A Peaceful Start – This Life is a Breeze
Peaceful start. This life is easy living.
“Sebas, what about that thing I mentioned yesterday?”
“I've prepared it, Miss.”
“Really? As expected of Sebas.”
A bright smile spread across Miss Scarlett's face as she sat in front of the mirror early in the morning, letting the maids style her hair.
“Bring it right now. I need to try it on. What if it doesn't fit?”
“I've accounted for the pudding you enjoy without fail every evening lately.”
“What? Are you saying I've gained weight?”
“Of course not. You're always perfect, Miss.”
“Hmph, as if you needed to tell me!”
She beamed instantly, clearly pleased by the compliment.
It had been six months since I possessed the role of the exclusive butler to this young lady who grumbled on the surface but was soft-hearted inside.
I was spending the most satisfying days imaginable.
A competent butler in a medieval fantasy noble household.
No worries about food, clothing, or shelter—my bed was even comfortable.
All I had to do was handle the occasional whims of the young miss from behind the scenes.
How fortunate that I wasn't in the position of a novel protagonist risking my life in desperate battles.
Safety.
That's crucial.
More than anything else.
“Hold on, tighten the waist more! Ugh, Sebas! You said it was perfectly prepared!”
“Miss, that's what a corset is for—tightening.”
“Do you think I don't know that? Eek! Wait! I can't breathe!”
“Then you'll have to cut out the pudding starting today for the sake of the banquet.”
“N-No way! Do you know how rare this Mont Blanc pudding imported from the Republic? It's polite to the dessert to finish every last bit!”
As if she didn't know.
I was the one who had procured that precious Mont Blanc pudding.
Let's set aside questions about how a 20th-century dessert exists in a medieval fantasy setting.
This was a romance fantasy world.
Fan service trumped historical accuracy.
To the Radiant You.
A women-oriented yuri romance fantasy novel that had been wildly popular in my previous life.
Its fame was so immense that even I, who had no interest in the genre, had skimmed the early parts.
I didn't care for it, so I glossed over it.
But I remembered the meme about the heroine sprinkling pheromones everywhere, captivating men, women, young, and old alike.
In a world like that, landing the villainess's butler position? I thought my life was over.
In yuri stories, male characters were either trials to highlight the main leads' love or mere catalysts for their awakenings.
As long as I avoided getting entangled in the main plot and lived quietly as an extra...
Butler was a honey of a job—better than some middling noble for surviving long and thin.
“Eek! This just won't do. This dress doesn't suit me at all! Change it right now!”
“Just endure a little longer, Miss. You can overcome this.”
“I said change it now! Argh, I'm so mad! Hey, you! Go to the kitchen and get me some pudding. I need something sweet!”
The maid who had been struggling to lace up Scarlett's corset hurriedly dashed to the kitchen.
“A shame. That bold design would have made you shine the brightest, Miss.”
“...Sebas, are you teasing me? If you'd prepared it with some leeway, this wouldn't have happened!”
“I'll alter it immediately. Hand it over.”
I took the dress from the maid.
Housekeeping skills were a virtue any butler serving a capricious young lady must possess.
Fortunately, this body I possessed had excellent handiwork.
I sat right there and began widening the bodice with my all-purpose sewing kit.
“You know this New Year's banquet is special. All the nobles from across the Empire will be there, right?”
The young miss, half-dressed in her undergarments, boldly lounged on the sofa with her legs crossed.
Not a hint of embarrassment even with me watching.
It was the brazenness of someone who didn't see servants as mere possessions, but as equals.
“That woman Ariel will probably slither in shamelessly too, huh?”
“Yes, Miss.”
I answered while steadily sewing.
Ariel was the heroine of the original novel.
Ever since bumping into her two months ago, Scarlett had pegged her as her fated rival and hadn't let up on the sniping.
“To crush that arrogant bitch's spirit, a flashy dress is a must. Make sure it's tailored perfectly to my body.”
“Miss, here's your pudding.”
