The Terminally Ill Young Master is the Mad Dog of the Underworld - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Butler Aiden

“How absurd.”

Aiden paused as if questioning his own ears.

“…”

He stared directly into the eyes of Allenvert. He gazed at his extremely handsome face and thought.

‘He doesn’t seem angry. It doesn’t seem like he said it out of uncontrolled emotion.’

That means it was a calculated statement made with a specific intention. It was astonishing.

‘That Allenvert?’

“Unexpected. You weren’t always so direct.”

Aiden replied with a similarly provocative statement, ignoring his bold, almost brazen gaze.

“I don’t know how many years it’s been since you’ve looked me directly in the eye.”

“Why was that? It’s not an intimidating or hostile gaze.”

His calm reply made Aiden think.

This is quite something. How could he have read that?

Understanding the other person’s emotions and intentions behind their words and attitude is not something that can be achieved with ordinary experience.

“Actually, I wonder about that myself.”

It was rare for anyone in this castle to look at Aiden so easily, as if they were equals.

It’s often the case that when a subordinate is too excellent, the master becomes uncomfortable with them. Just as a good sword requires a skilled swordsman, this man was of such a high caliber that only Duke Georg could handle him properly.

“Our conversation seems to be going off on a tangent. I asked if I needed to report my destination to you simply because my memory is not perfect, so please understand.”

Aiden replied calmly.

“Report? Of course not. However, please understand that it is my duty to keep an eye on even the smallest matters within the clan.”

“In other words, we are both in a situation where we need to consider each other.”

There was a hint of a power struggle hidden within the meaningful words, but at the same time, there was no trace of the childish stubbornness typical of a young boy.

“Then I suppose I should be honest.”

“I’m all ears.”

“The truth is, I was planning to go to the library to learn the clan’s secret martial arts.”

Aiden was taken aback by this unexpected answer.

“The secret martial arts? Why is that?”

“Because I need strength.”

Allenvert replied simply.

“And what do you need that strength for?”

“Well.”

He looked around the vast dukedom and slowly opened his mouth.

“It’s a difficult question to answer in a place where many ears are listening.”

It was an answer that sparked a lot of imagination.

“But it is only natural for a descendant of the Grunewald clan to master the clan’s martial arts. Isn’t that right?”

“Of course.”

And it was also a condition for becoming the heir to the family.

Aiden was once again in deep thought.

But did this boy truly mean it? Did he not know how unrealistic it was?

Aiden asked a different question.

“Are you not interested in finding a cure for your incurable disease?”

“Ah, about that.”

Allenvert patted Peter on the shoulder, who had been watching the conversation with a pale face.

“I heard from my servant that it’s not easy. If you think you can solve something that the Grunewald clan has been unable to do for so long by simply flipping through a few books, that’s overly optimistic, isn’t it?”

It was a logical argument.

“So, can I go to the library now?”

“I already told you that you don’t need my permission.”

Having forgotten his previous rude tone, Allenvert replied.

“But I think it’s right to ask for your opinion.”

It was a way of speaking that drew people in and made them curious. How could someone who was the weakest of the young masters be so skilled in rhetoric?

“I would like to hear the reason.”

“Because you will report this to my father. If you dissuade me, it means there is a reason for it, and it means that my father would not welcome it, right? So, to put it simply, going against your ‘advice’ could mean going against my father’s will. That’s why I can’t take your words lightly.”

“Haha.”

It was an answer that revealed wisdom and insight without appearing servile. Aiden smiled.

“More than anything, you seemed to know exactly what it meant to ‘gain my approval. I dare say, I am more familiar with the Grunewald clan than anyone else.”

“Who would deny that?”

“Therefore, I have no reason to stop you. In fact, if you want to, there are almost no places in this dukedom that you cannot go or that require permission.”

Aiden gave a general answer, but Allenvert nodded calmly as if he had confirmed something.

“It’s just that I haven’t gone.”

“That’s right.”

Those words somehow struck a chord in Aiden’s heart.

‘It’s as if I’m talking to a wise old man.’

“But Young Master, would reading the martial arts books alone be enough?”

“I think so.”

“With all due respect, your martial arts achievements were almost nonexistent even before you lost your memory.”

