The job of a butler is a profession of expertise.
Especially if that butler manages a bourgeois who is involved in various businesses or an aristocratic house with a deep history, it’s even more so.
While it may not be as complex as dealing with the royal treasury, the flow of money involved is definitely not something that can just be recorded in a household ledger like in a typical family.
In a world where calculators, mechanical calculators, and computer-like devices exist, the work done by machines is, of course, slower and more complicated than in my world that utilized semiconductors. Because of that, the quality of the people operating those machines and the people managing them is extremely important.
The most crucial factor is, without a doubt, human trustworthiness.
It is essential to have someone you can trust so much that they wouldn’t even think of slipping a little into their own pockets in the face of large sums of money. Someone who can accurately calculate taxes so that they won’t get caught by the royal court. It’s not easy to bring someone from the outside who meets all these criteria. If they were such a person, they would most likely be working for someone else already.
Thus, noble families of a certain level attempt to cultivate such individuals within their own lineage. It’s best if it’s someone from the family from the start. Even if they try to take a little, it’s ultimately from their own family, so attempting to take too much would be a loss, and they conduct tax calculations with precision. They may try to reduce the amount, but they don’t think they could be smarter than the royal treasury’s interpretation agencies.
What an excellent worker!
However, not all members of noble families are such discerning and intelligent individuals.
So, they will try to train individuals from the beginning. Ideally, with a sense of loyalty as well.
The butler in Baron Grace’s Estate was no exception.
“It is my lifelong glory.”
While he exaggerated a bit in his words, his attitude felt sincere, as if it were not an exaggeration at all. It seemed so sincere that one might even doubt if it was genuinely sincere.
The butler had his short hair styled with a 2:8 part and applied pomade to have it neatly arranged. Judging by his face, one would expect him to have white hair, but perhaps he dyed it black.
His mustache was neatly groomed, showing no signs of stray hairs. A thin golden chain flowed from the pocket of the black vest of his three-piece suit, likely containing a pocket watch.
“We are pleased to visit such a splendid place. Surely, the beauty of this territory has been made possible through your efforts.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
The butler responded as if it were nothing, but he couldn’t completely hide the pride radiating from him. Of course, the level of that pride wasn’t so excessive that it was against etiquette. It was like merely adding a hint of fragrance to a drink.
“I was showing the Crown Princesses around the mansion. They will be staying here for a few days, and it’s possible they may visit again.”
The butler’s gaze shifted slightly toward Claire, who was nearby. In that brief moment, he seemed to understand what was going on.
Or maybe he was someone who talked to Claire often. Thinking back to the guards I met at the entrance of the territory, this might be the more plausible assumption.
“In that case, I can assist you.”
The butler said this to the Baroness, but she gently shook her head. Just looking at her movements, one might think she was a noblewoman who had grown up spoiled without knowing anything since childhood. However, a look at the tips of her fingers hinted at calluses.
It wasn’t just that she had wielded a sword; it was proof that she still does whenever the opportunity arises. She probably noticed, even if she didn’t show it, when my gaze briefly drifted toward her fingers.
“Guiding the Crown Princesses should fall to me. I am the mistress of this house.”
“Understood.”
The butler bowed deeply without showing any signs of questioning the Baroness, who appeared younger than himself.
“The reason I sought you, Butler, is to meet a child being trained to work in this mansion.”
The butler’s gaze lifted again. There seemed to be a flicker of curiosity in his eyes for just a moment, but by the time I caught that gaze, it had already disappeared.
“If it is that child, he is currently finishing his duties and is resting.”
“Would it be rude to visit now?”
“No, not at all. He is one blessed by Baron Grace, after all. I’m sure he would be happy to come out when he hears the story.”
It would indeed be somewhat rude to visit after work hours. It’s essentially the same as the boss coming to see someone who just clocked out for a chat.
But this was a noble society, and most of the children working in this house were orphans taken in during their childhood to save their lives. Not only were they saved, but they also managed to live much better than in typical peasant households. The loyalty born from such hearts must be genuine. Or at the very least, that feeling of wanting to be here must be sincere.
Thinking about it, the child I was about to meet was, in fact, a character that didn’t exist in the original story.
The butler remembered. While not a significant character, he was someone present every time I visited Baron Grace’s territory in the game and later became an NPC who gave side quests.
However, the orphans I had forced onto the back burner back then were different.
At least, they didn’t make me feel as uncomfortable as the strange individual I encountered when I first met Rena or that dungeon.
At the very least, I could imagine why the kids here would end up meeting in this way.
Furthermore, had I continued to stay here, those kids would probably have called me sister or big sister.
Thinking that way felt a bit strange.
“……”
Ah.
Realizing Alice was looking at my face intently, I subtly shifted my gaze to the side.
What had happened had already happened. Time… Well, I couldn’t turn it back anymore.
If I had tried to find a way out from Lucas, maybe there was a one in a thousand or ten thousand chance.
But I didn’t do that. Even if time could somehow go back, I probably wouldn’t have acted that way.
Well… Yeah.
Lucas was a bit scary, Jayden was annoying, and Bella was somewhat irritable, but I still liked Alice.
Dealing with Alice, who was whining like a child—no, as a child—was not as bad as I thought. In the original story, she was always a serious character unless she had some wacky antics, and I never got to see her whine like this in person.
So, that memory was too precious to be dismissed as ‘nonexistent.’
If I were in this position, I probably would have felt the same way.
Choosing between two things would undoubtedly leave me conflicted until I die, so it would be much better to just not experience one of them. That way, it would be easier to let it go.
“Please come this way.”
The butler led us without hesitation toward the place where they resided in the mansion. The Baroness also followed behind without any concerns.
This must mean that they keep the rooms clean enough that they wouldn’t be embarrassed even if their masters came at any time.
“……”
Up until we reached this point, both Alice and Claire had warm smiles on their faces, but after seeing my expression, they both became a bit stiff. The first to change their expression was Alice, and after she looked back and forth between me and Alice, Claire gradually stiffened, too.
What kind of expression am I making right now?
……Probably a blank expression.
Even looking in the mirror, I would not recognize my own feelings in that blank face.
That was my character trait.
*
Some older folks who are a few years older than me often have a habit of reminiscing about their elementary school days as if it’s a moment of nostalgia. However, I didn’t really agree with that.
I’m not sure if it’s due to my poor memory compared to others, or something else, but I don’t have many clear memories of elementary school and they often feel hazy.
A few kids come to mind, but typically either their faces or names don’t ring a bell.
So, there’s not really much to reminisce about. I suppose one of the few memories I have from elementary school is how delicious the tteokbokki was at the place in front of the school.
Therefore, to be honest, when faced with a boy who looked a few years younger than me, I had to think a long time to conjure up that face.
However, it seems that the boy who has not yet escaped his childhood was slightly different.
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