Surviving As An Obsessive Servant

The master of Denkart got off the carriage. 

Lastly, he was wearing a much thinner uniform than when he stayed here. His well-groomed blonde hair moved little by little in the night breeze.

Other than that, nothing had changed. 

Even after running a long way without a break, the neat atmosphere and upright posture were the same as before.

And, as always, the uninterested red eyes stared at the front of the main gate. 

“Master, you’re back.”

Even though it was late at night when he arrived, and there was no message, quite a few people were present. 

They were the old butler who greeted politely, the wife who hid tension with a smile from behind a few steps, and the familiar servants.

They were the same people who had not changed as much as this mansion. Still no use. 

He glanced at the boring sight and suddenly turned his head back.

Two boys were getting off of one of the carriages. Both of them were in the arms of knights. 

‘Even one of them is completely insane—’

Alexis, who had been looking at the pathetic figure for a while, turned his head again.

At that moment, he made eye contact with the flustered wife.

She moved her lips as if she had something to say, but he didn’t give her a chance. Leaving the people behind, he entered the mansion.

Nevertheless, the clenched right hand moved occasionally.

Tak, tak. The big fingertips made a small sound. 

He put down three stones on the desk in the office he entered, each divided into different shapes. The shadow of the stone stretched out in the light of the lamp.

An elderly servant who had been waiting in advance approached. The servant politely took the cloak off and lifted it in order.

For the past two decades or so, that has been the job of the servant. When he had finished his work, he quietly left.

The sound of footsteps has completely disappeared. 

The aide, who had been waiting carefully, opened his mouth.

“I’ve turned all the carrier pigeons you ordered over  to the O’Hlean Federation. When the news spreads, the northern base will also respond. The fleeing traitors will be captured as soon as they are seen and set an example. The target period is half a year.”

“Do so.”

The aide looked at the master, who was sitting at the desk without a moment’s rest and was lost in thought.

He is always a sharp and fierce man like a knife, but he looked a little different today.

This was because he even issued a human order to the servant to take care of the two boys who lost their minds in a mess without punishing them. 

So he felt a sense of unity that he had never even dared to imagine before. It is because he also has two sons who were born in consecutive years. 

Perhaps the master also missed his children like himself. Even so, he may not have been able to express it because of his heavy responsibility—.

After thinking about it, he spoke carefully.

“I didn’t know that the Young Master was so clever. Ron, Nell, and Rell were mixed and destroyed the amplifying effect—”

“You seem to have a talent for doing annoying things for sure.”

Alexis, who cut the aide’s words sarcastically, took out his glasses and put them on.

The indifferent eyes behind the rimless glasses stopped at the wall clock.

Three o’clock in the morning.

It was two hours later than expected.

“Thanks to you, I wasted time that I could have spent reviewing more Imperial Family things.”

As the master frowned, the aide closed his mouth.

That doesn’t mean that expectations for improving father-child relations have completely disappeared.

Rather, he thought Young Master’s harsh character was fortunate.

If he were scared, the master wouldn’t have even given him a glance at all.

“It seems that the Young Master resembles the Duke a lot.”

“…Yeah. That’s the way it is. He is indeed my son.”

The expression on the aide’s face was colored with emotion as he spoke to himself.

As expected, blood is thicker than water.

No matter how heartless he may be, wasn’t paternal love still there somewhere?

Of course, the Young Master’s viciousness was extraordinary when he saw it in person, but he will surely please the master—.

“I fell for it foolishly.”

“….?”

The aide doubted his ears and looked at the master.

But next time, his eyes turned doubtful.

Alexis had an expression he had never seen before.

He clicked his tongue as if he was genuinely pathetic about something and then frowned slightly as if recalling something unpleasant.

At that time, they heard a knock. It was the most polite and restrained sound in this mansion.

In addition, Alexis seemed to know the other person’s identity who was with him.

“Just let the butler in.”

“Yes.”

When the door opened, the expected butler was standing there. Next to him was the madam.

She still had a smile on her face, but she subtly hardened her lips.

It’s understandable. She must have heard the shocking news from other people by now, so she must be surprised.

But, as always, his master’s orders were his top priority.

The aide chose a word to ask for understanding, but she nodded as if it was okay to go first.

In other words, the couple is similar. She was as consistent as his master. How can she be so considerate?

Only the butler and the two came in after completing the silent service with regret and respect.

Standing in front of the master, the butler bowed his head with a gloomy face. The butler somehow tried to cover up the Young Master’s atrocities.

“I apologize, Master. The Young Master likes to joke around—”

“Just get to the point.”

Alexis, who was organizing a pile of documents, raised his glasses.

The bloody eyes in the thin lens are strangely shiny.

“Explain what kind of servant he is.”

*******

If you hide in a tiger’s den, fox cubs will not dare to come near it.

So I decided.

