Chapter 54 : Chapter 54
Chapter 054
I was startled.
Not as an act, but genuinely. It was none other than Young Lady Sapiela standing over me.
And she was looking at me with warm eyes.
It was surprising in every sense.
Normally, her gaze ought to have been cold and sharp, like a bitter northern wind. But today it was different. One might say it held the tender affection of a spring breeze.
I could not say whether she had fallen for me, but it was certain that she had developed some favor toward me.
I had been sitting carelessly on the floor reading, but I hurriedly rose to my feet. Then I bowed to her.
“I greet the noble Young Lady.”
Usually, she had at least two maids following her around, but strangely, today she was alone.
“What are you doing here?”
“Young Master Hamel is resting, so I came here to read for a while.”
“What book?”
Young Lady Sapiela showed interest in the book I had been reading. I showed her the title. Her eyes lit up.
She already knew that I possessed no ordinary learning. That was after I had shown her another proof of the Pythagorean Theorem, which had appeared in one of her assignments.
And that was not all. I had also explained various topics in science and general learning, including mechanics. The only thing lacking had been time.
If one thought of Young Lady Sapiela as a student, she was a student who fit me extremely well. She was not dull, and she did not hide the things she was curious about simply because she felt shy.
“So you were interested in the different races as well?”
“I am interested in every field. That is why I volunteered for library duty before. In a place like this, I can read books to my heart’s content.”
“As I thought, you should have entered the Academy. You could have become an excellent scholar.”
“Well, it is not too late even now.”
That answer surprised Sapiela slightly. Then she asked carefully,
“Do you have some desire to enter the Academy?”
“Not at present. But one never knows what may happen in life, does one? If I fail to be appointed as a butler, then I may have to look into that side as well.”
“I do not think that is likely to happen.”
It was a short sentence, but one filled with many meanings.
To be frank, if someone of my ability failed to become a butler, that would be absurd. In another sense, it sounded as though she wanted to use her influence somehow on my behalf.
I did not reject goodwill like that, so long as it did not harm anyone else.
Sapiela changed the subject.
“You were not in your quarters last night. Did you have a duty?”
“No. I was on leave yesterday, so I went to rest in the village for a little while. I had a few things to do as well.”
“I see.”
The fact that she knew I had been absent meant that she had looked for me. Why had she?
“Did something happen, my lady?”
“Nothing in particular. It is only that......”
She hesitated and trailed off. It felt awkward to see the Ice Princess looking somehow embarrassed.
“If it concerns my lady, I will listen to any command. Please speak freely.”
“Even if I ordered you to die?”
“I do not believe you would, but if you did, then I would have to drive a blade into my own neck willingly.”
When I bowed, she smiled in satisfaction. Nodding once, she said,
“If you do not mind, let us dine together.”
“Pardon?”
“At Rosetta. Arwen says she wants to show her skill. And since you saved me before, I want to thank you properly.”
A meal with a beauty was something I would always welcome.
More to the point, had Arwen already reached the level where she could cook? I had noticed her potential back when her Trait was still A-rank, but this must have meant that she had put in a great deal of effort as well.
Still, I refused once.
I was not an easy man.
“I am grateful for your words, but it would not do for you to dine with someone as lowly as me. There are too many eyes watching.”
“This is not a matter of status. If one has received a favor, then one must repay it. That is how Father taught me.”
“If that is so, then I will gratefully accept.”
“Twelve o’clock. At Rosetta.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Sapiela left. I checked the clock hanging on the wall. There was still more than an hour left. I sat back down and continued reading the book I had not yet finished.
***
I was beginning to master speed reading. And whether it was because of mana or not, I had become able to read and remember books far more quickly than before.
So during the remaining time, I finished the book I had taken out from beginning to end. My understanding of the elven race deepened.
Of course, claiming that one’s understanding had deepened after reading only a single book was a little ridiculous, but I decided to keep reading whenever I had spare moments. It was because I had grown interested not only in elves, but in the stories of other races as well. It seemed that the elves were not the only race chosen by the gods. There were others too.
Then I left the shelves. Stewart was still standing watch at the desk.
“Was your time here enjoyable, Sir Dilen?”
“Senior, please do not do this to me.”
“Hahaha. You are leaving earlier than I expected today.”
“I have made an appointment. I plan to come back later.”
“An appointment?”
At once, I realized that I had made a small slip of the tongue. While I had been reading, the only person who had entered the stacks had been Sapiela.
As expected, sharp-eyed Stewart picked up on that point.
“Surely it is an appointment with the Young Lady?”
“She asked me to have lunch with her. I am on my way to Rosetta now.”
“Oh, splendid! Well, you are the one who saved the Young Lady’s life, so that level of treatment is only natural.”
“Please do not spread that around too much. It would put the Young Lady in a difficult position.”
“Do not worry. My mouth is heavier than iron.”
After bowing to him, I left the library. On my way to Rosetta, I remembered what I had bought on the way back to the mansion this morning.
“This works out well. I should bring it with me.”
I changed direction. Then I took out the small wooden box I had stored in my quarters. Inside it was a handmade wooden bookmark.
It was a bookmark decorated with a small flower ornament. Since Young Lady Sapiela seemed to be studying diligently these days, I had bought it thinking I might give it to her as a gift.
I did not know whether she would like it, but I might as well bring it.
