Villain Family’s Strongest Butler

I stepped out of line and approached the Grand Duke, reciting the greeting I had prepared in advance.

“Your Grace and all of the Mars Knights, welcome home and congratulations on your safe return. Everyone at the Vallot estate has been eagerly awaiting this day.”

I added that I hoped all honor and glory would brighten the Grand Duke’s path forward.
My pitch, pace, and pronunciation were all precise—nothing to criticize.

‘Flawless.’

While maintaining a polite demeanor, I quietly congratulated myself. The fruits of my labor were sweet indeed.

I straightened and looked the Grand Duke in the eye. Behind him were the members of the Mars Knights.
Perhaps because I’d stepped forward as the estate’s representative to offer a greeting, the knights—who had been so stoic—began to stir.

Some of them must have heard rumors that I’d become the butler, while others might not have known at all.
I understood their confusion.

Meanwhile, the Grand Duke stood before me, simply observing in silence for a long moment. Finally, after the knights’ murmurs died down, he slowly spoke.

“…This is our first meeting, Butler.”

“….”

His low voice called me “butler,” and just hearing the Grand Duke use that term made an indescribable feeling swell inside me. A sense of recognition I’d longed for.

‘But now’s not the time to let my guard down.’

Everything starts here. I had to stay focused.

I quickly gathered my thoughts and gave him the smile I’d practiced so many times before the mirror.

“I’ve tried my best to keep the promise I made to Your Grace.”

He gave a small, dry laugh.

“Well, we’ll see about that.”

His words had an edge, as if testing me to see how I’d react. But I wouldn’t be shaken so easily by a single remark.

Keeping my smile, I turned slightly to clear the way.

“Please, come in. A hot bath and a meal are waiting for you, Your Grace.”

He nodded, then looked back at his knights. He scanned them slowly, as if meeting each individual’s gaze, and then spoke a single word:

“Dismissed.”

“…”

Instantly, the silent knights exploded into cheers, their voices echoing joyfully.

Leaving them behind, the Grand Duke headed toward the manor. He hadn’t said anything like “Well done” or “You worked hard,” but somehow, I sensed exactly what his single word conveyed:

It was something only those who survived could say, and only those who survived could hear. When he’d looked over the knights just before saying it, his gaze held a meaning I could understand.

Behind me, the knights’ cheers roared like crashing waves.

***

For a while, the knights’ quarters were loud with excitement.

They had returned safely, and the staff greeted them with enthusiasm.

On the first floor of the knights’ residence, a table loaded with dishes and barrels of liquor awaited them. Someone shouted, “Drink till we die!” while another replied, “Don’t talk about dying now that we’ve survived!” Their banter caused shared laughter over the silliest jokes.

Finally free to relax, the knights were having a blast, and as things got more lively, they began sharing war stories—how many heads they’d taken in a day, exploits during surprise attacks by night. Knights and staff alike chatted until late into the night.

Clink—. I swirled my hand in the hot bathwater I’d prepared ahead of time.

‘Perfect.’

It wasn’t scalding enough to burn skin, but plenty hot to soothe tired muscles. It was precisely the temperature I liked best. After long stints in battle, one longs for a steaming bath. The Grand Duke would surely feel the same.

‘Looks like everything’s ready. A towel, mild soap, sponge, bathing brush…’

I arranged everything neatly on the small side table. Then my gaze lingered on the bar of soap next to the brush.

I hesitated for a moment, then picked it up.

Sniff—… Hoo—… Sniff, hoo…

I lifted it to my nose and breathed in its scent a few times.

‘Hmm. This isn’t it.’

I cocked my head. The smell of the soap was different from the scent that clung to the Grand Duke’s body.

‘I know he doesn’t use any special perfume or oil. Yet how does he smell like a cool dawn in a deep forest?’

It reminded me of the earthy fragrance of a lush woodland—like standing among towering pines, feeling my mind clear from the invigorating air.

‘Definitely not this soap.’

I set the bar down and turned—only to lock eyes with a pair of purple irises.

