Episode 31. I Can't Let the Butler Go Like This
The raindrops fell heavily, soaking the ground. Heavy rain poured down, as if a hole had been ripped through the sky, overcast with dark clouds. The butler had strictly instructed the servant not to follow him, for fear of being seen seeing him off in the yard where he was being driven out. This profession was considerably more lucrative than others. No one welcomed someone dismissed from another family. That was the unwritten rule of the aristocracy.
The raindrops fell heavily, soaking the ground. Heavy rain poured down, as if a hole had been ripped through the sky, overcast with dark clouds. The butler had strictly instructed the servant not to follow him, for fear of being seen seeing him off in the yard where he was being driven out. This profession was considerably more lucrative than others. No one welcomed someone dismissed from another family. That was the unwritten rule of the aristocracy.
The servants wept at the harsh reality of not even being able to see him off. The butler raised his head and stared indifferently at the endlessly falling raindrops. His vision became clouded. A hollowness, as if a hole had been pierced through his chest, washed over him. The sky was covered in pitch-black clouds. It was as gloomy as his entire life.
'It's bitter...'
A torrential downpour poured down, but he had neither the energy nor the desire to use an umbrella. Being kicked out of the place where he had poured his entire life was nothing but sorrow. For what purpose had he devoted his life to this place? To be kicked out like this, unpaid, unpaid...
'It's bitter...'
A torrential downpour poured down, but he had neither the energy nor the desire to use an umbrella. Being kicked out of the place where he had poured his entire life was nothing but sorrow. For what purpose had he devoted his life to this place? To be kicked out like this, unpaid, unpaid...
A clear stream, perhaps rainwater or tears, ran down his cheek. The butler, his appearance so haggard it was pitiful, wore a look of worldliness. Rose ran towards the butler, who stood there blankly. She held an umbrella in one hand, but it wasn't enough to ward off the storm. Her long skirt was soaking wet. She had run without time to avoid puddles, so her shoes were soaked with mud. With every step, her shoes sloshed in the rain. Rose hated being wet, but the sight of her soaking wet shoes and dress escaped her notice. Has a frilly dress ever been so cumbersome as it is today?
'It's heavy.'
Rose's steps were slower than usual because of her water-soaked dress. Then, a carriage approached from afar. The clatter of horseshoes and the discordant clatter of wheels were unusually loud. The carriage, splashing mud as it sped along, stopped in front of the butler. Rose had a gut feeling. If she let the butler go like this, she'd never see him again.
'No...!'
That couldn't be. At the very least, she wanted to say goodbye. Rose shouted loudly at the butler as he approached the carriage.
“Gwen!”
Rose's voice resonated through the wind and rain. The butler, who was walking weakly, flinched. A woman's voice came from behind him.
'I said there was no need to see me off, but I guess someone came anyway.'
He didn't want to look back. His situation was so miserable. He didn't want to show this ruined state until the end. It was the last of his pride that forced him to say goodbye with a smile.
‘Is she the head maid...’
She was probably the only one in the mansion who would disobey his orders like this. The butler walked quietly, not even thinking of looking back. A dark shadow loomed over the butler, who walked listlessly, head down. The stinging rain had stopped. The rain was still pouring down, but an umbrella was placed over his head. Gwen slowly looked up at the umbrella placed over her head.
“Gwen...”
A shallow voice flowed from behind Gwen. He knew who it was just by hearing the voice.
'This voice...'
Gwen turned around, unable to hide his surprised expression.
"Ma'am?"
Before him stood Rose, drenched in rain. Her dress hung limply, and her hair was soaking wet. She reached out to Gwen, seemingly oblivious to the raindrops falling on his head, and held the umbrella over him. Rose forced a smile as their eyes met, unable to conceal the sadness in her eyes. Gwen hadn't expected it. He hadn't expected Rose, a Countess of all people, to run towards him like this. His startled eyes shook, losing their balance. Rose and Gwen remained silent for a long moment. The fiercely pounding rain further weighed down the atmosphere.
“It’s raining, and you’re not even using an umbrella.”
It was Rose who broke the silence first. Her voice, though forced to smile, was laced with sadness. The butler stared at Rose without saying a word. Rose smiled bitterly at the butler's unresponsive appearance. The butler, who had always maintained a flawless appearance... Hair flowing down and eyes unfocused. It was a stark contrast to Gwen's always confident demeanor. Gwen, who had been staring blankly at Rose, quickly lowered his head. He didn't want to face Rose with his tear-stained face. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and spoke softly.
