I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 115

 

The Duchess and Carson’s eyes fell on me as I said I had something to say.

 

Seriously, I had something to share.

 

As I looked into those two pairs of gentle eyes, I forgot what I was going to say and laughed out loud.

 

I had words to say, but as I laughed, both their heads tilted at the same time.

 

‘Can adorableness be inherited?’

 

If so, Carson must have taken after the Duchess. I loved this peacefulness. And the fact that I get to see those lovely faces every day.

 

“I didn’t mean for this to happen, but you two are so adorable, I couldn’t resist.”

 

They both blushed at my honesty.

 

“Oh, you know, it’s funny…”

 

“…I wonder if it was my birthday today.”

 

I cut to the chase, enjoying the reaction, and spoke, “You’ve heard that Erhan, the eldest son of the Count of Armeria, has been messing around with business lately, right?”

 

He must have known, because the higher up the nobility, the quicker the information.

 

“And that he’s got his hands all over the place.”

 

Was it because she knew Erhan was my cousin, the Duchess asked cautiously.

 

There was a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

 

“By bringing it up, do you mean that he needs our help?”

 

“No, I’m telling you because I want you to stay out of this.”

 

These were the people who would have helped me behind my back if I hadn’t brought it up.

 

Or maybe not.

 

Hearing my words, both heads twitched. That meant they were being stung.

 

“I appreciate your concern, but I can handle this without your help from Lysianthus.”

 

The Duchess interrupted, a worried look on her face.

 

“But my in-laws…”

 

Perhaps it was the way the word ‘in-laws’ came out of her mouth, but I felt strangely pleased.

 

A hint of mischief flashed through me. I wanted to surprise the Duchess.

 

“Mother, I am quite capable of supporting the Count of Armeria.”

 

“…Mother?”

 

Her eyes widened in disbelief at being called Mother. Carson was equally surprised, and his mouth dropped open, and he looked at me.

 

“Painkillers, mana relaxants, sweat suppressants, and many of the other medicines sold at the top of the Hansen’s.”

 

The corners of my lips quirked up to look somewhat arrogant.

 

“All made by me, and I have the money, plenty of it.”

 

Then I took the Duchess’s hand affectionately.

 

“If I really need help, I’ll come straight to you without hiding it, and you won’t turn me away if I ask for it, will you?”

 

She nodded, looking half-dazed, as if the realization still hadn’t sunk in.

 

I gave her a satisfied smile in return and muttered, “Thank you.”

 

That wasn’t a lie I’d made up to save face.

 

Now, I really wouldn’t try to handle this alone. I was going to ask them for help if I couldn’t do it myself.

 

Of course, it’s a different story if it’s within my power.

 

Revenge always feels better in the hands of the victim.

 

In that sense, Erhan was an asshole I could handle.

 

If I couldn’t handle him alone…

 

I’d summon my wonderful mother. There was the Duke, who was a little less fabulous than mother, but still the cutest, and there was Carson, who looked like both of them.

 

I shrugged lightly, snapping out of my frozen state.

 

“Caon, you too.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

He blinked, taken aback by the sudden call.

 

“I’m thankful to you.”

 

‘For everything, for so many things.’

 

The atmosphere was warming up nicely. 

 

A rather young-looking maid entered the tearoom and gently set the teacups down.

 

The Duchess had ordered the water to be boiled again. I expected the maid to leave, but for some reason she remained standing.

 

She stared at me, her face tense.

 

“Are you sure you’re going to keep your promise?”

 

Oh, right…

 

When I heard that, I realized why the maid had been looking at me so nervously.

 

Things are getting interesting…

 

I whispered low in her ear so that only the maid could hear.

 

“So, sis, I already told you, I have a lot of money. Now, come on, tell me. Who paid you to do what?”

 

The maid looked at the Duchess and Carson, her eyes twitching slightly.

 

Then, as if deciding something, she squeezed her eyes shut tightly and said.

 

“Butler Altemere told me to pour hot water on you as if it were a mistake.”

 

My expression turned sour.

 

‘Butler, you’ve crossed the line for once.’

 

At the maid’s sudden confession, the Duchess, and Carson, stiffened as well. I turned to the people, who were now completely on my side, since I had gone completely off the rails with Butler Altemere.

 

If Butler Altemere pays someone to do something for him, tell me immediately.

 

Whatever he pays you, I promise to pay you back tenfold.

 

And if I were to be treated unfairly by Butler Altemere for telling the truth, I would pay him ten years’ salary in one lump sum as compensation.

 

It was a kind of safeguard.

 

“Thank you for your courage. I’ll make sure you’re rewarded.”

 

It was a flimsy, simple safeguard. I thought of Butler Altemere as clueless and stupid, but I didn’t think he’d actually get caught.

 

I wondered how he’d gotten to the position of head butler with that kind of skill.

 

Likewise, I heard he was recognized by the Duke for his abilities….

 

Maybe it was the ability to move like a machine that only seemed plausible on the surface, or the ability to grind people under him.

 

Or maybe the Duke was bored and just put anyone up there.

 

The Duchess turned to the maid with a fierce look.

 

“What do you mean, the Butler has ordered you to pour hot water on Leen?”

