Chapter 104
The butler’s eyes trembled at my speech.
“I’d do anything for Rere. I asked for your help because I don’t care who or what the circumstances are as long as it helps my child to get healthy again. But if you say it’s none of your business, I’d better leave now.”
“……”
“I apologize for bothering you.”
He didn’t close the door. But I turned around and returned to the carriage to show him that I meant what I said.
If this method didn’t work, then I would stop asking him once and for all.
I could drag him out of that house if I wanted. I could easily force him out using the authority of the dukedom, but I didn’t want to do that.
If he really loved Rere, if he really loved the duchy, he’ll definitely come out.
One.
Two.
Three.
And when I counted to three, someone called me.
“Are you the young lady’s stepmother?”
I turned my head slowly and made eye contact with him.
“That’s right.”
“…How is everybody doing?”
Now that I knew he was finally interested, I nodded my head.
“Everyone is doing well.”
“Rere is already this tall. She says inappropriate things from time to time, but she’s adorable. You are welcome to come and see us when it’s convenient for you. I’ll inform the Duke.”
Only then did the butler smile.
“I’d like to talk to you for a little longer. I should not have left the Duchess standing here for so long… Would you like to come in? If it’s okay with you.”
“Of course.”
I noticed uneasiness in his eyes as he looked around the area, but I ignored it and followed him into the house.
The exterior had planks nailed to every window, as if it were a haunted house, but the interior was actually quite nice.
A small, spotless, softly lit corridor exuded the elegance of a fancy restaurant.
“It must have been hard for you to come alone.”
“Alone?”
“Yes. I was a little hesitant to give you entry. What if there’s a rumor that the Duchess went to the old butler’s house by herself? Fortunately, I have confirmed that no one is around…”
So I turned my gaze away from the old butler in front of me. I confirmed that Luca was walking next to me. But why was the old butler speaking as if he weren’t there?
“Luca….”
But Luca shook his head slowly. His expression was stern and sad at the same time, as if telling me not to say anything.
So I couldn’t bring myself to say another word.
“What did you just say?” the old butler had heard my murmur and turned his head.
“N-No..just…I came here alone….yeah..”
“T-That seems to be the case?”
“….Yes.”
But why can’t he see Luca?
Was it done on purpose, or was there another reason?
I looked at him anxiously, but Luca only followed me silently.
That was exactly what had happened at the temple. Isaac started guiding me even before Luca got out of the carriage.
Meanwhile, the old butler came to a halt in the living room, which gave off a warm feeling just by looking at it. It was quite small, but the room had a fireplace and an overstuffed sofa.
“I should have taken the Duchess to my office instead of this small room, but this old man has been living alone for a long time and doesn’t have such a place ready.”
“I like this better. This place makes me feel even more comfortable because I wasn’t even a noble, you see.”
The old butler froze in place, as if surprised by what I said.
“May I sit here?”
“Y-Yes, of course.”
“Then I’ll sit here comfortably.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll bring you tea.”
Clattering noises could be heard after the old butler went to the kitchen. He quickly brought a silver tray with a teapot and teacups and placed it on the table.
“I’m not sure if it will suit your taste.”
“You don’t need to worry. I’m not here to drink tea. I heard the old butler remained living here just to see Rere. Everyone else has left the area…”
“The Duke wanted it that way. After that, he came here and kept urging me to leave.”
The old butler’s face was filled with loneliness.
“Is that why your windows…?”
“Yes.”
That must be why he was so wary of our visit.
“I thought I was safe for the time being, so I was surprised to see you suddenly. I was wondering if you were coming to kick me out…”
“Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.”
“Yes. You came here to ask about the young lady. First of all, how is the Duke? I was concerned because he acted strangely when he kicked us out.”
“Strange? Isn’t he always like that?”
I recalled that Luca said the Duke was acting like a child.
“No, that’s not true. He excelled in everything despite being a Duke at such a young age. But his emotional state when he kicked us out was the same as when he lost his parents at the age of 15.”
