The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family Chapter 94 : Chapter 94

Chapter 094

I woke early in the morning and dressed with more care than usual. I took out a new set of clothes and even fixed my hair while looking in the mirror.

“Well, I’m going to see my lord. It’s not as though I can show up without making an effort.”

As I stood there touching my hair and looking into the mirror, a thought suddenly ca to .

“It feels like my looks are gradually changing more and more, doesn’t it?”

In a positive direction, that is. In other words, I was becoming rather handso.

There had been a passage in one of the magic books I read before that ntioned the usefulness of Mana. Mana purified the body and was even good for beauty.

That was why it said that so high-ranking mages did not age, and in so cases even seed to grow younger instead.

It embarrassed a little to say it myself, but I had begun to think that the reason I kept getting better-looking was because I had continued training through my Mana cultivation thod.

“Well then, now I can enjoy late-night snacks as much as I want. I don’t even have to worry about gaining belly fat anymore.”

That was a story from my previous life. Every ti the seasons changed, how many tis had I installed and deleted delivery apps because my pants no longer fit?

Once I had finished getting ready, I went down to the dining hall and ate breakfast. While trading trivial conversation with my fellow apprentices, no less. This too had beco one of the small ordinary routines of my life.

After finishing the al and reporting to the Training Officer, I headed for the Young Lady’s residence, my place of duty.

The reason I did not go to seek an audience with the Marquis right away was simple: I did not have the ti for it.

The thought had crossed my mind that, since my na had beco so well known, I might be able to press the issue and get in sohow, but it seed better to follow proper procedure. He was not a man who cared much for exceptions.

After giving Sir Lancelot, who was standing guard outside the door, a brief greeting, I went inside.

“Good morning, Young Lady. You seem especially beautiful today.”

To be honest, nothing in particular had changed, but I had learned that it was good to slip in a complint now and then. A butler was, in a sense, a professional in the service industry.

Young Lady Sapiela’s expression shifted in a rather curious way as she looked at . I could not tell whether she was smiling or surprised.

Then she rose from her seat and glanced once at the mirror.

No matter how famous she was for her coldness, the fact that she was a woman did not change. There was no one who disliked being told they looked lovely or splendid.

Even in the midst of that, I still carried out my duty.

“Then I shall report today’s schedule, Young Lady. At eleven in the morning, you have a lesson with Sir rlin. And at three in the afternoon, Young Lady Luminous is scheduled to visit. I will prepare fine tea for the occasion.”

“Ah, Luminous. That’s right. She hasn’t visited in a long while, so take special care with it.”

“I shall prepare everything thoroughly.”

Young Lady Luminous was the daughter of House of Baron Plank, a vassal house of the Adeline Marquis House. I had heard that she and the Young Lady had been close since childhood. Now that both of them were grown and burdened with many duties of their own, they t only rarely, but apparently they had once seen each other almost every day.

That was why I had seen her face a few tis myself. After all, I was Sapiela’s dedicated butler.

Young Lady Luminous’s distinguishing feature was that, for a noble lady, she looked rather ordinary. She did not seem especially fond of dressing herself up either. Her hair was cut short, and if I had to put it into words, she had sothing of a boyish disposition.

“And since there is no evening schedule, I believe you will be able to rest comfortably after that. Your trip to the Royal Capital is truly not far off now, so you must take care of your health. I intend to keep outdoor activity to a minimum.”

“I know.”

There was obvious annoyance in her voice. Even so, a butler still had to fulfill his duty of informing his master.

“On the way to the Royal Capital, we will be passing through several territories. I have already requested assistance from the houses there, so there is no need at all to worry about safety.”

“Yes.”

Since the fall of the Arkain rchant Company, there had been no sign that any new plot was being woven around Sapiela. Still, there was no harm in being cautious. In any case, these were procedures that needed to be done.

Then Sapiela unexpectedly raised a different subject.

“By the way, that...... food from yesterday. What was it called again?”

“If you an what I prepared, it was called ramyeon stir-fry. It’s a very popular dish in my hotown.”

She nodded. But then she began watching with a strange look. It felt as though she wanted to say sothing, but found it difficult to bring it out.

“Ramyeon stir-fry. I’d like to try it again soti.”

That caught off guard.

Even though she had emptied the plate yesterday, I had only assud it was because she had been hungry. Had I now captured not only her attention, but even her taste buds?

I asked quietly,

“Did you skip breakfast, perhaps? If you haven’t eaten, then it would be better to have a proper al. If we consider nutrition......”

“Not right now. I an when I want to eat it.”

“I see. As it happens, there was talk at Rosetta of adding my dish as a special nu item. I can pass on the recipe, so you may go there and eat it whenever you please.”

Sapiela lowered her eyes as though sowhat disappointed. Could it be that she wanted to eat the version I made for her? Overeager assumptions always ended in defeat...... and yet I already had the feeling I had lost.

“Or, if you prefer, you may simply tell directly.”

“Yes.”

Only then did I realize that that had been the answer she actually wanted.

I smoothly changed the subject.

“And, Young Lady. If you have a little ti, might you grant one request? It is not anything difficult.”

“Speak.”

“I would like to seek an audience with His Excellency the Marquis.”

Sapiela showed interest. But eting the Marquis, who was busy with official duties, was no easy matter.

The Adeline Marquis House was a prestigious house, so not only did it have much work to do, but a great many notable people visited it as well. Naturally, entertaining them fell to the Marquis himself.

