Chapter 69

***

“I also… want to do something.”

After a long pause, the boy hesitantly started speaking.

“I want to do something great.”

“I think you’re doing a great job taking care of the mansion.”

“Not that! Like brother or Jeremiah…!”

The words slipped out of Ronny unintentionally, and the duke finally understood his true intentions.

It seemed the comparisons with his brothers had been weighing on the young mind.

‘What should I do about this?’

Should I tell him that there’s no need to rush since everyone has their own unique talents?

No, that might be risky. There’s a chance Ronny might misunderstand.

“Then.”

After a brief contemplation, the duke recalled what Butler Higgins had mentioned earlier.

“It would be good to hold a small family gathering. Don’t we have much to celebrate?” Higgins had suggested, pointing out that the family had produced a magician and that another child had achieved excellent academic results. The duke had declined the idea initially, citing insufficient preparation time.

“You’d like us to host a party.”

“Me?! Host it?!”

In response to Ronny’s surprised question, the duke clarified that it would be a very small gathering, only for the family.

“But it’s an important gathering. Preparing for it won’t be easy, as it’s meant to strengthen the bonds within the family.”

“Can I do it?”

Ronny, who had just expressed his desire to do something great, now seemed frightened by the idea.

Even if it was a small scale, it was still an official event hosted by the ducal family.

Meaning, it was an opportunity to demonstrate the family’s dignity.

“I think this is something only you can do.”

“But I’m not good at anything…”

Ronny believed his father was just trying to encourage him by offering gentle words.

“Ronny Baldwin.”

“…Yes.”

“You’ve been watching over this mansion, our family, and the servants longer than anyone else.”

“That’s true, but…”

While his genius brother was called upon by scholars from a young age to pursue academics, and Jeremiah went to the Tower because of his magical talent,

Ronny was the only one without any special traits, simply staying in the mansion.

“That time has given you strength. More importantly, who else in our family could truly understand Loretta’s intentions if not you?”

At the mention of Loretta, Ronny’s head perked up. When it came to that child, he was confident more than anyone else.

“Right. Loretta and I share a wonderful…”

A wonderful secret indeed.

Of course, he couldn’t tell his father about it, so he quickly shut his mouth.

“Yes. Anyone can host a lavish party, but only someone who has observed people for a long time can host a party that truly understands the hearts of the attendees. I stake the name of the Baldwin Duke on it; no one is more suitable for this task than you.”

Ronny cautiously observed his father’s eyes, which were filled with confidence and expectation, just like how Loretta looked at him earlier.

‘Father truly believes in me!’

This realization reinvigorated the sagging spirit in his shoulders.

“I’ll do my best!”

“Good. You can get the necessary materials from Higgins. Let him know. And if you need help…”

Ronny, slightly excited, interrupted his father’s speech before he could finish.

“I’ll seek your advice, Father! Struggling alone isn’t efficient!”

Seeing his revitalized demeanor, the duke smiled faintly.

“Then, I’ll be going now. There’s something I want to check right away.”

“Yes, and.”

The duke, of course, didn’t forget to calm down the overly excited child.

“I heard about your history test. I’m expecting the best results from your efforts.”

Ronny gasped.

That was indeed an effective remark, prompting him to quickly regain his composure.

***

Ronny began studying history. His room somehow didn’t allow him to concentrate, so he moved to the beautiful parlor on the first floor.

Near a spot bathed in precious winter sunlight, he wrote down what he had learned using beautiful colored ink.

He didn’t forget to murmur the parts he needed to memorize, ensuring they were etched into his memory.

The once empty notebook was now filled with his writing. The neat and pretty handwriting was a matter of pride for Ronny.

After studying satisfactorily, he asked the chef for permission to borrow the ‘menu notebook.’

The notebook not only listed all the menus served by the ducal household but also noted who liked and disliked what.

Claude and Jeremiah probably didn’t even know such a notebook existed in the mansion.

‘I only found out about it after visiting the kitchen late at night myself.’

He was sure the family would appreciate a menu featuring their favorite dishes, especially those enjoyed in the winter.

