Investigation

It was October, and Allen had turned ten. This month marked two years since he had started working at the mansion.

Before he came here, he had planned to work as a footman for two or three years, then tell the butler that the job simply wasn't right for him and leave. He still intended to quit at twelve, but he felt he had become quite involved with the Granvelle family over the past two years.

As he thought about how he would be saying goodbye in another two years, he was determined to keep doing his job properly every day.

In the mornings, he ate breakfast while chatting with Rikkel, the head footman. Allen had turned ten, and Rikkel had turned twenty. When Allen mentioned that he'd been working at the mansion for two years, Rikkel said he'd been there for twelve. Before becoming a footman, he'd spent years as a page, making him a real veteran. Allen was grateful that Rikkel always humored him.

There had been gradual changes in his work looking after Cecil, too. Cecil had turned ten as well, and Allen felt that she was making fewer childish demands. He also had far fewer chances to run errands for her in town. Her personality, at least, was as difficult as ever.

Another change was that, starting today, the butler had told him he would be paid one gold coin a month for his hunting duties. That meant his pay this month would be two gold coins: one for being a footman and one for his hunting work. He'd surpassed the head footman's salary.

Today, the Knight Commander was returning from surveying the mithril mining sites. Allen had sincerely hoped he'd give his report in the dining hall rather than the meeting room, and he was told that the report would be given in the dining hall. That was a great help, since Allen could learn about the Knights' survey.

Since the report would take place over lunch, Allen listened closely as he served the meal.

"So, what is the situation at the mithril mining sites?"

The Baron immediately asked the Knight Commander about the state of the sites. Once they'd learned in March that the White Dragon had moved to Carnel Viscounty, he'd quickly ordered an investigation...