“Ah…”
“He looked like an emotionally immature person. The Duke used to be nice before Lady Lalice became like that. He was a very intelligent and warm person. He had the wisdom of his predecessor, Duke Lectus, and the kindness of his mother, Duchess Rediana.”
After volunteering so much information, he quickly closed his mouth,
“I must be talking nonsense. I can’t believe I made such a mistake in my old age. Haha.”
“Lalice…I heard her story. About her being Rere’s mother as well.”
“Ah, really? Did he really tell you about that?”
“Yes.”
“It seems like he has finally recovered from that pain.”
He got teary-eyed and his voice began to tremble.
“I was very concerned after I left that place. The Duke was able to maintain his rationality despite his rough childhood. But after what happened to Lady Lalice, he turned to the worse….and he began to change as if he had become someone else.”
“I think he has become a normal person now.”
“That’s a relief. Just hearing that story makes me feel at ease.”
The old butler drank his tea quickly, as if trying to hold back his tears. I watched him calmly and slowly took a sip as well.
As a result, there was a silence between us.
“I…want to ask you.”
“Yes?”
“Since when did Rere become sick?”
I asked him what piqued my interest the most. Heaving a deep sigh, he opened his mouth after a long time.
“I recall that she had been sick since she was a baby. Her fever rose so high, and she began to vomit whenever she cried. She ended up in a critical condition several times. She got better as she grew up, but is her condition still the same?”
“Not to that extent now. But she ran around a lot and got a lot healthier.”
“I see. I’m glad to hear that. I wake up every morning and sit in the brightest room on the second floor until late at night. I waited every day, wondering if the young lady would visit me….”
Looking at him, I shook my head lightly.
“The only time Rere went outside was when she went to the Imperial Palace. The Duke forbade her from going out.”
“Gasp…did she get sick, too?”
“She was fine at first, but she became ill by the time the carriage arrived at the duchy.”
“Ah…it’s hard to believe that she’s still sick.”
“I’m worried about her. I’m afraid that she’ll keep hurting. I want to keep her healthy, but I don’t see any clues about the disease.”
The old butler sighed deeply.
“I wish I could be of help…sadly, that’s all I can remember.”
“So she’s been like that ever since she was young. But she is better now ….”
Setting aside the old butler’s lament, I kept thinking about what he said before. I wasn’t sure, but I felt like there was a little clue.
‘Since she was young…..? Her illness was severe when she was young, but she got better as she grew up. What was the reason? Furthermore, it all started when she cried…’
At that moment, a ridiculous idea came to my mind.
‘Does that mean….she will get sick whenever her emotions fluctuate?’
I didn’t think there would be such a ridiculous disease, but I couldn’t think of anything else.
My vision went black in an instant. I thought it was nonsense, but my mind kept leading me to that conclusion.
An unsolved puzzle.
My jaw dropped as I felt I had found the missing piece of the puzzle.
I remembered the series of incidents before the child fell sick. And recently, she got sick when we returned from the palace.
‘I shouldn’t have overlooked it when she whined that her body was hot then?’
“Duchess?”
And as I sat still, the old butler tilted his head toward me as if he were worried.
“Ah…!”
“Did you think of something?”
“It seems ridiculous, but it’s also plausible.”
“Ah! Don’t tell me…”
“I think I’ll have to go back and check.”
“Can I help you, too?”
“Of course. I’ll invite you to the Duchy next time. If both you and Rere want it….please return to the Duchy.”
A teardrop fell from the old butler’s eye.
“You have no idea how desperately I want to hear those words. Perhaps…I stayed here like this because I wanted someone to ask me to return….”
“I’ll invite you as soon as possible. Could you please wait a bit?”
“Yes! I’ve been waiting for a long time, why can’t I wait a little longer?”
“Then I’ll take my leave first. I need to check something right away. I think I can cure Rere’s illness thanks to you.”
My heart was pounding so hard. I couldn’t hide my excitement. So I bid my farewell and ran to the carriage.
As if he was also overjoyed with what I said, the old butler smiled at me.
However, I forgot something when I was preoccupied with the idea of curing Rere’s illness and left with the carriage.
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