Head Butler of the Fallen Villainess-Chapter 81 : 19th Days (3) | Check-In at The Hell’s Lodge (3)

Without waiting for an invitation—nor even permission from the rightful landlord of the lodge house...

The Sonic Thief, Vivi, had already barged right in, slamming open the newly installed wooden door—ripping it off most of its hinges!

This female adventurer's curiosity had apparently overridden any concept of patience or decorum, and now the lodge house was left with a half-hanging entrance...

The lord and her three servants could only stare, eyes blinking for a moment—still trying to process what had just happened.

But eventually, the redheaded lord, Anastasia, was the first to snap out of her stupor—

"What in the world...?! Unbelievable...!" Anastasia fumed, her fists clenching at her sides. "That damn barbarian of a woman...! I had a proper welcome speech prepared and everything…!"

Sebas, who was also a bit stunned himself by the female adventurer's rather brash attitude, finally exhaled a sigh of disbelief before snorting a small laugh, still managing to find amusement in the situation.

And Anastasia, upon hearing this laugh, immediately snapped her sharp glare to the butler.

"...Sir Sebas, I assure you that this isn't some laughing matter...!"

"Haha, sorry, sorry, I just couldn't help myself, my lady."

"Oh, you couldn't help yourself, could you...?!"

Anastasia's voice sharpened, as did her dagger-like glare toward him.

"Then perhaps you'd like to help me instead...?! What exactly am I supposed to do about that woman?!" She stepped forward, her presence growing heavier as she squared up to him. "Should I drag her out myself, or do you intend to stand there and laugh while she turns my lodge into her playground?!"

"Whoa there, relax, my lady. There's no need for such drastic measures. It's not a big deal—"

"N-Not a big deal—?! This is important, Sir Sebas! That damned adventurer just stormed right into MY property without MY permission!"

She even stepped forward, closing the distance between them until she was right in front of him, her frustration laid bare for the butler to see.

"W-Whoa, whoa, relax, relax, Lady Ana!" he stammered, surprised and actually taken aback by his mistress's sudden aggression. "I don't think this warrants such an overreaction, you know. She's just a bit excited, that's all—"

"'A bit excited' is quite the understatement, Sir Sebas!" Anastasia snapped back at him, already quite exasperated with her butler's infuriatingly calm demeanor regarding the rude first guest of theirs.

She then turned on her heel toward the entrance of her lodge house—a determined and commanding expression set upon her face.

"Martha! Bella! Come to me—we must go before she wrecks something inside!"

And there she went—marching straight into the lodge house, passing through the door that was barely hanging by one of its hinges.

"A-Ah! Yes, my lady!"

"M-My lady! P-Please wait!"

Martha and Bella hurried after her and entered the lodge house, leaving a still-stunned Sebas outside—still trying to comprehend how things had escalated so quickly.

Before long... the butler simply let out a sigh, shrugging with an amused smile as he stared at the broken door.

"Looks like more work for me," he muttered in resignation before pulling a screwdriver out of his butler coat.

< | X | >

Inside the lodge house itself…

The ever-energetic Vivi was already making herself at home. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she spun around, eagerly taking in every detail of the cozy interior that Anastasia and her servants had painstakingly crafted...

Of course, Anastasia and her three servants were also present—standing just a few steps behind, watching the adventurer with cautious eyes, as if wary of what chaos she might unleash if left unchecked.

Yet, despite their vigilance, even they couldn't help but admire the fruits of their labor, their gazes drifting across the lodge house's interior with a quiet sense of pride.

The lodge house's main hall was a simple yet welcoming sight—just as intended. A spacious area stretched before them, its high ceiling supported by sturdy wooden beams. The scent of fresh timber still lingered in the air, blending with the faint warmth of the hearth built on one side of the house.

On the far side of the hall, a long wooden table stood ready—spacious enough for both meals and casual gatherings. Along the walls, several plain yet well-kept beds were neatly arranged, each accompanied by a modest storage chest at its foot.

Everything about the space was clean, sturdy, and practical—built for comfort rather than luxury.