“I appreciate your advice. But won’t I know unless I try it myself, now would I?”

“Hmm.”

It was a truly bold answer.

‘…Amazing.’

Aiden realized it had been a long time since he had felt the emotion of ‘surprise.’

‘How long has it been since I was wrong about someone?’

He looked at the young man before him with fresh eyes. As the butler of the Grunewald family, he had long given up on Allenvert.

In fact, it took a great deal of patience for him not to show contempt for Allenvert.

‘Of course, I sympathized with the tragedy he experienced.’

A terminal illness was a cruel fate. It must have been incredibly despairing.

But giving up, giving everything to his brothers, and hiding in a room was a different story. It was so powerless. It was not the behavior of someone born to rule.

‘It wasn’t surprising.’

How many noble families didn’t have at least one black sheep, a useless idiot, or a reclusive hermit among their children?

‘A failure is often necessary for a successful person to be born.’

Just as many failed pieces of pottery must be broken to create a fine one.

‘He was always a gentle boy at heart.’

Aiden admitted that. The clan head had allowed him to live a peaceful life in a small cage, without causing any trouble or nuisance.

‘But he changed completely after his illness.’

Perhaps he had felt everything was meaningless. If so, it was pathetic. Why did he realize it only now? Why didn’t he try to change his fate?

Aiden thought that after hearing about Allenvert’s recent actions today.

If he was going to make a belated and futile attempt, Aiden thought it would be his duty to stop him before his brothers tore him apart.

But now.

‘Maybe.’

Aiden felt that for this boy, the fact that ‘it was too late’ might not matter at all.

“Young Master.”

Allenvert, who had patiently waited for his thoughts, looked up.

What was this bold and challenging yet completely contained aura? How could this be the same Allenvert?

“I think I’ve been wrong about you.”

“You’ve probably seen me correctly. Until now, that is.”

“I see.”

“Then I’ll be going.”

The back of Allenvert seemed wider as he turned away.

‘He doesn’t have much muscle, and he hasn’t trained properly. But his frame is truly excellent.’

Even if he didn’t have the heart of a lion, perhaps the offspring of a lion is inevitably a lion.

“May I ask you one more thing?”

Allenvert turned around. His movement was not aristocratic, but it exuded a strange and otherworldly elegance.

‘Like a high-ranking military officer or something.’

The masters of the underworld, the godfathers… It’s almost as if I was imagining the ‘rulers of the underworld’ who roam under the moonlight.

“You must have had a change of heart after the illness.”

Aiden’s direct question made Allenvert nod.

“I experienced death while sleeping for a long time this time, and it was truly vain.”

“Is that so?”

“I wanted to become like the wind, coming and going without a trace, but I realized that the time I’ve lived was too precious to end up as a man that no one would remember.”

At this moment, he was reminiscing about the death he faced as Karzan, about the 17 years of emptiness he had spent asleep, losing his sense of self.

However, from Aiden’s perspective, it could only be heard as a description of his change of heart after his illness.

“When I woke up, I realized that the spark of ambition that I thought had been extinguished was like charcoal, always ready to ignite.”

“…Impressive, Young Master.”

Aiden bowed his head slightly in a silent salute.

“It was a pleasure talking to you.”

“Likewise.”

Aiden watched the sunset over the sea, thinking about Allenvert, who had completely changed.

‘Was it all an act, or is that the truth?’

He didn’t know yet. It would be right to keep both possibilities in mind.

However, one thing was clear.

‘He has finally realized that he is a lion.’

Even if he didn’t master martial arts, the Allenvert he had seen today had the qualities of a lion who could rule over others.

‘…However.’

Aiden couldn’t help but think as he watched Allenvert walk away.

‘I think his eyes are a bit wild.’

What kind of eyes were those? They were wild, like a mad dog’s, as if he wouldn’t let go once he bit down.

‘Whatever it is, I need to report this to the Lord.’

Aiden turned back towards the manor.

He had definitely made a mark on Allenvert. After all, his was the eyes and ears of the lord.

‘If Young Master Allenvert has the potential to be another lion.’

There can only be one king of the jungle. Could this young man truly join the fight for the single throne?

It was still a far-fetched idea.

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