Chapter 110

 

***

 

“But wouldn’t it be a problem if you give Miss Higgins a sleeping apple?”

“Why?”

“Well.”

The maid first handed Loretta a small cut apple, adhering to the young lady’s snack time, an important part of her duties.

Loretta crunched on the apple with her small mouth, waiting for the maid to continue.

“Miss Higgins has a lot of studies she wants to do up until the exam. If she falls into a deep sleep, she might not achieve her goals, right?”

“Yes, that’s a valid point.”

Loretta didn’t want to interfere with Melody’s studies.

“But… what if Melody, deprived of sleep, becomes ill?”

Just the thought seemed to upset Loretta, as she made a sorrowful face.

“I really hate employment exams.”

She gulped down the apple and muttered softly.

“Melody should just stay by my side… forever.”

Loretta envisioned becoming a splendid adult who could protect and make Melody happy.

But since Melody didn’t seem to want such a life, Loretta had no choice but to support her in her own way.

“I just want Melody to be happy.”

Despite saying this, Loretta looked longingly at the apple in front of her, unable to let go of her wish for a magical sleeping apple.

“But, after thinking it over, it seems better that such an apple doesn’t exist, miss.”

“Why?”

“Well,”

The maid smiled shyly, her cheeks in her palms.

“Because there are too many princes in this world who would want to wake Miss Higgins.”

The story might sound somewhat enchanting, yet Loretta responded in a calm voice.

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Wha, what?! It doesn’t matter?!”

The maid’s eyes widened, assuming it was something Loretta would strongly dislike.

“Yes. Besides, I already knew.”

“You knew?”

“Because Melody is smart and beautiful. Only a fool wouldn’t like her.”

“And still, you thought about giving her a magical apple?”

To her question, Loretta turned with a confident smile, as if there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

“There’s no way I’d lose in a competition for Melody.”

“Ah…”

Involuntarily, the maid opened her mouth wide and nodded.

Indeed, if such a situation were to arise, it was clear that Loretta Baldwin would not lose, no matter what.

“You treasure Miss Melody more than anyone else.”

“Yes, she’s very precious! My favorite. Melody is always the best!”

The child answered with the happiest smile, popping the last piece of apple into her mouth.

 

***

 

When Loretta finished her snack time, Melody happened to visit her room.

“Melody!”

Loretta quickly ran over and hugged her neck tightly.

“Hello, Loretta.”

The name Melody used for Loretta was once “Miss.”

There was an unavoidable distinction in status between them at that time.

However, now they could comfortably call each other by their first names, just as when they first met.

This was thanks to Melody becoming “Miss Higgins.”

The nobles of the capital allowed such informal titles once they became close enough.

“Did you sleep well? Nothing special happened?”

Although they had only been apart for a single night, Melody closely inspected Loretta’s condition and asked.

“Yes. Nothing happened.”

“That’s a relief.”

Melody sighed softly with relief.

Watching Loretta grow up was a joyous occasion, but it also brought its worries.

‘Someday, the power of Physis will awaken.’

Of course, that was a story for several years down the line…

Still, there were times when Melody worried if the precursors would appear earlier than expected.

6 years ago, one night, Melody had revealed the existence of the ‘original work’ as ‘records’ to the duke, including the fact that Loretta was Physis.

She was the only being capable of offering her a ‘normal life,’ due to her sad fate.

And about the male protagonist, ‘Augustus.’

The duke didn’t fully believe her words from the start.

Especially regarding the method to stabilize Physis, he asked very cautiously, ‘Can it really be resolved that way?’

To gain his trust, Melody willingly shared some future events she knew about, and together with the duke, they observed whether they would come true.

Most of them did happen as Melody had described.

Such as the Tower Master being sent on a long business trip to the provinces, making Jeremiah work hard at the Tower.

Or Ronny getting caught in an old trap at the hunting contest along with the crown prince.

(Even the episode at the hunting contest, which was dangerous, happened despite the duke’s specific warning to Ronny not to go to unauthorized areas.)

Ridiculously, even the minor episode where the emperor shaved off his beard, charmed by Loretta’s cuteness, happened just as told.

However, there were times when the original work deviated slightly.

Especially in cases involving Melody.

For some reason, in the story where Claude takes Loretta to a ball, Melody ends up taking Loretta’s place. It really happened quite by accident.

Because of this, Melody had to deal with the ‘nasty looks of the nobles’ meant for Loretta at the ball, which, for Melody, was a good thing.

…But the slight deviation from the original work left her feeling uneasy.

What if, as things continued, early precursors began to appear around Loretta?

