Episode 26
The Duke’s Butler (2)
“Ah, right! I promoted Solertia-san’s scroll at a banquet yesterday!”
“Yes? Aren’t we not set on the location of the store yet?”
“That’s…, it happened somehow.”
Even I thought it was a little weird how excited I was. I was embarrassed for nothing, so I smiled shyly and replied, Solertia grinned.
“Huh~, should I pay more attention to the quantity?”
“That’s right! That’s exactly what I was trying to say! It might be a hit as soon as the store opens.”
“Oh, thank you~! If, as sir Zion said, the number of customers increases… I would have nothing to offer, when purchasing a scroll, I will give you a small discount as an acquaintance!”
To my exaggerated words, Solertia responded with a sly smile. Her smiling expression with her white teeth and squinting eyes suits her lively and bubbly look very well.
‘But will I ever need to buy an expensive scroll?’
No matter how much I think about it, it seems unlikely that it will happen, but first of all, I expressed my gratitude for the favor. You never know what will happen to people. It was said that it was a permanent discount, not fixed-term, there was no reason to refuse.
“It’s been about three or four days since you came to the Duke’s place, are there any inconveniences?”
“Not yet. As you said, it’s been less than a week.”
“Haha, that’s right.”
“If you ask me at least in a month or so… Oh, are we going to find a store and I can go out by then?”
While her shop location is decided, she is only temporarily staying with the duke. She had a reason to make two scrolls before opening, but in the end, this place is just a normal inn. Since there was no safety device for full-scale research, there will be a limit to the scrolls that can be produced.
‘Especially, they wouldn’t even try to develop a new scroll.’
After we take over the building in which the store will be opened, she will have a proper laboratory there. There is no need to act as a duke’s resident like now.
“That’s a bit disappointing.”
“Is it Sir Zion? Why?”
··If you reply like that, there is nothing I can say? I rolled my eyes and said, ‘Uh…, um…’ only I was troubled, Solertia burst into laughter.
“It’s a joke, it’s a joke~. We’ve stayed together on the train, so of course you should be disappointed!”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“When I first saw you, I thought you wouldn’t even blink an eye in a way.”
“Ah, no! Then you misunderstood…”
As I hesitated, Solertia burst into a lively laugh again.
“That’s what I was saying about back then~, now I know how affectionate and sensitive Sir Zion is.”
Solertia, who had a good expression on her face, drank some cold tea. In her appearance, although she did not have the aristocratic elegance of Serpence, her free-spiritedness and her very well-rounded smile made her look beautiful and unique.
“Anyway, if you have any inconveniences while staying here, please tell me at any time!”
“Then, will Sir Zion solve all the problems yourself?”
“Of course, the duke will take care of it!”
At my matter of fact words, Solertia remembered the first time I met her, and she burst into laughter.
“Can you just leave it all like that?”
“Well, the Duke would have the butler or other people do it, right?”
“Well, that’s right!”
Solertia nodded her head in agreement.
“But if I look closely, I think Sir Zion seems to be quite friendly with the Duke.”
“It has to be. Probably no one is as close to him as I am!”
Hearing this, Humanus would argue that he was closer, but he wasn’t here anyway. And Serpence…
‘Is it a little vague?’
Right now, it felt more to him like seeing something bizarre rather than friendly. But even if we are not close right now, I plan to become best friends with him in the future.
‘It doesn’t matter if I talk like this in advance, right?’
My goal is to become close with him, provide counseling for his concerns, and prevent him from falling apart. After that, move here and there, give them holy swords, and play around the peaceful continent!
‘But if I say this, does Humanus become a dog?’
Anyway, I think it would be perfect if I could hand over the work to the people below me, and go looking around like I used to do secretly in the estate.
‘It’s unfair to suddenly possess a person in a fantasy novel, I don’t even know if I can go back…’
It happened like this. I think it would be less unfair if I see what a festival or tourist attraction in the fantasy world looks like.
‘If I don’t know anything else, if I go with Serpence, I can play without worrying about money as well as safety, right?’
