Episode 31

“Sir, Duke?”

I wondered if there was something to do in the music room. I rubbed my hands together. However, Raiden approached without saying anything.

Raiden, who came close to me, abruptly stopped walking. The distance between us seemed closer than I thought, and involuntarily, I took a step back.

Then, soon, his body touched the grand piano.

As if not liking my reaction, Raiden, with narrowed eyes, briefly asked me.

“What are you doing?”

“I was checking the instruments.”

“It doesn’t seem like it.”

He spoke in a teasing tone, making me flinch as if caught secretly eating food.

“Sorry…”

“Forget it.”

A sound of laughter, as if the wind had escaped, came from Raiden. But when I looked up to see his face, that expression had already disappeared.

I thought I might have misheard.

“By the way, why is the Duke here in the music room?”

I wondered if there was something to check before the party.

At my words, Raiden’s right eyebrow rose.

“What, is the Duke, me, not allowed to be here?”

“No, that’s not what I meant…!”

“Naturally, I thought he would be with Amy.

But I couldn’t continue with my words. In that moment, a familiar brooch appeared on Raiden’s chest.

It was the brooch that Amy had brought with her that day to give to me in exchange.

‘Did you like the design?’

If not, it could be that the person who gave it liked it…

Unconsciously, I glanced at Raiden’s face.

“… It is, isn’t it?”

Raiden caught onto my unspoken words. I shook my head nervously.

“You’ve been so busy lately.”

“…Really. When wasn’t I busy?”

He brushed his hair back with his hand. His eyebrows appeared briefly, then disappeared under his dark, leopard-like hair.

“You seem quite busy yourself.”

“Huh? Oh, well…”

Raiden glanced down at me.

“I thought you disappeared because I couldn’t see you.”

His words were quite charming.

“I, um, surprisingly have good stamina and can survive anywhere.”

“…”

Seemingly puzzled by my words, Raiden chuckled softly. Then, he looked at my legs and nodded slightly.

“?”

With a puzzled look, when I looked up at him, Raiden opened his mouth in a low voice.

“Try rolling up your pants.”

Hastily, I rolled up my pants as he suggested. Apparently displeased with my actions, Raiden sighed softly.

“Sit.”

As I awkwardly sat on the piano chair, he suddenly lowered himself. Startled, I called out.

“Duke!”

“Why are you calling?”

As if asking what the problem was, Raiden nonchalantly answered while rolling up my pants. His touch was gentle.

Unlike my haphazard way of rolling up the pants, his calm and careful folding was somewhat unexpected.

The calf, tightly wrapped in bandages, showed no sign of injury. Raiden grabbed my leg and twisted it around.

“Does it hurt?”

“…It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

As if trying to confirm whether my words were true, Raiden lifted his head. His gaze felt oddly burdensome, so I instinctively averted my eyes.

Then Raiden reached out and firmly grasped my chin. I widened my eyes in astonishment, never expecting him to hold my chin like this.

Turning my chin this way and that, Raiden inspected my face.

Suddenly overwhelmed by the wafting musk scent, I rolled my eyes.

I felt slightly embarrassed by his gaze, as if he were looking at me as if he were about to devour me.

Moreover, observing the veins on the back of his hand that held my chin, I felt as if I were committing a sin just by looking at them.

I flinched as if burned. In response, Raiden’s grip on my chin tightened.

“Lately, I couldn’t see your face, so I wondered if you were dead or alive. Is that clear now?”

His unexpected response made me blink as if I had been struck. Then Raiden let go of my chin, smiling slightly.

“You seem fine.”

“I, I’m healthier than you might think…”

Raiden stood up and took out white gloves from his pocket. As I watched the white gloves cover his hand, I subtly touched my chin.

“It’ll take quite some time to hear a proper performance from you.”

“I’ll learn quickly and give you a great performance.”

At my words, Raiden let out a soft chuckle. It was the same laughter I had heard a moment ago.

* * *

Guests dressed in glamorous attire began to enter the mansion one by one. I couldn’t take my eyes off the elegant ladies being escorted with grace.

“They all look so splendid…”

The intricately crafted jewels sparkled beautifully in the sunlight.

“It’s starting again this year.”

But unlike me, Peter sighed deeply as if it were dreadful.

“What’s wrong?”

At his words, Roel shrugged lightly.

Those many guests weren’t just ordinary guests. Welcoming the nobles who hold power within the kingdom was as challenging as it gets, so I understood why Peter sighed.

