Stifling a laugh, Rodi replied with polite composure.
“I possess far too many shortcomings to stand by Lord Magzeta’s side.”
At those words, Likens gave a slight pause and looked at her.
“…”
Failing this time to notice the shift in his grandson, William grumbled despondently.
“…Is that so?”
Contrary to the rumors running through high society, she struck him as a clever, delightful young lady.
He wanted to press further, but the terrifying glare his grandson directed at him crushed his spirit, leaving him to merely smack his lips in regret.
Just then, Rodi, who had been sipping her tea, looked at William as if something had just occurred to her.
“Duke, may I ask a single favor of you?”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Once our meal is finished, I would be grateful if you could spare me a brief moment of your time.”
She was asking if they might speak in private.
Though puzzled, William nodded readily enough.
“Very well. I shall have a room arranged.”
✦ ✦ ✦
William limped down the corridor.
“Oof… It is the knee acting up this time.”
Of late, not a single part of his body felt intact.
His knees, his shoulders, his neck, his back…
Though he had flown across battlefields in his youth, no one could best Father Time.
‘It would be wonderful if Likens would simply hurry and inherit the ducal seat.’
It was a proposal he had urged upon his grandson for several years now, yet the boy refused every time.
He always claimed he still had far too many shortcomings.
‘I believe he is more than capable. Why does he keep refusing?’
Though diligent and meticulous, the boy’s perpetually sullen expression had long weighed on William’s mind.
‘If only I could fathom what that grandson of mine is thinking.’
Lost in thought, William made his way toward the parlor where Rodi was waiting.
Kneading his stiff knee, he turned his mind to the young lady he had dined with.
‘Whatever could she want to discuss?’
It might prove surprisingly simple.
‘Does she mean to demand a reward for what happened?’
That was entirely possible.
He had heard she was instrumental in uncovering the true culprit behind the murder of his son and daughter-in-law.
William himself felt immense gratitude and was fully prepared to grant her a handsome reward in his family’s name.
‘I only hope the young lady does not prove excessively greedy.’
Concealing the pain in his knee, William entered the parlor with a posture straighter than anyone else’s.
“You have arrived.”
Rising from her seat, Rodi greeted him neatly.
“Thank you for sparing your precious time, Duke.”
“Not at all. I can certainly do this much for our benefactor.”
Careful not to show the throb in his knee, William promptly sat down.
Rodi took the seat across from him.
‘Hm…?’
Raising his head, he noticed a small gift box sitting beside her.
“Miss Rodi, what is that?”
“Ah, this?”
A somewhat mischievous smile touched her lips.
“To tell the truth, I requested this audience with you so that I might give you this.”
William pointed to himself with a look of utter bewilderment.
“This… for me?”
He had anticipated demands, never imagining he would be the one receiving a gift.
“Whatever for?”
Rodi replied breezily.
“It is a bribe.”
“A bribe…?”
William stared at her, dumbfounded.
Certainly, countless people had attempted to bribe him throughout his life.
Yet this was the first time anyone had ever announced it so brazenly.
“If you have a favor to ask, simply speak your mind. I am indebted to you, so I would gladly grant you one without such tricks.”
“No, I truly wish for you to accept this, Duke.”
Rodi spoke in an obstinate tone.
“For this is an exceptionally precious item.”
“…”
Never had he heard such a thing before.
Ordinarily, those seeking to bribe him would whisper, ‘Duke, it is merely a trifling token…’ as they slid it over in secret.
“Just what could it be?”
“It is truly, truly precious. One of a kind in all the world.”
…With her putting it that way, curiosity began to stir within him.
“Cough, hmph!”
Pulling himself together, William cleared his throat.
“Miss Rodi, I do not take bribes.”
She offered a serene smile.
“Then you need not keep it. Because it is so precious, I ask only that you look upon it. That alone would be an honor.”
That proposal tempted him.
“Only look…?”
