Many people were curious, what does the head butler in service of the imperial family do, exactly?
Duties might varied depending on who and whose kingdom they were serving, but regardless of their masters and place, all butlers shared the same goals and responsibilities— to always serve with the utmost interest of their lord in minds.
Head butler was the first to get up before the birds start chirping, and the last to retreat to their bed chambers. Overseeing the palace, managing the palace's finances and budgets, supervising the staffs and any recruitment related, and tending to their master and mistress of the house with their needs. Those above mentioned were just the basics.
To put it simply, head butler is someone who held the most authority within the mansion, second to their owner. The best primary example of what a perfect head butler, would be— August Floyd. The head butler of the Prince Belphegor's mansion.
Even though it was just like any other days, the day started with a commotion in the kitchen, as Gus had noticed while walking past the area. Curious, the head butler entered and approached one of the staff, he asked, "What's the matter?"
"O-Oh... Sir Gus,"
Startled by the sight of the head butler, the lady staff greeted Gus hastily. Her eyes wandered to the tray of sumptuous foods placed on the counter, cold and untouched. Distressed, the staff replied, "His Highness refuses to eat his meal again... I'm afraid."
The bespectacled man traced her glance towards the dish, which consisted of— a very burdensome-looking of Sailor Sun's signature pose, using the lavish ingredients provided as food plating.
'... Even I'd lose my appetite if such thing ever greets me.' Despite dissing the dish internally, Gus maintained a straight-faced as he accessed the otherworldly dish.
Knowing how their lord had had the most fussy tastebuds in the whole kingdom, Gus initially suggested to the head chef with implementing anime arts into their food plating, and the lord had never once missed his meals since then. Though the idea and presentation of food might seem childish to others, it was not a problem.
Since His Highness was indeed more childish than any other kids he'd known.
There was nothing wrong with the choice of ingredients, the arts were superb, and the taste without a doubt, shouldn't have had a single flaw. If so, what would be the problem?
While every staffs and chefs were agonizing over this issue, Gus adjusted the bridge of his glasses. He said in an deadpan voice, "His Highness' favorite anime must've changed then."
The staffs lifted their heads as they listened on, attentively, "Chances are high that, this is what His Highness is into now." Gus showed the screen of his smartphone, which displayed the opening intro of the latest anime series that had everyone talking about, the 'Ghost Slayers'.
After a minute play, one of the apprentice chef who was new, asked in doubt, "But sir, how do you know surely if this series is His Highness' recent favorite?"
As soon as the question left his mouth, one of the senior chef elbowed the apprentice man in his gut. The inquirer uttered a small yelp, before finally taking notice on the tenseness circulating in the air.
Everyone held with bated breath, as they glanced warily at the darkness shrouding the head butler's face. "You want to know how...?"—the staffs gulped nervously— "why, that's because His Highness had just liked and retweeted the promotion video of the series on his social network."
However, Gus didn't stop his madness there.
"If you wish to know, His Highness has a total of seven different social networks accounts on seven different social media platforms, and I've been following them since day one," the bespectacled man muttered speedily. With bloodshot eyes, Gus gripped the edge of the table strongly as he continued, "And my job is to manage and keep track of his hundreds and thousands of likes, retweets, posts, pictures, in every hour."
The head butler who'd went into a frenzy rant, inched his veins-throbbed face near to the apprentice. He asked through gritted teeth, "Do you understand my point now, Mr Apprentice?"
"Y-Yes sir..." the man gulped, afraid to meet the butler's intense gaze. Only then, he knew he'd screw up for bringing up the question. Everyone knew that although Gus was immaculate and faultless at his job, the half-human was not happy with it. Being a perfectionist was entirely due to his character, however never once had he felt proud of it.
After the short complaint, the tense atmosphere soon dissipated, as Gus had reverted back to his impassive facade. Clearing his throat loudly, he said, "Well, I don't think we've got time to dally, should I help prepare His Highness' meal then?"
Eyes of relief dawned on the brunette, as the kitchen staffs quickly agreed to his offer and resumed their work. Now that the obstacle had been cleared, everyone's face looked bright and determined.
Before long, they have successfully made another dish in accordance to what the head butler suggested. The only difference was, Gus had mostly done all the work himself, and the result was beyond what they'd imagined.
The staffs stared in awe at the magnificent three dimensional plating before them. Was that a anime figurine on the center?
