Villain Family’s Strongest Butler - Chapter 54

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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 57

Two days had already passed since that incident.
I still hadn’t returned to my duties as a steward. The Grand Duke wouldn’t give his permission.
‘The Hunt Festival is practically upon us, and I can’t even train.’
My entire body itched with restless energy.
Of course, I’d slipped out of my bedroom a few times, unable to bear the monotony.
But every time I descended the stairs, the cleaning staff watched me like hawks.
“You’re coming down again, Freya? You need to rest more!”
…….
I found myself repeatedly shoved back upstairs, back to my room.
‘He’s not letting me do a single thing!’
What exactly did that Grand Duke say to make them treat me like this?
‘Does he think I’m terminally ill or something?’
Crunch-crunch.
Back on the bed, I sighed while chewing on the cookies that had been delivered this morning.
“I’ve got enough on my plate just preparing for the Hunt Festival…….”
Just then, the fuzzy creature who’d been scratching its right cheek with a hind leg froze.
[Hunt Festival?]
“Hmm?”
[What’s that, steward?]
The furry bundle showed sudden interest in the Hunt Festival.
“It’s a hunt for demonic beasts that live in the Imperial Borderlands. The Imperial House, the Temple, and various noble families gather together to hold it. Houses that collect the most Demonic Beast Cores receive rewards.”
[Rewards?! Like dried meat?]
I let out a small laugh.
“I suppose you could look at it that way.”
[Ah, I see.]
The creature made a short sound of understanding, then seemed to remember something and fell deep into thought.
After pondering for a moment, the fuzzy thing opened its mouth with great care.
[Be careful, steward.]
“……What?”
When I asked for clarification, it straightened itself and stared at me intently.
[Steward. Listen to me. I’ve been having strange dreams lately.]
“Strange dreams?”
[Yes. Dreams where you get hurt.]
“Hurt? Me?”
[Yes. There was this bull-like creature with one long horn down the center of its forehead and six smaller horns on either side.]
The creature described the thing’s appearance with eyes narrowed into a vicious glare.
[Both its eyes were red, and its teeth looked incredibly vicious!]
From what it was saying, some terrifying monster came charging at us, and people from the Grand Duke’s household got hurt.
I listened to its story quietly, then replied without much enthusiasm.
“So Annette was also present in this dream of yours?”
[Yes! The Grand Duke’s mother was there too!]
“That’s just a dog’s dream.”
[What did you say?!]
“Annette doesn’t participate in the Hunt Festival.”
I scoffed, pointing out that there was no way she’d appear at the Hunt Festival.
The creature let out angry yelps at me for not believing its story.
‘How adorable.’
I watched the furry thing for a moment with its fur standing on end and white teeth bared, then climbed down from the bed.
Suddenly I felt ashamed of myself.
‘This won’t do.’
Being confined like this, and spending my confinement merely admiring a creature—it felt like a waste of time.
‘I can’t just sit here with the Hunt Festival so close.’
It was time to end this imprisonment that wasn’t quite an imprisonment.
I changed out of my steward’s uniform and into training clothes, recalling what the Grand Duke had told me.
—”Don’t return to your duties until your body has fully recovered.”
Very well. Time to show him my body is completely healed.
‘Then I’ll bring her back in.’
I hummed to myself as I slipped out of the bedroom and descended the stairs with deliberate confidence.
A few of the household staff came rushing when they saw me in my training clothes, but my pace was faster still.
I made a show of outrunning them and circled the Grand Duke’s Estate once.
Then I headed straight for the Training Ground, where the knights assembled.

