"Have you forgotten to inform your servants the basic etiquette that must be present in a dining room John?" Smith asked as he observed the dining room that was plain and not what it was like when he lived here with me.
"I don't like to waste my time on useless things Smith. I only observed these things in the past because you were adamant about it."
"It is not waste of time John but..."
"Smith I called you here as one of my servant wanted you to test something for his majesty not talk about these minor things."
Saying the word majesty triggered the full attention of butler Smith. Seeing the curious and expectant eyes of Smith I called in George to bring in a plate with some slices of bread with the spread.
I took one slice and indicated Smith to have one. Curiously Smith waited until I started to eat a slice before he too took a bite of a slice. Suddenly his poker face was filled with all sorts of positive emotions such as surprise, bliss, dreamy etc. But after a few seconds he retained his emotions back in to reveal his static face.
"What is this? Why does it taste like the food cooked by the royal head chef?"
"This is a unique spread made by my servant George. My head chef tasted it and wanted you to help him groom his talent further."
"You want me to have him trained or work in the royal kitchen, to further his talent?"
"Yes"
Butler Smith-P.O.V
Butler Smith was puzzled for a few seconds 'Why does he not keep a talented chef like that with him, instead he is asking me to help him take away one of his luckily found treasure? Does he think his majesty might reward him for helping him find such a good cook or something? Or does he think I will put a word for him to his majesty, to help him out somehow?
He is so naïve. I controlled the smile emerging on my face.
No there is something more. If a noble was willing to invest in him, then there must be a reason why.
John is still willing to go forward with the competition, that means the noble, that supports him from the shadows, never relied on, or never wanted to rely on John's award. So what is it that the noble who is supporting John wants him to do right now using this chef?'
"What is it you want in return for finding and giving his majesty a rare talent such as George? If it is anything reasonable his majesty will give it to you."
"No it is fine Smith. Helping his majesty and giving him my talents are the least I can do for his highness."
'Is he truly naïve or pretending to be one? None of that is effective in front of me John, when my award can let me see your emotions clearly'
I used my award to read John's emotions from which I can deduct what he is thinking. 'Hmm interesting. You are calm as still water. You have been like that since that day.'
"That won't do John. If you won't receive a reward from his majesty then rumours might spread, that anyone helping his majesty will go unrewarded. And his highness is a man that loves to help those who helped him 100 times."
I want to see what you so desperately want that you would try to attempt this roundabout way of doing things.
John looked perplexed for a few seconds before saying "Smith there really is nothing I want. I have everything I need here."
"What about your co..." Damn it. He nearly made me say it. So, you want me to ask about your 'condition' to lead me and corner me into getting his majesty to help you with your condition.
"...mpetition? Don't you need some kind of help with it John? Ask and I will do everything in my power to help you with that, as long as it's a reasonable request."
I want to see how this is going to go. What are you going to do now?
Smith P.O.V end
I spent a few minutes thinking before saying "Actually I do need help with something."
I carried on "I am opening a new shop in the female market district. I just want that to be advertised everywhere in the whole market district, behalf of his majesty. I want everyone to know that I am opening a shop there. Will you be able to do that?"
Seeing the victories smile struggling to be contained in Smith's face he said "Of course. In fact this is least we can do. Is there anything more?"
I shook my head. "That is all I want, there is nothing that I want other than that." There is a limit to everything. If I go overboard with my request then he will use that as a reason to not carry out any of my request.
"If that is all I will take my leave." Smith stood up "Also boy get ready, tomorrow morning at 6 am, meet me outside the royal kitchen. If you don't know the way, ask your head chef, he will bring you there. Bring a sample of that spread of yours for the head chef." Saying that he left, without even looking back.
It was usually the head chef who prepared the main course of their meal for their masters while the other chefs just prepared food for other servants in the household or the side dishes. Asking the head chef to guide his way was saying to me that I can wait for my breakfast after the important things of his majesty have been done first.
Seeing the arrogant way, he walked, thinking he outsmarted me and won, while I just grinned.