Ch.307307. Why Does the Word ‘Dare’ Exist Between People?

“I’ve been consistently training the knights. I’m also regularly sparring with Clara, and I’m devoting my spare time to personal training.”

It had already been three days since returning to Lake Estate.

Sitting in a chair in the study, I looked up at Jawil Wilson with an indifferent expression.

“Why do you keep reporting such things?”

“…Pardon?”

“Are you pretending to be busy so I won’t take you along when I visit other estates?”

“N-no, that’s not it. Didn’t you call me to your study, young master?”

“I did.”

“So I thought I should report something…”

I let out a short sigh toward Jawil Wilson.

“What’s Olivia doing?”

“Ah! Lady Olivia seems to be helping Lord Robert with his research on humans during the day, and at night she comes to the training grounds.”

“Is that so? Then for the time being, reduce your sparring with Clara and use that time to spar with Olivia instead.”

“W-with Lady Olivia?”

“Yeah, Clara’s skills seem to have improved a lot, and sparring with someone as strong as Olivia would be beneficial for you.”

Jawil Wilson immediately lifted his head with a dejected expression.

“…I don’t think Lady Olivia will go easy on me during sparring.”

“That’s even better. You’ll gain experience similar to actual combat.”

“What if I die?”

“Come on, she wouldn’t kill you, would she?”

“I think Lady Olivia could easily kill me by accident.”

It was a reasonable concern, and I was momentarily at a loss for words, but I quickly maintained a nonchalant expression.

“It’s fine. I’ll talk to her beforehand, so don’t worry and just spar.”

Jawil Wilson gazed at the ceiling of the study with an expression that seemed to say ‘my brief paradise is gone,’ as if reminiscing about dreamlike days past.

Then, his eyes suddenly lit up.

“…Then I’ll cut my personal training time to spar with Lady Olivia instead.”

“Ah, you don’t want to lose your lovey-dovey time with Clara?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Oh! I like your honesty! Do as you please with that.”

“Thank you!”

“Ah!! And…”

I trailed off, then adjusted my posture and put on a serious expression.

“If you happen to get injured while sparring with Olivia, go to Rebecca for treatment immediately.”

“…Pardon?”

“No matter how much Olivia offers to treat you, refuse and get treatment from Rebecca. Especially if she offers to brew medicinal herbs for you… run as far away as possible.”

Sensing that something he didn’t know about had occurred, Jawil Wilson nodded with a determined look in his eyes.

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Knock knock-!

At that moment, Federicks entered the study with a knock.

Beside him stood Wilfred, carrying a large luggage bag.

“Young master, Wilfred is here to see you.”

“You came earlier than I expected.”

After sending Jawil Wilson and Federicks out of the study, I nodded at Wilfred.

“Have you been well these past three days?”

“Th-thank you, young master! If I’ve shown any disrespect during this time, I sincerely apologize!”

Wilfred suddenly bowed repeatedly with an overly energetic voice.

Although he had always been polite, he had never been this formal before, which made me tilt my head in confusion.

“What’s with you all of a sudden?”

“I-I had an audience with Emperor Malius.”

“Ah… I see.”

“I didn’t realize you would soon become a member of the imperial family, and I fear I haven’t shown proper respect.”

“That information is supposed to be secret…”

At that, Wilfred straightened his back and made a motion of locking his lips.

“I-I’ve been known since childhood for keeping secrets. I will never create any situation that would cause you concern, young master.”

“That’s a relief… Anyway, what did Emperor Malius say?”

“He said they successfully recovered the jewels and gold coins from the Belcatri basement that you reported to His Majesty.”

“And what else?”

Wilfred hesitated and looked around cautiously despite us being alone.

“His Majesty asked who accompanied you to Belcatri Estate.”

Haaa…

This man…

He must be foaming at the mouth again thinking I went with a woman.

I shook my head and spoke.

“So what did you tell him?”

“I said you came with a male knight.”

“…Huh?”

“I thought it would be better not to say anything unnecessary… Did I make a mistake?”

Look at this guy…?

