The Manor

Everything seemed unchanged, yet everything had quietly shifted.

Tang Feiliu felt busier than ever, while Duke Edward seemed so preoccupied he was scarcely seen. He no longer had to report his daily activities to the Duke, who instead assigned Grandpa Dave as his partner. Tang Feiliu sensed everything accelerating once more.

He understood why, though. Grandpa Dave explained that the Duke had reached marriageable age. Not only would a ball be held at Black Swan Castle this year, but Empress Josephine had even arranged a ball at the Royal Palace of Lotte to select a future wife for him.

"All the lace in Barrot City is sold out now. Every artisan in town is rushing to make ball gowns for the nobility... So you understand, for the Duke's marriage, we must get busy." Grandpa Dave confided privately to Tang Feiliu. Tang Feiliu nodded solemnly and said, "I understand, Grandpa Dave. I promise to complete the task!"

Old Dave gazed at the naive child before him, his gray eyes softening. He ruffled Tang Feiliu's hair and murmured, "Just give orders to the servants. You don't need to do everything yourself, Little Lance. Your body isn't strong enough. Don't push yourself too hard, okay?"

"I know!" Tang Feiliu nodded. He would take good care of himself, but he would also give his all to this important matter. After all, he was growing increasingly fond of Black Swan Castle. Butler Dave had asked Tang Feiliu to call him Grandpa. Beneath the stern exterior of a butler, this old steward was actually a very gentle grandfather. Duke Edward understood his vision, supported his renovations to the castle, and even allowed him to remodel rooms to his liking within the castle... ...Such employers and colleagues, both mentors and friends, made Tang Feiliu—adrift in this unfamiliar world for over a year—feel as though he had finally found a family.

Working overtime, he completed everything at breakneck speed—by the start of the social season, half the castle's sewer system was finished. Now the castle not only provided comfortable, clean living for everyone but also had over a hundred newly renovated guest rooms ready to welcome visitors.

After successful testing, the floorboards were swiftly reinstalled. The walls were repainted and gaps filled. Once fully renovated and whitewashed, the place looked completely transformed.

Tang Feiliu gazed at his newly built bathtub and fresh bedroom, nearly rolling with delight!

This new room was perfect! It featured a small fireplace, white walls, clean floor tiles, and red brickwork adorning the hearth and the lower sections of the walls. The contrast with the snow-white walls created a look that strangely resembled the elegant, artsy little nest Tang Feiliu had decorated himself in modern times.

For the curtains, Tang Feiliu didn't choose the dark red velvet—though Grandpa Dave had said he could pick such luxurious fabric as a reward for successfully renovating the castle. But Tang Feiliu wasn't fond of velvet. As a bohemian-chic enthusiast, he opted for affordable pure white cotton fabric trimmed with lace, lined with smooth silk satin. This coordinated perfectly with his bedding, filling the room with brightness and a sense of pristine cleanliness. The sole accent of red brick softened the space, adding a gentle warmth.

When Tang Feiliu saw the room, he couldn't help but let out a delighted squeal—it was such an incredible sense of accomplishment. For someone who loved curling up in his own little nest, a comfortable, beautiful, and gentle space was practically the world's most essential need, second only to delicious food!

"You prepared all this, right? Thank you, Grandpa Dave!" Tang Feiliu surveyed the bedroom, so satisfied he wanted to roll around in delight. All the furniture remained in natural brown wood, sourced from the domain itself, with the color personally chosen by Tang Feiliu. Yet the soft, oversized white animal hide rug, the decorative accents scattered about, and the elegant ornaments outside... these subtle touches were undoubtedly Grandpa Dave's special additions.

"Most of these are indeed from my personal collection. This is to thank you, Little Lance. You've made my bedroom so beautiful, I feel like I'm sleeping on a cloud." Grandpa Dave chuckled. During this renovation, the servants' quarters also received a refreshing makeover. Since wood was affordable, Tang Feiliu had asked the castle's carpenter to refurbish some furniture for them—after all, while the Duke possessed luxurious furnishings and practical storage solutions, the servants didn't enjoy such privileges.

The servants' quarters weren't as comfortable as the main castle building. Stepping inside, it felt less like a castle and more like a university dormitory—tiny rooms, two people per room, divided into two wings. One wing housed the maids, the other the male servants. Each wing had its own entrance and enforced strict bedtime and wake-up schedules.

Only those residing on the top floor—Tang Feiliu, Grandfather Dave the butler, and personal valet Ivan—enjoyed private quarters akin to compact studio apartments. Senior male servants shared such studio-style rooms between two occupants... while the lower floors housed servants in far more cramped and chaotic conditions.

