Chapter 4: Max Meets the Butler

Max stood in front of the heavy wooden door to his private chambers, his pulse racing beneath his skin. He could feel the weight of the presence on the other side. A high-ranking demon—one whose very name had once caused empires to tremble—now served as his butler. But that fact did nothing to calm the storm inside Max's mind.

He gripped the handle tightly, his knuckles turning white as he hesitated. The stories that his friends has been told him of this demon were legendary. Thousands of years ago, the neighboring empire had summoned a demon of immense power to wage war on the lands of Arenia. The battle had been long and brutal, his ancestors pushing themselves to the brink to defeat the monster that stood before them. And yet, despite their strength, they hadn't been able to kill him.

Max (Internal): They couldn't kill him… so how can I control him?

The demon had made a bargain, not of submission, but of service. Bound by a World Contract, the demon had agreed to serve Max's family line—protecting them, acting as their loyal servant. But even that loyalty was tenuous. If the demon ever chose to leave, no power in the world, not even the gods themselves, could stop him. The World Contract was rare, impossibly rare, and only someone like Max's ancestors—brilliant, powerful, and commanding—could have struck such a deal. Even emperors, with all their wealth and influence, were lucky to possess a single World Contract in their lifetimes.

But Max wasn't like as Duke of Armenia

He swallowed, trying to calm the anxiety swirling in his gut. He wasn't even sure of who he truly was. The memories of the Duke of Arenia, of the ruthless leader who had commanded respect and fear in equal measure, were gone. He couldn't remember a single battle, a single decision, or a single victory.

And now, he was about to face the demon who had been with his family for centuries.

Max (Internal): What if he sees through me? What if he realizes that I'm not the Duke he once knew? Would the contract still hold? Or would he walk away, leaving me exposed?

He took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

The room beyond was shadowed, the late afternoon light spilling through the tall, narrow windows. Every step Max took seemed to echo, though he tried to make them steady. He couldn't afford to show weakness. Not now. Not in front of him.

At the far end of the room, standing near a large, ornate bookshelf, was the butler. The demon. His figure was tall, imposing, wrapped in a dark, tailored suit that fit him like a second skin. His silver hair gleamed in the fading light, and his eyes—those eyes—glowed a faint, unsettling red.

Max's heart skipped a beat when the butler's gaze shifted toward him. For a moment, Max felt like prey caught in the sight of a predator.

"Your Grace," the butler greeted, his voice low and calm, yet there was something in it—something ancient and powerful that set Max's nerves on edge.

Max forced himself to meet the demon's gaze, though every instinct told him to look away, to shrink back. But he couldn't. He had to maintain control. The butler had served the Duke of Arenia for centuries, faithfully upholding the terms of the contract. But Max wasn't the Duke. Not anymore. And the demon's loyalty wasn't to him—it was to the bloodline. To the family.

Max (Internal): Does he know? Can he sense that I'm different? What would he do if he realized I'm not the same Duke?

There were whispers, rumors even, that demons could see into the souls of men—that they could sense the very essence of a person, knowing their secrets, their fears, their weaknesses. Max wondered if that was true. If this demon, the one who had been bound to his ancestors through an unbreakable contract, could see through the façade he was desperately trying to uphold.

Max clenched his fists behind his back, hiding the tension in his hands. He had to stay in control. Had to act like the Duke. The demon had seen the real Duke—the fearless leader, the ruthless commander who had stood in the face of danger and never wavered. What would happen if the butler saw hesitation? What if he saw doubt?

The butler took a step forward, his movements graceful, effortless. Despite the calm demeanor, Max could feel the raw power emanating from him. This was no ordinary servant. This was a creature who had been forged in the fires of war and conquest. Legends spoke of his kind—demons who could lay waste to entire armies with a flick of their hand, whose mere presence could bend the will of lesser beings.

And yet, here he was, serving tea and organizing troop deployments.

"Is everything to your satisfaction, Your Grace?" the butler asked, his voice smooth, his red eyes never leaving Max's face.

Max felt a chill run down his spine. He had no idea what the demon truly thought of him. Was he still loyal? Or was he merely playing along, waiting for Max to slip? Waiting for the moment he could walk away without consequence?

Max (Internal): He's waiting for something… he must be. No one like him serves without a reason. He could destroy me if he wanted to. But he hasn't. Not yet.

Max swallowed the lump in his throat. He needed to keep the butler on his side. He needed to make him believe that nothing had changed, that he was still the Duke of Arenia. Still the man worthy of his loyalty.

"Everything is… as it should be," Max replied, his voice steady but cold. He couldn't let the demon see the fear lurking beneath the surface. He had to keep his mask in place.

The butler inclined his head slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment, but Max couldn't shake the feeling that the demon was watching him closely, analyzing every word, every twitch, every breath.

Max (Internal): Does he know? Does he suspect? If he ever finds out that I've lost my memory… that I'm not really the Duke he once served… what will he do?

Max had no doubt that the butler's power was unimaginable. The stories told by his ancestors spoke of a demon who could command fire, darkness, and the very forces of nature. His true form—something no one had ever survived seeing—was rumored to be monstrous, with horns that reached the sky and wings that could blot out the sun. But it wasn't just his physical power that frightened Max. It was his knowledge. His intelligence. His cunning.

The butler had lived through more than a millennium of wars, betrayals, and deals. He had outwitted kings and survived the fall of empires.

Max (Internal): If he decides to leave… if he finds me lacking, no one can stop him. Not even the gods.

The World Contract bound the demon to Max's family, but the terms were clear. His loyalty, though unbreakable by magic, was conditional. He served willingly, but he could walk away at any time. No one—not even the gods—could force him to stay.

"Good," Max said, his voice sounding hollow in his own ears. "Continue as planned."

The butler bowed slightly, his gaze still locked on Max. "As you wish, Your Grace."

Max remember in game screen when he was player he ask butler why did you follow human he said

Because of Max ancestor," Gaius replied calmly, his eyes flickering with something ancient, a reminder that he had seen millennia pass. "Long ago, I was summoned by the neighboring empire, intended to be their ultimate weapon. But max ancestor, Duke Arenia of that time, defeated me."

Butler smile widened slightly. "Defeating me was only the first step. He knew, as all wise men do, that demons do not die easily. Rather than waste centuries trying to destroy me, he offered a contract. I would protect his bloodline, his descendants. In return, when I decide to leave, no one may stop me."

With that, the demon turned and left the room, his footsteps silent, leaving Max alone with his thoughts.

As the door clicked shut, Max let out a shaky breath, his hands trembling at his sides. His heart was still pounding, his body tense with fear.

Max (Internal): He didn't question me. He didn't say anything… but he's watching. He's always watching.

The butler had served his family for centuries. He had stood by the side of men far greater than Max. Men who had known how to wield power. Men who had commanded respect. But Max? Max didn't even know who he was anymore. He was lost in a sea of expectations, drowning under the weight of a legacy he couldn't even remember.

Max (Internal): How long can I keep this up? How long before he sees through me?

The World Contract may have been the most powerful binding force in existence, but it didn't guarantee loyalty. If the butler ever realized the truth, if he ever saw that Max was no longer the man he had sworn to protect…

Max didn't want to think about what would happen next.

As they walked through the estate, Max couldn't shake the feeling that Gaius his butler, despite his apparent loyalty, was an enigma—a high-rank demon who had chosen to serve his family for thousands of years, yet could leave at any moment. And when that day came, what would happen to the Arenia bloodline?

The thought lingered in his mind as the day began.

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