The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family Chapter 79 : Chapter 79

Chapter 079

“How long do you think it’ll take?”

“Leave the worrying to . I’ll have the whole mansion stirred up within an hour.”

“I thought it would take half a day?”

“That would be true if it were sothing dull. But when it’s sothing this entertaining, that changes everything. I’d bet it won’t even take thirty minutes before it reaches Commander Varian’s ears.”

Wearing a satisfied expression, I nodded.

If the rumor spread out of control, Sir Lorenz would have no choice but to face . Knights valued their honor as dearly as their lives.

If a re Butler Apprentice was making a scene and he let it pass, his dignity as a knight would crash into the ground.

Even if it never reached Commander Varian, his fellow knights would surely egg him on and tell him to teach a lesson already. In that case, Sir Lorenz would have only one choice left.

Rohan, now tucking the Gold Coins into his clothes, asked with concern,

“But are you really confident? No matter how skilled you are, your opponent is still a knight. If I know anything, a Guard Knight ought to be able to use Aura at a high level. Maybe you got lucky against Arthas before, but......”

“I’m going to win no matter what, so don’t worry.”

“Hah, fine. You’re the best. Go devour everything!”

“Hahaha.”

That was because I was not an Aura User, but a Mana User.

To begin with, the quality of the power itself was different. Aura was a force built up as a stopgap because they could not handle Mana.

I could use Mana, and on top of that, my Mana Circuit spread out from my heart rather than my Dantian.

So if I truly drew out my real strength and fought, soone like Sir Lorenz would be easy to beat. On top of that, Arthas had agreed to help with my training every day, which ant the power of the sword I swung would naturally be very different from before.

That was exactly why, though I was worried the duel might not happen, I was not worried in the slightest about losing.

***

Creeeak!

The heavy door opened.

Seated in his office, Marquis Chronos turned his weary gaze toward the entrance.

Once, his third son had been so precious that he could have placed him in his eyes without pain, but now Young Master Hal, who caused trouble wherever he went and had beco unpleasant even to look at, stepped inside.

A faint smile touched the Marquis’s lips.

“Co in, Hal.”

“Have you been at peace?”

“Yes. The weather is fine, and my heart is exceedingly calm as well. Thanks to you, I received considerable help. There is a matter that requires the Territory’s budget to be expanded sowhat, and you did a good thing.”

“I am glad that Father seems pleased.”

That was the reason Marquis Chronos could still greet Young Master Hal with a smile.

Not long ago, the additional 3,500 Gold that had been collected was handed over directly to Marquis Chronos, and the Marquis could not help but praise Young Master Hal’s efforts.

After all, 3,500 Gold was an enormous sum.

“So then, what brings you here today?”

“Would you dismiss the others for a mont?”

Without saying anything, the Marquis waved one hand and dismissed everyone nearby.

Watching that, Young Master Hal’s yearning for the seat his father was now occupying only grew stronger.

The two father and son were left alone.

It was Young Master Hal who spoke first.

“It concerns Ella.”

“Sothing about Ella? I never imagined I’d hear you, of all people, speak of her when your other siblings don’t even spare her a thought.”

“At the very least, Ella and I are true siblings.”

True to form, Young Master Hal needlessly grated on the Marquis’s nerves with words he did not have to say. Even so, he remained utterly confident.

“I will state my business. Please send Ella to the Royal Capital. I would like her to study there for a few months by enrolling in the special program at the Royal Academy.”

“That is unexpected.”

“In what way?”

“I thought you would ask for a proper reward for the additional taxes you brought in. Since it was money you made possible, I had intended to let you take a suitable portion. But I never imagined I would hear talk of the Academy.”

“Hahaha! Father, I am not such a vulgar man. I do nothing but work for you and for the House.”

“You may not be vulgar, but that does not make you a dutiful son either, does it?”

A tension hung in the air as though unseen blades were crossing without cease.

Thus the loveless father and the power-hungry son continued their exchange.

“In any event, that money did not co from slaying monsters. It was originally yours, Father. There is no share of it for to take.”

“Then?”

“It is because I dislike Count Astria’s attitude. I hear there has been no word from them regarding the marriage talks. If we have already held a banquet, then naturally matters should have proceeded to the next step, yet they have not even sent a letter. That is not only an insult to Ella, but a slight and challenge to our House.”

“Hmm.”

Young Master Hal spoke in a cutting tone, laying out a flawless orthodox argunt.

The Marquis did not refute him at once. Instead, he gave a low hum and sank into deep thought.

A short while later, he spoke.

“It seems to be a good thod. Certainly, it would let us secure both justification and practical benefit. It is good to see you looking after your younger sister in this way, but from ti to ti, you should spare so thought for your elder brothers as well.”

