Chapter 67

***

“…Do you truly wish for that?”

It was the same question he had asked Jeremiah a while ago, inquiring whether he desired to separate himself from the name ‘Baldwin.’

“I forever do not wish for that.”

Jeremiah was somehow pleased by the unchanged response.

Feeling a ticklish sensation in his heart, he realized that he was acting childishly.

He lifted his head to look directly at his father, who had embraced him.

“Now… I might not wish for it either. Perhaps.”

The astonishment that appeared on his father’s usually stern face amused Jeremiah, and he smiled slyly.

He felt somewhat proud, now understanding a bit of the reason why Loretta had surprised him in the hallway earlier.

‘I feel somewhat satisfied.’

Jeremiah gently wriggled out of his father’s embrace. The duke set his son down very carefully, with more delicacy than any refined magic.

“I will escort you to the carriage.”

At his suggestion, Jeremiah nodded, and father and son proceeded side by side to the front entrance.

All the servants watching bowed their heads.

As they reached the carriage bearing the Magic Tower’s emblem, the duke, with a tone of reluctance and caution, spoke,

“Come back again… I’ll always be waiting.”

Jeremiah turned around and shook his head.

“No.”

That single word was enough to fluster the duke of the empire.

As the duke’s face turned pale and he seemed to search for something else to say, Jeremiah responded with a mischievous smile,

“You should come to the Magic Tower. Because I will receive the title of a magician.”

“…I see your point.”

“Will you come?”

The duke looked at his son, a bit moved, his eyes unexpectedly filled with ‘anticipation.’

“I will definitely come. No matter what.”

He placed his clenched fist over his heart, affirming his promise.

As a chill wind blew by, the duke hurriedly helped Jeremiah into the carriage.

“It’s cold. Get inside.”

Soon, the carriage, carrying the dignified boy, started moving at a slow pace.

While maintaining a proper posture, Jeremiah faced the front of the carriage but soon couldn’t help himself and climbed onto the seat to look back at the mansion.

The Duke of Baldwin was still standing in the same spot, watching this place, just like when Jeremiah had left.

Perhaps even after the carriage was out of sight, he might still be standing there.

“It’s cold. Father, please go inside.”

He murmured in a small voice.

An ordinary person might have forgotten to convey such words and felt regret from afar, but he was a magician.

He entrusted his words of concern to the passing wind.

The winter wind, embracing his sincere feelings, began to race towards the mansion at a rapid pace.

And when Jeremiah’s worries reached the duke’s ears,

The first white snow of this winter began to fall.

***

The duke’s household returned to its usual routine in winter.

Except for one person.

“Master Ronny Baldwin.”

After Jeremiah’s visit, he faced the rough tides of life.

Especially today, the ‘history exam’ approached him like a massive wave.

“Um, Professor, I have something to say.”

Ronny started with an excuse, unable to overcome the rough wave.

“Please speak.”

“It’s my fault that Loretta Baldwin suffered. I had a responsibility to heal her.”

“I heard that it was the youngest son of the Magic Tower who healed the young lady.”

Ronny, surprised by how quickly the rumor had spread, widened his eyes and asked how the professor knew.

“Thanks to him, the duke’s house will now produce a formal magician. The duke must be very proud.”

Ronny flinched at the professor’s words but soon agreed.

“…Well, being a magician isn’t something just anyone can do. And my brother is a genius.”

“That’s true.”

“But I also ensured the quietness of the mansion so that Jeremiah could comfortably use magic!”

That was a very important task.

Had any commotion disturbed Jeremiah’s concentration, Loretta might not have been able to wake up.

However, the history professor didn’t give any particular response to this story, just kept silent with lips sealed.@@novelbin@@

An intense quietness flowed between them, even the ticking of the clock was clearly audible.

After a while maintaining this silence, the professor asked as if puzzled.

“Isn’t the duke’s house always quiet?”

“That, well.”

Ronny was about to mention how he had stood in the hallway for a long time, cautioning passersby.

“The servants on the second floor keep silent unless spoken to by their master.”

…That’s true.

