The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family Chapter 60 : Chapter 60

Chapter 060

The next day, after finishing morning roll call and physical training in fine form, I headed for Training Officer Vesper’s office. Once again, I had succeeded in earning bonus points.

I did not know how much longer I would be able to keep collecting them, but at this rate, might I not be appointed outright without even taking the Butler Exam?

“You have posted another interesting result today, Dilen. How many points has that made now?”

“It is only thanks to your generous view of , one far kinder than my abilities deserve. I always approach it with gratitude.”

“Hah! Good. That sort of humble attitude is exactly what is needed.”

By now, Training Officer Vesper patted my shoulder as if it were nothing at all. To an outsider, it might have looked like a father dealing with his son.

In truth, viewed politically, Training Officer Vesper’s attitude was not wrong.

He was moving in an extrely political way.

The one who took first place among the Butler Apprentices always ended up either receiving a title or rising to a high position. A fine example close at hand was Head Butler Yanrof.

So naturally, there was no harm in showing kindness to soone like , whose future was expected to be nothing but a flower road from here onward.

“I shall go attend Young Master Hal again today. There was nothing unusual during yesterday’s duty.”

“Really? Hm. I heard that the Young Master was not in his room late last night...... Could it be that he went out sowhere?”

It seed there was soone who had witnessed the carriage leaving. Training Officer Vesper asked in a roundabout way, as though saying, He did go out, did he not?

I smiled calmly and gave my report.

“Nothing of the sort. He did step out into the garden briefly, but as far as I know, he never left the mansion grounds.”

“Is that so?”

Which young master’s side had Training Officer Vesper attached himself to?

One thing was certain. It was not Young Master Hal.

If he were one of Hal’s people, he would not have asked such an irreverent question.

I made the first move.

“Would it be all right if I went to see to my duties now? As you know, the Young Master dislikes tardiness.”

“Ah, yes, yes. Off you go, then. Ah, Dilen. Why do we not go out and have a al together soti? Co to think of it, we have never even shared a drink.”

“It would be an honor. If you call for at any ti, I will gladly accept.”

“Good! I shall send word before long.”

After giving him the proper courtesy, I left the Training Officer’s office. Compared with Cornel, the forr Training Officer, he lacked ability, but his smooth political instincts seed far superior.

I would need to be careful with him in the future.

Thinking that, I headed for Young Master Hal’s room. Because my report had run long, I walked much faster than usual.

“Please be sprawled there drunk again today.”

That was my simple wish.

Just then, I saw a group of maids walking toward from the opposite direction. From the way they whispered while looking at , it seed clear enough that they were talking about .

Monts like this always left feeling strangely unsettled.

In the world where I used to live, if I saw sothing like this, I would have assud they were insulting .

But here, my image had apparently reached its peak, so they were probably praising instead.

What made so sure?

Let show you.

Three.

Two.

One.

“Dilen?”

The mont the countdown in my head ended, soone called my na. I stopped and turned my head only slightly.

Among the four maids, one particularly pretty maid stood slightly ahead of the others. She was looking at with a confident expression. It seed she was the one who had stopped .

What, was she about to ask on a date?

“Do you happen to have ti this evening?”

“No.”

“......What?”

“I said I do not have ti. I need to eat and train.”

That ended the conversation. I started on my way again, and though I heard her calling after in confusion, I cut off all interest completely.

I have no ti to play around with the likes of you. All I want is to return to my adorable Sapiela as soon as possible.

The mont in Rosetta when she had looked at and called “Sir Dilen” in that sweet voice rose before my eyes once more.

Of course, it was not as if I could ever actually do anything with Young Lady Sapiela. Even if I were granted a knightly appointnt, it would still be extraordinarily difficult for anything to co of it between us.

Probably impossible, unless Sapiela clasped my hands tightly and cried, “Let us run away together!”