I’ll die soon too.

I forced a smile and turned my gaze back outside.

The Kingdom of Rosschena highly values the concept of ‘enjoyment’ itself. Living life joyfully was the fundamental mindset of the kingdom’s people.

With festivals held every season and the New Year’s festival where witches visit, there are at least three festivals in a year. And for the nobles, there was one more event akin to a festival.

It was the banquet held at the Akaruth Manor. However, in its early days, the banquet was not held for enjoyment’s sake.

The King of Rosschena sought to control the growing influence of the Akaruth family, who consistently brought victory in every war they participated in.

After much deliberation, the King ordered the Duke, a war hero, to prepare a ‘celebratory’ banquet to be held every year, commemorating the victories of war.

The scale of the annual banquet was significant. However, the Akaruth family did not receive any financial support.

From the King’s perspective, dispersing the capital of the Akaruth family into the public and absorbing their wealth into society was not a bad thing.

Thus, it became a tradition for the Akaruth family to host a banquet every year. Although the scale has significantly reduced from the past, and they now receive support from the royal family.

Peter looked at me with pity in his eyes and spoke.

“I worry about you…”

“Me? Why would you…?”

He gently patted my shoulder.

“Guys as good-looking as you tend to attract the ladies’ attention. It’s tougher than you think.”

“…”

Peter’s words sent shivers down my spine. But well, surely… nothing would happen.

Feeling the atmosphere dampen slightly, Roel clapped his hands.

“Alright, let’s get to work. We’ll be busy non-stop from today onwards!”

* * *

“Chase! Trim the vegetables!”

“Chase, do the dishes!”

“Chase!”

“Chase!”

Certainly, the labor I’ve been doing so far hasn’t been labor at all. I toiled endlessly in the restaurant, once again realizing how exhausting restaurant work could be.

Throughout the banquet period, I was assigned to the restaurant. Due to my petite stature compared to other servants, it was probably the reason why the young masters could be harsh with me.

“When will this darn banquet end!”

The banquet scheduled for November was moved up to October. Disposing of all the carefully written invitations and rewriting them was just the beginning of the ordeal.

It was only around midnight that I could have dinner. It was after the guests and servants assigned to other buildings had all finished their meals.

“Damn it…!”

Apparently, Olivier was not pleased as she loudly dropped her fork. Thanks to her, the cheerful atmosphere of the meal froze in an instant.

“Flynn, come with me.”

At that thunderous command, Flynn visibly flinched. I glanced anxiously at Flynn.

But he seemed fine, smiling faintly as he followed Olivier, who was storming out of the restaurant.

“This is ridiculous. Why are we summoning someone who’s doing well in serving?”

As soon as the two left, someone cleared their throat and spoke up.

“Isn’t that right, Chase?”

It was a woman sitting right in front of me. Probably a temporary maid like me, judging by her unfamiliar face in the restaurant.

“Do you know me?”

She nodded lightly in response.

“You’re Abel’s brother. So I knew. If the maids interested in Abel, they’d all know you, wouldn’t they?”

As soon as Abel’s name was mentioned, a maid sitting beside her flinched. She too was a face I had never seen before.

That meant she too was a temporary maid assigned to the restaurant during the banquet period.

“My name is Dorothy. You’re also working in the restaurant during the banquet, right?”

I cautiously nodded, and she extended her hand to me.

“Nice to meet you. Let’s work well together.”

“I’ll do my best.”

When I hesitantly shook her outstretched hand, she burst into laughter at my reaction.

“You look so clueless. Are you a complete rookie?”

“Am I…?”

“You’re just like him.”

Dorothy wrapped her arm around the shoulder of the maid next to her, who was quietly eating soup.

“Her name is Emma. She’s my colleague working in the restaurant during the banquet.”

“Oh, hello.”

As I quickly greeted Emma, she rolled her eyes and then spoke up.

“Hi, Chase!”

She seemed more lively than I expected. Since Dorothy said Emma was also a newcomer like me, I thought she’d be the same, but apparently not.

Emma seemed like she wanted to say more to me, but she couldn’t as the sound of the restaurant door opening from behind interrupted her.

The one who made the noise was Flynn. Fortunately, Olivier wasn’t with him.

As soon as Flynn took his seat, I hastily asked him.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing, really. Olivier was asking about the disciplinary action she received.”

“…Why ask you about that?”

Flynn shrugged lightly, as if he didn’t know the reason either.