Chapter 180: Old Lion

"You heard the young lady."

His voice was dangerously calm.

"Her olfactory senses are highly refined."

Genevieve swallowed.

"I suggest you bathe before interacting with her again."

Her eyes widened.

"And if you attempt to interrogate my daughter under the guise of playtime, Lady Genevieve..."

Kaelus’s violet eyes became glacial.

"I will have the Vanguard escort you back to the Empress in a very small box."

The room became silent.

Even Ignis peeked out from behind the chaise lounge.

Genevieve’s face went white.

"Y-Yes, Your Grace. I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to...!"

She hurried to her feet.

"M-My apologies!"

She curtsied so quickly that she nearly lost her balance.

"I shall attend to the laundry!"

Then she fled.

Her heels clicked rapidly down the corridor.

Click-click-click-click-click.

Seraphina watched her disappear.

Then she turned toward Kaelus.

"Papa?"

"Hm?"

"Can I have another tart?"

Kaelus stared at her.

"No."

Seraphina’s mouth fell open.

"But—"

"No."

"But Sir Gally said—"

"I know exactly what Sir Gallahan said."

Seraphina’s shoulders slumped.

"Adults are soooo meeeean~"

Kaelus sighed.

Then he crouched down and tapped her nose.

"You did well, Mushroom."

Seraphina brightened immediately.

"Really?"

"Really."

His expression softened.

"That woman is a serpent sent by the Palace."

Seraphina nodded seriously.

"A sugary witch."

Kaelus paused.

"...Yes."

"She smells like lies."

"That is also accurate."

"Can I throw her out?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because apparently the Imperial Capital has laws."

Seraphina frowned.

"That’s inconvenient."

"Extremely."

Kaelus gently straightened her dress.

"Do not trust anything she tells you. Do not accept food from her."

"I won’t."

"Sebastian will handle your meals."

"Okay."

"And if she tries to question you again?"

Seraphina puffed out her cheeks.

"I’ll ignore her."

Kaelus nodded approvingly.

"A highly tactical maneuver."

He stood.

"I must go."

Then he turned toward the doorway.

"Sebastian."

The response was immediate.

The scarred, massive Head Butler stepped into the room as though he had materialized from the shadows.

Sebastian had iron-gray hair, a single pale-blue eye, and the intimidating presence of a man who had personally witnessed the collapse of several civilizations and found all of them mildly inconvenient.

He stood at rigid attention.

Kaelus looked at him.

"I leave her in your care."

"Understood, Your Grace."

"Give her a tour of the estate."

Sebastian nodded.

"Keep her entertained."

Another nod.

"And if the Empress’s spies attempts to overstep..."

Kaelus’s eyes hardened.

"Throw them out of the front doors."

"It shall be done."

Sebastian looked down at Seraphina.

"The young lady is safe with me."

Seraphina smiled.

"Can we see the kitchen?"

Sebastian hesitated.

Kaelus looked at him.

Sebastian looked at Kaelus.

Kaelus looked at Seraphina.

Seraphina smiled innocently.

"...Perhaps," Sebastian said carefully.

Seraphina pumped both fists into the air.

"Adventure!"

Kaelus sighed.

He had been gone for less than five minutes and already regretted leaving.

Still, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against Seraphina’s forehead.

"I’ll return soon, Mushroom."

"Bye-bye, Papa!"

With one final lingering look at his daughter, Kaelus von Nacht turned on his heel.

His cape swept dramatically behind him.

His boots echoed through the corridor.

The Archduke of the North marched toward the waiting carriage that would carry him into the political meat-grinder known as the Imperial Court.

Behind him, Seraphina watched him disappear.

Then she turned toward Sebastian.

"Mr. Sebastian."

"Yes, Sovereign?"

"Can I slide down the hallway?"

"No."

"The stairs?"

"No."

"The banister?"

"No."

"The table?"

"Absolutely not."

Seraphina frowned.

This estate had far too many rules.

She thought for a moment.

"Can I eat a raspberry tart?"

Sebastian’s expression became strangely tired.

"...We shall discuss your dietary arrangements after the tour."

Seraphina nodded solemnly.

"That’s a no."

Sebastian sighed.

The Capital had been expecting the arrival of the terrifying Archduke of the North.

It had not been prepared for the arrival of his six-year-old daughter.

And, judging by the events of her first afternoon, the Imperial Capital was about to learn a very important lesson.

Seraphina von Nacht was not particularly interested in court politics.

She was interested in pastries.

Secrets were boring.

Spies were annoying.

And marble floors were excellent for sliding!

In her opinion, these were the three most important facts in the Empire.

***

With Kaelus gone, the Capital Estate suddenly felt very enormous.

And very, very quiet.

Seraphina stood in the doorway of her bedroom, looking up at Sebastian.

The retired knight was an imposing figure.

He wore the traditional black tailcoat and silver-buttoned vest of a Head Butler, but no amount of formal tailoring could disguise the thick, corded muscles beneath his sleeves or the broad, unyielding set of his shoulders.

A jagged, faded scar ran vertically down the left side of his face, disappearing beneath his iron-gray hair and leaving his left eye permanently blind.

He looked like a man who could snap a dining table in half with one hand.

Most children would have found him terrifying.

Seraphina did not.

Her six-year-old mind operated on an entirely different aesthetic wavelength.

To her, Sebastian did not look like a frightening old warrior.

He looked cool.

Very cool.

He looked exactly like the grizzled veteran hero from one of her favorite picture books, the kind who had fought dragons, punched villains, rescued princesses, and probably knew how to cook excellent stew!

An old lion.

Gruff on the outside.

Safe and strong on the inside.

"Mr. Sebastian!"

Seraphina darted forward and grabbed the heavy fabric of his trousers.

She tugged enthusiastically.

"Papa said you get to give me a tour!"

Sebastian looked down.

"I want to see the whole house!"

She bounced on her toes.

"Are there secret passages?"

A pause.

"Trapdoors?"

Another pause.

"Hidden treasure?"

Sebastian stared at her.

"My Lady, this is a residence."

"So... yes?"

"No."

Seraphina’s face fell as she pouted perfectly, her bottom lip sticking out.

"Awwww."

Sebastian’s single blue eye twitched.

"The Archduke had the trapdoors sealed with lead and warding magic."

"Why?"

"To prevent you from accidentally falling into the wine cellar."

Seraphina stared at him.

Then she looked around the enormous mansion.