Volume 3 Chapter 13 – Visiting the Inner Courtyard

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The triplet maids thought everyone would tremble if the Eldest Young Master personally visited the main building of the Inner Courtyard.

However, that expectation began to go awry right from the entrance.

“Oh, greetings to the Eldest Young Master of the main family.”

When they announced their visit to the guard guarding the main gate, a butler in charge of the main gate soon showed himself.

“Please come this way.”

He showed his manners to Yeon So-hyeon with an exaggerated voice and gestures, and then guided them to a side door.

At that sight, Jeong-ah’s eyebrows twitched.

“Why are you guiding the Eldest Young Master of the main family to a mere side door when he has personally visited?”

At that, the elderly butler’s eyes grew wide.

“Wh-What do you mean by that…?”

The triplet maids pressed him in dumbfounded voices.

“Since the Eldest Young Master, who is a direct bloodline of the main family, has visited, is it not natural to open the main gate and welcome him with proper etiquette?”

“And instead of a butler in charge of the main gate, a Protocol Butler should step forward, right?”

“For a mere Second-rank Butler to serve the Eldest Young Master of the main family, are you in your right mind?”

Two tassels made of gold thread hung from the waist of the elderly butler.

Unlike other departments of the Luoyang Sword Family, due to the nature of their work, most of the high-ranking personnel in the Inner Courtyard were ‘butlers’.

Therefore, the number of tassels was used to clearly show their rank.

The greater the number of tassels, the higher the position they held in the Inner Courtyard.

“Aigo, Eldest Young Master. Please show some consideration just this once.”

The elderly butler bowed his head in a flurry.

“Do you not know that it is difficult to show proper etiquette because the Inner Courtyard’s finances are tight and the staff has been reduced lately?”

His behavior was exaggerated and not in a way that inspired trust.

Jeong-ah snorted.

“Are you saying the Inner Courtyard, which should serve the direct bloodline in close proximity, cannot even perform protocol!”

Even at Jeong-ah’s low scolding, the butler only bowed obsequiously.

“Aigo, I am sorry. This is all because of this humble servant’s shortcomings…”

Yeon So-hyeon waved his hand as if it were bothersome.

“It is fine. Let it go.”

At that, the obsequious butler straightened his back and cleared his throat.

“Ahem. Since the Eldest Young Master says so, it cannot be helped.”

The maids gritted their teeth.

“Now, now, everyone, do not frown and please come this way.”

He chuckled softly.

“Are wrinkles not the enemy of beauty?”

“Stop talking nonsense and just guide us.”

When Yeon So-hyeon lightly pressed him, he bowed again and guided the group.

“Aigo, I was being foolish…”

Yeon So-hyeon’s group had to mingle with other visitors to enter the inner courtyard of the Inner Courtyard.

The visitors glanced at Yeon So-hyeon, who went around with beautiful maids in tow, but no one recognized him.

Since it was obvious that revealing Yeon So-hyeon’s identity to such people would only bring shame, the maids had to keep their mouths tightly shut.

Jeong-ah’s chilly gaze swept over the firmly closed main gate.

Examining the marks on the ground with her Dragon Eyes, traces of it being opened several times recently were clearly left.

It was clearly the traces of use when other direct bloodlines had visited.

“Do not pay attention to it.”

As if he knew her feelings, Yeon So-hyeon smiled good-naturedly and tapped her lower back.

“Yes, Master.”

The group had to mingle with other visitors or the personnel of the Inner Courtyard, walking all the way around the wide inner courtyard to head to the main building.

The grand road crossing right through the center of the inner courtyard was a path that only direct bloodlines could use.

“As you already know, this is the main building of the Inner Courtyard.”

Although they had already seen it when entering the inner courtyard, the pavilion forming the main building of the Inner Courtyard boasted an enormous scale.

Even if all the pavilions in Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment were combined, it would not equal half of the Inner Courtyard’s main building.

“Now, please step inside.”

This time, too, they had to use the side door, just like the others.

Upon stepping inside the main building, an incomparably splendid and spacious area revealed itself.

The sunlight coming in brightly due to the high ceiling cast a heavy glow on the luxurious interior.

“Now, then this way…”

“Wait.”

Jeong-ah stopped the butler who was trying to guide them to the waiting room.

“Master wishes to meet the person responsible for rejecting Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment’s invoice. Call that person here.”

At her words, the butler feigned ignorance.

“Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment’s invoice, you say?”

“The rumor is widespread within the main family. Do you dare pretend not to know?”

Even though Jeong-ah pressed him, he remained perfectly calm.

“Is that so? For such a thing to happen, that is a big problem.”

Unless she exuded her momentum, it seemed almost impossible to intimidate the old butler who had experienced all kinds of hardships among the powerful.

“However, as you can see, the organization called the Inner Courtyard is so massive and busy that large and small matters happen constantly without rest.”

Yet, contrary to his words, not very many people came and went through the Inner Courtyard.

And they did not seem that busy either.

Their most important mission was to assist the Patriarch in close proximity.

However, with the Patriarch collapsed, how could their workload possibly be excessive?

“…Stop talking nonsense and bring the person in charge immediately.”

Even while seeing the maids’ eyes growing increasingly narrow, he only wore a bewildered smile.

“Hmm. I will do my best to find them starting now, but it might take a little time, so how about waiting comfortably in the waiting room…?”

His eyes glanced at Yeon So-hyeon.

Yeon So-hyeon shrugged his shoulders.

