The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family Chapter 88 : Chapter 88

Chapter 088

eting Spinel had been a pleasant experience.

Of course, the other two technicians also possessed skills worthy of being called artisans in their own right, but theirs were limited to handiwork. They were not people who possessed brains to match, the way Spinel did.

That did not an I found them disappointing, however. They were still young, and that ant they had room to grow. I would raise them properly and turn them into the driving force of our organization—no, our company.

Naturally, I ended up talking with Spinel at length, and the conversation was so enjoyable that it felt as though I had t a kindred engineering spirit from another university.

In truth, I had approached chanical engineering as an academic discipline.

Which ant there was inevitably a gap in practical experience between and Spinel, who had actually designed and made tools with his own hands in the field.

Depth of knowledge and technical expertise might have been another matter, but at the very least, he possessed a much broader range of experience than I did. Because of that, I could not look down on him.

He felt a little like an older senior in my departnt.

“In any case, I’m glad the conversation went well. Did you like the accommodations?”

“I liked them very much. You seem to know my tastes with unsettling accuracy. Sotis it’s enough to frighten .”

“Hehe. I’m glad.”

Instead of saying thank you, I raised my glass and clinked it with Eluna’s. Smiling, we each took a sip.

After giving the technicians their work orders and inspecting Avengers headquarters as well, I returned to the tavern where Eluna worked and enjoyed a little rest.

Business was over now, so there was no one at the tables. I was the only one sitting at the bar, with Eluna attending to .

There were things I still wanted to say to her, and I also wanted a drink before returning to the mansion.

“So once those writing instrunts are made, how are you planning to sell them? It seems as though it might be difficult, since there isn’t really a market for them yet.”

“You needn’t worry about that. I already have sothing in mind.”

“As expected, are you planning to handle that where you are now? If they’re nobles, they’ll definitely show interest in sothing like that.”

“You knew?”

When I narrowed my eyes and looked at her, she flinched, set down the glass, and lowered her head slightly.

“I’m sorry. It’s not that I investigated you behind your back...... I just happened to find out.”

“When?”

“When the people from the Adeline Marquis House ca out to the Comrcial District to conduct the Tax Audit. There was soone there whose soul was very similar to yours—or rather, exactly the sa. So I kept a close eye on him.”

You could hide your face, but not the little habits that made you who you were. From the way you drew breath to the way you moved your hands and feet, small and large alike.

For Eluna, who had inherited elven blood, it must have been child’s play.

I let out a sigh and drained my drink. The glass, which had been half full, was empty in no ti. Eluna carefully lifted the bottle and filled it again.

I deliberately made the mood heavy. I wanted to see how she would react. I wanted to know whether she would show anger or disappointnt, and what she would do after that.

Just as I had expected, Eluna was blaming herself. It seed I really did not need to doubt her loyalty.

“Did you tell anyone else?”

“I did not, and I never will. I swear it.”

“And how am I supposed to believe that?”

“I will stake my life on it.”

That answer caught by surprise. I had expected her rely to ask to trust her once. I looked at her with interest.

“Are you sure you should wager your life so easily?”

“It’s all right. My life is no different from one you saved, Master.”

“Why?”

“Well, that is......”

Suddenly, a passage from a book on other races I had read long ago ca back to . If I had wanted to, I could have taken her chastity. But I had not. She was probably trying to speak of that first ti she saw .

Eluna flushed and could not go on, and I stopped teasing her and spoke seriously instead.

“I was planning to tell all of you eventually anyway. But it still isn’t the right ti. Until I tell you myself, I’d rather you not reveal my identity to anyone.”

“I will rember that. Please don’t worry.”

“Then co to our mansion tomorrow.”

“Pardon?”

Eluna looked slightly surprised. I slowly swirled the drink in my glass and continued.

“I’ve decided to send 1,200 Gold every month to each of the Young Masters in the form of Sponsorship Funds. I want you to write up a proper proposal as strategist and secretary of the Avengers. Writing work doesn’t really seem to suit Kalmond, after all.”

“Understood. Then may I ask your real na?”

“Dilen.”

Eluna lowered her head slightly in a gesture of obedience. Just from the expression on her face, I could feel her firm resolve not to reveal that na to anyone.

That alone made it possible for to set my glass down with a far lighter heart.

“I drank well.”

I took a Gold Coin from inside my clothes and set it down in front of Eluna. Then I left the tavern.

***

The next day, I woke early as usual and attended morning Roll Call. Through light exercise and sparring, I managed to secure bonus points once again.

At first, there had been quite a few fellows who thought of as a rival, but now I had reached a level none of them even dared challenge anymore. I had ascended into the realm of gods, like Ronaldo and ssi.

That still did not remove the apprentice tag from , of course, but in any case, the more ti passed, the higher my chances of being appointed a Full Butler beca.

“How has the Young Lady been lately? Is she well?”

“Yes. She has been enthusiastic not only about walking in the garden, but about her studies as well.”

After hearing my report, Training Officer Vesper nodded broadly.

“You’ll be leaving for the Royal Capital soon, won’t you? How are the preparations?”

“There are no problems.”

“You really are a lucky one. In my day, Butler Apprentices were never assigned to attend important figures. The world has beco a better place. So much better! Hahaha!”

After spouting a line worthy of so old fossil, Training Officer Vesper waved away. I gave him a quick bow, unwilling to hear any more of his useless talk, and left the Training Officer’s Office.