 

I frowned bitterly, my eyes downcast.

 

Then, in a sobbing voice, I gave a confirming blow, “The butler must hate me so much that he would do such a terrible thing…”

 

When I first came to the Duchy, I knew the butler was not favorably disposed toward me, but I let it slide.

 

I figured I’d be leaving here soon enough, and my status as a commoner meant that I didn’t have to deal with him.

 

So, I tried to keep it quiet and pass it off as an argument. But I’m no longer leaving, and the butler’s behavior clearly crossed the line.

 

If the maid had really thrown hot water on me, I could have been severely burned.

 

‘Butler. You used your position of power to harm me, using a servant to do it.’

 

Perhaps I ought to summon the highest person in this house and end the game.

 

‘May you survive this attack.’

 

Lowering my head pitifully, I wondered how much time had passed and questioned the surrounding silence.

 

‘Why are neither of them reacting?’

 

I was just thinking about that when The Duchess’s high-pitched voice called out.

 

“Caon, fetch Leon at once.”

 

The emotionless tone of her voice sent chills down my spine.

 

The Duke’s name, Leon, must be a nickname for him, as his full name was Leonian Lysianthus.

 

I lifted the corners of my lips in silence.

 

Butler, you’re X-ed.

 

🍃

 

The main hall, a place not usually frequented by the servants.

 

Right now, the entirety of the staff belonging to the Duke of Lysianthus was gathered there.

 

It had been an hour since the Duke’s summons.

 

The servants had been hastily assembled, not knowing anything, and were sweating profusely.

 

The Duke in a fierce stance and the Duchess in an even more ferocious demeanor.

And the young master with a smile drawn from a fiery flame.

 

It was a deadly combination that would not be strange to see anyone die in this room.

 

Even more frightening, after summoning the servants, the Duke said nothing, just continued to stare off into space.

 

“I’m sure you all know of the child who entered the ducal family not long ago.”

 

After an hour of silence, the Duke’s words were somewhat out of place.

 

Or perhaps, given the murderous atmosphere, it was the most likely topic.

 

It was no secret that the Duke and Duchess were currently living in separate rooms after a huge fight over a young lady named Leen.

 

“There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding, and today I’d like to tell you where she stands in the Duchy.”

 

Duke’s low bass voice echoed through the main hall.

 

His voice was not loud, but it was clear enough that no one could fail to hear him.

 

“But first, let me ask you, how do you feel about a commoner ruling over you?”

 

The servants who heard the Duke’s words thought, ‘The Duke is trying to get rid of her once and for all.’

 

If they sided with the Duke here, they would be hated by the Duchess and the Young Master.

 

Conversely, if you side with the Duchess, you’d incur the Duke’s wrath.

 

It was best to remain neutral here.

 

There was a murderous silence, in which not even the sound of swallowing could be heard.

 

And it was none other than Butler Altemere who broke the silence.

 

“Who would want to serve such an unworthy commoner?”

 

The Duke’s gaze traveled slowly to him and muttered, “I see.”

 

As the Duke spoke, Butler Altemere disappeared from the main hall.

 

Without warning, without sound, he was gone.

 

“Another disgruntled soul.”

 

The servants swallowed hard. No one here knew where the butler had gone.

 

He might have gone to the torture chamber beneath the Duke’s manor, or he might have fallen into the center of a demon-infested mountain,

 

or perhaps he had already been executed.

 

…Wasn’t the Duke supposed to dislike the young lady?

 

So much so that he spoke out against his beloved Duchess, even going so far as to oppose her taking the young lady as his daughter-in-law.

 

Was that all? He took the lady aside, knelt her down, and slit her wrists.

 

And in that short time, she’s won the Duke over to her side?

 

The servants’ heads were spinning in confusion.

 

The Duke looked around the silent hall and spoke with satisfaction.

 

“It’s a good thing there aren’t too many stupid people here.”

 

The Duke walked through the crowd of servants and stood in front of someone.

 

A man who had served as Butler of Lysianthus for a similar number of years as the vanished Dan Altemere.

 

Though he had been forced to do his bidding years ago when Dan took the surname Altemere and became the Chief Butler.

 

“From this day forward, you are the Chief Butler.”

 

The Duke’s words caused a stir in the hall. It was an unconventional greeting.

 

“I also bestow upon you the surname of Altemere and the title of Viscount.”

 

“I, Viscount Altemere, am…”

 

“Who is that?”

 

The man who, as of today, bore the surname Altemere fell silent. He may not have the same mastery over the people as the former Viscount Altemere, but he was a perceptive man.

 

It took him less than a minute to oust the former Chief and replace him with the new one, Viscount Altemere.

 

The Duke, who had never been one to speak loudly, filled his voice with mana and declared to his audience.

 

“Leen is the heir to the name of Lysianthus, and she will be the Duchess in the future, so treat her as such.”

 

The servants of the House of Lysianthus had a new master to serve.

 

“I will always listen to anyone who has a complaint, especially in this area.”

 

The Duke’s words rang in the ears of the servants, telling them that if they wanted to know how the former Altemere had died, they should feel free to ask.

 

“And with that, I will dismiss the assembly.”