Chapter 2: You dare to touch me, didn’t you?, Part 1

The Fires mansion was vast, its architecture rivaling a royal palace.

I gazed at the fountain visible through the iron gates and then turned to the maid standing before me.

She had long, red hair that reached her waist and wore a maid’s uniform.

“Excuse me, miss?”
“?”
“May I ask you something?”
“Hmm? What is it?”

She stopped sweeping and approached me.

“I’d like to see Countess Seraphina Fires. How do I go about doing that?”
“Hmm, and your business?”
“I heard about the butler position. I’m here to apply.”
“Oh?”

The maid studied me with a curious look, then smiled.

“So you saw the advertisement.”
“Yes, I’m very interested in working here. Ha ha, is it possible to meet her?”
“Hmm… Very well. Follow me.”

She opened the gate and led the way.

I followed, a smile playing on my lips.

A sense of familiarity washed over me.

I studied her features: red hair, about 160cm tall, and a beautiful, cat-like face.

Realization dawned.

This was Seraphina Fires, the villainess herself.

Despite her reputation for commanding presence, she was known for playing these kinds of pranks, hiring servants only to mistreat them if they displeased her.

I needed to play along to gain her favor.

“Why do you want to work here? There are plenty of better places.”
“It’s a tough job market. There aren’t many good openings. And I heard the Countess is beautiful. Ha ha ha.”
“Oh? The Countess? She’s more like a fat pig.”

Far from it.

Even from behind, her long red hair was striking.

I shook my head.

“Don’t try to dissuade me. I’ve heard she’s a great beauty, and I want to be her butler, even if it means living like a dog!”
“…Are you a pervert?”

She looked at me with disdain.

I knew the line was bad, but since becoming Isabel, my personality had taken on this…lighter quality.

“Ha ha, that’s a bit harsh. So, what’s the work environment like here?”
“Brutal. You have to be prepared to die.”
“Die? Is the workload that heavy?”

She waved her hand dismissively.

I knew all about Seraphina’s cruel nature.

She was known to cut off a servant’s fingers for breaking a dish, saying, “You have hands, don’t you?”

“Ha ha ha, that’s alright! I’m sure she wouldn’t do that if I do a good job.”
“Oh, you’re confident, aren’t you? But do you know what’s even scarier? She bathes in the blood of people she dislikes.”
“E-excuse me?”

Blood baths? I listened intently.

“Like that time she captured a beautiful maiden, slit her throat, and bathed in her blood because she heard it would make her more beautiful. She’s truly cruel. You might regret coming here.”

The Bloody Mary ending.

One of Seraphina’s bad endings.

While she wasn’t currently engaging in such horrific acts, the rumors persisted in the village, fueled by misunderstanding and fear.

I knew about this from the game.

The cute SD characters in Lilith Tycoon had gossiped about it.

It was quite a shock at the time.

While the rumors were currently exaggerated, I knew that a non-redeemed Seraphina was capable of such atrocities.

Undeterred by her attempts to scare me, I replied,

“Rumors are always exaggerated. Perhaps she bathes in red rose petals, not blood. Ha ha ha.”
“Red roses? I’m telling you it’s blood.”
“It doesn’t matter! As long as she’s beautiful.”
“You’re incredibly persistent. Don’t come crying to me when you end up dead.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll survive. Ha ha ha ha.”

Don’t try to scare me.

My heart races when I look at you.

Despite her attempts to disparage herself, I was determined to redeem her.

“You seem quite fixated on appearances.”
“Of course! I came here because I heard she’s beautiful! She has to be beautiful!”
“Ha, you’re incorrigible. Obsessing over looks can be dangerous.”
“No.”

I spoke seriously.

“Obsessing over looks isn’t dangerous in itself. There are plenty of people who live up to their beauty.”
“…What do you mean?”

The maid stopped walking and looked up at me intently.

“The Countess is beautiful, and she’s made Grace Field beautiful and prosperous. You keep calling her a villainess, but I find that hard to believe. I can’t imagine the ruler of such a beautiful village would do such terrible things.”

Regardless of her personality, Seraphina Fires had brought prosperity to Grace Field.

Her methods were cruel, but she ruled effectively.

The villagers may have grumbled, but they were well-fed and prosperous.

