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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Melody Oser (2)
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Rosette and Lucas glanced nervously at Duke Adrian.
Joseph was still locked in the dungeon. They were at a loss as to how to explain the situation to Melody.
“Melody.”
Duke Adrian knelt on one knee, bringing himself to Melody’s eye level. Even so, the girl seemed unable to relax, clenching her hands tightly as her eyes darted around.
“First, could you tell this old man what you’ve been through?”
Melody hesitated, then began to explain what had happened. This was her story.
Melody, who had been missing her brother dearly, was approached by a man who said he would take her to him, and she followed.
She had been kept in an unfamiliar mansion, practically confined, but she said she hadn't felt particularly uncomfortable. The people at the mansion had been quite kind to her.
*He must have intended to send Melody to the Dallas family if things went south.*
Melody explained that she had begged to see her brother several times a day, asking when she could see him, but was always told to wait.
Then, today, she was brought here.
After finishing her story, Melody shrank back again.
“So, where’s my brother? Where is he?”
“Joseph had to step out for a moment.”
Duke Adrian had no intention of letting Melody see Joseph until the investigation was complete. Instead, he soothed her and gestured to a maid.
“Take her to a room for now.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
As Duke Adrian left to continue his investigation, Rosette scurried after him.
“Father.”
The Duke’s stern expression softened as he turned around.
“What is it?”
“What are you going to do about Joseph Oser? And Melody?”
Duke Adrian gave a troubled smile.
“I’ll have to think about that. And it’s not something for you to worry about, Rose. As I said, this is a matter for adults now.”
“But it’s my matter, too.”
Rosette spoke with uncharacteristic clarity. Intrigued, Duke Adrian pressed on.
“Why is it your matter?”
“I made a promise to Joseph Oser. I told him I would save his sister. He helped me because he trusted my words.”
Duke Adrian mumbled, somewhat perplexed.
“But Rose, Joseph Oser tried to… our family…”
He couldn’t bring himself to say the word ‘betray’, but Rosette finished for him.
“I know. He tried to betray us. But in the end, he kept his faith.”
“Faith? Where did you learn such a word?”
“…I heard the knights use it.”
“You’ve learned quite a difficult word.”
The Duke patted Rosette’s head, looking proud. Rosette blushed slightly and continued.
“Anyway, I don’t want Joseph Oser to be punished.”
“That is for your father to decide.”
“And I want to take lessons with Melody.”
“Lessons?”
“Yes.”
Rosette explained eagerly.
“If she studies hard, I think Melody can become a great mage. So I want her to take lessons with Celine.”
Duke Adrian couldn’t refuse immediately. While the idea of Melody having a talent for magic was interesting, it was Rosette’s attitude that gave him pause.
It had already been two months since Rosette had become the youngest child of the Adrian family.
During that time, Duke Adrian had given her everything she needed without reservation. At first, Rosette seemed burdened by it, but she eventually began to accept his gifts with a shy smile.
However, she had never once asked him for anything herself.
Now, for the first time, she was asking for something. Duke Adrian wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or troubled.
He wanted to grant her every wish if he could, but…
“Then let’s go to Celine first. We need to determine whether Melody has talent or not.”
“Okay.”
“If Celine says she has no talent, we can’t teach her even if we want to. You must understand that.”
“Yes.”
But Rosette wasn’t worried. There was no way Celine would fail to recognize Melody’s talent. In fact, knowing her personality, she might even throw a fit, demanding to teach Melody.
“Let’s go, then.”
“Alright.”
Rosette extended a hand to Melody, who was hesitating beside a maid in the distance.
“You come, too.”
Melody glanced around nervously before trotting over.
“Mm-hm.”
Rosette took the child’s cold hand and strode confidently toward Celine’s laboratory.
***
“Lady Rose!”
The moment they entered the lab, Celine rushed over and swept Rosette up into her arms. Rosette, flustered, kicked her legs.
“I-I’m heavy!”
“Heavy? You’re as light as a feather. You still need to put some more meat on your bones. You have been eating well, haven’t you?”
“Of course!”
Rosette declared proudly. She could say with confidence that she ate better than anyone, three meals a day. She was sure she could even beat Lucas.
Smiling with satisfaction, Celine set Rosette down.
She bent her knees slightly to observe Melody, who was hiding behind Rosette.
“Alright. And who might this pretty little lady be?”
Melody, who was desperately clutching Rosette’s clothes, hesitated before answering.
“I’m Melody Oser.”
“Oser?”
