NOVEL NEXT chapter 10 - Didn't Know! - 10
I saw a rare flicker of unease in that old lion’s eyes.
This was no simple matter of indulging the young lady’s whims.
—This was a real mission. One that could bring harm to the family if I failed.
I hesitated for a moment. It was a risky assignment.
But at the same time, it was a chance to prove my abilities and earn the trust of both Maclaine and the family.
Better to play a meaningful role than to waste time on something pointless.
"Understood. Please entrust it to me."
At my reply, Maclaine’s face twisted into a blend of relief and concern.
"Thank you. But don't overdo it. If the situation gets out of hand, withdraw immediately. Remember—Miss Firnea's safety takes precedence over everything else."
"I'll keep that in mind."
****
The day came quickly.
On the day of the Empire’s founding celebration banquet, the capital buzzed with festive energy, but inside the Seriratus estate, a distinct tension lingered.
Especially between Miss Firnea, Chief Butler Maclaine, and me.
I selected a formal butler uniform—neat, unobstructive for movement, and refined enough not to tarnish the dignity of House Seriratus.
Inside the collar, I concealed a multi-tool kit, minimal self-defense gear, and a knife.
There was no telling what might happen tonight.
Firnea was preparing for the banquet with the help of the maids.
She wore a far more glamorous and mature dress than usual. The deep blue velvet gown accentuated her pale skin and silver hair, and a necklace adorned with the family’s signature blue jewel shimmered at her neck.
But she couldn’t hide her nervous expression.
“Virdem, do I look okay?”
She asked uncertainly, standing before the mirror.
"You are more beautiful than any young lady attending the banquet tonight, my lady."
It wasn’t flattery. It was the truth.
In just three years, she had shed the look of a child and begun to take on the beauty of a young lady. Maybe it was the change within her that had started to show outwardly.
“Really? What if weird people pick a fight again, like last time?”
“I'll be by your side. And you're not the same as last time, my lady. Think of tonight as a good opportunity to put what you've learned into practice.”
“Hm…”
She took a deep breath while gazing at her reflection. She looked ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) a little more at ease.
When we stepped out to the front entrance of the estate, Duke Pitus and Maclaine were already waiting.
Gone was the doting father—now he exuded the dignity of the head of the Empire’s strongest house.
His mere presence seemed to thicken the air inside the mansion.
"Are you ready?"
At his deep, commanding voice, the young lady and I bowed our heads in unison.
“Yes, Father.”
The Duke nodded with satisfaction and then softened his expression as he looked at Firnea.
“My daughter, you look truly beautiful tonight. Even the jewels of the palace will pale in comparison.”
“…Thank you, Daddy.”
Firnea blushed slightly.
We boarded the ornate carriage, proudly bearing the crest of House Seriratus.
As we crossed the capital on our way to the palace, the Duke offered Firnea a few reminders—keep distance from certain families, observe proper etiquette before the Emperor and the imperial family, and so on. Firnea didn’t bother to hide her boredom, but she listened quietly.
He didn’t say anything to me.
He seemed to already know that I’d been given a mission through Maclaine.
Just before we stepped out of the carriage, however, the Duke added a single, quiet sentence.
"Virdem, I entrust my daughter to you."
"I will keep that in mind, Master."
Feeling the weight behind those short words, I reaffirmed my resolve.
The Imperial Palace was dazzling. Inside the massive gates, countless carriages were lined up, and the place was overflowing with nobles in ornate attire, knights in uniform, and busy attendants.
The path to the banquet hall was illuminated by magical lights that made the night as bright as day, and soft, elegant music floated through the air.
When the doors of the banquet hall opened, I was struck by its sheer grandeur.
Dozens of massive chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the walls were adorned with famous paintings and gold-leaf decorations.
Hundreds of nobles had already gathered in the wide hall, and delicious aromas wafted from tables loaded with food and wine.
As Duke Pitus and Miss Firnea entered, all eyes in the hall turned to us.
The head of the Empire’s most elite house, and his sole heir—an unparalleled magical prodigy.
People looked at us with a mixture of awe, admiration, and envy.
“Come, let’s go.”
With practiced grace, Duke Pitus strode confidently into the hall.
Firnea, tense, gently held onto his arm, and I followed half a step behind.
The first portion of the banquet focused on Duke Pitus, with various family heads and high-ranking officials coming forward to greet him. He handled them all with ease.
Firnea stood quietly at his side, smiling and observing the proper manners, but it was obvious she found the atmosphere exhausting.
She exchanged glances with me several times, silently asking, “When will this end?”
In the past, she would’ve tried to walk off the moment she got bored. This was serious progress.
