CH 17

The sun, all bright and new, peaked above the horizon.

On the bourgeoisie street where Duncan Mansion stood, the thunderous clomp of the horses’ hooves could be heard. The strong sound disrupted the serenity of the sumptuous street with its sudden arrival.

Count Artes opened the carriage door and stepped out into the street. Lloyd, who had slept off inside on the woman’s bent knees, was awoken by the commotion.

The woman, like the Count, had spent two consecutive nights awake. She cruelly told him to do as he pleased, adding that she would simply observe; that’s how she ended up sitting back while watching her fuming husband from the left-open door.

The humiliation her husband had endured was unimaginable.

Aicila Duncan didn’t just shut the gates on them. The woman was originally disheartened to learn that they were ‘just a doormat’, but she had to fight off giggles when salt was dumped over their carriage

She paid little mind to the fact that the Count’s face was turning white and red.

“What the—”

His mouth suddenly emitted what may have been obscene language. This was made funnier by the fact that, in an effort to keep up his refined image, he was a terrible cusser. She couldn’t help but let out a peal of laughter, and the Count’s face began to display even more shades of emotion.

Lloyd, however, was apparently clueless to the situation and thus said nothing.

She had not prepared herself for the unexpected pleasure of witnessing Aicila Duncan’s belligerence. She broke into mocking laughter at the sight of her husband, who had become hideously haggard.

Clip-clop clip-clop. The sound of the horses’ hooves stopped. The Count, having gotten out of the carriage, disregarded his wife and gazed up at the boy atop the horse.

“Count Artes.”

Duke Richard addressed him as he looked down arrogantly.

“What’s going on at Duncan Mansion so early in the morning?”

“It has been a long time, Your Highness the Duke. We have our reason… The successor of the House of Duncan won’t open the gates for us, so we’re waiting.”

After hearing the Count’s oblique reprimand of Aicila, the Young Duke cocked an eyebrow. Unable to decipher the true meaning of his twisted expression, the Count excitedly continued to gossip about Aicila Duncan.

“She barged into Count Artes’s manor and is now closing her own gates in our faces.”

“…I see.”

“That’s what they always do. They are merely money-grubbing fools.”

“I believe so. Just like the nobles, who are mindless traditionalists with an unhealthy obsession with family lineage.”

Incredulous by his straightforward reply, the Count blinked. Perhaps it was due to his lack of rest in the carriage, but the Duke’s statements went right over his head.

At that moment, he sensed the boy’s animosity toward him.

The Duke swiftly dismounted off his horse. He may not have been as tall as the Count, a fully grown adult, but his presence was nevertheless formidable.

As soon as the gatekeeper of the House of Duncan spotted the boy, he straightened his posture.

“Long time no see, Lee.”

“It’s been a while, Duke. Did the inspection go well?”

“Mhm. Thankfully.”

The boy greeted a mere gatekeeper, yet he did not extend the same courtesy to him. The Count’s brows furrowed slightly in shame for an unknown reason.

“Can you open the gates for me?”

“I shall go ask Miss Aicila.”

“Thanks.”

The Duke graciously concluded their conversation and then rejoined the rest of his group. Mounting the horse with surprising dexterity, the boy peered down at the Count.

“You may enter as well if the gate opens.”

“Of course. If that’s the case, please accept our gratitude for giving us the opportunity.”

This time the Duke kept quiet, and the Count waited patiently at the horse’s side.

A peculiar sensation of disdain crept over him. Even though Artes is clearly a prestigious family.

Because he was no match for the House of Duke Richard, the Count, arrogant since Artes is also a prestigious family, was able to contain his bitterness and frustration.

Just then, the sound of light footsteps could be heard, and the gatekeeper of the House of Duncan returned to his post.

“Miss Aicila invites you to come in~.”

The gatekeeper spoke cheerfully and opened the gates. Next to the Duke who pulled the reins, the Count’s eyes widened in amazement. He couldn’t believe the gates were wide open.

My God, finally.

It’s finally open. I can bring that f*cking child Ronell back. Duncan has no reason to keep that child anymore.

With a smile plastered on his face, the Count became sure of his victory.

He helped his dizzyingly staggering wife and Lloyd, who was only partly awake, down from the carriage. At the front gates of the mansion stood the insolent woman, Aicila Duncan, alone in a gown. It looked like she had one of her hands tucked in her pocket.

“Father, the garden here is really big!”

Lloyd snapped out of his half-asleep state, his eyes wide, and he yelled. Aicila cast a quiet glance down at him. She continued to stare at him with an unfamiliar gaze and responded softly.

“Thank you.”

It took a little embarrassment for the Count to hush Lloyd, while the Countess simply licked her lips and didn’t say a word.

“Would you like to talk with me in my study, Count?”

“Hand over the child.”

“Feel free to come in and have a drink if you’d like.”

