Duke.
He was a character who first appeared in arc one, at a party held for his daughter. If I remembered correctly, it was the opening story of the novel—the one that brought me here.
According to the novel, the Duke was the coldest NPC of them all.
"…"
I didn't expect such a person to be right in front of me.
But what surprised me the most was that he was different from what was described. Now, he even seemed like someone who could be friendly with anyone.
"…"
Have I been too quick to judge people all this time?
Or, is the scenario in this world slowly starting to change?
Who knows.
"…"
I just need to focus on what's in front of me first.
The Duke, who had been laughing heartily, gradually lessened his laughter, and eventually stopped.
He took a long breath. "… You may stand up straight now."
My body, which had been bent, began to straighten. My hands reflexively clenched.
"…"
The silhouette of the shadow that had been covering him slowly disappeared, leaving his body on the white sofa.
My eyes widened.
"…"
I see him now.
face of the person I called "Duke" was now fully visible. Long, dark blue hair—so dark it seemed to swallow the light—and eyes that matched its color.
"…"
His expression was relaxed, settled in a way that suggested long years of composure.
My mouth slightly opened.
Now, he was sitting slightly hunched over. His hands were clasped on his thighs, the weight of his authority pressing straight toward me.
… I can't make a sound.
Not silenced by fear, but more by a sense of awe.
The Duke smiled faintly. "… So, how was it? Was your journey here comfortable?"
I was startled. My body slightly bowed. "Y-yes, Duke."
Was the reason I didn't get special treatment because of him?
The Duke, hearing my brief words, fell silent. His eyes widened, then a smirk appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Pffth..! HAHAHA! I DIDN'T EXPECT ANYONE TO CALL THE PERSON WHO BOUGHT THEM BY THEIR TITLE DIRECTLY! HAHAHA!"
My brow furrowed.
"…"
Was there something wrong with my address?
The Duke's laughter thundered for a while, before finally stopping with a long sigh that marked its end.
He wiped the corner of his eye. His eyes turned directly to me.
"… Hey, kid. Do you know that the person who buys you is usually called 'Master'?"
My eyes widened, then I shook my head. "… No, Duke."
"… Should I start calling you 'Master' from now on?"
The eyes of the person in front of me widened, then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"… No. Just call me by the title you used earlier. That's enough."
One of my eyebrows rose. My eyes stared straight at him.
I was confused whether it should really be like this. But, as long as he liked it, I would do it.
I bowed, performing Seikerei again.
"I will remember, Duke."
In the midst of all that, his eyes suddenly widened. His mouth didn't move for a moment.
"… Hey, kid. Do you already know the purpose for which you were bought?"
One of my eyebrows rose again. "… Of course, it's to serve you, right, Duke?"
Because it's impossible that he bought me at such an expensive price, just to take care of a place like this "Mansion."
The Duke paused for a moment, a small smile appeared on his face, before laughter thundered again.
"PFTH! HAHAHA! LITERALLY TRUE, BUT SERVE ME? HAHAHA!"
My brow furrowed. What's with him. I wasn't even joking a bit.
His laughter continued to thunder.
"…"
Until he wiped the corner of his eye, his laughter stopped.
"Hufth. Kid. You'd be suitable as a court jester. You have talent."
My gaze lowered, my molars clenched in silence.
… What does he think I am?
I took a long breath. My eyes turned directly to his eyes.
"… Sorry if I disturbed your amusement, Duke."
He looked at me.
"If I may ask… if not to serve you, will I be here to clean the Mansion?"
I tried asking like that just to be safe.
The Duke widened his eyes for a moment. His gaze looked at the ceiling, changing several times—quickly, before finally looking back at me.
"… Well. That's possible."
My eyes widened. "Eh?"
He smiled faintly. "But, of course, that won't be your main task."
My face slowly relaxed.
"I wouldn't buy you just for such a trivial thing. Besides, there are many people out there who can be hired without having to be bought first."
"…"
"But, my main purpose in buying you is…"
His shoulders slightly dropped. His gaze looked deep. A smile that was so sincere was etched from him.
"… To be my daughter's friend."
My eyes widened.
"…"
Hah? Daughter?
I didn't expect him to say something like that.
… Speaking of which, who is the Duke's daughter?
That's what I was thinking now. From the first time the Duke appeared, it was also because of his daughter.
My gaze slightly lowered. My fingers rose to my chin.