Like a teacup breaking on its own or a window shaking on a windless day.

“Melody.”

Suddenly called by Loretta, Melody quickly smiled.

“Yes?”

“Did anything happen to you?”

“Of course not. I studied as usual.”

“As usual?”

Loretta repeated the phrase, looking a bit sad. Was there a problem?

“Yes. Why? Do you have any concerns?”

At her question, Loretta shook her head vigorously.

“No… Not really.”

The child seemed to have something to say as her lips moved hesitantly, but she ended up smiling brightly.

“By the way, Melody.”

“Yes?”

“Are you going out somewhere? You’re dressed so prettily. Like a princess.”

Melody laughed at the exaggerated expression. Loretta, who made such a comment, was no different from a real princess herself.

“Chuckle, yes. Actually, I was planning to go to the library.”

Melody told her that Ronny had taken on the task of returning the books on her behalf.

This had freed up some of her time, so she came to visit Loretta.

“It’s been a while since Brother Ronny did something gentlemanly. So, are you going back to study now?”

“Uh, no.”

“Then?”

“I’m going to the Tower.”

The Tower? A place entirely unrelated to her exams made Loretta tilt her head slightly.

“Why there?”

“I’ve arranged to meet with Lord Jeremiah today.”

“With my brother?! Why?!”

“Yes, he seems to have some business.”

“Ha… But, Melody, your exam is tomorrow. It’s a very important exam.”

Loretta said and then clapped her hands lightly with an “Ah.”

It occurred to her that Jeremiah might not know about Melody’s exam.

The kind-hearted Melody must have been unable to tell him directly.

“I’ll write a letter to Brother. Saying Melody can’t go out because of her exam!”

“It’s okay. The appointment was made before the exam date was announced.”

“But if you overdo it, you’ll be too tired to properly take the exam.”

Loretta disliked the exams that troubled Melody, but she hated the idea of Melody failing them even more.

She knew how hard Melody had worked for this exam.

“I’ll be fine.”

Just then, the maid who followed Melody brought over a summer hat for going out.

“…Still.”

As Loretta hesitated, Melody bent her knees to meet her gaze.

“I’m  just helping with a simple experiment. It won’t take long.”

“An experiment with Melody! I really hate Brother.”

Loretta grumbled but still carefully adjusted the ribbon on Melody’s hat.

“Promise me, you won’t overdo it?”

Melody nodded easily at the concern-filled request.

“Of course. Tomorrow’s exam is really important to me.”

Melody glanced at her watch for a moment.

“Loretta, you have classes starting soon, right?”

“Yes.”

“I hope your class time is enjoyable.”

“Of course, it will be. Loretta is smart… uh.”

Loretta started to say ‘because I’m smart!’ out of habit but then hesitated and closed her mouth. She remembered the terrible score she had received on a recent test.

Nobody had scolded her, but Loretta was still holding onto it in her heart.

“Loretta.”

Melody hugged the hesitating child tightly.

“Don’t be upset.”

“…But.”

Loretta buried her head into Melody’s shoulder.

“I’m actually not smart.”

“Hmm.”

Melody patted Loretta’s back and, after a moment’s thought, offered her honest feelings slowly.

“I like Loretta.”

“Huh?”

“I like you so much that you always seem smart and cute to me.”

Melody slightly pulled away and held Loretta’s cheeks in her hands, as if she was the most precious thing in the world.

“I think you’ll always appear that way in my eyes.”

“But… you might be disappointed if I’m not smart. Because Melody is… incredibly smart.”

“Me, smart?”

At the question, the child nodded fervently.

“But I’m also not confident about doing well on tomorrow’s exam. If I fail tomorrow’s exam, would you be disappointed in me for not being smart?”

“No. Melody, you’ve worked so hard. Regardless of the result, that’s impressive.”

“Thank you for thinking that way.”

Melody smiled broadly.

“I always think Loretta, who always tries her best, is amazing too. Regardless of the result.”

“Huh…”

“I’ll continue to like any version of Loretta, hoping only for your happiness.”

Touched by the affection, Loretta stretched out her arms and hugged Melody tightly.

“I’ll also continue to like Melody! No matter what, I’ll make you happy!”

“You already have.”

Everything Melody was enjoying now was almost a gift from Loretta.

If it weren’t for her insistence on going together to the duke’s house, nothing would have happened to Melody in the first place.

“No.”

But Loretta shook her head vigorously, still holding onto Melody tightly.

“Melody can be much, much happier.”

The child, insisting stubbornly, hugged Melody even tighter.

“Thank you.”

It was always nice to feel someone’s kind heart.