1st Person POV (Ekaterina)
Although I thought it was stupid, I couldn’t hate them any more than this, but I couldn’t help but think about the Yes Trio.
Well, live strong. No, I don’t want them to be stronger.
But what did Graham-san say to Cymer, to be able to silence such a strong Yes Trio with only a single word?
After all the guests left, I asked Graham to give me an account of the party.
“Graham, I’m sorry that my classmate caused you so much trouble earlier, but I admire the way you handled Miss Cymer.” (Ekaterina)
“Thank you, my Lady.” (Graham)
“I hope you don’t mind me asking what you said to her?” (Ekaterina)
“I told her that the Cymer family owed us a debt, and that it would be fine if she used this dress to pay it off.” (Graham)
Oh my.
“I see. No wonder she showed such a change. It’s an amazing ability to understand such things and to even memorize her name. I just can’t do it.” (Ekaterina)
“No, well, I don’t really know about it.” (Graham)
Graham simply added.
“Young Lady, we do not lend money as part of our business, but we do receive letters of debt in our various accounts. However, I don’t know which family the deeds belong to or how many of them are currently in our possession. However, it is normal for a noble family to have debts, whether small or large. I simply mentioned that there are debts owed to this family, that is all. Mina came to tell me Cymer-sama’s name because she knew all the people in the same dormitory as the Young Lady.” (Graham)
…Uwaah…
No way, it was a bluff!
Marina-chan was just playing along with the dignified butler of the duke’s household, who she said was the ideal butler!
“Oh my, ho ho ho!” (Ekaterina)
Ekaterina burst out laughing and applauded in glee.
“What a brilliant performance! I’m so impressed! As expected from Grandfather’s favorite actor. It was so wonderfully acted that I didn’t even notice that it was a stage. It was a great scene.” (Ekaterina)
Then Graham stood up and bowed. Not the usual perfect butler’s bow, but an exaggerated and magnificent bow, as if he were a stage actor.
“I am honored to receive such high praise for my shabby performance, my lady.” (Graham)
3rd Person POV
Ekaterina smiled.
When Ekaterina told Marina and the others that she didn’t know Graham’s family background, she wasn’t lying. Ekaterina did not know what family he was born into. But he did tell them what kind of life he had lived before serving under their grandfather Sergei.
Graham had once been an actor in a traveling theater troupe.
When the troupe he was in passed through Yurinova’s territory, they were unfortunately attacked by a magical beast. Although the magical beast was ultimately defeated by the Yurinova Knight Order’s swift response, unfortunately the troupe was practically completely wiped out. Only one person; Graham, was the sole survivor. Although he survived, he lost everything and also lost the will to live.
It was an incident that happened more than thirty years ago, and back then Graham was probably in his late twenties. He may also have had a family in the troupe. He didn’t talk about it, though.
While he was being treated for his wounds by the Order, he was as lifeless as a shell, when Grandfather called out to him. He said that he was troubled by the sudden resignation of his squire.
[You’re an actor, aren’t you? When you get well, will you stay with me for a while and play the part of a squire?] (Sergei)
That was how it all started, he said.
He loved to act. He didn’t want to do anything else. But he couldn’t bring himself to forget what he had lost and join another theater troupe. Grandfather’s words, which seemed to reflect his feelings, stuck with him.
So Graham decided to play the part of a servant.