Lesson one— a head butler have to excel in culinary, and be a cyber stalker for your lord at the same time.
———
Unbeknownst to Gus, there was a pair of disinterested eyes following him, as he carried out his daily routines since morning.
Hannah Brown— a succubus demon who, was the head and exclusive maid attending to Prince Belphegor's consort, Her Highness Lyssa, was the main culprit.
In case anyone was wondering, no, the gaze from Hannah wasn't a loving ones. Far from it, there were fires and jealousy hiding within them.
It all started from their first day, when they have both entered the palace as a maid and butler from the same batch of year. Even though they have passed through the same tests to get to where they were, there was a distinctive difference between the two.
Hannah was the hardworking type, who used to take and failed the admission tests countless times before getting here. Whereas Gus, was a genius who'd turned up from nowhere, and breeze through the tests as if it were some kind of jokes. Even the bespectacled man had climbed the corporate ladder faster than anyone else, whereas Hannah had just recently promoted to her current position, two hundred years later than him.
With a highly competitive streaks, the head maid refused to give in. Thus their rivalry, (self-acclaimed) has been ongoing since then.
Unfortunately, Hannah's daily observation of Gus didn't last long, as a loud crash sounded through the consort's chamber. Catching both the head butler and maid's attention instantly.
As Gus turned around and was heading in the direction of the clamor, his eyes met with Hannah, who was striding next to him now. "I believe it's my duty as Her Highness's exclusive maid to see to the matter of this, Mr. Gus," Hannah said, as she stole a glance at the man next to her. Which could be interpreted as— 'I don't need you to come and steal my spotlight again.'
"Indeed. But it's unthinkable for the head butler to feign ignorance when the incident took place right in my presence"—Gus adjusted on his glasses—"since it's also my duty to oversee whatever transpires in the palace."
Seeing how the bespectacled man had no intention to back off, Hannah grunted quietly. Her sunken eyes flared up by his unintentional words. 'If he's not backing out, then I might as well make it a chance for me to showcase my skills befitting the head maid here.'
As soon as they have arrived at the entrance of the princess consort's bed chamber, the head maid knocked on the door before asking aloud, "Your highness, is something wrong?"
Moments had passed, yet no response from the other side.
"Lady Lyssa, please pardon our intrusion," Gus declared. He turned on the door knob before stepping into the room of Her Highness. However, the lady of the house was nowhere to be seen.
"Your highness...?" Hannah asked confusedly. Her gaze swept through the large chamber in search of her owner. Then, her eyes finally landed on a ball of reds curled under the table.
The head maid approached carefully towards the apparent mistress in hiding. She crouched on one leg to peer into the consort's face, "Might I dare ask, what happened to Your Highness?"
"Shhh!" the lady pressed a finger on the maid's lips. Her dilated pupils shook as she scanned her surrounding in fright. Cautious, Lyssa whispered, "There's someone hiding inside the closet...!"
Hannah and Gus' eyes followed the direction of where the lady had pointed. Her Highness Lyssa had a penchant for being delusional and highly suspicious of everything, and this fact was no secret in the palace. It might be just her overreacting as usual, nonetheless, Gus still went to the closet to investigate the cause.
Servants who have sworn loyalty to their lords, should always act with their lords' benefits in mind.
Gus brazenly reached for the closet. His turquoise orbs widened behind the lenses, as he stared dumbfounded at the criminal in it— a lizard.
The head butler slammed the doors shut almost immediately.
"What's wrong?" Hannah asked, quirking a brow at his antics. The head butler turned his heels and looked at the mistress with a hardened gaze, "Your highness, there's indeed an intruder inside."
What?
"T-That's what I've t-told you, Hannah! See! He must be here to a-assassinate me!" Lyssa rambled. Panic-stricken, she hugged her head low as her body shook like a leaf. Knowing her suspicions were true, her hysteria had worsened more. "Your Highness, please..." Hannah's pleas were no longer registered through her chaotic mind.
The head maid stared daggers at the brunette. Mouthing the next sentences inaudibly, "Just what do you plan on doing!?" Hannah knew that there was nothing in the closet. What she couldn't fathom was—why the half-human had to lie? Couldn't he'd seen the state of the prince's consort was in?
In truth, Gus had other plans for calming down the mistress' frazzled nerves.
