Chapter 18

 

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“Elder…”

It was one of the elders I had seen at dinner last night. I thought they all went to the temple together.

“It turns out she really is the Duke’s daughter.”

He muttered disapprovingly with an unpleasant face.

But for Melody, this was very good news. Despite the expected outcome, she smiled, feeling relieved.

“I’m so glad. Truly happy.”

The elder looked at Melody’s brightened face and contorted his expression, replying in a mocking tone.

“Of course, you are. Now you’ll finally get your reward and be able to leave this mansion safely.”

“What?”

Melody blurted out without realizing.

“Are you pretending not to understand? You must have followed here from the beginning with that intention.”

“I, I didn’t bring Loretta, I mean, the lady here to get money. I came to take care of her…”

“Take care of her? You taking care of the Duke’s daughter?”

“I read her fairy tales well, and I know about the lady more than anyone else.”

Melody replied defiantly, to which he laughed out loud mockingly.

“Your stupidity is pitiable. Do you think the Duke would entrust his daughter to the child of a criminal?”

“…!”

Melody was shocked and looked at the elder.

That’s right…

Slave traders were especially poorly regarded in the capital.

Lower than even common folk.

They were seen as filthy criminals, unworthy of existence.

“And you’ve been helping your mother so diligently in her work, haven’t you?”

“I, I…”

“The Duke is a man who knows right from wrong.”

The elder glanced around the luxurious guest room Melody was given.

“Surely you don’t think that he let you stay here without doing any chores because he considers you a guest?”

“….”

“What noble would use a dish washed by dirty hands?”

Melody couldn’t argue back.

Considering how this world works, the elder’s words were true.

That’s why Melody couldn’t talk about her ‘mother’ here.

“To a child who can’t even be trusted with dishes, there’s no way he’d entrust his precious only daughter.”

“But, I know many things. I can be of great help to the Duke…”

Before Melody could finish her sentence, the elder burst into laughter.

You? Be of help to the Duke with your knowledge? He repeated mockingly several times.

“I knew you were shameless for coming this far, but to this extent…”

He finally stopped laughing and tugged at the green ribbon in Melody’s hair.

The soft ribbon smoothly came undone, falling into the elder’s hand.

“This isn’t something for you to wear.”

“Give it back! The Duke gave it to me as a gift!”

“That might have been the case before, but things have changed now.”

The elder carelessly stuffed the ribbon into his pocket.

“How do you think I know about your mother?”

Melody knew the answer he was expecting.

Did the Duke tell you? He would expect her to guess. Other than him and Loretta, no one else knew.

But fortunately, she knew the Duke of Baldwin well.

He wouldn’t casually talk about someone else’s weaknesses, even if it meant getting himself into trouble.

So, the likelihood of him telling the elder about Melody was low.

If there was an answer, it was probably…

“You investigated me. Being in a high position in the Duke’s household, you would have that power.”

At Melody’s response, the elder slightly twisted his face and corrected her.

“The Duke told me.”

Ah, yes. I knew you would say that.

Melody couldn’t say ‘I know you’re lying’ and just kept her mouth shut.

“You seem shocked.”

But he seemed to think Melody was hurt by his words. With a sinister face, he continued as he pleased.

“Anyway, since you helped the Duke safely find his daughter, you will be sufficiently rewarded.”

The elder pulled out a purse from his pocket.

He casually opened the purse to show Melody its contents. It was filled with glittering coins.

For thrifty Melody, it was a considerable sum, possibly enough to live on for years.

“Surely you’re not shameless enough to ask for more?”

He forcibly placed the purse in Melody’s hand.

“You must be satisfied. You’ve earned more than expected. Even your mother in prison would be proud of you. With this money, you might even be able to buy her innocence.”

“Buy… innocence?”

Buying innocence was a foreign concept to Melody.

Wasn’t innocence or guilt determined by judges and laws, not money?

“Yes. Fortunately, her sentence hasn’t been decided yet, so with this amount, you should be able to save your mother. It would be a great act of filial piety on your part.”

“No, I…”

“And you, who so carefully looked after the Duke’s daughter, wouldn’t ignore your own family and live comfortably alone, would you?”

He extended his hand with a mask-like smile.

“I’ll take you to where you can save your mother. Consider it the last act of kindness from the Duke’s house.”

Melody instinctively stepped back.

What would happen if her mother was declared innocent?

Melody didn’t harbor any fleeting hopes that her mother would be grateful.

People don’t change. Especially not the misfortune that Melody had faced.

Her mother would likely demand more money from her.

Perhaps she would even send Melody to beg from the Duke’s family. Certainly, she would do that, being the most shameless person in the world.

If Melody refused to beg, she knew the consequences.

“If that’s the case, then I should make you want to go.”

Melody shook her head. Knowing the place was filled with only despair and pain, no one would willingly step into it, so she naturally took another step back.

“You shameless creature!”

But she was brought back to reality by his harsh voice.

“How much negative influence must you have had on the Duke’s daughter by now…!”

His anger strangely resembled her mother’s.

He ranted without listening to Melody’s words or situation.

Was that why?

His voice seemed to overlap with her mother’s.

“Are you planning to abandon even your mother and live well alone in the Duke’s house!”

“No, it’s not that… it’s not like that…!”

Melody found herself pleading with him, just as she had once begged her mother.

“Planning to live comfortably in the Duke’s house, well-fed and well-cared for, while your only mother suffers or dies!”

His words completely shattered Melody’s heart.

“I, I…”

The girl let go of the last bit of her resolve.

It was inevitable.

Her fear of her mother had firmly rooted itself in the center of her heart, never fading.

“I was wrong. Please, please forgive me!”

Tears naturally flowed down her cheeks and neck incessantly.

“Now you’re speaking the truth. How dare you think of using the Duke’s family?!”

“Please save me. I was wrong. Please, please…!”

With each plea, her voice hitched, but he was relentless.

“Follow me! Right now!”

His almost commanding voice made Melody’s feet involuntarily follow him.

Due to the loss of strength in her hand, the purse of money fell to the floor, but she had no time to notice.

Passing through the corridor and entering the front hall, she saw a shabby carriage outside the wide-open door.

He led Melody towards the carriage.

That’s when it happened.

“Are you insane, you old fool?!”

Mrs. Higgins quickly rushed out, blocking the way to the carriage.

“This child is a guest of the Duke. Do you think you can get away with this?!”

The Higgins family held one of the highest positions among the Duke’s close associates.

Within the Duke’s household, no one could ignore the Higgins’ opinions. Not even the Duke himself.

And among them, Mrs. Higgins’ voice was particularly influential.

Her actual ability and authority were also noteworthy.

“If you’re going to grow old, do it gracefully! What kind of behavior is this toward a child young enough to be your granddaughter!”

Mrs. Higgins pulled Melody away from the elder.