Villain Family’s Strongest Butler - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 28

At Ed’s words, Cardrian’s smooth brow furrowed slightly.
“……Why.”
Cardrian’s question came sharp and brief.
“Why a Majordomo, specifically? You can’t tell me you don’t know what a Majordomo does.”
Ed replied as though the answer were obvious.
“There are certainly nobles who travel with a Majordomo as an Attendant, though it’s not common.”
“That only happens when an Advisor is absent or there’s no honor guard.”
“Ah, but sir—then we simply say both are absent, don’t we?”
Cardrian’s gaze sharpened, turning toward Ed.
Ed slipped away from that stare with practiced ease and pressed on.
“I mean, be frank—is our Majordomo here really just a Majordomo? What house sends a Majordomo who kills assassins?”
……
“I’m skilled at what I do, and my abilities match any honor guard.”
……
And my arguments certainly don’t suffer from lack of weight.
Without meeting his eyes, Ed spoke with perfect confidence, even cheek. Cardrian simply listened, but the sheer audacity of it drew a low, startled laugh from him.
At the sound of Cardrian’s laughter, Ed’s eyes found their target again.
Seeing Cardrian’s expression relax, Ed breathed relief and ventured his next words with care.
“More than anything—you’re troubled by having confined her these two years, aren’t you? That’s why you brought her to the Temple.”
“That was only to show the High Priest what a Majordomo looks like.”
“Yet even after the High Priest told you a Dark Magic Curse clung to her soul, you didn’t kill her.”
……
Ed was certain of it.
Even if it were proven beyond doubt that another’s soul had been forced into that body through some Dark Sorcerer’s scheme,
‘you wouldn’t kill her. No—you couldn’t.’
Whose body was this? Whose body could it possibly be……?
‘Your betrothed. The one you’ve protected for ten years despite all counsel against it.’
To others, she was the last survivor and heir of the World Tree-Guarding Family. But to Cardrian, she was simply the woman to whom he’d given his whole heart.
Then Cardrian rose to his feet.
“Stop spouting nonsense and get out.”
“Yes, but before I go……”
With quick, practiced fingers, Ed seized a pen and swiftly wrote Freya’s name on the Letter bound for the Imperial Palace.
“Ed!”
Cardrian called out urgently, but Ed was already swift as wind—he had nearly reached the door of the Office.
“I’ll have it sent at once, sir!”
Ed waved the Letter as he bowed, looking far too pleased with himself.
Sigh.
Cardrian let out a short breath.
But he didn’t chase after Ed to stop him, though he had more than the ability to do so.