“I understand, Father.”

“Then I suppose it is ti to have Sir Yanrof make the preparations.”

Yanrof?

I nearly jolted in surprise as I listened to the conversation in secret, concentrating Mana into my hearing. Of all the people available, why Yanrof?

I pressed my ear even more tightly to the wall. The sound was so clear I could even hear breathing, and yet oddly enough, no sound at all was coming from the Marquis’s office.

“Why are you sitting there? Recomnd Sir Yanrof. Recomnd Sir Yanrof!”

Even though muttering like this would never carry into the next room, I sincerely prayed that Young Master Hal would do exactly that.

A mont later, Hal’s voice ca through.

“Please hear without misunderstanding. It is not that I find Father’s opinion disagreeable, but I believe Sir Yanrof would be more suitable than Sir Weiss.”

Did we just have telepathy?

Good. Press him harder!

“Why?”

“First of all, this concerns a mber of the Adeline House going to study in the Royal Capital. It is only proper that the highest-ranking man in the Butler Corps oversee the preparations.”

It was a perfectly sound argunt.

The Marquis had only thought of using Sir Weiss because he was convenient to command like a limb. If soone argued from proper principle, the Marquis would naturally be at a disadvantage.

Still, within the Territory, the lord stood above the law. Depending on his mood, the law could be changed as he pleased.

“That is a fair point. However, Sir Weiss is knowledgeable about life in the Royal Capital and matters related to the Academy. It would not be a poor choice to entrust it to him.”

“That may be true, but if that happens, Ella will be uncomfortable.”

“And why would she be uncomfortable?”

“The people Ella wishes to take along with her are sowhat unusual. If Sir Weiss oversees these preparations, then Ella will certainly not be able to choose her companions as she wishes. He is an extre stickler for rules.”

“He does have that side to him, yes. Still, a devotion to principle is the foundation of all order. But I am curious. Tell who these unusual companions are that you speak of.”

“Ella has nad Butler Apprentice Dilen as her Attending Secretary for this journey. And she has nad Apprentice Knight Arthas as his lieutenant.”

“What?”

The Marquis’s voice sounded less angry than incredulous.

Then again, if I were the Marquis, the very idea of entrusting my beloved youngest daughter to a pair of naless nobodies like us would be absurd on its face.

Even so, what could not be believed now had to be made believable.

“I imagine you have heard of them as well, Father. Dilen, who saved Ella’s life, and Arthas, who crossed blades with him and gave a splendid performance.”

“If it is those two......”

“They may be apprentices, but they are by no ans husks. In truth, Apprentice Dilen is highly capable and clever as well. He is already serving as Ella’s assistant tutor, possesses abundant common sense, and excels in strategy. On top of that, he has Martial Prowess great enough to defeat an apprentice knight, so there is a need to employ him early.”

“Hahahahaha!”

The Marquis burst into laughter.

What did that an? I felt as though I might end up stuck to the wall like gum, but even so, I pressed my ear harder against it.

“I believe this is the first ti I have ever heard you evaluate soone so highly.”

“I have rely spoken the truth.”

I could not see him, but sohow I had the feeling Young Master Hal’s expression had turned sour. I did not need to see it to know.

“I would not normally say this much, but it was precisely those two apprentices who distinguished themselves in the recent Tax Audit. They have done enough to deserve a reward.”

“Oh, so that was the case. Then they are indeed people who will serve our House well in the future. I rember the na Dilen in particular. So then, what reward?”

“Both of them refused. They said it was only natural to do what they should for the sake of the House. Is that not admirable?”

After that, Young Master Hal went on at length about why the two of us needed to be entrusted with the assignnt.

There was no especially grand reasoning behind it. He rely argued that the Royal Capital’s security was strong, and since the Adeline House had private soldiers stationed at its residence there, there ought not to be any great problem.

“More importantly, I do not trust Lorenz, who currently serves as Ella’s Guard Knight. Even if Sir Weiss oversees the preparations for this trip, I hope at least the Guard Knight will be changed.”

“And why is that?”

“Because he is unskilled and arrogant. A knight ought to serve his master with a faithful heart while honing his skill, yet that man does neither.”

That surprised slightly.

To call a man with a knightly title that man, and to do so in front of the very person who had granted him that title.

It once again made think that Hal truly was no ordinary fellow.

“How rude. He is a loyal blade to the Adeline House and to . That man, you say? There is clearly a problem in the way you speak.”

“My words were excessive. Forgive .”

“You must not forget that he passed the examination of our House and thereby received his knightly title. That ans there is a need to respect his skill.”

“Skill that is not polished is bound to decline.”

