Ten Years
Watching the situation unfold, Junghyun slowly walked forward until he stood before the maid.
Then he placed himself squarely between Celina and the servant.
"...Step aside."
"I must decline."
"I said move."
"That is an order I cannot obey."
Celina let out a hollow laugh.
"A butler defying his master's command?"
"Yes."
Junghyun's voice was firm.
"Refusing a wrongful order is also a butler's duty."
"Don't make me laugh. You're mine."
"When I tell you to do something, you do it."
Junghyun regarded her for a moment before speaking again, this time allowing a trace of sternness into his tone for the first time.
"Young miss. People are not objects."
"..."
"Not the maid."
"Not the knights."
"Not the butler."
"Every one of them is a precious person living out a single human life."
"..."
"You must never treat others carelessly simply because you possess power."
Celina clenched her teeth.
"Shut up!"
She raised her hand high, ready to strike his cheek.
But—
Tuk.
Junghyun caught her wrist lightly.
The grip was neither harsh nor painful.
Just firm enough that she could not move any farther.
Celina froze in confusion.
It won't move...?
She poured every ounce of strength into wrenching free, yet her arm remained as motionless as if bound by iron chains.
Junghyun looked at her and spoke in a low voice.
"Violence is not a way to make someone understand."
"...Let go."
"Promise me."
"..."
"That you will never give such an order again."
Celina bit her lip to the end and glared at him.
"...No."
"I see."
Junghyun slowly released her hand.
Then he surveyed the room and said,
"That will be all for today's lesson."
Everyone wore puzzled expressions.
It's over?
Just like that?
But Junghyun already considered it enough.
Breaking a child on the very first day was not education.
What mattered was giving her time to think about why her actions had been stopped.
He turned to the maid with a gentle smile.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"...No."
"Rest for today."
"...Thank you."
The maid's eyes reddened.
Seeing that, Celina found herself unable to say a word.
She had never once received gratitude from a servant.
At the door, Junghyun bowed once more.
"Have a good night, young miss."
Creak.
The door closed.
Celina was left alone in the room.
"...What is with that man."
She sank onto the bed and, without thinking, looked down at the wrist he had held.
It did not hurt.
He had not forced her with raw strength either.
Yet somehow that brief moment refused to leave her mind.
"...Three days."
Celina muttered as if to herself.
"I'll drive him out within three days."
But she did not yet know.
That vow would never be fulfilled even once in the ten years to come.
Nor did she know that on the day that butler eventually left her side, her entire world would collapse.
"Young miss."
"...Again?"
"..."
"One greets first."
"...Don't want to."
Tap.
"...Ow!"
Celina clutched her forehead and glared at Junghyun.
"You! You just hit me!"
"It is education. I merely tapped your forehead lightly, did I not?"
"It hurts!"
"It hurts because you are young. That is why it will stay in your memory a long time."
"...That's mean."
Junghyun smiled quietly.
"What you learned today. When you meet someone?"
"......Hi."
"...A little disappointing."
"......Good day to you."
"Excellent."
A few days later.
"Young miss, one does not speak with food still in one's mouth during a meal."
"...Why."
"It appears undignified."
"...Annoying."
"Do you not wish to become a dignified duchess?"
"...I do."
"Then chew, then speak."
Several months later.
"Young miss. That maid's name is?"
"...Don't know."
"Memorize it."
"Why?"
"A name is the first step in respecting a person."
Celina pouted.
"...Lia."
"Incorrect."
"...Lina?"
"It is Liana."
"...That's hard."
One year later.
"Liana."
"...Yes?"
"Did you hurt yourself?"
"...I am fine."
"..."
"Be careful."
"...Thank you."
From a distance, Junghyun watched in silence and took a sip of tea.
Good.
Little by little.
Two years later.
"Captain of the knights."
"...?"
"You have worked hard."
"...!"
The knight captain was momentarily speechless.
He had received thanks from a twelve-year-old young lady. That night the knights passed around cups of wine.
"Our young miss finally spoke like a proper person."
"......"
"Don't cry."
"I'm tearing up."
Three years later.
A noble banquet.
A baron's daughter accidentally spilled wine.
The surrounding nobles frowned as though they had witnessed something unsightly.
Swoosh.
Celina approached the baron's daughter and quietly offered a handkerchief.
"It's all right. Anyone can make a mistake."
"...Thank you."
Watching from afar, the duke smiled faintly and said,
"Junghyun, you truly are remarkable."
