Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 331: Grafen’s Maids and Guardians

Chapter 331: Grafen’s Maids and Guardians

The morning mist had not yet lifted as the servants and maids of Grafen assembled in the grand hall, each dressed in crisp uniforms and standing at perfect attention. Abraham Maxilton, the chief butler, stood in front of them like a general before an army. His posture was impeccable, his white hair neatly combed, and his sharp eyes surveyed the group with a calm yet commanding air.

The day’s training had begun.

"Form ranks," Abraham’s deep voice echoed through the hall. Without hesitation, the maids and servants shifted into neat rows. There was no room for error under his watchful gaze.

To his left, Althea, the head maid, observed the group with her usual stern expression. She was a woman of grace, her every movement precise, yet she had an underlying fierceness that unnerved the newer maids. She stood tall, her dark hair pinned back tightly, and her gaze was as calculating as Abraham’s. Together, they formed an imposing duo, though they never showed any outward signs of competition. However, the unspoken rivalry between them was palpable, making the atmosphere in the hall thick with tension.

"I see that some of you are still unfamiliar with the proper way to greet a guest," Althea spoke, her voice like ice. "Today, we will perfect that." She stepped forward, gliding effortlessly across the floor. "Watch closely."

With a fluid motion, Althea demonstrated the perfect bow, the tilt of her head, the graceful sweep of her arms. The maids watched, wide-eyed, knowing they would be expected to replicate it perfectly.

Abraham, however, had other things on his mind. He cleared his throat, stepping forward. "Yes, the greeting is essential," he agreed, his eyes narrowing slightly as if assessing whether Althea had shown too much flourish. "But let’s not forget about cleaning. A servant who cannot clean efficiently and silently is no servant at all."

Without missing a beat, he picked up a cloth and dusted a nearby surface in one fluid movement. His technique was flawless, leaving not a single speck behind. "You should never have to wipe the same surface twice," he said coolly. "It’s all in the wrist."

The servants watched in awe, though the more experienced maids from the former lord’s household were well-acquainted with Abraham’s methods. They had seen him perform these tasks before—so perfectly that it bordered on terrifying.

"You must be invisible in your work," Althea added, taking a step closer to Abraham as if to assert her own dominance. "No guest should ever see you cleaning. Your presence should be felt, but not seen."

The two of them worked seamlessly together, but the tension between them was evident to the maids. While they seemed to collaborate, it was clear that each was vying for perfection, constantly trying to outdo the other. The maids whispered among themselves about how both Abraham and Althea could be terrifying in their own way. Althea’s cold, calculating demeanor made her seem untouchable, while Abraham’s perfectionism and silent judgment could make anyone crumble under pressure.

"They’re like... a pair of beautiful beasts," one maid whispered to another. "Beautiful on the outside, but terrifying underneath."

"Quiet!" snapped another maid who had been around longer. "If they hear you, you’ll be scrubbing the floors for a week."

Meanwhile, Abraham moved to another part of the room, overseeing the cooks’ training. Three women from Wilhelmina’s former slave group were among them, their faces showing a mix of fear and determination. They had never been in such an environment before, and the pressure was palpable.

"Remember," Abraham said, standing behind them as they prepared a simple tea set. "The tea must be brewed precisely, not a second too long or short. And the cups—make sure there are no fingerprints on them. Presentation is everything."

One of the cooks hesitated, her hand trembling slightly as she poured the tea. Abraham’s gaze bore into her, and she nearly spilled it.

"Calm yourself," Althea’s voice cut in, unexpectedly gentle. She stepped forward and corrected the cook’s grip. "It’s all in the fingers. Control your movements. Let the teapot guide you."

The cook nodded, exhaling in relief, though she knew that Althea’s patience had limits.

The training didn’t end with household duties. Abraham led the maids and servants into a hidden area beneath the castle, where they would undergo covert military training. This had been Lyan’s decision, to prepare his servants not just for domestic service, but also for defense. The remaining maids from the previous lord’s household, along with the women from the House of Roses and Wilhelmina’s group, were drilled in self-defense and covert operations.