“Sure. If so, it cannot be helped.”

“Guide us to the waiting room.”

“Aigo, thank you. I will escort you this way.”

He kept bowing his head and guided them to the waiting room.

“This is the finest waiting room worthy of the Eldest Young Master’s dignity. A butler in charge of hosting will arrive shortly, so could you please wait just a moment?”

“…”

It was true that the room was a top-class waiting room.

However, although there was clearly a protocol waiting room specifically for direct bloodlines, he had guided Yeon So-hyeon here.

Furthermore, was it not natural logic that the personnel in charge of hosting should have been waiting beforehand?

Yet, before they could argue, the elderly butler had already disappeared.

Yeon So-hyeon smiled toward the trembling maids.

“It is fine. Bring a cup of tea.”

Yeon So-hyeon buried himself in the incomparably luxurious chair.

“Master. We are sorry, but…”

“Hmm?”

The triplet maids bowed their heads to him.

“There are no tea leaves.”

“Not only the tea leaves, but also the tea set is…”

Yeon So-hyeon burst into laughter.

* * *

An office in the main building of the Inner Courtyard.

The middle-aged female butler put down the document she had been looking through.

She was the very female butler who had visited Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment in the past regarding the matter of Jeong-ah’s outing clothes.

“What did you just say?”

Four golden tassels hung from her waist.

She was a Fourth-rank Butler belonging to the upper class, enough to have a separate office inside the main building of the Inner Courtyard.

“They say the Eldest Young Master is currently in the waiting room of the main building.”

“Him?”

The servant was at a loss under her sharp, freezing gaze.

“Yes. That is correct. I heard it is because Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment’s payment request was rejected.”

Wrinkles formed on her forehead.

“…Because of that lowly broker guy?”

The conflict between the Eldest Young Master and the Inner Courtyard was not a matter of just a year or two.

Whenever it happened, the Eldest Young Master would bring forward the Patriarch’s Seal, and the Inner Courtyard would reluctantly grant his request.

“Any more detailed stories?”

The servant bowed his head repeatedly.

“I am sorry, but since the person who delivered the story was not someone from our faction…”

She clicked her tongue.

“Currently, the one in charge of the main gate belongs to the Third Young Master’s side.”

At that moment, the Third-rank Butler assisting her spoke up.

“Even if he personally visited, is there anything to worry about?”

The other butlers in the office also vied to agree.

“The cause is likely the rumor that circulated within the main family.”

“Does it not mean that even he had some self-respect left?”

At those words, one butler burst into laughter.

“A Swordless One has self-respect?”

“Since he drove out all the servants and filled his surroundings with maids as beautiful as flowers, perhaps self-respect arose where there was none?”

Everyone was busy laughing and mocking Yeon So-hyeon.

At their continuous joking, the Fourth-rank female butler waved her hand.

“Stop the joking there. Who was in charge of that book broker guy?”

A young female butler leisurely raised her hand.

“Butler Seomun, it is me.”

The Fourth-rank butler called Butler Seomun turned her gaze to the young female butler.

Two tassels hung from her waist.

She was a woman whom Butler Seomun cherished, having outstanding abilities enough to rise to the Second Rank at a young age.

“If it is you, you can handle it properly, right?”

The young female butler wore a confident smile.

“Please leave it to me.”

Butler Seomun leaned forward.

“Complacency is forbidden. There might be a connection between the rumors circulating about his seclusion and his visit to our Inner Courtyard.”

The young female butler nodded at Butler Seomun’s warning.

“Yes. I will handle it properly so that there are no future troubles.”

The other butlers chimed in.

“We are not going to cause a conflict with him right now, so what could possibly happen?”

“If we say a problem occurred due to some mistake and that we will call the book broker again to pay the bill, that will be the end of it.”

“Is there any other reason he is called the Swordless One? He is the one who only kicked out the crazy underlings of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment without even beating them.”

If they could have known what happened to Elder Yeom’s butler, they might have been at least a bit tense.

However, Elder Yeom was not a clumsy person who would let his business leak outside.

The young female butler smiled toward Butler Seomun.

“Even in the worst case, would it not be enough if I grovel at his feet and beg?”

She covered her mouth and smiled.

“If that is still deemed insufficient, shedding a tear or two will suffice.”

Butler Seomun nodded.

“Very well. Then I will leave the matter regarding him to you.”

* * *

Reaching near the waiting room where Yeon So-hyeon was, the young female butler could hear high-pitched voices coming from inside.

“How can you prepare low-grade tea leaves to be served to the Eldest Young Master of the main family?!”

“You all. You lack the basics as hosting maids!”

“Moreover, only maids for the task of serving the Eldest Young Master of the main family?! Call your superior immediately!”

Once the voices of the triplet maids finished, the kicked-out hosting maids poured out in a rush.

The maids who ran out into the hallway were all forcing themselves to hide the smiles on their faces.

Discovering the young female butler, they bowed their heads deeply and passed by her side.

‘There is not a single person among the Inner Courtyard staff who thinks well of the Eldest Young Master.’

Although they did not belong to the same faction as her, it would be the same regarding Yeon So-hyeon for anyone belonging to any faction inside the Inner Courtyard.

A smile rose on the young female butler’s face.

‘Excellent. The stage has been set perfectly.’

It was expected that if she went in now and showed herself sincerely apologizing, the matter would be resolved much more easily than expected.

Striving to conceal the confidence trying to show on her face, she headed toward the waiting room door.