Lord Daigo, the Lord of Hoshigawa province, was indeed a noble man. He had a wife and three kids, two female and one male. Though I haven't met them before.
I had finally landed myself a job in his mansion, although I was still being tested. I was already staying in the quarters for his workers.
I sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the wall as the events of the day replayed in my mind. I couldn't believe it. Me, a poor boy from the streets, had landed a job in the prestigious kitchen of Hoshigawa Castle. It felt like a dream.
I thought back to the moment Lord Daigo appointed me to the cooking team. I had expected to be turned away, not given a chance to serve the nobility.
And now, everything has changed.
I felt a mix of emotions: excitement, gratitude, and a hint of fear. What if I failed? What if I couldn't keep up with the demands of the kitchen?
But as I lay back on my bed, a smile spread across my face. I had done it. I had taken the first step towards a new life, one where I could make a name for myself and leave my past behind.
The stars twinkled outside my window, and I felt a sense of hope of possibility. Tomorrow, I would don my new uniform and take my place alongside the other cooks. Tomorrow, I will start my new life.
The next day, I was woken up by a man who introduced himself as Hiro. He was one of the guards who came to my rescue in the slumps.
"Good morning," I said, yawning.
"Morning. You'll need to come to the kitchen now." He said as I got up from the bed.
He took me to the kitchen where I met several other people.
"Good morning. I'm new here. My name is Natsuo." I said before bowing.
"Good, now come wash the dishes." The chief maid said.
*Well, that's kind of rude.* I thought, walking towards the pile of dirty plates.
*Am I to do these alone?😑* I thought, looking back at them.
The other guys looked away immediately before walking back to their positions.
"You won't be given any special treatments, okay." The lady said before walking out.
*Won't this be considered as one?* I thought.
It was already a week since I came to the Hoshigawa province, and I was still working on strenuous jobs.
After doing the dishes, I was asked to clean the kitchen, which was messed up when preparing the Lords lunch.
*This is heartless.* I thought while cleaning the floor.
*Soon, I'll be asked to trim the grasses.* I thought.
"Um..." I heard a voice call as I turned to the door.
"Hey, what can I do for you?" I asked.
*Who's that?*
"I want some snacks." The little girl said.
"Snacks... oh, the chief maid isn't here, I can't touch anything without her permission," I said, smiling at her.
"O-okay." She said before running off.
*Seriously, who's that?*
The only time I have time for myself is after cleaning the kitchen, after the Lords dinner. During that time, I run for the mountain to train.
*Message from the gods. You should train hard. This isn't the end of the road.*
I got that message two days after getting into the mansion. Tora wasn't with me. He had gone out for some business, which I clearly am unaware of.
Well, apart from my training, there's something else troubling me... I think I'm being bullied😑.
The Chief maid accuses me of breaking plates. Note: I have done no such thing. And because of that, she refuses to give me food sometimes.
I did nothing wrong to her, so why would she hate me? There was a day I went without any food. I couldn't report to the Lord, even if I wanted to. The other kitchen staff didn't speak to me, though they looked like they were pitying me.
A month had passed since I got into the mansion, and I was already regretting getting a job there. We were given our pay that day. Some were given 50 gold coins, some 100, some 120, the Chief maid got 500, and I...
*Wow.* I thought forcing a smile while looking at the bag containing 5 gold coins and three silver coins.
"So that's all, goodbye." The chief maid said.
"Um... escuse me ma'am," I called smiling while walking towards her.
"Huh?! What?" She asked, looking at me angrily.
"My pay, it looks too..."
"That's all you get. Continue with your behaviour and it will reduce." She said, walking out.
The others looked at me, nodded disapprovingly, before walking out.
*Yeah, this is obviously too little.* I thought before walking out.
*I think I'd rather trim grasses than stay here.* I thought.
"Oh, little boy, you were the one hired recently." The Lord, who just got back from the Kings castle said.
"Yes, my lord," I said bowing.
"You look... different." He said as my lips curled into a smile (I was bowing, so it couldn't be noticed.)
"In what way, sir?"
"Scrawny." He said as I smiled.
"It's nothing much, sir," I said.
"Okay, how do you like the kitchen?" He asked.
"Sir, I think all of them are doing a good job and I believe am in the way of their progress so I'd rather go somewhere else," I said.
"Hmm?" He asked while looking at me.
*Ah😮💨, just give me another damn job.* I thought as he smiled and nodded.
"Get the pay for this month and we'll see. I'm sure the others would be happy to have an extra hand." He said.
"Yes, my lord." I said bowing.
*Arghhhhh!!! I need another job.*
Just them, I saw the little girl who came to the kitchen the other day run towards him with two other kids. All of them looking my age.
*So she's the Lord's daughter?* I thought walking away.
Getting back to the kitchen, the Chief maid confronted me.
"What did you tell the Lord? You foolish child?" She asked dragging my ear.
"Argh... I didn't tell him anything." I said, trying to free myself from her grip.
"Come here, can you prepare food for him? Huh?!"
"I'm sorry ma."
"You won't be having dinner today." She said, letting me go. That made me fall km the floor.
"Ow ow Ow."
*I didn't even say anything to the Lord.* I thought.