Duke Edward proved remarkably generous this time. Coincidentally, while commissioning a new set of more modern, comfortable furniture for the Duke, some scrap materials and lesser-quality wood that had been set aside were left over. Tang Feiliu seized the opportunity to repurpose these scraps, and the servants enthusiastically embraced the project. Everyone devoted their spare time to this endeavor—though the castle carpenters tasked with the work were nearly driven mad by the workload, they themselves received generous compensation. Not only did the steward specially order delicious bread and double wages, but some servants even contributed their hard-earned savings—hoping the carpenters might custom-make small items for them while modifying the furniture. After all, these servants in the duke's residence weren't hired hands from the countryside like those of a country squire. They were the duke's personal property, and barring unforeseen circumstances, they would reside here for a long time. Eventually, upon receiving the lord's blessing to start their own families, they would leave the castle grounds. They would move out, becoming craftsmen in the outlying areas, farmers, or other such workers.

Ultimately, the castle's servant quarters resembled modern university dormitories. The lower servants' single beds were refurbished, featuring uniform dividing curtains. Each floor had standardized washrooms. They possessed simple, side-by-side private wardrobes and individual bedside cabinets with lockable drawers for personal belongings.

Unlike the upper floors, the lower servants' quarters lacked individual fireplaces beyond the common hallways. Real fireplaces weren't merely for burning wood—modern people know how unwise it would be to burn indoors during York's coldest winter days when going outside or opening windows was impossible.

True fireplaces typically required ventilated flues. Connecting each room to one would be both impractical and uneconomical. Thus, as in the past, the servants' quarters relied uniformly on the kitchen's wood-burning stove for heating.

While this meant the servants' quarters without fireplaces were considerably colder, for those facing hunger and freezing temperatures outside, this arrangement was more than sufficient to keep everyone content and cheerful all day long.

In truth, this renovation had everyone buzzing with excitement. Even Duke Edward noticed the servants' recent, peculiar burst of energy. He asked curiously, "Is there some good news lately, Ivans?"

Ivans, who was unusually present at the Duke's side, pondered for a moment before replying, "Perhaps it's because of what young Mr. Lance has been doing lately."

Only then did Edward realize what Tang Feiliu had been busily working on lately. He paused for a long moment before slowly saying, "That's just him... He can't help but think about taking care of everyone... even though he himself needs so much care."

Ivans noticed the Duke's eyes soften for the first time—those dark orbs no longer seemed so cold and unapproachable. His own courage grew a little. Unlike Dave, the butler who had watched the Duke grow up, Ivans had become the duke's personal valet later in life. He wasn't particularly close to the duke, even harboring some apprehension—yet now, Ivans clearly dared to speak more personally before the duke for the first time. He smiled and said, "Everyone says young Mr. Lance is like an angel. Being around him always makes people so cheerful..."

Yet Evans immediately realized his mistake—his master detested hearing anyone called an angel. Like Black Swan Castle itself, the inhabitants of this place were branded fallen demons by the Templar's divine emissaries, and their master was personally acknowledged by the Templar as the son of the devil... Here, praising someone as an angel felt like a colossal mockery of His Grace the Duke.

Ivans desperately wanted to salvage the situation, to say something—anything—to prevent the Duke from erupting in fury.

But the duke only darkened his gaze. The ease on his face vanished, as if the earlier gentleness had been nothing but a fleeting illusion. He murmured softly, "Leave, Ivans."

"Yes, Your Grace." Ivan bowed and stepped outside, only then realizing that in those mere seconds, a fine sheen of cold sweat had broken out across his body.

Ivans quickly withdrew. Edward surveyed his surroundings—the study had transformed completely. Though still dominated by dark woodwork, the furniture's design had entirely changed.

Gone were the heavy, ornate pieces that evoked the weight of history. While still befitting a duke's status—with carved and gilded corners, and a solid gold three-tiered candlestick resting on the elegant, noble desk—the room now felt different. Edward rose and once again scanned the space carefully.

Everything here aligned perfectly with his aesthetic sensibilities—the old, ostentatious trappings left behind by the previous duke had been discarded, likely stored away in the warehouse by Dave.

Now, the furnishings were refined and tidy, retaining their nobility yet far more restrained. They radiated an air of dignified, understated brilliance—the result of Dave and Tang Feiliu's discussions. Dave saw this as an opportunity to erase the past entirely, presenting a fresh new image to welcome the new Duchess.

Though Tang Feiliu found the opulent antique pieces beautiful, the gold- and silver-threaded jewel-encrusted items felt undeniably excessive for daily use—even if exquisitely crafted.