***

Ed entered the Grand Duke’s study and carefully set down the teacup.
Annette, glancing at him, smiled faintly and spoke.
“You’ve had your hands full.”
Ed laughed awkwardly at that.
“Not at all. Before Freya arrived, this was always my work anyway.”
“I heard you were happiest when you gained a steward.”
“I didn’t know she’d turn out to be who she is. Before that, I was simply relieved. There was never enough time in a day just sorting through the documents His Grace had put aside.”
Annette nodded at Ed’s words. Kardrian, who had been listening quietly, spoke.
“If you’re just going to make idle talk, get out.”
“I was just about to make my rounds of the Warehouse anyway… That was also something Freya used to—”
“Out.”
“Yes.”
Ed bowed and hurried from the study.
Watching Ed’s weary figure disappear, Annette let out a soft chuckle before slowly setting down her own teacup.
The smile fading completely from her lips, Annette spoke.
“What would you think of having Freya meet with the Magic Tower Master?”
…
Kardrian fell silent at her words. His violet eyes, their thoughts unreadable, gazed at the rippling tea within the cup.
Annette spoke again.
“If it’s connected to Dark Magic, the Magic Tower Master might prove more useful than even the High Priestess.”
…
Vantes Orthean, the Magic Tower Master.
He was a mage so renowned that calling him one of the Great Mages would hardly be an exaggeration—a capable man praised as a sorcerer of the age.
Though his eccentric scholarly fervor also gave people cause to speak of him in negative terms.
Annette was among those who disliked the Magic Tower Master’s darker tendencies.
Yet she could not let her personal feelings take precedence over Freya’s situation.
As Annette observed Kardrian’s expression, she could detect the traces of deliberation crossing his face.
“I thought you’d say you didn’t want to, but… you have actually considered it, haven’t you?”
“Yes, Mother.”
Kardrian nodded. Annette asked with a puzzled look.
“Then what are you hesitating about?”
At her question, Kardrian opened his mouth carefully.
“The Magic Tower Master is a sinister man who will do anything to satisfy his curiosity. If he were to discover that another soul inhabits her body, there’s no telling what he might do.”
In any case, since she had committed to participating in an official gathering, there was no way someone wouldn’t recognize her.
The High Priestess alone had seen through her at first glance, so the Emperor and the Magic Tower Master, too, were likely to recognize the grown Freya.
Yet there was a Covenant between the Imperial House, the Temple, the Magic Tower, and the Balot Grand Duke House.
Until the safety of the Flanker Family was assured, all matters concerning the heir of the Flanker Family were to remain sealed.
And yet Kardrian could not shake his unease.
The Magic Tower Master was no ordinary villain.
He was the very man who had exploited the Balot Grand Duke House to extort Demonic Beast Cores from Mutant creatures—all to create a space where Freya could sleep.
Kardrian clicked his tongue, and Annette posed a question.
“Do you still believe another soul might be dwelling in that child’s body?”
Kardrian’s gaze turned toward Annette.
“I’m merely speaking of a remote possibility.”
“No, not that kind of possibility. Your mother wants to know what you truly think.”
…
At Annette’s words, Kardrian took a breath before speaking.
“I believe…”
Annette swallowed dryly without meaning to. After a pause, Kardrian continued.
“That her soul is certain.”
Kardrian’s voice and eyes were steady. There was a resolve in them—that he would not let go of this one conviction.
Kardrian recalled the voice and expression, the gaze that had unconsciously called out to him time and again.
Whether she called me Grand Duke, Your Highness, or by the name Kardrian itself.
Every moment was Freya.
Of course, it wasn’t as though suspicion had no place at all. No—there was far too much of it.
For instance, the fact that she claimed to have lost her memories, yet knew far too much for someone who had; the sudden awakening of her Aura; and her ability to wield a blade with such practiced ease.
Beyond that, there were countless reasons to doubt.
And yet Kardrian could never bring himself to turn her away. He kept her at his side.
The reason was simple, but no less certain for it.
Her manner of speech and her movements were identical to the Freya he remembered from childhood.
That much, Kardrian knew better than anyone.
Which only deepened his confusion, perhaps even driving him to verify the truth.
But now, none of it mattered anymore.
‘Whether her lost memories are a lie or genuine truth—it makes no difference now.’
If she had truly lost them, he would help her find them again; if the loss itself were a deception, then she must have her reasons for keeping it hidden.
Kardrian had resolved to wait for her quietly.
Whether his resolve showed plainly in his eyes or not, Annette smiled with clear satisfaction.
“Good, that’s all I needed to hear. We’ll discuss matters concerning the Magic Tower once the Hunt Festival concludes.”
“Yes, Mother.”
That was when it happened.
Ed’s urgent voice came from beyond the study door.
“Your Highness! Miss Freya is—she’s going berserk!”

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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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