“What we want is Ronell Artes, Miss Duncan. There is no justification for keeping her around. Before we enforce the legal process—”

Slam. Aicila slammed the door shut in front of them as though she didn’t want to hear it. Frozen, the Count trembled with anger, but he knew that glaring at the door would do nothing. Just as he was ready to succumb to shame, his wife suddenly headed towards the door.

She knocked a couple of times and then spoke loudly.

“Let’s have a chat in the study, Lady Duncan.”

With that, Aicila reopened the door and leaned against it.

“What refreshments would you like?”

“Black tea. I would also like some biscuits.”

“Let me prepare that for you.”

Aicila answered very politely as the Count kept his mouth shut at his wife’s gaze and her muffled smile.

The moment they stepped inside, Lloyd immediately resumed his frantic sprinting, incredibly impressed by the massiveness of the porch.

“My gosh, B*stard is staying here? That’s crazy!”

When Aicila heard those remarks, she made a face, but he didn’t appear to notice.

Lloyd, still in awe of the building’s splendor, vanished as he hurried down the hallway apparently without bothering to ask the landlord, Aicila, for permission. The Countess, who had tried to warn the child, was left in despair.

“Your son must have been very excited.”

The parents, who could only feel shame, kept their mouths securely closed. Aicila smirked and called out to Aisa, who was approaching nearby.

“Aisa. Their son, Lloyd Artes, has disappeared somewhere. Bring him to my study.”

“…I understand, Miss.”

“Mitchell?”

The secretary next to Aisa replied respectfully.

“Did you call me, Milady?”

“Black tea and biscuits. To my study.”

“I understand.”

Aicila started walking towards the study room.

The Count suddenly wondered what the Duke, who had entered with them, was doing, but he and his wife continued to follow Aicila in silence.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

When she opened her eyes due to the glaring morning sunlight, she found herself in an unfamiliar room.

Ronell thought long and hard about her current location before recalling that she and Aicila had spent the previous night in her bedroom. Aicila had already woken up, so she was the only one on the spacious bed.

“You up, Kiddo?”

“Eek!”

Ronell was so surprised that she nearly fell off the bed, but she quickly balanced herself. She twisted her body and slumped over to the other side of the bed.

Teriot made an accurate assessment.

“You look like a paper doll.”

“How did Mister get here—”

Sister Aicila would hate it if she knew you were in here.

“That’s right.”

Teriot agreed, reading Ronell’s thoughts.

“Keep it a secret, because if she finds out, she’ll burn down my study.”

“Y-yes.”

A secret. Ronell made a hand motion as if to zip her mouth shut and nodded firmly. Teriot walked over to the bed and ran his hand through her golden hair.

“Right, thanks. I’ll go out and wait for you, so wash up and come out. Lily will be waiting in the bathroom over there.”

Let’s have breakfast together. At the suggestion, Ronell quickly jumped out of the bed and ran towards the bathroom. Teriot, fearing that the chick would tumble again, waited until Ronell had successfully entered the bathroom before leaving the bedroom.

It was not proper for a father to enter his daughter’s bedroom without permission, so if Aicila found out he’d done it, she’d immediately chew him up.

No, it’s good if it’s just chewing… I’ll definitely be eaten to the bone.

But I couldn’t help it this morning.

Teriot made excuses for himself. It’s clear that Count Artes and his party have entered the mansion, so I had to be with Kiddo while Aicila is facing them.

If Aisa, Reinhardt, or Aicila found out, ‘Who are you, huh?’—They would question him on it, considering that it was so out of character for Teriot, the paragon of lethargy.

Ronell, who had accomplished the major feat of making that ‘Teriot’ wait outside, was washed clean with the help of Lily, the maid dedicated to Aicila.

“You can go up the stairs and go through the left door to the restaurant!”

As she left the bathroom, Lily exclaimed with glee from behind.

I thought he went out towards the right side. Ronell was perplexed, but she made her way up the flight of steps steadily before pushing open the door on the left. When in fact Teriot was waiting for Ronell in a different direction.

It was a disaster caused by the excessively spacious two-story bedroom and the doors on all sides.

At the sight of a familiar figure in the middle of the hallway, Ronell’s eyes glistened.

“Ruby!”

Where were you last night!

Ruby purred affirmatively as it understood its butler’s joy.

Geez, my butler, did you miss me? I’m the best, right? I know. This body’s appeal goes a little too far!

The mischievous pet cat bragged, totally oblivious to the fact, that it had not been there last night while its butler was crying nonstop.

Ronell crouched down slightly in front of Ruby and grabbed its white feet.

“Good morning, Ruby. Don’t eat too much salmon today.”

Mer mer.

Why, Butler, that’s absolute nonsense! How incredibly tasty salmon is. I’m going to eat twice as much as yesterday.

“If you keep eating like that, you’ll gain too much weight. Then your knees will hurt.”

But there was no time for Ruby to argue. It was because they heard the echoes of a vile voice down the hallway, one that was all too familiar to them both.

“Uh, you b*stard! Hey, you, you’ve been— huk.”

It was Lloyd Artes.