bankrupt.

"It's a clever fairy worm. I can sense that," Liszt smiled, turning to John Pole. "John, the tomato field where the worm resides will still be tended by you. Remember not to harm the worm grass; it's the most important existence in Tomato Village."

"Please rest assured, Lord. John would gladly give his life to protect it!"

He spoke with great enthusiasm, for the tomato fields near the Cordyceps were exceptionally productive and of high quality, meaning he could retain ample tomatoes after paying his taxes. For him, a life of prosperity had already taken off since Liston bestowed him with a Narda.

"Things will keep getting better from now on."

"I'll cultivate tomatoes for Lord Liston all my life!"

He watched the patrol team depart, his gaze fixed on that majestic and untouchable figure. His heart swelled with emotion: "May the glory of the knights forever shine upon Lord Liston."