The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

The role of a butler is a specialized profession.

This is especially true if the butler is managing a bourgeois household with numerous business ventures or a noble family with a long history.

While they may not deal with matters on par with the royal treasury, the amount of money they handle isn't something that can simply be recorded in a household ledger like in an ordinary family.

Though calculators, mechanical devices, and computers of a sort existed in this world, they were far slower and more complex compared to the devices powered by semiconductors in my world. Thus, the quality of the people operating these machines—and those managing them—was critical.

The most important factor was human trustworthiness.

It was vital to trust someone enough to manage large sums without pocketing any of it. Someone competent enough to calculate taxes precisely to avoid any issues with the royal palace. Finding someone who met all these criteria externally was no easy task, as such people were likely already employed elsewhere.

For this reason, noble families of a certain stature would often try to cultivate such individuals within their households. Ideally, they preferred family members. Even if someone tried to embezzle, it would ultimately come back to the family itself, minimizing any losses. They also calculated taxes with extreme precision—while they aimed to pay as little as possible, they didn’t delude themselves into thinking they could outwit the royal inspection agency.

An admirable worker indeed.

However, not all members of noble families were as discerning or intelligent. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

So, they began training people from scratch, instilling loyalty along the way.

The baron’s butler was no exception.

"It’s the honor of a lifetime," he said, his words sounding exaggerated yet delivered in a manner that made them seem genuine. So sincere, in fact, that I almost doubted if he was actually serious.

The butler wore his short-cropped hair parted in a strict 2:8 ratio, slicked back with pomade. He looked like he should have graying hair, given his age, but his hair was black, perhaps dyed.

His mustache was neatly trimmed without a single stray hair. A thin gold chain draped from the vest pocket of his black three-piece suit, likely attached to a pocket watch.

"It’s a pleasure for us to visit such a well-kept estate. Surely, its beauty is thanks to your hard work," Alice complimented.

"You flatter me," the butler replied modestly, though he couldn’t completely conceal the pride on his face. The level of pride, however, was appropriate—a mere hint, like a fragrance added sparingly.

"I was showing the princesses around the mansion," the butler explained. "Since they’ll be staying for several days, and may even visit again, it seemed appropriate."

The butler's gaze shifted subtly toward Claire, who stood nearby. In that single glance, he seemed to grasp the situation entirely.

Either that or he was someone who often conversed with Claire. Considering the guards we met at the entrance, the latter seemed more likely.

"If needed, I could assist in the tour," he offered to the baroness.

The baroness shook her head gently. Her graceful movements gave her the appearance of a noblewoman raised in sheltered luxury, yet the calluses on her fingertips, which I’d noticed earlier, told a different story.

Those calluses were evidence of more than just casual sword practice; they suggested she trained whenever she could. I had no doubt she noticed my brief glance at her hands, though she showed no reaction.

"As the lady of the house, it’s my responsibility to guide the princesses," she stated.

"Understood."

The butler bowed deeply to the baroness, showing no hint of objection.

"My reason for seeking you out," I said, "was to meet the child training here to work in this mansion."

The butler’s gaze rose again. There was a fleeting curiosity in his eyes, gone almost as soon as I noticed it.

"The child has finished their tasks for the day and is resting."

"Would it be an imposition to visit them now?"

"Not at all. Being under the baron’s grace, they would surely welcome the opportunity."

Though it was indeed intrusive to disturb someone after their working hours, this was a noble society, and most of the children working here had been taken in by the family, who had saved their lives. Besides, they were well-fed and well-cared for, certainly more so than in an average peasant household. Their loyalty was likely sincere, or at least their desire to stay here was.

Thinking back, the child I was about to meet was a character not mentioned in the original story.

The butler, however, was someone I remembered. While not an essential character, he was present every time the player visited the Grace household in the game, and even provided a side quest.

The orphans I’d forced onto the estate, however, weren’t part of the original cast.

Still, meeting them was far less unsettling than when I first encountered Lena or that strange, humanoid creature in the dungeon... the one that made me wonder if it was me.

At least I could guess why these children had ended up here.

If I had stayed here, they would have called me “big sister.” The thought made me feel... strange.

"..."

I snapped out of my thoughts, realizing Alice was watching me intently. I shifted my gaze elsewhere.

What’s done is done. Time... well, I couldn’t turn it back like I once could.

Had I been able to escape Lucas, it might have been possible. There was always a one-in-a-thousand, one-in-a-million chance of finding a way.

But I hadn’t taken it. Even if I could turn time back, I likely wouldn’t.

Well... I guess.

Lucas was somewhat intimidating, Jayden was bothersome, and Bella was a bit annoying, but Alice was someone I cherished.

Dealing with Alice, who whined like a child—or rather, as a child—wasn’t as bad as I’d imagined. In the original story, she was usually serious unless she did something outlandish, and I rarely saw her whining like this.

So, those memories felt too precious to dismiss.

Had I been on the other side, I might have felt the same way.

If I had to choose one path, I’d likely struggle with the decision until the end. It was better to never experience the other, making it easier to let go.

"This way, please."

The butler guided us effortlessly to the quarters where he and the other staff stayed. The baroness followed without hesitation.

This suggested they kept their rooms clean and orderly, ready for inspection by their masters at any time.

"..."

Alice and Claire had worn warm smiles before we arrived, but upon seeing my face, their expressions stiffened. Alice’s changed first, and Claire’s followed as she glanced between Alice and me.

What kind of expression was I wearing now?

Probably... a blank one.

A mask so devoid of emotion even I couldn’t tell what I was feeling.

That was the character I’d cultivated.

*

On Earth, older people had a habit of romanticizing elementary school as a time of innocence and fond memories. I never agreed with them.

Maybe my memory was worse than others', or maybe it was something else, but I had few, blurry memories from those years.

A few faces came to mind, though I couldn’t recall their names or what they looked like clearly.

So, I had little nostalgia. My clearest memory was of the spicy rice cakes sold in front of the school, one of the few recollections I had from that time.

As I stood in front of a boy who looked a few years younger than me, I struggled to bring a face to mind.

But it seemed that the boy, not fully grown out of childhood, was different.