When we got out of the alley again, some of the knights were waiting for us. They looked relieved when they saw us walk out of the alley until they realized there were four of us now.
"Eldest lady, the others have already left the restaurant to pick out clothes." A knight reported.
"Do you know where they went?" I asked.
"Yes, eldest lady. They gave us a map of the store they were planning to visit." He gave me a piece of paper which Sebastiene took instead.
"Okay, one of you inform mother that there is something I have to do first. I'll contact Uriel after it's done." I told them.
A guy with black hair volunteered to pass on my message. He was one of those from the Wind clan if I remember correctly. Sebastiene gave him the map and he quickly went off.
"Eldest lady, who are they?" One of the knights asked pointing at Aspez and Elaheh who were fidgeting behind me.
Another knight smacked him in the head.
"You shouldn't be asking the eldest lady that." He scolded. "Sorry eldest lady, he grew up on a village so he has no idea about etiquettes."
"Hey! What do you mean I lack etique-.. hmmmp hmmmp!" The other knights covered his mouth to stop him from talking.
"These are Aspez and Elaheh, I just hired them as servants for the castle." I answered anyway.
The knights looked at me then at the siblings who were shocked.
"They need a bath and some new clothes, they can't appear in front of Athy dressed like this." I turned to Sebastiene but changed my mind.
There was a lady knight with almost the same height than Elaheh, only not as thin as her.
"Dame." I looked at her but cannot recall her name.
"The name is Holga Rashid, my lady." She introduced herself.
"Dame Holga, please go find clothes that would fit Elaheh, and bring a male knight with you to choose for Aspez's." I instructed her. "Buy a whole set but keep it simple. They just need it for today."
Holga nodded and another knight with the same shoe size as Aspez volunteered to go with her. Sebastiene gave her a whole pouch filled with coins to use for the purchase.
"Seb, let's go to an inn and have them clean up."
Sebastiene immediately asked an older gentleman who was walking towards us where the nearest inn was. After giving Sebastiene the directions, the gentleman took a glance at me before his eyes went wide.
"A Castellan?" He whispered, trembling slightly before bowing down.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I am Levene Ajax. A descendant of the Ajax family." He introduced himself.
"Oh? A familiar name that could take me down memory lane." Sebastiene chuckled and I nodded.
Ajax was the family name that my ancestors bestowed upon the family that served as their butlers for generations. The butler position for the past Archdukes was also passed down from father to son. During the reign of father's brother, Opal, he changed his butler to a different one. It was not explained either, the Ajax family just suddenly disappeared.
"Would you like to come with us for a chat Sir Ajax?" I invited him, not politely but not rudely.
"It would be my pleasure, lady Castellan." He replied politely.
We walked towards the inn he introduced, left the siblings there to clean themselves. Sebastiene booked us a room in a café in front of the inn. We were served tea and some snacks.
"Sir Ajax, why did you leave your post as the butler?" I asked him.
"Oh no, my lady. I was not a butler, I was the head of the household before. Lord Opal chose a different butler for himself. I was only in charge of the upkeep of the mansion at that time." He answered.
"Then why did you leave?"
"I couldn't go on seeing how bad Lord Opal was becoming. The moment Lady Castellan lost her child, I left the mansion. To an Ajax, protecting the next line of Castellans are our life's mission, but I felt like I failed. I took my family and left Westreon, living in our old home town in the North." He replied, sadness in his eyes.
"Do you still want to work for House Castellan?" I asked him.
"I would love to, my lady, but I am already too old." He smiled.
"I see." I looked down and held the teacup with both hands.
"May I ask, my lady, who is the current butler of the Archduke?" He asked curiously.
"No one." I sighed. "The only butler in the castle right now is Sebastiene, my butler and guard."
"What?!" Sir Ajax's wrinkly forehead furrowed. "An archduke without a butler?"
"Yes. I am still actually looking for a butler, well, butlers." I smiled at him. "Having an Ajax serve us again would put my mind at ease honestly, but too bad that you are already old."
"My lady, I may be old but my son is not." He looked at me with determination. "He learned everything about being a butler from a young age and had worked under Lord Opal before. If you'd like, I will send him to the castle tomorrow."
I could feel the loyalty and protectiveness of this old man towards our house. I actually feel comfortable with him.
"Okay, tell your son to pass all the hiring processes and exams my mother and sister has prepared for the head butler position. If he really is an Ajax, I trust that it would be easy for him to do it?" I smiled at him.
"Think of it as challenge accepted, my lady." He smiled back full of confidence.