## Chapter 544 – 544. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated Into The Baek Family
544. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated into the Baek Family
「Advice: Get up.」
I rose at the advice’s message.
It was 5 AM. The sun hadn’t even properly risen yet. As a butler, I had no choice.
‘…I’ve gotten used to waking up early. This stuffy butler’s uniform even feels comfortable now.’
I checked my uniform for wrinkles and stepped out of my room. I felt the cool air and looked around. It was only yesterday that I moved into the dormitory, so it still felt a bit unfamiliar.
「Advice: Finish cleaning and prepare breakfast.」
I prepared breakfast as the advice instructed. When I ate it, it was just an average meal, but when others ate it, it was a dish that rivaled the royal chef’s.
「Advice: Wake the princess and attend to her.」
Since there were no other servants, I was especially busy. Still, it was easy since Yuria was cooperative.
I combed her cyan hair while looking out the window. I saw three noble ladies in front of the first-floor entrance and three servants a little further away. Three ladies, one butler, and two maids.
“They’re waiting for the princess. I should hurry.”
“It’s alright. Take your time. They’re just waiting on their own accord. There’s no reason to consider them. I don’t want this time to be disturbed.”
I finished her hair perfectly.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. It’s good. There’s nothing to criticize.”
“…Princess. I want a reward.”
“From the morning? You’re greedy. But… I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll grant you a reward.”
“Thank you.”
I gently held Yuria’s waist and cheek and kissed her. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we’ve done everything except sex. A kiss is nothing.
Her lips parted. It seemed that her saying she was in a good mood was true, seeing as she was allowing my tongue, which she rarely did. I inserted my tongue and focused on the kiss. I sucked on her tongue and tasted her saliva. As things escalated and my hand on her waist was about to move to her butt, her hand pushed my chest.
“That’s enough.”
“…Yes, Princess. Your skirt is slightly disheveled.”
We started heading to the academy. Yuria walked proudly, leading her three friends… no, three followers. It would take 15 minutes to reach the academy building. I followed behind with the other servants.
As time passed, more nobles were heading to school.
Since I had nothing to do but walk, I listened to the nobles’ murmuring.
“That’s the successor of the Philtania Duchy…. Her appearance and gait are different…. Just looking at her makes me admire her.”
“I talked to her briefly yesterday, and her voice and tone were so beautiful… If I were a man, I would have fallen for her.”
“I heard that Princess Yuria and Prince Parein are engaged. Don’t you think they look really good together?”
Most of the noble ladies looked at Yuria with admiration. The men were no different. However, their gazes contained ulterior motives.
“Oh my. That’s Prince Parein. What a coincidence…. Is this fate?”
He was a handsome man with golden hair. His green eyes sparkled, and he had a gentle impression. A real prince with the image of a prince from a fairy tale. And Yuria’s fiancé.
“There’s also Lord Yorsen, the successor of the Selbreeze County!”
He was a man with blue hair and a large build. His face was handsome, and his body was full of muscles. Judging by the aura he gave off, he was a force to be reckoned with.
“Isn’t that Duke Matisse, the next candidate for prime minister?!”
He was a man with black hair and a sharp impression. The way he was frowning between his eyebrows made him seem like he had some kind of germophobia.
“The kingdom’s famous handsome men are all gathered in one place!”
“Ah! I’m so moved! I never thought this day would come…!”
“…But who is that lady in the center?”
“I know. It’s Miss Mary from the Komotops Barony.”
“Why is Miss Mary among them? It’s like…”
“It’s like those three men are clinging to Miss Mary.”
I looked at the woman named Mary.
Shining golden hair. Big, cute eyes, and a smile and atmosphere that reminded me of summer. She was a beauty, but a common one. Her waist was slender, but her chest was at most a B cup, and her hips were average. She was far from my type.
‘…But why does it look like those three men are so infatuated with that woman?’
I especially couldn’t understand Prince Parein. He wasn’t even looking at Yuria, who was much more beautiful, and was only looking at Mary.
“Mary! There’s a good dessert shop outside the academy. Would you like to go with me after class?”
“Really? I love desserts! And how could I refuse the prince’s invitation!”
“You need an escort outside the academy. Leave the escort to me.”
“I’m also interested in desserts. Sweets energize the brain. I’ll join you.”
“…Can’t you guys go separately?”
The murmuring grew louder as time passed. The cause was that group. The atmosphere here and there was clearly different.
Mary and I made eye contact. Mary smiled at me. It was probably just a smile without any big reason.
Yuria glanced at them for a moment. But she passed by as if she had no interest. She didn’t even greet Prince Parein.
‘This isn’t good.’
My prediction was correct.
“Weren’t Prince Parein and Princess Yuria engaged…?”
“They look like strangers. What happened between them?”
“Did Prince Parein get stolen by Miss Mary….”
The murmuring turned into whispers. Yuria and Prince Parein’s reputations were falling in real-time. The prince would be fine with it. He had nothing to lose since he didn’t have the right to the throne. But it was different for Yuria, who would become a duchess.
‘There’s nothing I, a mere butler, can do.’
I just frowned.
Later, just before parting with Yuria, I asked her.
“Princess. There will be strange rumors going around. We need to do something about it….”
“Nothing has happened yet. We shouldn’t act rashly over something like this. If Prince Parein has any sense, he’ll deal with it.”
“Yes. I’ll keep an eye on it for now.”