“Madam, it’s cold. Come in.”
Gwen felt uncomfortable seeing Rose drenched in the rain because of her. How could he feel at ease when his host was getting drenched because of him? Gwen gently pushed the umbrella away from him, trying to minimize Rose's exposure.
“Thank you for everything.”
Rose's voice echoed softly.
“Thanks to the butler, I was able to survive here.”
It was true. His loving attention gave Rose strength. She couldn't express how grateful she was for his silent support.
“I was so flustered. I couldn’t even say goodbye to Madam.”
The butler spoke, lifting his monocle slightly. He didn't have the energy to go around and greet each person. Eric's "fired" remark was quite a shock.
“No matter how busy I was, I should have greeted Madam.”
Rose shook her head at Gwen's apology and replied softly.
"Don't say that. Gwen, I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you."
The butler's nose stung at Rose's words. Ah... I shouldn't cry again. His nose stung. They say that tears increase with age, and he guesses it's true. Seeing Rose's words bring tears to his eyes like this, the butler sniffled and raised his head. Looking at Rose with bloodshot eyes, his expression was much lighter than before.
“I am so glad that this old man was of help to you, madam.”
Rose was being neglected in this spacious mansion. It was a pity that she wasn't treated as befitting a Countess, and that she was ignored by her husband. The fact that most of the employees treated Rose kindly was largely due to the butler's influence. Gwen, who held significant influence in the mansion, took the lead in looking after Rose, and because of her, the others didn't treat her rudely.
“...Where are you going now?”
Her thin voice was entangled with regret and sorrow. Regret at losing the great mountain that supported her, and the sadness of never seeing Gwen again. The butler couldn't easily answer. Where would the family be that would accept him after being banished? He lowered his head with a bitter expression.
'It's heavy.'
Rose's steps were slower than usual because of her water-soaked dress. Then, a carriage approached from afar. The clatter of horseshoes and the discordant clatter of wheels were unusually loud. The carriage, splashing mud as it sped along, stopped in front of the butler. Rose had a gut feeling. If she let the butler go like this, she'd never see him again.
'No...!'
That couldn't be. At the very least, she wanted to say goodbye. Rose shouted loudly at the butler as he approached the carriage.
“Gwen!”
Rose's voice resonated through the wind and rain. The butler, who was walking weakly, flinched. A woman's voice came from behind him.
'I said there was no need to see me off, but I guess someone came anyway.'
He didn't want to look back. His situation was so miserable. He didn't want to show this ruined state until the end. It was the last of his pride that forced him to say goodbye with a smile.
‘Is she the head maid...’
She was probably the only one in the mansion who would disobey his orders like this. The butler walked quietly, not even thinking of looking back. A dark shadow loomed over the butler, who walked listlessly, head down. The stinging rain had stopped. The rain was still pouring down, but an umbrella was placed over his head. Gwen slowly looked up at the umbrella placed over her head.
“Gwen...”
A shallow voice flowed from behind Gwen. He knew who it was just by hearing the voice.
'This voice...'
Gwen turned around, unable to hide his surprised expression.
"Ma'am?"
Before him stood Rose, drenched in rain. Her dress hung limply, and her hair was soaking wet. She reached out to Gwen, seemingly oblivious to the raindrops falling on his head, and held the umbrella over him. Rose forced a smile as their eyes met, unable to conceal the sadness in her eyes. Gwen hadn't expected it. He hadn't expected Rose, a Countess of all people, to run towards him like this. His startled eyes shook, losing their balance. Rose and Gwen remained silent for a long moment. The fiercely pounding rain further weighed down the atmosphere.
“It’s raining, and you’re not even using an umbrella.”
It was Rose who broke the silence first. Her voice, though forced to smile, was laced with sadness. The butler stared at Rose without saying a word. Rose smiled bitterly at the butler's unresponsive appearance. The butler, who had always maintained a flawless appearance... Hair flowing down and eyes unfocused. It was a stark contrast to Gwen's always confident demeanor. Gwen, who had been staring blankly at Rose, quickly lowered his head. He didn't want to face Rose with his tear-stained face. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and spoke softly.
“Madam, it’s cold. Come in.”
Gwen felt uncomfortable seeing Rose drenched in the rain because of her. How could he feel at ease when his host was getting drenched because of him? Gwen gently pushed the umbrella away from him, trying to minimize Rose's exposure.
“Thank you for everything.”
Rose's voice echoed softly.
“Thanks to the butler, I was able to survive here.”
