Villain Family’s Strongest Butler - Chapter 36

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

Episode 39

When I came to my senses, I realized I was lying in the Duke’s bed.
Confirming that I’d awakened, the Duke excused himself to fetch the Physician.
I sat up with a bewildered expression.
“I’m really fine, though…”
Of course, the headache had been severe—perhaps the worst I’d ever experienced. My body had swayed enough that I nearly collapsed.
‘That’s right… I did lose consciousness. It was dangerous.’
Still, thanks to the Duke catching me in time, I hadn’t been injured.
‘He must have reacted instinctively when he saw me fall.’
But then, unbidden, the memory of his arms around me surfaced.
‘Why!’
I felt heat creep up my ears and hastily shook my head, trying to banish that image.
There was nothing remarkable about it. Forget it.
‘Absolutely not because it’s my first time being held by a man!’
Absolutely. Not.
The moment I swung my legs off the bed, the door burst open.
‘What?’
The Duke had returned with the Physician.
‘Already?’
I stared at them both in surprise.
The Duke bore the same expression as when he’d left, but the Physician—who appeared to have been dragged here by his collar—was breathing heavily, as though he might retch at any moment.
“Y-Your Grace, if you’d j-just let go, I—hack, gasp—”
“Examine her.”
“Yes, but if you’d just—”
Tap, tap. Even as the Duke held him, the Physician politely patted the Duke’s hand.
“….”
Only then did the Duke release him—though “threw him in this direction” would have been more accurate.
The Physician rubbed his neck with a relieved sigh.
‘Can he really treat the Imperial Palace’s physician that way?’
Having been hauled here almost against his will, the Physician hesitated, eyeing the Duke warily.
With arms crossed, the Duke watched him and spoke.
“Take her pulse first.”
“Ah, yes, Your Grace.”
The Physician grasped my wrist and felt for my pulse, then tilted his head and concentrated anew.
It took some time. The Duke stood near the door, watching me intently.
And so it continued for some while.
The Physician, beads of sweat dotting his brow, spoke to the Duke behind him.
“Y-Your Grace, no matter how thoroughly I examine her, I can find nothing notably amiss.”
She’s quite healthy—possessing more vitality than most Knights.
“Ha ha. The only issue is slight indigestion from consuming too much before sleep.”
It’s generally best to avoid eating right before retiring. Ha ha ha.
He added remarks that needn’t have been mentioned.
“….”
“….”
I turned my head away, suddenly embarrassed.
‘Making such a fuss over a mere headache.’
Anyone would think I was the Duke’s child.
Absurdly, a dry laugh escaped me.
The Physician departed, and the Duke, who had been standing by the door, approached. He settled himself on the edge of the bed.
“You should have asked for a headache remedy.”
“It’s not the sort of headache that medicine can address.”
“This happens to you often, then?”
“Never as severe as today.”
“Managing your health is part of an attendant’s duties.”
“But you just heard—I’m in better condition than most Knights.”
“Those Knights don’t lose consciousness and collapse over a headache.”
“….”
“There must be a reason the Physician hasn’t found it.”
Yes, that reason is you, Grand Duke. You are the cause of that something.
The headaches came even when the Grand Duke wasn’t around, but only rarely.
It was only when I was with the Grand Duke that these inexplicable headaches would strike.
It had been that way since my days as Shia.
Every time our blades crossed on the battlefield, the headache came.
‘Back then it was just a simple headache.’
My head would throb, but I didn’t hear voices or see things the way I do now.
It wasn’t as though I hadn’t sought out a Physician.
But even the physicians of the Tenasis Empire couldn’t find the cause of my headaches.
They only repeated the same hollow word—nervousness.
But lately there are hallucinations, and now auditory ones too…….
‘Am I actually losing my mind?’
As I grumbled silently to myself, the Grand Duke rose and spoke.
“Rest.”
I lifted my head, following his movements as he sat up.
“Where are you going, sir?”
“What? Do you want me to tuck you in too? Should I sing you a lullaby?”
“What? No, of course not!”
A lullaby, of all things!
At my flustered response, the Grand Duke let out a soft laugh.
“I’ll be back before dawn. You can rest here if you like, or go back to the Attendant’s quarters.”
Of course I should go back! Why would I rest in the Grand Duke’s bed?
‘Does he think I’m here just to warm his bed?’
I hopped down from the Grand Duke’s bed.
“I’m perfectly fine. And.”
I bowed deeply to the Grand Duke.
“Thank you for helping me just now.”
…….
The Grand Duke regarded me in silence for a moment, then released a soft sigh.
“Rest.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The Grand Duke slipped out before I even left the room.
‘But where on earth is he going?’

