Chapter 79

 

***

 

The morning of the banquet arrived.

Ronny, who had been up since dawn, busily moved between the entrance and the large dining room.

The ordinary dining room had transformed into a room brimming with fresh greenery, just as Ronny had intended from the start.

The color matched perfectly with the ducal family’s flag hanging in the central high place, bringing a pleased smile to Ronny’s face.

The long table was adorned with lace decorations Ronny had eagerly awaited for a long time.

It was an exquisite piece, acquired by paying a premium to a foreign artisan. Ronny had even utilized his connections with a talented decorator to secure it.

He knew Loretta, who loved pretty things, would definitely be delighted.

Ronny sat at the temporary work desk he had set up. Now was the time for the most crucial task.

As the host of the party, it was his job to write the names for the seating arrangements. He placed the thick cards he had prepared earlier in the center of the desk.

Then, he took a deep breath and picked up the pen.

“Young master?”

“Ah…!”

However, just as his concentration reached its peak, the door to the dining room, which had been firmly closed, cracked open slightly, and Melody’s voice was heard.

Startled, Ronny sprang from his seat and rushed towards the door.

He then peeked through the slightly opened door, making sure Melody couldn’t look inside.

“Don’t come in! And I don’t need milk!”

He blurted out as soon as he saw her, since that was usually her reason for seeking him out.

“I didn’t come because of the milk.”

“Then why?”

“I thought there might be something I could help with. You’ve been working nonstop since dawn.”

Touched by the genuine concern in her eyes, Ronny felt a bit proud.

“Well, thanks for the thought, but this is my task.”

“I understand, but still.”

“If you really want to help me, make sure Loretta’s curiosity doesn’t lead her to this room. It’s a secret that the interior decoration is spectacular.”

“She will love it.”

“Of course, I went through so much trouble to get the butterfly-patterned lace she likes…”

Ronny inadvertently spilled the beans before quickly shutting his mouth. Luckily, Melody didn’t press him on that matter.

“Anyway, don’t come in! Not even when the banquet is about to start, stay in your room.”

“Not come even when it’s about to start?”

“Exactly. You’re a guest of the banquet.”

That was odd. It didn’t make sense for a guest of the banquet to have to stay in their room.

Melody wore an expression of confusion, prompting Ronny to frown in frustration.

“You’re really a fool, Melody.”

“I’m smart.”

“Don’t make me laugh. If you were truly smart, you wouldn’t fail to understand what I just said.”

Was that so? But Ronny’s statement was odd from the start.

“Did you try on the banquet dress that arrived yesterday?”

“Yes, I did.”

“How was it?”

“It was pretty. I mean, the dress was, not me.”

“And?”

“It was a bit heavy. It’s long enough to cover my ankles.”

“Good. Now you get it?”

Despite the ample hints, Melody still looked utterly clueless.

“Does your brain only work when it’s making miserable thoughts?!”

“…?”

“The dress is long! What if you trip and fall while walking alone? You could get hurt!”

“Ah.”

Melody finally seemed to understand, lightly clasping her hands together.

“So, you were worried about me.”

Her conclusion left him gaping in disbelief, a reaction quite unbefitting of a duke’s son.

“Why would I worry about you! It’s the banquet I’m concerned about. A guest with a bruised nose would lower the event’s dignity.”

He grumbled and, perhaps feeling a bit tense, gripped the doorknob unnecessarily tight.

“So you.”

He then pretended to push the door closed, half-hiding his face behind it.

“Stay in your room until I come for you.”

Worrying about a guest was the host’s duty. Thus, Ronny greeting Melody was nothing but a natural procedure.

He couldn’t understand why he felt embarrassingly shy about it.

“Yes, I will.”

Melody obediently agreed, allowing Ronny to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Now go back. Don’t even think about coming here.”

Ronny quickly shut the door without waiting for another word from Melody, ensuring she wouldn’t insist on anything else.

He lightly touched his cheek, finding it oddly warm, much like someone feeling embarrassed.

‘Why does it turn out this way when all I did was issue a necessary warning? Is it because I’m sleepy?’

Thinking his reaction was odd, he returned to the makeshift desk.

Picking up the pen again, he started writing names on the white cards, focusing as deeply as possible.

First, he wrote the names of his father and mother, then the names of the four Baldwin siblings.

After that, he wrote Melody’s name and for the last remaining card…

‘Maybe I’ll leave it blank for now.’