Do I want to feel like I am traveling abroad with a friend with a lot of money? Whatever it is, it seems good.
‘I like that I can play comfortably, and it would be good for Serpence because he can have a new experience!’
After that, I exchanged stories with Solertia for about an hour.
“Oh my, it’s already time! I’m sorry, but I have to go back to work.”
“It’s okay! I also have a promise… I have something similar. I was just about to get up.”
We got up from our seats.
* * *
“What’s wrong with the aide?”
“I’m going to talk to the butler in a moment…, wait a minute. My legs are a bit…”
Leaning against the wall next to Hans doorway, I squatted and waited, my legs were very numb. I’m glad he came while I was thinking about whether I should just sit down on the floor.
As I staggered and stood up against the wall, Hans frowned, kicking his tongue. Serpence does that as well, why does this master and servant keep looking at me with those eyes?
“Are you going to be straight-forward, or should I turn around?”
“I’ll tell you right away. What’s the reason behind the duke’s investigation?”
Lost a player. I was the starting lucky one, so why does this butler take over? Hans must have known the strategy to win first!
‘By the way, after hearing that, I’m sure.’
It must have been my fault that Jack was sent to the library. Of course, just because he was thrown into the library didn’t mean we couldn’t meet at all. It’s fine after work, and he’s only called out for a short while during business hours… But wasn’t that some kind of warning to stop asking questions?
“A background check? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Isn’t it natural to want to know what kind of person you are serving?”
“The aide is like an assistant. You just need to take good care of him.”
“I need to know about him, don’t I?”
“The Duke is already well known. What more information do you need?”
I wondered if he would be able to reply if I ran my mouth, but I didn’t have the power to do that.
“Whatever the Duke is, you just have to follow him faithfully. Why can’t you do that…”
“Though that’s what you’re saying, the butler doesn’t seem to be following him?”
“Now that it’s only been over a month, do you think you deserve such a story? Our Roberto family has been loyal to the Prasidus family from generation to generation, and I have also worked in this mansion for over 40 years.”
A look of pride filled Hans’s face as he looked down at me with a smirk on his face.
“Look at that. It doesn’t matter who the Duke is? Have you been loyal to the Prasidus family from generation to generation?”
That’s not even funny. You have to look at people and decide whether to follow them or not, you have been loyal to your family from generation to generation.
‘What kind of loyalty is that?’
I just inherited the family business. Indeed, it is a rotten, rotten thought. But in this world, this is normal, and if you question it prematurely, it will be considered as a crime of treason.
“Isn’t the only thing you serve the shell of the duke of Prasidus? What does ‘Serpence’, not duke of prasidus, mean to you?”
“It’s not a name that you can call simply! And, the Duke is the Prasidus family itself. Is there any reason to separate it?”
“Oh, so? I thought you were only loyal to your predecessors, not your current ones, are you?”
“Why is the previous Duke mention—! …Did you hear something from the current Duke?”
Hans’s voice subsided in an instant.
“No, he didn’t say anything.”
“If not, then why did you want to meet Jack’s father?”
“Because I haven’t heard anything. So, I have to look the other way, don’t I?”
Did you even know that…? As far as what happened in this mansion, it seems that there is nothing he doesn’t know. Such a scary human being.
“What the hell do you know, and what do you want to know?”
I think I heard a question similar to this from Serpence as well. Usually, when I look at possessive objects in novels, everyone passes along just fine, but I don’t know why it doesn’t work with me. Do I look so suspicious?
“I don’t know, so I’m asking, aren’t I?”
“Then why do you want to go to a retired person and ask about something you can ask me?”
“Does the butler… feel bad about something?”
“It’s not that, isn’t there a reason to do something?”
Yes, I understand seeing it that way. Even if It was me, I would have been suspicious if a stone-like guy that rolled in from somewhere suddenly inquired about my superior and went around investigating the past.
‘Besides, this butler seems to have been watching Serpence ever since he was born…’
From Hans’s point of view, it would feel as if an unknown stranger suddenly came to him and meddled with childcare. And secretly behind the scenes, you’ll see me as someone trying to teach a kid weird things.