***

[Meat! Meat!]
……
A mass of fur came barreling toward me at frightening speed.
[Meat! Meat!]
I dodged like prey fleeing a predator, setting the plate down and stepping back.
Chomp-chomp-chomp-chomp.
The fur ball descended on the plate like it hadn’t eaten in days.
[Mmm! Such a rich, savory aroma—!]
Chomp-chomp-chomp.
[The tender juices, the depth of flavor……!]
Chomp-chomp-chomp-chomp.
“Either focus on eating or focus on critiquing. Pick one.”
[…….]
The fur ball went quiet. It had apparently chosen to focus on the meal.
‘This really is delicious.’
I leaned back in my chair, chin propped on my hand, staring down at the furry bundle.
Then it struck me.
“You really do eat well,” the Grand Duke had said to me.
His words came flooding back.
‘Could it be that I looked like *that* to him back then?’
Damn. I couldn’t even remember how I’d eaten in front of the Grand Duke.
Which only meant one thing—that Roasted Whole Pig had been *that* good.
[Cooked just right. Tender, but with a nice chew to it.]
This kitchen really knows what they’re doing.
The furry bundle muttered again.
‘This creature…….’
Complaining about hunger, then going straight for the meat—and having such particular tastes about how it’s cooked.
‘……Your preferences are uncannily like mine.’
For some reason, that realization struck me as oddly unsettling.
This won’t do. I need to be more careful about eating anything in front of the Grand Duke.
At least the furry bundle is cute.
‘Well, this body is reasonably pretty too.’
But there’s no guarantee the Grand Duke sees it that way.
‘The man’s practically made of stone, after all.’
I chuckled softly, hugging the back of the chair as I watched the furry bundle.
It had licked the plate clean and now seemed engrossed in grooming itself, lapping at its fur.
“Hey, furry bundle.”
[…….]
The creature froze mid-lick, then glared at me sideways and spoke.
[Star! How many times must I tell you? My name is Star.]
“Yeah, yeah. That hastily-thrown-together excuse for a name.”
I laughed under my breath, as if the thing might as well be wearing a nameplate on its forehead.
The furry bundle bristled.
[Don’t speak so carelessly! This name is……!]
“…….”
It stopped abruptly, its expression turning so sorrowful I thought it might cry.
[This name was given to me by the human who buried my mother.]
“…….”
The furry bundle continued.
[My mother died, and this human cried more for her than I did, grieved more than I could.]
Ah, so it was talking about its former master.
I watched it for a moment, then asked quietly.
“You had a master like that, so why were you being beaten?”
[They vanished. I never even got to say thank you.]
Goodness. Every word that creature speaks carries a tragedy.
‘I can hardly bear to open my mouth now.’
I found myself apologizing for nothing in particular.
Now, where was that Chicken Breast Jerky I had.
Nothing lifts a dampened spirit quite like food.
I reached into my pocket just as—tap, tap—a knock sounded at the door.
While I was searching my back pocket, I called toward it.
“Yes, come in.”
The door opened. It was Ed, my aide.
‘Hm?’
This was the first time Ed had visited my quarters directly.
“What brings you here?”
Ed laughed awkwardly.
‘This feels ominous.’
And my premonitions were usually right. Just like now.
“……The Palace? Me? You said it was the Grand Noble Conference.”
“I’ll explain later, but I cannot stand before the other nobles.”
“…….”
“So instead of me—.”
“You want me to fill in?”
Ahem. Perhaps it was my bluntness, but Ed’s face wore an expression of rare confusion.
“W-well, I mean… that is… the end result did turn out that way, but…”
“Hmm.”
I feigned deliberation, and Ed lowered his voice.
“Attendants who accompany you typically have quite a bit of free time.”
Interesting. Now he was saying something that actually caught my attention.
“When His Highness enters a conference, meetings can run anywhere from ten hours to a week straight.”
“Surely there are meal breaks during that time?”
“No concerns there. All meals are prepared at the Imperial Palace.”
“Then why do you need attendants at all?”
“Networking. Networking.”
“Networking?”
“Yes. You gather intelligence by exchanging words with attendants from other noble families.”
Ed explained how he conversed with them, strategically releasing false information while filtering truth from the intelligence that leaked in return.
“And you want me to do that?”
“Oh, no. This time you need only stay at your lodgings.”
“…Why? You think I can’t do it?”
That stung my pride a little, if I’m being honest.
When I let my displeasure show, Ed waved both hands frantically.
“What?! No, that’s not it at all. How could I possibly suggest… I mean, since this is your first visit, I thought you might want to simply observe the atmosphere…”
“…”
Something about this didn’t add up.
But Ed, flustered as he was, suddenly lit up as if struck by inspiration.
“Imperial Palace cuisine!”
“…?!”
“Wouldn’t you be curious about the dishes prepared by the Imperial Palace’s head chef?”
“…”
I fixed Ed with a narrow-eyed stare.
This fox. He’d definitely heard something.
‘He must have learned from the Duke that I have a weakness for food.’
And knowing that, he still played me.
Honestly, at this rate, he’s no different from that fluffy thing.
I swallowed hard several times before asking carefully.
“Better than the roasted whole pig they sell at the restaurant in Esmenta?”
Ed’s eyes went wide.
“You’ve tried it?”
“His Highness bought it for me on the way to the Temple.”
“His Highness did?!”
“Yes.”
Ed’s eyes grew even wider.
“…Why do you look so shocked?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
“…”
As Ed said it was nothing, the corners of his mouth trembled slightly.
Was he about to cry? Or was he holding back laughter?
When I scrutinized him with suspicion, he let out a deliberate cough.
“In any case. The Imperial Palace cuisine was at least ten times… no, make that twenty times more delicious than that roasted whole pig.”
“!”
Now it was my turn to widen my eyes.
Twenty times? Such a taste exists on this earth?
I regarded Ed with skeptical suspicion, let out a scoff through my nose, and lifted my chin with dignified resolve.
“I’m going.”
Ed nodded solemnly in response.
“You won’t regret it.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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