The Villain Family’s Strongest Butler
Chapter 10
-“Hmph, do as you please.”
With his permission to address him however I wished, our tour of the vast Grand Duke’s Residence resumed.
First, he made me memorize the maze-like hallways and layout of the Main Building, and in the afternoon, he had me memorize the locations of the annexes behind it.
Dragged around in a daze like that, the day quickly came to an end.
Growl. My stomach signaled its demand for food.
Walking ahead, old man Norbert glanced back at me, muttering with an incredulous look on his face.
“It has barely been two hours since dinner.”
“Didn’t you drag me around all day, Master?”
I muttered under my breath, thinking two hours was more than enough time to digest everything.
Old man Norbert glared at me and clicked his tongue.
Old man Norbert wasn’t particularly pleased with me calling him ‘Master.’
‘Well, naturally. Not long ago, we were at each other’s throats.’
On top of that, an unidentified identity and amnesia.
‘There’s no reason he’d enjoy being called Master by someone shrouded in mystery.’
Still, isn’t it too petty to make a fuss over food?
I glared at the back of the old man’s head as I hurried my steps.
“The fifth floor of the Main Building is a restricted area, so do not even think about going up there.”
“What is up there?”
“You have no need to know that.”
“Yes, sir.”
I answered plainly.
I had no idea what was there to make it restricted, but with my current body, I couldn’t sneak in even if I wanted to.
With that final warning, old man Norbert and I exited through the rear door of the Main Building.
Immediately, several symmetrically arranged annexes filled my field of vision.
Lit by lamps as night fell, the annexes presented a vastly different view than they had during the day.
The scene was grand and beautiful, almost reminiscent of a small town.
‘I have no choice but to admit the Grand Duke is impressive.’
It wasn’t merely because of the scale of the Main Building and annexes.
‘That’s a secondary matter.’
Following old man Norbert around the Grand Duke’s Residence today made me realize something.
Despite intrusions being frequent enough for dozens of butlers to lose their lives, not a hint of anxiety could be felt among the servants of the residence.
Woven into their passing conversations was even subtle concern for their master, the Grand Duke.
‘That must mean the servants have deep loyalty and trust in the Grand Duke.’
And then there were the documents piled high on his desk.
A lord who ignores the voices of his people doesn’t live buried in paperwork.
‘At the very least, it means the Grand Duke is a lord who listens to his people directly.’
I heard that the Grand Duchy of the Cadea Empire boasted a size comparable to the capital.
‘And despite his notoriety, they said he had many loyal retainers.’
Even in the contract old man Norbert handed me, I was surprised by the high salary and diverse benefits rather than any unreasonable terms.
Every fact pointed to just how prosperously the fief’s finances were running.
It seemed the Grand Duke was not only capable as a commander on the battlefield, but also exceptional as the lord of a domain.
‘Yes. It was only one day, but I could feel it clearly.’
That Grand Duke Valot lived in an entirely different world from someone like me, who had merely wielded a sword under the Crown Prince.
‘He isn’t just some fool who only swings a sword.’
Credit where credit is due.
And my guard against the Grand Duke was not something I could afford to lower.
‘He is definitely a figure who would become a threat to our Tenasis Empire if left alive.’
An enemy is an enemy.
In the end, it was a war that would only conclude when one of us died, when one of the two empires fell to its knees.
’Once I regain my strength…’
I recalled the plan I had thought of at first and then brushed aside.
‘Since things have turned out this way, once I regain my strength, I should return to the Tenasis Empire with the Grand Duke’s head.’
This surely wasn’t the entirety of the Grand Duke’s military might.
‘Serhin was the Crown Prince, yet he was secretly raising private troops in other fiefs behind the Emperor’s back.’
There was no rule saying the Grand Duke wouldn’t do the same.
Furthermore, Serhin had created a secret assassination organization.
And I was the leader of that assassination squad.
The Ariad Assassins.
-“Serhin. What does ‘Sia’ mean?”
To my question about why he had named me Sia, Serhin had replied dryly:
-“A shadow. From now on, you will live as a sword in my shadow. …For the rest of your life.”
That was how Serhin raised me into the Crown Prince’s personal guard and the leader of the Secret Assassination Squad.
The assassins were few in number, but every single one possessed deadly skill.
However.
‘Even they all failed in the mission to bring back the Grand Duke’s head.’
Perhaps the assassins Serhin sent played a part in the deaths of the residence’s butlers.