Now my real daily work was about to begin.

I had to go to Young Lady Sapiela’s residence and attend to her there. When I arrived, it was Sir Lancelot standing guard. It seed that no formal Guard Knight had yet been assigned.

I expected the appointnt of a Guard Knight to co only after the Academy course was over.

The reason was very simple. If a Guard Knight were appointed now, then he would have to accompany the Young Lady to the Royal Capital in my place.

But since I was the one responsible for overseeing this journey, there was no need to appoint one prematurely and create unnecessary conflict.

More than anything, Commander Varian had been making moves to recruit . For that reason, I had grown sowhat reluctant lately to et anyone connected with the Knight Order.

Arthas was the only exception.

“Co in.”

“Good morning, Sir Lancelot. I trust there has been no trouble with the Golden Lion Order?”

“Hahaha. Asking when you already know is rather cruel. If there is trouble, then perhaps there is, but it seems Sir Varian intends to summon you personally soon enough. When that ti cos, I do hope you won’t refuse. Being a knight is a most honorable position.”

“I’ll think on it a little more.”

He smiled coolly and opened the door for .

Naturally, there was no chance I would beco a knight no matter what wealth or honor they promised . That might change soday, but for now, living comfortably as a Butler Apprentice while building my company was far more enjoyable and far more convenient.

When the door opened, I found not only Young Lady Sapiela inside, but Arwen as well.

“The weather is truly fine today, Young Lady. Did you rest peacefully through the night?”

“Yes.”

Sapiela seed a little tired.

Perhaps she was not fully awake yet, because her eyes were less open than usual. I wanted to see her yawn, but her self-restraint was formidable.

At that mont, Arwen gave a signal with her eyes. It ant the Young Lady had not slept well.

Smiling, I bowed my head.

“You seem tired. Would it not be better to rest a little longer? Fatigue is bad for one’s health.”

“It is all right. I think a walk will help wake . Prepare it.”

“At once.”

Ordinarily, she tended to go walking later in the afternoon, but now that we were entering sumr, there were more and more days when she went out early in the morning.

Like today.

I did not find it botherso. I liked getting a breath of fresh air too.

Arwen and I attended Sapiela as we stepped outside the mansion. The sight of maids and butlers trimming the garden was peaceful and pleasant.

Among them was Rohan. Our eyes t while he was pulling weeds, and he ground his teeth while I gave him a wide grin. It was only natural that he would be irritated, slaving away under the blazing sun while I, on the other hand, walked elegantly through the garden holding a parasol.

But what could he do? The world had always been unfair.

“Why are you smiling?”

“It is nothing.”

“Did sothing good happen?”

“Everything is always pleasant when I am with you, Young Lady.”

Holding the parasol aloft, I walked ahead and made a patch of shade for her. With an expression that was not displeased—if one wished to be exact, it was a pleased one—Sapiela walked through the garden, following that shade.

“......What sort of place is the Royal Capital?”

The question ca from her suddenly, and I found it rather unexpected.

“You’ve never been there before?”

“No. I have scarcely ever been outside our Territory at all. And the Royal Capital is far away.”

“It is far, but I have heard it is worth the journey. Senior Stewart from the library told about it. The more I listened, the more I wanted to go myself. Broadening one’s horizons is how one becos a greater person.”

“Ti really does pass slowly.”

From that single remark, I could tell that the Young Lady, too, was looking forward to this trip to the Royal Capital. I glanced at Arwen, and her eyes were sparkling as well.

To be honest, I wanted to see with my own eyes what the capital of the kingdom looked like too. As the center of the kingdom, it would surely be a place full of things worth seeing and learning.

I had no intention of wasting this opportunity.

On the surface, the reason for going was to avoid Secretary Weiss, but once I reached the Royal Capital, I also intended to seek clues about magic, acquire good weapons, and make acquaintances with other nobles and rchant lords.

By then, the company would likely have been established as well.

It seed as though each day there would be endlessly fascinating. If circumstances had been different, I might even have wanted to recomnd that she enroll in the Academy’s regular course, but now was not the ti for that.

“I beg your pardon while you are speaking.”

One of my fellow Butler Apprentices approached carefully and bowed his head. It seed sothing had co up that required reporting.

“There is a visitor.”

“Who?”

“Well, that is......”

The fellow began to sweat visibly and looked at with an awkward expression.

“It is not a visitor for the Young Lady, but for you, Dilen. A lady nad Eluna has co and requested an audience.”

He referred to Eluna with full honor and respect. Just what sort of clothes had she worn here?

Asking Eluna to co to the Adeline House had been a sort of test. I had simply thrown out the suggestion because I was curious to see how she would manage to et .

I had not expected her to use a thod like this.

I asked,

“Where is she now?”

“She is waiting in front of the mansion.”

I deliberately tilted my head as though she were a complete stranger, then asked the Young Lady for permission.

“I truly have no idea who it could be. Perhaps soone from one of our business contacts...... Might I step away for a mont? I will return quickly.”

“You may.”

“Thank you, Young Lady.”

I headed toward the mansion with deliberately quick steps. But Sapiela, who had been staring intently in my direction, could not forget the woman’s na, Eluna, which sounded so unmistakably feminine.

At last, she said one short sentence.

“Let us go back as well.”