The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family Chapter 10 : Chapter 10

Chapter 010

“Excuse . It is Dilen, Training Officer.”

“What is it?”

The mont I saw his tired face, I knew instinctively.

So he had noticed that the docunts were gone from the drawer!

Otherwise, there was no way he could have looked that weary and anxious at the sa ti.

How did I know?

Not to brag, but after spending several years getting ground down in graduate school, I had developed an almost supernatural ability to read the moods of my superiors.

If anyone wants to sharpen that skill, I recomnd graduate school.

I am not joking. I truly an it.

“I have sothing to report regarding Rosetta.”

“Have you already finished investigating the rchant company?”

“It is not about the rchant company. It is sothing else.”

Tilting his head, Training Officer Cornel raised a hand in a gesture for to continue. I folded my hands politely in front of and began my report.

“There is a banquet planned for this evening, hosted by Young Lady Sapiela. However, the quality of the ingredients is poor, so I was thinking of procuring so supplies from Prira.”

“Is that Chef Ramsay’s opinion?”

“It is mine.”

Training Officer Cornel looked at with puzzled eyes.

In truth, everything I was doing had already gone beyond the scope of what a Butler Apprentice should be able to do.

But I could manage it.

I was soone who had received a modern education, after all.

At tis like this, it was best to shield Chef Ramsay while emphasizing that the idea was my own.

Not because I was trying to protect Ramsay, but because I was creating a chance to earn rit for myself.

“I do not know whether Chef Irene will cooperate.”

“I believe we need to look at the bigger picture. Right now, this is not the ti to worry about soone’s pride. We need to find a way to protect Young Lady Sapiela’s honor. If the distinguished guests she invited end up disappointed by the food, it will grieve her.”

Training Officer Cornel nodded.

At the sa ti, he watched with suspicious eyes.

“Were you always this clever?”

“Hahaha. You flatter . Perhaps because I hit my head, it seems to be working rather briskly.”

“Very well. I will write you a letter of cooperation. If it carries my na, Chef Irene should assist you.”

“Thank you.”

I remained standing where I was and watched Cornel prepare the docunt.

Ordinarily, he should have been writing it in one smooth flow.

But today, his pen stopped every so often in the middle.

“Training Officer, sir.”

“What is it?”

“Would it be all right if I looked at that book for a mont?”

I pointed with my hand toward the bookshelf beside the desk. Wearing an irritated expression, the Training Officer gave a rough nod and set his pen moving again.

The truth was, I had not asked because I wanted to read.

It was because, from the position of that bookshelf, I could clearly see the drawer that had been tightly locked yesterday.

Naturally, I pretended to take out a book while shifting my gaze behind .

Bingo!

The drawer was slightly open.

Which ant that after arriving at work today, Training Officer Cornel had opened that drawer and checked it.

You must be sweating bullets by now.

I turned my head back and flipped through the book. Since I had no interest whatsoever in its contents, I only examined how books in this world were bound.

Just then, Cornel’s voice ca from behind .

“The docunt is finished, so take it with you. Chef Irene is more exacting than she appears, so you had better speak carefully.”

“Thank you for the advice. Then I will take my leave.”

I accepted the docunt, bowed, and turned to go, but he called out to .

“What do you intend to do about the Arkain rchant Company matter?”

It was a vague question.

What did he an, what did I intend to do?

Expose the corruption and set things back to the way they should be, obviously.

At the sa ti, it also ant he was very much on edge.

“I have not yet heard back from the rchant company. They said the man in charge had gone out on business and they did not know when he would return. So I decided to wait a little longer.”

“You are assigned to Rosetta for only two more days. Once that period has passed, you are to remove your hands from this matter.”

“Understood.”

Of course, I had no intention of doing that.

I ant to suck it dry until every last drop of sweetness was gone.

The reason I could not yet speak concretely about that plan was simple: there were things I needed to learn by clashing with the Arkain rchant Company directly.

Only once I felt, with my own body, what sort of force was backing them and how strong it was, would I be able to form a concrete plan.

With that, I offered him my respects once more and left the Training Officer’s office.

***

Prira, the First Dining Hall, was twice as large and far more splendid than Rosetta. This place too was full of people moving busily about, likely because breakfast was still being prepared.

At that mont, one of the Butler Apprentices working there recognized and approached.

“What are you snooping around here for?”

It was not a friendly voice.

He seed to know , but I had absolutely no mory of him.

“I ca to see Chef Irene.”

“Are you not assigned to Rosetta? What business does soone like you have with the chef?”

Before long, I might have to drag this bastard into a back room and teach him so manners. His tone was all wrong.

“I brought a letter from Training Officer Cornel. You look busy, so should you not get back to your work?”

“Tch.”

The mont I showed him the docunt, he smacked his lips and backed off. I almost asked his na, then decided against it.

It would only have been a waste of ti.

I went straight into the kitchen and asked for Chef Irene. One of the cooks working there called her over for .

“What did you say you ca here for?”

I was unable to answer at once.

A tiny little thing not even a hundred and fifty centiters tall was blinking up at .

She looked like an elentary school child, and this person was the chef in charge of Prira?

I nearly blurted out, Are you really Irene?

When she frowned, I gave a dry laugh and got to the point.

“I have brought a ssage from Training Officer Cornel.”

“What is it?”

I handed her the docunt and briefly explained the situation. If I had opened by bluntly asking to borrow so ingredients, it felt as though I might have gotten smacked.

