"Ah?"
Lin Ke's mother was snapped out of her daze after Lin Ke's reminder.
What was I about to do just now? Never mind, let me rub my own offspring first... Wow, Little Lin Ke's face is so nice to touch...
No, no!? What was I going to say just now...
Oh right! It's about sister...
Lin Ke's mother suddenly remembered and quickly put her hands on her hips, pouting slightly: "Lin Ke, tell me, did you talk back to your aunt today!?"
"I didn't." Lin Ke puffed out his cheeks, widened his bright eyes, and pretended to be an innocent little rascal... Well-behaved child.
What do you mean, never acting cute again? Ridiculous.
Lin Ke is a staunch fan of the principle of seeing is believing.
Upon hearing Lin Ke's words, his mother looked a bit puzzled, lowered her hand, and turned to look at the lady of the house.
The lady of the house smiled gracefully and amiably, waved her hand, and gave Lin Ke a provocative glance:
"Never mind, sister, it's not a big deal, just pointed at my nose and scolded me for being a woman of the Blando Clan, that's all, not a big deal, let it be, really, children just don't know better."
Lin Ke's cute face froze.
Lin Ke's mother's slender eyebrows furrowed and she put her hands back on her hips, her voice rising: "Lin Ke!! How can you speak like that!?"
Lin Ke pouted, and a mist started to appear in his eyes: "I... I didn't! I... wah!! I didn't!"
Crying!
Young Master Lin Ke actually cried!
The people in the dining room immediately panicked, many servants looked at Lin Ke with eyes full of pity.
They all know that Young Master Lin Ke is very good to them, the servants.
Of course, Butler Billy stood aside smiling, while the Guard Captain and the Head Maid lowered their heads, not daring to move,
Lin Ke would cry? Ridiculous.
However, Lin Ke's mother was flustered, quickly crouched down, and using both hands hurriedly started wiping Lin Ke's tears: "Don't cry, Lin Ke, be good, Lin Ke is a darling."
Meanwhile, the lady of the house stopped smiling when she saw Lin Ke crying, just watched quietly, their eyes filled with amusement, and said: "Forget it, sister, he is still young, just a child... Why not just grab a whip and give him a few dozen lashes and call it a day."
Lin Ke: "..."
Are you even human?
Lin Ke's mother gave the lady of the house a blank stare as well.
"Boo hoo hoo... I didn't... boo hoo hoo..." Lin Ke's voice softened into light sobbing.
Feeling heartbroken, Lin Ke's mother directly picked Little Lin Ke up, gently patting his back, and then said to the lady of the house: "Sister..."
The lady of the house reached out and gently patted Lin Ke's head, speaking softly: "Just a child, doesn't understand anything, maybe it was his close male servant gossiping and he overheard."
"Mmhmm." Lin Ke's mother nodded, and then patted Lin Ke's back: "Did you hear that, Little Lin Ke, you can't just say things randomly anymore~" She didn't mention Little John.
Before Lin Ke could speak, the lady of the house already moved towards the dining table: "Today's wild boar meat smells amazing, but sow meat is not tasty, I prefer roasted suckling pig, the soft and tender taste is truly fantastic, what a pity..."
Saying this, she stretched her hand towards Lin Ke's mother with a smile: "Sister, come on, let's taste this sow together."
Oh my.
This is bullying my own mother because she comes from a commoner family, using rhetorical techniques to insult us openly...
On his mother's shoulder, Lin Ke squinted slightly, a glimmer of sharpness flashing in his eyes.
Only the Head Maid standing closest behind saw Lin Ke's expression.
So Lin Ke glanced at the Head Maid again, who naturally lowered her head, pretending not to see the flash in Lin Ke's eyes.
In this castle, Lin Ke is kind to everyone, but is only strict with the Head Maid, Guard Captain, Purchasing Captain, and Farm Captain.
The four of them dare not act rashly.
"Come on, Little Lin Ke, sit yourself."
Lin Ke's mother placed Lin Ke in his seat, gently pinching his cheeks: "From now on, behave, be like a little adult, no more crying, got it?"
Oh my dear mother, you just told me not to act like a little adult this afternoon.
Though Lin Ke felt helpless inside, he still nodded vigorously: "Okay!"
Next, it's dinner time.
Lin Ke didn't bother to struggle with the lady of the house and focused on his food instead.
