Chương 22: Chapter 1.22: Majordomo

Favius gave his personal slave a frosty smile.

"I do not believe I'm going to do that." The crunch of gravel told him Brutus had stopped behind him and turned around. Tiro raised a single eyebrow.

"You're not going to follow your mother's instructions and speak to the majordomo?" Favius shook his head.

"I'm going to speak to the majordomo, but Brutus will join me." Tiro looked from Favius to Brutus behind him and shook his head.

"I do not believe Lady Ovinia Loran will approve of this. If you would wait here, I will inform her." Favius narrowed his eyes. So they are plotting, too. But why isolate me from Brutus? I guess she wants to turn the majordomo against me. And it's a safe bet that Cassian is going to be there. Tiro was about to turn, but Favius took a few steps forward and grabbed the man by the arm. He flinched at the touch, then froze.

"Young master?" he inquired, still the perfect image of politeness. Favius suppressed a sneer. Impressive that he's still so respectful when he's clearly Hesnia's lackey.

"I do believe you wanted to lead me to the majordomo, so please lead on." Tiro swallowed, and Favius had to suppress a satisfied smile as the man stammered for words.

"I was instructed to bring you alone."

"I'm instructing you differently. Take me and Brutus to the majordomo." The servant swallowed.

"I will, as soon as I have consulted—""No, I insist you do it right away," Favius said as Brutus stepped up behind him. Whatever plot's going on here… Favius tightened his grip while Tiro squirmed. They clearly have something planned, but why would they ever think I would leave Brutus behind? I'm going to talk to this majordomo. I've only seen him at a distance. The gray-haired, cunning man who was at the reception. Tiro glanced toward his siblings and Hesnia, set his jaw, and turned to Favius.

"Sadly, I must take care of the lady's orders before—" Favius made a gesture behind his back, and Brutus growled in a way that made Favius suppress another chuckle.

"I believe the young master gave you an order, cur." Favius had to keep himself from chuckling at Brutus' thick, threatening country accent.

"Lead on." For a moment, Tiro looked between them, then over his shoulder, before slumping.

"Very well. If you would please follow me." They left the gardens and walked toward the main building of the estate. Brutus reached forward and squeezed his shoulder. Favius glanced back, and the man nodded reassuringly. Favius returned the nod before continuing his train of thought. All the while, Favius considered the situation. If Brutus is to be believed, there's far more politics here than I can see. So the question is, who's on which side? Brutus and my sisters? Clearly on mine.

Then there is Hesnia and Cassian, and Tiro, but— He narrowed his eyes. Marcus? Marcus seems to let things happen in this house. And Serran seemed to defer far more to him at the meeting. So at best he's neutral, at worst he serves Hesnia. Soon they turned into another wing of the estate, where the gray-haired man waited outside a room, speaking with Cassian. As soon as the tutor noticed Favius, he gestured dismissively at Tiro and smirked viciously.

"See, boy? You may think you can run around here doing what you want, but your father is no longer in charge." Favius swallowed the boiling anger. So Brutus was right. He truly is an asshole. He frowned at the thought. For a brief moment, panic fluttered in Favius' stomach as he noticed no one behind him. I'm alone. Brutus has— No, he remembered the man's nod as he squeezed his shoulder. This is another plot. He stepped forward, deliberately hesitant, and looked to the floor.

"Tutor, I was told you wanted to speak to me," he said, putting childish uncertainty into his voice.

"Indeed," he replied.

"You may see no need to respect me or the lady of the house, but I believe you understand the role of a majordomo, yes?" Favius glanced at Serran Vale, whose expression was neutral or slightly disapproving—it was hard to tell. The majordomo cleared his throat and inclined his head slightly. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Young master, it is a pleasure to finally meet, though I wish it would be under better circumstances." Favius nodded contritely, but his mind was racing. If I remember the books about estate management correctly, the majordomo holds a strange position in practical matters. He is second only to the master, to Marcus, but the scroll kept circling around the relationship between the majordomo and the lady of the house. Their authority is parallel, unless I misunderstood things.

Favius resisted the urge to look over his shoulder as Serran stepped into his office. Cassian bowed in a needlessly elaborate manner, gesturing for Favius to step into the room. What is Brutus up to? He took the first step, but suddenly the corridor's door to the main estate opened, and Brutus stepped through, his axe in hand.

"Excuse my tardiness, Dominus," he called down the corridor and hurried to Favius' side. Relief nearly drew a sigh from him, but Cassian's face soured in an instant.

"You were instructed to come alone, child." Favius shrugged and mirrored the sickly sweet expression that had been on the man's face a moment ago.

"And I came alone. But now my bodyguard is with me again. So I don't think you have any cause to complain."

"Do not try such simplistic rhetoric on me."

"Or what?" Brutus growled, putting the country accent on thick again. Cassian swallowed whatever he had been about to say and looked at the majordomo, who stood in the doorframe with his hands crossed, surveying the corridor. Brutus inclined his head.

"Majordomo." The old man clicked his tongue.

