31 [Mark's POV]

In the hallway of the Holmes Family mansion, a young man in his early twenties, with a lean and athletic build was walking. 

He was wearing his butler's uniform. He carried himself with an air of confidence and authority, commanding respect from those around him. His movements were fluid and graceful, indicating a certain level of training and discipline.

In the silent hallway, his footsteps can be heard.

TAP

TAP

TAP

His Brown hair was styled in a sophisticated manner, and his deep black eyes looked piercing. Although he wasn't much handsome however Butler's uniform added a unique charm to him. 

His name is Mark.

***

Hello. I'm Mark. I'm a man of few words.

Currently, I am working as a butler for Rain Holmes, who is the heir to the wealthy Holmes family.

Despite his high social status, he treats everyone with kindness, which is why I admire him greatly.

Young Master Rain seems to have everything in life, yet he still works hard every day.

However, I have come to realize that beneath his successful exterior, he is quite lonely.

His parents are often too busy to spend time with him, and he has no close friends to confide in.

He takes on everything by himself and rarely asks for help, which makes me wonder if he is either too proud or too scared to let others into his life.

Young Master Rain's tireless work ethic takes a toll on him, and it's hard to watch him in this state.

Sometimes, I feel like reaching out and trying to befriend him, but I know that there is a line I cannot cross as his butler.

It's my duty to maintain a professional distance, but it hurts me to see him struggle with loneliness.

I wish there was more I could do to help him, but I am confined by the limitations of my position.

Thinking that, i could only sigh.

As Young Master Rain's personal butler, I couldn't believe what had happened yesterday.

Apparently, Lady Emma, his fiancée came here in early morning. 

She came to disturb our morning because she wanted to break their engagement contract, and when he refused, she challenged him to a duel.

At first, the fight was evenly matched, but as it progressed, he started to gain the upper hand.

Then, out of nowhere, Lady Kaya, his sister, intervened and attacked him. The two women were able to overpower him, leaving him badly beaten and injured.

It was heartbreaking to think that his injury might not heal till the Academy entrance exam.

As his loyal servant, I felt frustrated that there was nothing I could do to help.

Again, I could only sigh.

After that, Lady Kaya argued that she didn't want to see Young Master Rain engaged to Lady Emma.

I don't know what happened but she was only given a light punishment and placed under house arrest.

So ridiculous!

Ahem... where are my manners. Sorry for the inconvenience.

But I can't do anything. She does these things many times, and Lord is always unfair to him.

According to some of the older staff, Lady Kaya's parentless status has resulted in preferential treatment from the Lord.

It's ironic because he is treated well too, but it's not the same.

They don't treat him rudely, they give him plenty of money and things.

Despite the seemingly good treatment he receives, he remains isolated and withdrawn.

I can't help but wonder if this is due to his pride or immaturity.

He has always been the type to take everything upon himself, even when it's not necessary, and this stubbornness makes it difficult for others to assist him.

He doesn't take it first, sometimes they forced him, but slowly they also gave up.

They also said that Lady Kaya, Lady Emma, and he were once close childhood friends.

However, due to some accidents, their relationship was damaged.

It's a sad situation, and I wish there was something I could do to help him.

With a heavy heart, I made my way to Rain's room to check on him. 

Let's see the young master's condition.

I knocked on the door while sighing. 

Knock

He might be sleeping, so I knocked the door again. 

Knock

"Come in."

As I approached the door, I heard a manly voice from inside.

"Good morning, Young Master!" I greeted him and entered the room.

But when I saw him, I was shocked to find him standing. How had he healed so quickly?

"Young master?" I asked, still taken aback by his unexpected recovery.

"Yeah, good morning, Mark," he replied with a smile. It was the first time in my ten years of working for him that I had seen him smile.

He looked like an angel, and I couldn't help but think that any girl who saw him would become a fan. Still, I maintained my image as butler.

We left his room and made our way to the dining hall, where he had breakfast with his parents.

They talked for some time, but as usual, he remained cold and distant.

From afar, I watched him and sighed.

He should try to open up to others, I thought. 

After breakfast, he ordered some strange things, which I assumed were part of his training.

Let's do it then, I thought, eager to help him in any way I could.

***

[After some days]

Lately, the Young Master has been spending most of his time in the library, buried in books.

The staff in the main building whisper that he seems depressed, but when his parents asked him about it, he simply replied that his injury had not yet fully healed and that he was focused on preparing for the upcoming entrance exam.

