Chapter 055
“The truth is, when I went down to the village yesterday, I bought a gift for you, my lady. It is a trifling thing, but would you accept it?”
“What is it?”
“Please open it and see.”
A daughter of a marquis’s house would naturally have imagined jewels or so other precious object. But I was only a re Butler Apprentice. That, if anything, only stirred her curiosity further.
What sort of gift could a Butler Apprentice possibly have prepared?
The table where she and I sat was rather large. Since we were seated facing one another, she could not simply reach out and take the box.
So I rose from my seat and walked over to her directly. Then I respectfully offered the box to her with both hands.
“Thank you. This is a gift I never expected.”
“I only hope that it pleases you.”
Sapiela reached out, and as her soft fingers brushed lightly against my palm, she took the wooden box from .
At that mont, the Status Window appeared.
○ Sapiela de Adeline
Rank: ★★★★★
Level: 13 ( 1)
Traits: Elegance S, Refinent S, Etiquette A, Social Dance A, Sewing C, Painting C, ???
Status: Spring Breeze’s Warmth
[Not Unlocked]
[Not Unlocked]
......
As I watched Sapiela’s reaction, I examined the Status Window floating in my sight.
Her status had changed.
To Spring Breeze’s Warmth.
But sohow, it did not feel unfamiliar.
Wait a mont. I feel as though I have seen this sowhere before.
I sharpened my mory and called up every Status Window I had seen so far. It was not Rohan. Not Kalmond either. Arwen was......
That was it. Arwen!
I had seen it once before in Arwen’s Status Window. It had not been exactly the sa, but back then Arwen’s status had been Spring Breeze’s Flutter.
What was the difference between the two?
For the mont, the modifier spring breeze was the sa. The difference lay in whether it was flutter or warmth.
By the feel of it, Flutter seed more active than Warmth. The emotion itself likely was as well. If emotions could be asured, then Arwen’s probably ran much deeper.
Which ant, put another way, that the feelings Arwen held toward and the feelings Young Lady Sapiela held toward were similar in kind.
Things were becoming very interesting.
I could not go so far as to call it a romantic relationship, but in any case, this confird that Young Lady Sapiela had not arranged this luncheon rely out of gratitude.
She was definitely interested in .
Status ssages with modifiers attached were sothing rather special. They seed to arise not from ordinary emotions, but when a special sort of relationship had been ford.
Rohan was an example of that.
Rohan’s feeling toward was not rely trust or faith, but Pine Tree’s Trust. The modifier pine tree stood before it.
The sa was true of Kalmond. After I saved his life, his status ssage changed to Diamond Loyalty.
If one were to compare it to an item, a status ssage with a modifier attached was much like a rare item.
It made curious what kinds of modifiers would appear in the future.
It was around then that Sapiela opened the box and took out the bookmark inside to examine it.
I watched her expression carefully.
Apparently she had never imagined that there would be a bookmark inside. She looked sowhat surprised, but when she saw the carefully crafted flower ornant on it, a small smile touched her lips.
“Thank you. It happens to be just what I needed, so I shall use it gratefully.”
“I am relieved that it pleases you. Compared to the necklace you gave before, it is nothing much, but I did put a good deal of thought into it.”
“Sir Dilen, I think you are a very charming person.”
She ca at without the slightest warning. I had been about to eat, but my hand paused. The Young Lady was not generous with praise, so I had not expected this side of her.
“Usually, when people try to win favor, they give jewels or so other precious gift. But you gave sothing related to study, Sir Dilen. This is the first ti I have ever received a bookmark as a gift. And that is not all...... when you take up a sword, you have a different sort of charm as well. You seem dependable, and I find myself thinking that I could entrust my life to you.”
“If Sir Lorenz heard that, I think he would be disappointed.”
“He is too rigid.”
Today of all days, Young Lady Sapiela was speaking her true thoughts with unusual honesty.
Hearing such praise co from her own lips did not feel unpleasant at all.
Won’s hearts were generally like that. Of course, so liked grand gifts, but many also liked small gifts they actually needed.
As far as I knew, Young Lady Sapiela was not soone deeply given to luxury or vanity. If anything, she was closer to being modest.
She did not care much for adornnt or such things.
In that case, I had thought she would prefer a practical gift, and just as expected, I had judged correctly. Smiling in satisfaction, I continued my al.
“You honor more than I deserve. I am still lacking in many ways. I will take your words as encouragent to strive even harder.”
“But how is Brother Hal? Is it not difficult to work under him?”
“It is less difficult than I expected. On the contrary, after the duel, he has not been giving any special duties, so I have been living quite comfortably.”
“There are about four days left now, are there not?”
“Yes. After that, I am ant to return to your side, my lady, so please do not worry too much.”
Head Butler Yanrof had guaranteed as much himself, so no matter how much Young Master Hal might protest, it would not be accepted. In the first place, he had no grounds for it.
Of course, within those remaining four days, I intended to devise a way to wipe out the Black Pig Gang.
For the mont, if nothing special ca up this afternoon either, then around evening I planned to go out and gather several pieces of information from the tavern where Eluna was ant to work.
A list of the businesses run by the Black Pig Gang.
I would need that before I could stir Young Lady Sapiela or Young Master Hal into dispatching the Knight Order or investigators. Since those were organizations under the control of an underworld gang anyway, if one dug into them, the stench would certainly rise.
