Since Lady Sophia took her leave with Young Master Ernest, I was left alone. Although I had been my Lady’s partner when I was by her side, once we were separated, I returned to being an exclusive butler. As I pondered what I should do now, Fol approached .
“Fol… Ah, no, I should be calling you Your Highness, shouldn’t I?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you earlier that you can call ‘Fol’ no matter the ti and place?”
“But—”
The situation was different from the previous party I had been invited to, which—while also organized by royalty—had only been attended by the royal family and their friends. If we were seen by people who didn’t know that I had saved Fol’s life, it could very likely lead to so unexpected misunderstandings. Even if that wasn’t the case, it was bound to produce all sorts of rumors.
“As the butler who danced with a daughter of a marquis, as well as a foreign Imperial Princess, what are you even trying to argue at this point?”
“You’re absolutely right.”
Thinking about it rationally, this situation was rather strange. It was less bizarre to the mbers of the royal family, who knew that the neighboring country was interested in because of the technique I had used to save Fol, but to others, it must have looked quite odd.
“On that subject, how are you faring, Fol?”
“Hehe, I’ve surprised everyone.”
Although her smile was full of playfulness, there was no way for everyone not to be surprised.
‘Just a commoner with a Count’s support.’ That was Fol’s status in the Academy, so there were even so who had made it known that they weren’t in favor of her attending the Noble course.
This ‘commoner’ now attended the party as the country’s princess. Having witnessed it, it wasn’t difficult to imagine what state of mind everyone was in. More children than usual had left the party halfway, which surely wasn’t unrelated.
“More importantly, let thank you again. I’ve received a magical tool from Lancelot as a welco back present, but… you were the one who made it, right?”
“Well… I asked His Highness Prince Lancelot a trendous favor, and I gave him sothing as a token of my gratitude… That’s what you’re talking about, right?”
I implied that she should thank Prince Lancelot instead. Although my true thoughts were: ‘His Highness Prince Lancelot will bear a grudge against , so please spare .’ She probably understood what I was truly thinking, too. She chuckled.
“No worries, I won’t do anything to cause any trouble to the people I am indebted to,” Fol said and held out her hand. No matter how one looked at it, it was the sa gesture Lady Sophia had used—in short, it was an invitation to dance.
“…Didn’t you say that you won’t cause the people you’re indebted to any trouble?”
“Oh my, is this trouble?”
‘It is.’—wasn’t sothing I could have said. I an, at this point in ti when everyone’s attention was gathered on Her Highness Folcenia, as she had now appeared on the center stage, it would be unwise not to imdiately take her hand upon receiving her invitation.
“Lately, my Lady has been learning so worriso things. I wonder whose influence that is?”
“Oh, that’s definitely your influence.”
I shrugged, took Fol’s hand and asked for a dance.
And so, we began to dance. I hadn’t danced with Fol since the entrance exam, and she had beco even more skilled than she had been then. Moreover, I wasn’t too conscious of it back then, but her sense of rhythm was certainly similar to mine. This was probably due to her teacher being Teacher Tristan—my older sister from our previous world.
“Thank you for accepting my request, Cyril.”
“On the contrary, I should be the one thanking you. I am grateful for you being this considerate of .”
Fol’s real identity was Her Highness Princess Folcenia. This fact didn’t just serve as a shock to the people around her. As mbers of the Student Council and Fol’s friends, Lady Sophia and I were gathering a lot of attention too.
Naly, the question was whether we knew about Fol’s true identity or not. If we had gotten close to her without knowing about it, the people who had looked down on Fol would likely make us into their scapegoats, accusing us of Lèse-majesté.1 However, if we had beco close after knowing all the details, that would be proof of how much she trusted us.
Fol appeared in front of everyone as Her Highness Princess Folcenia for the first ti at this party, and it was of grand significance if we continued interacting in the sa way as we did at the Academy.
…Truth to be told, I had a feeling that it might have a little too much of an impact.
Even in the ga’s events, it was the daughter of a Viscount who had gotten close to the royal family, not letting the difference in their social standing defeat her. However, even in the original plot, it was unheard of for a butler who hadn’t been born into nobility to be close to the royal family. I believed that, even without the two of us dancing, just talking to her would have been sufficient, but… this was Fol after all.
As I pondered these thoughts, our dance ca to a close. We have naturally gathered so attention, but neither Fol nor I took notice of the stares.
“Well then, let’s talk at the Academy later.”
Fol left, a gentle smile on her face. I watched her go and then walked through the ballroom, intending to leave as well, when I happened to co across so familiar faces once more. It was Alicia and Pala, each being escorted by a middle-aged man—most likely their fathers.
Although I had said that I had ‘happened to co across them’, it seed that they had been waiting for . They were unmistakably looking at . Therefore, I stopped before them. However, they hadn’t addressed yet. I was a re butler, while this was most likely Viscount Lindberg and Count Ford. It was proper etiquette for a person of a lower social standing to wait to be addressed by the higher-ranking person.
However, ten seconds passed, and they still hadn’t spoken to . Was this… was I mistaken about them having so business with ? Or were they testing my etiquette? I didn’t mind if it was the latter, but if it was the forr, it would be extrely embarrassing.
