The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family Chapter 116 : Chapter 116

Chapter 116

“It really has been a long ti since I last saw you. You’ve grown up beautifully, Sapiela. I had already heard the rumor that you are the Greatest Beauty in the Kingdom.”

The duke, seated in the Seat of Honor, began with praise.

The food had already all been set out. On one side, a sweet string quartet was playing, and many Maids and butlers stood by in attendance.

Perhaps because of the music, the atmosphere felt closer to a feast than a simple banquet.

There were not that many people in attendance. Duke Mydas and his wife Rosaria were present, along with their children. And from the Adeline House, only the Young Lady and I occupied seats.

The Young Lady did not touch the food carelessly. She sat there with dignified poise, receiving the duke’s praise.

“Have you been well all this ti? I arrived in the Royal Capital so suddenly that I did not have the leisure to co and greet you first.”

“That is quite all right. You are an adult now, and at the age when one is busiest.”

“My father asked to be sure to inquire after Your Excellency’s well-being. He said he plans to visit the Royal Capital himself before long.”

“That is welco news. There is one matter I must settle with your father. If he cos after so long, then we may finally decide the matter.”

“It seems you still enjoy chess.”

“Of course. It is an age without war, so should I not at least indulge in so substitute satisfaction?”

Judging by the way he spoke, it seed that in his younger days he had personally taken to the battlefield and swung a sword more than once. Then again, with a build like that, he looked as though he could easily pick up a grown man and throw him.

The conversation between the duke and the Young Lady continued as naturally as flowing water.

“But why did you suddenly decide to enter the Academy? I thought I heard from your father that you were not particularly interested in the Academy.”

“I’ve found my recent studies interesting, and I also wanted to see the Royal Capital for myself. There isn’t any special reason......”

“Well, it is true that you remained in the Adeline territory for quite a long ti. High Society in the Royal Capital is different again, so this ti do stay a while. Form so good connections as well.”

“I will keep that in mind. Since I ca today in my father’s stead to pay my respects, how about a ga of chess? My skill is lacking, but I would like to receive your instruction.”

“Hohoho! Excellent. That would be splendid.”

Was this perhaps how a grandfather felt when playing baduk with his granddaughter? The duke looked genuinely delighted.

I had heard that they had only t once or so when she was young, yet she seed to know everything about the duke as though they had t only a few days ago. It appeared the Young Lady had prepared thoroughly in advance.

Then again, if one was going to pay respects to the greatest house in the kingdom, one ought to show at least that much sincerity.

“By the way......”

At that mont, the duke’s gaze turned toward .

Even if I had been invited as a guest, the difference in status between him and was literally the distance between heaven and earth. So I quietly lowered my head.

“More importantly, it seems you have an exceptionally fine Attending Secretary. I feel as though I have incurred a great debt to your house this ti.”

I like where this is going.

Please, continue, Your Excellency.

“Dilen is a very capable Butler. Sothing unfortunate once happened to before...... and Dilen personally saved then as well. In a sense, he is my lifesaver.”

“I heard about that too. It is fortunate that you were not hard. What sort of fool dared think of kidnapping you?”

“I do not really know either......”

When the Young Lady’s expression darkened, the duke cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“There will be no such trouble in the Royal Capital. If there is anything our house can do to help, speak of it at any ti. I shall help as far as I am able.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

“Now then, eat before the food grows cold.”

And so the al began.

At a glance, it looked like an ordinary noble household. Compared to the na Bahamut, it seed almost too ordinary.

But after seeing Mannheim’s Status Window before entering this place, I was convinced that there had to be so note of discord hidden sowhere.

If soone was targeting the duchess, then that was little different from saying a succession struggle was taking place here as well. Or perhaps so tangled romantic conflict was involved instead.

“Did you pay respects to any other house before coming here?”

“No. I ca to greet Your Excellency first. Since you are one of the great elders of the kingdom, it was only proper that I co to pay my respects here before anywhere else.”

“That is gracious of you to say. Even so, while you are here, do go and seek an audience with His Majesty the King as well. If you represent your house, that much ought to be done.”

“Thank you for your guidance.”

Sapiela cut a small piece of at with her knife and placed it in her mouth. Sotis, watching her eat made wonder whether she might actually be a machine. Her use of utensils was simply too perfect.

When the banquet ended, the duke and the Young Lady enjoyed Tea Ti. The duke led most of the conversation, offering various pieces of advice for the Young Lady, who would soon be entering the Academy.

In the midst of that, Duchess Rosaria rose from her seat first.

“I think I am feeling unwell because of the shock from earlier today. I will go up and rest first. My apologies.”

“Your health cos first. Go and rest at once.”

“I shall pay my respects again another ti, Madam.”

Receiving everyone’s farewells, Duchess Rosaria left her seat. I used the excuse of going to the washroom and followed after her.

“Excuse , Madam.”

I called out to her, and she turned around, her complexion sowhat pale. Wearing the benevolent smile of a mother to all, she tilted her head slightly.

“Is there sothing you need from ?”

“If it would not be too rude, there is sothing I would like to ask you.”

“Is it sothing important?”

I pretended to glance around for a mont. Catching on, she dismissed her Maids.

Stepping a little closer to her, I spoke quietly.

“Has soone perhaps been trying to harm you recently, Madam?”