So that's the reason, I see.

There is no way he doesn't train every single day.

Still, I couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it than that.

He was always a hard worker, and I knew he wouldn't let his injury stop him from training.

Perhaps there was something else going on that he didn't want to share with anyone.

***

One day, to my surprise, he took some of the funds he had never touched and headed outside for some training.

It was unexpected, but at the same time, hearing that he was going to train, I realized that it was a usual thing for him.

It appeared that his training mode was back, and he never seemed to relax.

Seeing how hardworking he was, I couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

Soon, he left for his outdoor training without me. 

I was surprised as he got permission for training outside alone. 

Usually, whenever he went to train outside in the past, a small combat team including me followed him in shadows to protect him in unforeseen circumstances. I hope he doesn't encounter any danger. 

*** 

After a few days, I saw the Young Master in the corridor.

Oh, Looks like he returned. It was fast. I exclaimed inwardly.

Because in the past it took him around more than week to return from outdoor training. 

I was about to greet him when Lady Kaya and Lady Emma appeared from around the corner.

The moment they saw the young master, they quickly scurried into Lady Kaya's room and slammed the door shut.

The Young Master had a bewildered expression on his face, and his body language seemed to suggest that he was hurt by their actions.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should say something to comfort him, but I didn't want him to stand there alone.

So I greeted him, and he seemed relieved to see me.

He sighed and relaxed his shoulders, and his face lost some of its previous tension.

After we exchanged a few words, he headed back to his room and slept.

He didn't even come down for dinner, and I couldn't blame him.

The training and the encounter with Lady Kaya and Lady Emma must have taken a toll on him.

As he walked down the hallway, I could see that he was dragging his feet and that his eyes were downcast. He looked completely drained.

I sighed, watching the young master disappear around the corner. It was clear that he had been pushed to his limit to train this time. 

***

However, at midnight, he slipped out of the building undetected, his footsteps silent on the creaky floorboards.

I suspected where he was going. As his trusted aide,

I knew him better than anyone.

He had a habit of seeking solace at the lake when he was feeling low.

I trailed him, making sure to keep my distance so as not to disturb him.

We walked for about ten minutes before we reached the lake.

It was a secluded spot, surrounded by dense foliage and the only sound was that of the water lapping against the shore.

Rain walked to the water's edge and sat down on a large rock, his feet dangling over the edge.

He stared out at the dark water, lost in thought. I couldn't see his face clearly in the darkness, but I could tell he was in pain

I hid behind the tree, careful not to make any noise that might disturb him.

It felt like I was intruding on a private moment, but I couldn't just leave him alone in his sadness.

As I watched him, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. The weight of his troubles seemed to be bearing down on him heavily, and he looked so small and vulnerable.

His body language spoke volumes - shoulders slumped, head bowed low. He looked lonely, and it broke my heart.

After a while, he suddenly spoke. "Hey Mark, you did the job I asked you to, right?" His voice was soft and distant. I was taken aback. Had he known I was here all along?

"Yes, young master," I replied solemnly, trying to keep my voice steady.

I stayed hidden behind the tree, not wanting to intrude on his moment of solitude.

He eyes were still fixed on his reflection in the lake, and I could feel his sadness from where I stood, 

"Hey Mark, you know, even with getting a chance to live happily ever after.

I can even resolve myself to do bad things, you know? And becoming a villain in their eyes.

I can even withstand being hated by those around me. Even if they hate me, I loved them.

But... This Loneliness is hard to bear."

He turned to me then, standing up from the rock he had been sitting on.

In the dim light, I could see small tears glistening in his eyes, even as he managed a small smile.

I could feel his pain, and I knew that he needed someone to talk to.

He said something, but I didn't remember. He laughed softly, but it was a hollow sound.

This week, I have seen his smile and tears. What a rare occurrence. 

I wanted to reach out to him, to offer some kind of comfort, but I knew that wasn't what he wanted right now.

So I just walked silently beside him as we made our way back to the building.

As we walked, I couldn't help but think about the beauty of the lake at night.

The moon's reflection on the water was like a painting, and the soft rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze made for a peaceful, calming atmosphere.

It was a stark contrast to the turmoil in his heart.

I could only think one thing at that time,

'The Brightest smile

Hides the deepest secrets,

And The Pretty eyes

Cried the most tears.'