The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family Chapter 113 : Chapter 113

Chapter 113

Once word spread that Duchess Rosaria’s life had nearly been in danger, the Bahamut Ducal House was thrown into a complete uproar.

As it turned out, Lady Rosaria was the first wife, a woman renowned for her benevolence and respected both within and beyond the house.

On top of that, it was said that she and the duke were on excellent terms, so everyone could do little but panic.

“Mother! Are you truly all right?”

“I told you I am. The guest was injured, so do not make such a fuss.”

“But......”

Thanks to that, I ended up eting the Bahamut family’s children all at once.

It was sothing for which one ought to offer condolences to those who had brought the carriage that caused the trouble, but I did not let the unexpected good fortune slip away. Thanks to it, I received the utmost courtesy.

Not only did I leave a deep impression on the Bahamut family, I was also examined by the House Physician in front of everyone watching.

After carefully checking my arms and body, the House Physician smiled in relief.

“Fortunately, there is absolutely nothing wrong with your bones. Considering that you collided with a horse, this much can only be called a miracle.”

“I protected my body by using Aura. I should be fine.”

“You have done a truly great deed.”

The House Physician bowed his head in thanks as though it were his own affair. I shook my head and showed modesty.

“Even if you say you are fine, you suffered a trendous impact, so it would be best to keep an eye on your condition for a while. I will prescribe you so dicine that is good for the body.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“It is only what I ought to do.”

It felt oddly fresh, hearing soone else say sothing I was always repeating out of habit.

As expected of the Bahamut Ducal House’s House Physician, his diagnosis was probably accurate. In truth, I had already circulated mana and observed the inside of my body, and nothing seed particularly wrong.

I was just a little sore in the muscles, perhaps because I had been startled.

This much was nothing. It felt about the sa as suddenly exercising after not doing so for a long ti. I could Handle it easily enough.

“If anything feels uncomfortable, please call for at any ti.”

“Thank you for your efforts.”

The House Physician packed up his bag and rose from his seat.

At the sa ti, I could feel the eyes of everyone around . Other than Elwin and Rosaria, with whom I had exchanged greetings at the entrance, they were all strangers.

The one who caught my eye most was a middle-aged man who appeared to be the head of the Bahamut House. Aside from the slight gray in his hair, he looked remarkably vigorous.

The phrase broad-shouldered and powerfully built seed perfectly suited to him. He had the sort of presence that made one think, if you put a massive hamr in his hand, he could charge across a battlefield to his heart’s content.

“So you are Dilen. Thank you for saving my wife. If you had not been there and an accident had occurred, I would have been deeply grieved.”

His voice rang out like thunder as well. At first, I wondered whether he was angry, but after speaking with him, I realized that his voice was simply loud by nature.

I introduced myself briefly, and the duke once more offered words of praise.

“But you are an Aura User? Are you perhaps from a minor noble family?”

“No. I am from Fortuna, and both my parents are commoners. I was born in a quiet country village with fine mountains and clear waters.”

“It seems there is so story there.”

It was not as though there were absolutely no commoners who could handle Aura. Aura had little to do with status. It was sothing one was born with.

That was why, if soone awakened Aura and it beca known, they were usually used as a ans of social advancent. Most often, they were granted a knighthood and beca minor nobles.

But since I was serving as a Butler, it was understandable that he might assu there was so special story behind it.

“There is no particular story. It was my dream to beco a Butler. By good fortune, I was able to enter the Adeline House, and I am still in training.”

“The Adeline House is certainly a distinguished house. A good place for harboring grand ambitions. It could not have been easy to enter it as a Butler. Yet if you say you are still in training?”

“I may serve as an Attending Secretary, but my rank is still that of an apprentice.”

“So that is what you ant.”

As expected of a duke, he showed an unshakable dignity. Anyone else would have said, “What? Is that really true?” and questioned further, but he asked no more than that.

“In any case, I have beco indebted to Marquis Chronos. I shall send a letter myself and convey this directly. At last I have a reason to write to him again after so long.”

“It is an honor, Your Excellency.”

The main house was going to be thrown into uproar again. I could already picture Yanrof and Vesper smiling brightly. I even imagined Rohan rolling across his bed in stomach-clenching jealousy.

I barely managed to suppress the grin threatening to slip out.

“I shall also reward you.”

“That is unnecessary. I rely did what I ought to do. However, for the sake of Young Lady Sapiela, whom I serve, I do have one personal wish. I hope tonight’s banquet may be held a little more splendidly.”

“You truly are a loyal Butler.”

Nodding in satisfaction, the duke crooked a finger. At once, a man in an extravagant tailcoat stepped closer. At a glance, I could tell he was the Head Butler.

“Grant the guest from the Adeline House 100 Gold Coins. That still feels sowhat insufficient, so invite him as a special guest to tonight’s banquet as well.”

“I shall obey, Master.”

The Bahamut House’s Head Butler lowered his head and raised it again.

Soon our eyes t.

The Head Butler seed slightly wary of . Part of wanted to offer him a handshake and see whether a Status Window would appear, but it was hardly the right timing.

But then unexpected words ca from the Head Butler’s mouth.

“Dilen. Would you step out with for a mont and speak?”

