Chapter 29
29
The morning after Anna was dragged away.
"Newly imported tea leaves from the East, ahem."
Winston, reminded of Anna and Count Lever's Akaban smuggling, cleared his throat with an uneasy expression and continued, "Tea leaves. I hope they suit your taste."
"Thank you."
I took a sip.
To be honest, it just tasted like bitter green tea.
But my expression was one of genuine delight, a subtle smile playing on my lips as I nodded.
"Unique and delicious."
"I'm glad to hear that..."
Winston trailed off, uncharacteristically.
He must be quite troubled himself.
'The governess he carefully selected happened to be involved in treason.'
A mere half-day wouldn't be enough time for him to sort through his turbulent thoughts.
I understand his feelings, but I also have a matter to settle with him.
I set down the teacup, the bitter green tea still lingering, and looked directly at Winston.
Winston was the first to speak.
"First of all... I must express my gratitude to you, Flingtern Teacher."
Winston rose from his seat and bowed to me.
Startled, I jumped up.
I hadn't expected him to bow so abruptly.
"W-What's this all of a sudden! Please, raise your head...!"
I fussed, trying to lift him up, but Winston remained unyielding.
Instead, he bowed even deeper, his voice earnest.
"If it weren't for Flingtern Teacher's quick thinking, the Mercedes Ducal Family would have been caught up in unnecessary trouble. This is a serious matter that could affect our reputation."
"Ah..."
I couldn't argue with that.
It wasn't just any problem, but one involving an attempted assassination of the Emperor.
If the Knight Order had barged in and discovered Anna's crime, instead of the Mercedes Ducal Family uncovering it, Mercedes would not have been able to avoid investigation.
Of course, they were innocent, so there would be no reason to be caught in the investigation, but the problem was their reputation.
What sustained the Mercedes Ducal Family was not only its long history and legitimacy, but also the role of the Mercedes Ducal Family's businesses, which extended throughout the empire.
If rumors spread that the Ducal Family was involved in the Emperor's assassination, it would undoubtedly have a major impact on their businesses.
Especially since Khadien's position was not very secure, being an illegitimate child with Insanity, such rumors would be enough to tarnish him.
But because I had uncovered Anna's attempted crime first, Mercedes was spared from being falsely accused.
That was what Winston was referring to.
'It's true that I did something significant.'
I had denied it out of modesty, but objectively speaking, it was a contribution worthy of a large reward from the Mercedes Ducal Family.
'I don't need a reward.'
I have other desires.
'It wasn't intentional, but it worked out well.'
In any case, the Mercedes Ducal Family owes me a debt.
I looked at Winston with a serious expression and parted my lips.
"Butler, do you remember the special clause we included in the contract?"
"...I remember."
That's right.
The special clause I added during the interview.
Namely—
"The clause that if the current governess quits, no new governess will be hired for one year."
"..."
Winston's gaze became serious.
I looked him straight in the eye and said, "I will be in charge of all of Young master's lessons from now on."
"..."
Winston stared at me in silence for a moment.
He is more passionate about education than anyone else.
He may be satisfied with me for now, but soon he will look for another capable governess for the sake of efficiency.
So, I had added a clause to the contract in advance to prevent that from happening.
'One year won't be too much of a burden.'
Surely he won't change his mind now?
I looked at him with a nervous expression, worried that he might change his mind.
But Winston shook his head with a relieved expression.
"On the contrary, I would be grateful if you would do that."
"...Pardon?"
This was an unexpected reaction.
Winston chuckled and continued, "This incident has made me realize deeply that we must be extremely careful when bringing people in. It's such a basic thing, but I must have been blinded by age. Anna Lever Teacher... I'm glad she was caught before she could do anything, otherwise..."
Winston shuddered as if imagining the worst.
Then he smiled brightly at me and said, "I can trust you to take care of Young master, Flingtern Teacher."
