What I Must Do
With the young ladies' cheers as background music, Kairon strolled leisurely into the ballroom.
My mind went completely blank, unable to keep up with the situation.
What the hell? Why is that guy here in the ballroom?
According to the original story, he should be heading back to his territory by now!
The scene I'd glimpsed through the door crack last night flickered before my eyes.
The gruesome sounds of blood splattering and a heart being chewed.
A chill raced up my spine.
Why this variable of all things.
Regardless of my chaotic thoughts, the young ladies swarmed him just like yesterday, vying desperately for his favor.
Even if I shouted a warning at them right now, it would be pointless.
It would only arouse suspicion.
I suppressed my anxiety and quietly slipped over to the corner where the butlers had gathered.
"Oh, Sebas. You're here today too? A bit late, though."
I nodded lightly to the butlers exchanging silly jokes and blended in.
"By any chance, is something going on up north?"
"Something? What kind of something?"
"You know, like urgent business that needs handling."
If there'd been trouble in the north, these guys would know about it.
We servants live by always watching the nobles' moods.
Sharing information the fastest whenever something happens and catering to their whims is our daily routine.
After all, servants are quicker than any information guild when it comes to noble affairs, so I cautiously broached the subject.
"Well, look at this guy. Even you, Sebas, get jealous, huh."
"Pardon?"
"I get it. With His Grace the Grand Duke hogging all the young ladies' attention, you just want him gone quick."
"Mm-hmm, instinct as a man. He's been like a stone statue till now, feeling distant like some lofty knight, but now he finally smells human."
Contrary to my intent, they dismissed my question as petty jealousy and chuckled.
As I opened my mouth to make an excuse, a butler from the north waved his hand and drove the nail in.
"Nothing's happened. He'll probably stay through the whole banquet period to enjoy it fully. His Grace should pick a proper lady this time and think about heirs."
The servants quickly devolved into crude jokes.
Ignoring those who patted my shoulder as if feeling some camaraderie from our chat, I turned my gaze back to the Grand Duke.
Nothing had happened, huh.
Then why did he rush back to his territory in the original story?
Even surrounded by young ladies, he wasn't enjoying it—instead, he scanned the room anxiously, as if searching for something.
A stark contrast to yesterday.
As I glared at him, Scarlett pushed through the crowd of ladies and stood before the Grand Duke, gracefully lifting the hem of her skirt.
"Your Grace, Grand Duke of Eisenvelts, I couldn't properly greet you amid yesterday's chaos at the banquet. I'm Scarlett of the Carmine Ducal House."
Perfect noble etiquette.
The surrounding young ladies buzzed in surprise at her unusually bold move.
But the Grand Duke's response was ice-cold.
"Kairon."
That was it.
Scarlett's face fell at the curt reply, but she didn't give up, trying to win his favor like the other ladies.
So this is what she meant by handling it herself.
Her uncharacteristic behavior made my chest ache for a moment, but it also filled with dissatisfaction.
Our lady was humbling herself like this, and he dares to react that way?
Damn rich bastards always have it easy.
I tamped down the childish inferiority complex rising in my chest and reminded myself of what I had to do.
First, separate that dangerous guy from our lady and straighten out the derailed original plot.
Getting any more involved with him is too risky.
"You'll burn a hole through him."
"Forbidden love, maybe."
I ignored the butlers' murmurs around me.
All my nerves were fixed on Kairon.
His hand gripping the champagne glass trembled faintly—he was definitely tense.
That proved the scene I'd witnessed last night wasn't a lie.
It was revolting to see the madman who'd devoured a heart pretending to be normal, but those anxious eyes bothered me more.
Last night's memory resurfaced.
Those hollow, unfocused eyes scanning the corridor.
Did he sense my presence back then?
I'd thought he was just out of his mind since he ignored me and slammed the door.
The plot deviating from the original made every one of his movements drive me insane with worry.
He barely paid attention even when talking to Ariel, who he'd shown interest in yesterday.
Ariel seemed to notice his odd demeanor too, asking in a worried voice,
"Your Grace, are you unwell somewhere? Your complexion doesn't look good."
"No, I'm fine. Just lost in thought for a moment."
At her question, the Grand Duke twitched his brow and composed his expression nonchalantly.
Obviously acting.
He pretended to enjoy the banquet, but his fingertips still trembled, and cold sweat beaded on his skin.
He couldn't fool my eyes, honed from months of observing nobles' power plays.
"Tch."
Scarlett ground her teeth in displeasure at him ignoring her to chat with Ariel and then seemingly enjoying the event.
Clear jealousy.
But the glare she shot Ariel was subtly different from the original description.
In the original story, on this day, when the northern Grand Duke suddenly vanished and soured the banquet mood, Ariel took the lead—and Scarlett viciously picked a fight with her, setting up their full rivalry.
By contrast, her reaction now was just her usual cute sulking.
Because the northern Grand Duke is still at the banquet?
