7
The rules of this gambling chess were simple.
It was played with 3 rounds and the first to win 2 rounds wins. Bettors just had to predict the outcomes of the three games.
If they predicted all three correctly, they could win a substantial amount of money.
And I could participate in this betting. As long as it wasn’t predicting the champion’s victory.
I went all in with 160,000 silans on my victory in the first and second games and a draw in the third game, then took a seat at the table.
The audience formed around us like a golf gallery.
The number easily exceeded a hundred.
“Everyone, please pay attention! Our Granthel champion is entering!”
The champion was a middle-aged man who seemed to be in his forties. With his attire, he looked like a nobleman.
He raised his eyebrows upon seeing me.
“Looks like a challenger has finally appeared after a long time. Nice to meet you. I’m Patrick Holmes.”
“I’m Wade, serving as a mercenary.”
“You’re not planning to take off that helmet? It’s frustrating just looking at you.”
“I’ll take it off if I lose the game.”
“Hmph, that’s interesting. Let’s begin then. Will you take white?”
“No, you go first.”
My words caused a commotion.
─ Handing white to the champion? That’s too much!
– Foolish man.
Chess was a game that, if not as deep as Baduk, still had the merit of the first move advantage.
To concede that to a champion was nothing short of absurd.
“Even if I play as Black… it’s okay, but…”
Part of me was hoping for defeat. I wished there was someone in this world who could defeat me.
I had set aside the investment of 100,000 silans, so even if 1.6 million silans were to vanish, it wouldn’t hurt that much.
“I won’t refuse a concession out of politeness. I’ll make the first move.”
Patrick started the game by moving his pawn. Unlike before, where I matched his pace, this time I decided to give it my all.
How much could this so-called champion withstand?
To cut to the chase, it was disappointing.
“Check.”
“…!”
Patrick widened his eyes.
The situation was already heavily in my favor.
“Would you like to continue?”
“…No, it seems there’s no trick to turn the situation around. Wherever I move, it will end with a handshake. I’ve lost.”
“If you wish, I can review the game for you.”
The gallery became increasingly noisy.
For the victor to review the game meant giving a lesson to the defeated, like guiding a novice.
– That arrogant fellow! Daring to challenge Patrick!
– You just got lucky! It was just luck!
Those in the gallery had to be utterly surprised by the unfolding events.
“Then please review the game.”
Patrick, perhaps sensing the insurmountable barrier between us, bowed slightly and entered.
– Still, he’s not entirely useless.
I didn’t dislike people like him.
I went through the game in detail.
“In this situation, even if sacrificing the queen, advancing the rook was the right move. My bishop would have been immobilized, and consequently, the penetrating knight would have gained strength.”
“I see…”
“Shall we start the second game?”
As it was past 4 AM, we decided it was time to bring things to a close.
“Let’s have you learn a move. I’ll take White.”
Patrick’s demeanor changed.
He carefully placed his pieces with full concentration, but in the end, there was a limit.
I methodically cornered his king, thinking, ‘It’ll be over within 20 moves.’
It was at that moment.
“…?”
The mentor behind me started to fidget busily, scanning the surroundings.
Then, he reached out and whispered in my ear.
“Alse, something seems to be going wrong. I can feel a sense of unease creeping around.”
“Surely not for some pointless act…”
Are they planning to resort to violence to avoid paying dividends?
I understand that the level of dividends I receive could easily reach ten million silars, causing some discomfort, but I never thought they would stoop to such childish antics.
Well, I was considering the possibility when I came with my mentor.
“I really don’t want to see bloodshed.”
No matter how many thugs they gather, they won’t be a match for my mentor and me.
I glared at the saloon’s manager as a warning not to do anything foolish, but he remained indifferent as if he knew nothing. It was more like anticipation for the birth of a new champion.
“So, what did your mentor sense?”
It wasn’t long before it happened.
“Fire──!”
Sudden fierce flames and thick smoke rising from all directions.
In an instant, chaos ensued, turning into a scene of pandemonium.
People inside the building rushed out in disarray, while some blinded by greed dashed to steal the bags of money lying around.
“Alse, we need to get out of here quickly!”
“What? But the dividends…”
“There’s no time for that!”
My mentor forcibly grabbed my arm and led me out of the building through the shortest route.
His decision was right. Whether it was an organized arson or not, the speed at which the fire spread was unbelievably fast.
As a result, those who moved to steal the money bags ended up unable to escape and suffocated, falling to the ground.
