I Raised the Villain’s Daughter Too Well

“And you’re the butler of House Serbus, I presume. Your loyalty to your mistress is certainly admirable. However, excessive loyalty can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. You’d do well to remember that.”
It was a veiled warning.

I masked my thoughts and responded as politely as I could.
“Thank you for the advice, Lord Laurencia. But my sole duty [N O V E L I G H T] is to serve my lady.”
Kyle gave no reply. He simply turned and left with Emily.

As I watched his retreating figure, a cold sweat ran down my spine.
He was far more formidable than I had expected. He might already be wary of me.
“Virdem, are you okay?”

Firnea asked, her eyes filled with concern.
She, too, seemed to have sensed the tension in my brief but pointed exchange with Kyle Laurencia.
“I’m fine, my lady. If anything, you handled the situation exceptionally well.”

I forced a smile as I spoke.
Firnea had turned Emily’s provocation into an opportunity to assert herself with grace and wit.
Her training had paid off.

“Hehe, right? I did good, didn’t I?”
Firnea beamed with pride, her mood instantly lifted.
That childlike joy at receiving praise was still very much her.

Seeing that brought me a bit of relief, but Kyle Laurencia’s cold stare and loaded words still echoed in my mind.
It wasn’t something I could write off as simple jealousy or rivalry between nobles. There was something darker beneath it.
Maclaine’s warning resurfaced in my thoughts.

Perhaps it hadn’t been just needless worry.
Duke Pitus still stood at the center of the banquet hall, conversing with the Empire’s most powerful figures. I caught a brief glimpse of His Majesty, the Emperor.
Even in the Emperor’s presence, Duke Pitus held his ground with both confidence and proper etiquette—proof of the Seriratus family’s immense authority.
…To conspire against someone with power like that would require either immense courage or sheer desperation.

Firnea was starting to struggle with staying by her father’s side. Her face was clearly marked with boredom and fatigue.
She motioned toward a quiet terrace at the edge of the hall. “I need some air.”
I approached the Duke and politely requested permission.

“Master, the young lady would like to take a short break. I’ll escort her to the terrace for a bit of fresh air.”
The Duke glanced at Firnea and offered her a gentle smile.
“Very well. Don’t stay too long. Virdem, take good care of her.”

“I will, Master.”
I supported Firnea and led her to the terrace.
The terrace was quiet and removed from the banquet’s noise. Stars sparkled in the night sky, and a cool breeze brushed against us. Firnea leaned on the railing and let out a long sigh.

“Haah… finally, I can breathe. It was way too stuffy in there.”
“Would you like to stay a little longer?”
“Yeah. Look at those stars, Virdem. Don’t they look just like jewels?”

Firnea pointed up at the sky, eyes wide with childlike wonder. It was clear she preferred this kind of quiet, natural beauty over the glamour of the banquet hall.
I stood beside her and silently looked up at the stars.
A part of me wished this peaceful moment could last a bit longer…

But something was going to happen tonight. Here, in the palace.
Even without Maclaine’s warning, every instinct honed through years of training screamed caution.
“Virdem.”

“Yes, my lady?”
“What did you think… about what Emily said earlier?”
Her tone turned serious, as if something had been weighing on her mind.

“What part do you mean, my lady?”
“When she said I was like an ice sculpture. Cold and unapproachable.”
“…I believe you’re someone who is thoughtful and careful, my lady. Clear and pure, like ice. And sometimes, you hide a warm heart within that strength.”

Firnea didn’t reply right away. Her silver hair fluttered slightly in the breeze.
“…I don’t have anything like a warm heart.”
“That’s not true.”

I answered firmly.
“I’ve seen how you gently overlooked the mistake of the servants who ruined your day off. You stood up for me during the tea party. And…”
I hesitated a moment before continuing softly.

“…When you smiled while researching the dwarven book with me—that warmth was genuine. It wasn’t cold at all.”
Firnea’s cheeks flushed. She turned her head away and cleared her throat.
“T-That was just… because I was bored!”

“Of course, my lady.”
I smiled faintly. Even her clumsy deflections had become endearing.
I wasn’t sure if these feelings were the result of the Scar of Obedience… or the bond we had formed over these past three years. Maybe both.

