Chapter 218

Chapter 218
Chapter 218: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

The Magic Tower was beginning to produce items around that exact period.

Clippity-clop. Clippity-clop.

The carriage transporting Marquis Byrdantis steadily made its way toward the Asteri estate.

“Marquis. We are—we will be reaching the Asteri mansion shortly.”

“I see.”

In contrast to Clarentia, who remained unbothered, her butler was a bundle of nerves.

‘To think I am actually setting foot on Asteri grounds!’

Gulp.

The butler swallowed hard.

Stories concerning the Asteri household ran rampant among domestic staff everywhere.

Aside from the remarkable compensation and staggering wages, the estate was renowned for its exceptional organizational systems and welfare, prompting countless servants to declare they wished to be laid to rest there permanently unless unusual circumstances dictated otherwise.

‘Perhaps that explains why only the crème de la crème of the profession congregate here.’

This very reality was what had the butler shivering.

‘What if my competence proves entirely inadequate?’

Several years had elapsed since the crisis within the Byrdantis household.

Fortunately, the young lady—no, the Marquis—seemed to have achieved complete recovery following the visit from young master Lion Asteri.

Consequently, the Byrdantis Territory had broken free from its stagnation and stood poised for progress.

Sharing that sentiment, the butler had dedicated himself entirely to his duties.

‘Hoo….’

He exhaled a muted, profound sigh.

Let’s be completely honest with myself.

My professional skills are lacking.

In truth, attaining the rank of butler at this stage in life was solely a testament to the high regard the Marquis held for me.

While an unwavering devotion to safeguarding the Marquis remained undisputed, my practical capabilities possessed definite boundaries.

‘Every single time, things turn into a complete disaster….’

Whenever the Marquis had to meticulously clean up the aftermath just to keep things running smoothly, wasn’t it clear there was no viable remedy?

…or so I had assumed.

Then, an unexpected chance to visit the Asteri mansion materialized.

To the butler, this represented a golden opportunity!

A chance to gauge the extent of my shortcomings and determine the proper trajectory for future growth!

‘A-and what if it turns out my performance has actually been adequate?’

Naturally, the likelihood was slim, but what if my personal benchmarks had become unreasonably demanding, causing unwarranted dissatisfaction with my own aptitude?

As these internal musings occupied the butler’s mind, the rhythmic sound of hooves gradually subsided, and the carriage came to a halt.

Peering out through the glass, I caught sight of the grand main entrance of the Asteri manor.

‘Goodness gracious…!’

Even viewed purely from behind a windowpane, the estate’s primary gate defied ordinary expectations.

Whatever specialized preservation treatment it had undergone, the surface gleamed as though newly forged, embellished with elaborate carvings throughout its structure.

And finally, the statues standing sentry on either side like steadfast guardians!

Truly colossal in scale…

Click.

While the butler stood mesmerized, the carriage door swung open.

‘Ah.’

Snapping out of his trance amidst the brisk breeze, the butler quickly stepped out of the vehicle to assist Clarentia with utmost care.

“….”

Though perfectly capable of disembarking unassisted, Clarentia, sensing the butler’s frayed nerves, silently accepted his outstretched hand and lightly stepped down from the carriage.

“Butler.”

“…Yes, Marquis.”

“Try not to be so nervous.”

With those brief words, wearing her characteristic air of quiet self-assurance, she turned to face the welcoming party.

Though her physical stature was small, her inner fortitude was formidable enough to eclipse the nervous butler entirely.

“…!”

The butler clenched his fists, steeling his resolve.

If the young lady could carry herself with such poise, how could he possibly permit himself to display cowardice and frailty?

Indeed. March forward with conviction…!

Or so he resolved, right before lifting his gaze ahead.

“Hic.”

An involuntary hiccup escaped his throat.

The panorama unfolding past the Marquis’s shoulder was nothing short of overwhelming…!

“Welcome to the Asteri Mansion.”