It seed to be sothing she had never even considered. For an instant, the duchess’s eyes widened. But with astonishing speed, her expression returned to normal.

“I am not sure what you an. This is the Bahamut House’s mansion. No one could do such a thing lightly.”

“The matter this afternoon has a high chance of being not an accident, but an incident. A lady as perceptive as yourself should understand the difference between an accident and an incident.”

I delivered the words aningfully, and the duchess’s gaze settled into stillness. She seed to have much on her mind.

***

In the end, Lady Rosaria said nothing to .

That was what I had expected. No matter how much of a benefactor I might be, she could hardly speak openly about the complicated matters of her household.

To speak of such things at all would be little different from diminishing the prestige of her house.

Still, I had etched one possibility deep into her mind, based on what I inferred from Mannheim’s Status Window: that this ti might not have been an accident, but an incident.

If she truly was perceptive, she would act. If not, she would suffer for it.

To interfere any further would only be ddling, so I decided not to concern myself with it anymore. Still, anyone who might beco a potential threat to would be better dealt with in advance.

The Young Lady entered the duke’s office. Since they had said they would play chess, I would have to wait at least an hour.

“Sir Dilen!”

I had stepped outside the mansion for a bit of air when Mannheim, with whom I had exchanged a few words earlier, ca hurrying over with a broad smile.

“Has your schedule finally concluded? I’ve been waiting.”

“It has not ended yet. I am in a position where I must attend the Young Lady, after all. She has just gone into the office, so it will take a little longer.”

“I see.”

“If you are a rchant company master, then you must be busy. You may return first if you like.”

Mannheim had the characteristic rchant’s habit of rubbing his hands together. He smoothly rubbed his hands as he continued.

“If it pleases you, once your schedule is nearly over, I shall send a carriage for you. How would you feel about paying a visit? I would like to entertain you in a fine place. Hahaha.”

A fine place, was it?

I did not like the feel of that one bit. Getting into the carriage of soone you did not know was extrely dangerous. And getting into a carriage sent by soone harboring ill will toward you was even more so.

Still, if one wanted to catch a tiger, one had to enter the tiger’s den.

I had little interest in whatever sche he was plotting. But if he bore ill will, then sooner or later he would interfere in my affairs again, so it would be better to uproot the problem in advance.

“Very well. Then send the carriage in about an hour.”

“You are wonderfully decisive! Excellent, I shall do so.”

With that as his final word, Mannheim left the mansion.

He still gave a bad feeling.

An hour later, Sapiela left the mansion after finishing all her engagents. It seed she had been quite satisfied with the chess match. This ti, the duke himself ca out to see her off.

“You play quite well. Co again another ti if you have the chance.”

“I enjoyed myself, Your Excellency. Please allow to thank you once more for inviting .”

“There is no need for thanks. On your way back, our knight order shall escort you.”

When I looked behind him, I saw ten Knights in blue armor lined up on horseback. They appeared to be the Azure Dragon Knight Order, the pride of the Bahamut House.

Arthas’s expression as he looked at them was interesting. It held both envy and a fierce determination not to be outdone.

And off to one side stood another carriage. A ssenger from the Blackstone rchant Company was waiting for there.

“Sir Mannheim has ordered to attend Sir Dilen. The carriage has been prepared.”

“Wait a mont.”

I approached the carriage the Young Lady had boarded. She looked truly exhausted.

“Young Lady. I beg your pardon, but it seems you must return today with Arthas. There is a matter I need to investigate, so I believe I will have to finish that task before returning.”

“Very well. Take care of yourself.”

I closed the door and sent the carriage off. With Arthas present, and with the splendid escort of the Azure Dragon Knight Order, there was not the slightest thing to worry about.

Soon the carriage disappeared from sight. After bidding farewell to the duke and his household, I climbed into the small carriage prepared by the Blackstone rchant Company.

The door shut firmly, and the carriage slowly began to move.

***

After quite so ti, the carriage ca to a halt.

I had already been drawing up mana long before that, scanning the surrounding area. The carriage had entered a narrow alleyway, and the surroundings had grown quieter and quieter.

It had stopped in a place entirely devoid of human presence.

Even a glance around gave a bad feeling. Perhaps a fever for redevelopnt had reached this place too, because ruined houses stood gathered all around.

“They prepared the setting rather convincingly.”

Inside the empty houses, unwelco guests were lying in wait, hidden from view. Since I had mastered the Thermal Detection Skill, I could see exactly where they were hiding and how they were positioned.

And I could also tell that they had put a fair amount of thought into their equipnt.

Click.

With the loaded Mana Pistol in my hand, I lightly jumped down from the carriage.

Only a deathly silence greeted .

“I don’t know what kind of bastards you are, but co out now while I’m still being polite. I’m not a very patient man.”

No one responded to my words. Checking the information spread before my eyes like augnted reality, I raised the pistol.

Click.

I switched on the Penetration function and set the mana output to High. There was no helping it if I wanted to kill the bastards hiding behind the walls. My own life might be at risk.

Exactly six of them.

Since they knew I was an Aura User, they must have sent experts. Probably the sort specialized in assassination.

So what of it?

In any fight, the first strike wins.

Bang bang! Bang bang bang!

“Urk!”

“Ghk!”

“Hurk!”

Without a shred of rcy, I began the fight.