Chapter 73

 

***

 

“The place is near where the accident happened, so the store will likely be quiet.”

Given that nobles would generally avoid the city after a dangerous incident, it was probable that today’s reservations had been canceled.

“Let’s go, I’ll lead the way.”

As he offered his arm, Melody had a slightly troubled expression.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well, it’s just that I made a promise.”

She shared with him the promise she had made to the postman – not to go near the accident site.

“That promise was for your safety, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then, let’s just step over the line a little bit.”

Melody responded a bit despairingly to his smile. No matter how she thought about it, Claude seemed to enjoy crossing lines.

Especially when it involved dragging Melody along.

“Crossing it again…”

“I promise I won’t put you in danger.”

…Was it her imagination, or did his assurance sound like a threat if she didn’t comply with his request?

“Then it’s settled.”

He extended his arm again, and Melody, feeling she had no choice, took it.

‘I have to buy a dress anyway.’

Somehow, being with Claude made her feel like she wouldn’t get wrapped up in any major trouble.

 

***

 

It seemed to be true that Claude had been causing a stir in dress shops for Loretta.

Despite the sudden visit, the shop owner resignedly welcomed him. He seemed a bit surprised, though, that today’s visit wasn’t about choosing a dress for Loretta.

Melody had to try on several sample dresses prepared in the store.

Occasionally, Claude would ask from beyond the curtain, “Isn’t it too much to not let me see the finished look?” However, Melody never allowed him a glimpse.

“Why can’t I see?”

It was because she felt embarrassed.

Melody was still Melody, and she was certain that if Claude saw her dressed in such grand attire, he would bend over laughing.

“That’s too harsh.”

He grumbled a bit from the other side of the curtain. His demeanor somewhat resembled Ronny, which made Melody smile slightly.

“If I show myself, you’ll just look for a reason to tease me.”

“Do I look like such a terrible man to you?”

Yes. You do.

Melody wanted to respond that way but couldn’t, considering she was in a position of owing him a favor, so she just nodded. It wasn’t like he could see her anyway.

However, the store attendants changing her clothes couldn’t help but snicker, and the clever Claude guessed the situation beyond the curtain quite accurately.

“I suppose I need to show you what a truly terrible person is like.”

Behind the slightly angry voice, Melody could hear him standing up and approaching her.

“……?!”

Of course, since she was dressed, it wouldn’t really matter if he carelessly opened the curtain…

“Wait a moment, please. Claude Bowaldwin.”

Melody deliberately pronounced ‘Baldwin’ in the way Loretta would, to remind him of his status.

After all, it wouldn’t be very dignified for the great Mr. Baldwin to be opening the curtain of a dressing room unannounced.

“Yes, the disgraceful Claude Baldwin. You’re fully dressed, right?”

“Ye-yes, that’s right!”

“Then it’s fine.”

His voice was right in front of her, and soon the curtain rustled.

Melody tightly shut her eyes, feeling embarrassed for some reason.

“My, how adorable.”

Soon after, the store attendant beside Melody exclaimed in admiration.

‘Adorable?’

Melody cautiously opened her eyes, slightly surprised by the word ‘adorable’ being associated with Claude. She could see his hand sneaking through the curtain. Thankfully, it was just his hand, holding a green ribbon adorned with decorations.

“Of course, you’d like best what your father gave you.”

It seemed he acknowledged that the item tarnished by the bad grandfathers had been made beautiful again, but it still didn’t seem suitable for a banquet.

“……”

“You seem to like it, so accept it quickly.”

The urging words he extended were, frankly, true. She really liked it. The ribbon and the dangling gem decorations were too cute to resist.

“Tha… thank you.”

As she took the ribbon, the hand that had come through the curtain withdrew as if it had no lingering attachment.

Soon, she heard, ‘Could you wrap a matching ribbon as a gift and deliver it to the duke’s house?’

It seemed he also intended to buy one for his sister. Of course, Loretta would love this ribbon too.

Melody and Loretta had a strangely similar taste in some things…

‘Ah.’

Melody finally realized why he was able to choose something she would like.

