The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family Chapter 27 : Chapter 27

Chapter 027

The day of reckoning had dawned.

No, perhaps it would be more fitting to call it the day of the kidnapping.

“How frustrating.”

Even after staying up all night turning it over in my head, I could not co up with a plausible plan.

There was only one reason for that.

The secret docunt did not describe in concrete detail how they intended to kidnap Young Lady Sapiela.

Perhaps because I had thought too much, my head was throbbing.

“I cannot see an answer. Am I overcomplicating this?”

I decided to think more simply.

This was not the ti for an elaborate plan. What I needed now was a bold and simple one, like when I raided Training Officer Cornel’s office.

Fortunately, once I began thinking that way, the path started to reveal itself little by little.

“First, I need to inspect the site itself and see whether there is anything suspicious. If I do that, I might find so kind of clue.”

And since I already strongly suspected that the Arkain rchant Company and the Scorpion Gang might be behind this sche, all I had to do was keep a close eye on anything related to them.

So the ti flowed by without end.

Chirp! Chirp!

The cries of birds ca from outside. Morning sunlight began to seep through the white curtains. I had awakened early at dawn, and now it seed morning had already arrived.

“I should start moving.”

Stretching pleasantly, I prepared to go out.

This was my first ti leaving on an Overnight Leave Pass. I had gone outside before when I investigated the Arkain rchant Company, but I had never had the chance to look carefully around the village itself.

In that sense, it was a good opportunity. It seed to resemble the typical Middle Ages I had in mind, but perhaps it hid so other facet as well. This was a good chance to find out.

Judging by the way Rohan had made such a fuss over the fact that I had earned an Overnight Leave Pass, it was obvious that the man called Dilen had never once received a reward in the past.

Then again, with his many shortcomings, he would naturally have had little to do with rewards.

But the current was different. And it seed others were beginning to realize that too.

The proof was that, half-jokingly, more and more apprentices had begun saying things like, “Should I go fall off a balcony too?” whenever they were scolded by a superior.

“Just falling is not enough. The timing has to be right.”

After washing up and putting on my waistcoat over my shirt, I stood before the old mirror.

Perhaps because I had been cultivating the mana thod and training in basic swordsmanship, my body had filled out considerably by now. If I put on a proper Butler Uniform over this, I would probably look impressive enough to make people turn and stare as I passed.

Leaving that small regret behind, I took the old Longsword I had hidden in the wardrobe and fastened it at my waist. I also strapped the mana pistol I had recently developed onto the right side of my belt.

After leaving the quarters, I stopped for a mont.

There was one thing I needed to confirm before going down to the village.

“Maybe it would be better just to ask directly.”

It was perhaps a little beyond common sense, but with that thought, I turned my steps toward Young Lady Sapiela’s residence.

***

“And who might you be?”

The knight glared at sternly. His na was Roland, was it not? He was the very knight who had treated so harshly the first ti I ca to see Young Lady Sapiela.

So this fellow really is the Young Lady’s guard knight.

Any other apprentice would have gone weak in the knees, but I was different. When you were frightened, that was exactly when you had to be bold.

“I am the Butler Apprentice Dilen. I have co to see Young Lady Sapiela.”

Knight Roland glared at as though I had just said sothing absurd.

“What did you say?”

“I said that I have co to see the Young Lady.”

“No, that is not what I am asking. I am asking why you, of all people, have co to see her.”

“There is sothing urgent I must tell her.”

“That is exactly what I am asking. Why does so re apprentice keep trying to see the Young Lady? What exactly are you plotting?”

Your Young Lady is scheduled to be kidnapped today.

The words rose all the way to my throat, but I simply bowed my head and remained where I stood.

In truth, this was not especially reckless. I had been granted a private audience with Young Lady Sapiela once before. Rembering that, I judged they would not be able to throw out quite so easily.

I heard Roland let out a sigh, and soon he knocked and stepped inside.

“My lady. A Butler Apprentice nad Dilen requests an audience.”

I heard an answer, but her voice was too quiet for to catch it properly. I should have poured mana into my hearing.

Still, I soon learned what she had said.

Knight Roland looked at with the expression of a man who had bitten into sothing unpleasant and jerked his chin.

It was plain that he disliked the thought of stepping into the sacred chambers of the Young Lady.

“I truly cannot make sense of this.”

Knight Roland let out a sigh.

“Let say it again. If you value your life, do not commit even the slightest discourtesy before the Young Lady.”

“I will bear that in mind.”

Only then did Roland step aside, and I was allowed to enter the Young Lady’s residence.

There was a saying that beautiful won slept late, but Young Lady Sapiela was awake early in the morning. She wore a simpler dress than usual, yet even that could not diminish her beauty.

She stood by the window, pulling the curtain aside and looking out. At a glance, her expression was full of thought.

I stopped near the door and lowered my head.

“It is an honor to see you, noble Young Lady.”

“......What is it this ti?”

I nearly felt myself cut.

It was the first ti I had realized that words could be so cold and sharp.

“There is sothing I must say regarding the secret docunt I showed you before.”

“If that is the matter, then I have nothing more to say to you.”

“My lady.”

I raised my head, brazenly.

Now was the ti to show force of presence. For the sake of this sheltered—no, this worldly-ignorant—young lady.

