Chapter 7 (Part 1)

The butler of the House of Ruden Estate, Bowen Dyke, had not harbored resentment toward his master from the beginning. On the contrary, he had lived with pride and conviction that he was one of the most loyal retainers in the Kingdom of Panien.

The Dyke family had served the House of Duke Ruden for three generations, and Bowen had deeply internalized the teachings of his grandfather and father: to prioritize his master’s safety over his own life, to never disobey his master’s orders under any circumstances, and to have the courage to offer frank advice if his master strayed onto the wrong path.

These lessons, which he had heard countless times as a child, became his lifelong mission as an adult. Bowen believed without question that he possessed the qualities of an excellent butler.

However, when he turned thirty-five, an event shook the very foundation of his life: the fall of the House of Ruden. One of the most prestigious families in the Kingdom of Panien collapsed overnight.

Bowen, who had revered his master like the heavens, lost not only his lord but also hundreds of household members. For a time, he lived like a broken man, drifting from one noble household to another as a menial worker. His hope was restored five years later when he received an unexpected summons from the sole heir of the House of Ruden.

Kayev Ruden, the young master of the fallen house, became his new lord.

Despite the dire circumstances following the fall of the House of Ruden and the overwhelming despair, Kayev had exceeded Bowen’s expectations by growing into a remarkable man who completely restored the family.

The new Duke of Ruden sought Bowen to fill the vacant butler position, and Bowen considered this to be the rightful recognition for a loyal retainer like himself.

As the estate of the House of Ruden was restored and the mansion regained its former glory, Bowen Dyke became utterly immersed in his role as the butler of a prestigious household. It was around this time that Bowen began to take an excessive interest in Kayev’s personal affairs.

He wanted to fulfill the role of a distinguished butler, which he had been unable to perform in the past. One of these duties, he believed, was to guide his young and inexperienced master onto the right path.

To Bowen, who was in his forties, the barely twenty-something Kayev seemed unstable and lacking. Guiding such a master felt like his obligation. His grandfather and father always said so. That a butler must not hesitate to offer stern advice when their master strayed.

It was during this time that a certain individual appeared before Bowen, someone who immediately caught his disapproval: a young maid named Celestia.

Bowen disliked her from the moment she arrived, brought in personally by the Duke from somewhere. With her aristocratic arrogance, barely erased despite her fall from grace, and her pretty face, she seemed destined to cause trouble.

As expected, the maid constantly disrupted Bowen’s peace, her irritating presence interfering with his every task.

The trouble began on the day the Duke returned home under the influence of some suspicious substance.

Acting as the capable butler he was, Bowen quickly assessed the situation and selected a few maids to attend to the Duke. Although he disliked the idea of lowly maids serving his master, given the nature of the task, women of their status seemed appropriate.

However, Bowen’s mistake was failing to realize that Celestia was among those maids. To his dismay, the Duke chose her, and from that day on, Bowen had to endure the sight of her shameless face, grinding his teeth in frustration.

Bowen could not accept that the Duke, oblivious to the ways of the world, had been captivated by someone as vulgar as Celestia. His master, as the head of a noble family, should marry a refined lady from a family of equal standing.

Perhaps Kayev was too young and inexperienced in such matters. Witnessing his master act like a fool clinging to his first love, Bowen concluded that the Duke had completely lost his judgment. Once again, Bowen reminded himself that the family’s critical matters rested on his shoulders and rolled up his sleeves to resolve the situation.

To prevent the disgraceful possibility of an illegitimate child, Bowen even offered Celestia contraceptive tea on several occasions, testing her intentions. He thought it best to pay her off and send her away.

However, the maid, cunning despite her angelic appearance, showed no intention of leaving her master. Thus, Bowen kept a close watch on her, waiting for the right moment to expel her from the estate. Three months passed as Bowen carefully observed Celestia—during which the Duke had become utterly infatuated, willing to give her everything he had.

As the saying goes, heaven helps those who help themselves. Finally, Bowen’s opportunity arrived. A way to permanently remove the thorn-in-his-side Celestia from the mansion appeared as if by magic.

***

Recently, Kayev’s thoughts were consumed by only two matters. One was, of course, Celestia, and the other was how to rebuild the Danverton family and their trading company. It might have seemed absurd to clean up the ruins he had created, but Kayev had no time to be picky.

After confirming their mutual feelings, his sense of urgency grew. He could not leave Celestia in her current ambiguous position.

Kayev had no desire to make her his mistress or keep her in a vague status. He wanted to marry her formally. To do so, he needed to clear the tarnished name of Danverton, convince the King, and restore her noble status. It would be a task similar to reclaiming the honor of the House of Ruden.