“Waaah!”
Before I could reply, Scarlett's face lit up at the sight of the pudding the maid brought.
That was her—venting complaints one moment, then lighting up like a child the next.
She scooped up a huge spoonful, shoved it in her mouth, and flashed a smile like she owned the world.
She looked so cute like that.
Hard to believe she was the original novel's villainess. There must be some trigger.
Just avoid that ruin flag.
Then I could keep enjoying these cozy daily moments.
“Miss, alterations complete.”
I handed over the dress just as she finished her pudding.
“Really? Already? As expected of Sebas. So reliable.”
She grinned widely again.
That innocent smile was the symbol of my peaceful routine.
As long as she was smiling, I was safe.
“How do I look? Pretty?”
“There's no doubt the dress I procured will be the most dazzling in the banquet hall.”
“That's not what I asked. Compliment me.”
“As your butler, my competence is your virtue, Miss.”
Scarlett let out a small chuckle at my shameless reply.
“You sure can talk... Let's go.”
“Yes, Miss.”
As she stepped down from the carriage, every gaze at the bustling banquet entrance locked onto her.
Scarlett waved and smiled sweetly at the stunned men.
The flower of high society.
I followed behind her as she strode confidently into the venue under the brilliant lights.
The Empire's grand New Year's banquet.
A three-day noble extravaganza.
From the opulent decorations to the commoners' hard-earned taxes melting away—it was all palpable.
“Oh my, Lady Scarlett de Carmine. Welcome.”
No sooner had the flower of society arrived than ladies hiding smirks behind fans swarmed her with greetings.
Those fake smiles were impressive.
“Bellua Countess Lady. Long time no see.”
“You've... filled out even more since last time.”
“Oh my, you too, Bellua Countess Lady. I hear the count's been implementing relief policies for his territory lately. Your modest look suits you.”
And just like that, the verbal sparring ignited upon meeting.
Look at those fake smiles, teeth gritted behind the fans.
This was romance fantasy.
Amid the lively banquet, the doors opened, revealing another key figure.
“His Grace, Duke Kairon von Eisenvelts of the Eisenvelts Archduchy!”
The butler flung the doors wide and bellowed his name, echoing through the hall.
A handsome man with sharp eyes that could pierce souls.
The venue erupted at the arrival of someone who never graced social events.
“Duke Eisenvelts? For real?”
“He must be exhausted from the northern frontlines, yet he came all the way to the capital.”
Ladies surrounded him in layers, fawning to win his favor.
Yeah, I heard he was deep in bloody battles with monsters on the front lines.
What wind blew him all the way to the heart of the Empire?
Ah, that scene.
A memory flashed by.
His entrance pinpointed the timeline.
The very early part of the original novel.
The pivotal event where Scarlett becomes true enemies with the heroine.
It started with her picking a fight out of jealousy over Ariel catching the northern duke's eye.
Kairon stood silently amid the barrage of flattery, surrounded by the ladies.
Just as Scarlett scowled and opened her mouth to snap...
“Everyone, perhaps now...”
“Ladies! His Grace looks troubled.”
A clear, melodic voice cut Scarlett off, ringing through the hall.
The owner: Ariel.
At her appearance, which brightened the room just by existing, the icy northern duke's brow twitched.
“There's plenty of time, so let's take it slow. Greetings first, right?”
Ariel sorted the chaos with a smile, and remarkably, the ladies obeyed.
They backed off one by one, introducing themselves properly and chatting calmly.
Charisma that bent people to her will.
That was the original heroine's charm.
Pleased with herself for tidying up the mess, Ariel watched with hands on hips—until she turned toward Scarlett, who was glaring daggers.
“Eek!”
She tripped on her long dress hem, balance crumbling.
About to kiss the floor.
But no crash followed.
The northern duke had swept her waist, lifting her into his arms.
“...Are you alright?”
He looked down at Ariel snug in his hold and tossed out the line indifferently.