The maids first brought up three basins of clear water for handwashing, and after washing hands, prepared to take them away.
"Leave the basin, please." The lady of the house held up her hand to stop them, then waved to the Head Maid.
"Yes." The Head Maid bowed in response and signaled to the maids behind her.
So the maid brought up the mint water in a wine glass again, letting Lin Ke and the other two rinse their mouths.
After rinsing, the lady of the house spat the water into the basin and then said aloud, "For future dinners, let's all spit our mouthwash into the washbasin!"
The dining room fell silent for a brief moment, not more than a second.
Then Butler Billy was the first to bow after hearing this, saying, "Madam's noble conduct is truly more dazzling than the noon water of Orland Lake to the south."
The head maid also bowed and praised, "Madam's consideration for the servants is an honor for them."
Even Lin Ke's mother smiled slightly when she heard this and said to the Lin Ke beside her, "Little Lin Ke, did you understand? Your aunt's way of doing things can reduce the number of servants carrying mouthwash basins by three, allowing them to do other things... Sister is really too kind! Moreover, we can save a bit of money!"
Lin Ke: "..."
When he becomes King of Azanen, he will abolish all these pre-dinner washbasins and mouthwash, and then his character will be more dazzling than the sun.
He was too lazy to speak.
Now he was just a child; even though he sympathized with the servants, the derived etiquette of the era was something he found hard to shatter.
These noble etiquettes often weren't truly necessary, but they existed as a way for nobles to distinguish their status from commoners and slaves.
Before he had enough power, he wouldn't try to overthrow or resist, as this would incur disdain and exclusion from the entire noble class.
In his contemplation, the crystal-clear chilled bluegrass, the petite and refreshing pure purple raspberries, and the pickled sour fruit were enjoyed one by one by the three of them.
With the appetizers finished, the main course followed.
After the main course, there was the side dish, then snacks, then desserts, and finally fruit juice after dessert.
The portions were carefully tested and adjusted according to their three appetites.
Not too much nor too little, with just several pieces or small platters, little but exquisite.
Only today's wild boar meat was slightly more, but the leftovers could be given to the servants—they didn't need to finish it all.
Yet by the time they reached the side dishes, Lin Ke was already feeling quite weary.
After all, the sitting posture, gestures, and so on during the meal all required to appear exceedingly elegant, and one couldn't speak until drinking the fruit juice!!
Even though he had been practicing since he was three, it was still a bit unbearable.
Lin Ke couldn't help but think viciously: When I become the King of Azanen someday...
Wait, hold on.
A sudden flash of inspiration hit Lin Ke.
Sometime in the future, becoming... the King of Azanen?
Perhaps... it's worth a try?
Finally, when it was time to drink the fruit juice, it was then that they could freely speak.
The lady of the house and Lin Ke's mother had not yet spoken, still having their mouths wiped by the servants.
Wiping their mouths with silk napkins that had been rinsed many times—after all, such napkins were very expensive.
Only the true great nobles could afford to use one per meal, while they could only change it when it was too worn.
Lin Ke, before having his mouth wiped, suddenly spoke and solemnly said, "I am... the King of Azanen!"
I am... the King of Azanen...?
The atmosphere in the dining room suddenly froze.
Everyone, including the bowed servants, all simultaneously turned their gaze to the cute little child at the dinner table.
Quiet... silent... peaceful... and then...
The atmosphere was frozen for more than ten seconds, ten times longer than when the lady of the house previously announced no more mouthwash.
"Pfft～"
Lin Ke's mother suddenly covered her mouth and laughed, but knowing it was inappropriate.
So she quickly picked up the berry juice, took a gulp, and tried to hold back her laughter as she said, "Little Lin Ke! Little Lin Ke, it will be so many years before you could become the King of Azanen!"
The lady of the house said nothing.
Butler Billy discreetly glanced around, then with a beaming smile said, "Looks like our master's Torrential Knight Order now has a successor! The glory of Azanen can continue to protect us for many, many years!"
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately wore expressions of expectation and shared pride.
However, Lin Ke was currently too lazy to deal with these people's sycophancy and instead quickly checked the system.
After all, he was now a child, free to say anything without consequences.
He blinked his eyes.
ps: New book period votes are so important! Asking for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, mwah~
ヾ(´∀｀.ヾ)