In the midst of all that, the Duke came back to his senses. He looked at me, while observing me like that.
He smiled faintly. "… How about I bring my daughter, so you can see her directly?"
My gaze returned to him, then my body was startled. "Ah… Y-yes."
Damn. Was I daydreaming just now?
"… Alright then. Razoru!"
The sound of hinges behind me creaked softly, like a door being forced to move.
I turned slowly, my body also turning following that movement.
Razoru? Who is he? I've never—
My eyes widened.
"Yes, sir. What is it?"
It turned out that the person called "Razoru" was the servant who brought me here.
The Duke looked at me. A small smirk appeared on his face.
"… It seems, you haven't gotten to know each other well yet, huh."
The Duke scrutinized the servant near the door.
"Even though I already told you to get to know each other well."
The servant remained silent, his gaze locked on the man sitting in the chair.
For a moment they stared at each other, before the Duke finally realized my presence again.
"… Oh, yeah. You haven't met the servant there yet, right?"
I nodded, slightly.
He smiled faintly again. "… Then let me introduce him."
The Duke looked directly at the person in front of him, not far from the door. He was silent for a moment, before his mouth moved again.
"… He… Is Razoru, the Head Butler here."
My eyes widened, then changed the course of my gaze to the servant near the door.
Head butler?!
"And he… will be your etiquette teacher, from now on. So, you have to be nice to him, okay," the Duke continued.
The Head Butler's gaze looked at me for a moment, before finally looking back at the Duke in front of him.
"… Sir. Didn't you call me earlier to do something?"
His body was startled, followed by his eyes widening.
"… I just remembered that."
The Duke looked back at the Head Butler not far from the door.
"Razoru. Please call my daughter. There's someone I need to introduce to her."
The Head Butler was silent for a moment. After that, he bowed, one hand politely placed in front of his chest.
"… Yes, sir."
Without many words, the Head Butler retreated slowly towards the door. Both of his hands reached for the handles on the right and left sides, then he disappeared behind the door that closed with a nearly inaudible sound.
… Should I wait here?
Without realizing it, I had been standing for so long, trapped in an awkward feeling with the Duke not far from me.
***
Several minutes had passed, the knock on the door had not yet been heard.
My eyes slightly narrowed, looking at the door in front.
… Why are they taking so long, huh?
I scrutinized the Duke. He was still in the same position—slightly hunched over, his eyes staring straight at the door.
That even made my eyes widen.
… Wow. He's so consistent with that position.
I don't know what's making him like that. Even though he could relax a bit on the sofa.
Ah… It's a shame that the sofa is just sitting there unused.
If I were him, I might have fallen asleep a long time ago.
Especially since this seems like it will definitely be—
The Duke's eyes widened for a moment.
Tok! Tok! Tok!
The sound of the door from outside was heard. Slightly loud, but not to the point of startling the people inside.
I looked back at the door. My gaze this time was so relaxed, as if there was nothing to be tense about.
… Have they arrived?
In the midst of all that, a whispering—quick—slowly became more audible. The whispers almost referred to the same direction. And in every word, there was the word "Darling" that was clearly heard.
"Hi, darling… how are you—No."
I glanced at the person.
"Hello darling, have you eaten—That's also no good."
"Father has a gift for you darling—No that must be wrong."
I furrowed my brow.
"…"
Turns out, someone like the Duke can act like that too, huh.
Even though it all seemed a bit strange.
After the sound of knocking, three times, was heard—two pairs of shoes seemed to be visible below. One was high-heeled, black in color. And the other was black, but like it was specifically for men.
They were silent there for a moment, before a slightly heavy voice finally emerged.
"… Sir. I am here with the, Young Mistress."
The Duke was instantly startled, his eyes widened for a moment, before finally bowing again. His eyes this time sharpened, with a slight crease in his mouth.
"… Please bring her in, Razoru."
For a moment the sound seemed calm. There were no excessive sounds, except for the sound of the door trying to open.
Click!
The door slowly began to open. Little by little I saw the Head Butler who was pushing the door. Then slowly, I saw someone being blocked by his body.
"…"
Until the door stopped creaking—the Head Butler moved his body aside, while he widened his arms inward.
"… Please, Young Mistress."
That was the word I heard, before I shifted my gaze to the person standing in the doorway.
My eyes widened. My mouth slightly opened when I saw her.
It turned out.
She…!