Chapter 57

Chapter 57
## Chapter 57

For those of high birth, a butler serves as a definitive mark of their social standing.

A young heir who has not yet taken over the family mantle or a minor aristocrat holding a low-level title typically has little use for one. Their circles don’t often include high-ranking dignitaries, so standard household staff are perfectly capable of managing their affairs.

However, the situation shifts entirely as one’s influence grows and they begin to move within the upper echelons of society.

‘The divide between the common folk and the peerage is a steep wall where errors are easily made.’

As a person’s rank climbs, the expectations for conduct become significantly more rigorous. This includes everything from the nuance of a formal greeting to the specific vocabulary used in conversation, and even the subtle art of walking silently or the proper stance when exiting a room. Even the most seasoned servant cannot master these intricacies without specialized, professional instruction.

‘In a worst-case scenario, a visitor who outranks the host might feel slighted, which could prove catastrophic. Ultimately, those who serve a lord—whether they are vassals or domestic staff—are a direct reflection of that lord’s character.’

This is precisely where the role of a butler becomes vital.

They are usually individuals of lower noble extraction who have been meticulously schooled in protocol and possess a sharp grasp of political dynamics. Provided they are loyal and knowledgeable in the ways of the court, they can navigate almost any sudden crisis. For someone who frequently hosts the elite, employing a butler is practically a necessity.

“Young Master… me, a butler? What is the meaning of this? Have you perhaps confused me with someone else?”

Hans stood blinking in confusion for a long time after hearing Lucian’s proposal. He appeared so stunned that he seemed to doubt his own ears.

“Confused? I was the one who specifically requested that you receive butler training.”

“But isn’t the position of butler reserved for those of noble blood? I am merely a commoner.”

“I am well aware. Which is why I plan to have you raised to the nobility in due time.”

Hans’s eyes stretched wide, looking as though they might tear at the seams. He hadn’t fought in any wars or achieved grand feats, yet he was being told he would become a nobleman.

“Is… is such a thing truly possible?”

“It is entirely possible for those who hold the right titles. A lord with the rank of Count or higher has the authority to elevate a commoner to the status of a Baronet. There is a limit on how many times this can be done within a single generation to prevent misuse, however.”

Essentially, if a Count-level noble is determined enough, they can grant a title even without the recipient having specific merits.

The reason such promotions are usually tied to military achievements is simple: it serves as public validation of a person’s capability. Without that level of respect from the world, they would never be viewed as true peers. There is little benefit in a promotion if society continues to dismiss you as nothing more than a commoner who got lucky.

“That is the standard practice for nobles who come from a martial or knightly tradition. But those rules don’t really apply to a butler who remains constantly by the side of the head of the house.”

While a knight needs public acclaim, a butler only requires the total confidence of his master. A butler who manages the internal workings of a household has no need for external fame. In fact, if a butler became too famous and people started seeking them out, it would only create unnecessary drama within the estate. For a butler, the master’s personal reliance is worth far more than any empty public reputation.

“So, apply yourself to your studies. You’ll be losing some sleep, but if you wish to remain by my side and assist me in the future, you must master these skills now.”

“Young… Young Master.”

A lump formed in Hans’s throat as he looked at Lucian’s encouraging expression. He had worried that his master might have moved on without him, but instead, Lucian had been quietly arranging for him to enter the nobility. A wave of shame for his earlier doubts clashed with a profound sense of gratitude for this incredible opportunity, making it hard for him to find his voice.

Eventually, Hans found his words and bowed his head low.

“I promise I will never disappoint you. I will study every detail and ensure I am of great use to you. Please, wait for me.”

“I’m counting on you. Just try not to overexert yourself. It won’t help me at all if you burn out before your training is even finished.”

Lucian spoke with a light tone, but Hans took the words with absolute gravity. To keep pace with a master who was ascending so rapidly, he would have to run with every ounce of his strength.

—

In a departure from his usual routine, Lucian’s only companion on the trip to the capital was Raymon. Even with Raymon’s status as a Black Lion, it was a remarkably small entourage.