•••
While Yuria was taking classes at the academy, I was able to get some free time.
‘I’ll eat lunch at the cafeteria… and there’s afternoon classes, so I’ll go pick her up around dinner time…. Should I take a nap?’
「Advice: Clean the house.」
“There’s still plenty of time, so I’ll just take a nap….”
「Advice: Clean the house.」
“…Okay, okay.”
I cleaned as the advice wanted. There was no particular reward.
Most of my daily life after coming to the academy was like this. When I was in the castle, I would occasionally receive assassination missions, but now I only do simple errands for Yuria.
And as time passed, I felt that things were getting strange.
“Mr. Eugene. I heard that the princess had Prince Parein stolen by Miss Mary… is that true? I know it’s a rude question. But… my lady is urging me to get an answer….”
“It’s a false rumor. The engagement has not been broken. What do you mean by stolen?”
“Ah. It was a false rumor.”
Many servants asked me about the rumors. I told them all that they were false rumors.
However, the rumors only got worse as the days went by, and they didn’t calm down.
Prince Parein did not correct the rumors and instead, he was just standing by. His attitude further accelerated the rumors.
And after a few more days passed. Now there were even rumors that Yuria and Mary had become mortal enemies due to a love triangle.
When Mary became involved, Prince Parein threw away his previous attitude and actively moved.
The problem was that his actions were not eliminating the rumors, but rather adding credibility to them.
“Princess. It’s clear that someone is maliciously spreading rumors. Are you just going to stand by like this?”
“Rumors are just rumors.”
“You know very well that rumors can be used to bring down nobles. …Are you perhaps trying to break off the engagement using the rumors?”
“I’ve been focusing on Prince Parein lately. It seems that breaking off the engagement would be more beneficial for the family.”
“Wouldn’t the Duke be furious?”
“My mother’s position will soon be mine.”
She meant not to worry about the Duchess.
But I couldn’t just stand by.
‘This chapter is probably related to these rumors. If I clear up the rumors or find the culprit who is maliciously spreading them, I’ll be able to move on to the next chapter.’
Even if Yuria doesn’t cooperate, I’ll have to investigate the rumors on my own.
•••
“I heard that Princess Yuria and the Komotops lady grabbed each other by the hair and fought, and Prince Parein stopped them in the middle?”
“Oh my….”
The maids were talking about the rumors. They tensed up for a moment when they saw me.
“M-Mr. Eugene….”
“May I ask you about the details of that rumor?”
“I-I don’t know either. I just heard it….”
“Who did you hear it from?”
“That’s…. From Matilda, who works in the kitchen….”
I acted step by step, like following the footprints of an animal on the forest floor. There was no need to move too hastily. If things didn’t work out, I could just loop.
I couldn’t kill them.
If a murder occurred within the academy, things would get out of hand.
‘There are a total of 11 suspects. There’s no evidence. But the situation is saying that they’re the culprits. Three are servants and eight are nobles. Even if I know the culprit, it won’t be easy to deal with them.’
The motive was easy to guess.
Jealousy.
Yuria was too good, so they were inflating the rumors out of jealousy.
Whenever I had free time, I went around and collected the evidence they hadn’t managed to hide.
In the process, I met Mary.
At the back of the academy, a small forest path, but a place called the back garden among the people. I happened to run into Mary here.
“You’re Mr. Eugene, Princess Yuria’s butler? What brings you here?”
“You knew me?”
“Mr. Eugene is famous. The most outstanding butler. It’s rumored that you could have become a noble if you weren’t the butler of the Philtania family. Ah, speaking of rumors, the rumors with Princess Yuria…. Haa…. I don’t know why those rumors started, but Princess Yuria must be very upset, right? Since it seems like the rumors are because of me, should I go apologize to her myself?”
The Mary I saw in person was talkative.
But I couldn’t focus on her words. My gaze and mind were directed at the black cat she was holding in her arms.
The feeling was ominous.
“Miss Mary. That cat is….”
“It’s cute, right? It’s always around here. I want to take it home and raise it… but I’m meeting it whenever I have time because it might have an owner.”
「Advice: The cat is a monster. Kill it.」
“Miss Mary! Put the cat down and come over here! That’s a monster in a cat’s disguise!”
“Huh?”
Mary’s eyes widened. She looked at the cat in her arms with wide eyes as if she couldn’t believe it.
Meow.
The black cat jumped up from Mary’s arms. The cat’s body swelled and grew larger. Strangely, the black cat didn’t fall to the ground and was sitting in the air.
The giant cat raised its large arm. It was a preliminary motion to slap Mary.
「Advice: Save Mary.」
I kicked off the ground and ran towards Mary.
“Kyaaaak?!”
I grabbed her shoulder and fell to the side, avoiding the cat’s attack.
“Don’t try to run away. Just stay still. It’s easier to protect you that way.”
The black cat’s slit pupils turned towards me.
Crack.
I created lightning in my hand and rushed towards the cat. The black cat wailed loudly.
In an instant, my sense of balance disappeared and my vision shook. The cat swung its front paw with its claws extended towards me.
“Mr. Eugene!!”
I put strength in my lower body and received the cat’s attack with both hands. The claws dug into my arm, and blood flowed. I kicked the cat’s nose with a kick.
Nyaang!
The cat shook its head in confusion. I didn’t miss that small gap.
“It’s time for an electric massage.”
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt!
I created lightning at maximum output.