It was the pinnacle of perfection.

Knights and attendants stood at rigid attention in flawless formation.

Brilliant blossoms flourished vibrantly within the meticulously manicured gardens, infusing the grounds with life, while the mansion’s exterior architecture was, quite frankly, breathtaking.

And that was not all.

Even the exterior stone pathways they stood upon emitted a gentle radiance and bore intricate craftsmanship.

Though these were merely outdoor grounds rather than indoor halls, they shone as if untouched by wear.

One could instantly perceive the rigorous dedication the staff applied to every facet of maintenance.

‘Astounding, it is absolute perfection….’

Admittedly, the Byrdantis castle was maintained to the absolute limit of their capabilities, yet juxtaposed against the Asteri estate, it paled significantly.

The last vestiges of the butler’s morale evaporated before this overwhelming magnificence.

‘I still have an immense distance to traverse….’

Observing his expression from the corner of her eye, the Marquis of Byrdantis offered a silent, inward chuckle.

‘Just as anticipated.’

The butler possessed an inherently timid and sensitive disposition.

Naturally, he would end up criticizing his own competence and feeling diminutive by comparison.

That accounted for the prior warning advising him against excessive nervousness.

‘Well, he will work through it independently.’

There was no genuine cause for alarm.

Awareness of the relentless effort and deep thought the butler poured into his work provided that reassurance.

“You must have had a tiring journey.”

“There was much to admire along the way, so it was hardly arduous. The estate is magnificent.”

Rixhel and Marquis Byrdantis exchanged polite, measured pleasantries.

Given the stoic expressions worn by both, it was readily apparent they wished to bypass formalities and turn immediately to matters of substance.

‘Typical workaholics….’

Lion shook his head internally as he observed the pair.

While they complemented one another well, left unchecked, the dynamic would inevitably devolve into an endless cycle of overtime meetings.

“Allow me to escort you inside.”

Guided by Rixhel and Lion, the visitors stepped into the manor.

“Oh….”

Following behind with a despondent air, the butler let out a breath of pure awe.

Anticipating an interior every bit as dazzling as the exterior, his expectations were fully met.

Furthermore, the indoor decorations, far more ornate than usual, clearly reflected an extra layer of preparation designed specifically to honor their visiting Marquis.

‘Should I have arranged something similar?’

My service to young master Lion had been rendered with absolute sincerity, however…

‘No. I need simply channel my utmost effort into his next visit.’

Just as the Marquis of Byrdantis had foreseen, the butler’s shattered confidence slowly began to reassemble itself.

Naturally, he remained heavily impacted by the sheer flawlessness of the Asteri residence.

Noticing the butler’s slightly revived demeanor stiffen once more into apprehension, the Marquis of Byrdantis broke the silence.

“You have made exceptionally grand preparations.”

“How could we treat a visitor on such a critical mission with any hint of negligence? With Marquis Asteri currently away, we have invested even greater diligence.”

Reading the room, Rixhel answered the Marquis’s remark with a neutral expression.

Then—

A brief glance sideways.

Stealing a quick look at Lion and clearing his throat awkwardly, Rixhel added:

“I am given to understand that the Byrdantis Territory welcomed my older brother with grand hospitality as well.”

“Naturally. And how comfortable those arrangements were, too.”

“…!”

Only then did a flicker of relief cross the butler’s features.

“First, it would be wisest to address our pressing business once you have recovered from your travels.”

“Let us proceed with that.”

“Very well.”

Following brief parting words, the two principals departed.

“Butler, if you will accompany me this way as well.”

A remaining attendant smiled warmly and motioned for the butler to follow.

“You are….”

“We have crossed paths previously. Right this way, please.”

Elvia offered a relaxed smile as she led the butler toward a separate chamber.

Click.

Upon entering the designated room, the butler found himself once again stunned by the immaculate interior, entirely devoid of so much as a speck of dust.

“Unbelievable….”