Hearing the professor’s explanation, Ronny felt upset, as if he had been eagerly engaged in a useless task.

Perhaps the professor felt a bit of sympathy for the downhearted young boy and added comforting words.

“Nevertheless, taking action for your siblings is a commendable thing.”

Behind the professor’s words seemed to echo ‘even if it’s a pointless task.’ Or at least, that’s what his expression seemed to convey.

“…Thank you.”

“Then, let’s proceed with the exam next time.”

“Really?!”

Ronny was astonished as the overwhelming wave that seemed to consume him settled down all at once, and he lifted his head brightly.

It felt like a breath of fresh air.

Given the time, he really wanted to study hard and show good results to the professor and his father.

“I’ll do well! Really!”

The professor smiled broadly, seemingly holding real expectations this time.

***

After his history class ended, Ronny went downstairs and saw someone exchanging farewells with Higgins.

“Who is that?”

Upon descending, Higgins kindly informed him,

“It’s a frame maker. They handle the most sophisticated frames in the capital.”

“Frames?”

Ronny paused for a moment and looked around at the portraits hanging nearby. Each was encased in a shiny, impressive frame.

“Did you order a new painting? Like a portrait of Loretta?”

The mansion still lacked a portrait of his little sister. There were ones of the three brothers, but not hers.

“That wouldn’t be the case.”

The butler shook his head.

“We plan to proceed with the young lady’s portrait after she becomes more accustomed to the mansion.”

“It seems like she couldn’t possibly get more accustomed than this.”

Loretta was using the entire mansion as her playground. Moreover, she often came looking for Ronny’s snacks.

She even had the audacity to bring snacks that required peeling and made him do it for her.

“The young lady will certainly become even more familiar with it.”

“…That’s frighteningly likely.”

Ronny felt a chill creep up his arms and brushed them off.

“So, what’s getting framed?”

He asked, and Higgins, fidgeting with his tie and puffing out his chest as if he had a great pride to share, replied,

“Exam results.”

“Yikes.”

Ronny recoiled in shock, instinctively shrinking his shoulders.

Was the history professor discussing Ronny’s exams?

“I’ll study hard…”

He knew his father took a keen interest in Ronny’s studies, but he never imagined framing the history exam results.

“It seems to have a positive influence on Master Ronny, which is gratifying.”

“No way, one can’t just frame disappointing results.”

“Of course. And one cannot frame mediocre results either.”

Just how well does one have to perform on the exams? Seeing Ronny’s distressed face, Higgins pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.

“Look at this.”

He handed over an ‘exam results’ paper.

It was filled with astonishingly excellent grades, praises from professors included.

And finally, a rare stamp stating ‘Top of the entire grade’!

The proud owner of this lavish exam report was none other than Claude Baldwin.

“Impressive, isn’t it?”

The butler’s expression was as if he himself had received such remarkable grades.

“Uh… that’s rather daunting.”

Ronny felt a sudden drain of energy.

On one hand, he was also relieved. It wasn’t his exam results being prepared for framing.

“It seems Master Claude doesn’t think much of it, though. Even when offered a banquet in his honor, he declined. The duke doesn’t seem too keen on banquets either…”

“He received such grades and still refuses a banquet?! Why?!”

If Ronny were the owner of that report card, he would have undoubtedly begged for a grand party to be thrown.

“Perhaps for Master Claude, such results are expected.”

“Wow, that’s a bit…”

Ronny inwardly thought of his respectable brother, ‘…how annoying.’ He couldn’t dare say it out loud, though.

“Anyway, it would be nice if it gets put in a nice frame. Such outstanding exam results are quite rare.”

“Uh… yeah. That would be nice.”

Ronny responded noncommittally. Just then, other servants passed by, and Higgins quickly called them over.

“You there! Have you seen Master Claude’s top-of-the-class exam report?! What? You haven’t seen it yet?!”

He proudly brandished the paper again.

Is it really that great?

Ronny muttered to himself and left the spot, feeling somewhat bitter.

As he went upstairs to the second floor, he found Loretta looking around.