MDRH 35

Chapter 35

You could have simply brushed it off as sincere advice from a caring adult, but the peculiar emotion in Anton’s voice and gaze was slightly different in tone.

Lucillea hesitated, unsure whether to get angry or just laugh it off.

His way of speaking was so polite that charging at him felt inappropriate, yet ignoring it left her feeling uneasy, as if she had been spat on despite her smiling face.

She was just about to think of a retort when a cold voice sliced through the hallway air:

“An butler who cannot distinguish concern from overstepping.”

Startled, Lucillea peeked around Anton to see who it was.

It was Serdian.

‘Huh?! Why is he here?!’

Lucillea’s eyes widened in surprise. When had he arrived?

Leaning casually against a hallway pillar with a neutral expression, Serdian stared silently at Anton.

A fleeting look of surprise crossed Anton’s face, but he quickly composed himself, putting on a perfect smile.

Anton bowed slightly in greeting.

“Greetings, Young Master.”

Raising his head again, Anton continued as if nothing was amiss:

“Overstepping, you say? How could such a fearsome word pass your lips? I merely spoke out of concern, fearing that Lucillea might face difficulties in the future.”

Serdian didn’t acknowledge the greeting and slowly approached, his red eyes seemingly piercing through Anton’s gentle facade.

“Concern, you say.”

Serdian echoed his words mockingly.

“I never knew that a mere pawn could call into question the value of a piece placed on the master’s chessboard and call it concern.”

“……”

The smile vanished from Anton’s face. The word ‘pawn’ was clearly an insult.

Ignoring Anton’s stiff expression, Serdian continued in a voice as cold as ice.

“The value of a piece is determined only by the master. The butler’s role is merely to ensure the chessboard is prepared. Your recent statement was plainly a foul that disrupted the game.”

“……”

Wow, that was ruthless.

Lucillea looked at Serdian with newfound respect. She understood why he was the heir to the Grand Duke’s house, why he was the male protagonist of this story. The weight of it hit her.

And…

‘Serdian is impressive, but that butler Anton isn’t any less formidable…’

Even in the face of the young master’s sharp words, Anton’s expression didn’t waver; he maintained his smile, as if he were a loyal subordinate humbly accepting the young master’s advice.

Anton bowed again and spoke politely:

“If my words caused you discomfort, Young Master, I apologize. I failed to be sufficiently careful in that regard.”

“You should apologize to the boy, not me.”

Serdian brushed past Anton and even past Lucillea, as if to emphasize that.

Lucillea, staring wide-eyed at Serdian’s back, let out a soft “Wow….”

Serdian glanced back at her.

“What are you doing? Not following?”

Lucillea raised her eyebrows and replied,

“Huh? O-oh! Of course! I’ll come! Let’s go together!”

She quickly fell in step behind him, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Alone, Anton slowly turned his head. At the far end of the hallway where the two children had disappeared, his eyes, once gentle, now flickered with a cool, deep shadow.

“Why are you all the way to the west wing? Huh?”

“……”

“You came to see me, didn’t you? Isn’t that it?”

“……”

“Why aren’t you answering? Are you shy?”

Hmm? Hmm?

The little girl trailing behind chattered nonstop. Serdian ignored her voice and quickened his pace.

Since the incident in the dining hall a few days ago, she hadn’t shown up even once.

The first couple of days were peaceful.

No noisy parrot-like chatter, no constant questions—it was quiet.

A calm, perfect routine of reading and training, just as usual.

But strangely, the calm didn’t last a full day. It became boring, even lonely.

Turning pages felt unusually heavy; the sound of his sword swinging echoed emptily.

Had his days always been this quiet?

For the first time, Serdian realized that the small girl had caused a tiny, yet undeniable ripple in his daily life.

Then curiosity struck him:

‘Why hasn’t she come?’

When he had tried to push her away, she had shown up persistently.

Sticking around, insisting on being friends.

‘Did something happen?’

Had she gotten into trouble with someone like Tessian again?

Or perhaps that strange necklace caused trouble once more.

All sorts of ominous thoughts followed one after another.

Unable to resist, he wandered the west wing under the pretense of “passing through.”

It was only by pure chance that he ran into her—he definitely hadn’t come because he worried.

“Hey.”

Unable to hold back, Serdian turned sharply.

“Yes! What!”

Lucillea’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at him.

“You’re noisy. Follow quietly.”

Lucillea pouted in reply.

“This isn’t a library. What does it matter if it’s noisy? If you hate it so much, answer me!”

“……”

Serdian stayed silent for a moment. Then he resumed walking, as if her words weren’t even worth replying to.

But Lucillea wasn’t about to give up.

She had been thrilled to see Serdian at the west wing.

Ignoring him, she walked beside him, chattering again.

“So, why did you really come? Passing by doesn’t make sense; this is the opposite direction from the east wing. You didn’t get lost, did you? You’re the heir, after all.”

Serdian didn’t turn his head but answered while looking straight ahead.

“I had business to attend to.”

“What business?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“Whoa! That’s unfair! Can’t friends share things like that?!”

“……”

Serdian stopped in his tracks. Slowly, very slowly, he turned to look down at Lucillea.

“Friends? You, who suddenly cut off contact, aren’t in a position to use that word.”

“Huh? Ah… that’s….”

Caught off guard, Lucillea couldn’t find words.

‘I thought he’d be glad I hadn’t gone after him.’

Seems like he secretly cares?

Lucillea smirked mischievously.

“You… that means…”

“……”

“You came to see me, right?”

“……”

He stared at her, either incredulous or exasperated, and then let out a short sigh.

The sigh carried a faint sense of resignation: ‘I can’t win against you.’

Strangely, Lucillea found it cute.

‘You little…’

She hurried to match his pace, standing side by side.

“Sorry about the dining hall incident.”

“For what?”

“I said something I shouldn’t have.”

Serdian glanced at her and replied,

“So you realized it was overstepping your bounds.”

Lucillea nodded.

“Yes. But honestly, I don’t regret it.”

“……”

“I spoke out of genuine concern for you.”

“……”

“But I’ll apologize. It probably wasn’t pleasant to hear.”

“Good.”

Lucillea raised her eyebrows at his short reply.

“Huh?”

“That I accept your apology.”

Surprised, Lucillea stopped in front of him.

Looking at him with sparkling eyes, she asked:

“So, does that mean we’re still friends?”

Serdian’s brow furrowed slightly.

“I’m not the kind of trash who abandons friends over such a trivial matter.”

“Exactly what I wanted to hear!”

Lucillea grabbed his hand and asked:

“So, once friends, always friends. Can I take it that way?”

“……”

“……”

A brief silence passed. Then Serdian spoke slowly:

“As long as neither of us betrays first.”

“Who? Me?”

“I won’t betray first.”

“Hey! Me too! Same here!”

Absolutely not! If I betray you, my life’s on the line!

Lucillea laughed broadly, standing proudly beside him.

“I can’t promise everything, but I’ll be more careful with my words from now on!”

Serdian, seemingly indifferent, resumed walking and said flatly:

“Do as you always do.”

“Huh?”

“Just act as you normally would.”

“……”

Hehe, Lucillea cheerfully followed alongside.

“Okay! I will!”