Chapter 104

The butler’s eyes trembled at my speech.

“I’d do something for Rere. I requested on your assist as a result of I don’t care who or what the circumstances are so long as it helps my baby to get wholesome once more. However in the event you say it’s none of your corporation, I’d higher depart now.”

“……”

“I apologize for bothering you.”

He didn’t shut the door. However I circled and returned to the carriage to point out him that I meant what I mentioned.

If this methodology didn’t work, then I’d cease asking him as soon as and for all.

I may drag him out of that home if I needed. I may simply power him out utilizing the authority of the dukedom, however I didn’t need to do this.

If he actually beloved Rere, if he actually beloved the duchy, he’ll positively come out.

One.

Two.

Three.

And after I counted to a few, somebody known as me.

“Are you the younger girl’s stepmother?”

I turned my head slowly and made eye contact with him.

“That’s proper.”

“…How is everyone doing?”

Now that I knew he was lastly , I nodded my head.

“Everyone seems to be doing nicely.”

“Rere is already this tall. She says inappropriate issues sometimes, however she’s cute. You might be welcome to come back and see us when it’s handy for you. I’ll inform the Duke.”

Solely then did the butler smile.

“I’d like to speak to you for just a little longer. I mustn’t have left the Duchess standing right here for therefore lengthy… Would you want to come back in? If it’s okay with you.”

“After all.”

I seen uneasiness in his eyes as he regarded across the space, however I ignored it and adopted him into the home.

The outside had planks nailed to each window, as if it have been a haunted home, however the inside was truly fairly good.

A small, spotless, softly lit hall exuded the magnificence of a elaborate restaurant.

“It will need to have been arduous so that you can come alone.”

“Alone?”

“Sure. I used to be just a little hesitant to provide you entry. What if there’s a rumor that the Duchess went to the outdated butler’s home by herself? Fortuitously, I’ve confirmed that nobody is round…”

So I turned my gaze away from the outdated butler in entrance of me. I confirmed that Luca was strolling subsequent to me. However why was the outdated butler talking as if he weren’t there?

“Luca….”

However Luca shook his head slowly. His expression was stern and unhappy on the identical time, as if telling me to not say something.

So I couldn’t convey myself to say one other phrase.

“What did you simply say?” the outdated butler had heard my murmur and turned his head.

“N-No..simply…I got here right here alone….yeah..”

“T-That appears to be the case?”

“….Sure.”

However why can’t he see Luca?

Was it carried out on goal, or was there one more reason?

I checked out him anxiously, however Luca solely adopted me silently.

That was precisely what had occurred on the temple. Isaac began guiding me even earlier than Luca acquired out of the carriage.

In the meantime, the outdated butler got here to a halt in the lounge, which gave off a heat feeling simply by taking a look at it. It was fairly small, however the room had a hearth and an overstuffed couch.

“I ought to have taken the Duchess to my workplace as an alternative of this small room, however this outdated man has been residing alone for a very long time and doesn’t have such a spot prepared.”

“I like this higher. This place makes me really feel much more snug as a result of I wasn’t even a noble, you see.”

The outdated butler froze in place, as if stunned by what I mentioned.

“Could I sit right here?”

“Y-Sure, in fact.”

“Then I’ll sit right here comfortably.”

“Ah, sure. I’ll convey you tea.”

Clattering noises might be heard after the outdated butler went to the kitchen. He rapidly introduced a silver tray with a teapot and teacups and positioned it on the desk.

“I’m unsure if it’s going to fit your style.”

“You don’t want to fret. I’m not right here to drink tea. I heard the outdated butler remained residing right here simply to see Rere. Everybody else has left the world…”

“The Duke needed it that approach. After that, he got here right here and saved urging me to go away.”

The outdated butler’s face was crammed with loneliness.

“Is that why your home windows…?”

“Sure.”

That should be why he was so cautious of our go to.

“I assumed I used to be protected in the intervening time, so I used to be stunned to see you all of a sudden. I used to be questioning in the event you have been coming to kick me out…”

“Fortuitously, that wasn’t the case.”

“Sure. You got here right here to ask concerning the younger girl. To begin with, how is the Duke? I used to be involved as a result of he acted unusually when he kicked us out.”

“Unusual? Isn’t he all the time like that?”

I recalled that Luca mentioned the Duke was performing like a baby.

“No, that’s not true. He excelled in all the things regardless of being a Duke at such a younger age. However his emotional state when he kicked us out was the identical as when he misplaced his dad and mom on the age of 15.”

