Into The Rose Garden

Vol. 3 Chapter 8.6 - Uncovering secret blossoms in the dawn

Viscount Derbyshire, who had detected his vacillating attitude and remained silent all this time, interjected again for the first time in a while. Kloff had gone to see him regularly for routine debriefing, but this time, he summoned Kloff not to his study but to the meeting room. Seeing teacups set out, Kloff inwardly sighed, anticipating that he would unleash a barrage of talk. Viscount Derbyshire, indeed, spoke in a low voice as soon as the young butler left after pouring the tea.

“By the way, a friend of mine has an aged nephew, you know.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine.”

“Without even hearing about him?”

“I won’t be marrying an omega in the future.”

Viscount Derbyshire furrowed his brows and set down the cup he was holding.

“Isn’t it time for you to forget about Westport?”

“I have forgotten him. After careful consideration, I don’t think I’m compatible with an ordinary and peaceful household. I always appreciate your concern, but I have no intention of settling down with anyone in the future.”

“Tsk, why are you making such a fuss about a mere broken engagement?”

“It has nothing to do with the broken engagement.”

Kloff genuinely smiled, but Viscount Derbyshire didn’t seem to believe him. The Viscount didn’t pry any further, and the conversation soon turned to investment-related topics. When Kloff mentioned his interest in economic bureaucracy, Viscount Derbyshire listened attentively and then encouraged him, saying that while money was good, as a man, he should also have grand ambitions. Unexpectedly, Viscount Derbyshire happened to be well acquainted with the current Finance Minister and even offered to write a recommendation letter, which Kloff gratefully accepted.

“When the time comes, don’t pretend not to know me.”

“Surely, that won’t ever happen.”

“Ah, how I wish that you were my son. At the very least, it would be good if you became my son-in-law. Why did my wife only give birth to two alphas?”

Viscount Derbyshire sneered, but his two sons were both soldiers and scholars of great repute. The Viscount was being humble with that comment. Derbyshire eventually bragged about his sons, who were too busy to come home. This, too, was an extension of his work, and Kloff patiently listened until his tea cooled.

As it turned out, patience brought rewards. Impressed by Kloff’s patience, Viscount Derbyshire immediately wrote a recommendation letter and sent it by person. With the letter in hand, Kloff met with the Finance Minister and had a profound conversation. As a result, Kloff was appointed to a significant position, not just a mere volunteer role. It allowed him to autonomously manage a portion of the funds, albeit on a small scale. Moreover, it was part of international investments, not domestic, which presented a rare opportunity for a man like Kloff, who had nothing and hailed from a rural background, to make a leap toward success.

Thinking about how to express his gratitude to the Viscount, Kloff returned to his office and started working immediately. Since he would become even busier in the future, it was best to organize his work and delegate trivial tasks to others. Late in the evening, after his secretary had left, Kloff was exhausted and engrossed in work. However, someone came to visit him. Masking his annoyance, Kloff went out to see who it was, only to find Hugo, the Count’s butler.

“Good day, Sir Bendyke.”

“…I can’t say the same.”

Despite the chilly response, the butler remained unfazed and asked, “May I come in?” Kloff wanted to close the door in his face as he did to Kloff before, but fearing that such childish behavior would mean never seeing Aeroc again, he stepped aside for now.

The butler gave the office a quick glance and ran his finger along the shelves of the bookcase in dissatisfaction. He wanted to defend himself, saying there was no dust, but since it had been a while since Martha had come by, the ends of the butler’s white gloves quickly turned gray. The butler brushed off the dust from his gloves and turned to look at Kloff.

“This place is very… unclean. To think that the young master has come to such a place.”

“This much wouldn’t kill a person.”

“A person wouldn’t die, but they might catch some lung disease.”

“Then you can leave.”

“Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.”

The butler didn’t heed Kloff’s cold order, he continued to wander around, commenting on the uncleanliness and untidiness several times. Kloff clenched his fist tightly, barely holding back his boiling anger, and asked, “Why did you come here?”

And the butler replied, “Don’t you know how to make a cup of tea for a guest, no, never mind, I’ll get gastritis, not lung disease, if I drink in here.” He then pulled out a handkerchief and covered his nose and mouth.

This old man must be here to pick a fight with him. Kloff clenched his trembling fists and shoved them into his trouser pockets. If he did anything to the butler, Aeroc wouldn’t stand idly by.

“Stop stalling time and tell me the reason you came here.”

“So you are short-tempered, violent, and rude.”

“…Did you come here to pick a fight?”