Even so, it felt good in the sa way it would feel to et an idol from the television in person. I could speak with her, and though only very rarely, I could even share a al with her.

That was how dazzling a presence Sapiela was, rely by standing nearby. I did not know to whom she would be married, but that bastard would be enviable indeed.

By the ti I had thoroughly indulged in those premature expectations, I had arrived at Young Master Hal’s room. Today as well, Sir Parala stood guard at the door.

“Good morning, Sir Parala. Your armor looks especially fine today. Have you had it polished?”

“You are here.”

His greetings were always simple. He was not especially talkative either. He was the type who said only what was necessary, cleanly and directly. If he had continued on as a butler, it would probably have suited him.

My carefully prepared flattery skill failed magnificently, and with a knock, the door opened. Inside, Young Master Hal was sprawled across the sofa like a complete wastrel.

He turned his head lazily toward .

“You are here?”

“I greet the noble Young Master.”

Young Master Hal crooked a finger at . It ant that I was to co closer. I obeyed and stepped up beside him.

“Is there sothing you would command of ?”

“Should we not finish the conversation we left unfinished yesterday?”

This bastard truly was a man who did not know the aning of giving up. He would probably succeed even if he changed careers and beca a basketball player.

“As you wish.”

“Investigate the Delfino rchant Company properly.”

My eyebrows twitched. That was unexpected. I had assud he was about to try persuading to beco his subordinate again.

“What? Do you dislike that?”

“Not at all. It is only that, at last night’s gathering, Young Master Pushkin told to look into it, so I had thought the matter was already settled. Apparently that is not the case.”

“You are my servant, not Pushkin’s, are you not? Is it not proper that you receive confirmation from again?”

“You are entirely correct. I was thoughtless. My apologies.”

“Well, never mind. In any case, no one cos up clean when shaken hard enough. A rchant company, all the more so. Pushkin is an old friend of mine. He is not the sort of man to cast suspicion based on empty clouds.”

I lowered my head slightly. In that mont I studied Young Master Hal’s eyes, and he was certain.

“So, to summarize it in one sentence, you an that I am to uncover every last thing about the people behind the attempt to kidnap my younger sister. Even if that turns out to be Count Astria’s house.”

“If.”

I cut myself off for a mont and lifted my head. Hal nodded, granting permission to speak. Only then did I ask politely,

“If it were proven that Count Astria’s house truly stood behind it, what would you do?”

So might think at once of war, but war does not break out so easily. The gap in strength must be clear, and the gains to be won just as clear.

But though Count Astria’s house did not match House Adeline, it still possessed enormous power. That ant war between the two houses would leave heavy damage on both sides.

In other words, even if a problem arose, there was a much greater chance it would be resolved through docunts and leverage than through ard conflict.

That was the concrete thod I was asking about.

“I would rather hear the thoughts of a servant first.”

As expected, Young Master Hal was not an easy man. Grinning crookedly, he tilted his head.

But then again, I was no easy apprentice either.

“For one as lowly as I am, it is impossible to guess. It was nothing more than a small curiosity, so please do not trouble yourself over it.”

“Ha, what a crafty bastard. Every ti you open your mouth, you trot out that word lowly as if it were a habit.”

“Because it is true.”

After a mont’s pause, Young Master Hal pushed himself upright. Then he reached out, plucked a fresh grape from the cluster on the table, and popped it into his mouth.

“We can press the matter, extract suitable compensation, and simply avoid sending Ella to House Astria. That is the solution.”

“I see.”

“What is that expression? You look as though you expected that.”

I smiled lightly.

“I had already sensed at least that Young Master cares for the Young Lady. Since she does not want the marriage, I thought naturally that you would act accordingly.”

“What are you talking about?”

With a humorless laugh, the Young Master spat a grape seed into the air.

“What brother in the world tells his younger sister she is being sold off?”

“Young Master, do you know the dictionary aning of a pet na?”

“What?”