Then Winston's expression turned gloomy.
I wondered if he had always been such an expressive person.
"I was worried that you might quit because you were caught up in such an unpleasant incident."
"T-That won't happen."
"That's a relief! You can proceed with the lessons as you see fit, Livia Teacher. I will not interfere with your lessons in the slightest from now on."
Winston said, his eyes shining.
It's a bit overwhelming...
'That's a relief.'
Of course, Winston is a good person, but he was also somewhat intrusive.
Of course, it was a natural procedure for him, but it was a bit difficult for me, who had purposes other than just teaching.
But my relief was short-lived.
I couldn't help but be horrified by what he said next.
"And from now on, you will report on the lessons directly to the master, not to me."
"Pardon...?"
What did you say?
I looked at Winston with a bewildered expression, but Winston just had a bright smile on his face.
I couldn't understand what he was thinking at all.
After Livia left for her lesson, Winston summoned Chelsea.
"You called for me, Butler?"
"Ah, you're here. Have a seat."
The cheerful expression he had shown in front of Livia was gone, and the Dark Power Family's cold-blooded butler greeted her.
Guided by Winston, Chelsea sat down stiffly in front of him.
He poured freshly brewed tea into a teacup.
The fragrant aroma of tea filled the room.
Drip.
Winston, having poured the last drop, turned to her with a benevolent expression.
"It's been exactly one year since you came to the Ducal Family today."
"Yes, that's right."
Chelsea nodded, fiddling with the teacup.
Winston stared at Chelsea silently.
He recalled the first time Chelsea had knocked on the door of Mercedes Manor.
Her whole body was covered in wounds, and she was on the verge of death, but her eyes shone like flames...
She had asked Winston to give her just one meal, and Winston had hired her as a maid.
The reason for his choice was simple.
Her eyes were burning with a desire for survival.
Someone with such eyes would never forget a kindness.
'It seems the fire has died down now.'
Looking at Chelsea's calm, black eyes, Winston smiled faintly.
But the smile was fleeting, and Winston's expression soon returned to a stern one as he spoke heavily.
"Chelsea, I called you here because there is something I need to confirm with you."
At his solemn tone, Chelsea stiffened her shoulders and looked at him.
"Please speak."
"First of all, your actions yesterday were a clear violation of orders. You are aware of that, aren't you?"
"I am aware. I will gladly accept the punishment."
"Even if it means being kicked out of here?"
"Yes."
"Hmph."
Looking at Chelsea, who showed no hesitation or wavering, Winston chuckled softly.
He asked again, "Normally, you never break rules or orders. So why did you disobey my orders yesterday?"
"..."
For the first time, Chelsea fell silent at the question.
Winston waited for her quietly, without urging her.
After a long time, Chelsea slowly parted her lips.
"Because..."
"Because?"
"It felt like I had to."
"What?"
Winston looked at Chelsea with a bewildered expression, but Chelsea, on the contrary, looked relieved, as if she had found the answer to her own question.
"It felt like you had to?"
"Yes."
"...I see."
Winston's expression became strange as he listened to Chelsea's answer.
Chelsea watched him silently as he pondered something deeply.
Finally, he spoke.
"You have objective and cold judgment. That is something I, the butler of the Mercedes Ducal Family, acknowledge."
"...?"
Chelsea looked at Winston with a puzzled expression, as he was being unusually verbose.
Perhaps feeling that he himself was being unnatural, Winston cleared his throat awkwardly.
Then he looked at Chelsea with a serious expression and asked, "Chelsea, with your cold and objective perspective, what kind of person do you think Livia Plington is?"
At the unexpected question, Chelsea blinked her eyes.
But only for a moment.
Her lips slowly parted.
"From what I've observed so far, Flingtern Teacher is..."
"Teacher is?"
Winston repeated, focusing on the shape of Chelsea's lips.
But Winston couldn't hide his disappointment at the answer that soon followed.