“Certainly.”

“This way.”

I followed the Head Butler down the corridor.

***

“My introduction cos late. My na is Hers. I am the Head Butler of the Bahamut House.”

With those words, Hers sat down and cleared his throat once.

He was sowhat like Yanrof, yet different. Where Yanrof had the sturdy dependability of a father, Hers gave off a strong impression of being a strategist. He looked frighteningly intelligent. The sort of person who probably studied a great deal as well.

Since he had not told to sit, I stood awkwardly off to the side.

“I will ask bluntly. Were you dissatisfied with my master’s reward?”

“Pardon?”

It was an unexpected question. Hers frowned slightly and tossed the words out.

“100 Gold is a considerable sum, yet you did not even blink.”

“Ah, my apologies. It was simply so unexpected that......”

“My master and madam were both present, so I did not ntion it there, but sothing about it felt slightly off. It gave the impression that you were not satisfied.”

It was a sharp observation.

Back then, I had been indifferent because I had no real sense for this new currency. Now, I was indifferent because an amount like 100 Gold was money I could earn whenever I wished.

In fact, just before leaving for the Royal Capital, I had received 20,000 Gold from Prah, the Adeline House’s Second Young Master.

So 100 Gold was not enough to stir my heart.

I would have to be more careful.

“If I offended you, then I apologize. It is not that I was dissatisfied. To , it is dreamlike money, so much so that it simply does not feel real. Please forgive .”

“That is understandable enough. Well, since my master said nothing, the reward will be paid to you as is.”

“Thank you, Head Butler.”

Only then did Hers extend a hand toward the sofa. It was a signal for to sit. What was this? Was there still more to discuss?

As soon as I sat on the sofa, Hers dusted off the upper part of his tailcoat once and rose, then moved to sit across from .

What was with this atmosphere?

“The truth is, I have heard quite a lot about you. Our house may be based in the Royal Capital, but a great deal of information from each province makes its way up to us.”

“I know well the fa of the Bahamut Ducal House.”

“Then this will be simple. Would you have any interest in working for our house?”

That surprised for the second ti.

It seed he had not beco the Head Butler of the Bahamut House for nothing.

In short, I was being scouted.

By a house that was, in effect, the equivalent of a global corporation.

“An Aura User whose dream is to beco a Butler. Quite an interesting story. You may not realize it, but even high-ranking butlers have their own information networks. These days, one bright young fellow has been ntioned rather often.”

Apparently that ant . That much had been within my expectations. So I had already decided how I would respond if I received a scouting offer.

Hers continued his pitch.

“I will give you the qualification to skip the Apprenticeship and begin imdiately as an Assigned Butler of our house. What do you think?”

An astonishing offer.

Assigned Butler was the rank just above Regular Butler. It was a position one usually had to work oneself to the bone for about five years to reach. It stood just below Supervising Butler, the rank that qualified one to go on to the Training Officer position.

“Assigned Butler? That is quite extraordinary.”

“Originally, it would have been Regular Butler, but since you saved Madam’s life, a one-rank promotion is only natural.”

“Hmm.”

I pretended to sink into careful thought. Yanrof had once told that if I ca to a conclusion too quickly, no matter the outco, people would see as a frivolous man.

“Thank you very much for the generous offer. I am sorry to say this, but I have no intention of changing positions yet. And the role of Assigned Butler also feels burdenso.”

“Is that the only reason? We can adjust the rank or working conditions however you wish.”

“There is another reason. Long ago, my parents received a small kindness from the Adeline House. So for the ti being, I wish to work for the Adeline House. I truly apologize, Hers.”

“That is unfortunate.”

Hers seed to have accepted the plausible lie. But his sharp eyes were still fixed on . I inclined my head slightly.

The real reason I was not changing jobs was simple.

If tis was to take root, I had to remain in Adeline. Moving the base of operations to the Royal Capital was not a good choice.

If I had talents in abundance like Eluna, Kalmond, and Spinel, that would have been another matter. But even securing a place in Adeline was not easy right now.

Above all, I had no intention of remaining a Butler forever.

Of course, I did plan to beco a Full Butler. I had realized that in order to unlock the functions of the Status Window that were still sealed, my position had to change.

When I was inaugurated as the Master of tis, I beca able to see an item called Areas of Interest. Once I beca a Full Butler, another hidden item would probably open as well.

For those two reasons, I politely declined the Bahamut Ducal House’s offer.

“Well, I did not expect you to accept so easily. The answer is obvious enough, considering that an Aura User is staying in the Butler Corps instead of going to a knight order.”

“I apologize for not being able to give you a better answer.”

“There is nothing to apologize for. You did a great deed today, so let us et again this evening in good spirits. Off you go now.”

“I will see you later, Head Butler.”

I left the office. Arthas was waiting for outside.

“What did you talk about? It looked serious.”

“A job offer.”

At those words, Arthas flinched in surprise.

“On what terms?”

“At the level of an Assigned Butler.”

“Wow...... That’s incredible. Are you going to move?”

“I’ll think about it.”

We left the mansion and climbed into the carriage. Unexpectedly, the duchess was standing in front of the entrance, waving to us. I gave her a respectful bow of the head, and the carriage set off.