Villain Family’s Strongest Butler - Chapter 41

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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 44

The Grand Duke treasured his Pocket Watch so dearly, yet nowhere on its casing—
‘It isn’t there…….’
It isn’t, it isn’t! There’s nothing!
Not even a scratch that might resemble initials.
‘It isn’t there!’
My mind descended into absolute chaos.
Oh, my salary!
My 120 Gold!

***

We arrived at the Village, found a room, and unpacked. Since we planned to leave early the next morning after a single night’s rest, I brought only the bags we’d need immediately.
I drew the Grand Duke’s bathwater and laid out fresh clothes for him to change into.
After wishing him a good rest as he entered the bathing room, I retreated to the adjacent room and collapsed onto the bed.
“…….”
I stared blankly at the wood grain of the planks supporting the ceiling.
In the end…….
‘Back to square one…….’
That fragile hope—that I might be recovering memories—shattered into dust.
No, now I began to wonder whether those dreams I kept having were truly fragments of this body’s memories at all.
‘What if they’re just nonsense dreams.’
That thought was starting to feel more convincing.
Then suddenly, I found myself curious about why I was so fixated on the previous owner’s memories.
‘Whether they return or not.’
It doesn’t change that I’m still at odds with the Grand Duke, or that I must eventually leave the Grand Duke’s Estate.
‘So why?’
Would the Grand Duke really be happy if I recovered the memories?
‘I’m not the one who originally owned this body.’
Even if I recovered those memories, the plan to use them to take the Grand Duke’s life had become meaningless the moment we formed our alliance—utterly worthless now.
That’s why I’d decided to live freely.
I had a strong desire to face the Grand Duke properly, but I also had a strong desire to forge a new life.
‘That said, it’s not as if I’m uninterested in this body’s original owner’s memories.’
When the day comes that I leave the Grand Duke’s Estate, if I never hear the truth about my identity from his lips—
I’ll spend the rest of my life wandering alone, forever wondering about who this body’s original owner was.
‘Once is enough for that kind of thing…….’
Back when I was Enslaved Servant, I did all kinds of things to find my past, to recall my lost memories.
But I ended up with nothing to show for it, living a half-life with half my past erased—
‘And now they want me to do it all over again…….’
Of course, I know that even if this body’s original memories surface, they won’t become my memories.
‘But this is too much. To live a second life still robbed of memory…….’
Something. At some point, all the threads of my emotions seemed to tangle together at once.
‘Could the body’s original owner’s feelings still be lingering.’
As I exhaled a long, heavy sigh, my eyelids grew increasingly heavy.
‘Ah, I should wash and sleep…….’
But——
I swallowed a response I didn’t mean and surrendered to sleep.
And once again, that damned dream came.
-“What are you doing here?”
-“The Memory Box.”
-“The Memory Box? What is that?”
-“Oh, Cardrian. You’re such an old soul.”
-“……Pardon?”
In the dream, a young girl was lifting up grass, digging at the earth with her bare hands, and burying something in the ground.
-“It’s trending in the Capital these days. You put your memories, your recollections, inside this box and bury it. Wouldn’t it feel like receiving a gift if someone found it someday in the distant future?”
-“…….”
-“What’s that look? That look that says I’m doing something pointless again!”
—”…No, that’s not it.”
—”Your answer came too late!”
No it didn’t! Yes it did! Yes, that’s right. Cardrian!
The children’s bickering voices gradually faded into the distance.
Only after the sound disappeared entirely did I slowly open my eyes.
‘….’
What? What am I supposed to do about this…?
Why do those children keep appearing in my dreams, of all things?
Am I supposed to move because of this ridiculous, nonsensical dream?
‘First they chain me up like a dog, and now they want me to dig like one too?’
Sigh…
I sat up in bed.
‘This time, they were kind enough to show me exactly where the children were.’
As if telling me to dig there, as if insisting this time was real and I absolutely had to go see for myself.
‘This is the last time.’
I’ll verify it just this once.
And if it’s not true again, well…
‘Then it’s just a stupid dream.’
Just then, I heard movement from the next room.
The Grand Duke must have woken.
‘At least he does sleep, I suppose.’
The only person who goes to bed later than me and wakes earlier than me.
I climbed out of bed, quickly changed clothes, finished my preparations, and headed toward the Grand Duke’s chambers.
“Your Highness, I’m ready to depart.”
“…Let’s go.”
We set out once more for the Grand Duke’s Estate.

