Do You believe in fate?

Growing up

My name is William Nate, but everyone calls me Billy. I was born on an old estate, a good two days journey from the capital. My father was the headfoodman and my mother the ladys maid.

I lived with my mother in the women's hallway and my father had his room in the men's hallway. Besides, I was the only child on the estate, so I did not notice that my upbringing was different from other people's children. My parents were always kind to each other but not particularly loving, I attributed to that the fact that they worked together and one did show tenderness in public.

The estate was owned by an Earl and besides him only his wife lived in the castle. That is, in addition to their servants.

My father was promised the position of butler when old James was retiring and since the housekeeper was his wife, my mother would get this position.

It was clear that my parents were valued by the Earl and his wife. My father was at the service of the Earl when he was going to the city and my father traveled with him. The earl was an old military man and had served the royal house faithfully in his young days. However, he was still available to former colleagues who might need his help.

My mother was likewise the only one the lady allowed to clean in the Earl's rooms, she took care of everything in his private area. My father had mentioned something with classified paper once I inquired into it.

The earl and his wife had two sons, both a disappointment to their father. None of them had served the Royal Army or gone to the officer school.

The eldest had served in the army but had chosen to train as a lawyer, rather than an officer. He now lived in the capital, with his wife and their two daughters. Namely, he had not even been able to have sons and now he refused to have more children. He and his family visited the estate every summer for a whole month, he wanted the children to know about life in the country. It was the only time there were other children than me on the estate.

The youngest son had never completed anything, and would have been rejected by the officers' school had he been so cheeky to apply, in spite of his father's exploits. He only came home when he lacked money or a place to keep a low profile. He was unmarried and avoided unmarried girls at all costs. He preferred married women and avoided their husbands.

I went to the local village school, and helped the Earl at his library, find reference works, certain places in the scriptures, and put the books back in place.

I always made an effort and it must have been noticed. One day, just after I turned thirteen, I was called into the library with my mother. Here the Earl offered me to attend the same military boarding school that his sons had attended. I was pleased with the offer, but was concerned that my father was not seated at such a decision.

"Your father trusts my intuition, and I have even promised to pay for your stay!" My mother quietly wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye and smiled proudly down at me. I nodded resolutely, walked towards the Earl and held out my hand to him.

"Then I will accept the offer, I promise to make an effort!" The old Earl laughed and took my hand in a strong handshake.

"I know you will, my boy, I know you will!"

Throughout my time at boarding school, I learned about discipline, courage, and honor. I made an effort and excelled in all subjects. Not because I was smart and athletic, but because I worked tirelessly to learn what was required of me and then did just a little more! The old Earl should not regret his generosity.

During my school days I heard a lot about the earl's sons, as I had many of their old professors. In addition to that, the youngest's escapades continued to flourish as the entertaining stories told to the younger generations.

The eldest had, as I did, excelled, mostly in Latin and other heavy academic subjects, while the youngest had been thrown out of the school. The reason for his expulsion was unclear, but it had obviously been something of a scandal which was thoroughly silenced. I thought to myself that it probably had something to do with a woman, if nothing else, I knew his reputation. But I held myself too good to gossip, so I kept it to myself.

Shortly after my seventeenth birthday, I graduated. I finished as the best in the class and proudly returned home to the estate.

The earl invited me for afternoon tea in the library the day after my return.

"Well young Billy," (he had always been very informal with me) "So what are you going to do now?" I smiled politely and answered honestly.

"I'm going to follow in my father's footsteps!" The earl raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"You do?" I nodded seriously.

"My father is the headfoodman and will soon take over the position as butler. I think he will know where to start, in order to best learn everything about the household and one day be able to take over after him." The earl nodded silently and then sighed.

"I had hoped you would continue in the army!" I looked at him in surprise.

"You see, I've talked to a colonel who works at the Royal Army Academy. With your papers from school, as well as my recommendation, you can be allowed to start officer training directly!" I was overwhelmed! This was an unheard of opportunity. In order to enter the school, one must either be of noble birth or have excelled during the army's normal training. I was handed the chance for an honorable career on a silver platter!

I immediately got up for the Earl.

"In that case, I'd like to change my mind!" The earl laughed cunningly,

"I had the feeling you would!" He nodded to me, in a way so I understood that he wanted peace and I should go.

"I thank you for the chance my lord!" I bowed respectfully and left the library.

That evening at the dining table in the kitchen, my mother told everyone who would listen about the chance the Earl had given me. I saw my father sitting sticking to his food, he apologized and left the table early. I apologized as well and followed him.

"Father!" I called when I reached out in the hallway and he stopped and waited for me.

"Can we talk?" I asked respectfully. He nodded measuredly and walked into the butler's office. James was still eating and would not return to his office this evening as he preferred to drink tea in his living room.

"I know I should have talked to you and mother about this before I said yes, but I was afraid he would withdraw the offer!" My father nodded and then sat down in James' chair.

"Sit down!" I sat down in one of the chairs on the other side of the desk.

"It has long been clear that you did not have the great abilities to serve in a household. Your abilities and interests have been in the same direction as our Earls, so it is no surprise to any of us that you chose to say yes. Both your mother and I were aware that the Earl had made an effort on your behalf, so we did not expect you to become part of the household staff." I nodded understandingly but still felt like I had let my father down, he didn’t seem proud of me at all, he just came up with dry facts as if he was presenting the day’s work schedule. I got up.

"I'm leaving again early tomorrow morning so I want to go up to pack!" My father nodded his permission for me to leave him and the office.

I had been given a small room in the men's hallway, I was too old to live with my mother. I repacked my clothes bag, which I had emptied the day before. Looked at my sparse selection of books, and chose to pack two books on previous warfare, as well as one on combat stradigi. They had not been part of my school's curriculum, but I had still read them. They would probably prove useful.

The next morning, just after breakfast, my father let the cart drive by the front door. I looked at him wonderingly until the Earl came out on the stairs next to me. He was in travel clothes and so was my father.

"Did you think I would let you travel alone? I will stand by my words and show them that I stand by you!" With those words, the Earl sat in the carriage with my father.

My mother hugged me warmly and sniffed a goodbye. I promised her to write often and she nodded as she wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

Hardly had the carriage door closed behind me before the rider set the horses in motion.