“If the Duke didn’t tell you, there must be a good reason. Don’t delve into it.”
“Butler Are you asking permission from the duke to talk to me like this?”
“I’m just looking for suspects that could harm the Duke.”
“Is that what the Duke allowed?”
“This is my duty as it should be.”
“Isn’t that just the way you think? I’m doing it with permission.”
Hans paused at my words.
“…what do you mean?”
“Look for yourself and make your own judgment.”
A lot of things were omitted in the middle, and that doesn’t mean I can do my own research, but it’s not wrong.
In the first place, the purpose of a background investigation is not with bad intentions. And that’s what Serpence should have noticed by now. About his past, although it is speculation, I spread it out as if I knew everything.
‘I actually got it all right?’
And by running away, didn’t he prove that it was right?
I just want to let him know that it’s not serpence that’s wrong, it’s his parents and those who overlooked it.
It was unreasonable abuse, and he no longer need to be bound by the shackles they left behind. Right now, I want to tell him that even if you feel resentful and angry because of the injustice, you should not turn away from it, but face it and move on.
“Are you saying that you will judge the Duke and choose whether to serve him or not?”
LEARN MORE
!
!
!
!
!
!
Is that the case? Er, I don’t know. A guy who doesn’t know the subject is much better than a spy.
“Is there any reason why not?”
“···you dare?”
“Isn’t it better to be energetic and independent than to be old-fashioned and passive?”
At my clever words, Hans narrowed his eyes and glared at me.
I also had nothing to feel bad about, so I looked at him and spread my shoulders proudly.
“There’s something I shouldn’t know about?
“There is no such thing.”
“If there isn’t, then there isn’t!”
As I shrugged my shoulders with a squeaky tone, I saw Hans clenching his fists. It’s okay to have a blood line on the back of his hand, and an older person like that.
“Don’t take your anger on others for nothing, and send Jack back to his original area, alright?”
“Such a statement is a violation of rights.”
“What you did was an abuse of power.”
A grinding sound was heard.
Episode 26
The Duke’s Butler (2)
“Ah, right! I promoted Solertia-san’s scroll at a banquet yesterday!”
“Yes? Aren’t we not set on the location of the store yet?”
“That’s…, it happened somehow.”
Even I thought it was a little weird how excited I was. I was embarrassed for nothing, so I smiled shyly and replied, Solertia grinned.
“Huh~, should I pay more attention to the quantity?”
“That’s right! That’s exactly what I was trying to say! It might be a hit as soon as the store opens.”
“Oh, thank you~! If, as sir Zion said, the number of customers increases… I would have nothing to offer, when purchasing a scroll, I will give you a small discount as an acquaintance!”
To my exaggerated words, Solertia responded with a sly smile. Her smiling expression with her white teeth and squinting eyes suits her lively and bubbly look very well.
‘But will I ever need to buy an expensive scroll?’
No matter how much I think about it, it seems unlikely that it will happen, but first of all, I expressed my gratitude for the favor. You never know what will happen to people. It was said that it was a permanent discount, not fixed-term, there was no reason to refuse.
“It’s been about three or four days since you came to the Duke’s place, are there any inconveniences?”
“Not yet. As you said, it’s been less than a week.”
“Haha, that’s right.”
“If you ask me at least in a month or so… Oh, are we going to find a store and I can go out by then?”
While her shop location is decided, she is only temporarily staying with the duke. She had a reason to make two scrolls before opening, but in the end, this place is just a normal inn. Since there was no safety device for full-scale research, there will be a limit to the scrolls that can be produced.
‘Especially, they wouldn’t even try to develop a new scroll.’
After we take over the building in which the store will be opened, she will have a proper laboratory there. There is no need to act as a duke’s resident like now.
“That’s a bit disappointing.”
“Is it Sir Zion? Why?”
··If you reply like that, there is nothing I can say? I rolled my eyes and said, ‘Uh…, um…’ only I was troubled, Solertia burst into laughter.
