Chapter 39

# Chapter 39: The Servant Cedric (5) – The Value of a Product

Head Butler Bastian was deep in thought.

It was a troubling thought about how to handle Cedric.

‘Is it really okay to just leave him be?’

There was nothing wrong with Cedric’s work performance.

No, rather, he was overflowing with competence.

Laundry, garden maintenance, cooking, cleaning, and various other odd jobs –

No matter what task was given to him, Cedric consistently demonstrated results close to perfection.

However, in one single aspect, ‘respecting the master,’ Cedric wasn’t quite perfect.

In fact, it was closer to a failing grade.

In this world, what kind of servant would grab onto the fine print of a contract to nitpick and talk back to their master, even going so far as to tease them?

If the relationship between Claudia and Cedric were to become known in the Virca aristocratic society, it was certain that Claudia would immediately become the laughingstock.

Still, Bastian couldn’t easily reach the conclusion to dismiss Cedric.

“Cedric! Where are you? Get out here right now!”

Once again, Claudia’s shrill cry echoed through the mansion.

However, the servants, upon hearing her voice, neither panicked nor worried, continuing about their tasks with calmness.

Just a few weeks ago, most servants would freeze in fear or even have a seizure at the mere sound of Claudia’s voice, but this change was astonishing.

The reason was simple.

To any servant, ‘Claudia’s attention’ was itself akin to a calamity.

It was such a rare thing to receive her good graces that it was like seeing lighting strike a clear sky.

However, lately, with Claudia’s entire attention captured by Cedric, it had brought peace and stability to the other servants instead.

Some servants were even praying to the goddess for this peaceful time to continue.

Even Bastian, who had constantly worried about the mansion’s staffing issues due to Claudia’s antics, didn’t feel much different from the other servants.

‘Hmm, now that I think about it, since the young lady herself has already completed the three-month employment contract, it isn’t within my power as butler to change it. That’s that.’

Absolutely, under no circumstances, was the peace of his hair and sanity exchanged for the young lady’s suffering.

Having rationalized this, Bastian idly adjusted his mustache in a small luxury.

Thanks to Cedric drawing Claudia’s ire, the servants found themselves enjoying a rare period of happiness.

***

Claudia thought.

‘Could I have messed with someone I shouldn’t have touched?’

Fifteen days of attempts, amounting to 138 tries.

This was the record of abject failures Claudia had accumulated in her attempts to torment Cedric.

She had tried every kind of bullying and mischief that the mansion could offer, and failed without exception.

Even worse, there were clear indications that Cedric was starting to enjoy her challenges subtly.

No, he was definitely enjoying them. When she rehashed something he had already fallen for once, he would openly display his disappointment.

No matter how much ill intent she showed or how much she plotted mischief, the servant’s composed demeanor, brushing everything off like a gentle breeze, had crushed her pride to the bone.

“Miss, your Omelette & Hamburger Steak set is ready.”

Even though she glared at Cedric’s impeccable serving motions, Claudia’s eyes instinctively turned toward the table set before her.

For while the cook might deserve blame for something, the food itself was guiltless.

Consistently juicy marbled meat, soft scrambled eggs, and fluffy rice.

And the strong sauce that covered it all.

Even though she would usually demand something new from the head chef and grow tired of even the best food easily, she found herself never tiring of this dish prepared by Cedric. The sweet and tangy flavor was particularly exquisite.

She finished her meal at the outdoor table in the garden and, following her preference, enjoyed black tea with a focus on sweetness and a comfortable temperature rather than aroma.

At some point, Claudia noticed that Cedric was staring at her with a strange expression on his face.

“What is it? Did you suddenly develop a yen for my beauty?”

“Haha! Your appearance is rather splendid, Miss!”

Claudia choked, letting out a series of coarse coughs.

She wiped her mouth with the handkerchief Cedric handed her, looking at him with suspicion mingled with surprise.

“What, what is it? What trickery do you have up your sleeve now?”

“Isn’t it you who has been setting up tricks every time? I don’t recall initiating anything myself?”

“Servants should not call a master’s actions ‘tricks’!”

“Let’s skip over the trivialities.”

“Don’t skip them!”

This man was now blatantly ignoring his master’s words.

Claudia glared at Cedric but soon sighed heavily at his shamelessly smug face.

“So what? Do you have any words you’d like to say?”

“Not something particularly significant, but I did grow curious about your goals!”

“Goals?”

A wry smile appeared on Claudia’s lips.

“My current greatest goal is to slap this overconfident servant’s face.”

Although this sarcasm was Claudia’s best effort, Cedric’s reaction was unexpected.

“In that case, wouldn’t it be best to put in the necessary effort to achieve that goal?”

Ignoring Claudia’s stunned reaction, Cedric continued calmly.

“The most straightforward approach would be through physical training. At your current condition, collapsing after a sprint of just ten minutes won’t be enough to catch me!”

“There’s also the path of magic. Charms like ‘Growing Vines’ or ‘Falling Iron Bars’ could prove highly effective in capturing someone!”

“Training the hell hounds you already own could also be useful. A good hunter can greatly ease the burden of their hunting dog!”

Claudia fell silent.

It had been quite some time since Cedric entered the mansion.

