Chapter 33
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
Chapter 33
The servants' demeanor toward me had shifted ever since the Duke of Bellomen's return—or more precisely, since my breakfast with him.
It wasn't long before I discovered the reason.
"His Grace has doubled the budget allocated to you, Miss Lucella!"
"What?"
I sprang from my seat, abandoning the hair styling I'd been attending to, at Riley's announcement.
"Doubled the budget? Why on earth would he do that?"
"I'm not sure. Apparently, he simply instructed the butler to increase it without further explanation."
"It's certainly welcome, but...."
Why does this feel so unsettling?
The Duke would have no reason to treat me kindly.
My mind raced through the possibilities.
Until I'd just arrived at the mansion, the Duke of Bellomen's manner toward me had remained unchanged from before.
His attitude shifted only at breakfast. Which meant something must have happened before that.
"Ah."
I recalled that on the evening the Duke returned, I'd spoken with Claude alone.
'Marquis Agris must have spoken well of me to the Duke.'
There was no other explanation for such a dramatic reversal in his demeanor overnight.
"I should send my thanks to the Marquis."
"My, are you going to visit Marquis Agris?"
Riley, having overheard my murmur, laughed with unmistakable mischief.
"It's nothing like that."
"Perhaps not for you, Miss Lucella, but the Marquis might see it differently."
Ever since witnessing Claude's oath to me, she'd made a spectacle of herself whenever I encountered him.
"The Marquis only sees me as his benefactor, I assure you."
"Are you quite certain about that?"
"Leave if you're going to talk nonsense."
Shoo, shoo.
Riley, whom I'd waved away, acknowledged my dismissal and slipped from the room, her lips curled upward mischievously, concealed behind her hand.
"Preposterous."
I shook my head and rose from my seat. I needed to descend to the first floor to receive the children from the Orphanage who would arrive shortly.
The weather looked favorable today, and the Duke happened to be home. Seizing the opportunity, I'd invited three children, including Edwin, to the Duke's Mansion.
'I'll entertain them appropriately, and when the Duke emerges, I'll arrange for us to encounter each other by chance.'
I wondered when the Duke would leave his study. Lost in such thoughts, I descended the staircase.
"Your Grace?"
I found myself face-to-face with the Duke, who had just emerged from his study. Unlike his usual attire of merely a shirt and vest, he wore a noticeably thick coat.
Surely not....
"...Are you going out?"
"Yes."
At his curt response, I found my brow furrowing involuntarily.
If the Duke isn't home, I won't have to encounter Edwin!
"It seems you've resolved all your accumulated work."
I thought that given how busy he was, he wouldn't leave his study for some time.
"I have some business outside."
"I see...."
What do you mean, I see?
My thinking had been too narrow. Work didn't have to be done exclusively in the study.
While I stood there gaping like a fool, the Duke brushed past me. I hurriedly called out to him.
"Your Grace!"
At my call, the Duke who had been walking ahead came to an abrupt halt.
"When will you be returning to the mansion?"
"I'm not sure yet. Why do you ask?"
Well, I need to know when you're coming back so I can have Edwin waiting.
But I couldn't tell the Duke of Bellomen this outright.
"The children from the Orphanage are visiting today. I was planning to send them home before you arrived."
It was a reasonably plausible excuse. After all, it would be inconvenient for the master of the house to have guests around when he came home to rest.
"It doesn't matter when you send them home."
"But...."
"It's supposed to be a wish, so I can't place restrictions on it. Don't worry about me."
Usually he showed no generosity whatsoever, yet only at times like this did his compassion overflow.
"Yes...."
I reluctantly nodded my head.
The Duke of Bellomen left the mansion, leaving me behind.
Soon the sound of hoofbeats echoed, and the carriage carrying the Duke began to move. He had departed.
'Well, it's not as if today is the only day.'
I could always bring Edwin another time. Of course, I'd need to fabricate another plausible reason.
I sighed deeply and descended to the first floor.
