A/N: Got this one out quickly! Chapters will be uploaded from here on out semi-dependent on how popular this gets, but it should be around a week between chapters barring emergencies or vacations.
Thank you very much everyone and to the ever patient prowessMaster44. Enjoy!
~Chapter 5~
Xander only leaves for a few minutes, but for Nicholas, the waiting feels like an eternity. It's not good to leave an excited person alone in a room with just their thoughts for company.
For a few moments, such an abundance of thoughts are mixed together that even he can't figure out what to set his mind on. "What will Xander be like? What will the working conditions be like? I'm Xander's butler now! What will the co-workers be like? I'm Xander's butler now! Wow, this room is big. I wonder who else I'll meet in the castle now. I'm Xander's butler now!"
Nicholas starts to feel a little overwhelmed. Then he remembers the bookcase he saw when he came in. He decides to look at the books. In his childhood, he never had many books of his own, instead reading whatever he could find around Sir Daniel's home.
Nicholas walks up to the bookcase. Most of the books end up being about the art of combat and politics. Not extremely interesting to Nicholas, but it's the only thing that looks interesting there, and he desperately needs something to distract his mind. Carefully, he pulls out a small red book, brushes the dust off, and carefully pries open the thin pages.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting. If you're ready, I believe now would be a good time to show you where…" Xander starts as he returns to the room. In a flash of panic, Nicholas slams the book shut and shoves it back into the bookcase and whirls around to face him. For the second time this afternoon, Xander just stares.
"Never liked those books very much anyway," Xander thinks to himself. He then proceeds out loud. "Anyway, if you'll follow me, I'll take you down to the staff's quarters." He motions for Nicholas to come with him. Nicholas quickly walks over, and Xander takes them out into the hallway.
"Now, the two doors on the left–right when you come in the hallway–are Camilla and Elise's rooms. The first door on the left is Leo's room. The important one for you is the door not too far away from my room," Xander explains opening a wide door a few feet from them, revealing a large stairway winding downwards. Faint sounds of chatter echo up the staircase.
"Come, let me show you around," Xander says, motioning for Nicholas to follow him as he starts down the stairs. Nicholas follows close behind.
The stairs go down quite a ways; at least two stories worth. The farther down they go, the more sounds Nicholas hears. Finally, they reach another set of big double doors. Now the noises coming from inside are quite prominent.
"Here are the staff quarters," Xander says as he pushes open the doors.
For the somethingth time that day (Nicholas has lost count), he just stands there in amazement.
Now when he thought about a job at the castle before, he didn't picture it being entirely grand. He never had a very large living space serving for private households and didn't expect one in the castle. He knew it would be different, though since everything is ten times more royal.
But nothing could have prepared him for this.
The room that the doors open to is a stunningly massive lounge/work area, and even farther back, rows and rows of dining tables. The lounge area in itself surprises Nicholas, but the couches and tables are way more than he ever would expect to be in a staff's quarters for a castle. Of course, not many people he sees running about actually used the couches to relax; they are more of just a comfortable place to carry out the tasks given to them. Plenty of people are also eating at the tables.
At first, when they walked through the door, everyone was bustling about, as busy as they are expected to be. But as Nicholas takes in everything that he sees, people start looking towards the contrasting pair. Clearly, none of them pay any attention to Nicholas; he looks like he belongs there. Everyone stands at attention to Xander. People walking into the room from adjacent ones stop immediately. A king in the staff quarters certainly sticks out. Everyone stops what they're doing and stands as straight as possible which Nicholas finds akin to a forest of humans; tall and unwavering.
Xander laughs deeply but quietly. "You can continue, everyone. I'm just showing Nicholas around. Nothing exciting to see here," he assures. Despite being a direct statement from the king, people still hesitate to move again. Nicholas understands, though. Having the king in the room does something to one's nerves. Xander leads him further inside and shuts the doors behind them.
"This is the common room. It's for everyone employed here–which consists mostly of servers–to use. We have comfortable chairs and tables to work at, and it's always nice and warm down here in the winter. Feel free to work here with whatever I need you to do in the future," Xander states. The possibilities for productiveness swarm Nicholas's imagination. Having a comfortable place to work is the most important thing to him.
Xander leads him to the left. "Over here is the kitchen," he explains as he pushes open the thin doors, designed to be opened by someone with their hands full. A wonderful smell invades Nicholas's senses. He smells fresh bread and the sweet smell of pastries decorated with the finest icing. Fresh fruit being sliced on wooden cutting boards give a delightful citrusy smell. Shelves of spices and condiments line half of the left wall, all alphabetized (much to Nicholas's delight). Plenty of cast iron stoves, sinks, and counters are lined up throughout the room with cooks occupying various stations. It's an absolute heaven for Nicholas.
"...n't you, Nicholas?" Xander asks. Nicholas is so caught up in the marvels of this giant kitchen that he barely catches the end of Xander's question.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't catch your question. Could you please repeat it?" Nicholas apologizes, quite flustered. Xander chuckles.