I began scanning the surroundings for Kyle Laurencia.
Now, where could he be?
The hall was vast and crowded. But I kept in mind the description Maclaine had given—red hair, sharp eyes, and a small scar above the left eyebrow—and combed the room.
Before long, I spotted the target in a far corner of the hall.
He was quietly conversing with a few other young nobles around his age. Among them were some from houses Maclaine had mentioned as recently expressing hostility toward House Seriratus.
No doubt about it—that was my mark.
“My lady, may I fetch you a drink?”
I whispered quietly to Firnea. Duke Pitus was still engaged in conversation with the other nobles, and Firnea looked like she needed a moment to breathe.
“Huh? Yeah. Please do.”
I offered a light bow and moved naturally toward the drink table.
At the same time, I maneuvered closer to Kyle Laurencia’s group.
With the music and the chatter of the crowd, it was difficult to catch any specific words, but just observing their expressions and atmosphere would still yield valuable information.
Kyle Laurencia sat at the center of the group but didn’t speak much.
Instead, he listened intently to the others, occasionally nodding or asking a brief question.
His expression barely changed, making it hard to read him, but his gaze was unnervingly cold and calculating for someone his age.
The young nobles around him seemed to either rely on him heavily or regard him with a subtle sense of reverence.
It looked like an ordinary social gathering on the surface, but...
There was a strange sense of incongruity.
I gathered a few glasses onto a tray and made my way back to Firnea.
She was still standing beside Duke Pitus, tapping the floor lightly with her toe, clearly struggling with boredom.
“My lady, your juice.”
“Thanks.”
Just as Firnea took a sip of the juice, a sharp voice cut in from nearby.
“Oh my, isn’t this Lady Firnea? And… that insolent butler from last time is with you again?”
It was Emily Laurencia.
She was decked out just as extravagantly as she had been at the tea party, but the same unpleasant edge remained in her expression.
Miss Firnea’s face froze for a moment.
She met my gaze and furrowed her brow slightly—as if to say, “She’s here again. What do I do?” I subtly shook my head and gave a signal with my eyes.
Stay calm. Just like we practiced.
Firnea took a deep breath and turned to face Emily.
“It’s been a while, Lady Emily.”
Her voice was as calm and emotionless as she could manage.
Emily looked momentarily caught off guard by Firnea’s composure, then quickly recovered with a smirk and opened her mouth again.
“You look especially beautiful tonight, my lady. Like an ice sculpture. Cold and unapproachable.”
Another insult wrapped in a compliment. I held my breath, watching how Firnea would respond.
Firnea stared at Emily for a brief moment, then gave a gentle smile.
“You flatter me, Lady Emily. Perhaps not as striking as your fiery red dress, but still, I do try. Seeing someone as warm and energetic as you makes me want to learn to be a little bolder myself.”
A flawless counter.
She acknowledged the compliment while subtly implying that Emily’s personality was ‘passionate—sometimes excessively so,’ and cast herself in a favorable light as poised and composed.
It was beyond anything I had taught her.
Emily’s face flushed red, then pale. She seemed momentarily at a loss for words. A few nobles watching from nearby let out quiet chuckles.
“And my butler isn’t insolent—he’s simply devoted to his duty. As the daughter of a marquess, I trust you know the value of loyal subordinates.”
With that, Firnea delivered the final blow, even standing up for me in the process.
Now Emily was completely speechless, her lips trembling in frustration.
Just then, a low voice came from behind.
“Emily. Don’t cause a scene.”
It was Kyle Laurencia. At some point, he had stepped away from his group and approached us.
Though still expressionless, there was a faint irritation in his eyes as he reprimanded his sister.
Emily flinched at the sight of him, then protested, clearly aggrieved.
“But Brother! They were the ones who—”
“That’s enough.”
Kyle curtly cut her off, then bowed politely to Duke Pitus.
“My apologies for the disturbance, Duke. My sister is still immature and has acted rudely.”
“It’s quite all right, Lord Laurencia. It’s not uncommon for young people to exchange sharp words.”
Duke Pitus responded with calm indifference, but his gaze was sharply focused on Kyle.
Kyle then turned his attention to Firnea.
“My apologies to you as well, Lady Firnea. I hope you’ll forgive my sister’s discourtesy.”
“It’s fine, Lord Laurencia.”
Firnea responded with equal composure. She seemed fully in control again.
Kyle appeared satisfied with her answer and gave her a slight nod—then turned his eyes on me.
His gaze was cold and piercing. Not the look of someone seeing me for the first time, but someone who already knew exactly who I was.
Every nerve in my body tensed.