Chapter 30: 30

“We were just concerned for the Duke.”

“Who would be willing to work for the Duke if you are treating us unkindly?”

They changed their strategy and tried to appeal to his feelings while wearing dissatisfied and pitiful expressions.

Melody, the main target of their words, began to approach the main entrance hall at that moment. While she was wearing a simple dress as usual, there was one difference from normal. That is, the pretty ribbon she liked to wear often looked misshapen. Not only that, it was covered with dark splotches and blackened with stains, and even its tips were tattered. Even so, it was on her head, and more than that, she was wearing it in front of the Duke, who had given it to her.

When the vassals saw this, they were enraged and shouted at her.

“Heavens, what is with that thing? It’s like she doesn’t even know her limitations.”

“How dare you be this disrespectful when you are living here due to the Duke’s kindness…!”

“Duke, you must understand, a sinner’s daughter, is still a sinner. They are cruel and vicious from inside and out, unlike ordinary people.”

“What if she has a negative effect on the precious Young Masters and the Young Lady?!”

Melody just walked towards where they were standing, in the midst of them excitedly throwing insults at her.

One of the vassals shouted at Melody as she stood beside the maids, “What are you doing not coming here right now and apologizing to the Duke! How dare you shamelessly raise your head after doing such a thing to an object bearing this family’s symbol!”

A maid tugged at Melody’s sleeve. She seemed to be saying that she shouldn’t approach them right now.

If it was the usual Melody, she would have probably bowed her head deeply, following the maid’s advice – no, she wouldn’t have even come to this place. However, things are quite different now, because Melody was quite angry. Right at this moment, she wanted to grab them by their collar and ask them if she did something wrong or not.

Her heart was beating fast as Melody counted numbers inwardly to keep her mind clear and then she moved forward.

「You cannot solve anything by just being in a rush like that.」

Don’t panic. Calmly, just like Young Master Claude told me.

She arrived in front of the Duke and the vassals after counting from one to ten.

The Duke quickly grabbed Melody’s hand and hid her behind his back. It seemed like he didn’t want the child to suddenly receive the thinly veiled threats and scorn from his vassals.

Melody looked up behind the Duke’s back.

He was genuinely angry. That’s weird, it makes my heart so happy that someone is angry on my behalf.

“Duke, do you have sympathy for that child even though you’ve seen what she had done to the things that represent the Duke’s favor?!”

“You!”

Just as the Duke’s voice was about to rise, Melody let go of his hand, and quietly opened her mouth, “I also know what you are talking about.” Then she turned her head straight up and answered what they had just said, “My mother is imprisoned as a criminal, but I am living here in the Duke’s mansion with his grace.”

“H-how can you talk with your head upright? Something like you – !”

“I know – with just a single word from the Duke, and a little change in his heart.” Melody untied the soiled ribbon and placed it on the palm of her hand. “I will have to leave this mansion and I will have to lose everything.”

Fortunately, they didn’t oppose her words.

“That’s why, I am in no position to make the ribbon like this when the Duke had given it to me. His generosity is the only reason I have been able to stay here.”

Melody carefully grabbed the ribbon in her hand – as if she was handling a treasure. “This is something I cherish the most even if it looks like this.”

They looked at the child holding the ribbon and turned their heads while snorting.

“Do you think you can just run away from what you have done just by saying you cherished it?! If so, shouldn’t you have paid more attention to it then?!”

“I know, right?” Melody smiled and nodded. “I had no idea there would be an adult who would walk into a child’s room and tear up a ribbon – something like that sounds ridiculous.”

I should have been more careful had I known, Melody said as she caressed the tip of the battered ribbon slightly.

“Melody,” the Duke worriedly called from behind her as he put his hands on her shoulders, his hands were gentle, “Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I am alright but rather than that, the gift the Duke had given me turned out like this…. I apologize.”

“… I didn’t want to make you apologize again.”

The Duke muttered and then glanced at the vassals – with a face like a judge sentencing a criminal.

A few vassals could not meet his gaze and lowered their heads.

“How dare you be rude to a guest protected under my name……?!”

It seems that the Duke was about to reproach them, so Melody tugged at his sleeve.

“I am alright. Please don’t be angry, Duke! I haven’t lost anything!”

What do you mean you haven’t lost anything? The Duke looked at the ribbon in her hand, and he thought about how Melody must have been surprised and disheartened after she found it like that.

“Look, the Duke is still holding my hand even though the ribbon is like this.” Melody looked back at the vassal’s face and smiled, “It just turned out that someone had some very childish hostility towards me. I didn’t lose anything now, and I am also not hurt.”

