Chapter 95

 

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“My intentions?” Melody asked, but the Duke did not answer immediately and led her to his office instead.

As she sat on the plush sofa, beautifully cut apple pie and warm milk were placed before her.

“…!”

Why did such things appear at a crucial moment?

Melody looked at the tempting slice of pie with resentful eyes.

Back in the village.

When the cool season arrived, each household would make apple pies and cool them on the windowsill.

However, Melody’s mother never made such things, so the girl could only enjoy the sweetness of the apples and the bitterness of the cinnamon through her nose.

But now, right here, that apple pie had appeared.

And it was even more excellently made than the ones she saw in the village.

Melody naturally swallowed her saliva.

‘No.’

No matter how enticing the neatly laid apple slices on the pie were, she must not be swayed by it.

She had come before the Duke for an important conversation.

‘The conversation comes first, apple pie later.’

She managed to regain her composure, but the hungry eyes of a growing girl kept drifting towards the sweet pie.

Before she knew it, her small fist was tightly holding a fork ready to dive into the pie.

“…?”

The Duke watched Melody, who looked perplexed holding the fork.

Trying hard to gaze at the pie with unfocused eyes while swallowing saliva excessively was just too cute.

He briefly pressed a hand to his forehead to hide his smiling face.

“…Go ahead and eat. We can talk afterward.”

At his words, Melody’s hand darted towards the pie almost instinctively.

She shoved a large piece of the pie into her mouth and began to chew with a blissful expression.

“Ah.”

But sensing that something was amiss, she glanced at the Duke and slowly put down her fork, even though half of the pie was still left.

The Duke recalled the report from the banquet that Ronny had prepared last time.

According to his son’s accurate investigation, Melody tends not to eat her favorite foods heartily and saves them very carefully.

“Eat more.”

The Duke pushed a piece of pie from in front of him towards Melody.

“If you eat it all now, I’ll make sure there’s more for you to eat tomorrow.”

He would have liked to give her several large pies right away, but considering the child’s health, that did not seem like a good idea.

“…But.”

Melody looked at him with a face trying to suppress her anticipation.

“You said you had something to tell me.”

“Time may not make my words run away, but it will lessen the taste of the pie. The pie comes first.”

Is that so? Melody had never compared the taste of an old pie to that of a freshly made one.

But not wanting to spoil the rare opportunity to enjoy the apple pie, she picked up the fork again.

“Drink some milk, too.”

The Duke leaned back in his chair and waited leisurely for the child’s snack time to end.

Melody glanced at him a few times at first, but soon she was completely engrossed in the apple pie.

The fact that she was busily chewing without realizing cinnamon powder was stuck to her lips confirmed it.

Watching her, the Duke felt anew the joy of parenting.

Offering something to children and observing their reactions was always enjoyable.

Moreover, sometimes he was lucky enough to encounter their liking for something unexpected.

It could be said to be the greatest privilege a guardian could receive as a reward for their care.

“It’s really delicious.”

Perhaps worried by the excessive silence, Melody swallowed the pie and spoke to him with a healthy smile.

“That’s good.”

He replied calmly, but in fact, he felt a pang of guilt.

Wondering if it was okay for him to enjoy this privilege of parenting.

In fact, he had heard some unsettling news when he stopped by Higgins’s room last time.

“It seems Miss Melody and a boy from a vassal family have encountered each other. It appears he dared to say something unpleasant.”

It was not certain that the boy was from a vassal family.

But given that someone recognized Melody alone, without anyone from the Duke’s household around, and even went so far as to say something that hurt her feelings, it seemed almost certain.

If it were a noble from the capital who knew of Melody’s existence, they wouldn’t likely want to upset the Duke on purpose.

‘It must be because I have delayed in providing a proper place for this child.’

The Duke felt a heavy heart, thinking this incident was solely his fault.

‘In truth, I had anticipated that such a day would come.’

The remarkable girl named Melody had brought a vitality to the Duke’s household that had never been there before.

Therefore, the Duke did not want to rashly disturb this delicate balance.

‘In the end, I…’

Had used this little girl. For the peace of the Duke’s household.

No, solely for his own pleasure.

Therefore, it was right for him not to casually covet the position of Melody’s guardian.

Just as his wife had done for their children, and the woman he met in prison had done for her baby.

For the future of the girl named Melody.

“…Duke?”

Hearing her softly call out, he looked up to find Melody, who had finished the pie, staring at him intently.

With pie crumbs even on her lips.

“…I didn’t know you liked apple pie this much.”

The Duke pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the crumbs from the child’s lips.

“Ah. So, sorry.”

The girl replied, her face turning red.

“I had learned to eat gracefully…”

“I know.”

But it meant she had enjoyed the pie so much that she forgot about that.

“You’ll be able to eat like that next time.”

Only after wiping away every speck of cinnamon did the Duke straighten up.

“So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“Eh?”

“I remember you saying at the entrance earlier that you had something to tell me.”

At his question, Melody appeared noticeably flustered. It seemed she was unsure where to begin the conversation.

“Then, may I speak first until your thoughts are organized?”

At his suggestion, Melody naturally nodded.

“Thank you.”

And then he bowed his head.

Melody thought there must be something troubling the Duke. Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to bow his head in front of her.

However, her expectation was completely off the mark.

“I’m sorry.”

He had bowed his head to apologize.

“…What?!”

Melody was taken aback by the sudden apology, as well as his formality.

“Why? Why?!”

“Because.”

When the Duke finally raised his head, his face felt somewhat melancholy.

“I knew you needed a proper legal guardian, yet I’ve neglected that until now.”

“Ah…”

Melody opened her mouth slightly as she looked at him, then cautiously asked a question.

“Did you… hear?”

“Yes, Higgins spoke by my command, so I hope you don’t blame him.”

“Blame?”

Melody shook her head vigorously.

“I know I shouldn’t dare to do such a thing.”

“Melody.”

He called her in a tone that seemed like a reprimand, but the girl didn’t seem to want to change her statement.

“You told me to speak up if there was trouble, but I couldn’t muster the courage.”

“It’s just that I failed to be a trustworthy adult.”

“No, that’s not it. You’re the one who’s been protecting Miss Loretta perfectly.”

“…Really.”

The Duke was concerned that Melody’s heart was so focused on Loretta’s safety, seemingly unaware of what the actual problem was.

“I…”

The Duke gazed intently into Melody’s eyes, putting a bit more strength into his words.

“I want to talk about protecting you.”

Melody’s eyes wavered for a moment, and the Duke extended a stack of documents he had prepared. On one side was a ‘yellow’ marker. Inferring from what Ronny had mentioned once, it seemed these were documents that had been ‘pending.’

“This is…….”

“The list of those who have expressed a wish to adopt you.”

Of course, not all families that had expressed an interest in adoption were included in it. The Duke had personally left only those he deemed appropriate, considering their character and circumstances.

“I just want to hear your opinion, so it would be better if you read it without feeling pressured.”

Melody stared blankly at the documents placed in front of her and then verified one fact.

“What will happen to me if I’m adopted?”

“Your adoptive parents will fully integrate you into noble society. They will firmly protect you so you don’t have to go through unpleasant experiences like last time. And I will not take my eyes off you.”

“But if that happens…… I can’t be here anymore.”

“Indeed.”