In the first place, crossing the border into the Cadea Empire was difficult enough on its own.
On top of that, they had to infiltrate the Grand Duke’s mansion located at the northernmost edge of the Cadea Empire.
It was no simple feat.
‘Looking at it that way, I’ve essentially gained the ultimate opportunity.’
So, I needed to hurry and regain the strength of my prime.
Pondering how to deal with the Grand Duke in the future, I followed old man Norbert toward the Western Annex, where the lodgings were located.
Reaching the entrance of the servants’ annex, old man Norbert turned to me and spoke.
“That is all for today’s duties. You may return to your quarters and rest.”
It was very welcome news.
“Are my working hours completely over for today?”
At my question, old man Norbert nodded.
“Indeed. On days without special events like today, most duties conclude around this hour.”
“Most of them?”
“The smithy in the annex operates in shifts day and night, and the Knight Order stands guard in shifts as well. The kitchen in the Main Building also finishes late, as they must prep ingredients for the next day’s meals.”
“I see.”
Listening to old man Norbert’s explanation, I thought to myself:
‘I must avoid being assigned to the kitchen at all costs.’
If I ended up in the kitchen, I wouldn’t have enough time to train.
Old man Norbert said:
“Then, I will see you tomorrow morning.”
As old man Norbert turned to leave, I quickly called out to him.
“Master.”
When I called out in a low voice, old man Norbert turned back around, facing me once more.
“May I ask a favor of you?”
“A favor?”
I spoke cautiously.
“May I use the training grounds after my working hours?”
At that, one of old man Norbert’s eyebrows twitched, and his already sharp gaze narrowed further.
“The training grounds are closed outside the Knight Order’s scheduled training hours. Naturally, no other servant is permitted to use them for private purposes.”
“Ah, as I thought.”
It was expected. The training grounds were directly tied to the Knight Order.
There was no way they would grant access to someone of unknown identity like me.
“However, what is your reason for wanting to use the training grounds?”
Yes, exactly this.
I had been waiting for this question. And I answered honestly.
“To build up my physical stamina.”
“…”
“I hate to admit it, but following you around all day made me realize that my physical strength falls drastically short even compared to yours, Master, despite your advanced age.”
I shrewdly added that using the training grounds seemed the most efficient way to build up my stamina quickly.
Listening quietly, old man Norbert’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Physical training… It seems the servants’ duties you observed today appeared utterly trivial to you.”
Hm? I raised an eyebrow.
“…No, Master. I believe there is a misunderstanding. Physical training is merely a personal necessity, not because I take the duties of a servant lightly—”
“Enough.”
Old man Norbert cut me off.
It seemed he truly misunderstood, thinking I looked down on servants’ work.
‘Take it lightly? Yeah, right…’
If anything, it had been so exhausting that all the energy was drained right out of me.
’Not that I would ever admit I nearly collapsed trying to keep up with the old man.’
The training grounds hadn’t been the real objective in the first place.
I had intended to jog around the residence under the pretext of physical training during off-hours to gather information, but it seemed I had only bought myself a misunderstanding.
‘Should I look for a different spot…?’
Just then.
“Very well.”
“…Pardon?”
Very well?
When I stared in bewilderment, old man Norbert curled up a corner of his mouth into a sly smirk.
“I have already sent a book to your room. It contains the most fundamental knowledge required of any servant in the Grand Ducal household.”
“…”
“Memorize every single detail of that book by this time tomorrow. If you succeed, the training grounds—no…”
Pondering for a moment, old man Norbert nodded to himself.
“Yes, that would be better.”
After muttering to himself, the old man stared intently at me again and spoke:
“So you will not clash with the members of the Knight Order… I shall arrange a private training ground just for you.”
A private training ground?!
There was no need to hesitate. A space where I could focus entirely on training without anyone interfering or watching over my shoulder.
Without needing a second thought, I answered swiftly:
“Deal.”
“Does that mean you can do it?”
I nodded.
“By this time tomorrow, I will give an answer that satisfies you, Master. In return, make sure you keep your promise. About the private training ground.”
“Of course. I am not one to go back on my word.”
Old man Norbert’s reply was equally firm.
After parting ways with old man Norbert, I hurried up to my quarters.
‘A private training ground. What a windfall.’
Whether it’s five books or ten, I’ll memorize the whole damn thing!
Fired up with enthusiasm, I stepped into the room, only to murmur under my breath the moment I saw the book sitting on the desk:
“This old man is seriously…”