“Melody.”

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“So, Duke, please don’t punish the criminal.”

The Duke read a certain thought on Melody’s desperate expression.

‘Perhaps this child…’

Wants to have the vassals, who were dissatisfied with her, owe her something. Giving them a sense of indebtedness, even if this kind of thing never happens again, is quite a good way to manipulate people. He had no idea how this child knew that.

“….I understand”

The Duke glared at his vassals with an expression stating that he was still not satisfied. They bowed quickly, meaning that they realized that he wouldn’t have left them alone if Melody had not intervened.

“I have been listening to your opinions all this time.” The Duke looked around them and solemnly asked, “Didn’t you all say that only worthy people can stay in the Duke’s mansion?”

“….”

While the vassals could not come up with an answer, he immediately led Melody away and left the room. A few minutes later, a chaotic train of carriages fled from the Duke’s house.

 

* * *

 

The afternoon of that same day, Melody was testing something with the help of the maids. They were experimenting with different ways to try and remove the black stains on the ribbon and hat. All the experienced maids suggested what they knew, and the ribbon and hat began to go back to their original colors little by little as they tried several cleaning methods on them. However, she was still upset that they wouldn’t be able to completely fix the torn parts…..

After hearing the news, Mrs. Higgins came running and embroidered on top of the torn and stained areas to cover them. Of course, she didn’t do it without voicing her complaints.

“Did those crazy people do it again? Did those crazy chancellor b*st*rds take drugs… is that what made them go back so quickly?”

Only the last part of her words were strangely softly spoken. She didn’t know why Grandma was suddenly speaking softly to her, but since it was funny, Melody put her chin on her lap and grinned.

“Alright, it’s all done. Why did the Duke buy such a small ribbon? It’s taking away any vision left in this old woman’s eyes… humph, does he want my eyes to hurt!”

Having said that, the ribbon she showed her had a very small sheep embroidered in it – very, very cute!

 

* * *

 

The rest of the day passed by in a flash and soon night came. Melody changed into some pajamas and put on a thin shawl. It was now the usual time for her to go to Loretta’s room, read a book together, and go to sleep after.

「 Do you think you can just run away from what you have done just by saying you cherished it?! If so, shouldn’t you have paid more attention to it then?!」

She stood still in the middle of the quiet room while she suddenly remembered what a vassal had told her this morning. Melody picked up the beautifully repaired hat and ribbon for no particular reason. She was happy that they were reborn beautifully due to the sincerity of so many people.

‘But still, I….’

Melody was surprised and quickly brushed away the thoughts that filled her head. ‘Wouldn’t that be ignoring the sincerity of those who helped me try to fix them all day?’

Melody hugged her hat and ribbon tightly. Then, without realizing it, the bad thoughts that she had been pushing down all day came pouring out.

In fact, Melody actually – I really liked the original shape of the pretty hat I got for the first time. Also, I had really wanted to treasure the ribbon that the Duke had given to me twice, for the rest of my life.

… She wanted to do it, but,

“….”

Her overwhelming disappointment and sadness flooded out of her heart. It was even worse than usual because she had endured it for so long, so Melody sat down and buried her head between her knees.

“… I’m sorry.”

When her words of apology came out, unsure of who they were addressed to, she was already crying out loud. Her sobs, once they had started, grew stronger little by little until they had soon consumed Melody’s breath completely.

While she was crying like that with her head hanging down, knock, knock, she heard a quiet knock on the door. Melody quickly wiped her face. She was afraid that everyone would think she was a child who doesn’t know how to be grateful if everyone knew that she cried, even though the hat and ribbon were fixed with everyone’s help.

But it was difficult to stop the tears that continuously flowed down, another tear would eventually roll down her other cheeks even after she wiped and wiped.

‘What do I do?’

Knock, knock, she heard a knock again. It was a little faster this time… as if telling her to open the door right away.

‘I can’t open the door with my face like this.’

Melody came up with a trick even though she was a little cowardly. Wouldn’t the person outside think that I was already asleep if I don’t answer like this? Then I might be able to stay in here, alone, without showing this ugly side to anyone.

She felt sorry for the person who came, but another knock rang again. Melody remained silent as she decided on what to do, but she couldn’t help a sniffle from escaping her lips. Soon, she heard a sigh outside the door. Melody pricked up her ears to listen to the voice for some reason.

“There’s nothing we can do, Loretta. It seems like Miss Melody has already fallen asleep first. I know you miss her, but….”

It was Claude, and it seems like Loretta had followed him while holding his hand.

(T/N: I am guessing that he was the only one who came and only used Loretta as an excuse [bunny laughing])

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