Still, neither the Grand Duke nor Lucian felt any unease. The distance was short, and more importantly, the route was exceptionally secure.

‘Who would be foolish enough to cause trouble on the road between Kelheim and the capital? They’d have to be out of their mind.’

One end of the path was the stronghold of the Valdek Grand Duchy, and the other was the heart of the Empire. The two locations were linked by a meticulously kept highway, dotted with frequent checkpoints and guard stations. Attempting a robbery on such a road would result in immediate execution, if only to uphold the reputation of the Grand Ducal House and the Imperial Family who patrolled it.

“Truthfully, if we’re talking about pure safety, this highway is likely more secure than the capital itself. You’ll find plenty of grifters, thieves, and lowlifes inside the city walls, but none of them have the guts to show their faces out here.”

The fact that Raymon could joke like that while they rode side-by-side proved how relaxed the journey was. Things went exactly as planned, and the pair soon reached a sizable settlement on the outskirts of the capital.

Due to its proximity to the seat of power, the village was large—nearly the size of a small town—and boasted a high-end inn.

“We require your finest accommodations. My guard will be staying with me, so provide a double room.”

“At once, my lord! When would you like your meal served?”

“After we’ve had a chance to bathe. Get the water ready.”

“I shall have the water heated this instant!”

The innkeeper responded to Lucian’s requests with sharp professionalism. Based on the practiced way he bowed, it was clear he was used to catering to the upper class.

Once they had settled into their room, Raymon spoke up, recalling their purpose.

“Come to think of it, I heard you’re heading to the capital to track someone down. Who exactly are we looking for?”

“An alchemist.”

“I beg your pardon? An alchemist? Haven’t those people had all their secrets squeezed out of them by the Imperial Family? They’re basically hollow shells at this point. You won’t find anything useful there.”

Lucian offered a weary smile at Raymon’s harsh but accurate view. Currently, the reputation of the Alchemist Guild was indeed at rock bottom.

“Just a word of advice: try not to say that to their faces. They have nothing left but their egos, and they’ll lose their minds if you insult that, too.”

“And what could that lot actually do? They’re the ones even the Black Mages dismissed as useless.”

The ‘Black Mages’ Raymon mentioned weren’t dark sorcerers, but rather the magic users who had staged an uprising three centuries prior. During that conflict, the alchemists had sided with the Imperial Family instead of their fellow mages, which allowed them to remain a legally sanctioned institution to this day.

The Alchemist Guild frequently cited this history as a point of pride, though most people just laughed at them for it.

“The alchemists claim they were being loyal, but that’s a fairy tale. They only stayed with the Crown because the actual mages never considered them equals to begin with. Loyalty had nothing to do with it.”

Mages traditionally viewed alchemists with contempt, calling them ‘talentless hacks who use chemistry to mimic real magic.’ Even now, with the standing of mages diminished since the revolt, that prejudice remained. It was even worse during the peak of the magical era. Rumor had it the rebel mages didn’t even bother asking the alchemists to join the fight, which showed just how little they were valued.

“If they actually contributed something to society, people might respect them, but they don’t. They’ve spent centuries living off Imperial handouts while doing nothing; they deserve every bit of mockery they get.”

They hadn’t managed to improve the potency of existing mixtures, nor had they invented anything groundbreaking. At best, they simply filtered known recipes to a higher clarity. Furthermore, since the Imperial Family had long ago taken control of their production methods, the Guild’s disappearance wouldn’t actually change much.

‘It’s a strange feeling to be back in this atmosphere after all this time.’

Lucian smiled faintly as he listened to Raymon’s complaints. The way alchemists were viewed right now was exactly as Raymon described: useless remnants of a forgotten age, clinging to past status.

It was hard to believe that this entire perception would be flipped on its head in just a few months.

“You aren’t actually planning to fund an alchemist to find some new miracle cure, are you?”

“It isn’t that, so you can relax. I have no interest in throwing money at something with zero potential.”

Lucian answered honestly, meeting Raymon’s skeptical look. What Lucian was actually seeking was a bold, once-in-a-century genius, not a timid soul stuck in old habits. And as Raymon pointed out, most alchemists currently fit that second description.

