Chapter 155

 

* * *

 

Regarding Claude Baldwin’s handsomeness or the unfamiliar feeling she had when her hand touched his shoulder before…

Despite her continued gaze, he did not particularly urge Melody on. He simply curled up the corners of his lips in a faint smile.

For some reason, it seemed like he was permitting her to “Look more if you’d like.”

Feeling embarrassed that her desire to keep looking had been noticed, Melody quickly averted her eyes back to his ear.

She also needed to hurry. It would be troublesome if the lamp illuminating the surroundings ran out of fuel.

Melody gripped his ear to steady it, applying a bit of force with her other hand.

The sharpened tip pierced his skin, soon puncturing through with a slight ‘pop’ sensation.

Melody carefully withdrew her hand.

“Did it… go well? How does it feel?”

Despite her question, he only responded with an ambiguous smile, prompting Melody to immediately pout.

“I’m sorry, it must have hurt a lot.”

Claude had been about to honestly reply that it didn’t hurt at all. But then he stopped himself, thinking it would be better to just say it hurt for now.

If he claimed it was fine, the diligent Melody would likely insist on piercing the outer cartilage too while maintaining this close proximity.

‘And if that happened…’

He lowered his gaze slightly.

With her focus still intently on his ear, Melody’s small lips were parted ever so slightly.

The warmth of her breath tickled against his face through that gap.

Would it be rude to entertain somewhat different thoughts about the person striving so diligently for his sake?

But it was quite difficult to banish those kinds of thoughts altogether.

The close distance was an issue, but more than anything, the fingers caressing his ear were excruciatingly gentle.

‘……’

If he extended his arm just a bit, he might be able to pull Melody fully into an embrace.

He moved the hand resting near his thigh to firmly grip the  chair’s armrest instead.

Claude quite trusted his own restraint usually… No, he didn’t trust it at all. Soon shaking his head, he responded,

“Yes, it’s a bit… painful.”

He hoped she might take even a single step back, any bit of distance would help.

“Should I disinfect the area again? There’s some bleeding. Just a moment.”

Claude let out a troubled sigh.

He had lied about it being painful because of the overly close proximity. Yet somehow her response was to dote on him even more attentively instead.

“The outer cartilage area should probably be pierced after taking some pain medicine.”

As she straightened her posture to say that, the lamp dimly illuminating the room started flickering slightly.

“And we’ll need more fuel too. I’ll go get some.”

Melody turned to hurry out somewhat hastily.

In an instant, the distance between them widened – the very distance Claude had just been hoping for.

But he found himself unconsciously extending his arm regardless.

“…A bit longer.”

The wrist his hand caught felt extremely cold. Or perhaps it was simply his own hand that was burning hot.

Was that why?

The light grip he had intended to hold her back with unintentionally tightened.

Enough to pull her body back towards him, collapsing into his torso like an embrace.

“…?!”

Having not meant to go that far at all, Claude looked at her with a startled expression, intending to quickly apologize.

But at the very moment he parted his lips, the precariously flickering lamp chose that instant to extinguish completely, plunging them into darkness.

“……”

In the abrupt dimness, Claude was struck by an absurd notion.

As if the entire world had vanished, leaving just the two of them behind.

Unable to see anything in the pitch blackness, the only thing he could feel or grasp was Melody, prompting that ridiculous perception.

It was a pathetic thought, yet he didn’t find the idea entirely unpleasant.

“…Are you alright?”

Then, a concerned voice came from within his arms.

For a moment, Claude contemplated the meaning of that question. Was she asking if he was okay?

Because that was the question he wanted to ask Melody.

“Does it hurt that much?”

With her follow-up inquiry, he finally realized her intention.

She seemed to think he had pulled her into an embrace for comfort due to the immense pain.

“Well…”

He hesitated in a soft voice.

“I’m sorry.”

And then simply apologized.

Ordinarily, Melody would have immediately asked “What are you sorry for?” But today, for some reason, she did not.

It appeared she was trying to ponder the meaning on her own instead.

So he tightened his embrace slightly, allowing her to find the answer.

His pounding heart was practically shouting the hint loudly enough for the intelligent Melody to surely notice, or so he thought.

Melody remained still for a while longer. All he could sense was her small frame slowly moving with each breath.

Then, abruptly, Claude realized his eyes had fully adjusted to the darkness.

The window, desk, and extinguished lamp were now all visible within his sight.

Finally lowering his gaze, he saw that Melody had regained her vision as well, staring up at him intently.

“…I’m sorry.”

Unable to find anything else to say, he apologized again. But Melody just gently shook her head.

“I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Though he made that troubled remark, Melody did not give any particular response.

“…Phew.”

He let out a slow exhale. For some reason, Melody’s face broke into a slight smile at his demeanor.

“Hmm, may I say you look quite pitiful right now, Miss Melody?”

At his words, she quickly stiffened her expression and briefly averted her gaze.

“Ah, that’s…”

The tail end of Melody’s belated reply came with a slight quiver.

