Villain Family’s Strongest Butler - Chapter 26

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

Episode 29

Ed turned and left the moment he heard my answer.
Once Ed had stepped out, the little fluff ball whispered to me.
[But butler.]
“Hmm?”
[That man from earlier.]
“The advisor?”
[I’m not sure about that, but… he’s not human, right?]
“…….”
Just as I thought.
‘So it noticed the beastman blood running through his veins.’
A beast recognizing another beast’s scent.
‘Of course — this one loves sniffing things out.’
I tapped the little fluff ball’s muzzle and laughed.
“That’s right. He’s a beastman. Serpent-like fellow, but he’s the real power behind the Grand Duke’s House, so we need to stay on his good side.”
[No serpent. Wolf. He’s a wolf.]
“Oh?”
I’d thought it might be, but could it really be a wolf?
‘He looked more like a snake or fox to me.’
I spoke to the little fluff ball once more.
“While I’m away, don’t you dare cause any trouble.”
[I won’t cause trouble!]
“And be nice to that wolf.”
[……Are you really leaving me with that wolf?]
“Why? What’s wrong?”
[He’s a dog, that’s what! A dog! Since when do you leave a cat with a dog?!]
“Strictly speaking, he’s not a dog — he’s a person. He just happens to have wolf blood flowing through him. Just a little.”
[A dog! A dog, I say!]
“Now, now. I’ll have a word with him, don’t worry.”
[I don’t want this! I don’t!]
“What if I have them serve you meat three times a day? As much as you want?”
[……Eh?]
At the mention of meat, the little fluff ball went quiet.
Of course.
‘This one really does take after me.’

