The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family Chapter 119 : Chapter 119

Chapter 119

I would like to introduce a simple thod that can be used to solve certain problems.

The process of elimination.

You narrow the range by crossing out the possibilities one by one until only what remains has to be examined.

First, I considered the possibility that there might be more reasons why I had been attacked.

The two possibilities I ntioned yesterday were the main ones, but there was still a very slight chance that it could have been the Arkain rchant Company or the remaining forces of the Black Pig Gang.

“Let’s list everything first.”

My room had plenty of paper, though not of particularly good quality, so I could write on it freely.

I wrote down every possible scenario on the paper.

Once the list was complete, the first person I crossed out was Eluna.

There was no way she would betray . If she had, I would have noticed already, and she could have arranged a far more sophisticated attack against .

“The Arkain rchant Company is the sa.”

I drew a long line through the Arkain rchant Company on the page as well.

The only person who knew that I had destroyed that organization through behind-the-scenes maneuvering was forr Training Officer Cornel. And he had already beco a guest who would never return.

I may have earned rit during the Young Lady kidnapping incident, but the idea that soone would try to kill over that was absurd.

Then there was the Black Pig Gang.

But I crossed that one out at once as well. They had plenty of reasons to attack , but they did not have the power to dispatch as many as six Aura Users.

I almost crossed out Simon, the Human-Skin Mask craftsman, but left him on the page. He was the only outsider not connected to an organization who knew my real face.

He had protected his custors’ information for decades, but there was always such a thing as an exception.

And that left the Bahamut House and the Delfino rchant Company.

“These three are the strongest candidates. Assuming Simon couldn’t have moved on his own, then it has to be either the Bahamut House or the Delfino rchant Company.”

Of the two, the Delfino rchant Company was the most suspicious. If they had Simon draw a portrait of my face and circulate it, it would not have been very difficult for them to uncover my identity.

“Or perhaps there’s soone who finds it troubleso that I’ve beco entangled with the Bahamut House.”

I had not rely saved the duchess. Their Butler Corps had already been making moves to bring over even before that.

Then I went and saved the duchess’s life. If the one behind it all was obsessively thorough, he might have decided that eliminating was the best course.

He might believe that I could beco one of the duchess’s people.

“For now, I should organize it this way. I’ll investigate the Delfino rchant Company first. But in the end, the only real option is to return to the Adeline territory and observe the situation there.”

The Astria territory, where the Delfino rchant Company was based, bordered the Adeline territory. There was no practical way to co and go from the Royal Capital.

That said, it was not as though I had no options at all.

“I just need to wait until the main house calls for .”

Brituang had sent a ssenger Pigeon to the main house reporting my achievents. He had said that a summons would co down with high probability. If the result was coming soon, then all I had to do was wait.

That did not an I could simply sit there blankly in the anti, so I searched for sothing I could do now. The answer ca quickly.

“Should I make a little stop at the Bahamut Ducal House while I’m at it?”

The goal was to present the one remaining high-end fountain pen to the duke. And while lingering around the ducal house, gathering a bit of information would not be a bad idea either.

Originally, I had ant to go to a social party and present it to so impressive noble, but after sohow catching the duke’s eye, a much easier path had opened up.

There was no reason to waste ti.

There was only so much bowing and scraping to win other people’s favor that a man could stand. If it could be avoided, I wanted to avoid it. In my previous life as well, I had lived a life of bowing my head to others.

I judged that eting the duke would not be all that difficult.

I had saved the duchess’s life. They would surely permit at least one private audience.

Since I could not use a Human-Skin Mask, I would have to arrange it the sa way I had when delivering the high-end fountain pen to Marquis Chronos: handing it over through Dilen’s own hands.

It was such a fine object that once he used it, he would certainly send word to tis. He would need more stock.

And when that happened, I could simply make my entrance naturally, disguised as Suhyeon.

“All right, then that settles the afternoon schedule. I should wake the Young Lady soon.”

Sunlight was already streaming in through the window. She had had a busy day yesterday, so she would naturally sleep late today, but I could not forget to prepare tea and refreshnts.

That, more than anything, was a butler’s basic qualification.

When I stepped outside, Arthas was nowhere in sight. Instead, a single soldier was standing guard by the door.

“Good morning, Sir Dilen.”

“You’re working hard. But where’s Arthas?”

“Sir Arthas went out to train at the break of dawn. I’ve been assigned to stand guard during this hour from now on.”

“He’s diligent. Have you eaten breakfast?”

“Not yet.”

“Go downstairs and eat. I’ll be leaving my post soon too, so don’t waste your ti guarding an empty room without getting anything out of it.”

“Thank you!”

Having lived my previous life entirely from the position of the powerless, I understood well how exhausting such work could be. The soldier bowed to sincerely in gratitude.

I moved down the corridor from which the Training Ground could be seen.

Several Knights were swinging swords and spears, and Arthas was among them.

“He’s putting his whole spirit into it.”

I watched his training with interest.

Perhaps spending even a brief ti around the Azure Dragon Knight Order had spurred him on, because he seed far more focused than usual.

“I should check tonight to see whether his Level has gone up.”

He was a talent I would have plenty of use for in the future, so I ought to manage him thoroughly.

I moved on again.

Once I went down to the kitchen, I personally prepared a tea set on a cart. The snack had already been ordered yesterday, so the chef brought it out at once.

Steam rose from the pie in soft curls. It looked delicious, baked to perfection.

“It’s apple pie. So fine apples ca in just in ti. I hope the Young Lady likes it.”

“She once had apple pie at the main house, but this looks even more special.”

“Hahaha! Really?”