Even quarters designated for auxiliary staff rather than nobility were kept to this standard of pristine cleanliness.

Additionally, frequent ventilation seemed to be practiced, as the air lacked any trace of staleness.

And the details went further still.

A spotless bed and polished flooring.

Even probing beneath the bedframe revealed no hidden accumulation of dust.

“Huuuuu….”

Overcome with inner turmoil, the butler sighed deeply.

Certainly, the zones frequented by the Marquis of Byrdantis received this level of meticulous upkeep.

Yet claiming that the entire castle was managed to such an exacting degree would be false.

‘I poured my heart into my work….’

Flustered though he often was, he had genuinely striven to perform admirably.

Yet witnessing this environment brought a sobering realization: merely doing one’s best did not equate to achieving the pinnacle of excellence.

‘I ought to have traveled here sooner, tardy though it might have been.’

In a surprising turn of events, the Marquis had journeyed here alone for Lion Asteri’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

Accompanied by not a single servant.

In fact, at the time…

‘I hadn’t even realized he departed….’

Assuming his erratic tendencies had simply led him off to survey the mountain ranges once more, no suspicions were raised.

Had an inspection of the closet not revealed a missing dress alongside a discarded invitation envelope from the Asteri family, the truth might have remained entirely unnoticed.

“Truth be told, my qualifications as a butler are forfeit.”

Refraining from disturbing his meticulously groomed hair, the butler momentarily clenched his hand into a tight fist before relaxing it.

“Sip. Hoo!”

Immediately following, he brought both palms down hard against his cheeks.

Smack! A resounding crack echoed through the space, leaving both of the butler’s cheeks flushed in the exact imprint of his hands.

“Enough of this self-pity.”

Young Lady Clarentia had surmounted her harrowing past through sheer personal resilience.

If I intend to walk even a fraction of that path, surely I must discover a means to overcome my obstacles rather than succumbing to despair!

Slam!

Abandoning his luggage entirely unpacked, the butler wrenched the door open once again.

Striding purposefully down the hall, he intercepted the nearest available staff member and demanded:

“Pardon me, might I inquire about something?”

“Pardon? Ah, yes. Is there anything you require?”

“Or perhaps you are encountering some difficulty?”

The attendants, caught in the middle of polishing the mansion’s window frames, jumped in surprise, quickly concealing their cleaning cloths behind their backs.

“Do you happen to know which servant here demonstrates the greatest efficiency?”

“…The servant with the finest work ethic?”

“Precisely.”

Under normal circumstances, such a query would have targeted the head butler, but the Asteri household operated without that specific title.

Instead, he was aware of the position of Head Maid, though it had remained vacant since the retirement of the previous holder, ‘Silvia.’

Armed with that specific context, he had framed his question deliberately.

“Hmm… that would likely be her, wouldn’t it?”

Fortunately, having witnessed numerous eccentricities from Lion firsthand, the attendant possessed the composure to address the sudden inquiry calmly.

“Indeed. It is most likely her…”

The two staff members exchanged knowing glances and nodded in unison.

“To whom does ‘she’ refer?”

“Ah, Elvia.”

“Quite right. She is undeniably the most proficient…”

Yet why did their tone carry a subtle shift from mere admiration?

‘This strikes me as somewhat peculiar….’

Elvia was well acquainted with the situation.

Not only had she escorted the butler to his quarters, but she was also the individual who had accompanied young master Lion Asteri to the Byrdantis Territory, operating far beyond the duties of an ordinary maid.

‘She seemed to possess a thoroughly pleasant disposition, as well.’

From the butler’s viewpoint, nothing appeared amiss, so what lay behind their hesitation?

“Pardon me, is there some underlying issue?”

“Ah, no, it’s merely that…”

“We simply find her terrifying.”

“….”

The butler tilted his head in sheer confusion.

She struck him as an individual of meticulous character, but frightening?

That was an assessment he could not quite fathom.