"Ovinius Kestrelo. I was instructed by the lady to talk to the young master about his behavior and the importance of discipline in this household." He studied Brutus for a moment before adding, "In private." Brutus nodded and stroked his beard.

"I have no objections to a private discussion regarding matters of manners. Do you, Favius?" Favius shook his head and looked from Cassian to Brutus, then let his eyes widen slightly.

"I do not. A private discussion between me and the majordomo seems appropriate to the situation."

"So you will wait outside?" asked the majordomo.

"I will. It wouldn't be private otherwise," Brutus replied. The majordomo nodded and entered the room, and Favius followed. After he had taken two steps into the room, he heard the expected enraged outcry behind him.

"What do you think you are doing, brute?" Favius narrowed his eyes as the majordomo turned his head. Is he—was that a smirk? Brutus held Cassian by the arm, preventing him from entering the room while closing the door with the other hand.

"I believe we just discussed that there was to be a private discussion between my ward and the majordomo, so I see no reason for you to enter the room."

"Th-that—" Cassian stuttered, and Serran Vale raised his hand.

"That seems quite reasonable. Or do you believe me incapable of handling an unruly child, Norvius Lector?" Cassian's face scrunched up in rage, all the starker against Brutus' smile as he slammed the door. The man sighed and settled onto his chair while gesturing to the smaller, uncomfortable wooden one in front of the desk. Favius sat and leaned back. I have a chance, a one-on-one discussion. Maybe this is a time to make an ally. Serran leaned back in his chair in turn and studied Favius.

They waited in silence until Serran Vale smiled and nodded at Favius.

"It's a pleasure to finally talk to our new young master in person. I have been told"—he glanced at the door—"quite a few things about you." Favius nodded and smiled in turn.

"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Majordomo."

"Please call me Serran. Everything else would be unbefitting of your station. Despite what I have been ordered to talk to you about." Favius narrowed his eyes. He's polite. But so was Cassian the second time I encountered him. Serran tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk.

"Cassian Norvius Lector, your tutor, told me that you ordered your protector to insult him during the lessons. I hope I need not explain why that is… deeply inappropriate." Favius let out a breath.

"I did no such thing. My bodyguard acted on his own initiative." The older man shook his head.

"That may be, but given that he is your sworn protector, his actions reflect on you, as will the actions of any member of your household in the future." Favius hummed before replying.

"So what do you suggest we do?"

"Your tutor has requested that during the afternoons, at the time when he is to teach you and your siblings, your protector leaves the estate." Favius snorted and raised an eyebrow at the man. Yet Serran Vale did not rise to the bait and merely regarded Favius neutrally. I have waited and seen what he has to say. Time I go on the offensive.

"I believe you are making a mistake."

"A mistake?" The majordomo raised his eyebrows in turn and leaned forward. Favius felt an odd sense of danger from the man, but pressed on.

"You may have been told by my mother and my tutor that I am nothing but an unruly child, but do you actually know what happened during the lessons? Do you know why Cassian was so upset with me in the first place?" Serran Vale shook his head.

"He merely said your behavior was inappropriate." Favius nodded slowly, buying himself time. Estate management. Well, it's mostly accounting and coordination, and from what I've read in the library— I could threaten this man, but the carrot is often more effective than the stick. And if I can show my value to him… He gestured at the stacks of wax tablets lying around the office.

"I bested Cassian in mathematics, and he has been sulking about his defeat ever since." Favius looked the man in the eyes.

"Mathematics I could share with you that would make your job easier and this estate more prosperous." Serran stared at Favius for a long while.

"You… you are serious," he ventured. Favius allowed himself a careful smile. He's not laughing me out of the room. That puts him ahead of most of the adults I've known in either of my lives so far.

"Indeed." Favius began questioning the man about estate management, using what he had read to raise problems of organization and calculation, and with each answer the man's eyes widened. After a while, he grabbed several wax tablets, and Favius demonstrated multiplication and division. Soon, all the mistrust had disappeared from the majordomo's eyes as he pushed more tablets toward Favius and set him problem after problem. Favius kept hinting and helping, but was careful not to reveal too much.

After nearly an hour, he leaned back and steepled his fingers.

"So, Majordomo, you've seen how I can help you." He gestured at the piles of tablets and calculations that the majordomo had carefully placed on the side of his desk.

"But my time is valuable, so… would you like me to teach you how to use numbers like this?" The majordomo looked at him, calculation returning to his excited expression, and let out a long sigh.

"You want to use me to get rid of your tutor, but—" He shook his head.

"That I cannot do. Those numbers and your knowledge, they may be interesting, but—""What's the problem?" said Favius, leaning forward. The other man's expression turned conflicted, then he leaned back and began explaining.

"Cassian Norvius Lector's father is a senator who is closely allied with the Dominus. It is customary for young philosophers to work as tutors to be seasoned…" The man pressed his lips together in a sour expression. Favius chuckled in return, thinking of how the man had talked to them at first.

"Removing him…" He shook his head again.

"It's impossible." Favius pressed his lips together. God fucking damn it. Is this really failing? What else can I offer him?

"But—" The older man raised a hand.

"I do have a suggestion."