Villain Family’s Strongest Butler

Cardian ran his fingers through his hair and leaned back in his chair. His calm gaze shifted to Norbert, who had been muttering nervously to himself.

“I have confirmed that she is not dangerous,” Cardian said.

“But, Your Grace…”

“I’ll keep her close and watch her. I’d feel more uneasy if she were out of my sight.”

Norbert’s eyes narrowed slightly. “If she makes you uncomfortable, it would be easier to kill her now…”

Cardian’s voice became firm as he cut him off. “Count.”

“Yes.”

“When she wakes, have her sign a contract.”

“….”

“And,” Cardian opened a drawer and pulled something out with a sharp clink – he placed it on the desk.

“After she signs, put this on her.”

It was a necklace-a gold chain set with a blue gem.

“Oh.”

Norbert recognized what it was at once. “A necklace with binding magic.”

“We need some precautions in case she regains her memory and decides to point a sword at me.”

“Wise, Your Grace.”

“And assign Allen to keep an eye on her.”

“Sir Allen?” Norbert blinked in surprise.

“Yes.”

Sir Allen was the second-in-command of the Knights of Mars, the Grand Duke’s personal order. Norbert tilted his head slightly.

“Is that necessary?

The necklace alone would prevent her from escaping the estate or revealing any secrets about the Grand Duke. It would also ensure that she couldn’t harm him.

‘And on top of that, assigning Sir Allen…’

It seemed a bit excessive. In fact, it felt less like surveillance and more like…

‘It feels more like he’s trying to protect them.

Norbert shook his head.

‘No, no. Our Lord is nothing if not rational and calm.’

Placing a hand on his chest, Norbert bowed deeply to Cardian.

“As you command, Your Grace.”

The legendary butler, Earl Norbert Millard, was back.

***

I opened my eyes to find myself in an unfamiliar room, filled with the scent of medicinal herbs.

Ah, right. I passed out.

My tongue still tasted bitter and my head felt foggy. My lips were swollen and sore, probably from how hard I had bitten them.

But more worrying than my physical condition was something else.

“Awake, are we?”

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Why are *you* here, old man?”

The old man shrugged and smiled a faint, almost melancholy smile.

“As a loyal servant of the Grand Duke, it’s only natural for me to be here on the estate. What’s more unusual is that you’re in a bed instead of a cell.”

“…”

He had a point. I had nothing to say.

When I tried to sit up, the old man stopped me.

“You shouldn’t get up yet. The doctor said you wouldn’t be fully recovered until tomorrow morning.”

But here you are, awake in less than an hour. You’re a monster,” he muttered in displeasure.

Ignoring his protest, I forced myself to sit up.

“Don’t pretend to care. You’re the one who would rather see me dead, aren’t you?”

“…”

The old man didn’t deny it.

“…”

“…”

An uncomfortable silence lingered between us until the old man sighed heavily.

“You must understand – I put the safety of His Grace and this estate above all else.”

His tone had softened considerably.

“What’s that?

His demeanor, condescending only moments before, now seemed almost reflective, as if he regretted his actions.

After a short pause, he continued, “Besides…”

“Besides what?”

“You lied.”

“…”

I winced. There were so many lies, I couldn’t choose just one.

Unaware of my inner turmoil, the old man continued, “You said you’d lost all your memories, but your answers after drinking the juice told a different story.”

“…”

That was true.

Something about losing my memory and not losing it, I said.

I replied to the old man, “I stand by that. I *have* lost my memory.”

“Then what is the memory you did not lose?”

His wrinkled eyes narrowed and fixed me with a sharp stare. When I didn’t answer right away, he pressed, “Don’t bother lying. It won’t be hard to get more of that juice and force it down your throat again.”

“…”

I met his gaze directly.

He was a loyal servant, sworn to protect the Grand Duke at all costs.

At times like this, it was better to give him something – a little truth to allay his suspicions.

After some thought, I said, “My name.”

“Your name?”

“Yes. I remember my name.”

“What is it?”

“…”

I stared at him for a moment before answering slowly, “Freya.”

“…”

“My name is Freya.”

***

My real name is Freya.

When I first met Serhin, it was the only thing I could remember clearly.

Even Serhin didn’t know it.

Even though he had saved me, I didn’t trust him at the time.

The scars that covered most of my face were not the result of an accident or a mistake.

They were deliberate marks of torture.

They were the result of torture.

So I concluded that I might be connected to the rebels who had led the uprising in the Tenasis Empire.

I couldn’t afford to reveal my real name.

I had lost my memories, but I wanted to survive.

I didn’t want to be executed as the last remnant of the rebellion just because of a name I couldn’t even fully remember.

That’s why I had kept my true identity hidden even from Serhin and had quietly begun to investigate my past.

But I never found any answers.

The name “Freya” alone wasn’t enough to reveal my origins in the Tenasis Empire. It was a common name, and without a family name, there was little hope of learning who I really was.

Would it be any different here in the Kadea Empire?

Probably not. It was even further away from my homeland, so it didn’t matter.

Besides, there’s a part of me that wants to live under that name for a while.

No one had ever called me by my real name, nor had anyone ever recognized me for who I really was.

“Freya, huh? Are you sure that’s all you’re hiding?” The old man’s suspicion hadn’t completely disappeared.

“Yes.”

“No family name? Are you saying you’re not from a noble family?”

“I don’t remember.”

I shook my head, and the old man scoffed.

“I could always get more juice from the temple!”

“Go ahead! I have nothing else to hide!”

“….”

The old man squinted at me, probably trying to determine if I was bluffing.

“Even if you brought more of that sap, it wouldn’t work on me, old man.

I grinned inwardly.

I knew how to detoxify and purify any foreign substance in my body – a skill only those trained in aura could master.

Even though this body is still in its infancy.

After all, this body had already developed an aura.

And now that the binding fetters are gone.

With a little more time, I’d be able to fully awaken my aura and neutralize the juice the moment it entered my system.

While you go get the sap, I’ll awaken my dormant aura.

Having formulated a plan, I felt even more confident.

The old man must have noticed because he sighed and said, “From now on, you’ll be using this room.

I blinked, confused.

Wait, I’m not going back to the dungeon?

Seeing my confusion, the old man continued, “His Grace has decided to keep you here. Consider yourself employed.”

“Employed?”

The old man chuckled, seemingly enjoying my confusion.

He took his time before choosing his words.

“Yes, you’ve been hired at the most coveted job in the Empire – the Grand Duke’s estate.”

“What?”

The old man straightened up and looked down at me with a smug grin.

“Oh, and I’ll be the one teaching you how to work.”

He added with a mischievous smile.

What the hell was he talking about? I stared at him blankly.

“So you mean to say…”

His grin widened.

“Correct. You’ve got it. Starting tomorrow, you’ll learn how to be a maid.”

He let out a hearty laugh and casually pulled a piece of paper out of his coat and placed it on the side table.

It was an employment contract.