Chapter 89

 

***

 

“What? Why! Ho, do you perhaps have another candidate for family?”

“Uh-uh, there’s no other candidate for family.”

“Then why!”

“Because, I’ve decided to live together with Miss Loretta.”

“…….”

“I want to be by her side until she grasps eternal happiness. I’m, I’m not sure if the ducal family will continue to allow me but…….”

Perhaps Melody’s story might sound a bit odd to someone.

After all, it was about dedicating all her time for a girl she hadn’t known for long.

“Ah… I see.”

But surprisingly, Isaiah simply nodded as if he understood something.

“Don’t you think I’m strange?”

“What for?”

“That’s… because I want to make the lady happy on my own accord.”

“Why is that strange? I also think on my own accord that I want to make Mel happy. Isn’t that normal for everyone?”

…Is that so?

Hearing Isaiah’s words made it seem that way.

“I think it’s incredibly commendable that you’ve found such a person for yourself.”

He reached out his hands through the bars, as if trying to embrace Melody.

But as something white and steamy suddenly interjected between their fully extended arms, he quickly stepped back a few steps.

“Ah.”

Isaiah wasn’t the only one surprised. Melody was also startled and checked what was placed between them.

It was a thick cup of lemon tea and a tray.

“……?”

Melody and Isaiah turned their heads to see who was holding the tray.

“The weather is too cold for a meeting like this. Here, for both of you.”

With those words, Butler Higgins handed a warm cup to each of them.

“I’m sorry…”

When Melody apologized, he shook his head.

“No, no. It would be fine in another season, but now it’s winter.”

He then politely requested Isaiah, who stood outside the bars.

“Please, next time, could you meet Miss Melody in the drawing room? The cold is a dreadful sickness.”

“Uh, uh…”

As he hesitated, unable to find the words, Butler Higgins spoke again, as if to gently chide.

“Of course, as Miss Melody’s friend, you’re always welcome.”

Upon hearing this, Isaiah finally nodded with a bright face.

He had chosen this method because whenever he visited, Melody seemed unsure of herself, glancing around at those nearby.

“Understood… I’m sorry.”

“It’s truly fortunate you say so. Then, you’ll do the same when it’s not winter.”

“That, that would be the case, wouldn’t it?”

“I’m relieved. Mr. Mullern, you indeed value Miss Melody’s honor.”

“Of course.”

The atmosphere naturally flowed towards prohibiting secret meetings in the garden, regardless of the season.

Melody was newly impressed by Higgins’ eloquence. That stubborn Isaiah couldn’t help but nod.

She sincerely wanted to commend Butler Higgins’ greatness.

“Truly impressive… Achoo.”

Although a sneeze cut her off before she could finish.

“Wha, what?!”

Isaiah looked as if the sky had fallen at her sneeze.

“Let’s go back to the mansion right now.”

“Huh? But I…”

Although she wanted to say she was fine, Isaiah was adamant.

“No, it would be troublesome if you caught a cold!”

If that happened, Isaiah would be too worried about Melody to focus on his training.

“Today was my fault. I shouldn’t have let you stand out here. No, this isn’t the time… Let’s go inside, okay?”

He took a few steps as if to leave first. But then, he quickly came back to the bars and boldly drank all the lemon tea he had been holding.

“Thank you for the tea.”

Isaiah carefully placed the cup back on the tray over the bars and bowed slightly to Higgins.

“No need to thank me.”

Isaiah then turned around and started to run away at a fast pace.

“Isaiah! Don’t run! You’ll get hurt!”

Melody yelled after him. Especially since it had snowed a bit last night, leaving patches of ice here and there.

Instead of answering, Isaiah just waved his hand back and forth.

“Really, Isaiah is just…”

Always causing worry.

Melody sighed deeply while holding the warm cup.

Soon, Higgins, who was beside her, spoke with a smile.

“It seems Miss Melody will have a hard time if she becomes family with Mr. Mullern.”

