Villain Family’s Strongest Butler

It seemed like my plea for mercy worked. The old man called the priest over, and they began whispering in private.

‘What are they talking about?’

Surely, they weren’t discussing my worth or trying to put a price on my head, right?

I sat anxiously on the sofa, trying to hide my nerves as I watched them. Every now and then, they glanced at me, their expressions growing more serious. The way the old man looked at me made me feel like I was some object on display in a market.

‘As if that isn’t enough, why is the Grand Duke acting like this?’

He was seated directly across from me, staring with an intensity that burned. The heat of his gaze was so overwhelming, I couldn’t bear to look him in the eyes. It felt like there wasn’t even a table separating us.

It reminded me of the battlefield, when all that stood between us was the thin blade of a sword, and our breaths mingled dangerously close.

‘Is he trying to figure out how many gold coins he can sell me for?’

Just then, the priest reached into his coat pocket and spoke.

“This is the elixir you requested.”

Elixir? What elixir?

My gaze followed the small glass bottle that the priest produced from a wooden box. The liquid inside glowed faintly with a soft light, as if it held something magical.

“The High Priest allowed this due to the Grand Duke’s personal request. However…”

The priest handed the bottle to the old man and shot a quick glance at the Grand Duke, who was still seated on the sofa.

“As you may know, this elixir is the last of the World Tree’s sap, and even in the temple, it is forbidden to take it out. Therefore…”

The priest trailed off, his concern evident. The old man nodded.

“I understand. Rest assured, today’s events will remain a secret.”

The priest finally smiled in relief.

“Thank you. But bear in mind, there are only three questions you can ask. Any more than that, and the body will not be able to withstand the power of the sap, leading to unconsciousness.”

“Three questions, huh…” The old man looked displeased, but it was the Grand Duke who responded instead, his gaze still locked on me.

“Three is enough.”

Wait, what?

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

‘The World Tree’s sap?’

The sap of the World Tree was no ordinary liquid. The World Tree, famed for its incredible power, was said to have sap that could reveal the truth hidden in anyone’s heart.

‘So, that’s what they’re after—my truth.’

I looked up at the old man, who had approached me with the glass bottle in hand.

“Drink it.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, brimming with defiance.

“And why should I?”

Of course, I knew what this elixir was, but I couldn’t admit that. Not many knew about the sap of the World Tree, and it was best to avoid drawing any more suspicion to myself.

Before the old man could answer, the Grand Duke spoke instead.

“Do you think you have a choice?”

“…”

I glanced at the Grand Duke and met his cold, unfeeling stare. Slowly, he tilted his head to one side.

“Although… there is the option of dying without drinking it.”

Ugh, this devil of a man.

Grinding my teeth, I snatched the bottle from the old man and unscrewed the cap.

*Pop*—the bottle released a refreshing scent, like I’d stepped into a forest.

‘Fine, I’ll drink it…’

The Grand Duke was right. I had no other choice.

Without hesitating further, I brought the bottle to my lips and tilted my head back, swallowing the sap in one gulp.

*Gulp.*

The liquid, said to come from the tree of the gods, was cool and smooth as it went down. It instantly quenched my thirst, and I felt strangely revitalized.

I smacked my lips, somewhat disappointed that it was already gone.

There were no immediate changes in my body, but I knew that the effects would soon reveal themselves.

‘The moment the Grand Duke starts asking questions…’

In truth, this wasn’t my first time drinking the World Tree’s sap.

‘It was the day I first met Serhin.’

Back then, I had lost all my childhood memories and was left among the ruins, completely alone.

Prince Serhin of the Tenasis Empire, who had just quelled a rebellion, found me and took me in.

I couldn’t remember anything—my birth, my status, not even my age.

-“You don’t remember anything?”

-“Yes.”

-“Your name, your age, your family’s name, where you lived?”

Though his questions were persistent, I had genuinely forgotten, so I answered honestly.

‘Sia,’ the name I go by now, was the one Serhin had given me.

-“From now on, your name will be ‘Sia.’ You are my shadow and my sword, and you will stay by my side.”

That’s when I began learning swordsmanship.

But the truth is, I never really forgot my name.

I didn’t tell Serhin my real name because I believed it would put me in danger. After all, I had been found alone amidst the chaos of the empire’s rebellion.

Anyone would have found my existence suspicious—just like right now.

If I had revealed my true name, and it had been linked to the rebels in any way?

‘I might have been executed on the spot.’

That day, Serhin gave me the World Tree’s sap, trying to uncover the truth.

The World Tree, which once protected the Cadian Empire, had begun to wither for unknown reasons. Amidst the confusion, its sap was sold in secret, and Serhin must have acquired some that way.

In hindsight, I can’t believe he tried to use the sap on me. It was infuriating.

‘But he had no choice. How else could he bring a stranger into the palace?’

Strangely enough, though, the sap didn’t work on me.

Maybe the sap Serhin got was flawed, or maybe I had some natural resistance. Whatever the case, I was able to lie through my teeth.

That’s how I kept my real name hidden.

‘So, Grand Duke, if this sap is the same, you won’t get the truth from me.’

