Chapter 144

 

* * *

 

It was extremely rare for Mrs. Higgins to personally demonstrate her culinary skills, so Melody tilted her head in puzzlement.

“Could we be having guests over today…?”

“I have not heard anything about that.”

“Well, thank you for letting me know anyway.”

Melody quickly made her way to the kitchen. Usually a place bustling with chefs and servants, it was strangely quiet now.

The servant’s information about Mrs. Higgins being in the kitchen seemed accurate. Everyone revered her deeply, so whenever she undertook a task, the others would either assist or try to keep their distance as much as possible.

Today, most of the servants appeared to have chosen the latter option, judging by the eerie stillness of the kitchen.

Melody entered the kitchen and spotted Mrs. Higgins’ back facing her. Her appearance was not much different from usual – tightly upswept pure white hair, an elegant dark-colored dress, and ramrod straight posture.

Even while doing kitchen work, not a single part of her bearing seemed out of place.

‘I wonder what she’s doing?’

Curiosity piqued, Melody slowly approached from behind. A rhythmic tapping sound could be heard.

“Um…Mother?”

When Melody called out with a trembling voice, Mrs. Higgins’ hands paused briefly. But soon she resumed whatever task she had been doing, the tapping resuming.

Not receiving even a reply, Melody felt a bit dejected.

‘What should I do?’

After a moment’s contemplation, she decided to start by offering to assist her mother first. Being together might allow her to better gauge Mrs. Higgins’ mood and perhaps find an opportunity to apologize.

With her resolve firmed, Melody cautiously took another step forward. But before her foot could fully land, a sharp voice halted her.

“Don’t come any closer!”

Startled, Melody unconsciously dropped the cream jar she had been holding, letting it tumble from her feet.

“Ow!”

To make matters worse, it struck a corner on the way down, causing Melody to inadvertently sink to the floor as well.

Cradling her pained foot with one hand and the fallen jar in the other, Melody’s face contorted.

“Haah.”

Soon, a dark shadow loomed over her head. Looking up, she saw Mrs. Higgins peering down at her with a horrified expression, having likely rushed over after hearing something drop.

“Good heavens, child…”

As Mrs. Higgins leaned down to examine Melody’s foot, a shriek rang out.

“Are you alright?!”

Maids who had heard the commotion came hurrying over. At that very moment, the concerned look on Mrs. Higgins’ face hardened, as if remembering something. She abruptly spun around, turning her back to Melody.

“Mo…ther?”

Despite Melody’s calls, Mrs. Higgins did not turn back with a worried gaze. She simply returned to the counter and resumed rhythmically preparing the ingredients.

“……”

“Take Melody back to her room.”

Her curt order was soon followed by the maids supporting Melody by her arms.

Melody glanced back at Mrs. Higgins several times with lingering regret. There were still things she wished to say.

But all she could see was her mother’s back, growing more distant.

“Miss, let’s head back to your room. We’ll check if your foot is alright.”

At the maid’s gentle urging, Melody could only nod in resignation.

The only new thing Melody learned as she was led away was that her mother had been peeling summer potatoes, a trivial fact in the grand scheme of her troubles.

 

* * *

 

Back in her room, Melody removed her shoes and socks to find her foot swelling where it had struck the cream jar’s corner. The maids quickly brought a cold compress to place over the inflamed area.

Melody felt miserable being confined to her room yet again. How could she go and apologize to her mother like this?

“What should I do…?”

She leaned back against the sofa with a deep sigh.

“Ah, that’s right. Miss, just a moment.”

The maid seemed to remember something, clapping her hands before hurrying off somewhere. When she returned, she carried a small silver tray holding several letters.

“These letters arrived for you while you were away, Miss. There are more, but those can only be delivered after Lady Higgins’ approval.”

“Letters…for me?”

Melody’s surprised question made the maid nod firmly.

“But who would send me letters…?”

It was not an unreasonable thought. Despite being the daughter of a noble Higgins family, Melody had not cultivated close relationships with other prominent households.

It was quite an unconventional path compared to most capital nobles her age, who often had marriage prospects lined up already, though Melody had never given such matters any thought herself.

“Could it be about that exam I took recently?”

As Melody kept guessing, the maid extended the tray closer, as if urging her to open them already. A delighted smile graced the maid’s face, as if knowing Melody would be pleased to receive these letters.

Melody picked up all three envelopes, realizing they were from the same sender.

“From Father…to me?”

The maid nodded at Melody’s surprised look.

“Yes, they’re from the butler. Aren’t you glad?”

Melody vigorously nodded in response. She had indeed been privately worrying about his wellbeing after not seeing him for several weeks.

