Ch#82
Spoils of War
Duchess
By Lemon Frog
Episode 82
"And finally, Butler Edel."
The smoothly flowing words paused there for a moment.
However, everyone present understood.
It was impossible to sum up Edel's contributions in a single phrase.
She had renovated the entire mansion, culled and hired new servants, and taught everyone, including the master and his sister.
From start to finish of this party, there was no part untouched by her hand—so how could it be described?
Laslo simply gazed at Edel quietly before parting his lips.
"I owe you a great debt."
At that, Edel shook her head firmly.
"I am the one who has received great favor from you, my lord. If I could be of even a little help to you, that alone is my joy."
Laslo tried to say more but held back.
Bickering in front of all the gathered servants about who owed whom more would be ridiculous.
"She seems to break out in hives at thanks. Anyway, thanks to all of you today, I managed to act like a noble for once."
Thinking it a joke, the servants burst into loud laughter again. Laslo let the atmosphere flow that way, but his gratitude toward Edel and the servants below her was sincere.
If they had held a party at the level he had envisioned upon hearing the suggestion, he might have been buried in high society afterward. It would have been no more than setting out some food on the table and offering it.
*Even without Edmund, no one would have expected us to pull off a party this splendidly at our house.*
Of course, Edel was the primary contributor to this party, but the servants who had faithfully followed her orders without resentment were remarkable too.
And suddenly, he thought the lively, laughter-filled table before him looked truly wonderful.
*This is... my home...*
.
Having a 'place to belong.' It was a strange emotion, different from a sense of belonging or responsibility—a feeling of somewhere he could rely on.
*I have to protect this place, so what do you mean rely?*
He, who had always only protected something, couldn't easily realize that he was already healing his weary heart here.
He simply listened to the servants' banter and jokes, laughing along and nodding, while downing more wine.
It was a complex yet warm feeling, like stew simmering gently.
The day after the party, Laslo opened his eyes later than usual, lay in bed staring at the ceiling, then suddenly sat up.
"It still bothers me."
The party had been a success and he felt good, but there was one thing that kept nagging at him.
"What on earth did Edel talk about with that guy?"
The sight of Edel conversing at length with Edmund kept resurfacing whenever he tried to forget it, irritating him.
Better to ask her directly than leave it gnawing at him.
*Though it might lead to more worries.*
He splashed cold water over himself in the bathroom, dried off, threw on some clothes haphazardly, and considered pulling the bell cord as usual but recalled telling everyone to rest fully last night, so he headed out himself.
On the way to Edel's room, he wondered if she might still be sleeping, then chuckled.
*By now, she's probably finished half her daily routine? She doesn't seem the type to sleep in.*
And his guess was spot on.
Edel was a bit surprised but greeted him with her usual demeanor.
"Visiting in person—what brings you here?"
"I felt bad ordering everyone to rest but then summoning them here and there."
At his words, Edel smiled and offered him a seat.
"You truly are a good man, my lord."
"Me? I feel like I'd get an earful for being indifferent and shameless toward the servants."
"Not at all. Everyone likes you and Miss Linia. Ah, I always remind them not to overstep."
It was certainly a model butler's response, but Laslo felt a strange pang of disappointment.
As if she were erecting some barrier between them.
*Right, that's only natural. Though...*
He smacked his lips bitterly, downed the tea she poured, and composed his restless mind. There were more pressing issues than 'heart barriers' right now.
"Sorry to bother you while you should be resting. But something's been bothering me."
"Regarding me?"
"Yeah."
Seeing her eyes widen in surprise, Laslo quickly waved it off lightly.
"Ah, no, it's not a big deal, so no need to panic. Just..."
As he was about to ask casually, as rehearsed in his mind—'Are you acquainted with Sir Milton? You were talking with him...'—he suddenly thought, what if they had a very private conversation?
Until now, he'd only thought Edmund had some scheme and approached her, but on second thought, they might have known each other before.
Wouldn't prying into such a private talk between them be quite rude? Especially from Edel's perspective, having lived as a noble.
"My lord?"
Edel was looking at him oddly for suddenly trailing off.
Swallowing hard, he licked his dry lips, let out a deep sigh, and shook his head.
.
"No. On second thought, it's not something I should ask. Sorry for barging in while you're resting."
He finished the remaining tea and rose to leave.
But this time, Edel lightly tugged his sleeve.
"Well... I was actually planning to come see you, my lord."
"Me?"
"Yes. There's something I need to discuss."
Laslo sat back down with a serious face.
Edel refilled his empty cup and chose her words before speaking.
"Actually, someone approached me at yesterday's party. Sir Edmund Milton—you know him too, right?"
That he had wanted to ask about was brought up by Edel herself, making Laslo's heart pound.
"...Yeah. That bastard—no, that guy—no, that person. Yeah, why him?"
Barely holding back curses, Laslo forced a relaxed smile. Sipping the still-warm tea didn't look relaxed at all.
"We've never even exchanged greetings before, but yesterday he suddenly approached and spoke to me."
"What did he say?"
At 'never exchanged greetings,' Laslo felt odd relief alongside rising anger.
But Edel seemed not to notice his agitation, lost in recalling her talk with Edmund.
"It seemed like he was"
"Likes you or something?"
"Pardon? Ah, no. Based solely on his words, one might misunderstand that way, but I got a completely different impression."
"What impression?"
Edel recalled Edmund's deliberate kindness.
Having grown up under a hot-tempered father, she had learned to read people early and was good at sensing suspicious vibes.
Edmund had been like that. Whether he underestimated her or not, he hadn't hidden his true intentions perfectly.
"It felt like he was trying to use me to find your weaknesses, my lord."
"What? What the hell did he say?"
Edel recounted their conversation in as much detail as she remembered: his tone pitying her plight, the subtle criticism of Laslo, his seductive attitude, the secretive proposal to meet outside in exchange for 'help.'
As the story progressed, Laslo's anger seemed to grow, but she thought it natural.
*Of course he's angry. The Imperial Guard deputy commander, who should ally with his superior Count Creaser, is trying to find his weaknesses!*
However, what enraged Laslo was slightly different.
"So that bastard touched your body?"
"Pardon? My body? Ah, you mean putting his hand on my shoulder?"
"Do nobles touch unfamiliar women's bodies so casually?"
"Of course not. This is just my guess, but he probably thought that physical contact would help... seduce me better."
"What kind of lunatic does that!"
Laslo erupted, chewing out vulgar curses.
Edel considered correcting his language but held back. It might excite him more.
Instead, she shifted topics quickly.
"I heard Sir Milton became Imperial Guard deputy commander. Why try to find your weaknesses, my lord? Any ideas?"
"Too many ideas—that's the problem. That guy's been desperate to drag me down all along."
"Drag you down?"
Laslo ground his teeth.
Honestly, no one but Laslo, who experienced it directly, knew of Edmund's dark, sticky jealousy and hostility.
All the things he'd done to put Laslo in trouble had plausible excuses, so to others, Laslo suspecting them might seem like his own inferiority complex.
So he hadn't told anyone.
- 6 -
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Would even Edel understand?
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