Farming with Entries: From Lord to Emperor-Chapter 456 - 248: Ember Breathing Technique
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Red Griffin Castle’s morning.
The mist enveloped the towering stone walls, the sky barely starting to lighten.
The lords of the castle were still asleep, but the servants were already busy, fetching water, carrying firewood, kneading dough, cleaning, emptying chamber pots...
All of these tasks had to be completed before the lords awoke.
A man with an unsightly face pushed a wooden cart filled with waste buckets through the castle yard.
The wheels rolled over the wet stone slabs, leaving a filthy mud trail behind.
"Can’t you clean the mud off the wheels before entering the castle?"
A young maid with a face full of freckles approached, carrying a clay pot, her tone displeased, "Little Luke, you’ll make us clean again!"
"Okay, okay, Sister Caitina, I’ll be careful next time!"
The ugly-looking man repeatedly agreed, his face full of flattery.
The maid called Sister Caitina snorted lightly, "Aren’t you going to help? This clay pot is heavy!"
"Alright, alright!"
Luke quickly stepped forward to take the clay pot, pouring its wild urine into the waste bucket.
At this moment, Caitina lowered her voice, her tone suddenly changing,
"Just got the message, Susanna didn’t return last night from her lover’s place, this is a good opportunity to complete the task, try to delay as much as possible."
"Okay!" Luke replied quietly.
"So slow!"
Caitina glanced at Luke with disdain, "There are still two chamber pots not collected, waiting!"
"Yes, yes, yes, Sister Caitina!"
Luke responded loudly, not daring to retort at all.
Caitina shook the lingering stench from the clay pot and turned to walk through the side door into the main castle building.
As a maid, she could freely move in most areas.
Caitina walked through the hall with the giant Red Griffin banner hanging from the dome without hesitation, skillfully bypassing the main staircase, heading towards the servants’ side stairs.
The spiral stone steps were narrow, allowing only one person to pass.
Caitina climbed nimbly and familiarly upwards.
The second floor was the guest quarters.
The third floor was the Red Griffin Clan’s noble living rooms.
Caitina stopped at the staircase leading to the third floor.
The fourth floor was the old Count’s private domain.
Caitina hesitated for a moment and, after ensuring no one else was around, walked towards the stairs leading to the fourth floor.
"Caitina, working so early?"
Just as she was about to reach the staircase entrance, an aged, deep male voice sounded from behind.
Caitina hurriedly turned around.
Frank the butler was leaning against the wall, his gaze roaming over her.
"Lord Frank, good morning."
Caitina bowed in greeting, her face plastered with a professional smile,
"Up this early?"
"I was thinking about you,"
Frank stepped closer, scrutinizing Caitina,
"Such a pretty girl doing such dirty work, what a pity."
His hand reached for Caitina’s chin.
Caitina unconsciously took half a step back but maintained her smile,
"You’re too kind, my lord."
"I’m just a lowly maid."
Caitina’s demeanor was respectful albeit tinged with some distance,
"Serving the castle is my honor."
"Hahaha!"
Frank couldn’t help but laugh, "You have such a sweet mouth."
"I think you could do more valuable work in this castle."
Ignoring Caitina’s refusal in her tone, Frank ordered softly: "After dinner tonight, come to my room, I’ll teach you well."
Caitina’s smile froze for a moment but quickly became natural again.
"Certainly, my lord."
"I will be there on time."
"Clever good girl."
Frank nodded contentedly, his hand casually brushing Caitina’s back,
"Remember, after dinner, don’t make me wait too long."
Frank reminded her and turned to walk downstairs.
As his footsteps gradually faded, Caitina’s smile vanished instantly.
"Old geezer, keep dreaming!"
Caitina clenched her fists, spat, her nails digging into her palms.
After several deep breaths, Caitina carefully placed the empty clay pot in another lady’s room, quietly stepping onto the fourth floor.
The corridor inside was dim, with faded hangings on the stone walls depicting the Red Griffin Clan’s battle history, the torch’s faint light casting shifting shadows.
Having snuck up a few times before, along with the Night Language Association’s provided information, Caitina was very familiar with the place.
Only...
"Where are the guards?"
Caitina nervously observed her surroundings.
Caitina had arranged everything—the sister who usually handled the chamber pot to the fourth floor had been drugged and was still asleep.
Caitina merely said she was helping out, and when the sister woke up, would have thanked her.
But the absence of guards now made Caitina uneasy.
The Count couldn’t possibly be without guards.
Forget it, better complete the task first.
Caitina held her breath, walked lightly, and casually approached the old Count’s master bedroom.
Before the bedroom door, Caitina reached out and knocked gently on the door,
"Honorable Lord Count, I’m here to attend to your chamber pot."
No sound came from inside.
Caitina quietly asked a couple more times, before taking out a small pry-bar—that looked like an extremely slender fish bone spike, its tip slightly hooked.
With her other hand, she took out a short flat iron piece even shorter than her little finger.
Caitina inserted the flat iron piece into the outer edge of the lock and fed the small pry-bar into the lock, probing like a fish spike slowly sending it inside.
"Click."
A light sound, the lock easily opened.
A trace of a smug smile appeared on Caitina’s lips.
Such feats, before joining the Night Language Association, were often done by Caitina to avoid starvation.
Silently sliding the wooden door slightly ajar, Caitina squeezed into the bedroom.
An obsolete damp smell hit her face.
But this wasn’t anything for Caitina, who often dealt with chamber pots.
The room was dim, heavy velvet curtains shut out the morning light, with only a sliver of light seeping through the gaps, illuminating the finely carved wooden bed.