The building engulfed in flames in an instant.
The security guards who responded to the incident could only try to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings.
“Ha….”
A bitter laugh escaped in disappointment. Of all times, why did this have to happen now?
It didn’t seem like mere coincidence.
“By the way, Mentor. You mentioned coming to Gransel for a certain request.”
“…Yes.”
“Is it related to this situation?”
“It probably is. I heard there are suspicious individuals targeting the Salion Duke. I was asked to identify and eliminate them. I didn’t expect them to move so boldly like this.”
“Well, as far as causing damage goes, it was quite effective.”
Even if he didn’t know, this saloon must have been the highest-grossing establishment within the domain.
By destroying it, it must have been a painful blow for the Salion Duke.
“Alse, go back to the mansion quietly. Consider today a good lesson learned.”
“What about you, Mentor?”
“I have work to do.”
“…?”
With that terrifying speed! My mentor dashed forward like lightning and pinned someone to the ground.
“Argh! What are you doing!”
“Did you think you could escape my sight? Guards! Arrest this man! He’s one of the perpetrators who set the fire!”
Upon confirming my mentor’s identity, the guards arrested the man. They also began questioning the people present in the saloon.
Even though I was the target of the disturbance with my face covered, thanks to the greetings of my mentor, I was able to quickly get out of it.
After the commotion, I returned to the Star Residence around 6 a.m., only to hear a sigh from the steward, Joan.
“Elaine, where on earth have you been until now?”
“What seems to be the problem? I must have had permission for an overnight stay.”
“It seems like you didn’t just come back after a quiet night’s sleep. I told you to broaden your horizons, not to cause trouble.”
She came up to me and flicked off the ash that had stuck to my clothes.
“You didn’t happen to enter the place where the fire broke out, did you?”
“hahahaha… No way. It seems like the ash accidentally got stuck while flying in the wind.”
“Well, alright then. But remember this. Your training as a housekeeper is not over yet. Until that training is complete, you are also a member of the Salleon family. Please refrain from actions that bring shame to the family.”
“I will be cautious… but is it really necessary to pay so much attention to someone like me?”
“I wish it weren’t, but you attract attention in various ways.”
Joan glanced around as if she was fed up.
There were maids lurking around, holding their breath and peeking at us.
Unintentionally, I let out a sigh.
“Ah… Yes, I will be careful.”
“And from today, you are also allowed to enter the main residence, so if you’re interested, feel free to visit. You have permission to access the library as well, so you can read your favorite books to your heart’s content.”
“How did you know I like books…?”
“How many maids do you think are keeping an eye on you? There are things you find out even if you don’t want to.”
With a stern tone, Joan made a point, causing the maids who had been eavesdropping to scurry away.
“Those kids, really.”
“I feel somewhat sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. Well then.”
Joan bowed and left with graceful steps. I decided to return to my room and rest for a while.
* * *
At the end of the basic housekeeper training, the over 100 housekeeper trainees had decreased to around 30.
I could have just gone back home, but I stayed at the academy for the merit of commuting.
However, even that was starting to become uncomfortable.
“Um… Elaine? If it’s okay, can we talk for a moment?”
A woman who seemed to be a maid approached me as I was reading in the Star Residence library.
In the distance, other maids were watching this place with keen interest.
“It’s not okay. I don’t want to be disturbed during my rare reading time.”
“Oh, um… Yes, I’m sorry!”
Blushing, the maid quickly disappeared. Laughter could be heard from afar, as if mocking her.
‘Anyway. This is not a zoo.’
As the number of housekeeper trainees staying at the Star Residence decreased and the maids’ workload lessened, this trend became more pronounced.
‘I understand, but this is getting out of hand.’
I am considered a premium item to them.
A nobleman, but a son of the Marquis who can hardly be called a true noble. Unlike other noble families with clear class differences, this situation doesn’t just end with a mere prank; it could lead to future considerations.
Add to that Alse’s glamorous appearance, and this situation had developed.
There was simply no peace of mind to be found for reading books.
“What are you all doing! Hurry and return to your positions!”
When Head Maid Joan scolded them, the crowd dispersed at last.
Joan, appearing in the library, sighed deeply as she looked at me.
Once again, I felt unjustly treated.
“I’ve said it many times, but it’s not my fault.”
“I know. I know, but…”
She held her head, expressing a headache.
“Could it be that even the maids from the main residence came to watch…?”
