Chapter 134 : Chapter 134
Chapter 134. When the Mood Is Low, Head for the Meat!
After returning to the mansion, I immediately went to the Young Lady’s residence. It was nearly time to go to the Academy, so I had to attend her at her side.
I scheduled the meeting with the Duke disguised as Suhyeon for three days later. A meeting that came too quickly could invite suspicion, so it was better to be careful.
Being suspected was not as difficult as one might think.
For one thing, it was difficult to alter my height and body shape, and my distinctive way of speaking was also hard to fix. The only things that changed to some extent were my face and overall impression, but people with sharp eyes could still sense something out of place.
Of course, I had prepared several settings for such a case, but it was still best to avoid suspicion whenever possible.
For now, it was still time to maintain my double identity.
“You have come, Sir Dilen.”
“Is the Young Lady inside?”
“Yes. She woke early this morning. Please go in.”
I entered while receiving military salutes from the knights guarding the door. The Young Lady had already finished all her preparations to go out.
She was wearing a modest dress. The Royal Academy had its own uniform, but because she was in a special course rather than the regular program, she wore private clothes.
“You have already finished preparing. I apologize for being late, my lady. As I told you yesterday......”
“Where did you go this morning?”
Cold.
A dagger flew into my chest and lodged there.
“I am on my way back from the Bahamut Ducal House because His Excellency the Duke summoned me.”
I succeeded in reconnecting the words that had been cut off.
I had clearly reported it yesterday, but it seemed she had forgotten. No, rather than having forgotten, she seemed to be in a poor mood. Her expression was not good at all.
To be honest, I was not late, but because she had prepared in advance, it looked as if I was.
The audience with the Duke had ended more quickly than expected, so I had returned soon. This felt a little unfair.
But something like this had occasionally happened before as well.
When I thought about why it had happened back then, I understood why she was looking so sullen now. I lowered my head slightly and asked politely.
“It seems this morning’s meal was not to your liking. Shall I bring you dessert? Or I can escort you to a fine restaurant.”
“......”
“It is written all over your face. Today’s menu was so terrible that you stopped after one spoonful. Am I wrong?”
When I spoke with a kindly smile, Sapiela’s face turned slightly red. She could not meet my eyes. That was proof that she was embarrassed.
I looked at Arwen. She nodded, proving that what I had said was true.
“Now, we still have some time, so I will escort you to a nearby restaurant. It is the restaurant Duchess Rosaria told me about previously. I heard it is a splendid place that only nobles may enter.”
“When did you even look into something like that?”
“I am your Attending Secretary, my lady. Preparing things you may like is also one of my duties.”
If Rohan had heard this, he would probably have nagged me for being all talk.
But it was different when dealing with women. Even if the words were not entirely sincere, it was better to say them first. Especially people of high status inevitably had something called vanity.
“I hope you will continue to fulfill your duties without falling short.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Lead the way. To that restaurant you mentioned.”
Only then did Young Lady Sapiela’s expression ease. Arwen also let out a soundless sigh and sent me a look. It meant something like, “You are pretty amazing.”
I gladly escorted the Young Lady outside.
The carriage was already prepared. I took the Young Lady’s hand and helped her climb into the carriage.
“Take me with you next time too.”
Arwen spoke quietly from behind me. I smiled brightly, turned around, and replied.
“Miss Arwen. If you wish to come with us, you should at least receive a baronetcy first. Then I will take you as much as you like.”
“That is too cruel! ......sir.”
Just as Arwen had once teased me, I stuck my tongue out slightly and climbed into the carriage.
Sapiela looked this way as though wondering what was going on, but I could not show her Arwen’s frowning face, so I closed the door.
Soon, the carriage began to move slowly.
***
The restaurant Duchess Rosaria had recommended was far more luxurious than I had expected.
As it turned out, it was not simply a place for nobles, but one mainly frequented by high-ranking nobles. I heard that even members of the royal family sometimes came.
As expected, both the taste and service were perfect.
Instead, the cost was beyond imagination.
Even if it did not matter because it was not my money, a salad with vegetables and cheese, not even meat, costing one gold was simply absurd.
The main dish cost five gold. Judging by the prices where I had lived, that was roughly five million won. Including dessert and drinks, the total came to ten gold, so one meal had cost about ten million won.
Well, there had occasionally been dishes like this even in the place where I used to live, so it was not completely ridiculous, but it still felt a little wasteful.
“Was the meal to your taste, Lady?”
A middle-aged man who seemed to be the manager approached and bowed. Sapiela, who had been about to leave the restaurant, stopped for a moment. Did she have something to say?
The manager, taking that as a positive sign, added more.
“Would you grant us the honor of serving you again next time?”
“For that, I can still see many things lacking.”
The manager, who had clearly expected a favorable review, flinched. This was Sapiela, who was highly likely to reign as the queen of high society. She could not be treated lightly.
“M-My apologies. If it would not trouble you, may I ask what parts were lacking?”
“The meat was too tough, and you failed to remove the gamy smell properly. It must be because the spices were not allowed to soak in enough. The vegetables were not fresh either, and the sauce used as dressing had no distinctive flavor to speak of. I came here because Duchess Rosaria recommended this place, but later, I intend to ask her discreetly why she recommended it.”