For Kayev, it did not matter whether Celestia was a noble or a commoner, as long as she was with him. Unfortunately, the laws of the Kingdom prohibited marriage between nobles and commoners. Therefore, if Kayev wanted to make Celestia his Duchess, he had to restore the Danverton family’s title and reinstate her as a noble.

Given that the Danverton family had fallen out of favor with the Crown Prince, it would not be an easy task. However, Kayev intended to plead with the King not to hold her accountable for her father’s sins. Fortunately, the Danverton family had only been pawns and financiers for the Second Prince, without directly threatening the Crown Prince.

Having organized his thoughts, Kayev took immediate action. His first step was to meet his liege, Prince Jacob, who had solidified his power as the Crown Prince.

As spring passed and summer arrived, Kayev finally had an audience with his liege after a long time. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince was not an easy man to deal with.

“That’s about the woman you’ve been so enamored with lately, isn’t it? The former daughter of the House of Earl Danverton.”

“…”

After some small talk and pleasantries, Kayev cautiously brought up the main topic, to which Crown Prince Jacob responded bluntly. Known for his excellent political acumen and decisiveness, the Crown Prince was also infamous for his sharp tongue.

For a moment, Kayev was at a loss for words.

“Rumors are everywhere, you know. The new Duke of Ruden has fallen head over heels for a maid from a fallen noble family.”

“…Have you been spying on me?”

“No, the rumors are so widespread that there’s no need for that. You haven’t exactly been discreet, have you?”

“Well… that’s true.”

“So, what is it? You want to make her a noble again and marry her?”

“…It seems you already know everything without me having to say it.”

“Yes, I’ve been wondering when you’d come to see me. Knowing your character, you wouldn’t let her remain a mistress, and it’s about time you got married anyway.”

“Do you have any intention of pardoning the Danverton family?”

Kayev’s expression, usually stoic or angry, now showed a glimmer of hope. Even in his childhood, he had never looked so innocent. Watching this, Crown Prince Jacob gave him a villainous smile.

And moments later, upon hearing the Crown Prince’s demands, Kayev couldn’t help but shudder at his cunning.

***

‘You already know that I’m planning a southern conquest, don’t you? Hmm… I’d like you to lead that expedition. It seems best to wrap it up before my coronation. If you can complete it successfully and return, I’ll do my best to grant your wish.’

The Crown Prince’s proposal, delivered with a smile, was something Kayev had no choice but to accept, even if reluctantly. In truth, as a knight, Kayev could not disobey his liege’s orders, regardless of the conditions attached. 

However, it seemed that Jacob, feeling a bit guilty about sending Kayev back to the battlefield after he had only recently regained stability, offered Celestia’s status as a reward.

Embarking on the conquest itself was not a problem. The small nations in the south lacked significant military strength, and with the Crown Prince’s strong support, Kayev was confident of victory. Moreover, if enduring hardship could restore what Celestia had lost, it was a bargain worth making.

The only regret was having to leave behind the woman he had just begun to share his heart with.

But Kayev had no other choice. For Celestia—or perhaps for his own desire to marry her—he quietly prepared for war.

When Celestia heard the news that Kayev had to leave, she was deeply shocked. The uncertainty of when he might return brought tears to her eyes.

Kayev couldn’t tell her that he was going to war to restore the Danverton family. Instead, he kept everything hidden, comforting her with the excuse that it was something unavoidable.

‘Even while I’m away, you can stay just like this. I’ll make sure to leave instructions with the butler so you can live here as if it were your own home. If you just wait for me, I promise I’ll return. Okay? Do you understand, Celestia?’

‘But if something happens to you, if you…’

‘Do you not trust me now? I’ll come back without a single scratch, so don’t worry about unnecessary things.’

Despite Kayev’s bold assurances, Celestia’s anxious gaze trembled.

Contrary to his confident words, Kayev secretly drafted a new will, ensuring that part of his estate would go to her in case of his death. While he was confident he wouldn’t die, he felt reassured by having precautions in place.

In addition, Kayev summoned the butler and gave him specific instructions to take care of Celestia no matter what. Though the butler had not worked with him for long, Kayev trusted the Dyke family’s loyalty, which had served the House of Ruden for a century.

Three months later, Kayev set out on his long campaign, leaving behind the Crown Prince’s encouragement and Celestia’s tears.

Throughout the preparations for departure, Celestia worried for Kayev, refusing to leave his side even for a moment. Leaving behind such a beloved woman made his steps feel unbearably heavy.

However, the thought that everything was for a happy future with Celestia gave him strength. Kayev silently vowed to return not only with news of victory but also with her restored status.