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Thinking back, it has been years since I came to Henituse County.
I started off as a footman under Mr. Ron’s guidance. I got my promotion within a year and became a deputy butler.
When I got my promotion, one of the very first questions Mr. Ron asked me why I wanted to be a butler. Simple. Because I have a good memory and I’m also very observant. Being a butler required excellent administrative and planning skills, as you’d have to know your master’s schedule to know what they need, then infer what you’d need to do from that. ‘That sounds very like me!’ was what I had in my mind and those were the exact words I answered Mr. Ron’s question with.
3 years being a deputy butler, Mr. Ron told me that I had the best prospect among the other deputy butlers, so I would most likely be serving the eldest of the household, young master Cale Henituse. Ever since, I have been watching young master Cale, the noble labeled as a ‘trash’, very closely. As his nickname suggested, he lacked manners even though he was already an 18-years-old noble, and also the next in line being the head of the county. That being said, I found some inconsistencies in his actions. He called all the food he ate ‘trash’, as if they never tasted good, yet always finished his food regardless. He drank a lot and swung his bottle around. But never once did his bottle hurt a person. I found that very interesting.
I was surprised when the Count asked young master Cale to go to the Capital for the Crown Prince’s celebration. I reviewed all data on the nobles who will be present and how young master Cale's schedule would be like. I planned the trip and prepared the carriage as per Countess Violan’s request. Of course, I also prepared the most comfortable seat for kitten-nims. I love cats after all, so I packed a lot of meat jerky for their most comfortable first trip ever. I did my job well, as young master Cale’s deputy butler, and as kitten-nims’ semi-guardian… though who would’ve thought that those kittens, small fragile-looking kittens, are actually children from the cat tribes who fight with fog and poison. I recalled having my mind blanked out when I first saw them transformed, asking for jerky with their human-hands. It was interesting.
That was also around the time I met Choi Han. Young master Cale literally brought him in and somehow he came along with us. No one knew who he really was, but young master Cale told me to help him with his need, so I did. When I heard what he told the Count, I could sympathize with him, so I decided to treat him well regardless of his unknown background. He was strong, even back then, stronger than Vice Captain Hillsman. Our trip went really well, despite the little this and that we encountered, such as meeting Taylor Stan and Priestess Cage, now an ex-priestess though.
The capital was also when I met Princess Rosalyn and Lock. Choi Han suddenly barged into the mansion to ask young master Cale for help while looking desperate. I, as the butler, decided to trust them, especially when one of them was the princess of our neighboring kingdom. Young master Cale gave me all the normal order calmly, though the last one was weird. ‘Clear the training ground? Why?’ was my thought. But I knew that he was not someone unreasonable after traveling with him to the capital. In fact, it was pretty fun to tease him with my random sarcasm. So I cleared the training ground as requested and exited, though I could still hear a loud roar from inside the training ground. It was over after a bit, with everyone, well, everyone as in Choi Han and Princess Rosalyn looking exhausted. I wondered what happened but I never knew, until Lock told me himself when we were staying together at the Super Rock Villa years after.
I think that was also my first time discovering that young master Cale knew a lot about the nobles, aside from Eric Wheelsman, his hyung. He also knew about Miss Rosalyn being a princess at first glance. ‘As expected, young master Cale was someone reasonable,’ I thought, very observant Hans.
Young master Cale saved a lot of people in the plaza terror incident, and I suppose that was when his network grew with a lot, well A LOT, of strong people, including the Crown Prince, who is now His Majesty Alberu Crossman. There were whale tribes, tiger tribes, dragons, wow, a lot. We even acquired extra houses after: the Super Rock Villa and Harris Village.
Harris Village. We went there together for a little bit with the wolf children. Young master let them live in the village and trained with Vice Captain Hillsman. He also paid his visit to the villagers and ordered the construction of a proper cemetery. I told Choi Han about it, of course, in front of the young master to see his reaction, and he did not disappoint. That face was hilarious, and Choi Han probably thought so too. I then made sure that the village reconstruction and the cemetery were done properly, as I was a butler after all.
Super Rock Villa. That was basically where all young master Cale’s network stayed at least once. I didn’t even know how he found that place, but regardless, it was very beautiful. I decided that I would keep it clean and tidy as well. I was a good butler after all.
