MDRH 36

Chapter 36

“Did you see? Since this morning, the Young Master and Miss Lucilea have been going around together.”

At the main laundry room of the Decart Duke Residence.

Amid the thick steam rising from early morning, the maids’ hands moved busily, endlessly sorting the incoming piles of laundry.

Countless clothes were submerged in the laundry tubs piled high with white foam, and the rhythmic sound of wet cloth being beaten echoed through the room.

“I saw it from afar too. I thought I must have been seeing things. Wasn’t the heir of the Sidrat Marquis’ family with them as well?”

One maid asked, pulling a sheet from the towering laundry pile.

“Yeah, I heard they fought but then made up.”

“Children always make up quickly after fights.”

“By the way, this is the first time the Young Master has kept someone by his side.”

Excluding his aide, Jed.

At that, another maid, who had been beating laundry, tapped her own waist and said,

“That’s right. That cold and indifferent person… it’s a relief that he managed to make a friend, even if belatedly.”

“But calling it a friendship…”

The maid paused and tilted her head.

“That little girl, Lucilea, is seven, right? That’s a six-year difference. Can that really be called friendship?”

At that, another maid nearby chuckled.

“Friendship? You think he really keeps her by his side because he considers her a friend? He just humors her because it’s cute to have that tiny thing following him around. Seriously, just thinking about it makes me smile.”

The other maids nodded in agreement.

The image of a proud little master, who rarely allowed anyone near, unable to push away a small girl who clung to him more persistently than his own shadow—it was a picture that brought smiles just imagining it.

“That’s good. Honestly, the Young Master didn’t have anywhere to put his feelings.”

“….”

The words of the older maid suddenly cast a solemn silence over the laundry room. Even the beat of the laundry mallets paused for a moment.

The maids had no power.

If the collateral branches of the Decart Duke House and their vassal families decided to isolate Serdian, the maids could only follow orders.

Even if it hurt him and left him lonely.

Moreover, who could dare defy an order from Anasis, who had once been a duke’s daughter?

The old maids who had grown up in the Duke Residence remembered.

They remembered the terrifying young lady, stronger and more headstrong than the current Duke, who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

They remembered what happened to those who displeased her.

“The day I sent medicine because he was hurt during training…”

A trace of fear entered the older maid’s eyes as she recalled that day.

Although medicine was sent to heal him, Serdian received poison instead.

Who swapped it along the way was unknown, but it was enough to serve as a warning to both the maids and Serdian.

After such incidents repeated multiple times, the maids decided to completely ignore Serdian.

They believed it was the only way to protect the boy.

Even if he got hurt, even if he went hungry, pretending he didn’t exist, treating him as if absent—that was the only way to shield him from greater threats.

In a place where attention becomes poison and pity turns into a blade—this was the reality of living as the young heir in the Duke Residence.

“Now that I think of it, is it because the Duke is at the residence that the former princess, no… the Marchioness of Belgar, hasn’t come here?”

“That’s right. While the Duke is here, she can’t do as she pleases.”

“So…”

One maid cautiously spoke.

“The Duke says he won’t be going on campaigns for a while… maybe it’s time we took care of the Young Master ourselves?”

But no one answered easily. There were still people in the residence loyal to the former princess, Anasis.

Taking care of Serdian without being caught in their relentless watch over him didn’t seem easy.

Sigh. Another maid exhaled.

“It’s embarrassing. We, all grown adults, still hesitate, yet that tiny child approaches the Young Master without a second thought.”

“That’s why she’s so adorable.”

She comes forward, even when pushed back, again and again.

“That’s right.”

Perhaps.

Perhaps Lucilea was not only a small joy for Serdian but also a little salvation for all of them, who had been forced into silence by guilt.

“Thinking that way, it’s really impressive. That child, Lucilea, no matter what methods she used, she finally won the Young Master’s heart, didn’t she?”

“That’s right. The Duke seems to treasure her especially. Not long ago, she even set fire in the bedroom, and instead of scolding her, he gave her the room he used as a child.”

“Exactly!”

The conversation naturally shifted to Lucilea. The heavy atmosphere lifted, and the room became lively again.

“She must be special somehow. I can’t tell though. Just plain brown hair and brown eyes, right? Pretty ordinary.”

One maid said honestly. Another maid, however, disagreed.

“You didn’t look closely, did you?”

“What’s the point of looking closely?”

“When I came to the laundry before, I did look closely. And her features are so delicate and cute!”