If everyone finds their favorite dish served, Ronny could proudly say, ‘I knew you’d like it.’

The thought alone was delightful.

After noting down the favorite dishes of his father, brother, and Loretta, he wrote a letter to the Tower.

This time, it was to inquire about Jeremiah from the Tower Master.

The Tower Master surely held Jeremiah dear, considering the prompt replies Ronny received whenever he sent letters of concern about the boy.

‘And then…’

Lastly, he thought about Melody. According to the notebook, Melody wasn’t particularly picky and ate everything.

‘Well, she wasn’t in a position to be choosy.’

Even now, sometimes Melody’s actions exuded a sense of poverty.

‘Last time, she tried to add a little water to an empty ink bottle to use it.’

She could have just bought new ink, but she said, ‘The dye is still on the glass bottle…’ in a miserly fashion.

Being Melody, even if she disliked a dish, she wouldn’t leave it uneaten.

She might even lick the remaining sauce off the plate, not wanting to waste it.

“Really pathetic. It doesn’t suit the dignity of this ducal house at all.”

As he muttered to himself,

“Who are you talking about?”

The question came from right behind him.

“…”

Ronny was too afraid to turn around. After all, it was Melody’s voice.

“No.”

Ronny immediately denied it. Speaking ill of someone behind their back didn’t befit the dignity of the ducal house.

“It’s, it’s me! I’m the pathetic one!”

Despite Ronny’s witty(?) attempt at deflection, Melody didn’t seem convinced.

“Young Master.”

“Uh, yes?”

Melody placed warm milk and sugar on his desk.

“You’re not pathetic at all, Young Master.”

“…”

“You use new ink even when there’s still a bit left in the bottle because you don’t like tilting it. I like that about you, Young Master.”

“You, you like me?!”

Ronny was a bit startled and asked again. For some reason, a smile found its way to the corner of his lips.

“Yes, because you only use pretty colored inks.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I, I’ve been using the ink bottles you throw away. All the colors are so pretty, I often use them for writing letters.”

“You… you rummaged through my trash?!”

“I didn’t thoroughly search through it. I just picked up what caught my eye and used it, that’s all.”

Melody’s cheerfully offered explanation left Ronny somewhat annoyed.

“It’s too pathetic!”

“But that ink is expensive. That ink has probably never even seen the word ‘pathetic’ written with it.”

“I’m saying your actions are pathetic! And you’re a guest of the ducal house?!”

He hurriedly gathered several ink bottles from his desk and piled them onto Melody’s hands.

“If you want pretty colored ink, just ask for it!”

“I didn’t particularly want them.”

“You said they’re nice for writing letters?!”

“Well, that’s true but.”

Melody returned all the ink bottles to his desk, neatly lining them up.

“I don’t intentionally want to use luxurious ink. There’s also joy in finding such ink by chance and using it.”

Ronny squinted and stared intently at Melody.

No matter how long he looked at her pale face, he couldn’t comprehend the ‘joy of finding pretty colored ink in the trash by chance.’@@novelbin@@

No matter how he thought about it, Melody’s perspective seemed utterly bizarre.

He felt a bit regretful about the time he spent worrying about what food Melody might like. Probably anything would do as long as it filled her stomach.

“…Just go, please.”

He gestured towards the door of the parlor with his chin.

“I will. The cups you’ve finished with…”

“I know! Don’t touch them! Do you think I’ll just leave the cups I pathetically drank from for someone else to clean?!”

Ronny yelled, and Melody shrugged her shoulders and left the parlor.

He drank the milk, now cooled to a pleasant temperature, in one go.

A little while later, when a servant came to clear the empty cup, Ronny pointed to the inks on his desk and ordered them all to be thrown away.

“Throw them away? All of these inks? Even the new ones?!”

“Yes, throw them all away. I won’t use them.”

As Ronny spoke petulantly, the servant looked at his face and chuckled. It was a face that seemed to find him endearing.

“Miss Melody will be happy.”

“What, what are you talking about?”

Ronny tried his best to pretend he didn’t understand, but his forehead had already turned bright red.