After dealing with tactless fellows like Jawil Wilson, I felt doubly impressed.

I wore a satisfied expression before quickly clearing my throat.

“Ahem! I don’t think it’s good to lie to the Emperor.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“However, sometimes white lies are necessary.”

At my words, Wilfred’s face brightened.

“Th-thank you! I knew you would understand.”

“By the way, how old are you?”

“I’m twenty this year.”

“Would Madeline remember you if she saw you?”

“…A butler like me wouldn’t be remembered. I could barely speak in front of Lady Madeline.”

I crossed my arms heavily and nodded slowly.

“Then from now on, you should enroll in the academy and become friends with Madeline.”

“…Pardon?”

“You said Madeline wouldn’t recognize you if she saw you, right?”

“Y-yes, but… how could I possibly enroll in the academy…”

If Wilfred approached Madeline as a butler and revealed everything, she would be suspicious.

She would think I deliberately sent him and would be on guard.

I judged it would be best for him to approach her as a fellow academy student.

“Madeline is currently burning with revenge.”

“…Revenge?”

“I sent a letter to the Emperor saying that Everdin Belcatri was abusing his daughter. I’ve already told Madeline about this as well.”

Wilfred’s pupils darted around in confusion before he took a deep breath, seemingly trying to maintain his composure.

“I understand what you’re saying, but may I ask why Lady Madeline harbors vengeful feelings toward you?”

“Madeline was planning to attend the academy to seek revenge against her father. She needed to become stronger for that.”

“Ah…”

“But when all her plans fell apart, Madeline was about to quit the academy. So I told her to direct all her arrows of revenge toward me, the one who ruined the Belcatri family.”

Wilfred seemed unable to understand my actions and fell into deep thought.

After a while, he slowly spoke.

“Did you already know Lady Madeline, young master?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“From what I can see, it seems like you’ve shown compassion toward Lady Madeline…”

Compassion…

Well, maybe that’s what it is.

In the original story, Madeline graduated from a different academy and became corrupted.

Even after completing her revenge, she committed all sorts of evil deeds, and her infamy in the eastern continent grew day by day.

But she happened to come to our academy.

Then.

When she becomes infamous in the future, which academy will always be mentioned alongside her name?

Lake Academy, of course.

It would only be a matter of time before our image was tarnished.

However.

It’s not like there weren’t other options.

If Lake Academy had simply rejected Madeline from the start, she would have gone to another academy and her life would have followed the original storyline.

It was a situation I could have easily ignored.

Yet I deliberately intervened, probably because of the “compassion” Wilfred mentioned—the compassion of a reader.

After all, Madeline was a villain who turned dark after living in hell with no other choice.

I smiled gently at Wilfred.

“Anyway, Madeline is currently living at the academy with her emotions completely shut off.”

“So you want me to approach Lady Madeline as a fellow student and try to open her closed heart?”

“That’s right. Can you do it?”

“Approaching her wouldn’t be difficult, but even if we become friends, there will be a problem.”

“What problem?”

“Later, when I enter service as a Belcatri butler after Lady Madeline graduates from the academy, she’ll realize that everything that happened between us was intentional.”

I laughed heartily at Wilfred’s insight, then quickly became serious again.

“Then you don’t have to work as a butler.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m saying you don’t have to work as a butler after graduating from the academy.”

“B-but didn’t you tell me to enter the Belcatri household when Lady Madeline graduates from the academy? You said she would need someone reliable by her side…”

“I said a reliable ‘person,’ not a ‘butler,’ didn’t I? Do you have to enter as a butler?”

“…Pardon?”

I tilted my head with feigned innocence.

“You could enter as Madeline’s husband, you know.”

“What?! H-how could I possibly be Lady Madeline’s…”

“What do you think? You’re not a Belcatri butler anymore.”

Wilfred’s face instantly turned as red as a radish.

Flustered, he took several deep breaths in succession.

“Even so… I wouldn’t dare…”

“Why use the word ‘dare’ between people?”

“W-well, that may be true, but…”

I winked at the stammering Wilfred.

“Just get ready to win Madeline over.”