reborn as lazy lord destined to doom

"Madam Seraphina, the dining hall is prepared. All that remains is for the maids you selected to arrange their standing positions." I hurriedly told my sister.

"Great work, Clara. Will you be attending to the young master now?" She said while verifying the list of maids to be stationed in the dining hall for the 48th time.

"Yes, I believe the young master must be awake by now. He gets rather upset if his morning tea isn't ready on time." I said with a faint smile.

"Did you give up on informing him about breakfast?"

"He always says not to remind him of things he won’t be attending, and he seems genuinely uncomfortable when I bring up the gatherings," I said, thinking back on all those times I informed him about gatherings.

"Hmm... but still, if His Grace asks whether you informed him and finds out you didn’t, you’ll be in trouble. At least mention it briefly before he decides not to attend and instructs you to bring his tea."

"Yes, I appreciate the advice," I said before heading to the young master's room.

It’s almost 9 AM, well past the time he usually wakes up. I just hope he won’t be too mad when he realizes I didn’t bring his tea but came to inform him about something he hates hearing about.

Young Master has been distancing himself from his family ever since the unfortunate incident with his mother. If only he knew the truth that she did it to lessen the dangers he might face... Perhaps things would have been different. But Her Grace, Duchess Serena, strictly forbade anyone from telling him. She feared that revealing the truth would only burden the heart of a seventeen-year-old.

Since then, I have been assigned as his personal maid to watch over him, protecting him whenever he steps beyond the castle grounds and standing guard at night, when the scrutiny of the castle guards is at its weakest.

Well, here goes nothing...I gave two firm knocks on the door, then stepped back slightly.

......................

Is he still asleep? I'll inform him from the door, and if there's no response, I'll head back, bring his tea, and wait for him to wake up.

"Young master, I assume you are awake. If you let me, I would like to help you get ready to attend the meal arranged by His Grace the lord Everard," I said with a respectful tone.

........ THUD....

Did he hit the door? Or did he fall? …Or is someone else in there? I need to check.

"Young master, shall I excuse my-" The door opened without me pushing it; Young Master had opened it himself. His face was pale, beads of sweat clinging to his skin, as if he had seen a ghost. Was he frightened? Was he threatened?

....WHO DARES TO ENTE-

"You are late, What could possibly be more important than tending to me, especially when it's my father, his grace, I am supposed to meet?" His tone was firm and confident, his face failed to express emotions.

'Huh? Did he just say he was going to meet His Grace? Wait, I need to respond properly.

"Hhh...i-i my apologies young master, madam Seraphina had me supervise dining hall, i will nev-"

"I understand, but it is getting late. If you don't hurry up, I will have to do the same thing with my father as you are doing with me, that is, making EXCUSES." He said, cutting off my clumsily framed sentence.

"O-Of course, young master, at once." I stuttered but quickly regained my composure, it would be disgraceful to show my clumsy self.

I quickly dressed him and glanced at the insignia resting on the table. For a moment, I hesitated to place it on him, but in the end, I did. If he didn’t want it, he would say so once he checked himself in the mirror.

After all, this insignia is one that only the Duke and his heir can possess. Yet, ever since the incident with her Grace Lady Serena, Young Master has been afraid to wear it, as if he were surrendering the position of Duke itself.

After checking himself in the mirror, he simply said, 'Good job,' adding that he didn’t need any adjustments.

The Young Master who had never acknowledged anyone’s efforts nor put in his own had finally uttered those words. And it wasn’t just a nonchalant remark; there was satisfaction in his tone.

I can’t waste any more of his time, nor can I let my tardiness hinder his newfound resolve to face his family. I have to get him there on time.

"I am thankful for such high praise. If you may, let us head towards the dining hall, young master," I spoke, even at the risk of sounding hurried.

"Yes, lead the way," He said while checking himself in the mirror.

With his permission, I began leading the way. I walked faster than usual, yet still maintained the proper decorum of a maid. He followed in silence, not uttering a single word.

"Young master, we are here. I will open the door on your command," I said that while secretly hoping he would permit it, rather than backing off from tension and anxiety.

"Has my father arrived?" he asked, his voice carrying anticipation rather than the usual fear and anxiety he felt in His Grace’s presence.

I quickly scanned the area to see if my sister was present. Upon confirming her absence, I concluded she must be in the dining hall, meaning His Grace had already arrived. However, His Grace usually arrives earlier than the set time, so the Young Master wasn’t necessarily late. Still, I hoped he wouldn’t feel the pressure of thinking he was.

"Madam Seraphina should be here at the door if that was not the case, suggesting His grace has already arrived, but you are not late, young master," I said, keeping it brief so he wouldn’t feel like I was trying to make him believe something that wasn’t true.

"Open the door," he commanded, his voice full of confidence. His steps were heavy, and the air around him exuded a self-assurance I hadn’t known he was capable of. His back stood tall, resembling that of a king heading to meet his subjects. His demeanor was full of pride, with a subtle arrogance that made anyone nearby believe he owned the place.

I stood there, shocked, dazed, not even closing the door after he entered. A guard swiftly moved and closed it, snapping me back to my senses.

I quickly apologized and thanked the guard for his assistance, to which he nodded and returned to his usual position and stance. I decided to wait for the Young Master here in case he needed any assistance.

I told my sister Seraphina in the staff quarters about all the experiences I had with the Young Master—how he used his insignia for the first time to reserve the entire second floor of the library and how he studied diligently, never once altering his posture during the eight hours he spent there. I spoke of how he started getting up early every morning and how he now spent his evenings running in his private lawn.

Seraphina listened, recalling how the once timid and insignificant presence of the Young Master had transformed into one of elaborate and confident one. She remembered how, at breakfast the other day, his gaze had not faltered once, completely opposite to the Young Master she had once known.

The Young Master’s activities had rapidly improved these days. While that was a good sign, it also meant he would attract unwanted attention, exactly what Lady Serena had hoped to avoid at all costs. I knew I had to be more diligent, ensuring that no threat, no matter how small, slipped past me and hindered the Young Master’s newfound resolve.

"I must not let any inconveniences disrupt his progress," Clara resolved firmly, her determination solidifying within her.