"I was simply commenting that you will probably enjoy the kitchen, won't you. No need for a response, though, I can see your fascination," he explains. Nicholas stands up straighter, clearly embarrassed that Xander noticed his excitement.
"Since you will be spending a lot of time in here, why don't I introduce you to the head cook here? Her name is Teresa and she is very cordial to all staff members around. I'm sure you'll like her immediately," Xander offers. He leads Nicholas over to a short, plump woman with red hair and a rolling pin attached to her apron. Currently, she's organizing the massive shelves of spices.
"Good afternoon, Teresa," Xander greets her warmly. Teresa lets out a startled yelp, quickly places the jar in her hand, and turns around.
"Oh my stars, Xander, you frightened me! Nearly made me drop that jar o' pepper!" Teresa exclaims then bursts out in a hearty laugh. "Good to see you, though! Been awhile, hasn't it?"
Nicholas is shocked at her casual attitude. After all, she is talking to the king. Xander doesn't seem to mind, though; he even seems to expect it. "They must be very good friends, then." Nicholas reasons.
"Yes, it has," Xander confirms. "Though I can't stay very long. I'd like to introduce you to Nicholas. He was recommended to me by a friend, and I've decided to hire him as my new butler. I'm just showing him around."
"Really! You lucky boy!" Teresa exclaims turning to address Nicholas. "Exciting to be the right-hand man to such an important man like the king, isn't it Nick?"
Nicholas flinches mentally. "Yes, I am very excited, but please just call me Nicholas. I'm not that fond of nicknames."
Teresa's seemingly constant smile frowns for a second. "Oh, poo. I am ever so fond of nicknames," she says. Then her smile returns just as bright as ever. "But what does it matter to me! I'll call you Nicholas if that's what you really want."
"Nicholas is quite the connoisseur of the culinary arts, so I would bet that you two will get along just splendidly," Xander comments.
"Is that so?" Teresa asks. Then she turns back to Nicholas with a deadly serious expression. "Brassica nigra!" she shouts.
"Black mustard seed," Nicholas returns almost immediately.
"OH! A boy after my own heart. This is going to be exciting!" Teresa exclaims. "You know, that's the first time anyone has ever gotten that right. I'm going to have to come up with an even harder one now…" she continues in a secretive whisper to just Nicholas. Then her voice increased to its normal boisterous level. "Well, I'd best be letting you two get on with your tour. Though do stop by some other time Nicholas to try some of my bread. It's a tradition for new recruits." Nicholas nods politely. Xander thanks Teresa for her time and takes Nicholas away.
Xander leans down to whisper to Nicholas. "Teresa is quite proud of her bread. It's famous throughout the castle and the surrounding town."
None of the other rooms that Xander shows Nicholas impress him as much as the kitchen, but they are all intriguing, nonetheless.
First, is the laundry room, which is located through the door in the back of the common room. This room is filled with large sinks for washing clothes, clotheslines for hanging them up to dry, and wicker baskets for carrying the clothes.
Through a door on the left side of the laundry room is a sewing room. Inside are cabinets full of materials, plenty of sewing machines, and clothes hangers aplenty boasting everything from undergarments to flowing robes.
Finally, Xander takes Nicholas to the final door on the right side of the common room. It's plain but very thick and heavily bolted. He turns the large metal handle and walks outside with Nicholas.
Outside, is a quaint, beautiful path lined with small flowers leading into the square in the distance with a fountain in the middle. All around the square are rows and rows of houses.
"This is where all of our staff lives. It has easy access to the castle and you're free to relax in the fields if you have some time off too," Xander explains.
Nicholas can't believe how nice it is to work at the castle. "This is all so much, milord. I don't know if I can thank you enough," he says.
"Well, I believe the staff is the life of the castle, so it's the best we can do. Why don't I show you your house so you can get good rest tonight?" Xander comments and smiles at Nicholas. Nicholas nods.
Xander leads him to the house right on the far edge of the square. The house is a slightly lighter shade of purple than the rest of the houses and is made of brick instead of stone. Xander fishes out two keys from his pocket. "This first key is the key to your house. If you happen to lose this, just tell me and I can get another one made from the blacksmith." He gives the first key to Nicholas. "This second key is the key to the door we came out. Under no circumstances are you to ever lose this key, do you understand?" Xander says very sternly.
"Yes, milord. I understand," Nicholas replies. Xander gives the second key to him.
"I'll expect you in the morning at seven then. Have a good night," Xander says then heads back to the castle. Nicholas relaxes his practiced professional pose slightly and heads inside his new house.
The interior is nice and cozy. In the main room is a chair and a low square table with a brick fireplace. A small private kitchen and kitchen table are adjacent to the living room in the back, and a small bedroom with a nice bed is to the right.
Normally Nicholas would take some time to look around more, but he is tired enough that he immediately goes to the bedroom, changes into the provided nightclothes, and promptly falls asleep. Tomorrow will be an interesting day.