Blood Holy Scripture: True Ancestor Charlotte de Castel
Chapter 63: -56- An Old Friend of Castel

Chapter 63: -56- An Old Friend of Castel

Charlotte hadn’t expected that Nisi, that lecherous cat, would have dabbled in the trafficking of intelligence.

Counting the time, it had been just half a month ago, likely when she was still in the Church Hospital.

That fella was really audacious—as a cat of the Church, actually pilfering from the Church itself, without fearing the wrath of the Great Priest.

She decided to have a thorough interrogation when she got home and to give him a fierce scolding to prevent herself from being sold out someday.

The carriage continued on its journey, entering the Outer City District.

This was Charlotte’s first visit to the outer district in daylight, it felt as if she had arrived in a different era.

Unclean streets, rows of cramped low houses—although better than the decrepit, abandoned district, the passersby were mostly clothed in simple and shabby attire, with pallid faces, as if time had suddenly rewound a century or two.

While just a wall separated it from the inner city, it felt like another world.

How to describe it? It felt like taking a bus through an urban tunnel in a previous life, moving from a shiny new district lined with skyscrapers back to an old district full of urban villages and dilapidated buildings.

If not for the occasional passage of luxurious carriages, she might have believed she had crossed over yet again.

"Master, would you like to visit our family’s store? Hearing the news that you’ve aligned with the Church, the servants are so delighted that they have returned and are likely working their lives away right now."

Sebastian said with a smile.

Charlotte: ...

She didn’t believe that the runaway shop assistants would return on their own, nor could the news of her alignment with the Church have spread that quickly in the Outer City District.

She was more inclined to believe that someone influential had forced them to return...

"No need, leave it to Casimodo. Let’s go straight to the best servant market."

Charlotte glanced at the sky, which seemed ready to clear, and said,

"Very well."

Sebastian nodded respectfully.

The carriage continued for about twenty more minutes before stopping in front of a secluded, old two-story building.

Charlotte glanced at the small building and saw a few skewed wooden boards nailed crookedly above: "Frank Hiring Intermediary."

"Hiring intermediary?"

The girl felt a stir in her heart.

"Indeed, if you wish to hire servants, this is the place. Frank Hiring Intermediary may not be the biggest intermediary, but it’s a subsidiary of the Rose Association, it’s one of us."

"It’s quite hidden; the average person simply can’t find it. Even your servant Mr. Casimodo wouldn’t be able to."

"Here, you can hire any servant you wish from Bold, even a Transcendent is not impossible!"

Sebastian said proudly.

After pausing, he smiled and added,

"Of course, I think you could also pick servants directly from the Rose Association, they are absolutely more professional, stronger, and more loyal!"

"No, this will suffice."

Charlotte shook her head.

The Rose Association’s servants were well-trained by Sebastian, which was not conducive to her practicing her Majesty Skill.

She wanted to personally build a team of servants loyal only to herself.

It was quite tragic.

Despite being the family head of a Great Noble house, heir to the Earl’s title, due to return to her fief to tend to her lands in the future,

Yet now, Charlotte had very limited people she could rely on.

All counted, there was just Casimodo, plus the current Sebastian.

Even Nisi, who had signed a life-and-death contract, could at best be considered half subordinate, seeing as that lustful creature was so unreliable.

And as for Sebastian...

Though utterly respectful, he probably also had his own motives and thoughts for offering her loyalty; the two seemed united but actually hadn’t formed a true bond.

As for the people from the Rose Association, they were loyal to Sebastian, not to her.

For those who had already pledged loyalty, they were no longer a blank slate, and her Majesty Skill would be of limited effect, especially as Sebastian held high prestige within the Rose Association.

Charlotte didn’t need the people from the Rose Association; she needed to find some real blank slates.

The kind that she could freely paint and shape into her own image—the raw jade!

Especially personal maids.

She truly wanted, and needed, to nurture a few maids who could serve her closely—maids who could be loyal without her having to hide her Bloodline identity.

Ideally, they would not only be young and beautiful, professional, and reliable but also possess transcendent powers...

Of course, for the time being, Charlotte was merely longing for them.

Wild Transcendents were either already recruited by Nobles or had grown up and become accustomed to their freedom.

As for performing the First Embrace on some people...

For now, Charlotte wouldn’t consider it, as it would increase the chances of her being exposed.

"Alright, everything must cater to your needs."

Seeing the girl’s polite refusal, Sebastian didn’t press further.

He signaled for the carriage to stop, donned his mask, opened the door, instructed the sub-human maid to lay down the carpet, then stepped down first and elegantly extended his hand into the carriage:

"Master, please alight."

Watching the sub-human maid lay the red carpet to the entrance of the small building, Charlotte twitched her lips.

But before she could step down, a middle-aged man with a limp hurriedly hobbled out of the building on his crutches, looking excitedly at Sebastian, now in disguise:

"Lord Sebastian, what brings you here?"

Sebastian: ...

"Sir, you have mistaken me for someone else, I am Stian, the butler of the master."

Sebastian said elegantly.

"Ha ha, don’t joke with me! Even with a mask on, I can recognize your elegant demeanor, not to mention that there’s a red carpet laid out!"

The man laughed heartily, pointing to the carpet with his crutch.

Sebastian: ...

Charlotte glanced at the Flame Elf oddly, and Sebastian, slightly embarrassed, coughed lightly and said,

"It doesn’t matter; he is one of our Rose Association members, so even if I’m exposed, it’s not an issue."

