Living as a Butler to the Northern Duke chapter 23

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Obviously, Ei had already been sold off three days ago, even with all the support from the Grand Duke to care for the children properly.

Just then, Jaynon let out a sharp whistle, and from the high sky, a swift hawk appeared.

With a screech, it swooped down and landed on Jaynon’s shoulder.

“W-what is that?”

Startled by the sudden appearance of the hawk, the headmaster ducked and covered his head, glancing around.

What is it?

A messenger sent by the Grand Duke to deliver documents and a sponsorship contract, instructing the headmaster to comply with the person he had dispatched.

When they left the cake shop, the knights split into three teams: one to escort Ronen’s carriage, another to deliver news to the Grand Duke, and the last to monitor the headmaster’s carriage.

In Ronen’s carriage, Ed and Jaynon divided their roles.

Ed was tasked with distracting the headmaster once they reached the orphanage, while Jaynon handled communication with the Grand Duke.

“This is the contract the Grand Duke signed when he sponsored the orphanage.”

Jaynon pulled a document from the tube tied to the hawk’s leg.

“And this is the confirmation that the Grand Duke sent someone to inspect the orphanage on his behalf.”

“…….”

“And this is the list of the orphans the orphanage provided when the Grand Duke agreed to sponsor it.”

The headmaster’s face twisted, his lips trembling.

“Hahaha, that’s not going to work. You should check the contract carefully! It states that the Grand Duke must give at least one hour’s notice before visiting the orphanage!”

Jaynon shrugged.

“We already did.”

“What?”

“Think carefully. What did you say when we asked in front of the cake shop if you would allow us to visit the orphanage?”

“W-what?”

“It took exactly one hour and seven minutes to get here from the cake shop.”

At this, the headmaster’s face hardened, especially after Irtel, standing behind them, chimed in.

“Why do you think we took a roundabout route? You probably didn’t realize it because you were asleep.”

Of course, even if the time wasn’t kept, it wouldn’t matter.

They could simply press forward since the hour had passed.

“You bastards! You planned this from the beginning, didn’t you?!”

“That’s not true. Think carefully. Who was it that approached Young Master Ronen first?”

The headmaster, who had been fuming, clenched his fist and raised his hand towards Ed, who stood before him.

It was typical of the headmaster to rely on physical intimidation rather than words.

When anger flared, his hand always rose first, aiming for whoever seemed the lowest in status.

Ed didn’t back down.

If the headmaster struck him, he could add physical assault to the headmaster’s list of crimes and lock him away.

“No!”

But Ronen had other thoughts.

As the headmaster raised his hand, Ronen, who had been standing behind Ed, suddenly rushed forward.

Like a rocket launched from its pad, he headbutted the headmaster with such force that the sound of the impact was audible.

“…….”

“…….”

“Oof.”

Of all places, Ronen had hit the headmaster squarely in the gut.

As the headmaster groaned and fell backward, a heavy silence fell over the yard.

Ed, recovering quickly, rushed to Ronen’s side.

Ugh!

Disgusting!

Something filthy touched Ronen’s hair!

“Aaah!”

Even though something gross had touched his hair, Ronen, undeterred, bit down on the hand of the fallen headmaster.

“You little brat! I raised you, and this is how you repay me?!”

The headmaster, groaning in pain and unable to even touch his stomach, grabbed Ronen’s hair and shouted.

“Young Master!”

“Young Master Ronen!”

The knights, shocked by Ronen’s sudden attack, finally snapped out of their daze.

They rushed towards Ronen, who remained locked in a standoff with the headmaster, even as his hair was being pulled.

But it was too late.

The moment to intervene had passed.

“Uwaaah!”

As the headmaster collapsed, the orphanage children, who had been watching in shock, sprang into action when they saw Ronen bite the headmaster’s hand.

‘No! Don’t attack Ronen!’

But the children did the opposite of what Ed feared.

“Where is Brother Ei?!”

“Give us back our brother!!”

“You wicked headmaster! Where did you sell Brother Ei?!”

