Chapter 45

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: No Mercy 45

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Reiton looked up with a satisfied smile.

The mansion was relatively modest in size compared to their wealth, in keeping with the frugal family motto of the Brilloxen Count Family.

“Um... Bladia Marquis.”

After spending a good while admiring the mansion and fussing over his own impressions, Reiton’s gaze drifted downward.

Daytum met Reiton’s eyes and seemed to hesitate for a moment before calmly resuming his usual composed tone.

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to see the young lady today.”

“Why? Didn’t she get my message?”

“She did.”

“Or is she not at the mansion?”

“That’s not it, either.”

“Then what is it?”

Reiton voiced his frustration a little.

Daytum responded to his question with unwavering poise.

“The young lady is handling some very important business today. On top of that, the master and madam are returning tomorrow, so things inside the mansion are quite hectic. We were instructed to politely turn away any guests rather than receive them neglectfully in a situation like this.”

It was precisely what Sierra had ordered, but Daytum had padded it out to let Reiton withdraw without too much displeasure.

Reiton felt a twinge of inner bewilderment at the sight of Daytum bowing his head in apology.

No other family—whether his visit caught them off guard or was expected—had ever drawn a firm line saying they couldn’t meet, even if they couldn’t offer lavish hospitality.

With the Bladia family’s backing, Reiton was a welcome figure anywhere in the empire.

Being turned away like this had no place in his memory.

“Daytum Butler. It’ll only take a moment. I rode all the way here from afar at dawn because I have urgent business.”

“We’re grateful for that consideration. But the young lady said neglectful treatment is worse than none at all. I sincerely apologize for this. My own shortcomings left us short on preparation time. I’m sorry.”

In truth, it was the visitor’s fault for showing up unannounced without giving them any time to prepare, but no one could point fingers at Reiton.

Daytum figured this would be enough for Reiton to understand and take his leave.

But Reiton wouldn’t let up, no matter how much Daytum bowed.

“No need for any reception. If the lady’s inside, I’ll just catch a glimpse of her and go.”

“I’d have to get the young lady’s permission on that separately...”

“I’ll get her permission myself.”

Reiton pushed past Daytum, who stood blocking him right up to the end, and stepped inside.

The knights and guards at the door blocked the unauthorized intruder.

Reiton eyed the guards who’d jammed their spears across the entrance, then turned to Daytum.

“Butler, how exactly am I supposed to take this? Blocking my way with weapons like I’m some criminal. It’s something I’ve never encountered anywhere in the empire.”

“...”

“Is this an insult to me—and by extension, a mockery of my family and the empire’s very hierarchy?”

“Surely not. I was only...”

“I know you set great store by principles, Butler, but I never imagined you’d be this inflexible. To bar my path with weapons, of all things. I’ll head straight back and lodge a formal protest about how Brilloxen treated me...”

“Step aside.”

At that moment, a murmur cut through Reiton’s voice, followed by another.

The firmly shut door swung open. Sierra emerged flanked by knights and fixed her gaze silently on Reiton, hemmed in by the guards.

Dozens of eyes at the main gate turned to Sierra.

She frowned faintly and swallowed a sigh deep inside.

As she swept back her fallen bangs, Sierra’s hand moved.

The guards lowered their weapons, and she stepped forward.

“The commotion at the main gate drew me out. What’s going on, Butler?”

“I’m sorry, young lady. It’s my failure...”

“I apologize for the noise, Miss Sierra. I only asked to see you briefly and leave, but the butler blocked me so rigidly—even resorting to force—that our voices rose for a moment. Please understand.”

Sierra stared at Reiton, hand pressed to his chest in a posture straight out of an etiquette primer as he bowed. Her gaze shifted.

Daytum, who’d been watching Reiton with a troubled look, schooled his expression under her eyes.

“I commend the butler’s loyalty in following your lead, Miss Sierra, but he could use a touch more flexibility. Ha ha, it looks like you’ve got your hands full...”

“I gave the order.”

Reiton, straightening with a smile as he spoke, narrowed his brows ever so slightly.

His head cocked as his mouth opened.

“...Pardon?”

“Just what I said. I ordered it, Bladia Marquis. The butler’s blameless. So please don’t fault him. And from what I overheard inside, you were saying some rather entertaining things. A protest?”

Sierra pressed her lips shut in astonishment and let out a long sigh.

Reiton’s shoulders twitched faintly.

“That hardly seems like words from someone forcing their way into a private mansion, Bladia Marquis. I refused you politely through the butler, with perfectly valid reasons. Didn’t you hear?”

“I did. But he wouldn’t even pass on my request for just a very brief moment of your time.”

“Because there was no cause to grant it. I made my intentions crystal clear to the butler, and he relayed them to you, Marquis. Only this mansion’s master holds the right to admit or refuse visitors—and right now, that’s me. The butler did nothing wrong, no matter what he said. Is that what you mean to protest?”

“...”

Reiton shut his mouth, unable to find a foothold against Sierra’s airtight logic.

He hadn’t expected her to come out like this.

In noble society, whenever right and wrong came into question like this, basic etiquette dictated reprimanding the butler out of deference to one’s connections—even if Reiton bore the fault.

Yet Sierra had defended the butler and put Reiton on the defensive.

In front of all these onlookers.

Reiton swallowed the wave of humiliation crashing over him from her words and actions.

She dares humiliate me like this!

He tamped down the rage bubbling up inside and bit his lip.

As a noble, he felt his authority and honor slighted.

The murmurs rippling around him sounded like jeers.

An urge surged to summon his knights on the spot and make Brilloxen answer for the insult.

Lips pressed tight. Fists trembling.

Sierra could tell at a glance that Reiton was worked up.

Her eyes, fixed on him, swept the surroundings.

Far too many eyes.

Servants employed by Brilloxen or not, she couldn’t silence every mouth here.

She had no desire to let the fuss escalate.

And above all, she didn’t want to greet her returning parents with bad news first.

Sierra sighed and brushed her hair back.

“Our situations differ, so the conversation grew a touch heated. I beg the exalted head of the Bladia family to overlook this petty affair with your magnanimity. Please, come in. I’ll show you the way.”

Her serene voice, slipping in just shy of Reiton’s boiling point, calmed him.

She waved off the guards and gestured him toward the open mansion with a turn of her waist.

With anger and shame ebbed, rational thought returned to Reiton. He glanced about and cleared his throat.

“These things happen in life. I apologize for pressing my case too forcefully as well, Lady.”

Reiton bowed courteously in greeting, then strode after her in his usual poised gentleman’s manner.

Sierra had given a thankful glance for the escort and taken the lead; he followed in her wake.

The door shut behind them, and once the pair vanished from sight, a heavy sigh escaped Daytum, left standing outside.

“Can’t keep this up forever.”

Even the most capable butler found facing down a great noble’s wrath a heavy burden.

Daytum dabbed at his flowing sweat with a handkerchief, then shooed away the lingering servants.

“Are you alright?”

“Fine. More importantly, keep the servants’ mouths shut. Miss Sierra took the lead in de-escalating, so she won’t want this bandied about. It’s minor, but best to be thorough.”

“Understood.”

Daytum sighed as he watched the young butler head toward the servants.

Time to hand things off to the lad and retire.

Daytum shook his head slowly and made his way back into the mansion.