“Of course. My eye is accurate.”

You had to flatter people like this if you wanted your dinner to improve. Of course, I was already being treated like a regular Butler now, so I was eating fairly well, but compared to Rosetta, it was still lacking.

Should I give him just a little more encouragent?

“Next ti, I’d like to ask for a snack made with grapes. I’m only telling you this, Chef, but the Young Lady is especially fond of grapes.”

“Oh, is she? That’s good information. I should try making a tart with dried grapes.”

“I look forward to your continued care.”

“Hahaha! Likewise.”

The middle-aged chef smiled.

Thanks to that, I managed to slip one leftover pie into my hand. I popped the pie into my mouth and began pushing the cart.

As I left the dining hall, I could feel a new morning beginning in earnest. Maids and butlers were already busy straightening their assigned areas.

“Good morning, Sir Dilen.”

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“What’s that on your mouth? Were you eating sothing good all by yourself?”

Whether butler or Maid, people from every side greeted first.

I had only been in the Royal Capital a short while, but it felt as though I was settling in here smoothly as well. I returned their greetings warmly, pushed the cart onward, and arrived at the Young Lady’s room.

“Young Lady. I have prepared tea and refreshnts. May I co in?”

“Co in.”

When I entered, the Young Lady was still in the middle of adorning herself with accessories. Arwen was skillfully placing pins and a brooch in just the right spots.

I pushed the cart a little closer.

“I trust Your Ladyship slept well last night. The weather is growing hotter by the day, but even so, if you do not cover yourself properly with the blanket, you may catch cold.”

“All right.”

The Young Lady answered curtly, then cast a brief glance in my direction. Her eyes glittered for a mont as they fell on the apple pie.

Co to think of it, I rembered that on one occasion Young Master Hal had tossed an apple. He seed to enjoy apples too. Could it be that the Young Lady shared the sa taste?

I found myself thinking that, unexpectedly, they might be affectionate siblings.

“I have prepared the Starleaf Tea Your Ladyship enjoys. And today, it seems the chef has made apple pie as a special treat. Would you like it served at once?”

“Yes.”

With my gloved hands, I set the teacup and the plate holding the apple pie before the Young Lady. I did not forget to place the fork on the side most convenient for her to pick up.

The Young Lady sat quietly and sipped her tea. True to this being the Adeline Branch Residence, everything she might enjoy had already been prepared in advance.

After drinking so tea, the Young Lady cut off a piece of pie with her fork and placed it in her mouth.

I wanted to watch the adorable sight of her quietly chewing it, but it would have been rude to stare, so I lowered my head slightly instead.

“Would you like so too?”

Naturally, I assud she was speaking to Arwen.

But she had offered it to .

Smiling, I answered,

“That joke goes a little too far, Young Lady. Are you perhaps not fully awake yet?”

“I do still feel a little dazed.”

The Young Lady set down her fork. She must have felt awkward. No matter how special I might be, I could not lay a hand on the Young Lady’s own snack.

The Young Lady quietly drank her tea, and I took out a sheet of paper from my pocket and inford her of today’s schedule.

“There are no special appointnts today. The visitors are due to begin arriving tomorrow. Since yesterday’s banquet must have been tiring, I left today open.”

“All right.”

“How would it be if Your Ladyship took a short walk this morning and then did a bit of studying?”

“Studying?”

“You had a long rest while coming to the Royal Capital. Would it not be nice to surprise Sir rlin when you return to the main house?”

The corner of the Young Lady’s mouth twitched slightly. That was proof she was smiling. Just imagining it makes you happy, doesn’t it? After all, Sir rlin had always put her through quite a bit as her tutor.

“Yes. Let’s do that. Then will you be overseeing the study?”

“Before that, I think I ought to go out for a short while. If Your Ladyship would permit it.”

“Go out? Where to?”

Arwen looked at too, question marks practically floating in her eyes.

“I think I’ll stop by the ducal house for a mont. I have so business with His Excellency the Duke.”

“You?”

There was one thing I had failed to consider for a mont.

Right now, I was not tis’s Suhyeon. I was Adeline’s Dilen.

In other words, I was saying sothing utterly absurd: that a re Butler intended to et the duke.

But I did not panic. I answered at once.

“For the sa reason as when I t my master at the main house before. I brought a fountain pen with , and I wish to present it to His Excellency the Duke.”

“You think His Excellency will agree to see you? Even if you stepped forward for the duchess’s sake, he is the kingdom’s Minister of Internal Affairs. He is a busy man.”

“I know that. Even so, I ought to ask at least once.”

The Young Lady fell silent in thought for a mont, then waved her hand.

It was a signal to clear away the tea things and plates. This ti, Arwen helped.

“Bring writing paper.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Arwen brought writing paper from a drawer, and the Young Lady picked up the ballpoint pen I had once gifted her and began writing sothing. A short while later, she placed a period at the end.

The Young Lady herself placed the sheet into an envelope and sealed it with wax.

“Deliver this to His Excellency the Duke. If you say it is a letter from , it should make it easier for you to see him.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“And I’ll attach knights to you. Even if the distance is short, you still need to be careful.”

So the Young Lady knew as well that I had been attacked.

I was grateful for her consideration. After offering my thanks, I left her room. Back in my own quarters, I checked over the condition of the high-end fountain pen one more ti.

There was nothing wrong with it.

“The duke is the kingdom’s Minister of Internal Affairs. He’s a very useful card to play.”

What kind of expression would the duke make when he got his hands on this object, I wondered?

Calming my excited heart, I climbed into the carriage for now. The escort cavalryn I had arranged in advance fell in behind it.