Aiming to be the perfect butler for my lady

Kyle was...standing. Well, whenever Alatia has to join some official meeting or gathering he stands on her flank with a solemn expression as always. However, today he was having a hard time maintaining his composed front.

Kyle was being observed. The person observing him was not even trying to hide their hostility against him as they randomly threw their gazes in his direction and narrowed their eyes to announce how closely they were watching him.

And for god sake, among the two who were observing him was the Emperor himself.

There were currently five people, excluding Alatia and Kyle, in the reception area.

The Emperor of the Valenchide Emperor—Conrad Triwin Valenchide has two wives. From each wife, he had two children. Alatia was the second daughter of the second Empress. Edmund and Edward were the children of the first Empress. And the only person who was not present here was Alatia's biological brother. Truth be told, Kyle was thankful that he wasn't here.

'That guy is too much to handle...' Kyle sighed inside his heart.

The stare of the Emperor and Edward was quite intense. Edmund also looked at him but he offered a gentle smile, unlike the other two males.

"Your face is shining, Tia...it seems you are liking the new life at the Academy." The First Empress with blond hair and green eyes named—Nora Triwin Valenchide, asked the girl.

"*Inhales deeply* My daughter wouldn't like any life where her family-"

"Yes, I quite like my life at the academy." The Emperor's shoulders slumped hearing such a heartless response from his daughter.

Alatia remained nonchalant like she didn't notice her father's dejection.

"I hope she isn't troubling you much, Kyle." This time lady Sophia—Alatia's mother—called out with a pretty smile on her face.

Kyle was about to humbly reply to her when suddenly, Edward spoke up, "As her servant, it's his duty. There is nothing to thank him about." His stiff and cold voice pushed the reception into pin-drop silence.

Alatia glared at her brother which didn't go unnoticed by the two older ladies and Edmund—who was trying to cool down the atmosphere but to no avail.

The way Edward kept on staring at an unmoving Kyle was somehow funny for the latter. Regardless, since the Prince had said it, Kyle just followed,

"Indeed, Your Majesty, I am fulfilling my duty as my lady' butler and I feel blessed that I was given the role to serve her," Kyle responded without hesitation nor showed any sign of being offended. Compared to how much insult and harassment he had faced before he began serving Alatia, this much was nothing.

"Now, now brother, why don't we let them rest for now? They have travelled a long distance." Edmund suggested since the route of this conversation looked thorny and Edmund didn't want to see his sister fighting with her brother just after she arrived.

"I agree. They need to rest." Sophia followed and Nora assented with a quick nod.

Kyle was unmoving but he was nodding his head inwardly as well. As soon as this interrogation ends, he will be able to breathe properly.

"Come, Tia, I will take you to your room." Without getting his father's consent—who seemed to be wanting to chat even more—Edmund got up and urged Alatia.

Alatia said good night to everyone before she followed her brother and Kyle just behind her.

Once they left, Sophia and Nora turned towards their husband with a troubled look before the former said, "My lord, you need to stop intimidating Kyle."

Nora followed, "Yes. He is just like our child. Not only was Kyle there for Tia during her childhood phase when no one approached her, but he now is taking care of our beloved in the Academy as well."

"Anyone would have done that if I hired them to." The Emperor's stern response greatly shocked the two Empresses.

Edward clarified, "Mother, Lady Sophia, Tia's growing closeness to Kyle is the reason why father is being so cautious."

Sophia frowned before asking her son, "What growing closeness? They have always been like this."

Edmund shook his head before he asked, "Have you ever seen Alatia showcasing anger when we questioned Kyle in the past?"

This time Nora frowned, "I never saw her displaying anger tho..."

The eldest prince replied while pointing toward their front, "I guess you should be a little aware of your surroundings Mother."

Both Empresses shared a look before they turned to look at the seat which Alatia was occupying previously—only to gasp in shock.

"Oh my..."

"Did Alatia..."

The throne which the Princess acquired previously was now coated inside a thick layer of ice—signifying what turbulence of emotions the Princess must have gone through.

There was no denying it now. Alatia's relationship with Kyle was something they needed to be concerned about.

**********

"Don't mind them, Kyle. You know that every father becomes a little over-protective when it's about their daughter." While they were on the way to Alatia's room, Edmund tried to ease the mood.

Well, the person he was trying to cool down wasn't Kyle...rather it was his sister who seemed to be far more agitated than Kyle could ever be.

"I didn't mind, Your Highness. Right...?" Alatia completely ignored her excessively kind and forgiving butler and maintained a frosty expression.

Edmund looked troubled and wanted to say something to soothe her down—but Kyle shook his head and signalled while patting his chest, that he would take care of this matter.

Edmund smiled helplessly at him as the Prince patted Kyle's shoulder and thanked him with his eyes.

"Okay then, I would be retiring to my room. If you need anything...." Before Edmund could have finished saying good night, Alatia walked inside her room and closed the door—leaving the two men outside.

Edmund tearfully looked at Kyle and asked, "Why does she seem so angry with me?"

Kyle helplessly comforted the Prince, "She is just tired, Your Highness. Please don't worry about it. Tomorrow, she will come to greet you in the morning with a smile on her face."

"Tia will?" Edmund's expression brightened and those sparkling eyes nearly blinded Kyle as he hurriedly nodded.

Edmund's sadness disappeared before he thanked Kyle and without much delay, he hopped away. Wait, isn't that inappropriate for a prince?

Regardless, Kyle didn't focus on that anymore and knocked on the door,

"Ala...he has left. Can you let me in?"

"No, I won't." Her response was quick and given how clearly he heard her voice meant she was sitting just behind the door.

Kyle felt trouble in his heart seeing her behaviour as he pressed his hands on the door and asked in a quieter tone, "If you would react in such a way just because they said something to me...then how would you handle what we have to face tomorrow?"

"..." No response came from the other side which signified that Kyle had pushed her to contemplate.

"Can you please let me in? I want to see you, Ala...like right now? Am I not allowed to?"

He remained standing for some seconds before the doors opened from the inside and a frowning princess emerged from the other side.

"You can't just suddenly start acting cute to get past my anger."

Kyle grinned hearing her forced threatening voice which seemed more adorable than intimidating.

He rested his hands on her shoulder and nodded like a fool, "I know but I can't help it. If my act can allow me to see this beautiful face, then I would shamelessly repeat my action again and again."

"///" "She hid her feverish face with her hands, however, those burning ears couldn't hide her embarrassment.

Kyle was about to remove her hands and continue to flirt with her when suddenly they heard a voice that neither of them wanted to hear,

"Oho~what do we have here~”