It was true. His loving attention gave Rose strength. She couldn't express how grateful she was for his silent support.
“I was so flustered. I couldn’t even say goodbye to Madam.”
The butler spoke, lifting his monocle slightly. He didn't have the energy to go around and greet each person. Eric's "fired" remark was quite a shock.
“No matter how busy I was, I should have greeted Madam.”
Rose shook her head at Gwen's apology and replied softly.
"Don't say that. Gwen, I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you."
The butler's nose stung at Rose's words. Ah... I shouldn't cry again. His nose stung. They say that tears increase with age, and he guesses it's true. Seeing Rose's words bring tears to his eyes like this, the butler sniffled and raised his head. Looking at Rose with bloodshot eyes, his expression was much lighter than before.
“I am so glad that this old man was of help to you, madam.”
Rose was being neglected in this spacious mansion. It was a pity that she wasn't treated as befitting a Countess, and that she was ignored by her husband. The fact that most of the employees treated Rose kindly was largely due to the butler's influence. Gwen, who held significant influence in the mansion, took the lead in looking after Rose, and because of her, the others didn't treat her rudely.
“...Where are you going now?”
Her thin voice was entangled with regret and sorrow. Regret at losing the great mountain that supported her, and the sadness of never seeing Gwen again. The butler couldn't easily answer. Where would the family be that would accept him after being banished? He lowered his head with a bitter expression.
Whoosh. A heavy silence fell. The only sound between them was the heavy patter of rain. The butler's hair, always neatly combed back, was soaking wet and flowing unsightly.
'I wonder if there's nowhere to go.'
Rose could sense from Gwen's listless appearance that he had no fixed destination.
‘I feel like the butler got into trouble for no reason because of me...’
Rose felt uneasy. Doana must have been involved in his dismissal. As the saying goes, "When whales fight, the shrimp gets hurt." Seeing the butler involved in Doana's and her own affairs, she felt a twinge of responsibility.
'It won't work. Letting the butler go like this.'
She couldn't just sit by and watch him get unfairly cut off. She wanted to help the butler somehow... But what could she possibly do with her lack of connections and information? Rose quickly racked her brain. What could she do for Gwen?
'Wait a minute...There was something I really needed the butler to do!'
A thought flashed through Rose's mind. Having made up her mind, she looked straight at the butler. A firm resolve emanated from Rose's gaze as she gazed at Gwen.
“I have a favor to ask, could you please listen to it?”
What on earth are you trying to ask of the old man?
“Well, I’m not even a butler anymore, so what help can I be to you, Madam...?”
Gwen answered, trailing off. He seemed to be refusing Rose's request, but then added a word.
“But if this old man can be of any help to you, madam, then by all means.”
Rose smiled as if responding to the butler's words.
“Gwen, I need you. I have a business idea in mind.”
The butler's eyes wavered at Rose's words.
“Business... are you talking about?”
Business? Had he ever seen Madam prepare something like that?
'I wonder if there's nowhere to go.'
Rose could sense from Gwen's listless appearance that he had no fixed destination.
‘I feel like the butler got into trouble for no reason because of me...’
Rose felt uneasy. Doana must have been involved in his dismissal. As the saying goes, "When whales fight, the shrimp gets hurt." Seeing the butler involved in Doana's and her own affairs, she felt a twinge of responsibility.
'It won't work. Letting the butler go like this.'
She couldn't just sit by and watch him get unfairly cut off. She wanted to help the butler somehow... But what could she possibly do with her lack of connections and information? Rose quickly racked her brain. What could she do for Gwen?
'Wait a minute...There was something I really needed the butler to do!'
A thought flashed through Rose's mind. Having made up her mind, she looked straight at the butler. A firm resolve emanated from Rose's gaze as she gazed at Gwen.
“I have a favor to ask, could you please listen to it?”
What on earth are you trying to ask of the old man?
“Well, I’m not even a butler anymore, so what help can I be to you, Madam...?”
Gwen answered, trailing off. He seemed to be refusing Rose's request, but then added a word.
“But if this old man can be of any help to you, madam, then by all means.”
Rose smiled as if responding to the butler's words.
“Gwen, I need you. I have a business idea in mind.”
The butler's eyes wavered at Rose's words.
“Business... are you talking about?”
Business? Had he ever seen Madam prepare something like that?
Rose smiled, looking at the butler who stood there with a bewildered expression. It was something she had been pondering for a long time. Rose had no intention of running a department store on her own. The world was always harsh. Just working hard didn't always lead to commensurate results. Would it be easy for her, an ordinary salaryman, to run a massive department store? Probably not. Even a small shop was likely to fail.
