As the firepit crackled softly, embers flickered—dancing through the air and casting light on the faces of those present… revealing the tension written across them.
A heavy silence still lingered… filled with unspoken thoughts and emotions.
The butler's gaze remained on his mistress's downcast expression… and despite everything, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of pity for the young noblewoman.
However, he would have to pour more rain on her already struggling emotions.
"Alright, ladies." Sebas's voice cut through the hush, drawing all eyes back to him. "Now that we've got that out of the way, let's move on to the next topic—my actual role here."
"Y-your actual role?" Bella asked, voicing the question that lingered in both Anastasia's and Martha's minds. "U-uhm, a-aren't you our head butler, S-Sir Sebas…?"
"Well, I am. I'm indeed Lady Anastasia's Head Butler… however, that is only a partial truth."
"W-what are you trying to say, Sir Butler…?" Martha furrowed her brows, confused by his sowhat cryptic answer.
"I'm… many things all at once," he began, closing his eyes in brief contemplation. "I'm a butler, an extra bodyguard, and I'm also here to assist Lady Anastasia with whatever troubles her. But to put it simply… I'm here to keep an eye on Lady Anastasia."
"Huh? Then isn't that just the basic gist of being a butler itself?" Martha questioned, her expression skeptical.
She still didn't understand where he was going with this… and that sentint was shared by both Bella and, most of all, Anastasia—the one directly in question.
"...Indeed, it is the sa, but—" He opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as he locked onto them. "I am the Head Butler and Lady Anastasia's personal butler… and my true purpose is to help her prepare."
His words fell heavily upon them, a sudden weight pressing down on the room.
"P-prepare…?" Anastasia finally broke her silence, her voice barely above a whisper. "F-for what, Sir Sebas?"
Sebas did not answer imdiately. Instead, his sharp gaze remained fixed on her, startling the young noblewoman.
"Tell , Lady Anastasia," he spoke at last, his tone calm… yet deliberate. "Do you actually know the purpose behind this 'Grand Task' of yours?"
Anastasia stiffened. A flicker of hesitation crossed her face for just a mont…
But she straightened her posture, steeling herself, donning the sa determined expression she had shown him before.
"This Grand Task," she began, carefully choosing her words, "was given to as punishnt. A way to atone for my sins… and with it, to prove my loyalty to the Kingdom of Florentia."
Her voice held conviction—the sa conviction she had displayed before…
But Sebas could hear the slight waver beneath it.
He humd at her answer.
"I see… That is quite the noble mindset, my lady." A small smile tugged at his lips. "It reminds of what you said yesterday… along with how much you love your holand."
Anastasia's lips parted slightly, caught off guard by the remark.
"And I respect that," he continued, his voice firm. "I fully intend to support you in this endeavor."
She was taken aback by his conviction—the sa unwavering stance he had shown before—and she truly appreciated it…
But before she could voice her gratitude…
His expression shifted.
Gone was his usual casual deanor. In its place, a piercing gaze bore straight into her—!
"…But tell , Lady Anastasia," he continued, his voice slow, heavy—almost suffocating, "do you truly believe that's all there is to this?"
"—!"
Anastasia inhaled sharply—startled and shaken. However, as she gathered herself, a brief second of composure that allowed her grasp what he was implying…
Realization struck her and ca along with it another heavy truth that she had been so desperate to pushed away.
And Anastasia... lowered her gaze, as if unable to et his eyes. Her hands clenched slightly in her lap.
"M-my lady…!"
Martha, seeing this, imdiately stepped in.
"S-Sir Sebas, what are you implying here?! Of course she does!" the knight retorted, her voice sharp with conviction. "This is a mission given by the kingdom—an official decree! What reason do you have to doubt it?"
And then… Bella, despite the nervous tremor in her voice, quickly followed suit—!
"I-indeed…! W-what is there to doubt about Lady Anastasia's words, S-Sir Sebas?!" the maid pleaded, manifesting her bravery despite the growing unease curling in her stomach. "I-it may be difficult, but this is Lady Anastasia's duty! And we, as her aides, will stand by her no matter what…!"
However, Sebas rely shifted his gaze toward the two… with the sa piercing eyes that had just monts ago pinned their mistress in place.
"…And you both believe that?"
Martha and Bella stiffened; caught off guard by the weight of his words—so simple, yet impossible to answer outright.
That mont of hesitation… was all the answer he needed.
"Then let ask you instead," he continued, his voice calm yet unwavering. "Do you truly believe this Grand Task is nothing more than a simple punishnt chore?"
Silence.
Martha's jaw clenched. Bella fidgeted, her hands tightening at her sides, her gaze desperately avoiding Sebas's piercing stare—the one that demanded the truth from them both.
However, they couldn't say it.
They already knew it.
But they just couldn't bring themselves to admit it.
"…Hah." A small chuckle escaped from the side.
It was Vivian, a sly smirk tugging at her lips as she shook her head.
"Well, aren't you two just the most loyal fools," she mused. "Blindly following a suicidal brat into the depths of hell itself. How admirable… but frankly, really stupid."
Both Martha and Bella snapped their heads toward her, their glares locking onto the female adventurer—!
"You—!" Martha started, her voice rising—
But Vivian rely raised a hand, cutting her off with a lazy flick of her fingers.
"Oh, don't get wrong," she added, waving a finger in their direction, her tone as casual as ever. "I'm not mocking your loyalty."
Her words only deepened the confusion in Anastasia's two aides.
And yet, the Sonic Thief laid out the cold, hard truth for them.
"I'm just saying… none of you would've survived a single day in this godforsaken land—at least, not without Sebas holding your hands."
Vivian's words hit their mark.
Martha's expression tightened. Bella looked away, sha flickering in her eyes... and their mistress, Anastasia... her breath hitched for a mont.
Because… she wasn't wrong.
"Sigh..." Sebas exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Vivian."
"What?" She shrugged, completely unbothered. "I'm just stating the obvious."
Sebas shook his head at her. But even so… he did not deny her.
"Well… I can't say I completely disagree with her."
His gaze flickered toward the three, their silence speaking louder than any protest.
"Vivian might be laying it a bit harsh on you ladies, but..." Sebas exhaled for a mont, rubbing the bridge of his nose in a growing headache... before he cast his gaze back at them, firm and unyielding. "She's not exactly wrong here."
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