Chapter 184

* * *

Recently, the Duke’s family seemed no different than usual.

But beyond that daily life, the Duke and Claude were working hard on something no one else knew about.

Using the “appearance-changing potion” made by Jeremiah, the Duke prepared sufficient food, books, and daily necessities at the mansion where August would be hiding.

If the people at the mansion had seen him skillfully using the rough merchant’s way of speaking, they would have been very surprised.

Claude arranged procedures to allocate necessary funds for this through foreign guilds and indirectly to the Duke’s side.

Melody sometimes felt sorry for the Duke and Claude. It was practically because of her that such a complicated situation had arisen.

However, the many advantages that could come from it were not something that could be ignored.

First of all, Prince Samuel would escape death.

Of course, right now, it was unfortunate in many ways that August would have to live far away from his father…

But she thought it would be better than getting his father murdered in front of his eyes and being abandoned in a strange palace.

Besides, the Emperor’s vigilance wouldn’t always be sharp forever, so Duke Baldwin would gladly help the father and son meet at an appropriate time.

The Duke was someone who knew the preciousness of family better than anyone.

Also, it was good for Loretta that darkness didn’t settle in August’s heart.

She wouldn’t have to suffer together while watching his dark side.

One morning, when all those things were progressing carefully and smoothly.

Melody opened her eyes under the warmly falling autumn sunshine.@@novelbin@@

‘I forgot to draw the curtains and sleep…’

She turned her body with her back to the window and pulled the thick blanket over her head. As comfortable darkness came, a small sigh escaped.

‘I really couldn’t get a wink of sleep.’

It was all because of Claude.

That wicked man, could it be that he was born as a devil just to torment Melody?

As what happened last night came to mind, she unconsciously applied strength to her hand gripping the blanket.

Actually, it wasn’t anything that remarkable.

Yesterday, Melody helped him with work a bit late.

She would find and bring him the maps and charts he needed from time to time, and until then, nothing special had happened.

The problem started.

When he said, “It’s late, so I’ll escort you to your room,” and she nodded.

He took Melody to the door.

With a small greeting of good night.

But even after saying that, for some reason, he didn’t leave.

Since he didn’t leave, Melody had no choice but to stand facing him.

‘…From then on, it rapidly became strange.’

Because we were blankly staring at each other in the dim corridor. Somehow…

Then, as if he couldn’t stand it anymore, Claude shrugged his shoulders and said, “I’ll get going.”

‘But of all things, because someone opened a door nearby.’

Startled, the two rushed into Melody’s room together and closed the door, without even saying who went first.

Even though they weren’t doing anything shameful enough to hide from someone’s gaze.

‘And by the time I came to my senses…’

I was trapped between the firmly closed door and Claude.

The night shadows were unusually thick on his face, so Melody could see nothing but his gaze staring at her intently.

No, it wouldn’t be right to call it a simple gaze.

Should I call it longing? If I were to choose a more blatant word, desire.

Under that deep emotion, Melody stared at him for a moment, forgetting even to breathe.

When he bent his body a little more and his hot breath touched Melody’s forehead, his hand crept under her waist.

But he soon withdrew his hand and repeatedly grasped and released the cold metal doorknob several times.

After that, he leaned his forehead on her shoulder, sighing deeply.

“…This is driving me crazy.”

He turned his head and completely buried it between her long hair.

“Praise me. I endured well all day.”

Endured?

To Melody’s eyes, it seemed he was concentrating on work as usual.

“Pat my head too, and tell me I’m pretty.”

When he whined, saying hurry, Melody raised her slightly trembling hand and gently patted his hair.

“…Thank you.”

He finally lifted his head, looked at Melody, and smiled.

“Time is not passing at all. If I had known this would happen, I should have asked for a date right away, not in ten days.”

“You said… you had something to say to me, Young Master?”

“Because Miss Melody thinks the order of things is important.”

So he seems to think he only qualifies to ask her to become his lover after they have a proper date.

“What’s important to you is even more important to me.”

“…I’m really sorry to say this at a time like this, but Young Master.”

“Say it. It’s okay.”

“I think it’s important to do anything ‘slowly.'”

“…”

“Very slowly.”

He seemed to have a lot he wanted to say, but soon nodded without a word.

Melody briefly thought she might be tormenting him.

Even so, she had no intention of changing her decision.

“Instead, I’ll praise you a lot.”

That was half-jokingly said. To completely shake off the strange mood with him.

But it seemed to have the opposite effect.

“Then, will you do that?”

