The Terminally Ill Prince is the Mad Dog of the Underworld (Novel) - Chapter 9

Chapter 9. Head Butler Aiden

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‘This is absurd.’

Head Butler Aiden briefly doubted his ears.

“…”

Fourth Young Master Allenbert Grünewald, who made such a provocative statement while looking straight into his eyes. Staring at his exceptionally beautiful face, the head butler thought.

‘There’s no sign of anger. It doesn’t seem like words spoken from lack of emotional control.’

That means it was a calculated statement made with some intention. This was surprising. That Young Master Allenbert?

“This is unexpected. You weren’t usually so direct.”

“So I’ve heard. But who I was then and who I am now are different.”

Head Butler Aiden examined Allenbert’s confident, almost brazen gaze, and returned an equally provocative response.

“I can’t remember how many years it’s been since you looked me in the eye, young master.”

“I wonder why? When your gaze holds neither pressure nor hostility.”

At Allenbert’s composed reply, the head butler thought. This is quite something. How did he read that?

Reading the emotions and intentions hidden behind others’ words and attitudes isn’t something achievable with ordinary experience.

“Actually, I wonder about that point myself.”

Unlike pretending, those who felt comfortable making eye contact with Aiden were extremely rare in this castle.

When a subordinate is too excellent, it often makes the master uncomfortable. Like how a good sword needs a good swordsman, he too was a man of such high caliber that only Duke Georg could properly handle him.

“The conversation seems to be going off track. I asked if I had an obligation to reveal my destination to you simply because my memory isn’t complete, please understand.”

The head butler replied calmly.

“Obligation to report? How could that be? I merely ask you to consider that it’s my duty to carefully observe even small matters within the family.”

“So it was a situation where we needed to be considerate of each other.”

Though hidden in the meaningful words was an intent for a subtle battle of wills, it lacked the childish stubbornness typical of youth.

“Then I should answer honestly.”

“I’ll gladly listen.”

“Actually, I was heading to the library wanting to learn the family’s secret martial arts.”

The head butler, not expecting such an answer, automatically asked:

“Secret martial arts, why is that?”

“Because I need strength.”

Allenbert answered simply.

“What do you need that strength for?”

“Well.”

At this point, Allenbert looked around the vast ducal castle before slowly speaking.

“That would be difficult to answer where there are many ears listening.”

It was an answer that invited much imagination.

“But as one who inherits the Grünewald blood, mastering the family’s martial arts would be natural, wouldn’t it?”

“Of course.”

It was also a condition for becoming the family’s heir.

But could this boy truly harbor such intentions? Did he not know how far-fetched that was? The head butler asked differently.

“Do you have no interest in finding clues to cure your incurable disease?”

“Ah, about that.”

Allenbert patted the shoulder of Peter, the boy who was watching this conversation while sweating.

“I heard from my attendant that it’s not an easy matter. If I believed that merely browsing some books could solve what even House Grünewald’s capabilities couldn’t handle until now, wouldn’t that be overly optimistic?”

It was sound logic.

“Then may I go to the library now?”

“I already said you don’t need my permission.”

To which Allenbert replied as if he had never asked provocatively:

“But this is something I should ask your opinion on.”

It was a way of speaking that drew people in and made them curious. How could the Fourth Young Master, who had been the weakest, employ such rhetoric?

“I’d like to hear the reason, if I may.”

“Because you’ll report this to father. If you try to stop me, there must be a reason – meaning it’s a matter father wouldn’t approve of, wouldn’t you say?”

Allenbert added:

“Therefore, to extrapolate somewhat, ignoring your ‘advice’ might be equivalent to going against father’s will. That’s why I can’t take your words lightly.”

“Haha.”

A response that showed insight and perception while avoiding appearing servile to the listener. The head butler smiled.

Above all, Allenbert seemed to understand exactly what it meant to ‘gain his approval.’

“Young master, though presumptuous, I pride myself on knowing the family laws better than anyone else in House Grünewald.”

“Who would deny that?”

“Therefore, I have no reason to stop you. In fact, if you wish, there are hardly any places in this ducal castle you cannot go or need permission for.”

Though the head butler only gave a fundamental answer, Allenbert calmly nodded as if confirming something.

“I simply didn’t go.”

“That’s right.”

I simply didn’t go. Why did those words suddenly feel like they were piercing somewhere in Aiden’s heart?

‘It’s like conversing with a wisely aged man.’

“But young master, will reading martial arts manuals alone be sufficient?”

“I believe so.”

“Forgive my presumption, but even before losing your memories, your martial arts achievements were practically nonexistent.”