At that moment, the Grand Duke finally asked his first question.

“Is it true that you’ve lost your memory?”

“…”

I smiled inwardly.

His first question was a light one, perhaps to ease into things, but it was actually to my advantage.

‘If he wanted to trap me, he should’ve asked something more detailed.’

The question left me plenty of room to maneuver.

‘It’s true that I’ve lost memories from my past life and from this new body.’

Since he didn’t specify when I lost my memories, I had nothing to worry about.

‘Yes, I have lost my memory!’

“I could say I’ve lost it… or that I haven’t.”

“…”

“…”

Wait, what?

What did I just say?

The words that came out of my mouth were completely different from what I had intended.

Something felt off. This sap wasn’t like the one Serhin had given me.

‘Did the Grand Duke prepare something different…?’

No, maybe Serhin had used a defective version of the sap.

‘Either way…’

This isn’t good.

Before I could process what was happening, my mouth started moving again, entirely against my will.

“To be honest.”

“…”

“I’m a very complicated person, Grand Duke.”

“…”

“So, from the start, you’re asking the wrong kind of questions. Do you understand, Grand Duke?”

The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed, his gaze growing colder.

‘Oh…’

I couldn’t help but be impressed.

While my answers weren’t enough to reveal that I was an enemy knight, I was still giving him more than I should have.

‘Why am I talking so much?’

Normally, when someone drinks the sap of the World Tree, they can only respond with “yes” or “no.”

‘And now I’m being disrespectful, too.’

I rambled on unnecessarily about trivial things while keeping the important parts short.

Just then, the Grand Duke turned to the priest.

“Was there alcohol mixed into this?”

The priest, visibly shocked, waved his hands frantically.

“No, absolutely not, Your Grace!”

“…”

How humiliating.

I had the same thought as the Grand Duke.

I was sure I had only consumed sap from a tree, but my behavior made it seem like I was drunk and ranting.

‘Drunk in front of him…?’

I bit my lower lip hard.

‘From now on, I’ll do whatever it takes to shut my mouth.’

No more nonsense.

The Grand Duke’s sharp gaze returned to me, even more piercing than before.

‘I haven’t revealed my true identity yet, but my answers are making him more suspicious.’

After a moment of silence, the Grand Duke suddenly dismissed the old man and the priest.

“Wait outside.”

“But, Your Grace…”

“Count. Guide the priest to the temple with the offerings.”

“…Yes, Your Grace.”

The old man cast a worried glance at me and the Grand Duke before reluctantly leaving the room.

Now, it was just me and him, alone in the office.

‘This is it.’

From the first question, the Grand Duke had already figured out that I hadn’t lost all my memories.

‘The second question will confirm that.’

This was where it got serious.

I stared at him, nerves on edge, my lips trembling slightly.

After a brief pause, the Grand Duke finally asked his second question.

“Here comes the second question.”

I clenched my jaw, glaring back at him.

Come on, Grand Duke. Let’s see what you’ve got.

Then, his question came.

“Do you.”

“…”

“…remember me?”

“…”

…Huh?

I had expected a decisive blow, but this question took me by surprise.

‘As if my mind wasn’t already in a mess, now this?’

Could it be… has he figured out who I am?

No, that’s impossible.

I’m in an entirely different body. There’s no way he could have guessed my identity from our limited interactions.

‘So, what’s the meaning of this question?’

And then, it hit me.

Ah…

‘That question wasn’t for me.’

The Grand Duke wasn’t asking *me*.

He was asking the real owner of this body.

‘Does that mean…’

Does he know who the original owner of this body was? Is that why he looked so shocked when I walked into his office? Could it be?!

I wanted to ask him right then and there.

But before I could, my lips began to move on their own.

‘No!’

The time had come to answer the question.

No, no, no.

If my mouth is going to betray me again, it’s better not to answer at all!

‘That question wasn’t meant for me!’

But once again, my lips moved as if they had a mind of their own.

“I remember you… very well.”

“…”

Damn it.

“A merciless killer… a bloodthirsty demon, the greatest murderer of the century, a madman on the battlefield, ruthless and cruel…”

“That’s enough. Stop.”

The Grand Duke rubbed his forehead, trying to cut me off, but my mouth didn’t stop.

“And…”

“I said that’s enough.”

“Listen to me. This is the most important part.”

“…”

Oh… this sap works like magic.

I was amazed by its effects once again.

Even though the Grand Duke had told me to stop, my mouth, fueled by the sap’s power, continued to speak freely.

‘Fine. Do whatever you want.’

As long as I don’t reveal that I’m an enemy knight, nothing else matters.

At this point, I had practically given up, letting my lips run wild.

And then, I grinned at the Grand Duke, lifting one corner of my mouth.

“The only person.”

“…”

The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed as he stared at my mouth. Encouraged by his reaction, my lips uttered the rest of the sentence.

“…I’ve ever truly acknowledged.”

“…”

Wow…

I couldn’t help but be amazed. I’d made more astonished remarks today than in my entire life.

I told myself to go wild, and now my mouth was going for it.

‘This is practically a confession!’

Please, someone, make this stop…