1st Person POV (Ekaterina)

Although I thought it was stupid, I couldnt hate them any more than this, but I couldnt help but think about the Yes Trio.

Well, live strong. No, I dont want them to be stronger.

But what did Graham-san say to Cymer, to be able to silence such a strong Yes Trio with only a single word?

After all the guests left, I asked Graham to give me an account of the party.

Graham, Im sorry that my classmate caused you so much trouble earlier, but I admire the way you handled Miss Cymer. (Ekaterina)

Thank you, my Lady. (Graham)

I hope you dont mind me asking what you said to her? (Ekaterina)

I told her that the Cymer family owed us a debt, and that it would be fine if she used this dress to pay it off. (Graham)

Oh my.

I see. No wonder she showed such a change. Its an amazing ability to understand such things and to even memorize her name. I just cant do it. (Ekaterina)

No, well, I dont really know about it. (Graham)

Graham simply added.

Young Lady, we do not lend money as part of our business, but we do receive letters of debt in our various accounts. However, I dont know which family the deeds belong to or how many of them are currently in our possession. However, it is normal for a noble family to have debts, whether small or large. I simply mentioned that there are debts owed to this family, that is all. Mina came to tell me Cymer-samas name because she knew all the people in the same dormitory as the Young Lady. (Graham)

Uwaah

No way, it was a bluff!

Marina-chan was just playing along with the dignified butler of the dukes household, who she said was the ideal butler!

Oh my, ho ho ho! (Ekaterina)

Ekaterina burst out laughing and applauded in glee.

What a brilliant performance! Im so impressed! As expected from Grandfathers favorite actor. It was so wonderfully acted that I didnt even notice that it was a stage. It was a great scene. (Ekaterina)

Then Graham stood up and bowed. Not the usual perfect butlers bow, but an exaggerated and magnificent bow, as if he were a stage actor.

I am honored to receive such high praise for my shabby performance, my lady. (Graham)

3rd Person POV

Ekaterina smiled.

When Ekaterina told Marina and the others that she didnt know Grahams family background, she wasnt lying. Ekaterina did not know what family he was born into. But he did tell them what kind of life he had lived before serving under their grandfather Sergei.

Graham had once been an actor in a traveling theater troupe.

When the troupe he was in passed through Yurinovas territory, they were unfortunately attacked by a magical beast. Although the magical beast was ultimately defeated by the Yurinova Knight Orders swift response, unfortunately the troupe was practically completely wiped out. Only one person; Graham, was the sole survivor. Although he survived, he lost everything and also lost the will to live.

It was an incident that happened more than thirty years ago, and back then Graham was probably in his late twenties. He may also have had a family in the troupe. He didnt talk about it, though.

While he was being treated for his wounds by the Order, he was as lifeless as a shell, when Grandfather called out to him. He said that he was troubled by the sudden resignation of his squire.

[Youre an actor, arent you? When you get well, will you stay with me for a while and play the part of a squire?] (Sergei)

That was how it all started, he said.

He loved to act. He didnt want to do anything else. But he couldnt bring himself to forget what he had lost and join another theater troupe. Grandfathers words, which seemed to reflect his feelings, stuck with him.

So Graham decided to play the part of a servant.