It seed the eldest Young Master handled so of the etings, but even so, the Marquis personally dealt with most of them.

That being the case, it was not easy to secure ti with him. But if the request ca from the treasured jewel of the house, then that was another matter entirely.

Besides, I had a plausible reason.

“There is an item I wish to present to His Excellency the Marquis. It would be discourteous for to seek him out without warning, so I wished to ask for your help.”

“If that is the reason, it would be better to deliver it through the Butler Corps.”

“I need to explain how it is used directly. It requires a demonstration.”

“Really?”

Unexpectedly, Sapiela began walking toward the door at once.

“Follow .”

That decisiveness was exactly what I liked.

After checking once more to make sure the wooden box tucked into my clothes was still safely in place, I followed behind her.

***

Sapiela’s steps as she walked down the corridor were proud and self-assured. If she had been a man, I found myself thinking she might well have made a splendid heir.

The closer we ca to the Marquis’s office, the more splendid the paintings and decorations hanging around us beca.

Even the red carpet spread across the floor had an excellent texture. Every step sank into it as though I were walking on clouds.

Before long, the entrance to the Marquis’s office ca into view in all its grandeur.

Exactly four heavily ard knights stood guarding it. Though I could not see them, there was no doubt additional guards were stationed sowhere inside the office as well.

As Sapiela approached, the knights guarding the office grew tense. It was not common for her to co there in person.

“We greet the noble Young Lady. What brings you here so early in the morning?”

“I have co to see Father.”

“I beg your pardon, but he currently has a visitor with him.”

“Who?”

At that, the knight’s expression turned troubled. He cast a glance at the knight standing beside him, then gave his report as though he had no choice.

“Baron Hansman is currently inside.”

“Then I suppose I shall have to wait here. Standing right here like this.”

A single cold sentence.

What she ant was not that she would wait patiently, but rather, Since I’m about to stand here until my legs ache, why don’t the lot of you panic yourselves half to death in the anti?

She really did know how to wield her authority magnificently.

The knights looked as though they were about to die. That was exactly where the butler’s role beca important. I was not a full butler, but I could still fulfill the proper duty of one.

“Young Lady, would it not be better to return for a while? A cup of tea and a walk in the garden would not be a bad thing. As it happens, I heard that so very fine tea leaves have just arrived.”

The frost in Sapiela’s eyes softened slightly. She appeared to think for a mont, then addressed the knight standing guard.

“The mont the visitor leaves, report it to . And inform Father as well.”

“I shall obey, Young Lady.”

“Let us go.”

The Young Lady turned away, and I glanced at the knights. They gave subtle nods. It ant thank you.

And one hour later, exactly as planned, I was able to seek an audience with Marquis Chronos.

***

“A pen with an ink chamber inside it?”

As he asked that, the Marquis stared fixedly at the fountain pen inside the wooden box. I gave him a brief explanation of the product, and as expected, he showed strong interest.

I continued my explanation respectfully.

“It is a revolutionary product. Once filled, it can be used for quite so ti without needing to dip it into ink every ti. I wished to present this rare object to His Excellency the Marquis, lord of the Adeline Marquis House.”

“Use it for once.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

A maid standing nearby brought a clean sheet of paper.

I took out the pen, opened the cap, and checked the nib. It had been plated very well. Holding the pen lightly, I wrote across the paper in a flowing hand.

May eternal prosperity bless the Adeline Marquis House!

It was a rather conventional phrase, but the Marquis seed more interested in the fountain pen itself than in what I had written.

“What an intriguing object. The letters co out much more clearly than with the pen I use now. It really does seem very convenient.”

“I am glad that it pleases you.”

“But why present sothing like this to ?”

I smiled faintly with my head lowered.

“It was developed by a distant relative who recently established a company, and he wished for it to be presented first and foremost to Your Excellency. Since it is a company based in Adeline Territory, I imagine he wished to commorate that fact.”

“A company, you say......”

“It is a company called tis.”

“Mm, very well.”

The Marquis nodded repeatedly, clearly satisfied, and began writing with the pen himself. He had scarcely listened to the part about the company at all.

He even tried filling the ink chamber himself, just as I had shown him. It was a most pleasant ti.

He looked almost like a child at Christmas who had just received a gift in hand.

“If the fountain pen ever develops any problem, please send it to the tis Trading Company. They will repair it perfectly.”

“I shall. But do they intend to sell this?”

“That is what I have heard. This one is the luxury model, and I understand they are also preparing to sell a standard version.”

“How interesting. Hahaha. This could turn into one of the great specialties of our Territory. But tell , why did the head of the company not co himself? Why did you co instead?”

He asked that rather later than I expected. Fortunately, I had already prepared exactly the kind of line older n liked to hear.

“Your Excellency is so very busy that it is difficult to secure an audience, so he asked to deliver it in his stead. He said he wished to show it to you as quickly as possible.”

“How admirable! I suppose I shall have to arrange a eting before long. Tell him I shall make good use of it.”

“Thank you very much. I will certainly convey those words, Your Excellency.”

With the image of Marquis Chronos smiling brightly fixed firmly in my mind, I stepped out of the office.

That remark about arranging a eting was probably nothing more than polite talk.

Still, it did not matter. What mattered was that the Marquis would go on using the fountain pen with the sa cheerful smile as now.

In front of many of his retainers.

Can you hear it?

The sound of money pouring in!