Chapter 172

 

* * *

 

It was so slight that even Melody only realized it after wearing them, not something very noticeable.

“Um, please don’t think strangely of it.”

As if he noticed her thoughts, he quickly made an excuse.

“I just know. I end up remembering things about Miss Melody like this without even trying hard to. I’m sorry, it must be…unpleasant, right?”

Claude’s appearance as he asked while gauging her reaction was somehow…

…strangely cute.

It was the first time she thought of that word regarding him.

Was it the influence of what happened in the hut a little while ago? Or simply because his actions changed?

Melody shook her head frantically without reaching a conclusion.

“It-It’s okay. Because the young master is smart! It’s natural for you to remember anything! Anyway, I can clearly see it wasn’t sent by the company.”

Melody, as if just remembering, flipped over the remaining shoe on the table and checked the sole.

“That’s right, my name isn’t on the sole.”

“Your name?”

He asked as if hearing it for the first time.

“You didn’t know? The company always engraved my name on the shoe soles. It’s a recent trend. Engraving names or family crests.”

“Well, of course I knew about the trend, but to think they engraved it on Miss Melody’s shoes… Hmm.”

Claude seemed to be seriously pondering something with a grave expression for a moment.

“Why are you doing that?”

“No.”

But at Melody’s worried gaze, he shook his head with a relaxed smile.

“Anyway, based on the circumstances, it’s safe to say Prince Samuel had a hand in these shoes.”

“But what could be his intention? He wouldn’t simply gift me shoes.”

“Well, we’ll have to investigate.”

Melody nodded, deciding to find out the simplest thing first.

“Yes, then first the box the shoes were in… Oh.”

But she soon stopped with her eyes wide open.

“What’s wrong?”

“The b-box! I told them to throw it away!”

“Ah. If that’s the case, it’ll be piled up behind the mansion, so you don’t need to worry.”

Despite his calm explanation, Melody anxiously stood up from her seat.

“That’s not it, I told them to burn it completely!”

Burn it!

Claude and Melody ran out to the hallway with distraught faces and leaned their bodies out the window.

In the pit far in the backyard, gift boxes were neatly stacked, awaiting an execution by fire.

The servants piled a few more boxes on top.

The desperate Melody and Claude shouted together.

Don’t burn it!

When their earnest cries were conveyed, the servant drew a large circle above his head.

Probably meaning he understood their intentions.

“…Phew.”

When the two of them sighed in relief together and slumped against the window.

A servant who had diligently gone somewhere quickly returned and started zealously pouring an unknown liquid on the high stack of boxes.

What it was became clear not long after.

Judging by how it quickly expanded the small spark the servant brought.

…It was undoubtedly oil.

Claude and Melody glanced at each other for a moment before screaming and starting to run towards the backyard.

 

* * *

 

The two of them worked hard to extinguish the fire with the servants. Afterwards, they had all the boxes soaked in oil and ash moved to an empty warehouse with good ventilation.

Melody checked the boxes filling one wall of the warehouse and the list of items sent from the company one by one.

Fortunately, none had completely turned to ash.

Perhaps because the boxes were so thick, except for the outer surface being charred black, the inside was relatively okay.

“Miss Melody.”

Soon, Claude also finished talking with the servants and entered the warehouse.

“Did you check the boxes?”

“Yes, fortunately all the boxes I opened are here. And…”

Melody pointed to one box.

“The white shoes were in this box. It was a stroke of luck that I hadn’t opened the other shoe boxes yet.”

Otherwise, she would have had to lay out numerous shoe boxes and ponder which one had contained the white shoes.

“That’s a relief.”

He carefully pulled that box with his gloved hand.

The ash stuck on the surface filled not only his gloves but also the surrounding air with black powder.

He opened the box near the window.

The pale pink interior had no particularly special points.

While Claude closely examined the box and label, Melody carefully unfolded the thin paper cushioning that protected the shoes.

But no matter how long they looked, no special letters or codes appeared inside.

They even brought the box ribbons the maids had separately collected and examined them one by one, but it was another wild goose chase.

The only thing with any text was the label with product information.

“Could the label be a code?”

“Yes, there’s nothing else that leaves room for interpretation…”

But there wasn’t much certainty in his gaze as he looked down at the label.

“For now, let’s report this much to Father and leave the warehouse.”

“Just in case, I think it would be good to examine the other boxes too. We might find something more if we look at other labels.”

At Melody’s suggestion, he shook his head.

“He wouldn’t have been in a situation to divide a code among several boxes. Moreover, the labels are made by each workshop, not the company.”

“…That’s true.”