Something's off. There's more.
A variable I haven't realized yet.
"Don't show such open hostility toward the nobles, lad."
The old butler who'd been silently watching poked my side.
"Sorry. Our lady seems pretty serious about this, so I got a bit too immersed without realizing."
The old butler nodded in understanding and whispered gravely,
"Best to be careful. Even if the young miss begs, don't wander near His Grace's quarters at night."
"Pardon? What do you—"
"It's a famous rumor among the northern servants. If you disturb his private nights..."
He mimed slicing his throat with his hand.
I could guess the rest without him saying it.
After all, I'd witnessed that secret just last night.
My heart sank.
I whipped my head around to stare at the Grand Duke in the center of the ballroom.
His face still radiated unease.
A puzzle piece clicked in my mind, and my eyes widened.
What if the fact that I escaped undetected last night is the root of all these variables?
In the original novel, Scarlett's butler vanished at some point.
I'd thought it was just trimming an extra's screentime.
But what if he really disappeared?
Even before I possessed this body, Scarlett and Sebas had seemed especially close.
What if, that day, Sebas made the same choice I did? And failed to stifle his scream, getting caught?
Just a mere butler.
Even as the young miss's closest confidant, a war hero like the northern Grand Duke wouldn't be punished for something like that.
But if the butler who'd been with her since childhood vanished overnight?
Could Scarlett have stayed the same?
Looking at the kindness she showed me now, the answer was clear.
The sudden absence of the one person she relied on and followed.
The original Scarlett had been anxious.
Without her pillar, she'd grasped for a way to soothe that anxiety in a twisted manner.
That was the trigger.
Realizing the full truth made my mind reel.
Unthinkingly, I shot a murderous glare at the Grand Duke.
Reacting to it, he startled and straightened his back rigidly.
Murmurs erupted around us simultaneously.
"Oh my, a sudden chill..."
"I feel goosebumps. Guards!"
The nobles rubbed their arms in a fuss.
Servants scurried about here and there.
It had to be him.
The Grand Duke had unconsciously emanated eerie killing intent in response to my gaze.
Only one thought filled my head now.
I have to separate Scarlett from that dangerous time bomb right now.
That's the only way to protect her.
I hurried to her side and whispered in her ear,
"My lady, perhaps it's time to withdraw. His Grace doesn't seem in the mood for conversation."
"What are you talking about? Don't worry—just a bit longer and he'll come around. I can handle it."
"My lady, please listen to—"
I was about to insist it was for her sake, that she needed to heed me for her safety, when her expression stopped me cold.
She was trying to act haughty, but her eyes shook with unease.
The way she looked at me was tinged with awkwardness.
Is this the right thing?
Seeing that snapped me back to reality.
The thought that I'd nearly messed up flashed through my mind.
What had I decided as I left her room this morning?
To protect her from this world's harsh truths without her knowing.
But if I hurt her feelings in the process, what was the point?
Truth be told, I felt anxiety rivaling the northern Grand Duke's—not just from last night's horror.
Watching him stirred an inexplicable dread.
A primal emotion I couldn't put into words.
"Sebas? What's wrong? Your face is pale as a ghost."
Scarlett noticed my state first and grew worried.
She gently patted my arm.
Her warm touch made me realize I was the one trembling.
"Are you really okay? Go rest. I can handle His Grace on my own. You don't trust me?"
I looked at her forced playful smile.
I'd vowed to protect this pure young lady's smile, and here I was, crumbling after just a few hours.
Pathetic.
I clenched my fist tight.
I couldn't let anxiety sweep me away.
I took a deep breath in and out, relaxing my stiff face.
Then I donned my usual sly, laid-back butler mask.
"Very well. Seems I've overdone it a bit. I'll leave that to you, my lady."
I hammed it up exaggeratedly, and Scarlett lifted her chin proudly, hands on her hips.
"Hmph, who are you doubting? That's a piece of cake."
A smile bloomed on her face.
Right—no need to rush.
Scarlett still knew nothing.
No reason to stir her anxiety by panicking first.
Time to calmly plan ahead.
Two days left in the banquet.
I had to redirect Scarlett's interest away from the northern Grand Duke and, at the same time, uncover that dangerous man's secret—find his weakness or drive him out.
Playing it safe as a survival strategy?
What value is there in a man who won't act to protect the woman he must safeguard?
There must be a reason I possessed this world.
"Then, I'll step out for some air. I'll be cheering for your dazzling performance from afar."
"Yeah. Take a break. I give you special permission."
She winked playfully.
I turned away, leaving her behind.
I glanced at the northern Grand Duke one last time.
He stared blankly into space, face still ashen.
I averted my eyes from him and left the ballroom without hesitation.
A prickling sensation like eyes boring into my back.
Whose gaze it was didn't matter.
I didn't care.
I didn't look back.
What I must do was clear.
I'll handle it.
I'll wrench this shitty world back into its proper romance fantasy track.