Oh, everyone's sipping their drinks. Emperor Richard's speech just made everyone forget what happened moments ago.
It was pretty weird… like the fight never even happened.
Hans von Valentine, I've decided to destroy you.
Guess I'm developing a god complex too.
My gaze lingered on Hans for too long. Victoria tugged my sleeve: "Idiot, don't stare like that."
"No problem. He's the same kind of bastard as his father… He tried summoning me once. A visit might not be so bad." I sent the message telepathically into Victoria's mind.
Victoria stomped on my foot. A warning.
Thank goodness breaking my telepathy is nearly impossible. Unless there is no god here.
Gods keep sending curses … Hmm. Probably underworld gods. Sphiros earned my favor, and I didn't take his soul, and so his info about me must've reached the Gods.
I must've hit a nerve. When the time comes, I don't mind visiting them…
The money I gave to the victims, I take it back after my victims die.
Like Andre's inheritance that "disappeared," it became mine.
Because of that, I'm probably the richest person in the kingdom right now.
Even though coins are gold, copper, or silver, banks calculate your gold in kilograms for transactions.
For example, you have 1 gram of gold, but a kilo of bananas costs 0.001 grams; you can buy it through the app.
Very practical and inflation-proof. In the modern world, currency fluctuates based on the gold index.
Here, prices haven't changed in the last 100 years.
Amid all my thoughts, I scan the changes around me. A blonde woman approaches Victoria: "It's been a while, Victoria. Looks like you've got yourself a new butler."
"No big deal, Seraph. Everything is bound to change with time," Victoria said with a blank face. But "Seraph" wasn't her full name—she was the prince's sister, with no inheritance rights.
In the game, she falls into ruin, and the heroine defeats her with the power of love…
Bullshit. I might have to kill the heroine. When Victoria goes to the academy, I'll have to join.
I bowed slowly: "I am Raul von Vance, currently Lady Victoria's butler." She raised her hand and giggled.
Even if people weren't openly watching us, I could feel the stares from some of the men.
These losers… they can't even muster the courage to talk to a woman. "Raul… I think I've heard that name. Something about a useless son?"
"Seraph, are you insulting my butler?" Victoria's eyes locked onto Seraph.
Even the Emperor glanced toward our area. "No, I'm just stating facts, Victoria."
"Ahem, sorry for interrupting, but those are just rumors. The only real information about me is in Lady Victoria's hands…" I said with a smile.
Because I was curious what Victoria would say. But she looked at me like I'd betrayed her. Sorry, Victoria, but I have to see with my own eyes what you'd say about me.
Victoria gently took Seraph by the arm: "It's been so long since we've seen each other, and you're curious about my butler?" She gave a strange smile.
Seraph grabbed Victoria too: "Come on, the guy's handsome. If he were in noble circles, I know plenty of women who'd want him."
"Shut up, please, Seraph." Victoria's icy expression returned, and the air seemed to grow colder.
Seraph had cornered her. Good for me, but time to step in: "Though I appreciate Lady Seraphine's interest, I'm just a simple butler. Talking only about me with Lady Victoria would make this whole thing pretty awkward, wouldn't it?"
Seraphine's eyes widened. I'd pushed her back, and people were watching—she couldn't keep talking about me.
She covered her mouth: "Hhh, you're right, butler Raul. I was just curious." Though Victoria relaxed when Seraphine said that, outwardly, everything looked normal.
The nobles resumed their conversations. I joined Bella and grabbed myself a drink.
I left Victoria alone for a bit. She could handle herself. In the garden, holding two wine bottles, I looked for Bella.
I knew Bella would be wandering the garden—she was tired, and her duties were done.
The moon filled the sky. Mana stones decorated the surroundings. I sat beside Bella: "Hmm, nice night, isn't it?" I handed her a wine bottle.
"Yeah, it is. Still pretty exhausting, though." She uncorked the wine. I did the same, and we clinked bottles.
"To our health," we said and took a sip together.
Ah, the grape-like taste in my mouth was great.
"Lady Victoria must be exhausted."
"Yeah… endless flirting attempts from noble men and jealous glares from the women…" I sighed. If I were in Victoria's place, I'd have ditched my family name long ago.
Bella bumped my shoulder: "Quit whining. You did a great job. You got her out of Lady Seraphine's grip."
"Hmm, Bella, I've got something to say." Bella looked really tired.
She looked at me: "Hmm? What is it, Raul?"
"What does a sprinter eat before a race?" Bella looked shocked.
I ignored her staring eyes: "Nothing… they fast."
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Bella burst into laughter I'd never heard before, clutching her stomach.
Then she punched my shoulder: "That was good." Then she leaned against me.
Silence fell.
"Want me to read you a poem, Bella?" I murmured and took another sip of wine. Bella did the same.
"Hope it's better than your jokes," she said and giggled.
"When everything goes your way, one thing—Just one thing slips from your grasp. One price. Worth all the rest.
You realize what you wanted most when you lose it,you realize what's missing when you miss it.
When you finally put what you always wanted in its place,the fear that drops into your heart tells you the truth.When you find the missing piece of your life,you'll wait for it to melt in your palm like snow.Because there's no cure for this pain,no answer yet to this question.
Take the most important thing from someone's hand,leave them helpless—that's how revenge is taken.Take away their ability to help the one they love,so they can't follow where they've gone—that's how true pain is inflicted.
Defy everything. Do the impossible.Once you find what truly matters, that's where the real fight begins.
Is it harder not knowing it's the last time you'll see someone you love?Or never seeing them again at all?
Is it more terrifying to hand them to the darkness yourself,or to be unable to pull them out?
Is surrendering to fate a comfort,or is rebelling against fate the cure?"
I looked at Bella. She was crying. I wiped her tears with my hands.
"You should be a poet. It suits you more, Raul," she said.
We gazed at the moon together.
And so, this day ended just like that…