Chapter 13: A Butler Should Have at Least One Pair of Monocle (part 2)

I quickly got up and opened the door. 

Ed was standing in front of me.  

‘The head butler? Why would he come looking for me now…’ 

“Hyunjin, I know you’re busy, but follow me for a moment.”  

“Yes? Ah, yes.”  

I hesitated, glancing back at the book I had left open in the room, but I had already studied it thoroughly. It wouldn’t matter if it remained open. Closing the door behind me, I followed Ed.  

In the quiet hallway, only the sound of our footsteps echoed.  

“…You’re awfully quiet.”  

“Since you called me, I assumed you had something to say.”  

“Oh, that’s true.” Ed stroked his beard thoughtfully.  

“So, what do you want to talk about?”  

“Still impatient, just like when you first arrived.”  

‘Oops. Did I really come across that way?’

Ed had been watching me closely since I first arrived at the Lionheart Mansion. In some ways, he had spent more time observing me than Amelia had. 

I had been learning everything—from acting to magazines to martial arts.  

“Actually, I don’t know.”  

“What do you mean?”  

“Are you doing well as a butler?”  

For three months, I thought I had been doing okay. But after today, I wasn’t so sure. 

Had I been diligent enough? 

Had I tried to understand my master’s intentions? 

Or had I been too focused on doing things my own way?  

In the end, it felt like everything was based on my own standards.  

“That’s a tricky question.”  

“What do you think, Hyunjin?”  

“Hmm, it’s certainly a difficult problem.”  

“You’ve known Lady Amelia longer than I have.”  

“That’s true.”  

If someone asked what I knew about Amelia, I could only describe her personality based on my observations. Could I claim to understand her feelings after three months? 

Honestly, no.  

“That’s what makes it so painful. Today, I ended up offending Lady Amelia.”  

“Hahaha! You’re still young.”  

“Don’t laugh!”  

“Well, days like this do happen.”  

Ed suddenly patted me on the shoulder.  

“You seem to have a lot on your mind. In times like these, hard work is the answer. Let’s head to the gymnasium.”  

***

Time passed. My hands trembled, and I had no idea how long I’d been there.  

“You have too many idle thoughts.”  

“…!”  

Ed grabbed me again, and I found myself flying through the air once more. 

My body ached all over.  

“When your head is cluttered, you need to move your body to clear it,” Ed remarked. 

Though he sounded calm, I sensed his frustration. It must have been obvious.  

“Head Butler, I…”  

“No talking! Focus!”  

Before I could finish, Ed threw me to the floor again.  

“It means your heart is unsteady. You’re failing to react to things you could normally handle.”  

“Whew…” I didn’t respond. My thoughts were still a tangled mess, and my pounding headache didn’t help. 

Staring at the ceiling, I finally asked, “Now…what should I do?”  

“You misunderstand something. A butler isn’t someone who blindly obeys the master, Hyunjin.”  

“A misunderstanding?”  

“A butler is someone who guides the master to the right path, even beyond understanding their intentions. But Hyunjin, are you doing that?”  

“I… I don’t know. I don’t think I’m entirely off track.”  

Ed’s demeanor shifted, becoming heavier.  

“You’re overthinking things in a rigid, outdated way. Do you truly understand what it means to be a butler?”  

His words hit me hard.  

Had I done enough?  

Why was he saying this?  

“Have you learned anything in these three months? Doing what you’re told isn’t enough. You need to think for yourself.”  

I had been ordinary—just working, eating, and indulging in hobbies like games and comics. Had I really been so inadequate?  

“Head Butler!”  

“Speak!”  

“I really don’t know! Whether I’m doing it right or making mistakes—I have no idea! But! I’ll do my best to ensure Lady Amelia can enjoy herself!”  

I shouted with all my might and charged at Ed. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinized me, and muttered,  

“It’s a good attitude. You’re still young.”  

I swung a fist at him with all my strength, but he effortlessly blocked it.  

“Conclusions aren’t something you can reach easily,” he said, clapping lightly. “But this is the best answer you’ve given so far.”  

I panted heavily, drained from the effort. Ed’s voice softened as he added, “My advice is to loosen up a bit.”  

“Loosen up…?”  

“Yes. Your feelings for the lady are so intense that they come across as forced.”  

“Is that so?”  

“In the future, take more time to think before making decisions. That’s enough for today.”  

With that, Ed handed me something from his chest pocket.  

“What’s this?”  

“If you’re a butler, you should have at least one monocle. Consider this a small gift for your hard work.”  

“Head Butler…”  

“Take care of yourself. You need to be at your best to serve Lady Amelia and keep up with your studies. Congratulations on becoming an apprentice butler, Hyunjin.”  

He laughed heartily and walked away.  

Lying sprawled out on the gym floor, I stared at the ceiling. 

For the first time, I felt a sense of recognition from someone. It was a feeling I had never experienced before.

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Check out my other projects: Rehabilitating the Villainess, Pushover Extra Trains the Villainesses, I Picked Up an Amnesiac Witch, My Summons Are Special, My Wife is the Devil,