Abraham demonstrated how to move silently, how to listen for the slightest sound, and how to blend into the shadows. "You are not just servants," he told them, his voice low but firm. "You are guardians of this house. If an intruder comes, you must be ready."

Althea took over the next segment, teaching them how to handle small weapons and hide them within their uniforms. "You will never be unarmed," she said, her voice as cold as ever. "You may not be fighters, but you are not helpless."

The maids nodded, their fear slowly turning into resolve as the training continued. They would not be caught unprepared.

___

Elsewhere in the castle, Ravia and Raine, Lyan’s two other butlers, were deep in discussion. They had been tasked with a very different mission—building a covert surveillance network throughout Grafen. The acid ants, intelligent and telepathic, had already begun creating a sprawling nest beneath the castle, and Ravia and Raine knew they would be the key to their success.

"We need them stationed everywhere," Ravia said, pacing back and forth in their private quarters. Her white hair caught the light, and there was a mischievous glint in her eyes. "The ants are smart enough to understand basic commands. If we can teach them simple words and phrases, they’ll be perfect spies."

Raine nodded, sitting cross-legged on the floor as she sketched out a map of Grafen’s grounds. "We can position them in every room, every corridor. They’ll report back through their telepathy, and we’ll have eyes everywhere without anyone knowing."

The ants were not just ordinary insects—they were part of Lyan’s growing army of creatures, summoned through his unique grimoire. They had learned quickly, capable of comprehending simple commands and communicating with one another telepathically. Ravia and Raine had already begun training them to recognize specific phrases, teaching them to alert the skeletons and statues if they detected anything suspicious.

"The statues can handle any immediate threats," Raine said, glancing up at Ravia. "We’ve got 280 of them now, and they’re more than capable of patrolling the grounds. They just need direction."

Ravia grinned. "And we’ll be the ones giving that direction."

The two of them began planning how to use the statues for maximum efficiency. There were 20 sentinels, 80 archers, 20 cavalry statues, and 160 infantry, all controlled by Althea’s summoned monster child. They moved silently, blending into the background until they were needed. With the acid ants feeding them information, the statues could respond instantly to any disturbance within Grafen’s borders.

"For anything outside of Grafen, we’ll send the skeletons," Raine added, her voice thoughtful. "They can move quickly, and no one will suspect them. Plus, they don’t tire, so we can keep them patrolling for as long as necessary."

Ravia crossed her arms, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "It’s perfect. We’ll have a fortress that no one can breach. Not with the ants watching everything and the skeletons and statues ready to strike at a moment’s notice."

They sat in silence for a moment, each imagining the impenetrable system they were building. Grafen would not just be protected by soldiers—it would be a living fortress, with eyes in every corner and defenses that no one could see coming.

Ravia finally broke the silence, her voice soft. "We’re building something incredible here. Something no one’s ever seen before."

Raine nodded, her expression serious. "And it’s all for him. For Lyan."

They both knew that Lyan’s trauma from his past quest still haunted him, even if he tried to hide it. His careful analysis of every situation, his quiet moments of reflection, all hinted at the scars he carried. But through their efforts, through the security and protection they were building, they hoped to give him the peace he deserved.

Lyan may have been a cunning and intelligent man, with a penchant for staring a little too long at the women around him, but he was also someone who had given them a life beyond what they had ever imagined. And now, it was their turn to protect him, to ensure that Grafen would stand strong no matter what came their way.

Ravia’s eyes softened as she glanced out the window, watching as the first rays of sunlight began to illuminate the castle grounds. "He’s always watching, always planning," she said softly. "But he doesn’t have to do it alone anymore."

"Yup," Raine agreed. "He has us."

And with that, the two of them continued their work, knowing that they were building more than just a defense system—they were building a future for the man who had saved them all.

______

(+280 living statues (20 sentinels, 80 archers, 20 cavalries, and 160 infantries.)