I followed the servants who were carefully decorating the Playroom, surveyed the surroundings, and prepared refreshments. I had also arranged pillows and blankets for napping in case the children grew drowsy.
It was while I was preoccupied with these preparations for receiving guests.
"A carriage carrying Marquis Agris and his guests has just passed through the gate."
At the Duke's Mansion butler's words, I quickly exited the Playroom and headed outside.
The children from the Orphanage, including Edwin, had arrived.
* * *
"Wow...."
"Hehe."
I couldn't help but laugh at the children craning their necks back to look up at the ceiling. Their eyes sparkled brilliantly under the lights, and their flushed cheeks were utterly endearing.
"Children, don't stand there like that. Come here and have some sweets."
Despite the temptation of sweets, the children didn't respond. They were all too busy marveling at the ornate lighting fixtures hanging from the ceiling and the spacious room.
"They've been like this since we got in the carriage. They said they'd never ridden in such a plush carriage before, and the moment we passed through the mansion gate, they gasped in wonder with their mouths wide open."
Claude whispered into my ear, apparently having approached without my notice.
Claude had brought the children to the Duke's Mansion in my stead, as I was occupied with preparations for receiving guests.
"They marveled at how many flowers bloom in the garden, and gasped in wonder at how the mansion's exterior resembles a princess's castle."
"From the children's perspective, that's only natural. They've grown up their entire lives within the Orphanage, after all."
I reached for a steaming mug of hot chocolate, watching the children whose eyes remained fixed on the glittering toys.
"I dropped marshmallows into it specially for you all, but at this rate it'll cool down completely."
"Wow! Hot chocolate!"
The moment I dangled the promise of marshmallows like bait, Rona and Lua—who had been distracted elsewhere—came scurrying toward the table.
Rona and Lua were seven and four years old respectively, biological sisters. Rona, being the elder, seemed particularly close to Amelia, perhaps because they were nearer in age.
The two girls attempted to claim the seats beside Amelia, but Lucian swiftly wedged himself between them, pushing them aside.
"Lucian."
"What? I sat down first."
"Honestly."
I shook my head in exasperation and guided the two girls to other seats. Then I called out to Edwin, who stood motionless, gazing out the window at the landscape beyond.
"Edwin, you should come sit as well."
As I beckoned him over, Edwin walked slowly and took the seat directly across from Amelia—a place I had deliberately reserved for him.
"If you'd like more, just say so. There's plenty to eat."
"Yes!"
Claude and I stepped back a couple of paces from the table, allowing the children space to play comfortably.
We settled into armchairs at a distance, observing the children. They had devoured the pastries and hot chocolate in mere moments and were now playing with toys.
"Look at this. I brought it to show you all."
"What is it?"
"It's a hero's sword, and when you press this button here, it glows like this...."
Contrary to my concerns, Lucian got along well with the children without quarreling. He no longer engaged in his past habits of catching spiders or frogs to torment them.
He even willingly handed over one of his treasured toys to Rona first.
"Lucian, you're truly kind."
"No, I'm not. Hehe."
At Amelia's praise, Lucian laughed shyly and scratched his head.
"Our Lucian has become so gentle...."
Witnessing that scene, I pressed my lips together, overwhelmed with emotion.
Perhaps he was doing it to impress Amelia, but what did that matter? Regardless of his motivation, what mattered was that Lucian was changing.
'Could he be reborn as an entirely new person?'
Lucian had transformed in less than a month since meeting Amelia. If he spent even more time with her, he might become an even kinder child.
Could he perhaps escape the role of villain altogether?
For anyone else, it might be impossible, but with Amelia—the heroine—it was entirely feasible.
I immediately turned to face Claude.
"Marquis Agris."
"Yes, yes?"
Startled by my sudden address, Claude stammered.
"Would it be possible for you to stay at the Duke's Mansion for a very long time?"
"Yes, yes?"
Claude was now not only stammering but his eyes had grown wide as saucers.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org