"You flatter me far too much."
Four years later.
"Young miss. What is a noble?"
"..."
Celina smiled as she answered.
"The one who takes responsibility first."
"..."
"The one who eats last."
"..."
"The one who apologizes first."
Junghyun slowly nodded.
"That is the correct answer."
Celina turned her head away for no particular reason.
"...Hmph. It's not like I'm happy just because you praised me."
"I am aware."
"...Do a little more."
"...?"
"...The praise."
Junghyun bowed his head to hide a laugh.
"You did well again today."
"...Hehe."
"...Ah, no. I wasn't smiling."
Five years.
Six years.
Seven years.
In that time the seasons changed countless times.
Snow fell.
Flowers bloomed.
Leaves scattered.
And snow fell once more.
Through all those long years, Junghyun taught Celina without missing a single day.
Etiquette, swordsmanship, politics, diplomacy, responsibility.
And even the way to love people.
"Young miss."
"...?"
"Thank you."
"Why?"
"For following along so well again today."
Celina looked at Junghyun for a moment, then smiled softly.
"Idiot. That's what I should be saying."
Hearing those words, Junghyun thought for the first time,
She's truly grown up now.
And then.
Ten years later.
The study of the Estel Ducal House.
Junghyun set a single envelope down before the duke.
The moment the duke saw it, he closed his eyes without a word.
On the envelope was written a concise yet unmistakable word of self-declaration.
"So you have decided at last."
Junghyun quietly bowed his head.
"Yes. I have come to submit my letter of resignation."
The air in the study grew heavy.
Outside, knowing nothing, the now twenty-year-old Celina was walking toward the mansion with a bright face.
"...Butler! What's today's lesson?"
She still did not know that the person most precious to her was about to leave today.
Another peaceful morning at the Estel Ducal House, as always.
Morning sunlight gently bathed the windows of the mansion.
"Good morning."
At the clear yet calm voice, the maids passing through the corridor bowed in unison.
"Good morning, young miss."
Beautiful golden hair that shone brilliantly in the sunlight cascaded neatly down to her waist.
Her deep ruby eyes still possessed a jewel-like beauty.
But her bearing and dignity were nothing like they had been ten years earlier.
"...Liana."
"Yes?"
"Is the knee you fell on yesterday all right?"
"...!"
At Celina's words, Liana's face filled with surprise.
"...You remembered?"
Celina smiled softly.
"Of course. One of my people got hurt. If you lie and say you're fine, you'll be scolded, you know?"
"...It has improved a great deal."
"That's a relief."
Liana's eyes grew moist.
The young miss remembered my name...
Watching from a distance, the knight captain snorted a quiet laugh.
"Would've been unimaginable in the old days."
"Indeed. All thanks to that butler."
The knight's gaze turned toward a certain spot.
There stood a man in a neatly arranged black uniform, holding a silver tray.
Jo Junghyun.
Age twenty-five.
Chief exclusive butler of the Estel Ducal House.
And also Celina's teacher.
"Butler."
Celina waved.
Junghyun approached with a smile.
"Good morning."
"...Good morning to you too."
"..."
"...Ah."
As if something had occurred to her, Celina cleared her throat and straightened her posture again.
"...Good morning."
Junghyun chuckled.
"You pass."
"Why?"
"In the past you would have started with informal speech."
"..."
Perhaps embarrassed, Celina flushed and deliberately averted her eyes.
"...When it's just the two of us, informal speech is fine, right?"
"It is not."
"Why?"
"Habits surface at any time."
"That's mean."
Even as she grumbled, she opened her mouth once more.
"...Good morning."
This time it was perfect.
Junghyun quietly nodded.
"Very good."
Celina smiled to herself.
Praised again.
At ten years old she had hated hearing those words so much.
But now, strangely,
a single word of praise from him made the whole day feel bright.
The mansion dining hall.
At the wide table the duke and duchess were already seated.
"Good morning."
Celina bowed naturally.
The duke looked upon her with a contented smile.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes."
The duchess smiled.
"You are beautiful again today."
"...Thank you."
Seeing that, the duke glanced sideways at Junghyun.
Junghyun was pouring tea with an expression that suggested nothing was amiss.
He truly... raised her well.
The child who ten years ago had cursed, thrown objects, and made servants cry
now remembered the names of the staff, offered thanks to the knights, and was respected by the nobility as the heir.
And all of it through the efforts of a single man.
After the meal ended,
Junghyun spoke to Celina.