Should I leave, should I stay? As I was seriously pondering this, Alicia spoke to .
“Cyril,” she said. However, the man next to her—most likely her father—pulled at her hand.
“Alicia! No matter how close you are with each other at the Academy, you mustn’t act the sa way when we’re in high society. It’s proper etiquette for the person of a lower social standing to wait for the other person to speak to them.”
Without thinking, I almost retorted: Yes, that’s correct, but also, it isn’t?! and I wanted to be praised for resisting doing so with difficulty. However, in order to resolve this misunderstanding, I had no choice but to talk to them.
“Excuse . You must be Count Ford and Viscount Lindberg.”
Given their reaction, I hadn’t been mistaken when guessing who they were. Before the two n who were mistaken about my social status could humbly reply to , I continued, “Please forgive for my rudeness in addressing you, even though I am a butler. I am Cyril, I am the butler of Marquis Rosenberg’s daughter, Lady Sophia. Your gracious daughters help out often at the Academy.”
I bowed my head politely.
Lately, I had beco a little numb to this, but, technically speaking, even just saying ‘Your gracious daughters are good friends of mine.’ was likely to be considered impudent when coming from a butler. However, thankfully, the two n weren’t offended. In fact, when the two daughters each retorted to their respective parents, “Didn’t I tell you?” they replied with, “Seems like it.”
Now that the misunderstanding had been resolved, the person with the highest court rank was Count Ford. Despite this, when the man spoke to , he still seed a little concerned.
“Excuse , but are you truly a butler?”
“Yes. I was born into a family who has been serving the Rosenberg Marquis household for generations, but we are without any court rank.”
“I see… That’s what I had heard from my daughter… So it really is true.”
‘Why are you doubting it so much…?’ Since I had a very clear idea of why, I felt quite apologetic. As if he had sensed my apologetic thoughts, Count Ford shook his head.
“I don’t an to cause you any trouble. I heard that you saved Pala during the entrance exams and I wanted to find an opportunity to thank you. Also, I am truly sorry it ssed up your exam.”
“I am undeserving of such words. Moreover, there is no need for an apology. I was simply doing what I should as Lady Sophia’s butler.”
Under no circumstances would I say that I had intentionally made use of the situation in order to make Lady Sophia top of the class. Additionally, if I hadn’t saved Pala, there was even a possibility for the First Prince to fall for her at first sight. I was full of guilt as well.
I insisted that I didn’t want him to worry about it, and it seed that he did understand that, but… now it was Viscount Lindberg the one who thanked , having heard that I had saved his daughter, too. He seed to be talking about the incident that happened during Prince Lancelot’s birthday party the year prior.
That incident had also been convenient for . And, although by the ti I intervened, the event in which Prince Alforth fell in love with Alicia at first sight had already fallen apart, the fact that I had changed the course of the story still rang true.
…How should I put it… I felt really sorry.
I was praying that Alicia and Pala would find a good match from the bottom of my heart… No, I wouldn’t just pray, I would help them out so that their connection to Lady Sophia would beco even stronger. If they had connections to a grown-up Lady Sophia, their status would be comparable to that of a Prince’s consort.
I pondered these things and we continued with so idle chatter, when Lady Sophia returned.
The daughter of a marquis, a Count and a Viscount.
Considering their social status at the present ti, their court rank was higher than hers. Of course, were her future influence taken into consideration, it’d prove difficult to determine it, but there was no need to worry when it ca to my Lady. First, I introduced Lady Sophia to the two n, and then I introduced them to her.
“This is Count Ford and Viscount Lindberg. They told they feel grateful that I helped out their daughters and I’ve received excessive words of gratitude.”
Technically speaking, my remark could lead to soone retorting: “How dare you, a re butler, say this?”, but from the mont Lady Sophia returned, I was her escort once more. Making use of this, I indirectly let her know that they had treated well and that I wished for her to treat them well, too. These words had an imdiate effect on Lady Sophia, who was quite amicable to people who acknowledged .
“Ah, I see. Miss Pala and Miss Alicia also treat very kindly. I hope we can get along from now on as well.”
‘I want our families to get along,’ Miss Sophia had answered with a smile. Afterwards, they began talking about the potatoes lent to their territory and other such things. Although Lady Sophia was born into a marquis household and was still very young, she led a splendid conversation with these owners of other fiefs, despite the fact that, when I first t her, she would be bullied by a maid and on the verge of tears.
I couldn’t be careless either. In order not to bring sha upon my position as Lady Sophia’s exclusive butler, I had to strive to work even harder.
While acting as Lady Sophia’s partner, I took this new oath.
We're almost at the end of the third volu, the epilogue is up next! That being said, I will be taking a break from posting next week. I've been swamped with work and translating and I need to give my brain so rest. Thank you for your patience and understanding and Happy New Year! Hope to see you soon!
(Off topic but why does this sentence sound like the beginning of a joke: The daughter of a marquis, a Count and a Viscount walk into a bar…)
Thank you for your comnts and your support! If you'd like to support the translation, you can send a Ko-fi:
”…a French term aning "to do wrong to majesty", is an offence against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state.” sen.wikipedia/wiki/Lèse-majesté
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