***

“Freya!”
The moment we arrived at the Grand Duke’s Estate and began unpacking, the servants rushed forward.
“What is all this?”
I cleared my throat and turned to address the gathered staff.
“The Ribbon Ties are for the female servants. And these Cufflinks are for the male servants.”
At the center of each Ribbon Tie hung a golden ornament engraved with the Grand Duke’s Household crest, and the Cufflinks were crafted from the same gilded metal bearing the same seal.
Though adorned with no elaborate jewels, the gifts possessed an overall clean elegance and refinement.
I spoke to the servants as they accepted their presents.
“These are gifts His Highness selected personally.”
“His Highness chose them himself?!”
The servants’ exclamations of delight seemed to shake the very walls of the estate.
I smiled warmly watching the staff accept and admire their gifts.
‘How nice.’
And here I am, an enslaved servant.
I wish I could wear something as simple as that…instead of this enchanted thing…
But I’m back, at any rate.
This mansion as vast as the Imperial Palace, the Grand Duke’s Estate’s distinctive wood scent, the laughter of people, the bite of winter air—I’d returned to it all.
Though I hadn’t been away long, my heart felt as if I’d just returned from a full campaign.
‘I’m back…’
I’m not entirely certain whether this Grand Duke’s Estate qualifies as a place I could truly call “home.”
Yet that’s what it felt like. Finally, I was back.
‘Well, what does it matter?’
As long as I’m the steward of this estate, there’s nothing wrong with calling it a return.
‘Welcome back to me.’
This Grand Duke’s Estate is a hundred times better than the Capital, with all its sharp, calculating gazes following my every move!
Clap! I clapped my hands sharply and turned to the servants.
“Now then, everyone return to your posts. Rend, please prepare dinner promptly.”
“Got it, Freya!”
“Barisol, please help me sort through His Highness’s belongings.”
“Of course.”
Now, the ordinary days begin again.

***

“You came back, butler.”
“…….”
When I returned to my room to organize my belongings, I found the space had been transformed.
‘What? This isn’t my room, is it?’
But it was—it was definitely my room.
The room remained meticulously ordered, yet a towering wooden structure now occupied one corner like a fortress.
The structure rose through multiple tiers, supported at each level by broad platforms centered around thick, sturdy columns.
“What’s this eyesore?”
Though “eyesore” hardly did it justice. The construction appeared to use fine timber, and the rope wrapped around the platforms along with the carpeting looked expensive.
Ed sprawled atop the carpeted third-tier platform, rolling about without a care.
“That dog is a good dog.”
“What?”
No doubt the “dog” he spoke of was my adjutant, Ed.
Ah, I understood well enough.
The softly rounded belly, the dull fur now gleaming with health, and that wooden structure that ruined the entire room’s aesthetics—all of it pointed to one culprit.
‘This is Ed’s work…….’
I pressed my forehead and let out a sigh.
First I’d finish unpacking, then I’d have words about this.
I shook my head and opened my travel bag.
I pulled out a generous handful of Chicken Breast Jerky and tossed it to Ed.
“This jerky was made by the Imperial Palace’s head chef herself. You eat something made by the Imperial Palace’s head chef just because you met me. Be grateful.”
A soft mew escaped as Ed leapt down from the tower and caught a strip in her mouth. Since it wasn’t brittle-dry, the chicken disappeared after just a few bites.
‘At least she’s enjoying it.’
I smiled and continued unpacking.
As Ed worked through another piece of jerky, she spoke.
“I have a gift for you too, butler.”
I pulled clothes from my bag and hung them in the wardrobe, answering offhandedly.
“What is it?”
“You told me to earn my keep.”
“I did.”
“So I did it!”
Ed spoke with unbridled confidence.
“I went into that fifth floor—the one that’s off-limits!”
“……What?”
I spun around sharply to face her.
“Wait—what are you talking about? Tell me everything, now.”

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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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