The Versatile Master Artist

Woof!

Woof woof!

August, lying on the floor, seemed to sense the change in his owner’s emotions, and with a swift roll, he leapt up from the floor.

August stretched out his front paws, extended his hind legs straight, and his brown back arched upwards like a fully drawn bow, emitting a fierce barking sound from his throat.

The big dog looked like a true knight protecting a princess, ready to attack at any moment.

He was always prepared to pounce and give this annoying young man a bite on the calf with just a command from Miss Elina.

”Ah! Ole, Cousin Anna, what’s going on?”

The actress instinctively covered her mouth, letting out a low exclamation.

She couldn’t understand why everyone was still chatting and laughing together just now, but then Anna suddenly recited a few lines from ”Cleopatra,” and the atmosphere instantly turned tense.

”It’s okay, August, it’s okay.”

Miss Elina calmed her pet hunting dog, then said coldly, ”Mr. Ole, today I have shown you enough respect and patience. Now please let go of my hand, or I will have to ask you to leave my house. I’m very serious about this.”

”Young Master Krueger?”

The butler appeared like a ghost, gently patting Ole on the back.

After Anna instructed him to bring the checkbook, she didn’t ask him to leave. The butler, who also understood French, silently stood in the corner of the drawing room, observing everything that had just happened.

”This is a family matter between Cousin Anna and me. I grew up here, and even when my godmother was alive, she never drove me away!”

Ole was becoming more agitated.

He waved his hand, wanting the bothersome man to leave.

”Young Master Krueger?”

The butler grabbed his arm, his gloved hand like iron tongs firmly controlling his arm, and then said slowly, word by word: ”Miss asks you to let go.”

His hand was tightly restrained by the other person.

Ole’s mind slightly cleared from the agitation.

He had known this butler for many years as well.

The butler and the personal servants of the master and mistress were the souls among the large estate’s servants.

Especially the former,

they had almost exited the scope of a servant and belonged to a position in traditional European noble families that would never be dismissed as long as the master’s family could still pull out a copper coin from their pocket.

This gentlemanly elder had worked in the estate for most of his life.

Even when Anna’s aunt was still alive, the butler’s annual salary exceeded 500,000 Euros, comparable to independent directors of some small banks.

Even the daily medical expenses of his family, the costs for his children studying abroad, and finding suitable job opportunities were arranged and paid for by the Ilyena family.

All they wanted was someone who was familiar and trustworthy.

The generous salary brought loyalty, loyalty to the owners of the Ilyena family.

It used to be loyalty to Anna’s guardian, and now it’s to Miss Elina herself.

Apart from Cousin Anna, the owner of the estate,

for any other guests and family members, the butler’s duty was only to maintain enough politeness and respect, not having to obey any orders from them, even if they had frequently visited here since childhood.

Looking at the other person’s serious demeanor,

Ole didn’t doubt that the butler had already shown the ”politeness and respect” part.

If he still didn’t let go, as long as Cousin Anna gave a look, next time it might not be calling him Young Master Krueger, but rather a knee strike to his waist.

This is the 21st century after all,

the era has changed.

The Prime Minister’s seventh-grade official, over a hundred years ago, this kind of personal butler of a great noble family would be more prestigious than some rural knight barons and masters.

Not to mention ordering the servants to come over and drive him out of the estate, even if the master ordered him to fire a shot, he would pull the trigger without hesitation.

Ole hesitated for two seconds, but eventually let go of Anna’s wrist and reluctantly sat back down on his chair.

”Cousin Anna... I’m doing this for your own good.”

He helplessly raised his hands, ”You’re simply getting angry for no reason.”

”Very well, then I will consider this incident as never having happened.” Anna nodded, ”When you return, convey my regards to Mr. Krueger.”

”As for the other proposals, please don’t mention them again in the future, I am not interested, and neither is the Ilyena family. Ole von Krueger, please listen carefully, I have no intention of marrying you, not in childhood, not now, and not in the future.”

Once again, the air sank into a long, awkward silence.

Anna remained silent, Ole was silent, even the Springer hunting dog was motionless.

Only the bewildered actress glanced back and forth between the few people.

”Is it really like this?”

Ole slowly lowered his head, staring at his shiny shoe tips.

He seemed to have completely torn down certain inner knots, and slowly said: ”This truly is your style, Cousin, ’not in childhood, not now, and not in the future’ — strong and resolute, just like a judge delivering a verdict, cutting off all my thoughts. Driving me away from here.”

Anna had originally intended to leave the drawing room with an indifferent demeanor.

Upon hearing Ole’s low and gloomy voice,

she softened a bit.

Anna looked at her aunt’s godson, shook her head, ”Ole, I still welcome you as a cousin to visit my home...”

”Heh... What a pity statement.”

Ole unexpectedly interrupted his cousin’s words.