123 Yvonne Voigh (1/2)
The time had come.
In those last three days, Konrad had managed to condense three Supreme Meridians on top of the three God Meridians he'd already unlocked. However, he still needed six more to complete the most outstanding of first Fleshly Transformations. Perhaps through Yvonne, he could glean some insight on how to accelerate the process.
”Understood, your majesty.”
With that said, Konrad excused himself. A duo of Verena's personal attendants awaited on the outside. Unbeknown to him, as he exited the room, a mixture of loss and expectation intermingled within the empress' face.
”I hope you won't disappoint me.”
…
”One of Noble Imperial Consort Yvonne's head-eunuchs died recently. Her majesty arranged for you to replace him.”
Said one of the attendants while briefing Konrad on his new position. Konrad understood that the head eunuch's death was most likely arranged for the empress' convenience, but that didn't bother him in the slightest.
”You can tell her majesty to await my good news.”
With that said, Konrad took his leave.
He first returned to his chambers to pack some miscellaneous things before heading toward Yvonne's palace. It wasn't that he needed them but moving in without at least a bag was far too suspicious.
Yvonne's palace was located several miles away from the empress'. Thus, several teleportation circles were required for Konrad to reach it in the shortest of times without using his cultivation.
It would be a lie to say that the prospect of meeting the world's number one talent didn't excite him. Although she'd fallen from her pedestal, surely, some of her past bearing remained.
As Konrad reached her palace, he was surprised to see that unlike Verena's which brimmed with luxurious elegance, Yvonne's maintained a relatively simple air. While larger than the Kracht mansion, both the walls and buildings carried no extraordinary design, looking like a complex of commoner dwellings.
But as Konrad reached the entrance's gates, he was forced to admit that commonness wasn't something this palace possessed. A pair of eunuchs stood guard, preventing him from stepping in. Their cultivation was nothing remarkable, stagnating in the middle stages of the True Knight Rank.
However, within their eyes, an arrogance comparable to Wolfgang's, before his submission to Konrad, remained.
Though feeble, they seemed bred with an aura of pride and superiority, preventing them from feeling inferior in front of anyone. Seeing them, Konrad was perplexed.
”Present your token and state your purpose.”
They declared in tandem. Without delay, Konrad presented his identity token.
”My name is Konrad, I was recently assigned by the central department to this palace as a head eunuch.”
He replied with a friendly smile.
Upon checking his token and verifying his identity, the two opened the gate.
”You can step in. The central department has already warned us of your arrival. Our palace maids will lead you to your quarters and introduce you to your new tasks.”
Konrad nodded and stepped past the gates. There, a duo of palace maid awaited. And just like the guards, conceit brimmed within their eyes, as if throughout the inner court, nothing stood above them.
Servants were often at the image of their master. However, so was the dwelling. The scenery didn't match the air of arrogance soaring within this place's denizens.
”From now on, you'll serve as the head eunuch of our kitchen departments.”
Those words took Konrad aback. According to the script, he was supposed to directly serve by the noble consort's side. Why was he suddenly being assigned to the kitchens?
”Could there be a mistake? According to the central department, I was supposed to become one of the noble imperial consort's attendants.”
”Her grace changed her mind. What? Dissatisfied?”
If Konrad felt any displeasure, he let nothing transpire on his face.
”I was merely confused. Please don't misunderstand. Whatever position her grace assigns me to, it is my pleasure to accept.”
Konrad's words caused the two maids' lips to curl into victorious smiles.
The good thing about conceited individuals was that they often were easy to read. Just like those maids. Through a simple exchange, Konrad could see that Yvonne was perfectly aware of who truly sent him to her side and was not willing to have one of the empress' spies stay too close.
Assuming he was right, danger now surrounded from all sides. However, he remained undeterred.
”Good. Follow us.”
Without further ado, the maid laid Konrad to his new chambers. As a head eunuch, he didn't have to share his dwellings with anyone, but even within this complex of ordinary houses, his appeared relatively shabby.
Clearly, he was being bullied.
However, he still showed no dissatisfaction.
”When can I start my work?”
That those were his first words upon seeing the shabby chambers took the maids by surprise.
”As soon as you drop your things, we will bring you to your post.”
Konrad lowered the bag containing ”his things.” And followed the maids to Yvonne's kitchen department.
There, a group of five eunuchs awaited.
”Those five will now be under your jurisdiction. Make sure they don't slack off, and that all meals are delivered as per schedule. This is her grace's meal plan. No mistake is tolerated.
You cannot be early, and you cannot be late.”
Those were mid-level eunuchs with cultivations not higher than the Adept Knight Rank. Still, their bodies brimmed with pride, as if their position was the noblest in the world. They obviously didn't put Konrad in their eyes.
Just those five could put most of the inner court's head eunuchs to shame.
But inwardly, Konrad sneered.
”I understand. Her grace needs not worry.”
…
For the next three days, Konrad assumed the duties of the kitchen manager. During the days, he supervised the eunuchs' timing and cooking, and during the night, he focused on cultivation.
On the first day, they gave him no problem. On the second, they remained obedient, almost not leaving him any room for directions. However, on the third…
”You're sure not doing it?”
Konrad asked toward two of the eunuchs that now refused to do their work.
”We're not. If you want to, you can do it yourself.”
Out of the blue, they'd went from orderly machines to troublemakers. Konrad couldn't understand their train of thought, and he didn't want to.
Besides them, the three remaining eunuchs, from the corners of their eyes, observed the scene with amused smirks while tending to their tasks.
”I will ask only one more time. You're sure you're not doing it?”
”We already said you can do it yourself? What more do you want? Do you think that being a head eunuch sent by the central department gives you any weight here? Truly, impenetrably thick headed!”
”Don't blame him, his head was probably kicked by a donkey in infancy!”
They loudly exclaimed, not giving Konrad any face.
Having served in Yvonne's palace for two decades, the ranks of outer eunuchs simply meant nothing to them.
”Very well.”
With those words, Konrad left the room.