“Because I don’t know how to react…”

Only now did Claude realize that Melody was quite flustered as well.

“…In times like this, you can just say ‘I understand.'”

“I understand.”

Following his suggestion, Melody gave a small nod.

Finding her obedient response adorable, Claude tightened his embrace momentarily.

“And thank you for allowing the hug.”

This time, Melody tilted her head awkwardly for a bit before answering in a tiny voice.

“…Ah, I understand.”

It became an odd exchange, but they had decided to respond that way when unable to find the right words. So Claude readily nodded.

“It seems… a little while ago, I didn’t want any distance between Miss Melody and myself.”

He slowly explained before shaking his head briefly.

“No, it’s not ‘it seems’ – I definitely didn’t want that.”

After stating that while staring intently, Melody nodded again with an “I understand…”

He smiled and cupped her cheek.

“My goodness, you’re too kind.”

For someone lacking patience to so diligently respond with “I understand” as requested by this pitiful fool.

“That’s not it. It’s simply that I can’t think of what to say…”

“What if I take advantage of this opportunity to make an improper request?”

His slightly teasing question made Melody shake her head.

“You don’t need to take advantage of any opportunity. You only ever make improper requests to me anyway.”

Melody’s blunt retort rendered Claude momentarily speechless.

Had he really been that way?

“…Half of that was a joke.”

“Then the other half was serious.”

Her self-deprecating response made Melody smile mischievously before answering “I understand” again, seeming unable to find other words.

“…Really now.”

He made a gesture of lightly pinching her cheek, unable to actually apply any force in case it hurt.

“You’re too adorable.”

His murmured comment made Melody open her eyes wide.

“Was that such a surprising thing to say?”

“Don’t joke around.”

“There was not even half a joke in that statement.”

Though Melody muttered “Liar” softly, he did not bother explaining further.

Soon, the flustered Melody pushed against his shoulders to break free from the embrace.

Claude did not attempt to hold her back.

“…I’ll go fetch the medicine and lamp oil.”

“It’s alright.”

“Huh? But the light is out and there’s still the earring to do…”

“It doesn’t have to be done today necessarily. It would be better to return to our rooms now.”

He rose from his seat as well, following Melody’s lead.

“Let me walk you back. The stairs will be dangerous in this darkness…”

“Ah, no!”

Before he could finish suggesting, Melody quickly waved both hands in refusal.

“I can go on my own!”

She shuffled backwards before abruptly turning and leaving.

Simultaneously, the sound of someone hurriedly fleeing came from outside the study as well.

However, Claude and Melody were too focused on each other to notice that detail.

 

* * *

 

On the dark second floor hallway, Ronny recalled Melody’s words again.

“Thank you for getting angry on behalf of the Higgins.”

“There’s no way that’s it.”

He muttered unconsciously, prompting the imaginary Melody to pose the same question as before.

‘Why?’

Why, you ask?

Melody was his childhood friend.

For him to get angry on her behalf was only natural.

‘Is that all?’

The impudent Melody posed another provocative question.

Ronny could not respond. Suddenly, his heart began pounding furiously.

As if it contained the answer to her incessant questioning.

“Am I going insane?”

Though he said that, Ronny recalled the various novels he had devoured over the past few days.

Symptoms like a painfully racing heart, feverish face, and mental disarray had appeared numerous times within those stories.

And they were portrayed as remarkably special, revered feelings.

‘Ridiculous.’

He shook his head, trying to compose himself.

‘In any case, I should clearly state that it wasn’t for the Higgins’ sake that I acted that way.’

Any other implications could be considered afterwards.

At that moment, he had arrived in front of Loretta’s room door.

Since he had heard that Melody would be spending the late evening hours with Loretta after parting in the reception room, he wondered if she might still be there.

Ronny focused his hearing against the closed door. But no sounds could be detected.

‘Is she asleep?’

After contemplating briefly, he gave a soft knock. Unexpectedly, the door opened right away.

“Young master.”

It was Loretta’s maidservant who answered.

“The young miss has already fallen asleep.”

“Oh…”

Ronny craned his neck towards Loretta’s bed, but the deep darkness made it impossible to discern if Melody was present as well.

“Were you looking for something in the young miss’s room? I could fetch it for you.”

“Ah, no. If she’s asleep, then never mind.”

He took a deliberate step back before asking with feigned composure, unable to prevent a slight flush from tinting his cheeks.

“Mel…Melody must have returned to her room then.”

Noticing his shift, the maidservant suppressed a smile as she responded.

“Yes, Miss Melody went back to her room as well. She may have fallen asleep by now. It’s been quite late.”

“Got it, thanks.”

Ronny carefully closed the door before heading towards the stairs leading down to the first floor with hurried steps.

But then, he noticed the bright light spilling through the open study door.

‘Brother? I didn’t know there was such an urgent matter requiring him to be in the study this late…’

Ronny wondered if he should go assist him.

‘But if I do, I won’t be able to meet Melody…’

In the end though, he found himself halting midway on the stairs, unable to proceed further.