Just then, Arwen ca out in a chef’s uniform carrying the main dish. It was a beautifully roasted suckling pig. It looked as though she intended to introduce the dish herself.
“How is the food? I do hope it suits your taste.”
“You have skill. I think you would do just fine even working at Prira.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
With a pleased expression, Arwen explained the dish she had brought out. Then she personally sliced the at and placed it on our plates.
“I brought out the fragrance with various spices and herbs. Chef Ramsay helped , so you do not need to worry about the taste.”
“Thank you. I will enjoy it.”
After giving a small look of greeting, Arwen returned to the kitchen. Her cooking was excellent. It was enough to make one say that it practically lted in the mouth.
This was the first ti I had eaten a truly proper dish like this, but the spices and various ingredients used in the food did not seem very different from those of the world where I used to live.
“I hear it was Sir Dilen who sent Arwen to Rosetta?”
“That is correct. She had always been rather good at cooking since childhood. There is another apprentice from my hotown nad Rohan, and the two of us used to enjoy her cooking often.”
“It sounds as though, once you beco a butler, you will be good at directing those under you.”
“I think it would not be too late to worry about that after I have beco a Full Butler. Hahaha.”
The atmosphere ripened, and at Young Lady Sapiela’s urging, I even enjoyed the luxury of drinking wine. Drinking on duty was absolutely forbidden, but above the law stood the Young Lady.
After setting down my glass, I turned to the main matter.
“I regret to bring this up at such a fine table, but I believe I ought to report that the investigation has made progress.”
“Go on.”
“I have confird circumstances suggesting that another organization from the underworld was involved in the previous kidnapping.”
Sapiela’s expression hardened at once. Still, she told to continue, and I brought up the story of the Black Pig Gang trying to wipe out the Scorpion Gang, mixing in a suitable amount of fiction.
Since this was not fiction but fact, it was easy enough to fit the pieces together neatly.
“Why were they trying to wipe out the Scorpion Gang mbers?”
“Because they needed to silence them. The surest way to cover up a cri is to erase the evidence.”
“Are you certain?”
“According to the information I uncovered, I am certain. Even if that were not so, it still needs to be investigated properly. Would it be possible to dispatch the Knight Order or investigators?”
Sapiela fell into thought. It was a little regrettable to see the pork dish Arwen had worked so hard on growing cold on the plate, but now was the ti to think in terms of the larger picture.
She opened her mouth carefully.
“The Knight Order would be difficult. The mood on that side has not been good lately. And investigators are not under my authority either...... But if I did send investigators, what would they be investigating?”
“They would only need to confirm whether the taxes are being paid properly. I already have the list of targets.”
“I will see whether there is anything I can do to help.”
“I am truly sorry. I feel as though I have spoiled the atmosphere for no reason.”
Sapiela shook her head.
“I know that you are investigating all this for my sake. And I have changed my mind as well. Since it has co to this, I want to uncover the one behind it to the very end. To run away or avoid it would not allow my pride.”
“You have made the right decision. I too will do my utmost, so please look forward to good news.”
Sapiela raised her glass. I raised mine as well. We were not sitting close enough to clink them together, but we drank the wine with one heart.
***
I t Eluna late the following night.
Young Master Hal, soaked in hangover, had worked like a laborer, so I could not move that evening.
The place Kalmond was said to run was a shabby tavern that also served as an inn.
Because I was wearing the iron mask, I had my hood pulled low so that no one could see my face.
Simon needed to finish and bring that mask as quickly as possible. This was becoming more and more inconvenient.
There were not many custors inside. A few drunkards were raising their voices and talking here and there, but the overall atmosphere still felt bleak.
When I stepped inside, Eluna, who had been handling the serving, recognized and greeted .
“Welco, sir.”
“A mug of beer, if you would.”
“Please sit over here.”
Eluna guided directly to a table. No one was seated at the table bar, so we were able to speak cautiously.
A little later, Eluna handed a mug filled with beer. Of course, I did not drink much. If I returned slling of alcohol, I would be punished.
Since I had no intention of staying long, I went straight to the point.
“The list?”
“I wrote it here.”
Eluna handed a note filled with writing. I quickly took it and tucked it into my clothes.
“Nothing else happened?”
“We are moving to a new residence today. I wrote a sketch map on that note as well, so you can co there later.”
“Good. Give your hand for a mont.”
She stared at for a mont, then quietly held out her hand. I placed my hand over hers.
The Status Window appeared.
○ Eluna
Rank: ★★★★★
Level: 12 ( 8)
Traits: Archery S, Instrunt Performance A, Agility A, Wisdom A, Affinity with Nature A, Magical Power B, Blessing of the World Tree C, Magic Resistance C, Bow Mastery C, ???
Status: Favorability
[Not Unlocked]
[Not Unlocked]
......
Her level had risen by eight.
That was practically a vertical leap. I could tell at once just how diligently she had trained.
And there was a new Skill I had not seen before.
Bow Mastery.
It was only C-rank, but if she continued training diligently, she would soon reach S-rank.
Because she was not human, but elf-blooded. Any skill related to the bow had a high chance of going straight to the maximum rank.
“You trained hard. You are doing well.”
“How did you...... know?”
“There is a way to know everything. I am sowhat special.”
With that reply, I rose from my seat. Then I left a coin on the table and walked out.
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