***

“He collapsed?”
“Yes.”
Cardrian had made his way to the Temple, situated at the eastern end of the Imperial Palace.
High Priest Rapid maintained temples throughout the empire and wandered from place to place, staying briefly at each, but recently he had remained continuously at the Temple within the Imperial Palace.
In the Temple’s great hall, Cardrian and Rapid sat facing one another.
“Do you remember what you said the day the Attendant and I came to visit? That day?”
At Cardrian’s question, Rapid nodded.
“I said there was Dark Magic clinging to the soul within his body. Very faint and subtle, as though merely brushed against.”
And that it was such a thin trace it would gradually fade with time.
Cardrian looked at Rapid with darkened eyes.
“Could that be the cause of the headaches?”
Severe enough to make him collapse?
“Hmm.”
Rapid stroked his chin, gathered his thoughts for a moment, then spoke.
“The headaches are unlikely to be caused by the Dark Magic. The trace I sensed then should have faded completely by now.”
Cardrian pressed him sharply.
“Can you be certain of that?”
At Cardrian’s question, Rapid offered a soft laugh.
“What exactly is it that concerns Your Grace?”
…….
Rapid smiled with his usual gentleness and warmth.
“Are you worried something might be wrong with his body, or are you worried something might be amiss with the unknown soul dwelling within him?”
…….
“Or perhaps that’s not it either…….”
Rapid’s eyes crinkled as he smiled thinly.
“Could it be both?”
“…….”
Cardrian did not answer, not even once, to Rapid’s successive question.
His lips remained unmoved, his gaze still cool.
Rapid, receiving that sharp stare, leaned back against his chair and let out a soft laugh. “Ha ha.”
“The headache will likely persist, I imagine.”
Only then did Cardrian speak.
“Why is that?”
Rapid fixed his gaze on Cardrian and answered.
“It may well be the process of recovering memories. That is my conjecture.”
“…….”
At Rapid’s words, Cardrian’s pupils trembled.
“You spoke of memories?”
“Yes.”
Rapid nodded and continued.
“The problem is……there is no guarantee that those memories are the ones you have been waiting for, Your Grace.”
“…….”
“What will you do if, against all odds, the memories return but reveal someone other than the person you await?”
“I will think about that when the time comes.”
“…….”
Rapid let out a small laugh through his nose. “Hmm.”
‘So you mean to keep them alive no matter what, until then.’
Even if their soul were truly stained with Dark Magic.
“Very well.”
Rapid rose from his chair.
“Expose them to various circumstances so they might recover their memories more swiftly. Places they favored, foods they enjoyed. And the people they knew.”
“I am already doing so.”
“Yes, troublesome as it may be, that will be the fastest path.”
“I have never thought it troublesome.”
“No, I rather expected as much.”
Cardrian, who had been pondering something, opened his mouth.
“Then, is it possible they may collapse from headaches again during the process of recovering their memories?”
“There is that possibility, yes.”
“…….”
Cardrian’s brow furrowed.
Apparently finding that amusing, Rapid continued.
“If you find that so troubling, you need only stay at their side at all times.”
Cardrian’s gaze, which had been directed downward, lifted to meet Rapid’s face.
“……Even after decades, you remain mischievous, High Priest.”
Rapid laughed aloud before speaking. “Ha ha.”
“Your Grace speaks the very words that your predecessor once spoke.”
“…….”
Cardrian stood.
“I will visit again. Thank you for making time.”
“Think nothing of it. I shall always pray. That they return to our side soon.”
“……I am grateful.”
Cardrian bowed lightly, then turned to leave.
But he paused briefly. As though something had occurred to him, he turned back to Rapid once more and spoke.
“May I ask a favor?”

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