Crack! Crack!
In the elegant fireplace, fine pine logs were continuously licked by bright flames, releasing a fresh, fragrant scent.
Warm currents of air swirled ceaselessly through the great hall, forming a stark contrast with the cold, dark world outside.
At the center of the hall, a long rectangular wooden table stood quietly, draped with a white tablecloth upon which silver candelabras and exquisite porcelain dinnerware had been arranged. Slender, graceful maids were carefully placing each piece.
As luxury goods imported from the distant elves, these porcelain pieces possessed an impossibly smooth surface — more delicate and finer than the skin of a newborn baby. Intricate botanical motifs adorned them, making them works of fine art that embodied the elves' perfectionist sensibility.
The price of such dinnerware was, of course, terrifyingly high — more than all of these maids' combined belongings could hope to match.
If even one piece were accidentally shattered, the Baron would surely fly into a terrible rage.
Upon the table, a perfectly roasted, golden-brown, glistening roast chicken and tender veal loin were neatly arranged. In a wicker basket sat excellent long white bread rolls, while a honey-hued porcelain tureen held a milky-white mushroom meat soup that exuded a rich, savory aroma. Resting on the rim of the tureen was a purple-copper ladle for the masters' use.
At each seat, there were not only silver knives and forks with porcelain plates, but also several small dishes containing finely ground white salt mixed with sesame seeds and powdered black pepper.
At that moment, Lei Lin was deftly handling his knife and fork with his small, pale, delicate hands. He evenly coated a piece of veal loin with pepper before raising it to his mouth.
The cook's skill was quite commendable — the beef was wonderfully tender yet satisfyingly chewy, drawing a slight nod of approval from Lei Lin.
"Haha… Look at that! Our boy has really grown into a young man now!" At the head of the table, Jonas held a glass of wine and laughed with undisguised delight.
Before the enormous dining table, only Lei Lin's family of three and Isabelle were seated, while the remaining maids and servants could only stand to one side and wait.
The butler, who held a position of considerable standing within the estate, stood respectfully behind the Baron with a white towel draped over his arm. The other apprentices did the same.
Clearly, this was a family banquet.
"Of course… My little Lei Lin is the best. Just look at how much he's eating! With an appetite like that, he'll surely grow up to be a fine young man who sweeps all the other girls off their feet!"
Lady Sarah smiled warmly as well.
It had to be said that the current Lei Lin had inherited the best traits from both his parents. His physical condition was excellent, and the faint outlines of a handsome face were already beginning to emerge.
As for Isabelle on the other side, she simply nodded before turning her attention back to the apple tart in front of her.
"Alright! Sarah! I want to talk about something!"
Jonas set down his glass, his expression turning faintly serious.
"I think… it's time to begin Lei Lin's vocational and academic enlightenment!"
"But… he's still so young…" A hint of worry appeared on Sarah's face.
"No! He's already five! Children of other nobles receive their awakening at this age — do you really want our child to fall behind from the very start?" Jonas countered, leaving Sarah speechless.
Lei Lin continued eating and drinking, but his ears perked up.
"Five years old? Enlightenment? Looks like I can start delving deeper into this society. After all, Beelzebub's memories are all about demons and Hell — there's barely anything about the material world…"
At the same time, Lei Lin marveled at the nobility's system of education.
Nobles weren't born into their status naturally. To maintain their illustrious glory and standing, they had to invest tremendous effort.
Every noble heir received a rigorous education from childhood. Passed down generation after generation, this meant that even if the occasional good-for-nothing appeared, the nobility as a whole remained the wisest and most learned people in the world.
"Elite education… monopolizing knowledge?"
Lei Lin pondered silently. At the very least, he knew full well that the cost of education here was downright terrifying. Of all the servants on the estate, only the butler and a scant handful of Knight apprentices could read — the rest were all illiterate.
Clearly, commoners who grew up in such an environment stood no chance of competing with noble descendants.
This was true for knowledge alone — to say nothing of the control of power.
"What about you, Lei Lin?" Jonas looked at Lei Lin.
"I think I can do it, Father!" Lei Lin's answer was perfectly composed. He had long since grown tired of playing the child.
"Ha ha… Now that's a true heir of the Farlan family! Well done!"
The Baron laughed heartily, draining the red wine from his glass in one gulp, then turned to Sarah to discuss which scholar they should hire.
Lei Lin, of course, had no say in such matters. He could only quietly sip his mushroom broth.
"You're — so — dead —"