“There is a banquet scheduled at Rosetta this evening. It is a gathering hosted by Young Lady Sapiela. Nurous distinguished guests are expected to attend, but unfortunately there is a problem with the ingredients.”

“So. You ca to get so ingredients from us?”

“That is correct. With the ingredients provided by the rchant company, it does not seem possible to hold a satisfactory banquet.”

“Is that your opinion?”

I nodded respectfully.

At the sa ti, I found myself wondering how old Chef Irene actually was. On the outside she truly looked exactly like a grade-school child, but if she was in charge of Prira, she had to be older than she appeared.

“Hmmm. This is troubleso. We are not exactly overflowing with ingredients on this side either.”

Naturally, quick-witted as ever, I caught the aning hidden in those words.

She was telling to show so sincerity.

But there was not much sincerity I could actually offer, aside from running my mouth.

“It was such an urgent situation that I did not have ti to prepare properly. If the chef would grant us this favor, not only Rosetta but Young Lady Sapiela herself would be most pleased.”

Irene stared at for a mont, then clicked her tongue.

“It cannot be helped. Since it is for the Young Lady’s event, I have no choice but to assist. I will give you the ingredients. In return, tell Rosetta that they are to co and pay their respects properly later.”

“Thank you! Thank you very much!”

“You there! Gather so ingredients for this apprentice. High-quality ones. Since they are for a banquet, make it the main ingredients.”

“Yes, Chef.”

The cooks moved busily at her order, and before long I was able to march triumphantly back into Rosetta with them.

Naturally, the corners of Ramsay’s mouth rose nearly to his ears.

“I did not think you would bring back ingredients this quickly. You are impressive for an apprentice!”

This old man just would not stop underestimating .

But I received his words with a bright smile.

“Chef Irene said you are to co and see her properly later.”

“That would only be right. I cannot let this pass on an empty stomach. In any case, you worked hard in the middle of all this. Thanks to you, tonight’s banquet should pass without incident.”

Ramsay smiled in satisfaction as he watched the cooks preparing the ingredients.

But the smile soon faded.

Even if tonight’s banquet went smoothly, the problem would remain as long as the ingredient supplier was not changed.

Just then, a maid rushed inside.

“Young Lady Sapiela has arrived.”

“What?”

In an instant, tension spread through Rosetta.

All the cooks stopped what they were doing and waited for Sapiela to enter. A mont later, the main doors opened, and she appeared with a haughty expression.

I could feel the weight of her status in my skin.

One cook had been sautéing vegetables in oil, but even he could not move his hands while the ingredients continued burning. Everyone stood perfectly straight in formal respect.

According to Rohanpedia, Sapiela was the youngest child of the Adeline Marquis House and had been raised in extraordinary affection from the ti she was young. Since she was the family’s only daughter, it was only natural they would cherish her dearly.

As a result, many people could not help but watch her carefully.

Even if she could not inherit the family, she was still one of the few people capable of moving the head of the household’s heart.

Chef Ramsay stepped forward as the representative and greeted her.

“It is an honor to see you, noble Young Lady. I trust you are in peace?”

“Of course. Ramsay, are preparations going well?”

“There is no cause for concern. We have just secured fresh ingredients, and it seems we will be able to present the banquet properly.”

“That is good to hear. As you know, today’s gathering is a very important one. I trust there will be no mistakes.”

Sapiela smiled beautifully.

But the words she spoke were filled with a frost-like chill.

Make one mistake, and I will show you exactly what happens.

That was the feeling of it.

Then, as it happened, she took an interest in , standing nearby. Her gaze dropped to my waist.

It seed the fact that a butler—an apprentice, no less—had worn a sword while carrying out an assignnt had left a lasting impression on her.

“You are not wearing a sword today.”

“No, my lady. Today I intend to devote myself fully to preparing the banquet here.”

“I see.”

anwhile, every person working in Rosetta was staring at in surprise.

The noble daughter of the marquis house had spoken to a worthless little apprentice?

And not rely in passing, but about sothing personal?

Such a thing should have been impossible.

But for , it was possible.

Because I was special.

If I ever got the chance to choose myself a title later, sothing like The Special One might not be bad.

Sapiela then turned away, and the maids followed after her in a long line.

At the sa ti, the tension in Rosetta dissolved. Ramsay raised his voice again and resud directing the scene.

***

Just before the banquet began in Rosetta, I finished my duties and returned to the quarters.

The preparations were done by apprentices, but the actual event was handled by regular butlers and maids.

In other words, amateurs were to step aside.

Thanks to that, I was able to resu my inspection assignnt.

“The moonlight is nice. By now they are probably having a grand ti eating and drinking at Rosetta.”

I gazed out the window and waited for the night to deepen.

Then, when the moon had risen directly overhead, I took out the sword I had hidden in the wardrobe. After fastening it at my waist and throwing on a robe, I left the mansion.

Tonight, I intended to see this through to the very end.

Swearing that to myself, I made my way toward the Arkain rchant Company’s warehouse.

Along the way, I was stopped several tis by the village guard, but the mont they saw the badge of the Adeline Marquis House on my chest, they lowered their heads.

Naturally, I did not make it obvious that I was only an apprentice. I rely looked at them with deep displeasure, and they instinctively backed down.

As expected, the world was sothing you lived in by sheer nerve.

Before long, I arrived at the Arkain rchant Company’s warehouse. I hid myself behind a large tree nearby and observed the entrance.

“So they do have guards. One man... no, two.”

There was a large door for goods to pass through, and two n were guarding it. Holding my breath, I spent a short while watching their movents.