Quickly opening the letters, Melody found not only updates on the butler’s situation in the duchy, but stories about the Duke as well. Though the contents were not very lengthy, likely penned whenever he could find time amidst his busyness, just seeing his neat handwriting brought immense relief.

“Was there some good news written inside?”

“Hm?”

“Your expression brightened so much.”

Melody shook her head slightly at the maid’s remark.

“No, I’m just happy to see Father’s writing again, that’s all.”

If anything truly troubling had occurred, even briefly corresponding like this may have been difficult.

“I’m relieved he seems to be doing well.”

“My apologies.”

The maid suddenly offered her apology, surprising Melody.

“For what?”

“For delivering the butler’s letters so late when you were clearly concerned about him, Miss.”

“Oh no!”

Melody quickly waved a dismissive hand. While she would have preferred receiving the letters sooner, she did not want to blame the maid.

“I’m just glad Father’s letters arrived at all. At least it will have put Mother’s mind somewhat at ease…”

Melody trailed off with a sigh midway through her thought.

‘Come to think of it…’

Before following Claude to Kristonson, Melody had left a note for Mrs. Higgins as well. Or rather, it could hardly be called more than a perfunctory notification that read:

‘I will be visiting Kristonson.’

Since that day, Melody had only been fixated on the thought of being scolded by her mother upon return. The notion that she might have deeply worried her mother had not really crossed her mind at all.

Was that why, despite their travels, she had not sent a single reassurance that they were journeying safely or had arrived without incident?

‘Good heavens…’

Melody sprang up from her seat in dismay. The compress on her foot tumbled to the floor, but she paid it no mind at the moment.

‘What have I done!’

Her regretful realizations kept coming. Melody recalled how the candle Mrs. Higgins had been holding the previous night was nearly melted away to nothing.

Perhaps her mother had kept vigil with that candle, awaiting Melody’s return or any communication from her, staying up night after sleepless night.

‘Come to think of it, she did look utterly exhausted…’

Without a moment’s delay, Melody hurried out of her room. The confused maid called out “Miss?” from behind, but she did not look back.

Soon she was running down the hallway barefoot, making loud thumping sounds. Upon reaching the kitchen, she found Mrs. Higgins in the middle of cleaning up.

“Mother!”

At Melody’s urgent cry, Mrs. Higgins lifted her head with a furrowed brow.

“It seems you have forgotten another lesson about the importance of your feet.”

“I was wrong!”

Melody quickly offered her most important words first, deeply bowing her head.

But Mrs. Higgins did not respond at all.

“Without permission, I secretly went to Kristonson…”

However, as soon as Melody got that far, Mrs. Higgins quietly placed a hand on her shoulder. Startled, Melody looked up to find her mother with a finger pressed to her lips, gesturing for silence.

‘Why…?’

Confused by her intentions, Melody glanced around as Mrs. Higgins indicated with her eyes. Several maids had approached their vicinity.

‘The servants think I visited Mother’s maternal family…’

“Follow me.”

At Mrs. Higgins’ words as she passed by, Melody quickly fell into step behind her. But after just a few paces, her mother paused and turned back briefly.

“…?”

In the short moment Melody flinched back slightly, Mrs. Higgins lifted her chin and issued some instruction to a nearby maid. Soon, a pair of indoor slippers was placed before Melody.

“Ah.”

Realizing her mother’s intentions, Melody quickly slipped them on. Only after confirming both feet were properly shod did Mrs. Higgins turn away again.

Melody gave a small nod of gratitude to the maid before following Mrs. Higgins once more. Their destination was her mother’s room.

“Close the door and have a seat.”

Melody gingerly sat on the sofa her mother indicated. She hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate for someone coming to apologize to make themselves so comfortable. But refusing her mother’s offer also felt improper.

“……”

This time, Mrs. Higgins stood with her back facing the room, looking out the window instead. Melody’s gaze alternated between her mother’s back and the armchair she usually occupied, before her eyes dropped dejectedly to the floor.

She had always loved entering this room in the past. Of course, some people referred to Mrs. Higgins as a frightening person. Melody had been afraid of her too, initially.

But after realizing how kindhearted her mother truly was, Melody had come to cherish the times spent together in this space.

Whenever Mrs. Higgins knitted or read in her armchair, Melody would leisurely pass the time on the plush carpet laid out below, sometimes pretending to help by holding the yarn ball until she dozed off.

‘…But now.’

Being together only brought awkwardness, entirely due to Melody’s own actions.

‘I need to apologize.’

With a resolute expression, Melody lifted her head, intending to finally address the truly important matter at hand.