Chapter 127

 

* * *

 

But why hadn’t he said anything to Melody until now? The fact that he had found his biological mother might even prove the existence of the male protagonist, August. Melody scrutinized the duke’s expression, wondering if there had been a reason he hadn’t shared such news until now.

“What happened…?”

Despite her anxious question, the duke found it difficult to answer immediately. After a lengthy silence, he finally spoke.

“She was executed.”

“…What?”

Melody’s surprise was understandable; this detail was never mentioned in the original work. All she had heard about August’s mother was that she had run far away, never to be seen again.

Executed…

“That means, perhaps.”

Melody thought about the horrifying truth that might lie beyond.

“Does it mean… the emperor might already know?”

“I’m not sure. It’s reckless to jump to conclusions.”

The duke let out a low sigh.

“It might simply be a punishment for deserting her post. But we cannot ignore the possibility of the worst-case scenario.”

“So, the reason you didn’t tell me about this was…”

“We may need to observe His Majesty’s actions for a while.”

Moving carelessly here could also subject the ducal family to unnecessary suspicion. Although Loretta had somewhat thawed the emperor’s frozen heart, he remained merciless towards traitors. If it became known that the ducal family was secretly meeting with Prince Samuel, it would be grounds for such suspicion.

“So, Melody. We must be cautious for the time being.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

Melody nodded slightly.

 

* * *

 

In fact, Loretta had recently been severely reprimanded by her father. It was because she had gone to the mage tower without her guardian’s permission the last time. Although she was a gentle daughter who would listen to anything her father said, this time she simply could not accept his words.

“Do you think that makes any sense?”

Loretta burst out with her complaints in the carriage, poking her head out towards the coachman’s seat.

The young coachman, with a bewildered face, glanced at her and then hesitantly nodded.

“It’s unfair to make a rule that I can’t go to the mage tower!”

The girl started the same argument she had repeated about six times before. The resigned coachman nodded, saying, “Yes, that’s right.”

“All my brothers go in and out of the mage tower.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“And yet, I can’t. That’s discrimination, and it’s the worst thing a parent can do to their child!”

After shouting this, Loretta slumped back against the seat.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean my father is the worst. I love my father.”

“Yes, Miss. The duke is always the finest gentleman.”

“Right!”

Loretta clapped her hands and then stuck her face out towards the coachman’s seat again.

The startled coachman pleaded, “Please sit properly, Miss,” but it was to no avail.

“How strange is it that my father, a gentleman, forbids me from visiting the mage tower without a proper explanation?”

“Perhaps he’s worried about you, Miss. The mage tower is a dangerous place.”

The coachman glanced up at the distant, bizarrely shaped mage tower. Black smoke rising from one of the windows suggested that someone had caused an accident again today.

“If I had children, I wouldn’t let them anywhere near that place.”

Hearing his words, Loretta shook her head vigorously.

“Then, what about my brothers or Melody?”

They could come and go from the mage tower as long as they had permission.

“Well.”

Faced with Loretta’s stubborn words, the coachman could not provide an answer.

Indeed, her words did have some merit.

It was strange for the duke, who always provided generous bonuses fairly to all servants, to discriminate in matters concerning his beloved children.

“…It is strange, indeed.”

“Right? It’s not just because I’m going through puberty and want to rebel against my father’s words, is it?”

“Excuse me?”

The coachman almost jerked the reins in surprise at her astonishing question.

Luckily, he quickly regained his composure, preventing any mishap.

Perhaps displeased by his startled reaction, Loretta frowned and replied,

“That’s the thing. It was the first time in my whole life I couldn’t understand my father’s words.”

“Your whole life? Miss, you are only eleven years old.”

“Children and the elderly can both equally use the word ‘lifetime.’ It just refers to the entire time one has lived, doesn’t it?”

Since her argument sounded somewhat plausible, the coachman ended up conceding to Loretta’s logic once again.

“I see. You mean you can’t understand the duke’s words.”

“Yes. Thanks for understanding. Please continue to take good care of me.”

The coachman looked around the inside of the carriage with a gloomy expression at her response.

“But even so, how can we just disobey the duke’s orders like this?”

The carriage they were in was heading towards the mage tower, from which smoke was still billowing.

The coachman checked the tower once more and then turned back to Loretta.

“Miss, please reconsider your command. If it’s discovered we went to the mage tower secretly, you’ll be in big trouble!”

“It’s fine. At least for the next month, it won’t be known to my father.”

Her confident statement was based on a simple fact: the duke had joined the emperor’s provincial tour.

Naturally, his right-hand man, Higgins, would also accompany him.

Loretta, who was exceptionally clever with schemes, realized that now was a “very good time.”

It was an opportunity to uncover the reason her father had forbidden the mage tower and to warn Jeremiah not to use Melody as a test subject recklessly.

Thus, she approached the most accommodating servant and threatened (or persuaded) him to take her to the mage tower, saying, “If you won’t take me, I’ll walk there myself,” and managed to get the carriage to head there.

“However, the day Mrs. Higgins finds out, I’ll be in big trouble.”

Despite his whining, the coachman moved the carriage towards the mage tower, and Loretta nodded in satisfaction.

“Yes, don’t worry. I’ll hire and protect you for life.”

“That’s very kind of you, but…”

With a face as if his heart was about to break, he looked back at Loretta, who stretched out one hand straight forward and shouted,

“Keep your eyes on the road when driving the carriage!”

“Ah!”

That was a very important law for anyone driving a carriage. Violating it could even result in a fine, so the coachman quickly corrected his posture.

However, when the mage tower came into view again, he couldn’t help but blurt out his fearful thoughts.

“I’m going to die. Mrs. Higgins is going to whip my slender waist with a catalog…”

Despite his heartfelt plea, the only response coming from behind was singular.

“Keep your eyes on the road!”

“Miss!”

“Attention! Keep your eyes on the road!”

The coachman remembered the promise Loretta had made to him just a moment ago.

“Don’t worry. I’ll hire and protect you for life.”

Lifetime employment was the dream of all servants, but somehow…

…he felt the urge to run away from this miss as soon as possible.

 

* * *

 

Shortly after, the carriage safely arrived at the mage tower.

Loretta, though an uninvited guest without a prior appointment, stepped down from the carriage with great confidence.

“What should I do now?”

Asked by the coachman, Loretta smiled and answered,

“Just wait here until I finish my business.”

Then, she opened the bulging bag hanging near her waist.

Curious about what was inside, the coachman watched intently as she took something out.

“Have some of these while you wait.”

Out of her bag came salty snacks, which the coachman was very fond of.

Perhaps she had prepared them on purpose.

“Oh, miss…”

He accepted them, touched, and Loretta responded with a very sweet smile.

“You always have a hard time because of me. I at least know what you like and dislike. I’ll bring you more later. Okay?”

“Ah, really.”

He pressed his hand to his heart, deeply moved. He had served various nobles before, but never had a lady who cared for him like this.

“I will ensure to keep my eyes forward and serve you comfortably for life, miss.”

“Yes! I’ll employ you for life.”

Loretta nodded with satisfaction and then headed straight into the mage tower.

The coachman, munching happily on the snacks she had packed for him, was so content that he forgot about his recent resolution to ‘run away from the miss.’