Though thinking about it now, the plaza terror incident was also when young master Cale started getting involved in battles here and there. When Mr. Ron came back with only a single arm, the fight at Henituse territory, then against the White Star.
.
.
.
What did I do when young master Cale fought those battles? I went back to the Henituse house and took care of things there as a temporary butler because Mr. Ron was away, assisting the battle. Choi Han and everyone too, even the kittens. I was left behind.
One day, two days, everything was fine. I did what a butler would do day by day, but somehow it felt… empty. I didn’t see my young master whom I usually tease and observe, no kittens, no dragon, no strong people,... no friends. I performed well as a butler, though young master Basen was already doing an excellent job in all administrative work.
‘Am I needed? Someone who couldn’t even land a punch on the White Star? What good does a butler do? Maybe… just maybe, that’s why young master Cale left me’
I was alone. I was scared.
No. I am still alone. I am scared.
Now the war has ended. Young master Cale would return to the territory tonight after the grand celebration at the Capital. And I… what would I do? Mr. Ron would return as the butler, and I shall remain as a deputy butler. A shadow. A nobody like me who didn’t even help my young master at war would have no role in front of him, the hero of the kingdom. There is too much gap to close: the time-gap when we weren’t together and the relation-gap with all his aides, my friends, even with young master Cale himself. I would never fit into that circle any longer.
“Hey Hans, there you are!”
Hearing that sudden unexpected greeting, I snapped out of my daydream and turned my head around. That voice indeed came from the person I suspected: young master Cale. He came back with his close aides: Choi Han, Miss Rosalyn, the kittens, Raon-nim, and Mr. Ron.
“Welcome back, young master Cale! And everyone.”
“Hey, Hans, do you want to work at the Super Rock Villa with me from now on?”
I widened my eyes as I heard that, ‘What… did I just hear?’
“I’ll need your help with my communication with the main house, and eventually, farming. I’m planning to spend more time at Harris Village and the villa.”
“I will be going back and forth between here and the eastern continent with Beacrox since we just re-established the Molan Household.”
“Why me?” I asked, trying to look calm but I’m pretty sure my eyes right now are staring widely very confusedly. Young master Cale looked confused at my question then replied.
“Why are you asking such an obvious question?”
I had no reply to that, young master Cale then added.
“You’re a great butler and I need your skill. … Do I need to roll call everyone to give you a testimony?” For once, I felt like young master Cale was pulling a sarcasm on me, especially upon seeing that smile.
“Mr. Hans is a good butler. Harris village looks so neat and tidy now thanks to Mr. Hans.”
‘But that was young master Cale’s order.’
“Mr. Hans kept a secret of me being a princess from all the other employees to not inconvenience me.”
‘But that was to prevent conflict with another kingdom.’
“Hans gave us so much food nya~”
“Right nya~”
“And me too!”
‘But that was due to my love for kids, and because you were someone young master Cale took in.’
“Hans, why did you want to become a butler?”
The moment Mr. Ron asked me that very question he asked me when I first became a deputy butler, I thought back and recalled my young self answering that question to Mr. Ron, the very full answer spoken proudly.
‘I have a good memory, and I’m also very observant! I can memorize my master’s schedule well and quickly adjust to the need based on the situation! I’m good at administrative jobs too, and I don’t hate it. That’s why, I believe that I can be a great butler…’
‘Because that sounds very like me’
“Because that sounds very like me…,” I unconsciously said that sentence the young me proudly said out loud. I looked at Mr. Ron and he had a smile on his face. A very gentle one.
Yes, I am a butler. Not a fighter. Not a mage. My job is to serve my master and support his needs. And I’m a butler because that’s very like me. I am me, and I have things that only I can do.
My brain cleared up, and I could now smile from the bottom of my heart. The void I’ve been feeling disappeared, and I feel free for the first time after a while. I am not alone. I’m not scared anymore. The me now can look straight into young master Cale’s eyes.
“I understand, young master Cale. I know you’d need this expert butler’s skill to help you even when you slack, so let me accompany you through your next journey,” I replied while bowing down to young master Cale, a mocking bow I would say, but I saw a satisfied smile on his face so I need to add another sentence.
“Of course, I shall never forget to provide the best lemonade for you every single day.”
Young master Cale’s face turned sour after hearing that, and yes, this is satisfaction. I’m an observant top-notch butler after all.