CH 34

Count Terrace -> Earl Terrace.

I'll go back to fix it in the earlier chapter after this.

Knock-knock.

The corridor bask by the darkness of the night like the bottom of the lake. The slender hand knocking on the door gently.

"You can come in."

"Excuse me."

It was Charlotte's maid, Katherine. She clad in a classic maid outfit.

She visited the chief butler's room, Randolph's room, the chief butler of the Desmond mansion and, at the same time, the watchman and supervisor assigned to him by his father, Viscount Damwead.

The room is smaller than Desmond's, the lord and master of the mansion, although it has a similar design, it is decorated in a sophisticated and elegant style, which, combined with the nature of the duties, makes it seem as if this is the real lord's room.

But that is to be expected. The owner of this room had the appearance and serenity befitting a lord.

He has gray hair, bushy eyebrows, a mustache, and wrinkles that give him a mild, gentle, and friendly look. Dressed in a butler's uniform, his every motion is relaxed - and his voice is austere and calm, like a well-aged scotch.

However, his manners are not backed up by refined etiquette, but are the result of the perfect execution of his movements.

《Gray Hound》.

This his other name by which he is famously known. he is the chief butler of the Desmond mansion by using the of perfect execution of his body, cultivated on the battlefield, he is a quasi-nobleman who has been knighted as a result of his military service. Considering his accomplishments, he could have been the one who should have ruled the territory. However, he decided to join Viscount Damwead and is now the chief butler of Desmond, who is the cause of him joining Viscount Damwead and is the object of his greatest interest at the moment.

Under his ruffled eyebrows were his lead gray eyes, which had been polished by his age, the eyes of a man who had been in the service of the Viscount Damwead for many years. They even have a kind of mystical light in them, his eyes reflecting an image of the cold beauty with her red hair tied back on her head.

"Please excuse me for disturbing, but I have something to report and discuss with you."

The maid bowed lightly. With elegance and grace.

But not any deeper than necessary.

No matter how great her opponents may be, whether they are chief butlers, quasi-nobles, or knight, she belongs to Charlotte, the second daughter of the House of Terrace. Bowing down to someone more than necessary would lower the dignity of the daughter of the Earl Terrace, to whom she belongs, even if she is a woman who cannot conceive, even if she is considered a tool of the nobility only for childbearing.

Even though Desmond's mansion seemed to have nothing to do with the noble's politics, when dealing with Randolph, she had to change her mindset as if she were at a noble's social gathering.

"About the sexual art--"

"Then let's take a seat."

Randolph held out his hand and a chair appeared in front of Katherine.

【Storage】--a skill.

How many magic skills has this old man mastered?

How many magic skills has this old man mastered? No doubt he is the cheat character. But without Desmond who has such notions, there is no one to complain and get upset about this, the maid just stands there in silent.

"Then excuse me."

She sits down in the chair as he suggested.

Facing across the office desk like this seems like an interrogation. They should held equal in power in this situation, But from the standpoint of Katherine's position Katherine should have the upper hand in this because information she has obtained - unless Randolph use violent method. But even if he is named "hound" he is still a knight. He would not have resorted to such barbaric means.

Nevertheless, there was no way she could refuse the chair that was offered to her, before she even had a chance to spoke out.

――You took the initiative. but.

The cold maid looked at 《Gray Hound》 with narrow brown eyes.

"The Master has just performed the sexual art on me just now."

The old butler raised a bushy gray eyebrow.

--my first card.

"But, may be -- It's not the same thing that he is done to his wife, but I think I catch a glimpse of its magnificence. Speaking of which, did Randolph-sama inquire Master about this?"

It is easy for this old butler and skilled knight to see that the maid's words contain no lies.

Katherine played the first card, telling him that she had "great information" for him. No matter how big or small it was.  if you want it, be generous to give out some "little" information.

And as for Randolph, he has no "information" that he can offer to Katherine. So, in order to get the information, Randolph would have to either respond to Katherine's request for "consultation" or just shaking his head.

He don't want her to have an advantage, but.

"Unfortunately, no."

Cowering his shoulders, he shakes his head in disappointment.

"After lunch, when we were discussing our plans for the afternoon, I casually asked him about it, and he said that it's not something that a man can teach a man. For some reason, he told me that while clutching his buttocks."

"I see."

Katherine has no other response to this. She couldn't understand his action either.

In a world without eroticism, it would be impossible for anyone to stick their precious genitals in other's rear, even if they were to torture or humiliate using excretory organs.

"If that's the case..."

And the gray old man is fooled because of that.

"So you are saying that the sexual art is something that can only be practiced between a man and a woman, and cannot be taught."

Katherine shakes her head." I don't know. I don't enough information to determine that."

--That's also not a lie.

But.

--Isn't she's giving away too much too easily?

If so, I don't know what the consultation is, but it seems like a foolish way to compel me to give in to her demands. 

The old soldier tries to read behind the maid's words. But

"Randolph-sama."

Her brown eyes stared straight into the gray ones.