We lingered on the terrace a little longer, enjoying the night air.
Firnea asked me all sorts of things—about constellations, the history of the imperial palace, even opinions on the outfits of the other nobles.
I answered each question sincerely, doing my best to match her mood.

But I never dropped my guard.
I kept a close eye on the servants and guards moving around the terrace.
“Shall we head back in now, my lady? The Duke may be expecting us.”

“Mm… okay.”
Though she seemed reluctant, Firnea nodded and accepted my suggestion.
Just as we turned to head back into the hall—

“Lady Firnea, might I have a moment of your time?”
An unexpected figure stepped in front of us.
I instinctively moved to refuse him—but when I saw his face, I froze.

—It was the Crown Prince.
The future Emperor of the Empire, he was not much older than us, but carried the same commanding air as his father.
Behind him stood several royal guards, following like shadows.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Firnea was briefly startled but quickly composed herself and bowed with proper decorum.
I, too, bowed as low as I could. This was my first time meeting a royal in person. I buried my emotions as deeply as I could, afraid of what might go wrong.

“On such a beautiful night, under the moonlight… you look like a goddess of the night, my lady.”
The Crown Prince smoothly offered Firnea a compliment.
Firnea responded with a polite smile, but I could sense the subtle calculation behind his gaze.

There was no way he had approached her just because of her beauty.
He was clearly making a political move toward the heir of House Seriratus.
“You flatter me, Your Highness.”

“Would you accompany me on a short walk? Perhaps… to that lovely fountain?”
The Crown Prince pointed toward the ornate fountain at the lower end of the garden as he made his suggestion.
Turning down the prince’s invitation was clearly unwise—but accepting it could be even more dangerous.

Duke Pitus had warned us to be cautious around certain individuals.
I didn’t know if the Crown Prince was included in that list, but leaving the scene alone with him was certainly not ideal.
Firnea hesitated briefly, then cast a glance in my direction.

It was a silent plea for help.
I was just a butler, and this kind of situation was technically beyond my role—but a butler must always serve, no matter the command.
Resolving myself, I stepped forward and spoke with the utmost politeness.

“Forgive me, Your Highness. The young lady has only just returned from the banquet hall after receiving countless greetings, and she seems a bit fatigued. We deeply appreciate your kindness, but if you would allow her a brief rest, I’m sure she would be honored to greet you again shortly.”
The Crown Prince’s brow furrowed slightly.
He didn’t seem pleased that a mere servant had dared to speak against his suggestion.

But then he relaxed and offered a gracious smile.
“Ha, is that so? Perhaps I was too hasty. Very well, I shall wait until Lady Firnea has rested. House Seriratus truly raises butlers who are not only loyal but also quite perceptive.”
As he said this, he looked directly at me.

The look in his eyes didn’t match his smile.
I bowed deeply.
“My sincerest apologies, Your Highness.”

The prince said nothing more. With a slight nod, he turned and left, his royal guards silently falling in step behind him.
As I watched him disappear into the crowd, I let out a quiet sigh of relief—only to feel the full weight of what had just happened.
Things just got worse.

Even the Crown Prince was taking interest in House Seriratus and Lady Firnea. If the royal family was involved...
Gods, I didn’t even want to imagine.
“Virdem… you did really well just now.”

Firnea let out a breath and whispered softly.
“I only did what any butler should, my lady.”
“But still… I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. The Crown Prince just showed up out of nowhere... How did you even know what to say? I was too shocked to speak.”

“Forgive me, but your commands are always my top priority.”
“….”
Firnea blushed and placed a hand over her chest. A private audience with the Crown Prince must’ve been overwhelming for someone her age.

We returned to the banquet hall. Duke Pitus was still in conversation with other nobles, but upon seeing us, he gave a subtle signal to approach.
“Is everything all right? You’re not unwell, are you?”
He looked Firnea over with concern in his eyes.

“I’m fine, Father. I just needed a little air.”
She responded cheerfully, doing her best to appear unfazed, but the Duke seemed to sense something regardless.
“I see. Just don’t push yourself too hard.”

He gently patted her head, then turned to look at me.
His eyes asked silently, “Did something happen?”
I gave the slightest shake of my head—Nothing serious.

There was no need to speak of the encounter with the Crown Prince here and now. That could wait until we returned.