“I appreciate the advice. However, isn’t it something we won’t know until I try?”

“Hmm.”

It was truly a bold answer.

Yet why didn’t that audacity sound reckless?

‘…Surprising.’

The head butler realized it had been quite a while since he’d felt the emotion of ‘surprise.’

‘How long has it been since my eye for people was wrong?’

He looked at the boy before him anew. As head butler serving House Grünewald, he had long ago given up expectations for Allenbert.

In fact, it took considerable patience just to avoid showing contempt when dealing with him.

‘Of course, I sympathized with the young master’s tragedy.’

How cruel was the fate of being terminal? It must have been endlessly despairing.

But sitting down, giving up his place to his siblings, losing everything, and hiding in a cave is another matter. How powerless. This wasn’t the behavior of someone born destined to rule over others.

‘It wasn’t that surprising.’

How many noble houses don’t have at least one wastrel, incompetent fool, or recluse without ambition among their children?

‘Where there are legitimate children, there are illegitimate ones.’

Perhaps for a gifted favorite to be born, failures must also be born. Like how many failed pieces must be broken to create good pottery.

‘He was originally gentle-natured.’

Even Aiden acknowledged that. Because the head of the family approved his intention to live quietly without causing any trouble until death, he enjoyed his own kind of peace in a small cage.

‘But after suffering that fever, he’s completely changed.’

Did he feel everything was futile? If so, that’s pathetic. Why did he only realize it now? Why didn’t he struggle to change his fate…

That’s what Aiden thought upon hearing of Allenbert’s actions today.

If he was going to show belated audacity, Aiden thought it would be his consideration to suppress him before his siblings tore him apart.

But now.

‘Perhaps.’

Aiden was getting the feeling that for this boy, the fact that it was ‘already too late’ might not matter at all.

“Young master.”

The boy who had quietly waited through his long contemplation raised his chin.

What was this atmosphere that was bold and challenging, yet seemed to perfectly contain its own ferocity? How could this be that Young Master Allenbert?

“It seems I may have misjudged you.”

“You saw me correctly, head butler. Until now, that is.”

“I see.”

“Then I’ll be going.”

Allenbert’s back as he turned away had broadened considerably while unseen.

‘A body neither properly trained nor muscled. Yet what excellent bone structure.’

Even if one doesn’t have a lion’s heart, perhaps a lion’s cub is inevitably still a lion.

“May I ask one more thing?”

Allenbert stopped and turned to look at him. The movement wasn’t aristocratic, but strangely exuded some alien kind of dignity.

‘Like high-ranking military officials, or.’

Masters of the underworld, godfathers… Absurdly, he even had aspects reminiscent of ‘lords of the underground’ who roamed under moonlight.

“It seems you’ve had some change of heart after experiencing the fever.”

Allenbert nodded at the head butler’s direct question.

“When I experienced death while sleeping for so long this time, it felt truly futile.”

“Is that so?”

“I wanted to be like the wind that comes and goes without leaving traces, but I felt the time I’d lived was too precious to end as someone no one remembers.”

At this moment, he was reflecting on his death as Karzan, on the 17-year void when he’d lost his sense of self.

But from the head butler’s perspective, naturally, it could only be heard as talking about his change of heart after the fever.

“When I awoke again, I realized that what I thought was ash from the extinguished flame of ambition was actually like charcoal ready to ignite at any time.”

“…That’s impressive, young master.”

The head butler gave a slight bow.

“It was an enjoyable conversation.”

“Likewise.”

The head butler stared at the sea beginning to sunset, thinking of the completely transformed Allenbert.

‘Was it all an act, or was that the truth?’

Which it was couldn’t be known yet. It would be right to consider both possibilities equally.

However, one thing was clear.

‘He’s finally realized he was a lion.’

Even if he couldn’t master martial arts. The appearance Allenbert showed today sufficiently contained aspects of a lion meant to rule over others.

‘…By the way.’

Watching Allenbert’s retreating figure as he exchanged jokes with Peter, the head butler was having such presumptuous thoughts.

‘No matter how I look at it, he seems a bit unhinged?’

What kind of eyes were those? Rolling wildly like a rabid mad dog, they had the intensity of never letting go once they bit onto something.

‘In any case, I must report this to His Grace.’

The head butler turned toward the main castle.

This much should have firmly stamped the impression Allenbert wanted. After all, the head butler was one who acted as the family head’s eyes.

‘If Young Master Allenbert has the makings of another lion.’

There can only be one king in a pride. Could that boy really enter the fight between princes competing for a single throne?

It still seemed like a joke.