Recalling classical European furniture, Tang Feiliu synthesized the current aristocracy's excessively ostentatious decorations and embellishments. He finally arrived at a design that even Dave the butler greatly admired. The finished product, as presented, clearly satisfied everyone.

If Tang Feiliu's room embodied a simple, European-inspired, fresh, and rustic style, then the Duke's own chamber adhered to the castle's design, filled with an understated elegance that retained an air of assertiveness.

To soften the overly austere atmosphere and complement the red fireplace, Tang Feiliu had the maids sew expensive dyed red silk pillowcases and sofa cushion covers for this room. The entire space was finished in deep ebony, with the walk-in closet and outer sitting room unified in tone. This matched the shade of Edward's private study where he handled affairs of state, while also maintaining a fresh yet curious harmony with the unchanged antique furniture in the main reception hall.

It must be said that as a gay man, Tang Feiliu possessed remarkable confidence in his aesthetic sensibilities.

Edward scanned the space as he walked, opening the wardrobe doors—this area was essentially brand new, meticulously organized and clearly laid out. Hats, garments, shoes, canes, everyday attire, and banquet accessories... everything was distinctly categorized. Clearly, young Lance had thoroughly explained all these storage methods to Evans.

Edward silently changed into riding attire, summoned his knights, and rode out of the castle that very night.

"This is the last hunt before winter. Usually, His Lordship would have gone earlier," Dave remarked the next day to Tang Feiliu, who had just come to find Edward. Tang Feiliu immediately deflated. After resting for several days, he had been preparing to seek credit from the Duke and casually request his own small estate!

He'd even planned to use the duke's reward to spruce up his estate before the heavy snows arrived, making it more comfortable. That way, during his leave, besides the cozy nook in the castle, he could enjoy his own idyllic pastoral life—one that was entirely his own and even more comfortable!

The castle renovations had bolstered Tang Feiliu's confidence. He couldn't wait to claim his own estate. He could start planning renovations in winter, then begin work as soon as the ground thawed in spring. Perhaps he could even devise ways to improve the lives of his own people during the cold months... Hearing Edward wasn't present, Tang Feiliu instantly deflated.

"But you can tell me," Dave said with a warm smile. "My dear little Lance, what troubles you?"

"I wanted to ask about... that little estate you mentioned earlier..." Tang Feiliu stammered, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Dave chuckled. "Oh, that. I thought you hadn't made up your mind yet. Well? Shall I bring the blueprints and maps for you to choose from?"

"Really?! I've made up my mind. Actually, I'd like it not too far from the castle—somewhere I can get to and back in half a day. Preferably with a lake, a river, or hills where I can grow wheat and fruit trees... though it's not essential if it doesn't have them..." Tang Feiliu's eyes lit up instantly, and she was so delighted she could barely contain her excitement.

When Edward returned, he brought back piles of beasts—some dead, some alive. Then, during dinner, after taking a bite, he suddenly asked, "Haven't had anything fresh in ages, have we?"

"Young Lance asked me for a small estate a few days ago. He was overjoyed. After wrapping up all his affairs yesterday, he requested leave and took a carriage to the place this afternoon. He said he wanted to properly see his new home," Old Dave said with a smile.

"Where did he choose?" Edward frowned immediately, setting down his knife and fork.

"Southden Parish. The folk there are simple and honest, and the squire has a good nature..." Old Dave looked up in surprise as Edward stood up, clearly intending to leave.

"...That won't do. If he wanted it, I would have secured a place for him long ago." Edward repeated firmly as he walked out. "Dave, from now on, regarding matters concerning Lance, you must consult me first before making any decisions. I don't want this kind of thing happening again, understood?"

"Sir Edward, what are you doing?" Old Dave followed behind, his voice hushed with alarm. "Do you truly understand what you're doing?"

"I know." Edward turned to face Dave, his voice trembling with frustration. After a moment's pause, he looked at him earnestly and whispered, "Dave, trust me. I know what I'm doing. I just... I just can't let him go that far. Trust me. I know."

Dave's gray eyes filled with sorrow as he looked at Edward. After a long moment, he said, "Sir, do you know? Many years ago, Miss Johanna said the same thing. She said she knew what she was doing—then she refused the Emperor's proposal and married the old Duke."

Edward patted Dave's shoulder and said in a low voice, "Dave, trust me."

After speaking, he avoided Dave's gaze with a faint look of awkwardness, hurriedly slipped on a coat, and set off. The carriage sped away, leaving only Dave's worried gaze behind.