Chapter 3: After Three Months (part 1)

After the meal, I followed the call of Ed, the elderly butler.  

Ed led me into a room and gestured for me to sit in a chair.  

“…I don’t know what kind of person you are. However, there must be a reason why she likes you,” he said.  

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say,” I replied.  

“This is a contract.”  

Ed placed a piece of paper and a pen on the table in front of me.  

“Take your time and read it carefully,” he instructed.  

“I will.”  

What Ed handed me was a contract written in Japanese. The content was straightforward:  

Live as a butler for the Lionheart family and obey the lady’s orders as much as possible.  

In addition, it detailed matters such as the annual salary, guidelines, and other things to keep in mind.  

“Does this seem reasonable?” Ed asked.  

“The contract doesn’t appear overly formal or complicated. It feels more like a pledge of allegiance to the Lionheart family,” I commented.  

“That’s exactly what it is,” Ed confirmed. “It’s not meant to be unnecessarily grandiose.”  

Still, I thought there would be more clauses, but the contract was unexpectedly simple, offering a sense of freedom I hadn’t anticipated.  

“It’s strange…”  

“Yes?” Ed prompted.  

“Don’t you think it’s odd to ask someone like me to be her butler?”  

“That’s true,” he admitted. “I don’t know what kind of life you’ve led, but as long as you serve as her butler, I expect you to be wholehearted in your devotion to the lady. Half-heartedness will not be tolerated.”  

“I understand. I’ll do my best.”  

“Good. If you’re willing, sign the contract.”  

Without hesitation, I picked up the pen and signed my name.  

“Congratulations, Kim Hyunjin. You’re officially a member of the Lionheart family’s service staff. The butler appointment ceremony will take place later, but there are some things you’ll need to learn beforehand,” Ed informed me.  

“Butler appointment ceremony? What kind of ceremony is it, and what do I need to learn?” I asked cautiously.  

Ed nodded and said, “Kim Hyunjin, what do you think are the essential skills for a butler serving the Lionheart family?”  

“This feels sudden,” I admitted.  

“Answer me,” he pressed.  

It was clear he didn’t intend to make this easy. I had expected as much, so I gave him the answer I thought he wanted.  

“Loyalty?”  

“Precisely. Loyalty and righteousness are the core duties of a Lionheart family butler,” Ed confirmed.  

“Does loyalty also encompass proper etiquette?”  

“Of course. If you intend to honor the person you serve, etiquette is non-negotiable,” Ed explained as he retrieved the contract.  

“Before you can assist directly, you’ll require proper etiquette training,” he added.  

***  

“Haa…”  

In her room, Amelia let out a sigh.  

“What is he doing?” she murmured to herself.  

When she was in danger, he appeared like the wind, effortlessly dealing with the bullies around her as though it was nothing.  

Amelia couldn’t help but be intrigued by a man who exuded a completely different aura from Ed, Lionheart’s exclusive butler.  

“Such an impressive presence…” she mused, recalling the incident.  

Kim Hyunjin was Korean, and she understood how difficult it could be for someone from another country to adapt.  

She remembered her own childhood, where she had been subjected to trivial jokes and discrimination. She couldn’t help but think Hyunjin might face similar treatment at school.  

“They’ll probably treat him differently,” she thought.  

Amelia concluded it might be better to give him a Japanese name. She wanted to shield him from unnecessary prejudice and ensure he wouldn’t have to endure what she had experienced.  

Strictly speaking, masters and servants were meant to support one another. That’s why Amelia decided to give him a name that would protect him in social situations.  

Her decision to invite Kim Hyunjin to be her butler wasn’t purely practical. While she thought it would be nice to have someone her age to accompany her at school, there was only one other employee close in age, and even they weren’t suitable.  

Ed, her current caretaker and head butler, had too many responsibilities, and his advancing age meant he needed a successor.  

That was why Amelia had visited the park that day.  

“Such an impressive presence… Who are you, really?” she whispered.  

Amelia trusted her intuition. Whether someone harbored hostility or goodwill toward her, she could sense it. The emotions Hyunjin had shown upon their first meeting were warm and welcoming.  

She trusted her instincts. If someone was willing to step forward for her under unfamiliar circumstances, then perhaps it was worth taking a chance on him as her butler.

Above all, they were the same age. That was enough to move Amelia’s heart.

Amelia enjoyed a light tea time looking out of her window.