And at that very table… a freshly prepared meal awaited, arranged neatly across wooden trays. A simple grilled steak (monster meat) rested beside a bowl of hearty stew (also added with monster meat), its rich aroma filling the air. Wild mushrooms and foraged herbs had been added for flavor, making the most of what they could find in the wild.

"Wow~! You guys really went all out!" Vivi grinned, clasping her hands together as she turned on her heel toward the four denizens responsible for crafting such a well-prepared lodge. "I mean, a place to sleep and a feast? This is amazing~!"

Anastasia, still nursing her irritation, took a step forward with a huff.

"Well, of course, Miss Vivi. This lodge house was carefully planned to provide—"

"Hey, this looks really delicious! Let's eat, everyone!" Vivi cut her off mid-boast, already moving toward the table without a second thought. "C'mon, no need to be shy—join me!"

The four of them could only stare blankly at the audacious offer before them.

Vivi, the one who had barged into their lodge uninvited, now sat grinning at the table—acting as if she had prepared the feast herself.

A heavy silence filled the room, the kind that made it unclear whether they should be baffled, amused, or just outright exasperated.

Eventually, it was Sebas who broke the quiet.

"My, how gracious of you, Miss Adventurer," he said with a light chuckle, stepping forward with that ever-composed smile of his. "I do believe it would be best if my lady were to accept your generous invitation."

At this, Anastasia snapped her gaze toward him, her expression painted with unmistakable disbelief—Are you seriously still playing along with her antics?

Sebas, in turn, merely smiled. And with just that, his expression answered everything.

Yes. Yes, he was.

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Anastasia's shoulders slumped, and a weary sigh slipped from her lips. She had already spent far too much energy trying to rein in this unpredictable woman.

What was the point of fighting it?

Seeing her reaction, Sebas let out a small, amused chuckle.

"Consider it a learning opportunity, my lady. Not everyone you'll deal with in the future will follow the rules of etiquette. Some will have different energies and some will have different approaches to your lordship, you know."

Anastasia gave him a deadpan look before letting out a small, resigned huff. "…Fine."

And with that, she strode toward the table, accepting the 'offer' given by Miss Vivi.

But just before she could take a seat, she paused—then turned toward her servants.

"Martha, Bella, and... Sir Butler..." she called, her voice softer now. "You should all join us as well."

Martha and Bella blinked in surprise.

"W-what—?! M-my lady, surely you don't mean…?"

"E-e-e-ehhhh—?!"

Sebas, too, raised an eyebrow at the unexpected invitation.

This was meant to be a meal for the lady of the house and her guest. It wasn't their place to sit at the same table.

Even though Anastasia and her servants could be said to be quite close, this kind of invitation could still be seen as unusual by normal noble household etiquette.

But Anastasia only smiled.

"I do mean it," she assured them, "I'd actually prefer it if you joined us," Then, casting a glance toward Vivi—who was now grinning ear to ear—she added, "Besides… I doubt our guest would mind."

The grinning female adventurer even gave them an eager thumbs-up. "The more, the merrier!"

Martha and Bella exchanged glances for a moment, still carrying a bit of hesitation... before their uncertainty melted into delight.

"Thank you, my lady…!"

"Y-yes, truly…! Thank you so much!"

Sebas, on the other hand, simply let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as he pulled out a chair. "Well, if my lady insists… I'd be quite rude myself if I didn't accept~."

And just like that, what had started as an unexpected intrusion turned into an unexpectedly warm gathering.

As they settled at the table, their seating arrangement naturally reflected their roles.

Anastasia took her place at the middle edge, signifying her position as the lord of the region and, of course, the lodge house itself.

To her left, Vivi sat alone, happily kicking her feet under the table.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side, Sebas, Martha, and Bella were seated together, their presence forming a quiet but supportive front.

The warm glow of the hearth bathed the room as they began their meal.

The clinking of utensils and soft murmurs of appreciation filled the air, the tension from earlier fading into a rare moment of shared comfort. Even Anastasia, who had been so on edge, found herself easing into the atmosphere.

But just as she took another bite of her meal, Vivi suddenly broke the peace—her voice cutting through the air with casual bluntness.

"So, you're that Anastasia? The one who got exiled by the kingdom, huh?"