The head butler approached the disheveled lady. Handing her a short-sword he'd always carry, he said, "Don't worry, Your highness. I've locked the intruder in the closet, he won't be able to get out easily." Lyssa stared at the weapon in her hands, trembling, the head butler continued nonetheless, "This is a chance for you to eliminate the assassin and your fears, once and for all, Your Highness."
Ah. So this was what was up his sleeves.
Gus helped the lady onto her feet, before ushering her to the closet with a sword in hands. Although frightened and reluctant, Lyssa did complied. With the help of the most trusted butler in the kingdom, she managed to stand before the object of her fears.
Hannah watched on the sidelines in silence. Her lips pursed in thoughts.
"Now, Your Highness. You've to do it in one shot," Gus whispered softly. As if a puppeteer was controlling his puppets, he readied the mistress' angle. So that the thrust would land exactly where he'd wanted.
Lyssa gulped nervously. Her attention now on the weapon held in her hands. She sneaked a peek at her maid standing not far from her—who was now raising a white banner with writings of 'You can do it!' above her head.
To calm the tremor in her, the noble closed her eyes briefly. Exhaling, the grip on the short-sword tightened. As she mustered the last bit of strength she had, she thrust the sword into the cabinet through the door's gap.
Reds began to pool out and dripped onto the floor, making puddle within seconds.
"Eeek!" The princess consort screamed at the blood gathering on her feets, as she dropped on her back. "I-Is he... d-d-dead?"
"Why yes, that thrust was magnificent done, Your Highness." Gus clapped with a passive face as he answered. "Now Your Highness don't have to worry about the assassin anymore."
Relief soon washed over the mistress, as she fainted when all the nerves have left her. What happened after the lady had passed out was smooth and fast. After Gus had rested Lyssa onto her bed and called for the imperial's doctor, Hannah swiftly cleaned the puddles of red and fixed whatever aftermath was left.
Once the doctor came and the whole fiasco was done with, Hannah found herself walking alongside with the head butler, as they see themselves out of their lady's chamber. She couldn't hold back her tongue anymore.
"Was it necessary to do all that?" the head maid asked, as her brows knitted together. Gus pushed up his spectacle as he replied, "If you're asking whether such actions will help prevent Her Highness' another apprehensive episode in the near future, then it's a yes."
Hannah sighed deeply.
Everything that had happened earlier was an impromptu act cooked up by Gus. In order to quash the overly-suspicions-fear induced by the mistress, the head butler had planted a few tomatoes in the closet as soon as he'd opened it. By putting on an act that there was intruder in hiding, and had Lyssa deal the finishing blow, only then would the consort be able to find peace within herself.
Although there were doubts regarding to why the butler had tomatoes on him, Hannah decided to let it be. Some questions were best left alone.
"'Your greatest enemy is your own fears', right?"
"As expected of the head maid," Gus complimented. If it wasn't for the long history between them, Hannah would have thought the bespectacled man was being sarcastic surely. How could a flattery be so genuine, yet dry at the same time?
It was just like the head butler. Dispassionate and inexpressive on the front, but serious and sincere to whatever he do or says.
Despite how she felt, Hannah had to admit this to Gus. The reason why this whole act ended so smoothly, was because he was the one doing it.
"By the way, are you perhaps heading to the pantry for your break now?" Gus asked, as he slowed and matched his pace to the succubus next to him. "Indeed. Why do you ask?" Hannah quirked a brow at him.
"To be honest, I've prepared some snacks for His Highness' afternoon tea earlier, however it seems I've prepared too much. Would you care to have some?"
Hannah paused in her steps, which in turn, had Gus stopped in his tracks when he'd noticed she wasn't walking. "Miss Hannah...?"
Though taken aback by the sudden invitation, the succubus demon quickly regained herself as she replied, "Of course, it'll be my pleasure." Hannah coughed into her hands, before smiling amiably at the man.
"Then I should brew the tea I've bought while I was doing errands in the town before," she mused. "I bet it'll go well with the snacks."
Despite the pounding of her chest, Hannah managed to mask it over with the professionalism she'd gleaned from years at work. Was it just her, or does the air felt hotter than before?
Gus stole a side-glance at the head maid. Unbeknownst to Hannah, who was busy masking the turmoil in her heart with a cool composure, a corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"I'm looking forward to it."