“Ah…”

“He regarded like an emotionally immature individual. The Duke was once good earlier than Girl Lalice grew to become like that. He was a really clever and heat individual. He had the knowledge of his predecessor, Duke Lectus, and the kindness of his mom, Duchess Rediana.”

After volunteering a lot info, he rapidly closed his mouth,

“I should be speaking nonsense. I can’t imagine I made such a mistake in my outdated age. Haha.”

“Lalice…I heard her story. About her being Rere’s mom as nicely.”

“Ah, actually? Did he actually inform you about that?”

“Sure.”

“It looks as if he has lastly recovered from that ache.”

He acquired teary-eyed and his voice started to tremble.

“I used to be very involved after I left that place. The Duke was in a position to keep his rationality regardless of his tough childhood. However after what occurred to Girl Lalice, he turned to the more severe….and he started to vary as if he had change into another person.”

“I believe he has change into a traditional individual now.”

“That’s a reduction. Simply listening to that story makes me really feel comfortable.”

The outdated butler drank his tea rapidly, as if attempting to carry again his tears. I watched him calmly and slowly took a sip as nicely.

Because of this, there was a silence between us.

“I…need to ask you.”

“Sure?”

“Since when did Rere change into sick?”

I requested him what piqued my curiosity essentially the most. Heaving a deep sigh, he opened his mouth after a very long time.

“I recall that she had been sick since she was a child. Her fever rose so excessive, and he or she started to vomit at any time when she cried. She ended up in a vital situation a number of instances. She acquired higher as she grew up, however is her situation nonetheless the identical?”

“To not that extent now. However she ran round loads and acquired loads more healthy.”

“I see. I’m glad to listen to that. I get up each morning and sit within the brightest room on the second ground till late at evening. I waited daily, questioning if the younger girl would go to me….”

Taking a look at him, I shook my head frivolously.

“The one time Rere went outdoors was when she went to the Imperial Palace. The Duke forbade her from going out.”

“Gasp…did she get sick, too?”

“She was fantastic at first, however she grew to become unwell by the point the carriage arrived on the duchy.”

“Ah…it’s arduous to imagine that she’s nonetheless sick.”

“I’m frightened about her. I’m afraid that she’ll hold hurting. I need to hold her wholesome, however I don’t see any clues concerning the illness.”

The outdated butler sighed deeply.

“I want I might be of assist…sadly, that’s all I can bear in mind.”

“So she’s been like that ever since she was younger. However she is best now ….”

Setting apart the outdated butler’s lament, I saved fascinated about what he mentioned earlier than. I wasn’t certain, however I felt like there was just a little clue.

‘Since she was younger…..? Her sickness was extreme when she was younger, however she acquired higher as she grew up. What was the rationale? Moreover, it began when she cried…’

At that second, a ridiculous thought got here to my thoughts.

‘Does that imply….she is going to get sick at any time when her feelings fluctuate?’

I didn’t suppose there can be such a ridiculous illness, however I couldn’t consider the rest.

My imaginative and prescient went black right away. I assumed it was nonsense, however my thoughts saved main me to that conclusion.

An unsolved puzzle.

My jaw dropped as I felt I had discovered the lacking piece of the puzzle.

I remembered the sequence of incidents earlier than the kid fell sick. And just lately, she acquired sick once we returned from the palace.

‘I shouldn’t have ignored it when she whined that her physique was sizzling then?’

“Duchess?”

And as I sat nonetheless, the outdated butler tilted his head towards me as if he have been frightened.

“Ah…!”

“Did you consider one thing?”

“It appears ridiculous, nevertheless it’s additionally believable.”

“Ah! Don’t inform me…”

“I believe I’ll have to return and verify.”

“Can I show you how to, too?”

“After all. I’ll invite you to the Duchy subsequent time. If each you and Rere need it….please return to the Duchy.”

A teardrop fell from the outdated butler’s eye.

“You don’t have any thought how desperately I need to hear these phrases. Maybe…I stayed right here like this as a result of I needed somebody to ask me to return….”

“I’ll invite you as quickly as attainable. Might you please wait a bit?”

“Sure! I’ve been ready for a very long time, why can’t I wait just a little longer?”

“Then I’ll take my depart first. I must verify one thing straight away. I believe I can remedy Rere’s sickness due to you.”

My coronary heart was pounding so arduous. I couldn’t disguise my pleasure. So I bid my farewell and ran to the carriage.

As if he was additionally overjoyed with what I mentioned, the outdated butler smiled at me.

Nevertheless, I forgot one thing after I was preoccupied with the thought of curing Rere’s sickness and left with the carriage.