"Young miss, today's schedule."
Celina naturally took out her notebook.
It was a habit forged by ten years of effort.
"Territory patrol in the morning."
"Noble assembly in the afternoon."
"Sword training in the evening."
"And..."
Junghyun paused for a moment.
Perhaps finding the sudden silence odd, Celina, who had been diligently writing, lifted her head to look at him.
"Why?"
"...It is nothing. We will conduct the final lesson today."
Celina's face brightened into a wide smile.
"Great. What kind of lesson is it today?"
"..."
Seeing her smiling face, a smile rose unbidden to his own lips.
"The most important lesson. The final lesson concerning responsibility."
Celina nodded with an expectant expression.
"All right."
"..."
"...I'll study hard."
Celina did not know.
That the "final" Junghyun spoke of
did not refer only to today's lesson.
And.
At that same hour, on the desk in the duke's study, a fully signed letter of resignation already lay quietly waiting.
It was destined to become the farewell greeting of a butler who had supported the ducal house for ten years.
Celina's room.
"Celina, today is the final lesson."
"...?"
At Junghyun's words, Celina tilted her head.
"Why?"
"Because there is almost nothing left to teach you."
"...Is that praise?"
"Yes. It is praise."
Celina smiled softly.
"Then... I'll do my best today."
That afternoon.
Imperial nobles visited the Estel Ducal House.
They had come to observe the heir's education.
In the center of the garden, Celina conversed naturally with the noble young ladies.
Dignity.
Etiquette.
Consideration.
Everything was perfect.
"Excuse me."
Celina bowed first.
The opposing nobles wore surprised expressions.
That the sole daughter of Estel would greet first.
"You must have had a long journey. Thank you for coming."
"If there is anything lacking, please do not hesitate to tell me."
The duke watched from afar and smiled faintly.
Perfect. She is now an heir I can present to anyone without shame.
But.
Trouble always erupted from unexpected places.
"Hey."
A young master from a count's house gave a maid a light kick with his foot.
"Watch where you're going."
"...I am sorry."
The maid bowed her head repeatedly.
Yet he did not stop.
"A commoner like you dirtied my clothes."
Just as he raised his hand to strike her cheek—
Tak.
Someone seized his wrist.
"...Who are you?"
Celina stood there.
Her crimson eyes had gone cold and still.
"Remove that hand."
"...What?"
"Soiling clothing is something to apologize for, but anyone can make a mistake."
"And. A noble is not a being who takes out their anger on the weak."
"..."
"A noble is one who protects and takes responsibility for the weak."
The garden fell silent.
Every noble's gaze gathered in one place.
The count's young master sneered.
"Don't make me laugh. Over one lowly maid?"
Celina did not waver.
"...That remark just now—laying a hand on one of my people is no different from insulting the Estel Ducal House itself. Apologize."
"And if I refuse?"
"..."
"As a guest of the Estel Ducal House, you will bear the responsibility for failing to observe proper courtesy."
A brief silence.
Then—
Slap.
A crisp sound rang out as the count's young master's face snapped to the side.
"Wh-what do you think you're—!"
Celina stroked her own wrist and spoke coldly.
"Did you not hear me tell you to apologize, or are you just too much of a pig to understand?"
"Y-you dare insult me and my house with that—!"
The count's young master had no choice but to shut his mouth.
The expression with which Celina looked down on him
carried the silent will that if he continued to make a nuisance of himself, she would kill him.
In the end the young master ground his teeth and bowed his head to the maid.
"Tch... sorry."
"It is all right."
The maid answered through tears.
Watching from afar, Junghyun closed his eyes.
It is finished. This child can now make the right choice even without me.
That evening in the training grounds.
The sound of wooden swords clashing filled the entire yard.
Tang!
Tang!
Tang!
Ten times.
Twenty times.
Fifty times.
A hundred times.
After countless exchanges, Junghyun withdrew his sword.
"That is enough for today."
At the word that it was over, Celina beamed.
"This time I didn't get hit even once."
"...Yes. You have grown a great deal."
Did she realize he had carefully held back so she would not be struck?
"Hehe."
Celina shrugged her shoulders for no reason.
"Who taught me, after all. I met a good teacher."
"..."
Junghyun smiled softly.
"More importantly. One thing remains."
"...?"
"The final discipline and lesson."
Celina tilted her head with a puzzled look.
"Again?"
"You have been calling it the last one all day long."
Junghyun gazed at her for a moment without speaking.