“…The Countess would laugh if she heard you.”
“Hmm, I don’t think I’ve said anything particularly funny. Ha ha.”
“You’re certainly optimistic. You’ll regret this when you meet her. Are you sure you can handle it?”

She looked at me with a serious expression.

“I have to. I need a job.”
“You’ll regret it…”

She shook her head as if my answer was foolish. I smiled.

“Thank you for the kind advice, beautiful noble maid.”

Beautiful noble maid.

She understood the implication. She glanced at me and continued walking.

“…What a strange fellow.”

She chuckled softly as we entered the mansion.

“Welcome home, mistress.”

The charade is over, isn’t it? My prediction was spot on.

Servants lined the entrance, bowing as a woman walked confidently among them.

She turned, her gaze sharp and regal, then smiled.

“You’re a pervert, but I like you.”
“That’s a bit harsh, Countess.”

Seraphina chuckled at my casual reply.

“You’re amusing…”

[The Hateful Flame, Seraphina Fires has appeared.]

“So you knew who I was. Come. Let’s talk.”

She turned and walked away.

I stood before her in a room that resembled a throne room.

Seraphina sat on an opulent chair, looking every bit the empress.

The mischievous maid sat beside her, still in her uniform, legs crossed.

“So, you want to be my butler?”
“Yes, mistress.”

She raised an eyebrow, displeased with my immediate use of the term.

“I haven’t hired you yet.”
“But you said you liked me! Ha ha ha ha, doesn’t that mean I’m hired?”
“Not necessarily. I’m fickle. And I know who you are.”
“How could you possibly know someone as insignificant as me?”
“Who wouldn’t know the Black Hound?”

The Black Hound. The mocking title given to the fixer of the nobles’ dirty work. I was infamous.

But it didn’t matter. I needed to become Seraphina’s butler.

I bowed my head respectfully.

“I’m honored you recognize me. But that title is in the past. Now I am but a humble servant of Countess Seraphina Fires.”
“I haven’t hired you yet.”

She was hesitant.

She knew the advantages and disadvantages of having me as a subordinate.

As the Black Hound, I possessed a wealth of compromising information about the nobility.

I was also efficient and capable.

But I was also known for working for anyone.

She likely feared I would become a spy for a rival noble. I needed to entice her.

“I understand your mistrust, Countess. But isn’t the Nobles’ Conference just a month away?”
“What does that have to do with you?”
“Knowing what I know about the nobility, wouldn’t it be advantageous to have me as your…attendant?”
“…”

Her eyes flickered.

She understood.

Having me by her side at the Nobles’ Conference would give her a significant edge.

I could whisper the secrets and weaknesses of every noble in attendance.

Especially those who had employed my services in the past.

It was a win-win situation. But she still needed to agree.

“That is tempting… Very well.”

She smiled and nodded.

“I’ll hire you.”
“Thank you.”
“But only temporarily. Until the Nobles’ Conference concludes.”
“What?”

She stood up and looked down at me.

“Even the Black Hound needs a probationary period.”
“E-excuse me?”
“I’ll pay you well, of course. You are the Black Hound.”
“…”
“Is that acceptable?”

She still didn’t fully trust me.

The probationary period was a way for her to observe me.

It didn’t matter. What mattered was that I was now her butler.

“Yes, Countess.”

I bowed my head.

“M-Mistress, I’ve brought your dress.”

A maid carefully carried in a red dress.

“Dress me.”
“As you wish.”

She’s going to change in front of me? I wanted to watch. Desperately.

The rustle of fabric filled the air. She didn’t ask me to leave.

This was my chance. I remembered the illustrations from Lilith Tycoon.

Seraphina’s beauty, her figure, the intricate tattoo on her ample cleavage… I longed to see it in person. I subtly lifted my gaze.

…What?

My Harmonious Touch skill activated.

It had three functions.

Two of them were active now: the ability to see a heroine’s malice gauge and the ability to anticipate their evil deeds.

“You touched my skin. Don’t you remember? I hate it when people touch my clothes.”
“I-I’m sorry!”
“Sorry? Then you should die.”

A light flashed from the tattoo on her chest. Seraphina drew her sword, her face contorted in rage.

[Seraphina Fires is about to cut off the maid’s arm!]

I lunged forward and grabbed her arm.

Smack!

She glared at me.

“…What are you doing?!”

[Seraphina Fires’s Malice Gauge is at 100%.]