Hello, Readers! I am celebrating my birthday with extra chapter updates, so please enjoy this special chapter release of 4 bonus chapters! 🥳

(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 3/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before my Birthday: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

***

From early morning, the Mercedes mansion was bustling with activity.

Winston, who had woken up earlier than usual, was frantically moving around directing the servants.

“Roben, Win, Ruth, check the carriages; Corin, you go with the stable master to check on the horses; Isaac and Lizzy, you…”

Winston, who had assigned nearly a hundred servants solely to prepare for today’s baptism ceremony, moved about busily.

His destination was Cardien’s room.

Knock knock.

“Your Grace, it’s me.”

“Come in.”

Though the voice was as indifferent as ever, Winston felt unusually excited today.

As he entered, trying to regain his composure…

“…My goodness.”

Winston couldn’t help but lose the composure he had tried so hard to maintain.

“It suits you perfectly, Master.”

Winston’s brown eyes, weathered by time, reflected the image of Cardien dressed in formal attire.

A black jacket embroidered with silver thread and adorned with silver buttons, a black vest, a white shirt, and long legs wrapped in black trousers, black shoes, and a dark purple cravat.

Everything blended perfectly as if it existed solely for Cardien.

However, one thing stood out as incongruous.

‘That…’

Winston’s gaze moved to the cravat, or more precisely, to the pin fixed on the cravat.

Too small and rough to be a cravat pin, that amethyst-colored thing.

If Winston’s eyes were correct, it wasn’t a cravat pin but a cufflink.

Of course, that didn’t mean it didn’t suit Cardien.

Rather, unlike other flashy cravat pins, it was simple and clean, and above all, it matched Cardien’s eye color perfectly, like a set.

However, it was also true that it was somewhat out of place with the formal attire worn today.

Cardien’s formal wear isn’t as splendid as that of other nobles.

It’s all achromatic, but that’s why it suits Cardien so well.

While the amethyst cravat pin does suit him, the quality of the amethyst seems a bit low for an occasion like today.

Winston hesitated before carefully opening his mouth.

“Master, how about this pin instead of that one?”

Winston immediately opened the box he had brought and took out several cravat pins.

Silver, gold, black…

All of them would go well with Cardien’s formal attire.

They were also items that Winston had been collecting for this day.

Yes, for this day!

‘How long have I been looking forward to this day!’

Winston’s hand, holding the cravat pins, tensed up.

It’s been seven years since Cardien inherited the title of Duke, but the number of official events he had attended during that time could be counted on one hand.

Even then, he would only show his face briefly and return, which led to all sorts of unsavory rumors about Cardien.

That his madness had flared up and he was chased away by the knights, or that the Emperor had forbidden him from attending events…

Of course, these were just baseless rumors, but Winston was upset by the mere fact that such rumors were circulating.

For none other than the master of Mercedes to be embroiled in such rumors!

As someone who had served the Mercedes family for a long time, Winston couldn’t help but feel distressed.

He knew that Cardien avoided attending for long periods due to concerns about magical outbursts.

But rumors about his madness flaring up or the Emperor forbidding his attendance only tarnished Cardien’s reputation.

Only Winston was frustrated by these rumors.

Even if worse rumors spread, Cardien showed not the slightest interest.

He would ignore even rumors that could be quelled by just showing his face once more, focusing solely on his work.

If it weren’t for Livia, he would never have attended this baptism ceremony either.

‘It’s truly fortunate that the Tutor is here.’

Winston thought this sincerely.

If Livia hadn’t been here, there was no way Cardien would have attended an official event, especially a baptism ceremony hosted by the temple.

‘Your Grace must really…’

Just as Winston was thinking this…

“Not needed.”

“Not needed… Pardon?”

Startled out of his thoughts, Winston looked up in surprise. Cardien loosened his constricting cravat and gave him a cold glance.

“Those things, I don’t need them. Put them away.”

“B-But Master. This isn’t just any event, it’s a baptism ceremony held after four years. You should pay a little more attention…”

“Does the butler think this shows a lack of attention?”

“Th-That’s not what I meant, but…”

As Winston lowered his head with a troubled expression, Cardien stared at him for a moment before turning away and saying indifferently.