Sapiela said everything she wanted to say as if she had been waiting for the chance. She was practically a bomber. Would his mind be all right? He seemed to be managing his expression well, but his complexion was pale.
I glanced briefly at the table where we had been sitting.
The plates were cleanly empty. For someone who criticized the meal that harshly, did you not enjoy it a little too much, Young Lady Sapiela?
“I am truly sorry. If you visit us again next time, we will be sure to repay you with a perfect dish!”
“I wonder whether there will be such an opportunity.”
Sapiela answered coldly and left the restaurant. After apologizing in her place to the helpless manager, I followed the Young Lady and climbed into the carriage.
Since we had unexpectedly wasted time eating, we now had to go straight to the Academy.
The carriage moved slowly, and I asked the Young Lady.
“Why did you do that after eating so well?”
“I was asked to state my dissatisfaction, so I stated my dissatisfaction. What was wrong with that?”
“In my eyes, the food was excellent. It is rare for you to eat without leaving anything behind, my lady.”
“Eating food is not only about taste.”
What did that mean? If food was not all about taste, then what was everything? Plating? As far as I could see, the plating was first-rate too.
“From next time onward, how about you dine with me as well, Sir Dilen?”
Ah, I finally understood the reason.
She was sulking because she had eaten alone.
I expressed my sincere condolences to the restaurant manager.
“What kind of Attending Butler would dine together with the person he serves? That would go against propriety.”
“What if it is an order?”
“I cannot obey it.”
“What does an Attending Butler do if he does not obey the orders of the person he serves?”
“Many things. Escorting you to the Academy like this is also work. Am I not managing and taking responsibility for your entire schedule, my lady?”
Sapiela turned her head slightly away.
She was not yet twenty years old, and she had no experience of the world. Her way of speaking might be haughty, but she was not as good at establishing logic as I was.
Still, I could not offer only the whip. It was better to finish with a carrot. If one had to give both praise and reprimand, it was better to end with praise. That was human psychology.
“Instead, I believe I can join you for tea time. Now that I have a title and my position has also risen, I should not have to worry about appearances to that extent.”
The carrot worked. Sapiela’s gaze, which had been turned away, returned to me.
“Very well, then. From today onward, I hope you will not leave your seat during tea time. No matter even if His Excellency the Duke summons you.”
“Understood, my lady.”
I was still not used to her polite speech, but it did not feel bad. It felt as if I was being respected.
It did not seem as if she was using polite speech simply because I had received a noble title and been promoted.
On the night of the party, when we danced, we had confirmed each other’s feelings. Sapiela was probably treating me this way because she thought of me seriously, and in another sense, because she relied on me.
This was neither premature expectation nor a baseless assumption. It was simply something that felt natural, like fate.
“It seems we have already arrived.”
The carriage began crossing the Royal Academy campus. A short while later, we were able to get out in front of a huge building with an antique air.
It was like a painting.
I took the liberty of looking around. I was a country bumpkin who had come to the Academy for the first time, so surely this much would be forgiven.
Aside from the tall spire standing in the center, the buildings gave an overall impression of being low. Yet that did not damage their distinctive charm and beauty.
On top of that, the landscaping with flowers and trees was so well done that it felt almost as though I had stepped into a painting.
For me, who had been trapped by my prejudice about universities, it was a fresh shock.
It was the sort of scenery that naturally brought the words learning and truth to mind.
“This is truly a splendid place. Seeing it in person makes me want to enroll.”
“Are you serious?”
“Hahaha, I am joking. By the way, is this where the liberal arts lecture is held?”
“That is right. Follow me.”
Sapiela took the lead. I moved at her side as much as possible, as though guarding her.
Inside the building, many students were coming and going. Some wore the stylish Academy uniform, and many others wore private clothes.
Every one of them looked thoroughly noble.
This was a place where the young scions of the kingdom’s noble houses had gathered. If there were this many scions, I could not even imagine how large the Alphrost Kingdom truly was. I understood why people called it an era of peace and prosperity.
The Young Lady, who had paused for a moment, entered the classroom.
“This is the classroom?”
“What is wrong?”
“......Nothing.”
It seemed I had underestimated the Royal Academy far too much.
The classroom, furnished with luxurious sofas and tables, felt like a high-end salon. It was designed so that students could sit comfortably while listening to the lecture.
At most, the class size seemed to be about ten. On one side, maids were waiting to serve the students.
And there was one student who had arrived early.
“Sapiela!”
She waved her hand toward us.
Was she someone the Young Lady knew?
A golden tiara sat atop her pink hair. Somehow, her status did not seem ordinary.
What left the strongest impression, more than anything else, was how expressive her face was. She had a lovely and lively image. She had clearly grown up receiving abundant affection from a young age.
She asked,
“Hm? A different butler came with you today?”
“He is my Attending Secretary. Greet her, Sir Dilen.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time.”
“Ah! You are that butler? I have heard a lot about you. I suppose I will be seeing you often from now on.”
I bowed my head and paid my respects. At that moment, Sapiela introduced her.
“Ophelia is a princess of the Alphrost Kingdom. So make sure there is no negligence in how you treat her.”
The real one had appeared.