This madman was now trying to pick a fight with his own father. Could he not speak a little more calmly?

“And what do you an by that?”

“I believe there will be sothing interesting to see in a few days. I have heard that Dilen has challenged Sir Lorenz to a duel.”

“How could that be...... I can hardly believe it.”

“It is true. Would I dare report a falsehood to you, Father?”

Once again, the Marquis burst out laughing.

A Butler Apprentice had challenged not an apprentice knight, but a Guard Knight, to a duel. It was no ordinary piece of news.

The power of rumor truly was frightening.

What had begun as nothing more than a casual suggestion to have a light spar had, after one circuit of the mansion, transford into a duel.

A spar and a duel were worlds apart.

The power of the 2 Gold I had handed to Rohan had fully shown itself. There might still be people who did not know my face, but there was no one who did not know about the incident in which the Butler Apprentice nad Dilen had challenged a Guard Knight to a duel.

“So then, did Sir Lorenz accept the duel?”

“The rumor spread in quite an interesting way. They say Sir Lorenz is avoiding Apprentice Dilen because he is afraid. In that case, he will have no choice but to step onto the stage. If he lets the rumor lie as it is, he will be branded a coward. I believe a venue will be arranged soon enough.”

Silence settled for a mont. It seed the Marquis had fallen into thought.

Fortunately, hot-blooded though he was, Young Master Hal did not press him.

“I will entrust the preparations for this trip to Sir Yanrof. However, I cannot permit that man Dilen to be appointed outright as Sapiela’s Attending Secretary. A Butler Apprentice becoming an Attending Secretary? Such a thing is impossible.”

“If that is Father’s will, then so be it.”

“However, if that man Dilen defeats Sir Lorenz in his duel, there may be room to reconsider. There is a reason exceptions exist, after all.”

“That is fortunate.”

With that, I stopped eavesdropping.

Then, as though nothing at all had happened, I quietly slipped out of the room next to the Marquis’s office.

Now it was ti to prepare for the duel.

There was nothing especially grand about that preparation. The difference in strength between us was not so small that I had to devise so elaborate strategy just to bring him down.

If I allowed myself a slight bit of pride, I was already in a position superior to Sir Lorenz.

Ever since I first opened my eyes in this world, I had trained steadily, and I had gained considerable freedom not only in my body, but also in my control over Mana.

Put simply, that ant I only grew stronger with ti.

So there was no need to use my head for things like slipping poison into food or setting traps. All I had to do was crush him cleanly with sheer skill.

And this ti, I intended to make it known that I was an Aura User. If I did not, then facing Sir Lorenz would be rather dangerous.

It was not so much that I was choosing the safer path out of caution regarding Lorenz, but more that I needed to create a justification for remaining at the Young Lady’s side.

As long as I did not reveal the fact that I was a Mana User, it would be fine. There were plenty of people who used Aura, so it would be easy enough to let that part slide by unnoticed.

“Today’s work is done too. I suppose it’s about ti I went to train. I wonder if Arthas has shown up yet.”

Starting tonight, Arthas had agreed to teach swordsmanship.

Late at night, after the day’s duties were over, I took up my sword and left the mansion.

This hour was usually quiet, but I could hear soone inside the Butler Apprentice Training Ground.

Swish! Swiiish!

As expected, Arthas was there, swinging a Wooden Sword in complete seriousness.

His swordsmanship felt closer to heavy than light. Even to soone as ignorant of swordsmanship as I was, it looked like he had learned proper orthodox technique.

I stepped inside and set my sword to one side. Then I took up a Wooden Sword from the rack, and at that mont Arthas’s voice ca from behind .

“What exactly have you been spreading around? Because of you, the Knight Order is in an uproar. It’s complete chaos.”

Arthas grumbled like that while still holding his Sword Form.

I had a rough idea of which rumor he ant. After all, I had just overheard the conversation between the Marquis and Young Master Hal.

Feigning ignorance, I gave a small shrug, took my stance opposite him, and adopted a Sword Form of my own.

“I haven’t said a word. A butler is supposed to have a heavy mouth.”

“I never knew you had a talent for brazen denial too. Wasn’t it you who spread the rumor? The one about challenging Sir Lorenz to a duel. They’re saying all sorts of things about him being a cowardly knight, and he’s been driven completely into a corner.”

“I’m telling you, it wasn’t . And even if it had been, that’s none of my concern. If he didn’t want people talking behind his back, then he should have conducted himself properly.”

That was, in fact, true. It was not I who spread the rumor, but my friend Rohan.

If I had not used his information network, it would never have spread this quickly in the first place.

But the expression on Arthas’s face made it plain that he did not believe a word I said.