The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family

Chapter 084

The aftermath of the duel was tremendous.

When I defeated Arthas before, it had been enough to warrant the word tremendous. But this was beyond even that. It was as though a bomb had gone off in the center of the city.

In short, one side was excited, and the other was quiet.

That was only natural. The fact that a man who was not just an ordinary knight, but the very Guard Knight of Young Lady Sapiela, had been defeated by a Butler Apprentice was a shocking thing.

And not in a spar, but in a formal duel.

What made it even more interesting was that not only the master and household staff of the Adeline Marquis House, but also its retainers and various officials, had all been present to witness the duel.

It was fortunate enough that I had drawn an Aura Sword. If I had won with a bare blade, questions would have poured in about Sir Lorenz’s qualifications.

But I had disguised Mana as Aura and revealed only part of my ability.

Thanks to that, instead of condemning Sir Lorenz, everyone’s attention turned toward the skill I had hidden.

After all, when one person’s skill was clearly superior, then victory was only natural.

In any case, not only Yanrof but influential people from all walks of life wanted to meet me. But I was not an easy man to win over. Under the excuse that I needed rest, I declined all their requests for meetings.

Of course, I did not act cold and say something like, I am tired, let us speak another time.

I remembered all their names and arranged specific appointments so that no one would feel slighted.

There was, however, one person I could do nothing about.

With an expression of complete excitement, Arthas flung open the door to my quarters and strode in.

“Since when could you use Aura?”

“Is that really the first thing you say to someone who just risked his life in a duel? You should be telling me to get some rest.”

I let out a sigh and sprawled back onto the bed. I was hardly physically tired, but mentally I was a little drained. It was only natural, given the amount of attention I had just received from so many people.

Even so, Arthas came right up to the bed. The look in his eyes was not ordinary.

“I’ve had a mysterious power since long ago. My parents even encouraged me to learn martial arts because of it, but I never took to it since I had no interest in killing people.”

“Answer properly. How did you come to use that power? Since when?”

It did not seem that he was angry. More than anything, he just seemed intensely curious about me. And since he was also my swordsmanship teacher, I supposed I had to tell him something.

Naturally, with a little fiction mixed in.

“If I have to be specific, it was the night you taught me swordsmanship. That was when I had my realization. Since then, I’ve been able to use an Aura Sword properly.”

“Then why were you hiding your strength before?”

“I wasn’t hiding it. When I sparred with you and shattered your sword, that was Aura too. It was clumsy, but still.”

Arthas’s eyes sharpened.

“That was Aura? I didn’t sense it at all.”

“If you ask me that, what am I supposed to say? That you were too tense? Or that your skill was lacking? Let’s just bury the past and move on.”

I smiled mischievously. His constant probing into the matter was getting tiresome. Arms crossed, he let out a deep sigh.

“That was an Aura Sword of an incredible level. I was too far away to measure it exactly, but...... it had at least the amount of power that would normally require ten years of cultivation. And you’re saying you could emit something like that from nothing more than the realization you had that night?”

“That’s how great the realization was. I don’t remember any of it myself. You said I fell into a state of selflessness, didn’t you?”

“That is true, but still.”

At that moment, there came a knock from outside, followed by the door flying open. Welcome guests had arrived.

“Dilen! You bastard! You were incredible! Absolutely incredible! The whole mansion is in an uproar over you right now!”

Rohan came charging in with both arms spread wide.

Behind him, Arwen followed with an awkward expression. She looked apologetic for disturbing me while I rested, but Rohan seemed to have no such concern and was simply overflowing with excitement.

Thanks to that, I had been spared Arthas’s barrage of questions.

“You defeated a Guard Knight! And on top of that, you were an Aura User! First you beat an apprentice knight, then a Guard Knight, so what’s next, defeating the Knight Commander? Hahaha!”

“Hey.”

When I gave him a subtle look, only then did Rohan notice Arthas’s presence. He flinched and scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.

“Hahaha...... Looks like there was already a guest here. Well, people lose sometimes, don’t they? I hope you get your revenge next time. Good luck!”

“So the butlers are supposed to have heavy mouths, yet yours is light as a feather. You lack refinement too. Tsk.”

Clicking his tongue, Arthas left the room. It would have been nice if he and Rohan could grow a little closer, but their dispositions were so utterly different that he seemed to have no interest at all.

“Hey. Watch what you say next time. Apologize to him properly later. You’ll be seeing him often from now on, so there’s no need to make things awkward.”

“I was so excited I didn’t even notice him. All right, I get it. Stop looking at me like that. I’ll go to the Knight Order headquarters later and talk to him.”

“Make sure you do it properly.”

The elation drained out of Rohan, and he lowered his head. Just then, Arwen clasped her hands together, smiled brightly, and stepped closer to me.

“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you? I heard you were examined by Sir Medix yesterday. They said you weren’t feeling well.”

“Who told you that?”

“Ah, well...... the Young Lady did. Don’t worry. She told me not to let anyone else know.”

I nodded.

Until now, Sapiela had freely offered me all sorts of small and large benefits. I had mostly turned them down, while indirectly warning her that there were many eyes watching.

She must have understood by now.

If I only thought about what was convenient in the present and ignored the future, then before I knew it I would end up making enemies.

It was only natural that some people in life would come to dislike you, but there was no need to create them on purpose.

“How is the Young Lady?”

“Well, actually, if it wasn’t too much trouble, she asked me to bring you to her. She said she was sorry for disturbing your rest……”

“The Young Lady said she was sorry?”