“Hng!”

Startled, I sucked in my breath. It was the Grand Duke.

‘When did he come in?!’

I hadn’t even sensed his presence. He must have deliberately hidden his aura. What a sneaky man… Entering his own bathroom so quietly, just to startle me?

I felt my temper flare momentarily, but I hid my reaction behind a perfectly pleasant smile.

“You’re here, Your Grace.”

“….”

He didn’t reply, just tilted his head and let out a soft hum. I swallowed hard.

‘Why is he looking at me like that?’

Then his gaze shifted behind me. I had a good idea what had caught his eye.

‘The soap…?’

Yes, that had to be it. He was looking at the soap I’d just been sniffing.

Wait—did he see me do that, sniffing it multiple times?!

My mind reeled. Of all the things to be caught doing!

‘How many times did I smell it? Three? Four?’

I couldn’t recall clearly in my panic. My lips, still curved in a polite smile, trembled slightly.

“….”

“….”

An awkward, suffocating silence stretched. Then the Grand Duke’s gaze returned to me. His narrow violet eyes seemed to pierce straight through me. One eyebrow lifted slightly, and then a corner of his mouth quirked up as well.

No doubt about it—he’d seen everything I did. Good grief.

Mortification flooded me. My ears felt hot as torches, and my face was probably just as red.

I had to leave immediately or my head—or heart—was going to explode from embarrassment. Grasping at the composure I had left, I spoke:

“I’m sorry I wasn’t quicker. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“….”

Bowing, I backed toward the door, avoiding his eyes.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, just ring the bell on the table—”

Before I could finish, he began removing his clothes.

Gasping, I froze mid-sentence, mid-step. His armor was gone (likely discarded elsewhere), leaving only a thin linen tunic that he undid by loosening a black leather belt at his waist.

After a couple of pulls, the belt dropped to the floor. Naturally, the tunic—held in place by that belt—fell right along with it.

‘Oh my god…!’

It felt like my heart was crashing to the floor, too. Through a haze of rising steam, I glimpsed the Grand Duke’s bare form stepping into the tub.

The steam kept me from seeing everything in detail, but what I did see was shocking enough that I just stood there, gawping in silence.

‘That’s…’

That’s the Grand Duke’s body.

All this time… Now I’ve even seen him naked?!

Swish—. Water poured over the tub’s edge as he settled in, sounding almost like a small waterfall. That noise snapped me out of my daze.

‘I can’t stay here. I need to run!’

Whether it was the hot steam or my pounding heart, my head started spinning, and I was sure my heart would give out before my brain did.

As he had his back turned, this was my chance. I lunged for the bathroom door, reaching out for the golden handle. But right then—

It felt like the past two years flashed through my mind in an instant.

‘Hold on.’

Fleeing? Just because I sniffed some soap and caught a glimpse of him undressed?

I’m not about to throw away my position as butler for something so absurd.

‘I’m the one and only butler in this household now.’

I dropped my hand from the doorknob and quietly turned around, seeing the Grand Duke’s back in the tub.

‘Yes. I’ve seen countless men naked in my time on the battlefield. This is nothing new.’

I watched the back of his head for a moment, feigning a calm expression, then bent down to pick up his discarded clothing as if nothing had happened.

After all, I’d seen more than enough knights bathing in the field.

So there was no reason to be flustered or surprised…

‘But…’

As I straightened, clothes in hand, I chanced a look at the tub. It was the largest, fanciest tub I’d ever seen, yet with him in it, it seemed small. His arms were draped over the tub’s rim, making the muscles of his body stand out all the more. I found my eyes following those sleek lines automatically.

‘Ack!’

What on earth was I doing—admiring him? I snapped myself back to reality and shook my head, forcing my gaze away.

‘Right. Enough. I’m leaving.’

I clutched his clothes to my chest and moved as silently as possible toward the door, determined to avoid any further “incidents.”

That was when:

“Butler.”

His low voice, heavy as shackles, snared me in place.