“The Tutor gave it to me as a gift.”

“…Pardon?”

Raising his head at the unexpected words, Winston looked puzzled. Cardien, walking back to his desk, spoke again.

“This pin, which looks to the butler like I haven’t paid attention, was a gift from the Tutor. During the festival.”

“…!!”

Finally understanding the truth, Winston’s eyes widened to the point of nearly popping out.

He stared blankly at the pin on Cardien’s cravat, then looked down at the pins he was holding.

And then…

Bang!

“I have committed a grave error, Master. I will dispose of these pins immediately.”

After closing the box so forcefully it nearly broke, Winston bowed his head deeply. Cardien, who had been quietly observing him, suddenly parted his lips.

“To the Tutor…”

“Pardon?”

“Did the things I sent to the Tutor arrive well?”

“Ah.”

Winston nodded.

A deep smile soon formed on his lips.

“You mean those things that you personally selected, Master?”

“…You’re unusually talkative today.”

Despite Cardien’s cold voice, Winston merely let out a small chuckle.

Normally, Cardien would have responded icily, but today he maintained his silence.

Soon, Winston spoke.

“I sent them through Rosanne. They should have reached the Tutor by now.”

Cardien nodded at Winston’s words.

After a moment of silence, Cardien’s lips parted again.

“Vincent, how is he doing?”

At his question, Winston’s expression suddenly darkened.

He slowly began to speak.

“Well, about that…”

***

Something unusual happened to me in the morning.

Half-asleep, I opened the door to a knock, only to find an enormous group of maids occupying the hallway from the doorway.

At the forefront were Chelsea and a middle-aged woman.

‘What on earth…’

I couldn’t find words for the scene unfolding before my eyes.

After Lemon left, I had trouble falling asleep due to feeling unsettled and only managed to close my eyes around dawn.

Did I sleep for about three hours?

The drowsiness that had consumed my entire body until I opened the door was completely dispelled by the maid brigade.

“Um, Chelsea? What’s this…”

I addressed Chelsea, the most familiar face.

An explanation for this situation was needed.

However, it was the middle-aged woman next to Chelsea who stepped forward.

She bowed to me and greeted me.

“Pleased to meet you, Tutor Pellington. I am Rosanne Luchen, the head maid overseeing the maids of the Mercedes mansion. I look forward to working with you.”

Startled by her words, I hurriedly bowed back and replied.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Livia Pellington.”

Then I looked at Rosanne with curious eyes.

The head maid of Mercedes holds power similar to that of Winston, the head butler.

Of course, Winston is not just a simple head butler, but also handles Cardien’s assistance and Vincent, so his responsibilities are even greater.

Nevertheless, the position of head maid is certainly significant.

The problem is…

‘What is the head maid doing at my room first thing in the morning!’

And with so many maids in tow!

As I stared at her with a bewildered expression, Rosanne added an explanation.

“I apologize if we’ve startled you so early in the morning. We’re here to assist with your preparation, Tutor Pellington.”

“Preparation… You mean for the baptism ceremony?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Rosanne replied with a gentle smile.

I still couldn’t hide my perplexed feelings.

Well, I had thought they might help with the preparation.

After all, I’m attending the baptism ceremony as the partner of Cardien, who is a Duke.

But…

‘I didn’t expect so many to be deployed!’

It looked like there were easily over twenty people, and the thought of all those people fussing over me brought on immense pressure.

I tried to smile as I replied.

“Um, thank you, but you don’t need so many people to help me.”

Of course, I’m a noble who grew up being waited on, but even when the Pellington viscounty was at its peak, it wasn’t like this.

However, Rosanne didn’t accept my opinion.

“It’s an important occasion. This is already a reduced number, considering your comfort.”

“That’s…”

I looked at Chelsea for help, but Chelsea merely shook her head quietly.

“Well then, Tutor.”

I flinched at the sudden voice and turned my head.

As our eyes met, Rosanne smiled brightly and said.

“Let’s begin.”

As soon as her words fell, the waiting maids rushed towards me all at once.

“Wait…”

…Help me!