“Yes.”

That truly startled me. That cold, proud Young Lady, the cherished youngest daughter of the marquis house, was now saying she was sorry after only a few months.

Was that not a Copernican turn in itself?

Even Rohan beside me seemed thoroughly shocked, his mouth hanging open.

“Don’t tell me, Dilen...... you and the Young Lady are that kind of relationship?”

“Would you like that?”

“Huh?”

I had asked Rohan, but in truth it was also a question directed at Arwen. I shifted my gaze away from him and looked straight at her.

She started slightly.

Then her cheeks seemed to redden, and she turned her eyes aside.

I did not even need to look at the Status Window anymore. Arwen definitely held feelings for me. If she had not adored Young Lady Sapiela so deeply, she might well have felt jealousy.

I rose from my seat.

“Is the Young Lady in her residence now?”

“Yes. She’s waiting for you.”

“She’s waiting for me even after I refused to meet with the Head Butler?”

“I told her I’d bring you no matter what.”

Arwen smiled as she said it. It was painfully obvious that she was forcing the smile, as though trying to smooth over that awkward moment from earlier.

Even so, I did not make a point of showing that I noticed. She was always kind to both me and Rohan, and a good person besides. If I teased her for it, I would probably be punished for it one day.

I stepped out of the room.

***

I arrived at the Young Lady’s residence.

But instead of Sir Lorenz, the Guard Knight, the one who greeted me was a young knight whose face I had never seen before.

I had not beaten Lorenz badly enough to leave him wounded.

Had some sort of personnel action already been taken?

“Pardon me. I have come to see the Young Lady.”

“I have heard that you are the Young Lady’s dedicated Butler Apprentice. You have no obligation to report your business to me.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“Today’s duel was most impressive. You looked like an Aura User. Why, then, did you never apply to the Knight Order?”

Just as his handsome face suggested, his nature seemed warm and generous as well. Unlike a certain rude someone, he was strikingly cool and admirable. Plate mail suited him well too.

But the question itself had grown tiresome now. Did being an Aura User automatically mean one had to become a knight?

“I have heard it said that not just anyone is fit to take up the sword. The weight of bearing responsibility for life, and of defending the honor of a House...... someone ordinary like me could not shoulder that. The path of a butler suits my nature better.”

If the question was predictable, then I might as well make the answer fresh.

It was a very deliberate reply.

The young knight gave a curious smile after hearing it. I had intentionally spoken in a way that subtly flattered him. Had he liked it? Quite suddenly, he offered me his hand.

“Let us at least exchange names. I am Lancelot. I serve in the Golden Lion Order.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Sir Lancelot. I hope we shall get along well.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

The Golden Lion Order was an organization reserved for knights of outstanding ability. In other words, this man named Lancelot was no ordinary knight.

They mainly carried out special missions, and according to Rohanpedia, the one currently commanding the Golden Lion Order was none other than the eldest son, Young Master Kaien.

“I’m only on temporary duty today, but if you ever wish to meet me, come to the Golden Lion Order headquarters anytime.”

“I understand.”

Just as I expected, this knight named Lancelot had been sent by the eldest Young Master. In other words, I was someone worth testing from the side.

The interest directed at me was, put plainly, less Lancelot’s own and more something sent from Kaien himself.

I would have to be careful.

“Then, if you will excuse me.”

“Go on in.”

When I opened the door and entered, Young Lady Sapiela greeted me with a bright smile. I felt as though I could roughly understand what it must feel like to be a victorious general showered with petals during a triumphal procession.

“I heard you were looking for me, Young Lady. Is there some command you wished to give?”

“About disturbing your rest……”

“It is nothing. I am your loyal servant, Young Lady. It is only natural that I answer your call.”

She made a gesture with her hand. I approached her slowly and bowed again once I had stopped at a proper distance. It was a most basic matter of etiquette.

“Thank you for keeping your promise.”

“I merely did what needed to be done.”

“I had no idea your skill was so great. Before, when you defeated that apprentice knight, I thought it had only been luck. But it seems it was not luck at all.”

I responded with modesty. After watching me for a moment, she smiled and continued.

“Sir Lorenz was dismissed from the temporary post of Guard Knight as of today. So before long, a new Guard Knight will be appointed.”

“I can only hope that someone capable will be sent.”

“You could simply come yourself, could you not?”

Smiling, I shook my head.

“I like my life as it is now. Becoming a butler is still my dream. This trip to the Royal Capital is only an exception.”

“As for that, Father has granted permission. You, Dilen, will accompany me as my Attending Secretary.”

“It is an honor. I will serve you with all sincerity.”

After that, Sapiela explained the size of the travel party.

I would be the overall person in charge, and Arthas, whom I had requested as my lieutenant, had also been added by name. In truth, I would have liked to bring Rohan along as well, but there was work he needed to handle here in the mansion.

The escort force as a whole consisted of me, Arthas, and twenty elite cavalrymen, so it did not seem likely that we would face any great danger.

“And Arwen will be coming with me too.”

“That is only natural. Arwen will be pleased. She has always gone on and on about wanting to see the Royal Capital.”

“I see. Then you and Arwen are……”

The Young Lady, who had been looking at me, opened her mouth as though to say something, but stopped herself. I do not think I had ever seen her hesitate like that before. What had she been about to ask?

Having cut herself off, she abandoned the thought and moved on instead.

“In any case, we will depart next week, so make your preparations in advance.”

“I will see that everything is prepared perfectly, Young Lady.”