“Really?”

“Of course! Especially when she smiles—dimples appear on both cheeks. Didn’t you see them? Isn’t that just like a doll?”

The maid’s face glowed with genuine excitement.

“Even that fierce Mei sometimes sneaks snacks for that little one when she has time, right?”

“Really?”

“I would do the same. Last time I gave her a piece of candy, and watching her chew it with that tiny mouth… it was so cute.”

“The little parrot she carries on her head all the time is cute too!”

“Right!”

“I…”

At that moment, a usually quiet maid slowly spoke.

“When she says, ‘Thank you for the meal, sister…’ and bows… my heart… aches…”

“….”

Everyone in the laundry room paused, then simultaneously burst into laughter.

Gradually, the atmosphere in the Duke Residence was beginning to change.

Those who noticed it first were the employees, observing every corner of the house.

“Well, in any case, it’s a good thing.”

One maid wrung out a wet piece of laundry and said.

“Thanks to that child, it feels like there’s a human warmth returning to the Duke Residence.”

“Yes, yes!” The other maids, agreeing vigorously, resumed their work.

Even as they worked, their conversation intermittently included Lucilea’s name, like a small budding hope.

In the western annex kitchen of the Decart Residence.

Lucilea, Serdian, and Raiden stood in front of dough, wearing aprons.

Raiden had received permission from Elbadin to enter the western annex during their stay at the Duke Residence.

Serdian poked the soft dough with his finger, speaking hesitantly.

“I don’t think he’ll like this.”

Lucilea stretched her arm upward and lightly tapped his back.

“You think we rented the kitchen just to hear discouraging words before we even start?”

Though her words weren’t comforting, it was her way of encouraging him.

The three children were preparing to make walnut pies.

It was part of a plan to improve the relationship between Elbadin and Serdian.

“A son making treats for the first time for his father! Sharing them, their bond grows! Their intimacy increases!”

Doing something they normally wouldn’t makes it even more effective.

‘Hehe.’

Lucilea grinned mischievously in her mind.

Then, a walnut rolled across the countertop with a “thump, thump,” right toward Lucilea.

[Walnut delivery! Fresh walnuts have arrived!]

The cookie pushed a walnut, about the size of its head, from the counter to Lucilea.

“Oh, Cookie! Good job!”

Lucilea patted Cookie’s head, and Cookie puffed up proudly.

“Alright, let’s get started.”

Recalling the secret recipe for walnut pies taught by Mei, Lucilea instructed,

“Start with the dough! Mix the butter and flour by cutting them together!”

Raiden tilted his head, then twirled his fingers through the air.

Blue magic flowed like a transparent thread from his fingertips, blending the butter and flour as if an invisible hand was kneading the dough.

“Oh!”

Lucilea clapped her hands in amazement.

‘Magic can do that too?!’

At that moment, Serdian cleared his throat and stepped forward.

“We need to crack these walnut shells, right?”

“Oh? Yes, that’s right.”

Lucilea nodded, adding egg yolks to the well-mixed dough, while Serdian picked up a kitchen knife.

A golden aura shimmered across the blade, and then—clang! thunk! wham!

Like chopping a tree in a misty battlefield, he sliced through the hard walnut shells precisely.

“….”

“….”

The kitchen echoed with the loud noise. Lucilea and Raiden blinked, watching.

The round, hard walnuts reminded Lucilea of heads, and she swallowed nervously.

Soon, the clean, undamaged nuts were revealed.

Cookie whispered, oblivious,

[When I grow up, I’ll easily slice through a human head.]

“….”

Yes, he said it. A human head is nothing.

Dozens, hundreds… maybe even mine.

While brief flashes of violent scenes from the original story crossed her mind, the dough and ingredients were quickly prepared.

Under Lucilea’s guidance, the walnut pies were finally baked.

Though a little misshapen, the combined effort of the three made their aroma rich and sweet.

It was complete!

All that remained was for Serdian to deliver them to the Duke…

“Ah, so you’re here.”

Huh? The three turned toward the kitchen entrance.

Anton, the head steward, had come.

‘Why is he here?’ Lucilea raised her eyebrows.

Anton continued,

“The Duke is looking for you.”

Perfect timing! Lucilea signaled to Serdian and Raiden.

‘Do well, you two.’

However…

“He also says that Miss Lucilea should come along.”

“…What?”

An unwelcome invitation came with them.