If Ardyn were hoping to have mollified Valmont with that hat tip, it's not happening.

"Has he offended me, he says. As if I didn't know where exactly you were going with that 'knobs' comment."

Valmont's not only familiar with the slang meaning of the word, he's seen some doorknobs in this castle which take that meaning very literally. He's not looking forward to polishing those. Or to doing any manual labor, at all, which is the real cause of his displeasure here. He's just taking it out on the unfortunate first person to have caught his attention. Sorry, Ardyn.

"What, the castle? Compared to the furnishings my last houseguest preferred, it's positively au courant. But yes, the system of indentured servitude could use some work."

He's really not letting that one go.

"As could the level of, ahem, taste on display."

Dick knobs.