“It’s a joke, it’s a joke~. We’ve stayed together on the train, so of course you should be disappointed!”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“When I first saw you, I thought you wouldn’t even blink an eye in a way.”
“Ah, no! Then you misunderstood…”
As I hesitated, Solertia burst into a lively laugh again.
“That’s what I was saying about back then~, now I know how affectionate and sensitive Sir Zion is.”
Solertia, who had a good expression on her face, drank some cold tea. In her appearance, although she did not have the aristocratic elegance of Serpence, her free-spiritedness and her very well-rounded smile made her look beautiful and unique.
“Anyway, if you have any inconveniences while staying here, please tell me at any time!”
“Then, will Sir Zion solve all the problems yourself?”
“Of course, the duke will take care of it!”
At my matter of fact words, Solertia remembered the first time I met her, and she burst into laughter.
“Can you just leave it all like that?”
“Well, the Duke would have the butler or other people do it, right?”
“Well, that’s right!”
Solertia nodded her head in agreement.
“But if I look closely, I think Sir Zion seems to be quite friendly with the Duke.”
“It has to be. Probably no one is as close to him as I am!”
Hearing this, Humanus would argue that he was closer, but he wasn’t here anyway. And Serpence…
‘Is it a little vague?’
Right now, it felt more to him like seeing something bizarre rather than friendly. But even if we are not close right now, I plan to become best friends with him in the future.
‘It doesn’t matter if I talk like this in advance, right?’
My goal is to become close with him, provide counseling for his concerns, and prevent him from falling apart. After that, move here and there, give them holy swords, and play around the peaceful continent!
‘But if I say this, does Humanus become a dog?’
Anyway, I think it would be perfect if I could hand over the work to the people below me, and go looking around like I used to do secretly in the estate.
‘It’s unfair to suddenly possess a person in a fantasy novel, I don’t even know if I can go back…’
It happened like this. I think it would be less unfair if I see what a festival or tourist attraction in the fantasy world looks like.
‘If I don’t know anything else, if I go with Serpence, I can play without worrying about money as well as safety, right?’
Do I want to feel like I am traveling abroad with a friend with a lot of money? Whatever it is, it seems good.
‘I like that I can play comfortably, and it would be good for Serpence because he can have a new experience!’
After that, I exchanged stories with Solertia for about an hour.
“Oh my, it’s already time! I’m sorry, but I have to go back to work.”
“It’s okay! I also have a promise… I have something similar. I was just about to get up.”
We got up from our seats.
* * *
“What’s wrong with the aide?”
“I’m going to talk to the butler in a moment…, wait a minute. My legs are a bit…”
Leaning against the wall next to Hans doorway, I squatted and waited, my legs were very numb. I’m glad he came while I was thinking about whether I should just sit down on the floor.
As I staggered and stood up against the wall, Hans frowned, kicking his tongue. Serpence does that as well, why does this master and servant keep looking at me with those eyes?
“Are you going to be straight-forward, or should I turn around?”
“I’ll tell you right away. What’s the reason behind the duke’s investigation?”
Lost a player. I was the starting lucky one, so why does this butler take over? Hans must have known the strategy to win first!
‘By the way, after hearing that, I’m sure.’
It must have been my fault that Jack was sent to the library. Of course, just because he was thrown into the library didn’t mean we couldn’t meet at all. It’s fine after work, and he’s only called out for a short while during business hours… But wasn’t that some kind of warning to stop asking questions?
“A background check? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Isn’t it natural to want to know what kind of person you are serving?”
“The aide is like an assistant. You just need to take good care of him.”
“I need to know about him, don’t I?”
“The Duke is already well known. What more information do you need?”
I wondered if he would be able to reply if I ran my mouth, but I didn’t have the power to do that.
“Whatever the Duke is, you just have to follow him faithfully. Why can’t you do that…”
“Though that’s what you’re saying, the butler doesn’t seem to be following him?”
“Now that it’s only been over a month, do you think you deserve such a story? Our Roberto family has been loyal to the Prasidus family from generation to generation, and I have also worked in this mansion for over 40 years.”