She said to me resolutely.
“Ilaine, if you plan to read, I’m sorry, but please go to the library on the second floor of the main residence. There, you can read comfortably without the maids freely coming and going.”
“Sigh… I guess I’ll do that.”
Even though I claimed it wasn’t my responsibility, I felt sorry for Joan for causing more trouble than necessary.
Feeling burdened by the maids’ gazes, I decided to stay quietly in the main residence’s library until the master’s work was done.
From then on, apart from academy class hours, I spent my time only in the main residence’s library. Indeed, being a noble, various rare books were casually placed there.
What caught my attention was a story about a border country not typically well-handled.
“Was the Kuralbel Empire related to elves? This might be discussed in future updates.”
In this way, I built up knowledge by focusing on history books to find clues about the story.
It was on such a day.
“Hey.”
A girl interrupted me while I was reading.
Thinking it was the usual, I decided to ignore her.
“…”
“Hey. Can’t you hear me?”
“I’ve decided not to listen. I don’t want to engage with someone lacking the courtesy to disturb others’ reading.”
“Oh…!?”
“So, could you please be quiet?”
From Noble mtl dot com
She looked puzzled, then frowned.
“I apologize for that part. But don’t you have a problem too? I had taken that book out to read. I find it rude that you’re reading it without even saying anything to me.”
“…?”
Only then did I look up at her face.
Though I didn’t know who she was, her face seemed familiar.
“I’m sorry, but who are you?”
“What…!?”
The girl with rabbit-like eyes. She spoke as if on guard.
“A new strategy to deceive me? I won’t fall for it!”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but can we talk later? I’ve been interrupted while reading a lot recently, so I’m a bit annoyed.”
“Do you really not know me? We exchanged formal greetings on the first day!”
“…”
Wait. When she mentioned exchanging formal greetings on the first day, only one person came to mind.
Thump! Cold sweat dripped down my spine.
The name didn’t come to mind precisely because we only met once for about ten minutes back then and hadn’t crossed paths for two months; it’s no wonder I can’t remember. Since I had no intention of becoming a butler or building a career, I had completely turned a blind eye to it.
“It seems like other people used to call you ‘Miss So-and-so’ as a habit.”
I searched my memory like a salmon and found the answer.
“Of course, I haven’t forgotten. It’s Jaina, right?”
“You were only off by one letter! I can’t believe you actually forgot!”
“Tsk. How bothersome…”
“D-Did you just say it’s bothersome?”
“As if I would. So, what is your name?”
“Eugh… I won’t tell you.”
“Well, then, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Honestly, I had a mindset of ‘what’s the point.’ Unlike the others, I had no purpose with her. It didn’t matter if I looked good or not.
Guiding her to this study was also Joanna’s idea. If there’s anything to blame, I wish she would blame Joanna.
I pushed the book I was reading towards her and decided to read another book.
She bit her lip, sat down in front of me, and stared at me intently.
Thirty minutes passed like that.
Perhaps she didn’t think I would really just read the book, as she seemed to be getting impatient.
“You’re really just going to read the book… Why did you come to our mansion for butler training?”
“For a ridiculous reason. An annoying request came in for a private consultation. This butler training was a perfect excuse to reject that.”
“Such an absurd reason…”
“Lower nobles have their own struggles. Just like you can’t rudely interrupt my reading.”
“I think I’m rude enough.”
“So, what did you say your name was?”
“I won’t tell you.”
“Hmm, judging by your reaction, you seem to remember my name?”
“…!”
It felt like a stab in the heart.
“Remembering the name of someone you’ve only seen once. You have a good memory.”
She seemed even more shocked by my words.
“O-Once, you say? We had classes together at the academy quite often. Don’t you remember? When we talked about tactical combat!”
“Was there such a thing? I’m sorry. I don’t remember such trivial things.”
Remembering parts of the lessons in such detail. It’s a bit chilling.
“Trivial things…! Eugh!”
For some reason, she seemed quite offended.
That’s when it happened.
A new presence entered the study.
“Erina, you’re here. I was looking for you.”
Altior Salleon suddenly burst into the study.
I hastily got up from my seat.
“Lady! What was the title of the book you were looking for?”
Indeed, I couldn’t show this scene in front of the upper class.
I responded with a fabricated smile, but she glared at me, finding me repulsive. Then, she spoke to Duke Salleon.
“Grandfather! I want this man to accompany us on the bear hunt this time!”