Continuing, he addressed the middle-aged man:

"Frank, this is Miss Charlotte. From now on, I’ll be serving as her butler, and when you see her, it ought to be even more respectful than when you see me. No, it should be far more respectful than seeing me!"

"You? A butler?"

The middle-aged man was stunned.

And when he clearly saw Charlotte and what came after, his expression suddenly became vacant, and he immediately froze, mumbling to himself uncontrollably,

"She’s so alike! Too alike! It’s uncanny!"

"Wait a minute, the Black Eagle family crest?"

Upon seeing the badge on the carriage, the middle-aged man’s eyes suddenly widened.

His body began to tremble, and he became incredibly excited,

"Are... are you the young miss of the Castel family? Lord Charlotte?"

Then, the middle-aged man fell to his knees with a thud, throwing himself in front of the young girl, choking up with emotion,

"It’s you! It must be you!"

"Lord Charlotte, it’s me! Do you still recognize me? I’m Old Frank!"

"I never thought I would see you again after ten years!"

Charlotte looked questioningly at Sebastian, who appeared startled,

"Um... this wasn’t arranged by me; I’m also unclear about what’s happening."

"However, I took Frank in a few years ago; he used to be a mage, but his magic circuit has since been destroyed."

"Frank has always been vague about his past. Adhering to the principle of ’doubt those you shouldn’t employ, and don’t doubt those you do,’ I have never pried too much. After all, what we in the Rose Association don’t lack are people with a past."

"Now it looks like... he may be an old acquaintance of yours."

"I was a combat mage! I was once a combat mage with the Bold Mage Group, always following the Count and Countess! My wife used to be the chief maid at the Castel Manor!"

Frank hastily said with excitement.

Charlotte felt a stir in her heart.

The original owners of her body, her parents, were once the commander and deputy commander of the Bold Mage Group. This middle-aged man with a limp claiming to have been a member of that mage group could indeed be an old acquaintance of the Castel family.

Furthermore, his wife was once the chief maid of the manor?

Charlotte meticulously recalled the memories she had inherited and realized that, indeed, there was a vague recollection of the chief maid being replaced a long time ago, but it wasn’t too clear.

But how had they fallen on hard times to end up in the Outer City District and under Sebastian’s care?

Charlotte was somewhat curious and also a bit puzzled.

She glanced at the citizens, who were gradually gathering in the distance to watch the excitement and revealed a comforting smile,

"Let’s go inside first, then we can talk slowly."

Upon seeing the young girl’s pure and warm enchanting smile, Frank was momentarily dazed.

But he quickly came back to his senses and hurriedly bowed his head respectfully before saying with excitement,

"Yes... of course! Mina will be so thrilled to see you, absolutely thrilled!"

...

Led eagerly, nervously, and with overwhelming excitement by Frank, Charlotte and Sebastian entered the two-story building.

What entered their view was an old-fashioned hall, where a sleepy old servant was nodding off by the door, and at the end of the hall was a bar. Standing behind it was a woman in her forties or fifties, her hair graying, but still faintly showing the charm of her youth. She was smiling as she introduced something to a few guests.

Behind her, a huge display board was covered with various servant hire information.

And on the dilapidated steps between the staircases, two pretty little girls in dresses were giggling with abandon as they played, accompanied by a beautiful young girl in an old maid’s uniform.

The young girl in the maid’s outfit looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, tall, with an exceptionally attractive appearance, and very fair skin.

She had long black hair and a pair of rare black eyes, which made Charlotte feel a sense of kinship.

However, that beautiful face, though exquisite, lacked vitality and was expressionless, like an iceberg.

The impression she gave was... like a high-and-mighty, emotionless beauty from the anime.

"Mina! Mina! Look who’s here!"

As soon as they walked into the hall, the limping Frank excitedly called out.

Hearing his voice, the two girls, the beautiful young girl looking after them, and the working woman all turned their heads simultaneously.

"Daddy!"

The girls called out sweetly, then fluttered into Frank’s arms like joyful pigeons.

"Father."

The beautiful young girl stood tall and elegant, giving Frank a perfectly executed curtsy.

Her voice was cool and almost devoid of emotional fluctuation.

After speaking, she obediently stood aside, her clear, cool, wary, and distant gaze sizing up Charlotte and Sebastian.

The woman engaging with the customers was somewhat impatient.

She put down the work in her hands and said coldly,

"Frank, I’ve told you many times not to always make a spectacle and lose decorum!"

However, when she saw Charlotte, her gaze quickly became fixed.

With a "clatter," the material in her hand dropped to the floor, and her whole body also began to tremble,

"Lady Catherine?!"

But soon, the woman shook her head,

"No... not her..."

"But... she does look a lot like her!"

Charlotte was moved.

Catherine was her aunt.

She had also lived in the manor before marrying into the Duke Mansion.

"Lord Charlotte! Mina, it’s Lord Charlotte! Have you forgotten? She’s our little mistress! She’s all grown up now!"

Frank said with excitement.

"Lord Charlotte..."

The woman was startled.

Then, she suddenly became agitated,

"It’s you! It’s really you!"

With that, the woman tossed aside her work and also rushed forward, dropping to her knees in front of Charlotte, her eyes red as she choked up,

"You’re here! You’ve actually come to the Outer City District!"

"Castel hasn’t forgotten us! Castel hasn’t forgotten us! Sob, sob, sob..."

With that, the woman broke down and began to cry uncontrollably.

...

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