Edward walked away from the auditorium''s main entrance, his pace unhurried but purposeful.


    The building''s exterior was a testament to grandeur, its sweeping arches and intricate carvings basking in the golden morning light.


    The manicured lawn surrounding it stretched in soft, verdant waves, bordered by flower beds bursting with meticulously arranged blooms.


    The pathways winding through the gardens were wide and clean, their stone surfaces smooth and almost glimmering under the sun.


    Yet Edward paid little attention to the artistry around him.


    He veered off the path and onto the grass, ignoring the small signs of curiosity from servants sitting on nearby benches.


    Their gazes lingered as they noted his solitary figure walking with calm yet deliberate intent across the forbidden lawn.


    To them, his behavior was improper, but Edward moved as though the rules of decorum didn''t apply to him.


    The building loomed high above him, its grand facade a labyrinth of windows, arches, and decorative reliefs.


    As he circled the structure, his sharp eyes searched for anything—a side entrance, a window left ajar, even a loose panel.


    But he found nothing.


    At last, he reached a quieter, more secluded section of the building, where the bustling sounds of students and staff faded into the background.


    Edward paused, tilting his head to study the towering wall before him.


    The roof''s height might have intimidated most, but to Edward, it seemed almost inviting.


    The stonework provided ample handholds, and the design of the building created a natural path for him to scale.


    His lips quirked in a faint smirk as he calculated his route.


    With a sharp inhale, Edward planted his feet, shifting into a crouch.


    His right hand reached high, fingers poised to grip the stone as if testing its strength.


    His left leg bent, ready to propel him upward in a leap.


    "Excuse me," a voice interrupted, soft and low but firm enough to break Edward''s focus.


    "You shouldn''t do that."


    Edward turned his head sharply toward the voice.


    Standing a short distance away on the flower-lined pathway was a slender figure.


    At first glance, Edward assumed it was a young woman—a perception shaped by the figure''s delicate build and refined features.


    But a closer look revealed a masculine presence cloaked in androgynous beauty.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    The butler''s black eyes, sharp and steady, framed by long lashes, gave him an otherworldly allure.


    His porcelain-like skin, smooth and unblemished, almost glowed in the sunlight.


    His slightly tousled black hair fell in soft, layered strands, framing a face so symmetrical and elegant it could rival the nobility he likely served.


    His uniform—a tailored vest over a crisp blue shirt, paired with a neatly knotted black tie—distinguished him further, a subtle yet striking deviation from the standard butler attire.


    Edward raised an eyebrow, his calculating gaze meeting the butler''s unflinching one.


    "Sorry, sweetie," Edward said, his tone polite yet dismissive.


    "Can you close your eyes and pretend you didn''t see me for a moment?"


    The butler''s lips curled into a small, amused smile.


    "As servants of noble masters, we shouldn''t tarnish their reputations with acts of impropriety," he replied smoothly, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of authority.


    Edward scoffed lightly, his expression unchanging.


    "Impropriety? Climbing a building isn''t improper—unless someone tells my lady."


    His tone dropped slightly, edged with a quiet menace.


    The butler didn''t flinch.


    Instead, he adjusted his posture subtly, his feet shifting into a steady stance, as though prepared for confrontation.


    His hands hung loose at his sides, but there was a readiness in his frame, a balance that hinted at martial training.


    The way he planted himself on the pathway made it clear: if Edward moved to attack, he wouldn''t hesitate to act.


    "I doubt your lady would appreciate you doing something so reckless like climbing wall," the butler said.


    Then, his brows furrowed slightly as realization dawned.


    "Wait... climbing?! I was only going to ask you not to step on the grass."


    Edward blinked, momentarily thrown by the statement.


    "There''s no sign prohibiting it," he replied flatly, his logic as sharp as his tone.


    "Even so, as servants, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard," the butler countered, his voice steady but firm.


    Edward sighed, brushing off the remark with a wave of his hand.


    "Fine. I''ll stop stepping on the grass after I''ve climbed the building and enter the building. So relax, sweetie."


    The butler''s eyes narrowed, his voice sharpening.


    "That''s far worse. I''m afraid I''ll have to stop you."


    The tension between them lingered for a moment, but before either could make another move, the faint chatter of maids drifted toward them.


    What had been a quiet section of the grounds was now slowly becoming more populated.


    Edward clicked his tongue softly, annoyed at the intrusion.


    Without another word, he turned and began walking along the grass, ignoring the butler entirely.


    "Hey!" the butler called after him, his voice losing some of its composure.


    "You can''t just ignore me! At least walk on the pathway!"


    Edward didn''t reply, his focus unwavering as he continued to trace the building''s perimeter.


    Minutes passed as he moved with calculated steps, his sharp eyes scanning every detail of the structure as though searching for something hidden.


    Meanwhile, the androgynous butler trailed him from the pathway, his presence a persistent shadow that Edward stubbornly refused to acknowledge.


    "I''m serious!" the butler called again, his tone firmer now, though it carried a tinge of exasperation.


    "I don''t care what you''re planning, but you need to get back on the path!"


    By now, the butler''s words had become a refrain, repeated with the same patience and persistence as though Edward''s silence only encouraged him to try harder.


    The rhythm of their one-sided exchange stretched into what felt like an eternity.


    Edward could hear the faint crunch of footsteps on the stone pathway paralleling his own movements, a reminder that his unwanted companion wasn''t giving up anytime soon.


    Edward finally stopped, his patience wearing thin.


    He turned his head slightly, his voice calm but cutting.


    "Oi. Shut up for a moment."


    The butler hesitated, momentarily thrown off by the shift in Edward''s tone.


    Edward''s gaze fixed on a new scene unfolding just ahead.


    Sitting on a short staircase that led to what appeared to be a closed side entrance were three maids, clearly unaware of the two butlers observing them.


    The first maid, a muscular woman as tall as Edward, tipped back a bottle of whiskey, letting out a satisfied sigh.


    "Fuaaaahhh! This hits hard," she declared, her voice carrying an air of bold confidence.


    The second maid, a petite woman seated beside her, poured whiskey into a small flask while snacking on something unidentifiable.


    Her motions were quick and practiced, her focus entirely on her task.


    The third maid, the most composed-looking of the group, sipped whiskey from a small glass with an air of refinement.


    Adjusting her glasses, she muttered in a tone far too casual for the setting,


    "If only I could enjoy this fine drink while admiring my lady''s ample bosom."


    Edward blinked, his expression deadpan as he took in the scene.


    Compared to the persistent, rule-obsessed butler still hovering nearby, these three maids presented an entirely different kind of nuisance.


    "Just great," Edward muttered under his breath.