Walter did not particularly control his strength. He had seen Whitman reach out his filthy hands to Edith with embezzlement and adultery, so why bother with him?

The moment he saw Edith flinch, the thought of just knocking her out preceded him. Whitman was bound to run out of steam in a few hours anyway.

“Ugh…!”

Butler Whitman lost consciousness without even resisting a single blow.

“The Lady Isazel has called for Butler. She says she has something to check regarding the embezzlement case.”

Walter spoke with a certain degree of politeness and looked at Edith’s complexion.

He felt gratified to see her face, untouched and just slightly surprised, as he immediately turned his steps when he heard from the deputy butler that Butler had found Edith.

He wanted to ask her what Whitman had said to her, but a man blocked her way and spoke confidently.

“Don’t think about laying a hand on Edith.”

Benjamin glared at Walter. It was because he thought that a man who could overpower a butler with brute force could also harass Edith.

Walter also scanned Benjamin with a displeased face as he tried to protect Edith.

Seeing Edith stop him with her clear, soft, and elegant voice saying ‘Benjamin,’ it seemed like they knew each other before coming to the mansion, but for some reason, he was upset.

“You seem to be unaware, my lord, but in a fight, weight class is quite important, and it’s wise not to rush into an opponent whose physique is significantly different.”

“…….”

“If you hold your fist like that in a fight, your finger bones will break first.”

Benjamin gritted his teeth for a moment, looking at Walter, who was twice as thick as him. He wanted to spit out “What do you know?” but he couldn’t.

Walter’s movement in taking down the butler was even professional to Benjamin, who had no martial arts skills.

Even welltrained elite soldiers in the capital could not subdue people so quickly and accurately.

But still, out of all the rogues he had met in his journalistic career, the man in front of him was the least likable. A man who made him feel a sense of oppression just by making eye contact, triggering instinctive alertness.

For some reason, as the atmosphere became more and more hostile, Edith, confirming that the butler had completely lost consciousness, opened her mouth.

“Thanks to both of you.”

“…….”

“This is Benjamin, my friend. This one is Walter, the stable keeper of the mansion.”

Looking at Edith, who introduced a man who didn’t look like a mere stable keeper, Benjamin realized something.

Edith had always been quickwitted since childhood, keeping a distance from those who seemed dangerous to her, but she didn’t do that to Walter. He must have been the man who was helping Edith.

‘Upon closer inspection, he seems familiar somewhere… or maybe not.’

However, realizing that fact didn’t make him feel any better about Walter.

Walter, of course, didn’t seem to think well of himself either.

“……?”

Edith concluded that the increasingly darkening atmosphere was undoubtedly because of Butler Whitman.

“Walter. Did Isazel say she found the butler?”

“She seems to have detected signs of embezzlement while reviewing the accounting books with the Circus top.”

“Sophia?”

“She seems to be sticking to the position that she doesn’t know anything for now.”

Edith swallowed dryly. If Isazel were to delve into this matter, it would certainly strike Sophia.

If things go well, she might be able to break the damn restraining magic on her and escape from the mansion.

“Then take the butler and go, Walter. I’ll also go to the library and keep an eye on how things are going.”

Walter looked at Benjamin, who was next to Edith.

“You, sir?”

“He’s not a lord, he’s a guest of this mansion.”

Benjamin snapped back and then bid Edith farewell. His journalistic intuition was telling him to go where the Circus’s top owner was and watch the situation.

Edith urged Walter in case Whitman might wake up.

“Walter. Go and check quickly.”

“…….”
Walter looked at Benjamin with displeasure and left his seat. He could not have suspicions as he entered the mansion with Edith at the same time.

After he left, Edith asked Benjamin in a small voice.

“Benjamin. I have something I’d like you to investigate if possible.”

“Speak freely, Edith. If I can’t grant one request, can I be a friend?”

Edith looked around once more to make sure no one was around, then continued speaking.

(This is a time separator.)

A commotion was happening in Sophia’s office.

“Isazel. You must be distressed, how about taking a break with a cup of tea?”

Sophia repeatedly urged Isazel, trying to hide her impatience, but Isazel did not hear Sophia’s suggestion.

“Butler Chief. Who went to pick up the Butler Chief, why is he not coming?”

“…….”

Sophia didn’t know what to do, seeing Isazel becoming irritable for the first time since she entered the mansion.