It was early winter, and the room was extremely cold. I lay in the snow-white warm bedding, exhausted and unwilling to get up at all. But I knew I had to get up. The wake-up bell had just rang, and it was now 5 o'clock in the morning. I had to get dressed within twenty minutes and gather downstairs for breakfast.
I am a subordinate male servant in the estate.
Quickly put on the shirt and vest, washed your face with cold water, and put on a silver white wig.
On the hanger is a male servant coat with a black background and white stripes. I ironed it straight before going to bed last night. Carefully put it on, put on white gloves, and put on sheepskin high heels. In the mirror, I looked energetic.
When I left the room, I met Simon who lived next door. We didn't even have time to say hello and hurried to the servant's restaurant.
In the lobby downstairs, people were coming and going. A junior maid with a white apron covered in furnace ash was lighting the fireplace. The air was filled with a choking smell, which was the smoke emitted when damp dry wood was lit. It was obvious that the maid was a novice and had no experience in lighting high-end fireplaces.
Steward Selena hurriedly walked over and exclaimed in disbelief, "Oh my god! You're such a stupid girl. I'm almost driven crazy by you. How did you get these cigarettes! Are you going to make the masters choke on them early in the morning and not be able to have breakfast? Open the window quickly to ventilate, and you guys come over and light the fireplace for her." She commanded several maids to turn around.
Selena is the housekeeper of the entire Momon estate. She is over 40 years old, with neatly styled brown hair in a bun. She always wears a simple black dress, and there is not even a trace of pattern on the dress. She has a serious personality, never smiles, and sometimes is very strict. Under her gaze, many people are so scared that they dare not even say a word, just like the subordinate maid who did something wrong just now. She trembled with fear in front of Selena.
When I stepped into the servant's dining room, it was already filled with people. On both sides of the long dining table were three or four male servants dressed the same as me, as well as more than ten maids wearing light pink cotton fluffy skirts. I sat down in my own seat, quietly waiting for the arrival of the butler from Momong Manor.
I am just a junior male servant, sitting at the bottom of the table. Simon is also a junior male servant, sitting next to me. At this moment, he is quietly telling me that a new maid across from me is very beautiful. The buzzing sound on the dining table disappeared instantly when the butler Aaron walked in, and everyone stood up, waiting for Aaron the butler to sit in the main seat of the long table.
Aaron, the butler, has been serving at Momon Manor for nearly forty years. He has grown from a young man to a white haired man. It is said that he has been the butler of Momon Manor since his grandfather's generation. His son is currently studying in high school and will also become the butler of Momon Manor after graduation. Time flies, leaving only traces on his face, but his life trajectory remains the same for decades. After he sat down, he waved his hands to the people on both sides, and everyone sat down to start eating. No one spoke, no one made any unnecessary movements, just ate quickly.
At this moment, a bell suddenly rang. Two rows of bells hung on the snow-white wall, with thin wires attached to them. One of the bells was shaking.
The housekeeper Selena stood up and said, "Madam has already woken up. Now bring the coffee up"
Madam's two personal maids immediately put down their utensils and hurriedly ran towards the kitchen.
The servants at the dining table left one by one. Simon and I went to the main dining room, folded the white printed tablecloth on the long table neatly, put it in a basket, and then took out the new tablecloth that had just been dried yesterday, carefully covering it on the table.
The white tablecloth had some wrinkles, so I quickly ironed it with a kettle filled with boiling water until the tablecloth was completely flat.
The action is too slow, haven't you finished yet Two senior male servants walked in carrying a small table with silver utensils.
"It's already done, "I took the hot water kettle and said respectfully.
The senior male servants arranged the silver tableware in an orderly manner, one in front and one behind.
What are you still doing here! Go do what you should do A senior male servant glanced at me and Simon and said coldly.
Simon stood aside, wanting to learn how they placed utensils, after all, we were junior male servants and did not have the qualifications to serve meals. But unfortunately, the senior male servants didn't want us to learn anything we shouldn't know, they coldly drove us away.