Even now, Young Lady Sapiela was still looking out the window.

“Of course, the docunt I showed you may be false. But from the circumstances, it would still be wiser to remain cautious. Increase your escort, or report it to His Excellency the Marquis—”

“Do not presu beyond your place.”

Damn. I nearly pissed myself.

Sapiela had turned her head sharply and was staring straight at . Or rather, glaring.

“I cannot cause Father needless worry. My guard knights will accompany today. They are excellent knights. Whatever happens, there will be no problem.”

She turned her head away again. It seed that Young Lady Sapiela had already made up her mind.

In a way, that made things easier for . If they moved according to plan, all I would have to do was display a little skill and settle the matter.

Of course, if I had not known this information, I would never have been able to stop the sche.

But as long as I remained in ordinary clothes and watched closely, I was confident that no matter what happened, I could handle it from a position of advantage.

That was also why I hid my strength.

“You may withdraw now.”

“My lady.”

Young Lady Sapiela glared at again. Her eyes were cold, and yet carried a trace of sorrow.

I could understand the coldness, but why did she look sad?

It was hard to tell. Just what kind of story was she carrying in her heart?

“I said, withdraw.”

“No matter what happens, I will save you. So please, do not let yourself worry.”

For a brief mont, it seed as though a warm light passed through Sapiela’s eyes, but it soon turned cold again.

“And what ans do you have to do that? You are neither a knight nor a butler. You are only an ordinary apprentice.”

“One cannot judge a person by appearance alone.”

“How insolent.”

“I have been disrespectful. Please forgive , my lady.”

That was enough. With those words, I left Young Lady Sapiela’s residence. Just before departing completely, I turned to Knight Roland and spoke.

“I heard the Young Lady will be going to the village today. Please protect her well.”

“That is none of your concern, so get out of here!”

Let us see your face later. Just wait until it goes slack with shock.

Bowing my head, I turned coldly away and left. Then I quietly departed the mansion and made for the village.

***

The village looked completely different from the way it had during my earlier investigation.

Countless people had gathered in the square, and on one side, festival stalls were being set up one after another.

In another area, a circus troupe was preparing to perform. I could see people in clown makeup, and others tossing all kinds of tools brilliantly into the air in elaborate juggling routines.

Elsewhere, bards were plucking mandolins and singing in sweet voices.

It was exactly the image of a fantasy world.

And yet, more than I expected, it felt like a place where real people lived. One might even say it had a living romance to it.

I shifted my gaze to one side.

In the middle of the square stood a fountain—more precisely, a lion statue with its mouth open, spouting a refreshing stream of water. Around it, children ran about energetically.

“This is better than I expected.”

I quickly began to soak into the festival’s atmosphere. Passing among the crowd, I took in one curious scene after another with vivid eyes.

So among them noticed the family badge on my chest and showed interest.

There was no need to draw attention to myself right now. Especially not as a mber of the House. If I made that obvious, the ones plotting the conspiracy might start keeping their guard up around .

Right now, the correct course was to move as though the plot was real.

I imdiately drew the collar of my Robe closed. The badge disappeared from view, and people soon turned their attention elsewhere again.

“May I ask you sothing for a mont?”

I stopped a kindly-looking man who was passing by. His Status Window did not appear. It was only a feeling so far, but it seed that people with whom I had no connection at all did not show one.

“What is it?”

“This is my first ti at the festival. I heard that Young Lady Sapiela is coming today—where would one go if one wished to see her?”

“Hahaha. You must be from far away. Our Young Lady Sapiela is the greatest beauty in the kingdom.”

Yes, I know that, so please get to the explanation.

“You see that over there? The place where they are building the stage. Every year, the Young Lady stands there and hands out gifts to the people of the territory. In return, we spread beautiful flowers on the ground. Once you have seen the Young Lady smile, you cannot help looking forward to next year’s festival.”

There really was a large stage being erected there. I nodded.

“Thank you for telling .”

“Enjoy the festival while you are here.”

I headed at once toward the central stage. Fresh flowers of every color were being spread across the large white platform.

I stopped for a mont and stared at it.

The fresh flowers were making a flower path, and when I followed it with my eyes from the stage to the far end, I saw that where the flower path began, there stood a small wooden temporary structure.

“There.”

My sharp intuition stirred.

If the flower path had been laid out, that ant Young Lady Sapiela would walk out along it. In other words, she would definitely spend so ti in that temporary structure first.

If so, then it was highly likely that the mysterious force had already done sothing to that structure.

After looking around once, I imdiately approached the building.

The wooden structure looked like an ordinary log cabin. But there were people nearby who seed to be attendants, so I could not get too close.

“If the Young Lady cos, the knights and soldiers will obviously guard that building. And they plan to subdue those n and kidnap her?”

I shook my head.

Common sense said it would not be easy to overco them. If so, then there had to be so other thod. Resting my chin on one hand, I stared fixedly at the temporary structure.

“Could it be?”

A faint possibility occurred to , and I moved around behind the building. At once, I stirred up mana and heightened my sight.

A mont later, I smiled.

The instant that possibility turned into certainty, I savored the intellectual pleasure of quoting soone’s famous line.

“The riddle is solved!”