“Give back Ei and stop hurting the prince! Waaah!”

The children’s target wasn’t Ronen—it was the headmaster.

They piled on top of the headmaster, biting, kicking, and even crying out in fear while doing whatever they could.

It was chaos.

Amid the chaos, Ed tried to pull Ronen away, but the headmaster, fueled by malice, refused to release his grip on Ronen’s hair.

It was disgusting, but there was no other choice.

Ed clenched his eyes shut and raised his foot.

With all his strength, he brought it down on the headmaster’s gut.

“Aaaaagh!”

With the headmaster’s shriek, Ronen finally broke free from his grasp.

Ed pulled the dazed Ronen away from the headmaster.

“Are you alright, Young Master?”

“Y-yeah. I’m fine. What about you, Ed?”

Fine?

His hair was a complete mess, but he thought he was fine?

“Yes, I’m alright thanks to you, Young Master.”

Ed tossed away his right shoe.

He couldn’t stand the thought of wearing it after it had touched the headmaster.

It felt like if he stayed still, he would keep recalling the filthy sensation.

Ed gently tidied Ronen’s hair.

“What did this fine hair ever do to deserve being yanked so harshly? To be pulled out like that?”

He regretted it.

If he was going to crush him anyway, he should have made sure he’d never stand again.

The shoe was already dirty, so he might as well have stomped until the sole wore out.

As Ed glared at the director, who had been pulled up by the knights’ indifferent hands, the man flinched.

The director sat down, turning his back as if to shield his miserable lower half, making Ed want to slam a flying knee into it.

‘I need to get stronger too,’ Ed thought.

So that when moments like this come, he could strike one more blow.

“Neigh!”

Just then, another carriage entered the orphanage.

The emblem of the Grand Duke, a black dragon, was emblazoned on it as it rolled into the chaotic scene.

“……”

The Grand Duke stepped out of the carriage and scanned the area. He walked toward Jaynon.

“Jaynon, take off your shoes.”

“Huh? Your Highness! My, my shoes? Why?”

Like a thug from the back alleys, the Grand Duke curled his finger, demanding Jaynon’s shoes.

As Jaynon nervously stepped backward, Irtel moved in and restrained him.

“W-wait, Irtel! If you take my shoes off like that… Ahh!”

Without much effort, Irtel removed Jaynon’s shoes and handed them to the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke, now holding the confiscated shoes, walked toward Ed.

Then he knelt in front of Ed.

From the side, it almost looked like a knight pledging an oath.

Ed didn’t know what to do.

He struggled to rise from the ground, where he had been sitting awkwardly, trying to kneel as well, but it wasn’t easy.

“……”

“……”

The Grand Duke stopped Ed’s movements and grabbed his right ankle.

As the firm hand encircled his ankle, Ed felt his stomach tighten.

Even breathing didn’t feel like breathing.

‘No, no, surely the Grand Duke won’t snap my ankle, right?’

But contrary to Ed’s wild imagination, the Grand Duke merely brushed the dirt off Ed’s dirty socks and slipped Jaynon’s shoes onto his feet.

Luckily, though they were a bit large, they fit well enough.

“I heard from the knights that Ronen was upset by the talk of servants being useful only as servants,” the Grand Duke said in a low voice.

Wait… who said that?

Ed glanced up in surprise at the swiftness of the news.

Jaynon and Irtel were the most likely suspects, and when he looked at them, both just shrugged.

The Grand Duke also took off Ed’s left shoe.

His careful touch made it seem like Ed was wearing a glass slipper.

The hands were so gentle, as though they feared squeezing too hard might break it or crushing too firmly might burst it.

At such a delicate and respectful gesture, Ed’s foot flinched and shrank back.

“When your heart moves, whether it’s towards someone or something, you should simply do what you wish to do—just like I am kneeling to put these shoes on Ed for you, Ronen.”

Ronen, who had been watching the situation with wide eyes, suddenly grinned brightly.

“Yes, brother!”

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