Chapter 218: Castellan Julio
The manager motioned to someone at the door, and a moment later, a whip-thin man in his later middle years with silver hair at his temples and sideways slitted eyes that spoke of nonhuman heritage entered.
"Manager, how may I be of assistance?" He asked.
"Julio, Duke Wistover is looking for a Castellan, and I thought that it might be a good opportunity for you."
The manager’s hands said the exact same thing, confirming that it wasn’t a trick. The Accountant smiled as he noticed Dominic, then bowed politely.
"I have heard much about you, My Lord. Will this be a long-term request? Or a transitional position during the rebuilding?" He asked.
"Long Term." Dominic agreed.
{With the chance to make the role hereditary if you have a trained heir.}
The accountant nodded.
"I would be honoured to join you."
{Are you taking that mad carpenter’s family? The wife is broken, her mind is about gone.}
"Does the Guild have a work contract on hand? I like to put everything in writing." Dominic agreed.
{He can deal with her issues when they arrive. The carpenter isn’t house staff. Just as long as the daughters aren’t trouble.}
As they were silently speaking, the women in question were brought into the room with veils covering their faces, but Dominic had no problem determining which was the mother.
Her posture was off, as if she was staring into space, and while her eyes had thin cloth over them, he could still see the age wrinkles around them that the others lacked.
The manager cleared his throat. "Ladies, the Duke of Wistover has purchased your debt contracts today. You will work for him until your debts are paid. However, the Duke is a kind man, and he has agreed to hire your father as a skilled tradesman.
That should greatly reduce the time needed to pay your debts.
Greet your new employer, and gather your belongings."
"Thank you, My Lord. We are grateful for your consideration. Did our father find you?" One of the girls asked.
Dominic nodded. "He was at the auction looking for funding. He had skills that my household needed, so I will be taking you in as cleaners. Your father may pay off your mother’s debts on her behalf."
The girls curtsied, and Liz shot Dominic an annoyed glance. What was the point of bringing her if she wasn’t even going to get to vet the ladies.
"Liz, go with them, and help them carry their goods." Dominic instructed.
She could talk to them privately, and Dominic would find a new role for them if they weren’t suitable.
The Merchant Guild’s assistant brought out a work contract, and Dominic carefully read it over, then filled in the offered wage, as he remembered it from their budgeting session.
Then, he passed it to Julio, who read through it, then signed at the bottom.
"I will pack my goods for the next few weeks, and arrange for the rest of my belongings to be sent along with the next Guild convoy." Julio announced, then extended his hand to shake Dominic’s.
"That works for me. We will be renovating everything, so it’s better to not have too much to unpack the day we arrive." Dominic agreed.
"I understand, Your Grace. I don’t have too many essential items, but I do have a few heirloom pieces that won’t be convenient to transport today." Julio explained.
Liz returned a few minutes later with the rest of their new hires, and a determined look on her face.
She nodded in approval at Dominic, and her position said that she was feeling protective of the new maids. That should be a good sign, Dominic thought. If the scullery maid and the cleaning maids got along, they could all work together.
Initially, he had hoped that the mother might be an option for their first head maid, but she still looked like she was lost in her own little world.
Dominic took out a level five Uncommon Grade mana revolver, made with the [Clay To Steel] process, and placed it on the table next to the tea set.
"Does this cover the debts and the referral fee for Julio?" Dominic asked.
The Manager smiled. "And then some. It will also cover the shipment of his remaining belongings. I know what he needs sent to him."
They had gathered more people than they had come for, Dominic realized as he led the procession through the city. They hadn’t intended to get more than six people, due to the space that they had remaining in the carriages, but he had ended up with eight in total.
That was definitely a mistake on his part, but one day of cramped quarters or riding with the luggage was a burden that wouldn’t cause any lasting harm.
"You know that you’re going to catch hell when we get back, right?" Pops asked as they left the main city and entered the scattered tents of the outer refugee camp.
"Perhaps I can sell it as looking for a reason to have her sit in my lap for the rest of the trip instead of me being bad at math?" Dominic suggested.
Alexis didn’t speak at first when they arrived back at camp, she just stared at Dominic, waiting for him to explain.
"You see, it happened like this." Dominic began. "We met Tena, and she had all the qualifications we needed for a gardener. Both for the food gardens and the decorative. Then we were looking for more workers, and we came across John, who is an experienced carpenter.
Just what we needed to rebuild the houses around the manor.
But John’s family was under debt contract to the Merchant’s Guild. So, to recruit him, I bought out their contracts.
Then, the Manager suggested Julio here, who is one of their own Accountants looking for a promotion. If he works out, he should be suitable as the new Castellan."
Alexis sighed. "I should have known something like this would happen. It looks like it will be a crowded trip."
One of the Royal Guards cleared his throat. "If the lovely ladies need a lap to sit on, I don’t mind volunteering."
John’s daughters all backed away, and the Guard was promptly smacked on the head by both Colonel Wilkes and Ella at the same time.
"Serves you right. You don’t even know how old they are." Alexis snorted.
The Guard shrugged. "Milady, I don’t reckon it matters. I’m riding with Wilkes, and he wouldn’t let me get away with anything anyhow."