Completely taken in by his devilish smile, Melody ended up brushing his hair and even kissing his forehead.

That… wasn’t what she intended to do! Moreover, afterwards, she received a light kiss on the back of her hand, saying it was a “return gift.”

‘…The young master is definitely a demon who enchants people.’

But seeing how she was pounding at the thought of that moment again, maybe she quite liked it too.

‘It’s like I’ve become a strange person too.’

The moment Melody tilted her lips over the back of her hand, resenting him.

…The blanket was lifted all at once, and bright light poured down in an instant.

“…?!”

Startled, Melody sat up from her spot.

Looking around hastily, Loretta was hugging the blanket, just blinking her eyes.

“Lo-Loretta.”

When she stammered and barely called her name, she made a tearful face.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, Melody.”

“Uh, no. I wasn’t startled, just, well…”

Melody, with a face red up to her ears, first confirmed an important fact.

“Y-you didn’t see, right?”

“Yeah, not yet.”

“…Not yet?”

Does it mean she “hasn’t seen yet” the scene of Melody kissing her own wrist? It was a bit of a strange answer.

“Yeah, I can’t just look at it without permission.”

Saying that, Loretta abruptly held out the letter she was holding.

“This is…”

Melody blinked her eyes several times, still not adjusted to the light.

The letter Loretta handed over was sealed with a familiar pattern that Melody had seen several times when taking the Records Keeper exam.

“It’s a letter sent by the Records Keepers?!”

She hurriedly took the letter and took a deep breath first. Loretta, who was next to her, also took a deep breath with her.

The two looked at each other, then nodded simultaneously.

They immediately tore off the seal and took out the letter.

She didn’t have the courage to calmly read from the beginning, so she read the last paragraph first.

It said, “Then, I’ll see you on that day.”

‘See me on that day?’

Since there was talk about meeting, it didn’t seem like bad words were written. She finally turned her gaze to the beginning of the letter.

The Records Keeper’s letter said to enter the palace next week because they had something to say in person.

“Does this mean Melody passed?”

Loretta, who was reading the letter together, asked, but Melody didn’t know either.

“I’m not sure. I should ask Stewart later.”

He had said, “Ask me anything about the exam.” Perhaps he would tell the hidden meaning behind this letter.

“Don’t worry too much, Melody. It must be good news! And I’ll personally throw a party for you.”

As if worried that her face was darkening a bit, Loretta smiled with the brightest face.

“Yeah, thanks.”

But what Melody was worrying about wasn’t simply because a letter with an unknown meaning had arrived.

She knew there was no point in worrying about the exam results in advance.

What she was worried about was just.

‘…Of all days, the day they asked me to enter the palace is the day I promised to go to the concert with the young master.’

Wouldn’t he be very disappointed if she told him this news?

Even though he probably wouldn’t show it much, given his personality.

* * *

When she asked an errand boy to send a letter to Stewart Middleton, he immediately wrote a reply.

[Damn it, that means you passed. They’re calling you directly to convey necessary information for the job.

Otherwise, there’s no reason to summon you to the palace, right?

And I heard the Records Keeper job is getting harder, so if you’re going to quit, quit soon. So they can proceed with the next recruitment exam.

As it is, there’s only one direct imperial family member in the next generation, so I think there will be even fewer occasions to select Records Keepers, damn it.

Anyway, sincere congratulations.]

Although it was written with words that were hard to tell if they were congratulations or curses.

Anyway, Stewart’s words that there was no reason to summon someone who wasn’t even a successful applicant to the palace were quite persuasive.

After that, she immediately went to find Claude and relayed all this news.

Melody was worried that he might be upset, but that was a perfect misunderstanding.

“Stewart Middleton’s words certainly make sense. Somehow, I have a good feeling too. I’m really glad, Miss Melody.”

He maintained a bright smile throughout, except when mentioning Stewart’s name.

“Come to think of it, it would be good to prepare a small family banquet on that day.”

“But…”

“I know it’s cautious to hold a banquet inside the mansion on the day Father leaves for Kristonson.”

Melody slowly nodded.

It just so happens that on the morning of that day, the Duke will leave the mansion to meet Prince Samuel. It felt strange to leave an important matter only to him and hold a banquet at the mansion.

“But it’s not right to not celebrate the work Miss Melody has been putting effort into.”

“Even so.”

Melody kept nervously observing his reaction.

Honestly, if everyone at the mansion congratulated her on the exam results, it would make her very happy.

But she had a prior appointment with Claude that day. Their first official date that he had been greatly looking forward to.