‘If he chooses something Loretta would like, it’s not difficult at all.’

He truly lived up to his reputation as the ultimate doting brother.

Ultimately, Melody chose a dress that matched the ribbon. It looked a bit loose now, but she trusted that it would fit perfectly after some alterations.

After leaving the store, Melody offered her thanks to Claude anew. If it weren’t for him, she would have been at a loss by now.

“No, it’s my pleasure.”

He gracefully accepted Melody’s gratitude with the demeanor of a true gentleman.

“Then I’ll head to Mr. Neil’s yarn store to meet with Mrs. Higgins and…”

“Oh, are you leaving just like that?”

“Is there something else I need to do?”

“You need to give me joy.”

It seemed that Claude’s earlier statement, “It’s my pleasure,” meant something like, “Receiving thanks for my help is my pleasure.”

“I don’t have much to offer you, sir.”

“There’s plenty you can do. For instance,”

He lifted a finger, smiling cheerfully.

“Updating me about my youngest sister’s situation.”

“……”

“It would be troublesome if there’s something about Loretta that I don’t know.”

Melody didn’t understand why that would be troublesome, but she decided not to argue with his illogical sibling devotion.

“……Alright. I’ll tell you.”

“Shall we walk and talk? It’s a bit chilly to stand still.”

He began to walk, and Melody quickly followed by his side.

The servant who always attended Claude was also present, but for some reason, he was keeping a distance, probably due to Claude’s order.

‘Could it be because he doesn’t want to share any information about Loretta with anyone else? Wants to keep it all to himself…?’

As Melody was pondering this, Claude initiated the conversation.

“Jeremiah visited, right?”

“Yes. He helped the lady.”

“I heard about it. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there.”

“Uh, you don’t have to apologize to me.”

“I heard Loretta’s memories of her mother have… returned.”

“Yes, that’s right. She sometimes says, ‘Oh, now I remember,’ and shares newly recollected memories.”

“Is she not confused by it?”

“She seems fine for now. But it seems she’s struggling more with not being able to go outside.”

“I can vividly imagine our little princess tapping her feet in frustration as she looks out the window every day.”

“Speaking of which, she once tried to jump out of my room’s window.”

“She tried to jump out?!”

He asked, his face turning pale, a reaction similar to Melody’s when she first heard the news.

“Yes, fortunately, a maid who followed her stopped her in time. And it seems Ronny was desperately trying to stop her from outside the window.”

“Ronny always has a tough time. He’s a good boy.”

“It seems Loretta knows that. She always asks him to handle the difficult tasks, while she brings the fun ones to me.”

“That’s the smart part about her.”

No, that seems more dangerous than smart, considering Ronny is always getting involved.

But Melody decided not to correct the brother’s doting perception.

After all, he wouldn’t be persuaded anyway.

“Recently, it seems like they’ve been hiding some secret.”

“A secret?”

“The attempt to jump from the window might be related to that secret.”

“Hmm, that’s concerning.”

“Right?! I’m really worried too. If the lady ends up in danger again…”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. Ronny is smart.”

He probably meant that Ronny wouldn’t let the same mistake happen twice.

But from Melody’s perspective, the moment Loretta stood on the windowsill, his argument lost its credibility.

“Anyway, I’ll keep an eye on that.”

“Let me know if you find out anything. I’ll be waiting.”

“Will do.”

“Then I should also give something in return.”

He pointed his finger somewhere.

“……?”

Following where his finger pointed, she saw a building on the second floor, one side of it charred black.

“You promised you wouldn’t do anything dangerous!”

Melody tugged on his arm slightly, questioning him, but he replied nonchalantly.

“But I wanted to give something in return.”

“Showing me the scene of an accident is not a reward!”

“That’s not it, actually, it’s because he’s here.”

“……?”

“Isaiah Mullern.”

When he mentioned that name, he was intently observing Melody’s face, seemingly keen to gauge her reaction.

“Hmm. Seeing your reaction, it seems you’re not too keen on meeting him.”

“Yes.”

Melody nodded in response.

“I meet Isaiah once a week anyway.”

“What?!”