Villain Family’s Strongest Butler - Chapter 40

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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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Episode 43

A metal chain costs 120 Gold?
‘I manage to sleep barely an hour or two a night, running myself ragged across the Grand Duke’s Residence year-round with sweat pouring down my feet, and this is what I earn!’
What possible reason could a nobleman’s accessories have to cost this much?
‘Such vain, pretentious creatures!’
My fingertips trembled beneath my cloak. I clenched my fists with shaking hands and took a careful, measured breath.
Inhale, exhale…
‘Alright, it’s fine. If I can win the Grand Duke’s trust and just catch a glimpse inside the Pocket Watch…’
This isn’t a bad trade, is it?
I pulled out the pouch of Gemstones from within my cloak.
The heavy clink it made was quite substantial.
From the pouch, I withdrew two Gemstones worth 50 Gold each and one worth 20 Gold.
‘My Annual Salary. Twelve months of Monthly Salary…’
My wages. My year’s earnings. My blood and sweat… All for a single metal chain… My blood, my sweat, my tears… An entire year of mine…’
I murmured as if reciting an incantation, extending the Gemstones with agonizing slowness.
My hand moving to deliver the Gemstones was glacial; the shopkeeper’s hand snatching them away was swift as lightning.
“My goodness! Thank you so much, dear customer! I’ll wrap this up right away!”
“…”
I clicked my tongue and turned my head away.
It was the moment an entire year’s worth of grinding labor vanished into thin air.