Damn, what a fateful first meeting.
Even I, a fellow guy, had to chuckle at the perfect rom-com setup.
“Ah... Y-Yes. Th-Thank you.”
Ariel's face flushed crimson as she scrambled out of Kairon's arms, head bowed.
“Be careful. Until next time.”
“Ah, yes.”
Their first exchange ended abruptly.
Partly because so many ladies were clinging to his back, eyeing opportunities.
But Ariel herself had lost her usual boldness, stealing shy glances at his face.
For a first meeting, it was plenty.
A strange atmosphere rippled through the hall.
The two traded half-hearted responses to other nobles while sneaking peeks at each other whenever they could.
And that awkward eye contact...
A third party noticed it immediately.
No need to say who: our Miss Scarlett.
“Hmmm...”
Look at those burning eyes.
The incarnation of jealousy had descended upon the banquet hall.
We're screwed.
This banquet was definitely the trigger.
Scarlett had already shown subtle inferiority complex vibes.
Watching Ariel forge a connection with the duke at first sight must have maxed out her envy.
Until the banquet ended that night,
Scarlett never took her eyes off the two.
“I'm pissed.”
After the first night of the banquet, Scarlett summoned me to her lodging with a grave expression.
“Why is everyone drooling over that plain nothing of a girl?!”
Unable to contain her rage, she flopped face-down on the bed, kicking her feet wildly.
“Miss, your makeup's smearing on the pillow. It'll ruin your skin when you sleep.”
“Forget it! My skin won't be damaged by something like this!”
“Last time you said the same and broke out in pimples, then took it out on the innocent maids.”
Scarlett shot up and glared at me.
Well, facts are facts.
Meeting my calm gaze, she bit her lip, huffed, and stomped toward the bathroom.
She followed good advice so obediently—hardly the vicious villainess from the original.
No matter the jealousy, what shift in mindset turned her into that?
Just before she closed the bathroom door, I tossed out the bait softly.
“Shall I investigate Duke Eisenvelts's tastes for you?”
“Really?! That iron wall of a man's preferences?”
Scarlett peeked out from the doorway.
“Of course. It's my specialty.”
I had plenty of experience cleaning up after her pranks.
Uncovering a male noble's secret tastes? I'd done it several times already.
Just sneak in at dead of night when everyone's asleep, peek around, and leave. Simple mission.
By tuning her moods like this, keeping her from turning too venomous,
I believed our miss would remain her cute, clumsy self, guaranteeing my serene butler life.
“Good. I'll be expecting it.”
With that, she vanished into the bathroom. Soon, I heard her humming cheerfully.
I grinned to the empty room, then headed straight for the northern duke's lodging.
The security was laxer than expected.
No escort knights in sight.
As expected of a northern general who'd spent his life on the front lines.
He trusted his senses so much he didn't need guards.
But I'm the all-purpose butler Sebas. Stealth like this is butler basics.
I reached his door with movements too subtle for any amateur to detect.
Alright then. Time to uncover our northern duke's secrets?
The space before his door was dead silent, like a tomb.
Too early to be fast asleep.
I turned the knob ever so carefully.
Butler secret technique: Stand by your master's side unnoticed.
This stealth erased my presence entirely—a butler's lifeline.
Calming my pounding heart, I eased the door open.
And through that narrow gap, a strange smell assaulted me.
Fishy?
The metallic tang of iron exposed to air.
A war hero polishing his weapons before bed?
But this scent felt... alive.
This wasn't mere metal.
It's the smell of blood.
My grip tightened on the knob unconsciously.
Whose blood? The duke's? But the original had no incidents at this banquet...
“Crunch.”
Then, a chilling sound grazed my ear.
A grinding crunch.
“Crunch, grind.”
Followed by bone-shattering noises that chilled my spine, filling the room.
This was...
I pressed my trembling eye to the crack.
Through the sliver, the scene inside the darkened room:
The northern duke was devouring something.
A still-pulsating red mass.