Head Butler of the Fallen Villainess-Chapter 85 : 19th Days (7) | The Butler and The Thief (2)

Vivian's grin widened, pointing her dagger at him in amusement.

"And guess what? She told me the same load of crap you're saying now. 'It's confidential,' 'It requires secrecy,' blah, blah, blah~."

"That's because it does require secrecy, Vivian," he said dryly. "I thought you, of all people, would understand, given your 'second profession' and all."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, butler boy~." Vivian teased, jabbing at what was now his second profession. "But seriously, I thought for sure you'd be off somewhere important."

"More important, you say?"

"Yeah! Like, for example—dealing with the northern civil war in Borealis. Those cold-hearted bastards still can't get along with each other, even though they've got the same blood running through them~."

"Or maybe even tangling with those Sea Dragon folks across the eastern ocean… they've been busy trying to appease their dragon god deity—but surprise, surprise, no dice! Hahaha~!"

Her grin stretched wider, amusement brimming in her eyes.

"But nooo~." She spread her arms wide, gesturing at the lodge. "Here you are—in this hellhole, babysitting a noble brat. What happened, Sebastian? Did you lose a bet?"

"A-A noble brat…?!" Anastasia muttered, finally snapping out of her stunned silence. "Excuse me—! I'm not this 'noble brat' you speak of, Miss Vivian!"

Vivi barely spared her a glance, an almost mocking look marring her face.

"Oh, don't get me wrong, sweetie~. You are the precious daughter of the Duke—'cause that old crook REALLY had to force him to watch over you."

"O-Old crook...?! You—!" The redheaded noble stiffened, her hands clenching into fists beneath the table. "My father—... D-Duke Rosavich is an honorable man! You have no right to belittle his name, nor question his judgment!"

"Hahaha~, don't be such a stiff, my lady~." The thief teased, waving her off like it was nothing.

But her laughter slowed… her gaze sharpening as she took a sudden interest in the noblewoman before her.

"But that just makes me wonder…" Her eyes gleamed with something dangerous. "Why you? I thought you, the would-be queen, would be in the capital, enjoying your sweet time with the prince and whatnot~."

"—!?"

Anastasia's breath caught for a split second.

Her grip on her dress tightened.

She had just admitted her crime. Just stood tall in the face of judgment.

And yet—just hearing his title, spoken so carelessly—

Something inside her wavered.

And seeing this hesitation, the Sonic Thief couldn't help but be further amused.

"Oh, my~. What's wrong, future queen Anastasia? Did you and the lovely prince perhaps have a lover's quarrel—"

"Enough."

A cold, commanding voice cut through the air.

Sebastian stepped forward, shifting subtly between Vivian and Anastasia. His expression turned sharp... dangerous. His eyes, like steel, bore into the thief and her ever-running mouth.

"That's not something you need to concern yourself with, Vivian."

"Oh? Is that how it is? Geez, pardon me~." Vivian snickered, lazily twirling her dagger. "Though personally? I can't stand getting tangled up in the political bullshit of the Crown and their lackeys... which is why I'm extra curious about why you're knee-deep in it, Sebastian."

"..."

"Hmm? What's with the silence, Sebastian~?" She tilted her head, mock innocence dripping from her voice. "Cat got your tongue? 'Cause I'm pretty sure I killed a kitty cat just before coming here."

"Do I really need to tell you everything here, Vivian?" He shot back, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Gosh, no! Not everything! I'm a woman who values privacy, mind you!"

"I find that hard to believe."

"Well, believe whatever you want... but right now," The Sonic Thief smirked, resting her weight on one leg, "I'm just satisfied to know that the fun Sebastian I know didn't just up and vanish into thin air~."

"..."

"I should've known, honestly... After all… it should've been obvious where you'd be, huh?" She giggled, tapping her leather boots against the wooden floor. "This place is practically your playground. Of course, you'd be here~."

"What are you implying, Vivian?" Sebastian exhaled sharply, his irritation growing by the second. "I'm not some monster, you know."

"Hahaha~, as if! Your strength alone is damn monstrous~!"

"I could say the same about you and your monstrous speed."

"Well yeah, but I'm cute, so that evens it out." She winked.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Right… let's go with that."

"But really now," Vivian leaned in slightly, resting her hands on her hips, "playing butler? Of all things, wouldn't 'bodyguard' be a more fitting title for you?"

"Honestly, I had the same question at first..."

"See? You get where I'm going after all~." Vivian grinned, though her head tilted slightly in curiosity. "Which is why I still can't believe you're wasting your time here. I mean, come on~. Why don't you ditch the noble brat and come back with me to Florentia? We could do something way more fun. Something more… exciting."

"Tempting..." His voice was dry, unimpressed. "But I'll have to decline."

"Aww~? But why?"

"Because I have a quest to fulfill." His grip on his longsword tightened slightly. "And more than that… I made a promise."

"Promise?" Vivian echoed curiously.

While on the other hand...

"P-Promise…?" Anastasia echoed in a daze, that one word striking a chord within her already turbulent heart...

"I vowed to help Lady Anastasia regain her honor," Sebastian said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I'm not leaving... Not until I see that promise through."

"...!"

Anastasia's breath hitched. Her hands instinctively clutched her chest... her heart pounding wildly at the sheer certainty in his tone.

Vivian, on the other hand... merely chuckled.

"Hah… haha~! Oh, Sebastian, you always were the sentimental type, weren't you?"

The thief took a step forward, drawing one dagger, then another from her hip, her grin widening with mischief.

"But you see... I wasn't asking anymore."

She brandished her daggers, presenting her threat to Sebastian.

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And the butler himself... his longsword readied in response...!

Then... they both dashed toward each other—!

And in an instant—!

The front of the lodge house exploded into splinters and dust!