Penelope has been...!

Two years have passed, ever since I came as a Butler for Ophelia thanks to Penelope. 

Right now I'm looking at an encrypted message in an envelope. 

"This is the third slave-trading hideout that was busted"

As I read its content my brows furrowed, in all these years I couldn't even find a single lead on finding my sibling. 

"Oh? You're working hard even at this time of the year, you should let loose a little you know?"

I shook my head, the one who spoke to me was Dell. After my apprenticeship as the Head Butler, I had a Disciple-master relationship with Dell. 

"Master please let me be for a while"

"Just because you don't show emotions on your face doesn't mean you don't have them, you know? I can tell when you're annoyed"

"I'm frustrated that's what"

"You still have time to find your sibling, Just be patient okay?"

"Fine… "

He patted my head, I sighed and calmed myself up. Just as I was about to leave, a maid came up to me. 

"Samuel, the Young lady is calling for you"

"Ah, okay"

I pocketed the envelope for now and walked towards Ophelia's room. Mostly when she calls me we would meet in her room. 

Also, in the past two years, I've used the Marquis's resources and found some talents on the street, I've been using them to find some Slave trader's hideouts for two years, they're older and much more experienced than me anyways. 

I also have been sending messages with the Marquis since Penelope has mentioned me multiple times. In his letter, he seems to be worried about his daughter a lot. So he was thankful that I was there for her. 

Such developments were unheard of in the Otome game, said Luna. Well, it's all for the better though. 

—Knock knock

I knocked at Ophelia's room. 

"it's me"

"Come in"

And there I saw a dishevelled haired lady sitting on a stool. Even having a drool on her pink lips as she sat, something unbecoming of a lady. 

"What happened now?"

"I want you to fix my hair… "

"Ha… the maids can do that, you know?"

"You're the only one who can talk to me this way too"

I sighed and went to get a brush, walking up to Ophelia. She seems to have a better look. We're the same age but she shines more than me. 

"Nn…"

"How is it?"

"Being brushed by you is better than anyone else, really now"

As I brushed her hair she stood still and looked in the Mirror. 

"Can I talk to Luna later?"

"Later"

She then smiled, Luna and Ophelia got along a lot when I asked Markus after taking the possession back of my body.  Though I wish I could properly hear what they're doing. 

-tap

Ophelia is bending her neck back and is looking straight at me, she used her index to tap me on the forehead. 

"Yes?"

"Your expressionless face never changed, you should smile more…"

"Oh? Is the lady who used to throw tantrums left and right suddenly become mature? Oh how proud I am"

"H-hey!"

{Pfft wow}

"shut it, Luna"

"Is Luna there?"

"Yeah"

I continued to brush her hair till all the bed hair and cow licks were gone. I patted her hair after that. 

"Hey…"

She seemed to have no energy, I chuckled a bit and brushed her hair once again.  

"Alright, do you need something more? My lady?"

"Mm... Do you have something to do later on?"

"Not really"

"Then can I talk to Luna now?"

"Ah, then…"

But before I gave Luna the control someone knocked on her door aggressive, or more like, in desperate urgency. 

"My lady! It's an emergency! Madam is…!"

… 

We rushed to Penelope's room. It's too early but the news can't help but bring us to a commotion. 

With my lady who ran here, she has rugged breathing and her combed hair became dishevelled once again. 

One thing I did was clench my teeth and knock on the door. Before I even introduced my voice the voice on the other side told us to come. 

"come in"

And as said I slowly opened the door and entered, Ophelia quickly followed suit and as we entered we were faced with the head Butler whose face is pale. 

Penelope is on the bed in light clothing, her body looks normal, at one point but she was ghastly pale. Like someone who's a minute away from dying. 

"Ophelia… "

"Mama—"

Ophelia tried to rush in but I stopped her by grabbing her arm. 

"What are you doing?!"

"Don't rush in"

In case of knowledge about diseases, I can't risk having it exposed but then again, the Butler is fine. So I concluded it was not a disease… then.. a poison. 

I walked toward Penelope with a worried gaze. her eyes who's light is fading glanced at us and gave a strong hearted smile.  