"May I ask you something impolite? Is Randolph-sama on the side of Desmond-sama, or Viscount Damwead, or--"

"............"

Whose side am I on...

side..

He thought.

This maid is no fool. And not reckless. I knew that from our previous interactions. So, this question of hers was a statement backed up by a certain amount of evidence. To begin with, he has accompanied Baron Desmond to this estate as his chief butler, in a monitoring and supervising role, rather than being with Viscount Damwead.

She knows this. And she must have had that idea in her mind when she was probing my actions. --No, perhaps there is no evidence. I didn't do such a half-ass job.

If that is the case.

Randolph is so amused that he almost lets his inner hound out.

In other words, her question is like a leaping into Randolph's arms with a sword in her hand, ready to cut him down at the drop of a hat.

It would be easier to cut her down.

--What an insult. Is that what Katherine thinks? No, I suppose Lady Charlotte thinks so too. Or perhaps even Earl Terrace?　What a venerable situation.

Depending on how things played out, it could get out of hands, while Katherine, or Charlotte, could be cut off from the Earl Terrace because of Charlotte's inability to conceive and there is a rift between the Earl Terrace and the Marquess Swift (the Marquesses are higher in rank). There is 《Grey Hound》 and 《Damwead Heretic》on the Damwead side,  and the Terrace have 《Platinum Breaker》 who is considered unworthy by aristocratic society like the Damwead Heretic or even more so. If the we have the other nobles on board and spearhead Earl Terrace, Which many of them will probably side with Damwead. If so, Earl Terrace would have no choice but to cut them off in order to protect his house. -The question is, who benefits there?

Baron Desmond Damwead.

It is only him that benefits.

...................

And if this morning's conversation is any indication, Charlotte will side with Desmond even if she is cut off from Terrace, both Charlotte and Katherine will remain with Desmond and will belong to him and be cherished in this mansion. The concern is whether Desmond will marry another wife, but he is not likely to do so because of his character. unless, Charlotte gets pregnant.

This would be a win-win situation for Desmond, his wife, and Katherine, no matter how it turns out.

ho ho ho ho, this is.

The hound lick its tongue instinctively.

And depending on how I responded, not only would it change what information Katherine would disclose, but it would also change how she would behave toward me in the future. If she considers me to be a potential threat, she may not hesitate to contract Earl and bring a skilled agent with her. However, that may not be in her best interest either.

No.

Even the knight Randolph Steiner was hungry. It was better to answer honestly here.

--interesting, this girl..no.

"I am not entirely on Desmond-sama side. I am, as you know, the head butler and the guardian of little Desmond, and by "little" I mean that I treat him like a child. That is the role assigned to me by Viscount Damwead. But--"

Then Randolph giggled and laughed.

Instead of the old butler's friendly face, the Hound emerged.

"I joined Viscount Damwead because of Desmond in the first place. That child is interesting. I joined the Damwead House to see him grow up and do what he does, I'm just a 'guest'."

"Guest ......" Katherine repeats

"Indeed."《Gray Hound》 said, "--Then, in response to Lady Katherine's question, I am on my own side as a "guest". I will decide for myself which "home" I will be staying in."

Katherine's fists clenched in the lap of her maid's uniform, sweating profusely as she listened to the Grey Hound's answer.

A "guest" is who is invited into the "house" at the request of the master and treated with respect. The master would take care of the "guest," give him money if he asked for it, and make arrangements for him to spend his time without discomfort. In case of emergency, or when the master asks him to do something, he does not order him to do it, but "asks" him to do it. His position with his master is equal or even more so. The "master" can choose his "guest" and the "guest" can choose his "master.

--but with honor.

Randolph was a knight, and while he was proud to be a knight, he was more than that, he had mercenary characteristics. What differentiates him from a mercenary is that he acts not for money, but for interest, honor, with some sense of loyalty.

He was welcomed into the Damwead House on the condition that he would watch Desmond closely. It seemed a shame to have such a force to watch over the idiot son, but even so, the Gray Hound was a welcome addition to the House.

He was welcomed in the House on this term, but his official role was to serve Viscount Damwead as his butler. Although his admission was, considering his character, quite understandable. But to revealed it and told it from his own mouth is quite-- 

"I understand. I appreciate your answer." Katherine replied and bowed her head lightly.

"No big deal."

Having said that,  Katherine known that she was being urged to continue.

Indeed, Randolph had exposed his own weakness. --although it was a weakness that couldn't be considered as a weakness on both side.

In addition,  no matter how perverse he may be, he is more than a reliable person to have on your side. Thus, if he is given a bait that he likes, the "hound" will be benevolent to them or even wagging his tail.

So, Katherine speaks to Randolph, not to any one of the forces behind him, but to him personally.

"In discussing the information I have gathered about the sexual art, please allow me to ask you a questionas well. By matching it with what you know about Desmond-sama, it may reveal something that I didn't realize."

"Good."

That's something Randolph want. 

The maid also seems to have some idea of what it is like to draw him into her side.

"Thank you, sir."

At Katherine's story, Randolph's gray eyes widened and he continue to listened.