Then I left my quarters again and headed for Rosetta.
The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, a delicious smell washed over me. The noisy sounds of frying and sizzling were coming from the kitchen, and the chefs in white uniforms were moving about in a frenzy.
The tables were all empty. Usually there would be a few tables in use for dining, but today there was no one there.
Something about this felt a little strange.
“Dilen!”
At that moment, a booming shout came from the kitchen. Smiling, I greeted Chef Ramsay.
“Have you been well?”
“I am always the same. But where in the world did you find such a treasure?”
“A treasure?”
Chef Ramsay pointed toward Arwen, who was grilling meat and vegetables. Since I had only ever seen her in a maid’s uniform, the sight of her in a chef’s outfit felt fresh.
“How is she? Is she doing well?”
“She has talent. There is still much she lacks, but how should I put it? She has instinct. Teach her one thing, and she understands ten.”
“She has loved cooking since she was little.”
“You said she was from the same region as you, did you not?”
I nodded. Chef Ramsay stood there with his arms folded, still watching Arwen.
“Fortuna truly is a cradle of talent. To produce such a fine butler and such a fine maid. Later, His Excellency the Marquis ought to reward the place. Hahaha!”
“I am afraid the Master might hear you.”
“I am not joking. I mean it.”
He looked genuinely pleased. It was someone else’s business, but seeing my decision produce such results made me feel pleased as well.
Later, when I became a butler and rose to an important post, the placement of talent would become even more important. In the end, work efficiency and results would differ depending on how one used personnel authority.
In that respect, the ability I possessed was something no one else could compare with. It truly was nothing less than a cheat key.
“But why is it so quiet? Usually a few tables are in use, are they not?”
“Today the Young Lady said she would be using the room, so we cleared everything out. All existing reservations were moved to Primera or to the other dining halls.”
“Ah, this is putting quite a burden on me.”
“If you cannot avoid it, should you not enjoy it?”
With a strange smile, Chef Ramsay returned to the kitchen. Guided by a fellow Butler Apprentice, I sat down at the table that had been set.
Since I was living the same apprentice life as the others, it somehow made me feel guilty that I alone was being treated so lavishly.
“Is there anything making you uncomfortable?”
“I am fine, but why are you suddenly speaking so politely?”
“I was ordered to attend to you as an honored guest.”
“Haah.”
Until yesterday, he had been a fellow apprentice who chatted away with me in casual speech. Somehow, this only made me feel more uncomfortable.
But as Chef Ramsay had said, if I could not avoid it, then I ought to enjoy it.
Very well. Then today, I would enjoy myself properly.
“What is on the menu today?”
“We have roast suckling pig, smoked chicken, goose liver, and various salads prepared.”
“It sounds delicious.”
“Of course. It is the finest.”
“It had better not taste bad.”
“Ghk......”
At that moment, the door opened and bright light poured in.
The one who appeared with the sunlight was none other than Young Lady Sapiela. The warm sunlight of the spring day shone upon her brilliantly, almost like a halo.
I rose from my seat.
“Have I kept you waiting long?”
“My lady.”
The Young Lady was using polite speech toward me. It seemed she had resolved to treat me as an honored guest today.
“This makes me uncomfortable. Please speak to me as you usually do. I worry that someone might hear.”
“That will not do. Today is a special day. My knight, shall we sit?”
That one expression, my knight, remained strongly in my mind. Of course, it applied only to this meal, but even so, I could feel that the distance between us had grown smaller.
At her invitation, I sat down.
Ever since the Young Lady entered, a tension had fallen over Rosetta. A positive kind of tension. The chefs and butlers moved with the professionalism of people determined not to allow even the slightest mistake.
Utensils began to be set upon the table, and appetizer bread and various drinks were served.
Ordinarily, maids would stand around Sapiela and assist with the meal, but today she had dismissed them all. So there were only the two of us at the table.
“By the way, does the Master know about today’s arrangement?”
“Of course. I told Father. He even said that it was only proper. I think I understand what you are worried about, but what you fear will not happen, Sir Dilen, so put your mind at ease.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
When she spoke so gently, she looked even lovelier. It would have been nice if she always spoke with such warmth.
But just as every phenomenon had its reason, so did every human action.
She had been born the youngest and received much affection, but she also carried sorrows of her own, such as having to enter a Political Marriage with House Astria.
“You know that studying you helped me with before.”
“Yes.”
“My private tutor looked over my assignment and praised it, but he was also suspicious. I understand why. It was a problem I could never have solved on my own.”
“I shall have to be more careful from now on.”
“Setting caution aside, would you continue helping me study from now on?”
She asked, and I nodded.
To be honest, serving as a tutor in addition to butler work was much better. It was the same reason university students took on private tutoring. It was easier.
The butlers of House Adeline were assigned work in ways that allowed them to make full use of their abilities. There was no special qualification required for tutoring.
“Then I suppose I will have to dismiss my tutor. I would feel sorry toward Sir Merlin, but still.”
“No. That would be a problem.”
“Why?”
“Because I would end up making an enemy of him. Continue your lessons with your current tutor, and I will help by supplementing your studies.”
“All right.”
Before the main course arrived, I took out the wooden box I had prepared and held it in my hand. Her eyes lit up as she fixed her gaze on the box I had taken out.