Rose had never even tried the common stock market. High risk, high return was a thing of the past in Rose's life. It was scary. Her goal was simply to live a long and lean life like everyone else. Being ordinary wasn't a bad thing. In her previous life, dreams were a luxury. Now that she was at a large corporation, she had been told countless times to stop dreaming and just go to work. Rose believed their advice was correct, that success wasn't for everyone, so she gave up on her dream without even trying.
But she didn't want to do that even in her second life. She no longer wanted to live a life where she only thought about failure and didn't even try. Perhaps it was the heroine effect?
Strangely, courage welled up in her. The die had already been cast. Rather than fearing failure, the right thing to do was to focus on how to run a successful department store. When she was planning the department store, she always had this in mind: hiring someone to handle the practical aspects.
'Business operations should be run by professionals.'
Rose might be the owner of the department store, but she was planning to hire a CEO and CFO. Rose thought as she looked at Gwen, who was looking at her with surprised eyes.
'The butler has been in charge of the finances and operations of the Count Wence family for 30 years.'
She heard it when she was taking private lessons. The people who saved the collapsing Count of Wence were none other than the previous Counts, Cedric and Gwen. The Wence family's financial stability was also thanks to Gwen's efforts. Furthermore, he was said to be a talent so extraordinary that the imperial court coveted him.
'When it comes to managing finances, there's no one better than a butler.'
The perfect person was right in front of her, and she hadn't recognized him until now. Gwen wasn't some hidden gem, but a polished diamond. Rose smiled and reached out to Gwen. Gwen quietly looked down at the gentle hand he had extended. It felt like she had gone back to that day. To Cedric, who had reached out to her thirty years ago. And to the moment when she had been faced with the choice of whether to take his hand or not. In stark contrast to Cedric's seemingly strong hand, Rose's was delicate.
'What kind of business are you trying to do?'
Gwen was quite curious. The woman who had been doing nothing but clinging to Eric had suddenly changed. She, who had been passive and submissive, as if she had erased herself from her life, was now preparing to face the world. Gwen, who had been staring at her small hand, slowly raised his head. Her once dull eyes were now filled with a preliminary lively energy. Gwen looked at Rose with a straight gaze and took her hand.
“It is an honor, ma’am.”
Whatever the undertaking, she will make it a success. A burning desire boiled within Gwen's heart. The rain, which had been pouring down with strong winds, began to lighten. The stinging downpour, as if nothing had happened, ceased. It was a shower that would relieve the sweltering heat.
'Business operations should be run by professionals.'
Rose might be the owner of the department store, but she was planning to hire a CEO and CFO. Rose thought as she looked at Gwen, who was looking at her with surprised eyes.
'The butler has been in charge of the finances and operations of the Count Wence family for 30 years.'
She heard it when she was taking private lessons. The people who saved the collapsing Count of Wence were none other than the previous Counts, Cedric and Gwen. The Wence family's financial stability was also thanks to Gwen's efforts. Furthermore, he was said to be a talent so extraordinary that the imperial court coveted him.
'When it comes to managing finances, there's no one better than a butler.'
The perfect person was right in front of her, and she hadn't recognized him until now. Gwen wasn't some hidden gem, but a polished diamond. Rose smiled and reached out to Gwen. Gwen quietly looked down at the gentle hand he had extended. It felt like she had gone back to that day. To Cedric, who had reached out to her thirty years ago. And to the moment when she had been faced with the choice of whether to take his hand or not. In stark contrast to Cedric's seemingly strong hand, Rose's was delicate.
'What kind of business are you trying to do?'
Gwen was quite curious. The woman who had been doing nothing but clinging to Eric had suddenly changed. She, who had been passive and submissive, as if she had erased herself from her life, was now preparing to face the world. Gwen, who had been staring at her small hand, slowly raised his head. Her once dull eyes were now filled with a preliminary lively energy. Gwen looked at Rose with a straight gaze and took her hand.
“It is an honor, ma’am.”
Whatever the undertaking, she will make it a success. A burning desire boiled within Gwen's heart. The rain, which had been pouring down with strong winds, began to lighten. The stinging downpour, as if nothing had happened, ceased. It was a shower that would relieve the sweltering heat.
A ray of sunlight broke through the sky, once obscured by dark clouds. The butler, who had played a major role in increasing the Count's wealth, joined hands with Rose. Following the Grand Duke of Artaeum, a formidable ally had arrived at Rose's side.
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