Simon and I had to go to the kitchen, which was very lively. The chef is a tall man with a big belly, giving orders like a king and asking the chefs to hit him. The freshly cooked food has been placed on a silver plate, steaming hot and fragrant, and covered with a shiny silver lid. I took the tray and walked out of the kitchen, standing straight at the entrance of the main dining room. After the hosts were served, I handed the food in.
Simon also stood next to me with a silver tray, quietly complaining about the two senior male servants just now.
"What's so great about them? They're too arrogant."
"Shh, be quiet, you'll be heard, "I said.
"One day I will become the Viscount's personal servant, "Simon said.
"To be a personal servant, one must be literate, "I whispered.
I am learning spelling and recently asked Uncle John to help me buy a book Simon glanced out the gray window and said, "The weather looks bad. Are you going home today?"
"Three months ago, I consulted with Steward Aaron. I only have half a day off, and I have to go back regardless of whether it rains or not."
"Why go back? Give all your wages to your alcoholic mother."
I said, "She's got three kids to feed. She needs money."
"I hope she didn't immediately exchange all your money for alcohol, "Simon said sarcastically." You might as well go buy a new pair of shoes."
I lowered my head and looked at my sheepskin high heels, which were a bit old. Although I carefully wiped them to make them look very smooth, as long as I looked closely, I would find the seams at the corners. This is a very shameful thing. If the butler Aaron finds out, he may drive me away because I have lost face at Maumon Manor.
"Just find a craftsman to fix it, "I said as I looked at the shoe upper. Actually, my socks are also quite worn and need new ones.
Outdated shoes and socks, patched shirt inside, I look much more destitute than in my previous life.
I remember in my past life, at this time, I had just become a subordinate male servant at Momon Manor, holding the wages I had earned. Ambitious, ambitious, and competitive, I used all my wages to buy decent clothes, books to learn spelling and arithmetic, bribed senior male servants to teach me etiquette...
The hurried day finally passed, and I walked down the country road carrying a basket of bread that the cook had helped me bake.
In early winter, Yorkshire was desolate with tall grass. One or two shepherds were driving a few sheep along the path, while the black skinned sheep leisurely bit on the grass. A stray dog was running them around.
I took a deep breath and exhaled a lot of white mist. My nose was probably red from the cold, and I couldn't catch my breath. This feeling makes me uncomfortable and reminds me of a very similar pain in my memory...
...
The man suffering from severe typhoid fever was lying on an old bed, struggling to breathe.
The priest stood by the bed and asked, "Are you Owen?"
The man gasped, his face was white, he looked at the priest with fear, and said with difficulty, "The priest... Why are you here? you It's for me... Eucharist..."
The priest said, "No, I won't let you receive the Eucharist. You will get better. I just came, just... if you take advantage of my visit, such as pretending to confess or something, then I am eager to do so. I am a pastor and always seize every opportunity to bring back my lamb."
After a long silence, the man gasped for breath and nodded slightly.
The priest said, "God's mercy is boundless, my child, please follow me and say, 'I confess to the Lord Almighty... To the eternal chastity of Mary... '"
The priest paused every now and then so that the dying could follow. Finally, he said, "Well, repent..."
The man murmured something, as if he had exhausted all his strength.
"I lied to him, betrayed him..."
The priest repeated, "You are guilty of deceiving others..."
The man's breathing became more rapid, his body began to spasm, big tears fell, he kept repeating: "Cheat him, betray him..."
After a spasm, the man's breathing gradually stopped.
The priest laid the cross on the man and asked his neighbor, "Does he have any family?"
The neighbor said, "I don't know, he's been living alone..."
...
A cold wind blew, I shook a little shudder, shake off the memories in my mind.
Cold death seems like yesterday.
I was so awake that I didn't know if I was still dreaming.
I am a lost lamb, and I have sinned.
I don't know if the Lord forgives me.
If you forgive me, why does everything repeat yesterday?
If there is no forgiveness, why let me start again with memories...