I will somehow get into the eyes of the Duke and go to the capital. That way, the Young Master can escape from the Madam’s hands. 

But it’s easy to say.

In the first place, the Duke was not meant to meet the Young Master in a good way. 

‘…So I blocked the road ahead of time with an easy method.’

I remembered that it was about this time in the original story. The Young Master’s heart had been deeply hurt by that time.

However, it never happens as long as I am there.

I disguised the cost of maintaining the Young Master’s class as a toy purchase, obtained a slab of stone, and properly laid the slab of stone.

I was confident.

A great Duke of Denkart would recognize the Young Master’s abilities at once, and if he found it useful, he would somehow take him to the capital.

‘And— the first button looks like it’s screwed in— no one will come in, right?’

I glanced sideways at the closed door for a while, then raised my head.

In bed, the Young Master was crouching down and sleeping.

‘…I didn’t throw it on the street.’

To be honest, I expected to throw it away on the side of the road if it was heavy, but it was quite surprising.

But the Duke ordered the knights to take care of us.

‘But… why did you even drop me here?’

I feel uneasy. 

In addition, for some reason, the knights left me here, not in the servant room. 

One even went out and came back and showed favor by covering him with a blanket. It was a very different personality from the master. 

While gently lowering the blanket, I approached the door with cat steps and put my ear on it.

There was no sound.

—I don’t think I’ll be punished right away.

Anyway, it was enough to draw the Duke’s attention.

The problem is after that, but the desired purpose has been achieved.

Only when they allow our Young Master to develop his ability in his safe shadow, in moderation—.

“…Ugh.”

As I leaned against the door while making a plan, the sound of pain came naturally.

The back of my head stung tremendously.

‘Did the scalp get pulled out too?’

When I moved one hand and touched it, fortunately, I felt the hair on my head.

‘Who doesn’t think he’s the head of a prestigious family. His hands are spicy.’ (T/n: hand spicy means for one’s slight hit to hurt very much) 

I grumbled and rubbed my back hair slowly.

Still, there may be a pain, but there is no regret.

If the plan is successful in the future, the Young Master will know how to properly take care of his owl rice bowl, unlike in the original story.

I went to bed with a happy smile.

However, the Young Master suffered from a nightmare about what happened earlier.

Well, it must have been shocking to see his father for the first time and see him so rough.

‘Should I go and hold your hand?’

—There is never any black heart in me. Really. 

Anyway, I made up my mind and got on my knees on the bed. I tried to be careful, but the blanket moved very weakly.

Eventually, the Young Master’s long eyelashes trembled.

‘…Did I wake up someone who sleeps well for no reason?’

I thought about going back down, but his eyelids slowly went up.

The blurry eyes found me and quickly became clear.

“…Lobel?”

I found his dry lips while looking at the master with an apologetic face.

I suddenly remembered the original mission I had forgotten.

I, I should get some water.

‘And then I have to apologize or explain.’

But soon, his eyes gradually filled with water—. Huh? 

And I heard something that I couldn’t see in the original story. 

“…I’m sorry.”

“….”

“I’m really, really sorry.”

As soon as he said only those two words, the young master couldn’t stand it and buried his head on the pillow.

He couldn’t breathe properly as he tried to hold back his tears. It took my breath away from seeing it.

Apart from his cowardly nature, the Young Master had strong pride. He was never the type to apologize so easily. 

As far as I remember, I’ve never seen the line “I’m sorry” by the Young Master in the novel. 

Surprised, I was at a loss for words but soon said jokingly.

“What are you sorry about? It’s all my fault.”

“I’m… just… I’m just sitting and looking at you from there….”

It was a voice that was dripping with sadness. His slender shoulders and the hands holding the blanket were trembling.

I moved my hand instead of my mouth.

I stroked his back with one hand, and with the other, it slowly overlapped the back of his hand, where the veins were revealed through.

When I helped with the merchant work and touched ancient stone tablets, I could always sigh at my body temperature higher than others when handling sensitive other objects.

But now, for the first time, I thought it was a relief. The Young Master’s body temperature is much colder than ordinary people’s.

As if he had calmed down to some extent, his trembling shoulders slowly subsided. His body temperature, as he had cooled off, was warm.

“Young Master.”

“….”

However, as if he was still choking, the Young Master didn’t say anything.

Instead of answering, I could only hear him desperately holding back his tears and runny nose.

I waited silently without saying anything, but the Young Master asked.

“Even if… I tell you to leave… you won’t leave, right?”

“Why do you ask such obvious questions?”

“….”

Somehow, there seems to be a mixture of dissatisfaction with the silence.

Still, the Young Master won’t force me out. As he knows me, I know him.

Just the back of the master who showed his back to me was enough to read his mind. He was sorry and embarrassed that it was difficult to make eye contact with me. 

I asked in a serious tone towards the drooping shoulder.

“If you’re really sorry for me, can’t you just slap me on the cheek tonight?”