This meant Cedric had come to understand Claudia’s daily schedule inside out.

A noblewoman’s life might seem like a fairy-tale pastime to the common folk, but the noblewomen had their own unique burdens.

She was supposed to receive education in various basic disciplines like languages, literature, and religion, as well as the arts such as music, dance, and painting.

She took part in social gatherings and political activities and sometimes managed her household as the hostess, dealing with large and small issues alike.

But Claudia fit into none of that.

There were no instructors at the mansion for her, and she never participated in religious activities or socialized with other noble ladies.

Beyond the basic activities of eating and sleeping, all she did was wander around the mansion bullying servants or play with the hell hounds in the garden.

Even though she was the “Forbidden Leaf” of the Redbell family, her current behavior was all the more perplexing because of that fact.

Understood it well, Cedric was likely asking her this now.

‘Why are you wasting your time doing nothing?’

Complicated feelings clouded Claudia’s face as she remained silent, then annoyance flared within her.

She spat out at Cedric.

“What do you know? What makes you think some mere servant can solve my problems?”

The smirk on Cedric’s face disappeared.

He seriously met Claudia’s gaze and said,

“Maybe I don’t have the capability to solve your problems, Miss.”

“…”

“But I can certainly do my best for a resolution. At the very least, I can discuss and think things through with you. Whether I’m only employed temporarily or not, I am your servant, and you are my master.”

“…”

“Please tell me then, Miss. What troubles you so deeply?”

Claudia’s lips quivered.

By the aristocrats’ standards, Cedric’s argument would have no worth listening to.

How could she open up to a temporary outsider who might spread rumors outside?

But Claudia, who had already let go of much of her external reputation, found his words somewhat compelling.

This competent yet unusual, obstinate yet careful man was unlike anyone she’d encountered until now—might he know some answer to her conundrums?

Finally, Claudia opened her mouth with an air of resignation.

***

The Redbell Viscount had two wives.

The first was Julietta Plains.

Julietta was the daughter of the House of Plains and had married the Viscount before the Redbell name became prominent, as it is now.

However, when the House of Redbell achieved its current prosperity, Julietta perished in an “unfortunate accident.” The Viscount subsequently married his second wife.

This second wife was Claudia’s mother, Robelia Virca, a princess from the House of Virca.

As the name suggests, this marriage alliance with the royal family significantly favored the Viscount.

It wasn’t merely a matter of romantic affection; their marriage symbolized the Viscount’s resurrection of the fallen Redbell house. It was the very means by which he could pursue even loftier ambitions.

If Viscount Redbell and Robelia had a son, that child would have the right to succeed the throne of Virca, limited though it might be in value. Given the current turmoil within the Virca monarchy and the Viscount’s political prowess, seizing the kingdom itself wasn’t an unrealistic goal.

Unfortunately, Robelia was frail, and bearing children constituted a significant strain on her.

The Viscount spared no expense in improving Roberia’s health, and eventually, their efforts paid off, as the couple managed to conceive their first child.

The issue was—this firstborn child was a daughter.

Under Virca Kingdom’s law, a royal woman could give birth to a child with succession rights, but she herself couldn’t possess succession rights.

The Viscount was certainly disappointed but didn’t openly display such foolish feelings.

He thought, if they had a second child, their problems would be resolved. Hence, in front of his wife, he showered affection, especially toward their firstborn, never letting on in her presence that she was not exactly what he’d hoped for.

The girl grew up believing she was cherished by both her parents, unaware that she was not the child they had longed for.

But the girl’s happiness didn’t last long.

Whether it was due to Robelia’s overexertion trying for a second child or another cause, Robelia couldn’t endure childbirth and tragically passed away with her unborn child.

The girl fell into deep mourning, but the one family member left for her completely turned away.

No matter how much the girl pleaded with her father, no matter how hard she tried to win his affection, the father ignored her, treating her as if she didn’t exist.

“Well, it wasn’t entirely accurate to say I was treated as if I didn’t exist. There was one instance, only one time, when my father showed concern for me.”

“It happened when I fell and scraped my face. Out of the blue, he helped me up and, with a serious expression, said, ‘Be careful and don’t hurt yourself.'”

“I thought back then, ‘Ah, father does still care about me. His current indifference is only temporary, stemming from the loss of mother, but deep inside, he still loves me.’”

“So I decided to become a ‘good child.’ A child who didn’t cause trouble, didn’t throw tantrums, and studied diligently.”

“And then later, do you know what my father said to me?”

A cold sneer formed on Claudia’s lips.

Beneath her words, unmistakable humiliation and self-mockery masked as sharp barbs; she continued.

“‘You’re doing well. You know how to enhance your value. Thanks to you, things have become much easier.’”

“‘There are many nobles who wish to take you as a bride. Give it your best shot to charm one of them—a dying old man or a man easy to manipulate and control under your skirt would be preferable.’”

Indeed.

The Viscount hadn’t worried about the girl’s well-being.

He was concerned about the value of the ‘item’ she represented.

The moment Claudia realized this, all the efforts she had made felt meaningless.

“So there you go, you wanted me to share my troubles, now you’ve heard them. So tell me now—should I still move ‘diligently’? Should I increase my value so that I can be sold at a higher price by my father?”