“Let’s go out for now. Inhaling the oil smell for long won’t be good for the body. Let’s leave it ventilated like this, and if something is needed, we can come back tomorrow.”

Since her head was already throbbing a bit, Melody followed him out of the warehouse.

When she inhaled the cool outside air, the unpleasant oil smell sticking to the tip of her nose began to fall off little by little.

“I’m sorry.”

When her head felt a bit lighter, Melody carefully spoke to Claude.

“What are you sorry for?”

“The boxes ended up like that because of me.”

“Not particularly.”

Claude shrugged and answered.

“The servants said my voice sounded exactly like ‘Burn it completely!'”

So they drew a circle and poured oil.

“So it’s my fault too that it turned out like this.”

“…I just hope nothing important got burned.”

“I sincerely hope so too.”

They simultaneously let out a deep sigh and returned to the mansion.

 

* * *

 

Two days had passed since then.

The secret of the white shoes still remained unsolved.

Whenever she had time, Melody went to the warehouse and carefully examined the insides and cushioning of the other boxes.

Even doing that, nothing was discovered, so later she even got permission from the Duke to disassemble the boxes.

But that didn’t lead to any new clues either.

‘Could something important have been burned after all? If that’s the case, what should I do…’

Anxiously returning to the main mansion, she saw Ronny pacing in front of her room door in the distance.

It was common for him to visit so abruptly, so Melody naturally tried to call his name and greet him.

“Ah, this is driving me crazy…”

However, something about Ronny’s appearance was strange. Melody stopped greeting and started observing his actions.

First, even in the short time she was watching, he repeatedly raised his hand as if to knock several times and then stopped.

After that, without fail, he went back near the window and examined his collar or necktie here and there.

“Why is it like this… This is.”

Apparently, no matter what, the knot of his necktie felt uncomfortable.

It was clear seeing him retie the knot twice already.

Melody quietly approached and stood behind Ronny, who was looking at himself reflected in the window.

“It looks great, what’s the problem?”

“Ah, you startled me!”

He turned around with a pale face. Holding the untied tie in one hand.

“Heh heh. Hello, Ronny.”

“You laugh after startling someone!”

He shouted and quickly stuffed the tie he was holding into his pocket. With a somewhat embarrassed face.

“Do you have some business with me?”

“It’s nothing. I was just respecting that even you would have at least some taste.”

With a slightly chilly expression, he rummaged through his pocket and took out a thin piece of paper.

On the paper were three types of sketches drawn smaller than a palm. A suitable mix of pictures and patterns, looking almost like the crest of some family.

“It’s pretty. Even though it’s just a sketch, the delicacy is felt. Especially the shading on each small petal is amazing.”

“Of course, I received it from the most famous bookplate artist. Do you know how long I waited even after placing the order?”

He boasted a bit and presented the paper again.

“So hurry up and choose one of the designs. I need to send a reply to the artist.”

“Oh… Is it okay for me to choose?”

“Sure. If you don’t choose your own bookplate, who else would?!”

Ronny shouted and then, as if feeling sorry, quickly added in a deflated voice.

“I… I’m giving this to you as a gift.”

“The young master is giving me a bookplate?”

“Yes, and to add in case you misunderstand, I ordered this a long time ago, okay?”

“…?”

Melody tilted her head, asking what that meant.

“I mean, I bought it way before Brother’s gift arrived! It means I didn’t follow Brother’s example!”

“What?”

“Ah. Never mind, never mind! Just choose.”

Melody pointed to the first design among the sketches as he wanted for now.

“They’re all pretty, but this one looks the most stunning to me.”

“Really?”

Even though she chose the most magnificent one as he instructed, for some reason he was looking at Melody with doubtful eyes.

“Yes, it’s true.”

“You didn’t just choose it appropriately because it’s a gift and you didn’t like any of them, right? If that’s the case, I’ll find a new artist…”

“No, no. I really, really like it.”

At Melody’s repeated answer, his expression finally brightened.

“W-Well, that’s a relief, but…”

After neatly folding the paper and putting it in his pocket, he turned his body in a somewhat awkward manner.

“Th-Then I’m going.”

“Wait a moment, Young Master.”

Melody hurriedly grabbed his arm.

“…Why?”

“Thank you for the gift. Actually, I always thought others’ bookplates were pretty whenever I saw them.”

Ronny was about to say “I know,” but ended up just throwing out an indifferent “Is that so?”

“Yes, so I’m happy. From now on, I can attach my name to the books I order.”

“…It’s nothing much.”

He stood up straight towards Melody again, and discovering something on her forehead, reached out his hand.