“Besides, the Guild possesses much better equipment for research anyway. If they couldn’t produce results there, then there’s no hope.”

“Exactly. I have no idea what they’re doing with all that funding and those facilities.”

“But no matter how stagnant a group becomes, the spirit of adventure never dies out completely. First, we’ll visit the Guild and—”

*SMASH!*

—What kind of nonsense is this?!

A booming shout from the floor below cut Lucian off. It sounded like a confrontation had started downstairs.

“It seems something is happening. Did a traveler with a short temper arrive?”

“Shall we take a look?”

“Let’s. If we don’t intervene, there’s no telling how long it will go on.”

Sometimes, the pride of a traveler could lead to a violent standoff. If left unchecked, these situations tended to get worse. It was usually best for someone of high rank to step in and handle things before they spiraled.

‘I’d prefer to keep a low profile, but revealing who I am is better than dealing with the headache of a prolonged fight.’

Lucian took his weapon just to be safe and made his way to the ground floor.

—

“Why on earth are you refusing this?! Do you have any concept of the value of this item?!”

“How should I know? I’ve never even seen a real potion in my life!”

“Then go ask someone! If you sell this, it would pay for a whole month of stay here!”

“Regardless of what you say, I don’t deal in such things, so…”

Lucian arrived to see the innkeeper sweating profusely while arguing with a guest. The shouting man was waving a small vial of medicine right in the innkeeper’s face. It sounded like he was attempting to use the liquid as currency for his room.

“You ignorant fool! This mixture contains Moon Sugar, Pearl Powder, and even Silk Scales! These are components you wouldn’t be able to afford in ten lifetimes!”

Hearing those specific terms, Lucian and Raymon exchanged a look. The man was claiming to be the creator of the potion. Furthermore, the ingredients he mentioned were incredibly costly. There was really only one type of person capable of gathering such rare materials to brew medicine.

“That man… he must belong to the Alchemist Guild.”

“Speak of the devil and he shall appear.”

Lucian smiled ironically and walked toward the two arguing men. The stranger looked like a complete mess, but if he was a Guild member, he would have internal knowledge. It would be beneficial to get some inside information before they actually reached the capital.

“That is quite enough. Calm yourself. Bullying the staff is not a good look.”

“And who do you think you are, sticking your nose into—oh?”

The alchemist, who had been ready to snap at the newcomer, immediately quieted down when he saw Lucian’s clothes. Even though the outfit wasn’t gaudy, the premium quality of the material was obvious.

“It seems you’re having trouble paying for your lodging. I will cover your bill. In exchange, would you be open to discussing alchemy with me? I’ve heard you are quite skilled in the craft.”

“Hmph, well, if you insist…”

Realizing that continuing his tantrum wouldn’t get him anywhere, the alchemist relented. When Lucian dropped a few gleaming gold coins into the innkeeper’s hand, the man bowed so deeply his back nearly snapped.

“My thanks! A thousand thanks, my lord!”

“That’s fine. Just bring some food up to the second floor. I’ll pay for his meal as well, so there’s no issue.”

“Of course! I’ll bring it up immediately! Regarding the bath…”

“In a while.”

After sending the innkeeper away, Lucian guided the alchemist to the upper floor. Once they were in a more private setting, the alchemist cleared his throat several times.

“Ahem. Right then. What exactly do you want to know about the science of alchemy?”

Lucian felt like laughing at the man, who jumped straight to business without even a ‘thank you.’ It was almost comical to see him clinging to his self-importance, acting as if this were a fair ‘trade’ rather than a favor.

“Let’s start with introductions. We haven’t even exchanged names yet.”

“I suppose that’s fair. I am Heide. Heide Pobor. And you are?”

The moment the name was spoken, the smile on Lucian’s face vanished. Of all the alchemists he had known in his previous life, there was only one name he still held in his memory, and it had just been uttered by this man.

‘The man who invented Nectar, Heide Pobor.’

The person sitting across from him had just introduced himself with that legendary name.