Ronny laid out the cards to ensure the ink dried well, gazing intently at the names of his family members neatly lined up side by side.

 

***

 

The term banquet suits the evening better, but the situation changes when more than half of the attendees are ‘children’.

The Baldwin ducal family’s private banquet, held for the first time in eight years, began when the sun was at its highest.

The first to arrive at the banquet hall was Claude Baldwin, the eldest son.

On his way to the banquet hall, decorated frames showcasing his excellent grades were displayed, enough to make him feel embarrassed.

It’s not like he was a child, displaying grade reports on the wall!

“Congratulations, brother. Being the top of the class is really something to be proud of.”

Moreover, a brief bouquet presentation ceremony took place in front of those displays. Ronny handed it over on behalf of everyone, and the servants all applauded.

Of course, there was also a moment for Claude to share his thoughts.

“To escape this embarrassment, I’ll make sure to show a bit of struggle in the next exams.”

His embarrassed look was unfamiliar and amusing, making not only Ronny but also the servants laugh.

After Claude entered the banquet hall, Ronny went to pick up Loretta himself.

Of course, the mischievous girl couldn’t contain her curiosity with the laughter coming from outside and had already made her way to the hallway.

“I told you to wait in your room. What if you fall?!”

Ronny sprinted down the hallway to grab the child’s hand.

“Loretta won’t fall.”

“Still, you should wait for me. Which noble family’s lady marches forth without an escort?”

“The lady of Baldwin marches forth bravely.”

Loretta then proceeded to walk passionately, lifting her knees high with each step.

The yellow dress that hung below her knees fluttered with every movement.

She looked just like a fairy. A mischievous fairy at that.

“Big brother.”

Suddenly, Loretta grabbed his arm, pulling him to start a conversation.

“Why?”

“Loretta hears thump-thump here.”

The child, instead of pointing to her heart, fiddled with her small ear as she spoke.

“That’s not a sound from your ear. That’s the sound of your heart, filled with excitement.”

“But my ears keep thumping. Scary.”

Was it the awkwardness of her heart beating with anticipation? Loretta repeatedly fiddled with her ears.

Ronny paused to look directly at the child, placing a palm near his heart.

“Try this. You’ll be able to hear the sound in your ears with each heartbeat.”

“Like this?”

However, contrary to his intention, Loretta placed her hand over Ronny’s heart.

“…What are you trying to figure out by checking the speed of my heartbeat?”

He attempted to detach Loretta’s hand and place it over her own body, but suddenly, Loretta lifted her head and exclaimed brightly.

“It’s true! Exactly the same!”

“What?”

“When Ronny’s big brother’s heart throbs, Loretta’s ears thump too. We’re the same!”

Why was the similarity in their heartbeat speeds so delightful? The child pulled Ronny’s hand to place it over her heart, holding onto his hand as if embracing it.

“Right? It’s the same, isn’t it?”

Loretta asked with an excited voice before Ronny could even check if their hearts were indeed beating in unison.

“…Well, yes.”

“Now I’m not scared of the thump-thump sound. Because it’s the sound of big brother. So,”

Loretta finally let go of his hand and smiled broadly.

“Big brother shouldn’t be scared of the thump-thump sound either. Because it’s Loretta’s sound!”

Feeling better, the child once again started marching forward with her knees lifted high.

It was the brave march of the Lady of Baldwin.

 

***

 

The noble lady’s resolute march continued all the way to the entrance of the banquet hall.

As soon as she saw Claude waiting at the entrance, she ran towards him, yelling, “Big brother!” and hugged him tightly.

After that, she clung to Claude’s side, determined not to part from him.

After ensuring his sister’s safety, Ronny turned to see that the duke’s carriage had already arrived. He promptly went out to greet his father.

“Welcome back, Father.”

“Ronny.”

The duke first removed a small piece of paper stuck near Ronny’s shoulder, likely attached during the busy preparations for today’s banquet.

Then he straightened the twisted tie and smoothed out the wrinkled clothes.

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

Ronny felt embarrassed, thinking he didn’t quite fit the image of a duke’s son.

“I should be the one apologizing. I’ve been out while you’ve been working hard on this.”

“But Father is serving His Majesty the Emperor! I’m happy to be able to do Father’s work.”

“Thank you.”

A large hand stroked his head, and Ronny, enjoying the affection, smiled genuinely.