"What happened?" asked Ophelia. 

"Wah... You… don't have to ask that… "

Penelope is so weak she can't even talk continuously. Her breathing is too weak that I have to get close to hear it. 

"Head Butler, care to explain?"

"What… " Penelope tried to retort. 

"She went to check the territory, giving aid to the slums when some madman bit her."

"... How long was this?"

"3 weeks"

"THREE WEEKS?!"

I exclaimed, visibly frustrated as I looked at Penelope with slight anguish in my eyes. 

"Why didn't you tell us?! The Slums are breeding grounds for diseases!"

Penelope seems disheartened but I couldn't be soft-hearted now. Penelope that was just a bad move! And as Luna said you're supposed to die on the original run!

"What are the symptoms that you've observed, Head Butler?"

"She… Gradually weakened but there are no other symptoms we've found, at first she took some healing spells from the church but then just as when we thought she was fine this happened."

"Tsk…"

I couldn't help but be annoyed, so I walked toward the drawer and grabbed a piece of paper, and with that, I started writing. 

This is a report I would give the Marquis. I could hear the subtle cry of Ophelia towards her mother, she kept her distance so as not to get it herself thinking it is a disease. 

I can't believe there's a madman in the slums. And once I passed the letter to a maid, Julie, whose Ophelia's maid came to me with a ragged breath. 

"Samuel! Samuel… huff… huff"

"What now?"

"The nobles from the Northern Viscount! T-they're here!"

"Why…?"

{Sammy, remember Penelope is killed in the original run}

I see, they're the ones targeting Penelope's life, but why?

{Sammy, There's one treasure that could heal any diseases and illnesses, any injury and any lost limbs}

'The elixir? You know damn well the Emperor is the only one who could hold such a thing right? Why did you change the subject?'

{Samuel. You can create an Elixir with enough mana.}

"...!"

Propping me out of my thoughts, I nodded. One for the maid and one for Luna. The Head Butler went first and I followed. 

Walking inside the reception room, the head Butler welcomed the guest, though it might've been the most unpleasant. 

"Why is such a Lord in our territory?"

"Oh, am I not welcomed?" The fat noble sneered. 

There are three of them in the reception room. Three fat asses to be clear. Their vanity shows how much they spend, with rings and necklaces with gems on them. Not just gems, those are mana stones. 

"Oh, no. There is no such thing. I was just asking why you particularly visited at such a time?"

The head Butler's voice housed irritation. 

"Oh! My apologies let me get to the point. I heard that the madam is sick! I couldn't help but be worried."

"—!"

With such a disgusting smile I couldn't help but look at the fat noble with disdain. Then the words that came out of his mouth made me smile devilishly. 

"How—"

"How did you know about Madam's condition?"

Before the Head Butler even finished his sentence I interrupted immediately. 

"Hah? Why does a mere commoner intrude in Noble's talk?!"

"Hah… How did you know about Madam's condition? I won't ask nicely again"

I said with a sigh, clearly exasperated, then seeing a vein pop out their forehead I knew I successfully provoked them.  

"Is this how the Marquisate receives guests!? I can't help but be disappointed—"

"There are only two maids who come and go to tend to Madam's condition."

I interrupted him once again. Now clearly voicing my hostility. 

"And somehow the word got out… I wonder how?"

I lied as I breathed, I've just found out about her condition today. But they wouldn't know that. 

"I guess we have to clean the estate once again, GUARDS!"

Some knights who were out guarding came in immediately. 

"Arrest these fools who dare harm the Madam"

"Wha—"

"This is a false accusation!"

"Such madness!"

"Tell me then, how did you know about Madam's condition?"

I looked at them coldly, but I could see how they bite their lips as if they've been lied to. 

They can't answer back. They're thinking probably someone was feeding them false information, simply because they don't know that a few maids are attending to the madam. 

And I lied about the two maids attending her. 

"Head Butler, the Madam maybe has been poisoned so it won't be a disease. The madman is probably the tool they used to poison her. Please tell the Marquis and also clean the estate"

"Y… yes"

The Head Butler has some mixed emotions plastered on his face, needless to say, I need to do something fast.