Four Split Personalities

"Are you serious?"

Emily’s eyes flashed with an astonishment nearly bordering on alarm as she casually took off her family crest-embroidered Cloak of Cold Resistance and handed it to Deku, pulling Double Leaf to sit down in front of Motan with a serious expression, repeating, "Are you serious?"

Motan shook his wine glass with a grin, "As for ’myself,’ I’m not very serious."

At first Emily was slightly stunned, then, after a long silence, she spoke again, "Then, is the Prince serious?"

"Madam, this..."

Housekeeper Deku seemed to want to say something, but was interrupted by a gesture from Emily.

"Let him finish."

The youngest master of the entire Violet Empire shook his head, his gaze complicated as he stared at Motan, "I’d like to hear the reasons."

On the other side, Double Leaf had never heard of this before, but she had reacted instantly as Motan’s voice fell and swiftly completed a series of guesses and deductions in her mind. Yet she said nothing, only gently patting the hands of the Duchess, which trembled slightly.

"Serious, huh... Well, it depends on which perspective you analyze it from."

Motan took a sip of wine with ease, perfectly ignoring Housekeeper Deku’s immensely pressuring gaze, and said indifferently, "If it’s from the Prince’s perspective of wanting to marry you, the grand duchess of the Crystal Wolves, then indeed he is quite serious. But if you ask whether Shu Bresen is serious about Emily Wolf Cresto... at least for now, he is not."

"Ah, you really are..."

Double Leaf sighed ambiguously.

"Are you and the Prince playing a joke on the young lady!"

Housekeeper Deku’s body began to seethe with killing intent, the old man, who seemed as angry as if he had seen his own daughter harassed by a playboy, even forgot that he should be calling Emily ’Madam’ instead of the ’young lady,’ a term he hadn’t used for a long time.

Motan scoffed, waving it off to Deku, "Please don’t misunderstand; the Prince wouldn’t go so far as to frivolously tease a grand duke. Moreover, the grand duchess herself hasn’t flared up yet. Why are you in such a hurry when the Emperor is not? It’s like the eunuch is more anxious."

Deku blinked and asked in a deep voice, "What is a eunuch?"

"Oh, it’s a high-ranking official who served by the Emperor’s side in a certain period of history, second only to the Emperor. They were responsible not only for the Emperor’s daily life but also provided advice on national policies."

Motan answered off the cuff.

"Hmph, you flatter me too much."

Deku snorted coldly, unimpressed, "I’m just an ordinary old servant. It seems you might want to be that ’eunuch’ for the second Prince, don’t you?"

Double Leaf burst into laughter, "Well said. From now on, you should be called ’little girl,’ dear Anthony."

Motan shrugged his shoulders and pulled a funny face before turning his attention back to Emily, "What do you think?"

"Young lady, what are you still thinking about? He’s clearly..."

Housekeeper Deku looked anxiously to the silent Emily, only to be interrupted once again.

"Mr. Housekeeper, as I’ve already stated, although you are very protective of your mistress and indeed have her best interests at heart, in some aspects, I fear that Duchess Emily can see things even more clearly than you. And..."

Motan cast a glance at Deku, and said coldly, "Whether it’s a true housekeeper, an ordinary old servant, or a competent ’dead eunuch,’ when the master is seriously contemplating, you should shut your mouth and quietly go pour the tea and water. Don’t forget your place; servants should act like servants!"

"I... you..."

Deku clearly didn’t expect that Anthony Dabus would turn on him after having been on amiable terms just moments before. He was so infuriated that his face flushed between shades of red and white, but found nothing to retort because he had a vague realization that the other man’s words were not wrong. Emily was no longer that naive little girl; and while she might still lack maturity, she had developed the bearing befitting a lord. And he was, no matter his age or experience, only ever going to have the bearing of a servant.

Perhaps he could indeed contribute valuable advice on how to ensure the people lived well or how to prevent the family from declining further, but the current topic was simply not something he was qualified to interject in.

[This kid must have prepared for this moment when he spoke to me alone before.]

Deku clenched his fists behind his back, frustrated to find that if Dabus hadn’t given him that ’vaccination’ earlier, he might have lost his composure by now.

"Mind your language, Mr. Dabus."

Yet Emily slightly narrowed her eyes and coldly addressed Motan, "Uncle Deku is not only my housekeeper, but also my family. If you dare to insult him with another half-word..."

"I’m sorry!"

Motan didn’t wait for her to finish as he abruptly stood up, bowed deeply three times to the housekeeper, then dropped to his knees with a choked voice, "Uncle Deku! I’m damn wrong! If you don’t forgive me, I won’t get up!"

"Ah..."

Double Leaf covered her eyes and hung her head, muttering with regret, "How do I even know someone like you!"

Duchess Emily couldn’t help but smile, looking helplessly back at the old man who was completely baffled, "Um... Uncle Deku?"