***

The next morning, before the sun could even rise—still that desolate hour before dawn, with moonlight hidden behind clouds.
Tap-tap. Cardrian tapped the jewel on my Dog Collar twice and spoke.
“A second outing, then, butler?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I shall ensure your comfort this time as well.”
Cardrian climbed into the carriage with a soft chuckle.
Before boarding, I glanced back over my shoulder.
My eyes met the little fluff ball’s.
[Why can’t you just take me with you?!]
“…….”
‘Promise you’ll stay out of trouble and keep quiet, all right?!’
Cradled in Ed’s arms, the little fluff ball gazed at me with sorrowful eyes.
I turned to Ed.
“I’m entrusting the fluff ball—or rather, Starlight—to your care.”
“Rest assured. I’ll see he’s treated to beef three times daily, along with a variety of snacks.”
[Oh?]
The little fluff ball’s ears perked up.
[Go on, butler! Take your time if you need to!]
“…….”
This creature…….
I answered with a laugh and climbed into the carriage.
This carriage was slightly more ornate and spacious than the one I’d ridden in when meeting the High Priest.
‘He’d said they only bring this one out for important business at the Imperial Palace.’
I settled into my seat and carefully surveyed the interior of the carriage.
The exterior alone was dazzling—the Grand Duke’s House coat of arms, worked in gold and draped like armor—but the inside was something else entirely.
It was spacious. Truly, you could have said they’d simply transplanted an entire bedroom into a carriage.
Ornate curtains adorned each of the large windows; chairs upholstered in high-quality russet velvet; and quality carpet laid by an obsessive attendant across the floor—all of it combined to create an overall impression of opulence and warmth.
And on either side of the windows were small lamps that evoked a chandelier.
‘Mana Stone Lamps.’
Unlike ordinary lamps, these produced light using only the mana contained within the stones themselves.
There was no need for the tedious task of refilling fuel each time—you simply swapped out the mana stone. And since the brightness could be adjusted, Mana Stone Lamps were apparently quite popular among the nobility.
‘Of course. The Grand Duke’s House.’
This was the moment I could truly feel the Grand Duke’s wealth in my bones.
The carriage pulled away slowly.
Through the window, I could see a ball of fur nestled against Ed’s chest.
At first it had seemed reluctant to lean against him, apparently put off by his dog-like scent, but now it was pressing its front paws against his chest in a kneading motion.
……
Either it had already been corrupted by materialism, or it simply had an affectionate nature.
As I watched the Grand Duke’s House receding into the distance, something struck me as odd.
‘Wait. This isn’t the road to the Imperial Palace.’
The carriage was heading in the opposite direction from the path we’d taken when visiting the High Priest at the palace.
I stared out the window, then turned to look at the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke sat as he always did—arms crossed, legs folded, eyes closed.
“Your Grace.”
He answered without opening his eyes.
“What.”
“The carriage appears to be heading in a different direction.”
……
Then Cardrian opened his eyes. His eyelids rose with deliberate slowness, revealing violet eyes caught in the slanting sunlight, fixed upon me.
I was reminded of something I’d seen before—a purple galaxy spread across the night sky. Deep and still, ethereal and captivating in its mystery.
As I gazed into those eyes for a moment, the Grand Duke spoke.
“There is a place we must visit.”
“Ah.”
I was about to ask where, but the Grand Duke closed his eyes again.
It was clear he would entertain no further questions.
‘Tch.’
The carriage continued on for some time.
If we’d gone straight to the Imperial Palace, we would have arrived already.
By now the sky outside had grown bright. As the sun rose, the landscape beyond the window became far more visible.
In the time it took to observe the passing scenery, I realized we’d been traveling far longer than it would have taken to reach the Imperial Palace.
Whenever hunger began to gnaw, we’d stop at a village to eat, and I’d purchase snacks to consume inside the carriage.
Despite the long journey, I never found myself truly hungry.
The landscape outside the window shifted constantly.
I popped dried fruit into my mouth one piece at a time, committing the scenery to memory.
Then, sensing a gaze upon me, I turned my head—and my eyes met the Grand Duke’s.
……
……
The Grand Duke’s gaze alternated between my face and the dried fruit in my hand.
Without a word, I held out one piece toward him.
“Would you like some?”
……
The Grand Duke stared at the dried fruit I offered, then spoke.
“So you do eat things other than meat.”
“…If you don’t want it, you can drink water instead.”
I quickly withdrew my outstretched hand.
‘Extraordinarily rude, this Grand Duke.’
In front of the other retainers he maintained a dignified composure and spoke sparingly, but the moment we were alone together, all that issued from his irritating mouth were irritating remarks.
‘This feels like something I’ve experienced before……’
Ah.
I suddenly understood.
‘That Grand Duke. He was like this on the battlefield too.’
I’m not Sia now, and this isn’t a battlefield either.
Yet the Grand Duke treated me with the same irritating manner he’d shown her across that war-torn field.
‘Still, he bought me food, so I’ll let it slide.’
Perhaps he knew that filling my belly made my temperament more generous.
I pouted and slipped another dried fruit into my mouth. The sweet-tart flavor and chewy texture were delightful.
I chewed it thoroughly, then reached my hand back into the paper bag to retrieve another.
That was when it happened.
Click—.
The Grand Duke withdrew his Pocket Watch.
‘That Pocket Watch!’
Hand still buried in the bag, I stared at it intently.
‘No, I can’t see from this angle.’
The inside of the cover was invisible from where I sat. The Grand Duke’s massive hand, still grasping it, obscured the entire watch completely.
‘There’s no way to get a good look at it like this.’
The Grand Duke checked the time briefly, then clicked the cover shut and slipped the watch into his shirt pocket.
At the same moment, I turned my head away as if nothing had happened and pulled another dried fruit from the bag, placing it in my mouth.
The Grand Duke drew back the curtain and peered outside. Then he murmured softly.
“We’re here.”
Here? I opened my eyes wide and looked out the window as well.
In that instant, something strange brushed across my body.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say that I had passed through into a space surrounded by that presence.
‘A Barrier.’
As we crossed the Barrier, a town that had been invisible moments before came into view.
‘Hm?’
But something felt off.
‘Fields and buildings that look untouched by human hands for ages…….’
Too orderly to call it ruins, yet with no scent of life about it to call it an inhabited village either.
As I turned to the Grand Duke with a questioning gaze, he spoke.
“This is the Kentrou Territory.”
The Kentrou Territory?
I searched my memory through the books I’d read to study the Cadea Empire, but nothing about the Kentrou Territory came to mind.
As I sat in thought, the Grand Duke continued.
“It likely wasn’t in any of the books or maps your butler read.”
“No, I’ve never heard of this place before.”
The Grand Duke nodded. His gaze remained fixed on the desolate Territory beyond the window.
“This land, along with the family that ruled this Territory, was erased from history.”
…….
At his words, I turned to look out the window as well.
‘Erased……?’
Not disappeared, but erased?
Through the way the Grand Duke phrased it, one thing became clear.
‘……It was intentionally hidden.’
In the Tenasis Empire too, there were times when historical records were omitted and events were erased.
Most often, it was in cases of Major Criminals.
‘But even then, they never abandoned the land itself, however thoroughly they erased a family name.’
They would grant it to another noble or have the Imperial House absorb it, finding some use for it.
Yet this family’s land had been forsaken altogether.
In the Cadea Empire, which received the blessing of the World Tree and prospered wherever one traveled.
I asked carefully.
“Who was the original master of this land?”

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