“It ans that affection is contained in the na one uses. As you yourself said, if your relationship were truly poor, would there be any reason to call her by an affectionate nickna? You are not the sort to curry favor with others, after all.”

That was not the only reason. Sapiela had also spoken in ways that suggested she worried over Hal. And more than anything, according to Rohanpedia, the two were not half-siblings, so there was no reason at all for them to be tearing at each other.

As expected, Young Master Hal did not refute .

He only reached out quietly, plucked another grape, and ate it. For a long while he said nothing, as though recalling old mories.

Ptoo!

Young Master Hal spat another grape seed into the air.

“Servant.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

He stared at the grapes he had been eating, then pushed the whole bowl toward .

“That is enough for today. On your way out, drop this off in the big room downstairs.”

The big room downstairs?

Thinking of the owner of that room, I smiled.

“As you command.”

“And from tomorrow onward......”

I held the dish and waited for the words that would follow. Hal seed to hesitate for a mont.

“Go back to your real master.”

“I am sorry to say so, but there is still ti remaining in the period during which I am ant to serve you, Young Master.”

“Let us skip the troubleso procedures. Instead.”

As expected, there was a condition.

“As for the matter of the Delfino rchant Company, report on it to alone from now on. Do not let even the Head Butler, much less Ella, be drawn into this.”

“I will bear that in mind, Young Master. Is there anything further you would command?”

“There is not, so get out.”

Why was he letting go? I had expected him to toy with a little longer.

It felt suspicious sohow, but standing there blankly was discourteous, so I picked up the bowl of grapes and headed for Young Lady Sapiela’s room.

Today as well, that unpleasant knight was standing there playing gatekeeper. It was Lorenz, Young Lady Sapiela’s Guard Knight and the second Roland.

“What are you doing here?”

I think I had the wrong idea. Rather than dragging Sir Lorenz into so private reckoning, I ought to challenge him to a duel and humiliate him very publicly.

I lifted my chin and answered him directly.

“I have co under Young Master Hal’s orders. Open the door.”

“What?”

Had I raised my tone a little too high at the end? It may have sounded sowhat insolent. But that was his problem, not mine.

It was a fact that I had co under Young Master Hal’s orders, so I looked at him without the least hesitation.

But he did not move.

I took a step back.

“I have co because Young Master Hal ordered to deliver fruit to the Young Lady. It seems I shall have to report that I was unable to deliver it because Sir Lorenz obstructed my way. Whether you can deal with what follows, however......”

“W-wait! Who says I obstructed you?”

Turning pale, Lorenz hurriedly sent in word and opened the door. Inside, Sapiela was sitting on the sofa, sunk in thought.

She was as beautiful as ever today. Truly, the place where I belonged was not the room of a wastrel, but the residence of a young lady filled with the scent of spring.

I felt as though I finally understood the heart of a butterfly flying toward a flower.

I stepped inside and bowed.

“I greet the noble Young Lady. It sohow feels as though it has been a long ti. Have you been well in the anti?”

“Yes.”

There was sothing slightly unfamiliar in the casual way she answered.

The place where I had last seen her was Rosetta. There, Sapiela had called “Sir Dilen” and used honorific speech. For a little while, it had felt as though I had truly beco a noble.

It seed I had only dread for a mont. Wearing an awkward smile, I set the bowl of grapes I was carrying down in front of her.

Receiving fruit so suddenly, Sapiela looked at with curious eyes.

“This is......?”

“Please do not be alard. Young Master Hal sent it. He said the taste was rather fine.”

“Did he?”

Sapiela stretched out a white hand that looked almost doll-like, plucked a grape, and placed it in her mouth. She chewed softly.

A small smile soon appeared at the corner of her lips.

“It is sweet.”

Suddenly, it occurred to that perhaps there was so story attached to these grapes. An image flashed through my mind of brother and sister sharing grapes together in peace.

At that mont, sothing familiar on one side of the table caught my eye.