A wrinkle formed on Celine’s lovely face. As the Adrian family’s personal mage, she knew every detail of the incident that had turned the mansion upside down for the past ten days.
The name of the boy who had started it all was Joseph Oser.
*So this must be the sister in question.*
Having reached a conclusion, Celine glanced at the Duke standing behind the children. He gave a slight nod, signaling that everything was fine.
Reassured, Celine asked.
“You’re Joseph Oser’s sister.”
Melody’s eyes widened.
“You know my brother?”
“Of course.”
Celine’s eyes glinted, this time with a different meaning.
“I assume there’s a reason you’ve brought this adorable little lady to me?”
Just like Rosette, who hadn’t yet learned to fully contain her mana, Melody was also leaking it.
While she couldn’t compare to the obvious genius of Rosette, she was a budding talent who could become a skilled mage if nurtured properly.
“Yes. See if this child has a talent for magic.”
“There’s no need to look. Her talent is outstanding.”
“Is that so?”
“Still, just in case, shall we do a proper check? Your name is Melody, right? May I hold your hand?”
Celine leaned down and offered her hand. Melody looked at Rosette with a frightened expression.
“It’s okay. She’s a nice person.”
Only after Rosette’s reassurance did Melody take Celine’s hand.
A bright light emanated from Celine’s hand and flowed into Melody’s. Melody’s eyes widened. Celine smiled and focused again.
Soon, the light enveloped Melody’s entire body before fading away. Celine exclaimed with excitement.
“She’s brilliant, as I thought!”
“How brilliant are we talking?”
Celine shouted with excitement.
“Brilliant enough that I want to raise her myself, if possible!”
Belatedly realizing her subject was Joseph Oser’s sister, she corrected herself.
“Though I suppose that won’t be necessary.”
Duke Adrian looked back and forth between Rosette and Melody with an unreadable expression.
Melody hid her face behind Rosette’s back, while Rosette looked up at the Duke with a pleading face.
After a moment of silence, the Duke came to a decision.
“Let’s think about it after this incident is fully resolved. If the Adrian family were to sponsor this child, would you be willing to teach her?”
Celine asked in surprise.
“Sponsor her? But this child is…”
“Yes. We were planning to sponsor her and send her to the academy before all this happened.”
“If that’s the case, I would be delighted. It’s a mage’s dream to foster talented students. She seems to be around the same age as the young lady, so they could take lessons together. Having a friend to study with often improves learning efficiency.”
“Very well. I will contact you again later.”
“Understood.”
“For now, Rose, go to your room and rest. Melody, was it? I’ll have you shown to a room as well, so you can rest.”
“What about my brother?”
“I’ll let you see him when he returns.”
“Okay.”
Duke Adrian watched the two little ones leave the lab before heading back toward the dungeon.
***
“What happened, Your Grace?”
Joseph, who had been on pins and needles, spotted Duke Adrian approaching through the darkness and clung to the bars of his cell.
“My sister, is Melody alright?”
“Yes. Melody is safe.”
The moment he heard those words, Joseph burst into the tears he had been desperately holding back. He cried like a child.
“Thank… Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Save your thanks for Rosette later. If it weren’t for her, things would not have been resolved so smoothly.”
“I will be sure to thank the young lady as well.”
“Now then, we must decide your fate.”
The Duke’s voice was cold. Joseph wiped the tears from his cheeks and set his jaw with determination.
“I will accept any punishment. If you tell me to die, I will die.”
“…”
“But Melody… that child has done nothing wrong. As long as you let her go safely, I truly don’t care what happens to me. Not Melody, sniff, not my Melody. It may sound selfish, Your Grace, but please, do not punish Melody.”
Duke Adrian looked down at him with an expressionless face.
“Joseph Oser. You undoubtedly tried to betray the House of Adrian. Although your sister was held hostage, the fact remains that you attempted to betray me.”
“…”
“However, it is also true that you saved my life, fully prepared for your own death and your sister’s. I have been contemplating which of these facts to weigh more heavily.”
Duke Adrian gestured to a knight waiting behind him. The knight opened the cell door, entered, and unlocked the shackles on Joseph’s wrists and ankles.
Duke Adrian helped the bewildered Joseph to his feet.
“Adrian does not forget a debt. I have decided to commend the fact that you ultimately chose Adrian.”
“!”
“However, I will have you watched for the time being. Melody will also remain with the Adrian family. Whether that is as our ward or as a hostage will depend on your actions.”
“Then…”
“Yes. You may go see Melody now.”
As soon as the words left his lips, Joseph, supported by the knight, left the dungeon.
