Captain – Chapter 256 – The Old Butler

The announcement didn’t take long.

When the soldier who went to report returned, the suspicion and vigilance in his eyes had completely disappeared, replaced by respect and apology. Accompanying him was an old butler dressed in a black formal suit, stooping slightly.

The pale gray iron gate slowly opened. The butler came to the young woman’s side, raising a black umbrella to shield her from the falling raindrops, and said gently: “Please come with me, miss. The master has asked me to bring you home.”

The butler’s words “come home” evoked some distant memories for the captain—events from her first visit to this mansion.

That was also a rainy night, and the person holding the umbrella was also this old man. However, at that time, she was so weak that even walking was difficult, so she was carried in that man’s arms the entire way.

From the dark prison to the simple mayor’s hall, then to this luxurious mansion, he seemed not to care at all about the dust and blood stains on her body, carrying her the whole way.

And when this gray-black iron gate opened, that man said to her: “From now on, consider this place your home.”

The sense of reliability from his strong arms and the impact of those words on her heart remained fresh in Roy’s memory. However, what should have been an extremely warm memory had lost its color due to the betrayal and pain she later suffered, leaving only ironic and cold gray-white.

So she just smiled lightly and shook her head, saying nothing.

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Following the old butler through the mansion gate, walking on the flat road that showed no sign of water accumulation, the young woman gazed at the neat lawns extending beyond sight on both sides of the road and said with some nostalgia: “Nothing has changed at all.”

“For these ten years, the master has maintained everything in the mansion exactly as it was. Your former room and the dining arrangements haven’t changed at all.”

Hearing this, the butler smiled kindly: “Although many things have happened during this time, and there have been some misunderstandings between you and the master, I believe that deep down, the master still hopes you would return to his side.”

“After all, you are the first person he truly treated as his own child. In all my years serving the master, I’ve never seen him devote so much emotion to anyone, not even to the princes and princesses who are of the younger generation.”

Listening to the butler’s earnest account, Roy couldn’t help but recall that when she was taken from Elvet, while sheltering in an inn in a desolate small town during a stormy night, Tomb Bat had said similar words. He even claimed that it was all part of that man’s effort to gain her forgiveness.

The captain didn’t have much fondness for the Black Raven Society to begin with. Her willingness to cooperate with them was merely because their goals happened to align, allowing for mutual exploitation.

If she wasn’t fully trusting of those who showed her goodwill and openly or covertly extended olive branches, how could she believe someone like Tomb Bat, who had betrayed the organization for an outsider?

Therefore, she always treated his words as jokes, but the old butler before her was different.

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From what Roy knew of him from the past, he had served Robert’s father since his youth and had been managing Robert’s daily life ever since, burying himself in various trivial matters and social engagements, never involved in the political scheming.

Besides this, he was kind and gentle to people, yet almost pedantically meticulous about etiquette and various details. Even if the master made a mistake, he would correct it without hesitation. In this regard, even Robert had to go along with him.

To say that such an old man—magnanimous toward others, strict with himself, and adhering to gentlemanly etiquette—would violate his principles and lie, Roy didn’t quite believe it.

If that was the case, perhaps that man truly still remembered her, but… perhaps it was merely remembering and nothing more?

Roy thought silently, then asked: “In these ten years, has Uncle Robert mentioned me to you?”

“No, miss.”

The butler shook his head, but quickly added: “But for a long time, the master was deeply mired in self-blame. During meals, he would occasionally look at the place where you used to sit, and in his leisure time, he would read in your room. Perhaps this represents a lot.”

“I see…”

Roy sighed enigmatically, seemingly struggling internally.

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Hearing the young woman’s sigh, the butler said softly: “When he learned of your return, the master was surprised but also extremely delighted. Even when instructing me to come and receive you, his lips still carried a smile. You should know that after you left, it had been a very, very long time since I last saw him smile so pleasantly.”

“So when you meet later, I hope you and the master can have a good talk. No matter how great the misunderstanding, there should always be a way to resolve it.”

Listening to the old man’s earnest words, the captain lowered her eyes slightly and said: “If only it were just a misunderstanding… Grandfather Butler, it sounds like you don’t know what happened back then.”

If someone else had said such things to her face, Roy might not have become upset, but she would likely have responded with a cold smile. But toward this old butler, who was vigorous compared to ten years ago but now clearly aging, she couldn’t bring herself to show any displeasure.

If Robert’s kindness toward her back then was for some purpose, this old butler’s care for her was without any expectation of return—he was genuinely happy for his master to have someone to care for and wholeheartedly devoted to her recovery.

Toward such an old man, even if she didn’t feel grateful, she would at least not repay kindness with enmity.

“As a servant, I indeed don’t know about that past. Perhaps the master went too far back then, but after all… after all…”

The young woman’s suddenly cold words clearly caught the old man off guard. But just as he was carefully choosing his words, not knowing how to ease the atmosphere, he was interrupted by the captain’s seemingly accepting words.

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“Not knowing is a good thing, Grandfather Butler. If you knew, I wouldn’t know how to face you.”

Roy smiled and said: “Anyway, although the process might be a bit bumpy, the issues between Uncle Robert and me can surely be resolved. After you take me to my destination, please go rest first. We might need to talk… or argue all night.”

The further away from us the better…

The young woman thought to herself. Although she knew that what would happen next would inevitably cause the old man immense grief, she would not abandon her plans or let go of that hatred because of him. So she could only hope that the old man would stay away from the approaching storm center and survive.

This was perhaps the bottom line to which she could concede.

Believing that the young woman had truly understood something, the butler sighed in relief. Looking at the magnificent fountain appearing ahead and the garden seeming deeper in the downpour, he smiled and said: “I’ve already had hot water prepared. You can first bathe in the main building, washing away the fatigue of the long journey, and then change into proper attire to meet the master. How does that sound?”

Roy looked up at the beautiful building that had appeared completely dark when viewed from the small hill earlier but was now brightly lit. After a moment of silence, she smiled and agreed.

“That sounds good.”