***

“What on earth are you buying, and how much?”
I held up the now-empty Gemstone pouch, turning it inside out.
“I cannot afford to purchase anything more.”
“…”
After purchasing the Grand Duke’s gift, I resolved to buy the dessert Riel had been wanting.
I could feel the Grand Duke’s hesitation from the moment we reached the shop’s deep pink entrance. I understood—I didn’t want to go in either.
It was torture, in a way.
After a series of complications, I purchased the Ruby Berry Pie from a dessert shop called Bonbon Jello.
From the shop’s name to the dessert’s name, everything felt painfully awkward to pronounce.
When we bought what was apparently the most popular dessert in the shop, they cast a spell to maintain its Freshness.
-“How long until you reach your destination? Ah, two days? Then I’ll apply Preservation Magic that will keep it for a week.”
This is a mad world. Preservation Magic just to keep food fresh.
They sold Preservation Magic and threw in the dessert for good measure, essentially.
‘As expected, expensive things are expensive for a reason.’
I’m certain eighty percent of that dessert’s price is the Preservation Magic.
And then there was the Ribbon Decoration Anna was singing about, the Cuff Links for Allen, the Gloves for our steward, and even magical enhancement options for them all.
‘I’ve gone broke again.’
I crumpled my now-skeletal purse into my coat’s inner pocket and clicked my tongue.
Once all the gifts were loaded into the luggage compartment, we finally boarded the carriage.
“The sun is already beginning to set.”
We hadn’t even left the Capital yet, and the sky was growing dim.
As I watched the Grand Duke across from me, he let out a short sigh and spoke to the coachman.
“To Menteador Estate.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
With the destination set, the carriage began moving without hesitation.
Menteador Estate was a town one could reach after about an hour’s journey from the Capital.
Thanks to its proximity to the Capital, the estate was quite sizable.
“It would be best to stay there for a night before moving on.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
With many travelers passing through and its considerable size, the security was quite good.
After that decision was made, the carriage fell silent for a while.
Then.
“What did you buy earlier?”
“Yes?”
“Mine.”
“Ah…….”
I raised an eyebrow.
‘I thought he’d hate swapping it out, but he was actually hoping for this.’
While I tucked the other gifts into the storage compartment, I’d kept his gift hidden inside my coat pocket.
‘I was waiting for this exact moment.’
I retrieved the gift and handed it to the Grand Duke. His indifference made the innkeeper’s ornate wrapping seem wasted—he tore through the sumptuous Ribbon Decoration without ceremony.
Click. The lid of the small wooden box swung open, and the Watch Chain finally revealed itself.
The Grand Duke let out a sound that betrayed nothing.
I swallowed hard, watching as he drew out the Pocket Watch from the breast pocket where he’d tucked it.
‘Now’s my chance!’
I hurried to call out to him.
“Your Highness.”
“……What.”
He stopped mid-motion, about to swap the Watch Chain, and turned to face me.
“If you would permit me, I would very much like to change it myself.”
“…….”
At that, his head tilted slowly.
His eyes fixed on me with a look that seemed to ask: Why?
I turned my head away slightly to hide my scheming intentions from his gaze.
Though only seconds passed in reality, the silence felt impossibly long.
Would the Grand Duke truly entrust me with that precious Pocket Watch, or would he refuse?
Thump-thump-thump. My heart began to race with the tension.
Then.
“Here.”
The Grand Duke held out the Pocket Watch and Watch Chain to me.
“…….”
I caught my breath for a moment. The sight of the Pocket Watch and Watch Chain resting in his palm made me hold it longer.
Thump-thump-thump.
‘Breathe, breathe. At last…….’
Thump-thump-thump.
‘I think I’m going to get dizzy.’
At last I’ll be able to see inside this Pocket Watch……!
Thump-thump-thump.
‘How long I’ve been waiting for this moment—’
Then the Grand Duke furrowed his brow and spoke.
“Can you do something about that heartbeat? Are you trying to rupture your chest?”
“Oh, I apologize.”
He could hear that? So perceptive. I muttered inwardly and twisted my lips.
The Grand Duke exhaled a long sigh and leaned back against the seat.
“All this tension over swapping a Watch Chain…….”
“…….”
Regardless of what the Grand Duke grumbled, I gazed down at the Pocket Watch he’d handed me.
Closer inspection only confirmed it.
This was a handcrafted piece, an object into which someone had poured considerable affection.
There were traces of age and use, yet it was the most elegant Pocket Watch I’d ever seen.
I carefully removed the old Watch Chain that had been attached to it, thinking to myself.
‘You have no idea, Grand Duke.’
Do you think I’m doing this just for a Watch Chain?
‘Of course, this single Watch Chain contains the essence of my entire year’s labor.’
But that alone wouldn’t be enough to make my heart race like this.
I took a deep breath and threaded on the new Watch Chain. Click. With a soft sound, the Pocket Watch acquired its new adornment.
I’d worried that the difference in their ages might make them look mismatched, but not at all.
‘It looks as if they were meant to be paired from the very beginning.’
I checked once more that the chain was properly secured.
‘Perfect.’
Now came the moment to accidentally open the Pocket Watch lid.
I glanced sideways at the Grand Duke across from me.
He happened to be gazing out the window. One might think he’d be uneasy having entrusted me with the Pocket Watch, but he merely gazed out with leisure.
‘This is my only chance.’
And so, in the end, I pressed down on the Pocket Watch’s lock button with a click.
Click—. At last the cover opened. And in that instant, I felt the Grand Duke’s gaze turn toward me.
‘Check it! Go on!’
Breathe, breathe…….
For a moment, the carriage was wrapped in silence.
“…….”
“…….”
Click. I quietly closed the Pocket Watch’s cover and drew out the cloth from my pocket, wiping the watch face as though nothing had happened.
Then I held it out to the Grand Duke and smiled with perfect composure.
“I’ve attached the entire Watch Chain. Do check it, Your Highness.”
“…….”
The Grand Duke regarded me for a moment, then accepted the Pocket Watch and examined it briefly. He then placed it back into his inner pocket and spoke to me.
“Keep that old chain separate. Don’t discard it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I wrapped the previous chain in cloth and placed it in the box with studied calm, forcing a smile.
It was then that the Grand Duke spoke.
“Thank you.”
“…….”
As I tidied the box, I wondered if I’d misheard him and looked up.
The Grand Duke, as always, stood with his arms crossed and his eyes closed.
-“Thank you.”
Though I’d been hearing phantom voices frequently of late, that one just now was no illusion.
For some reason, my chest felt warm.
“Yes, Your Highness…….”
Suddenly self-conscious about looking at him, I deliberately began reorganizing the box I’d already finished packing.
‘Ugh……. That Grand Duke……. Why is he like this…….’
My heart, which I’d barely managed to calm, seemed about to race away again.
‘In any case, I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.’
I’d opened the Pocket Watch’s cover.
And.
I had seen it perfectly clearly.

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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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