Rodi pleaded with earnest eyes.
“Yes. Simply looking upon it does not constitute taking a bribe, does it?”
William glanced down at the gift box.
‘If it is only looking… and it would be rather poor form to flatly reject a favor from our benefactor…’
Having thoroughly rationalized it to himself, he said,
“Very well! I shall only look.”
Lest she entertain vain hopes, William issued a stern warning.
“However, do not dream for a second that looking upon this will persuade me to indulge any improper request.”
“Do not worry. Such a thought would never cross my mind.”
Before he could change his mind, Rodi swiftly set the gift box upon his lap.
With an expression full of curiosity, he pulled on the red ribbon.
‘Judging by the size of the box, it must be small.’
Having cast the ribbon aside, he slipped his fingers beneath the lid.
‘She called it precious, so is it a jewel of some sort?’
With that thought, William lifted the lid.
“…”
After staring blankly at the contents for a few seconds, he spoke in a slightly hushed voice.
“…This is.”
“Do you happen to remember it?”
“Of course I do.”
William carefully lifted the carved wooden doll resting inside the box.
“This is the doll Likens carved… with Joen.”
His eyes grew distant, submerged in deep reminiscence.
“You remembered.”
“Indeed. Likens came running to boast about it back then…”
Even now, the memory of his tiny grandson running toward him with shining eyes, clutching that doll, remained vivid in his mind.
“Yet, foolish as I was, I did not praise the boy.”
William gazed down at the wooden doll with a somber look.
When Likens had proudly presented the doll, he had lost his temper at both his grandson and his son.
‘Do you intend to teach Likens such vulgar pursuits as well?!’
The sound of Likens cowering behind Joen’s back, repeating, ‘I am sorry, I am sorry…,’ still rang clear in his ears.
William let out a lament.
“I was a fool.”
“…”
“What did such a young child know? All I had to do was offer a single word of praise, to tell him he had done well.”
Rodi watched him intently.
“You regret it.”
William gave a bitter smile.
“Not a single day has passed since my son and his wife died that I have not regretted it, Miss Rodi.”
Hunched over, he pressed the wooden doll against his forehead and muttered in anguish.
“Those beautiful days… I ruined them all with my own ignorance…”
He had done nothing but push his son.
Why can you not do better?
You are the heir to Magzeta; you must never show weakness.
Finish your duties with greater perfection, with greater excellence.
‘Instead of spouting such nonsense, I should have told him I loved him just once more.’
He was the most precious son in the world, yet William had taken his presence for granted.
Never did he think he would lose him in an instant.
“…Miss Rodi.”
Lifting his head once more, William’s eyes were rimmed with red.
“What was your intention in handing this to me?”
Rodi met his gaze squarely.
“To let you know that it is not too late for everything.”
“Not… too late?”
“Please release Lord Likens from the curse of the past.”
“A curse?”
Startled, William stared at her.
“Whatever do you mean by that?”
“Right now, he is suppressing every single emotion, paralyzed by fear.”
“That child… is afraid…?”
It was impossible to imagine.
That his grandson, a man of iron resolve, could feel fear.
“Yes. He is terrified. Terrified that he might fail to become the perfect heir to Magzeta.”
At those unexpected words, William dragged a rough hand down his face.
“…He is already a magnificent heir to House Magzeta.”
“Have you ever told him so, even once?”
Searching his memories, he shook his head.
Come to think of it, he had offered Likens nothing but scolding.
‘Because I wanted my grandson to be better, because I wanted him to avoid making the same mistakes I did.’
Could all the words he had hurled at the boy have turned into crushing boulders instead?
“Then please, tell him so just once, with all your heart.”
Rodi added in a calm voice.
“Tell him that he has worked hard all this time. That no matter what happens, you will always be on his side.”
A sorrowful smile touched her lips.
“Every child in the world picks themselves back up after falling, running forward just to hear that single sentence from their guardian.”