A look of pride filled Hans’s face as he looked down at me with a smirk on his face.
“Look at that. It doesn’t matter who the Duke is? Have you been loyal to the Prasidus family from generation to generation?”
That’s not even funny. You have to look at people and decide whether to follow them or not, you have been loyal to your family from generation to generation.
‘What kind of loyalty is that?’
I just inherited the family business. Indeed, it is a rotten, rotten thought. But in this world, this is normal, and if you question it prematurely, it will be considered as a crime of treason.
“Isn’t the only thing you serve the shell of the duke of Prasidus? What does ‘Serpence’, not duke of prasidus, mean to you?”
“It’s not a name that you can call simply! And, the Duke is the Prasidus family itself. Is there any reason to separate it?”
“Oh, so? I thought you were only loyal to your predecessors, not your current ones, are you?”
“Why is the previous Duke mention—! …Did you hear something from the current Duke?”
Hans’s voice subsided in an instant.
“No, he didn’t say anything.”
“If not, then why did you want to meet Jack’s father?”
“Because I haven’t heard anything. So, I have to look the other way, don’t I?”
Did you even know that…? As far as what happened in this mansion, it seems that there is nothing he doesn’t know. Such a scary human being.
“What the hell do you know, and what do you want to know?”
I think I heard a question similar to this from Serpence as well. Usually, when I look at possessive objects in novels, everyone passes along just fine, but I don’t know why it doesn’t work with me. Do I look so suspicious?
“I don’t know, so I’m asking, aren’t I?”
“Then why do you want to go to a retired person and ask about something you can ask me?”
“Does the butler… feel bad about something?”
“It’s not that, isn’t there a reason to do something?”
Yes, I understand seeing it that way. Even if It was me, I would have been suspicious if a stone-like guy that rolled in from somewhere suddenly inquired about my superior and went around investigating the past.
‘Besides, this butler seems to have been watching Serpence ever since he was born…’
From Hans’s point of view, it would feel as if an unknown stranger suddenly came to him and meddled with childcare. And secretly behind the scenes, you’ll see me as someone trying to teach a kid weird things.
“If the Duke didn’t tell you, there must be a good reason. Don’t delve into it.”
“Butler Are you asking permission from the duke to talk to me like this?”
“I’m just looking for suspects that could harm the Duke.”
“Is that what the Duke allowed?”
“This is my duty as it should be.”
“Isn’t that just the way you think? I’m doing it with permission.”
Hans paused at my words.
“…what do you mean?”
“Look for yourself and make your own judgment.”
A lot of things were omitted in the middle, and that doesn’t mean I can do my own research, but it’s not wrong.
In the first place, the purpose of a background investigation is not with bad intentions. And that’s what Serpence should have noticed by now. About his past, although it is speculation, I spread it out as if I knew everything.
‘I actually got it all right?’
And by running away, didn’t he prove that it was right?
I just want to let him know that it’s not serpence that’s wrong, it’s his parents and those who overlooked it.
It was unreasonable abuse, and he no longer need to be bound by the shackles they left behind. Right now, I want to tell him that even if you feel resentful and angry because of the injustice, you should not turn away from it, but face it and move on.
“Are you saying that you will judge the Duke and choose whether to serve him or not?”
LEARN MORE
!
!
!
!
!
!
Is that the case? Er, I don’t know. A guy who doesn’t know the subject is much better than a spy.
“Is there any reason why not?”
“···you dare?”
“Isn’t it better to be energetic and independent than to be old-fashioned and passive?”
At my clever words, Hans narrowed his eyes and glared at me.
I also had nothing to feel bad about, so I looked at him and spread my shoulders proudly.
“There’s something I shouldn’t know about?
“There is no such thing.”
“If there isn’t, then there isn’t!”
As I shrugged my shoulders with a squeaky tone, I saw Hans clenching his fists. It’s okay to have a blood line on the back of his hand, and an older person like that.
“Don’t take your anger on others for nothing, and send Jack back to his original area, alright?”
“Such a statement is a violation of rights.”
“What you did was an abuse of power.”
A grinding sound was heard.