The butler was unperturbed by the question and continued.

“You’re not only of low status, but also a fool who ruins his fortune through violent incidents. I can’t understand why others call you a promising young man. What’s more, my honorable young master, who is cultured, dignified, and respected by everyone, is interested in someone who is not even an Omega but an Alpha. That’s what I can’t tolerate. And the young master even explained the intimate relationship between you two to an old butler like me.”

Kloff, lost in thought about how to silence the butler, blinked dumbfoundedly when he heard the last sentence.

“…Aeroc did?”

“I heard about it last night. My Young Master, unfortunately, with Sir Bendyke.”

Kloff couldn’t forget how the butler trembled, his hands shaking as if he were furious. His fiery gaze seemed to burn Kloff. However, Kloff remained unfazed. If Aeroc had said those words to the butler, it meant they had come to some understanding of this relationship. This seemed to level his playing field with the butler. Kloff could barely manage to suppress the uncontrollable smile in him and cleared his throat.

“Ah, hmm. Yes, it turned out that way.”

“I thought I should say this. Because of Sir Bendyke, who deceived and manipulated that innocent and well-behaved person, the master’s body…”

“So you knew about that too. But I also know nothing about that. I, too, am a victim who was oblivious to his secret.”

“You, you said victim? How audacious.”

The butler seethed with anger and trembled, but Kloff had nothing to say. All he said was true. Not wanting the old man to suddenly collapse, he avoided saying unnecessary things, keeping his gaze wandering and remaining silent.

The butler, who had been staring at Kloff as if he could kill him with just his eyes, finally opened his trembling lips.

“The fact that it’s irreversible has been confirmed multiple times through doctors.”

“I was about to do the same for him, thank you for doing it on my behalf.”

When Kloff shamelessly expressed his gratitude, the butler gritted his teeth and quickly ran his hand through his hair. His gesture was very similar to Aeroc’s. With his aged silver hair swept back, the butler took a small breath, returning to his courteous and expressionless demeanor. Seeing him acting so much like his master, Kloff frowned.

“As a Count, it is his duty to protect the family and carry on the lineage as an Alpha. It is my obligation to serve him.”

“And?”

“If the Master had been an Omega from the beginning, it might have been different, but now if he claims his body has changed, he will only face ridicule from society, and it will also raise issues regarding inheritance rights. Even though the Master is the only son of the late predecessor, the late predecessor had siblings and several cousins, so a messy lawsuit could arise. That is the last thing I want to happen.”

Kloff was so happy about Aeock becoming an omega that he hadn’t thought about such things. He had only thought of going through the heat together, impregnating Aeroc, and raising a child together. However, for a butler who had devoted his life to serving an aristocratic family, the problem of family succession loomed larger. As a lawyer, Kloff couldn’t deny the problem the butler pointed out. Folding his arms and leaning against the desk, Kloff waited for the butler to finish his words.

“I’d like for this matter to remain unknown.”

He had expected those words to come out.

“But I don’t want that.”

Kloff absolutely didn’t want to treat this matter as if it never happened. No matter what the butler did or how Aeroc tried to persuade him to refuse, Kloff had no intention of giving this up. When he stood up aggressively and glared at the butler, the butler merely snorted.

“I expected as much.”

While saying that, he observed Kloff with an undaunted gaze. His determined eyes were still shining brightly.

“I don’t want the young master to spend the rest of his life in isolation, living in solitude. And I don’t want to make this matter widely known either, so there’s only one option left. Although it goes against my own feelings, I have no choice but to follow God’s will.”

Listening to those words, Kloff made a puzzled expression.

“As of now, I am certain that you do not suit the Count Teiwind family, nor will you in the future. However, since it is the young master’s wish, I don’t have any other choice.”

“What are you talking about? What did Aeroc say?”

“Please come to the estate tomorrow morning. I will keep my schedule empty.”

The invitation to the estate was very welcome, but Kloff didn’t understand why the butler needed to keep his schedule empty. Looking at Kloff, who still hadn’t fully grasped the situation, the butler clicked his tongue in disdain.

“While the individual isn’t the best, I thought I could make something out of you, but I’ll have to reconsider whether I can turn you into a person. I’ll leave for today. Have a good day.”

Leaving those words behind, the butler left his office. Until then, Kloff still didn’t understand anything. It felt like he just made a major declaration, but Kloff couldn’t grasp his exact meaning. He would have to go to the estate tomorrow to find out. However, a great uneasiness overcame him, and even after the butler had left, Kloff occasionally felt a chill down his spine.

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