“Right. My whole day goes by just worrying about Isaiah… Oh, did you hear that?”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help overhearing as I approached.”

“It was just a joke.”

“Well, from what I heard, it seemed quite sincere.”

Higgins started walking ahead, and Melody hurriedly followed by his side.

“That can’t be.”

“It must be the result of Mr. Mullern’s serious contemplation.”

“Even so, it’s strange for Isaiah to become my family. I can’t even imagine having a family to begin with.”

After all, she did have blood relatives, but she had parted from her only mother forever, and she didn’t even know who her father was.

Nor was she curious about it.

“Above all, I don’t want to be away from the lady’s side. Watching the happiness of the people in this mansion… I love it too much.”

And Melody took a sip of the warm lemon tea.

Higgins looked at her with slightly surprised eyes. Somehow, this girl’s mindset was just like…

“Whoa.”

But before he could finish his thought, Higgins slipped on the remaining snow on the ground and fell onto his buttocks.

 

***

 

Higgins wasn’t seriously hurt. His tailbone was sore enough to make sitting uncomfortable, but fortunately, he was told that he would recover after resting for a day.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault…”

Melody went to visit him and apologized.

“It’s not your fault, Miss Melody.”

“Still…”

“Then, may I ask you for a favor?”

Melody quickly nodded at Higgins’s request.

“Of course! I’ll be your hands and feet!”

“That’s reassuring to hear. First, could you please go to meet the Duke? It’s about time for the lady and the Duke to return.”

“Yes, I’ll do that. And I’ll also tell them about your situation.”

“I would be grateful if you did.”

Melody left his room with brisk steps.

Upon reaching the entrance, as she expected, she saw the Duke’s carriage approaching.

‘I wonder if Loretta had fun?’

Of course, since she was with her beloved father and watched an entertaining performance, she must have had a good time.

Surely, when the carriage stopped in front of the house, she would come out with a healthy smile and run excitedly towards Melody to share how perfect her day had been.

Soon, the carriage stopped, and the door opened.

As Melody and the servants bowed, the sound of two people getting off the carriage could be heard.

The two were holding hands tightly.

“Where’s Higgins?”

The Duke immediately asked for him, probably worried since the usual attendant was not in sight.

“That’s…”

Melody stepped forward to explain to the Duke what had happened. She told him that Higgins had fallen in the garden and was now resting in his room.

“He’s injured?!”

The Duke, shocked, carefully handed Loretta’s hand over to Melody and quickly went inside the mansion. The news about Higgins must have startled him greatly.

‘I couldn’t even tell him it was my fault.’

She thought she would need to speak with the Duke later to explain.

“Lady.”

Melody lowered herself slightly to the still present Loretta.

“Did you enjoy the performance?”

As she asked, the child gently nodded.

“……?”

But something was different from usual. Her eyes sparkled, indicating she must have enjoyed the performance, yet…

“Was there something uncomfortable at the performance?”

“Um……”

“What made you uncomfortable?”

“The sound.”

“……The sound?”

Was there a discordant note in the music or the singing?

But it was said to be an excellent performance, even attended by the Emperor.

“It sparkled.”

“The sound sparkled?”

“Yes, it exploded beautifully from the big ceiling, bang, bang, like this.”

Loretta fidgeted with her hands, mimicking the sound “papang, paang” a few more times.

It was a cute sound, but Melody couldn’t understand what it meant and just slightly tilted her head in confusion.

Seeing this, Loretta eventually shook her head.

“Um, never mind.”

“Lady?”

“If Melody was there with me……”

Perhaps she meant that if Melody had been there, she would have understood what Loretta was trying to describe.

“I’m sorry.”

As Melody apologized, Loretta shook her head vehemently.

“……Loretta wanted to show it to Melody too. The sparkling.”

The child said regretfully and then followed the maid back to her room.

Normally, she would have taken Melody’s hand and walked to her room together, but maybe she didn’t do so because she was feeling upset.

‘I’m sorry, Loretta.’

Melody silently apologized, watching the child’s retreating back.