Chapter 82 Duke Of Drea
Jediel crossed his arms and turned his gaze out the window. It was an attitude that made it clear that no matter how pitiful Killion looked, he would never change his mind.
“Whoa…”
“Ha…”
Sighs erupted from Veronia and Killion’s mouths at the same time.
‘He always gets serious in the strangest places. How did he think of scoring 10 points, is it a hangover from the last darts game?’
‘Oh my… I thought Jediel would be by my side with open arms, but I was too complacent.’
Veronia and Killion clamped their mouths shut tightly together, unable to get their regrets out.
“Wow, here we are!”
Jediel exclaimed as the massive, ornate gates came into view. But the carriage drove for a long way past the front gate, as the driveway was very long, with manicured landscaping and various statues.
Jediel pressed his nose against the window and let out a series of wow exclamations.
Veronia pulled her veil from her handbag and tucked it over her ears. It was a lace-trimmed veil that hid her face under her eyes, and Jediel cocked his head at the sight.
“Why are mum covering up?”
“This is… I know you and the Duke think mother’s scar looks beautiful, but it can frighten people who don’t know me, so I’m going to wear this veil for the time being. What do you think, does it look good on me?”
Jediel looked disapproving of Veronia covering her face, but he nodded vigorously nonetheless.
“Good.”
Veronia grinned at Jedidiah, and he hugged her tightly.
“You’re the most beautiful mum in the world.”
“I know.”
Veronia smiled, ho-ho-ho. Kilion, who had been listening to their conversation from the side, coughed and chimed in.
“I think so, too. Nia, you are the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“…”
The ticklish remark made both Killion and Veronia blush, and it was then that Jediel spoke up in a pointed tone.
“Mr Killion, why are you copying me? Don’t copy me.”
“Huh? I’m not copying you, I was thinking the same thing…”
Killion started to make an excuse, but Jediel didn’t wait for him. She cut him off immediately, this time pointedly, narrowing her eyes at Veronia.
“So does my mum.”
“Mum what?”
“She said they’re equally pretty, but why do you like Mr Killion’s better?”
“What, when did Mum…”
“Just now, she blushed.”
Suck, not knowing how to handle this situation, Veronia swallowed hard.
“That was… more because I was embarrassed than because I liked what you said. And you, Jediel.”
Veronia decided to change the subject. It wasn’t a very good one, but it was the one she always used when conversations with innocent children became difficult.
“You can’t call him Mister Killion from now on.”
“Really?”
“You must call him Duke Killion.”
“Duke Killion? It’s strange, mum just seems so comfortable with him.”
“It’s because you are still new. Keep at it, and you’ll get comfortable.”
“Chee…”
The child’s lips pouted out like a duck’s, unhappy at being forbidden to use a familiar name.
“Let’s practice so you get used to it. Here, repeat after me. Duke, duke, duke.”
“Duke, duke, duke.”
“Good! Do that ten more times.”
“Duke, duke…”
Jediel was a good listener to his mum. He would move his mouth wide and loud, repeating over and over again, and he would open and close his ten fingers one by one.
Focused on the task his mum had given him, Jediel forgot about his pouty lips and grumbling and concentrated on practising his ‘duke’.
Veronia breathed a sigh of relief that she had succeeded in changing the subject away from Jediel’s perplexing question. Killion watched in mild awe.
‘This skill will come in handy, I’ll have to remember it.’
Before he knew it, the carriage was standing directly in front of the building. The carriage doors opened and the three of them stepped out.
At this point, Jediel should have exclaimed, “Wow, that’s a big house!” but for some reason he was silent. Veronia sneaked a glance at Jediel’s complexion. The child looked nervous.
Partly because of the sheer size of the mansion, but more so because of the hired help lined up at the entrance. There were more than ten of them, and Jediel had every reason to be nervous, even though he’d been told that only the servants and maids he’d most likely encounter would be out to greet him.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Nia and Master Jediel.”
The hired hands bowed at ninety-degree angles, their gazes fixed on Veronia and Jediel. Jediel’s shoulders stiffened at the attention of strangers. The child hid behind Veronia, clutching the hem of her skirt.
“Mum… there are too many people.”
“The mansion is so big, there must be a lot of people working there.”
“…”
“It’s okay. Look. They’re all happy to see us.”
The hired hands were stiff and friendly to Veronia and Jediel, who had never met them before. Veronia felt strange, remembering her life in the palace five years ago, but at the same time, it was finally starting to sink in.
‘You’ve returned to this world.’
A world of formality and etiquette, where one was at the mercy of hired hands. A world where there are many parties to attend, many people to meet, and all the more reason to look beautiful and glamorous.
“Let me show you to your bedroom, please, this way.”
The older butler led them up to the second floor. Veronia’s bedroom and Jedidiah’s were next to each other.
“Wow, the room is huge, bigger than my house.”
Jediel was right. The room was bigger than the entire two-storey house they lived in in the village of Rosler. The child’s eyes immediately went to the shelves full of toys.
“There are so many toys!”
“We never know what kind of toys you might like, so we have a wide variety. If there’s a particular toy you’d like, please let me know. I’ll get it ready right away.”
“I’m not the Master, I’m Jediel.”
“Yes. Master Jediel.”
“…”
Jediel stammered at the awkwardness of hearing the word ‘master’ for the first time, but the butler merely smirked.
The child lets out a small sigh, instantly realizing he’s not making any sense, and turns his attention back to the toy.
The child’s eyes widened at the unfamiliar toy, and Killion’s spirits lifted. Kilion walked over to Jediel and spoke softly.
“Jediel, do you like the toy?”
“Yes! I like it very, very much!”
“Well, that’s good, because I ordered it all to be prepared for you.”
“Thank you, Mister Killion, no, Duke!”
Jediel remembered Veronia’s assurance before they stepped out of the carriage. But she had forgotten to give Killion credit.
Jediel had hoped he would mention it first, but when he said nothing, Killion spoke up. He couldn’t let this opportunity go to waste.
“Jediel, why don’t you give me one point for my appreciation?”
“One point? Ah…”
Jedidiah’s eyes lit up as he remembered that he had a point to give Killion, and he spoke cheerfully but firmly.
“But you can only earn one point per day, and since you got it from the carriage earlier, that’s it for today.”
“What? You didn’t say anything about such a rule.”
“That’s why I’m telling you now.”
“Ah… yes.”
Frustrated, Killion turned sullen again. The butler looked very puzzled by the exchange. Perhaps it was because this was the first time he had ever seen Killion treated this way by anyone.
‘I can’t stop them both.’
Veronia had to work hard to keep from laughing at the farce.
The tour of the mansion continued for another hour, and finally it was time for lunch. Checking the time on his pocket watch, the butler said.
“It’s almost time for the meal, which should be ready by this time. Let’s go to the dining room on the first floor.”
The deacon was right. The table in the centre of the dining room was piled high with food. Jediel’s eyes widened like rabbits.
“Whose birthday is it today? Is it a birthday party?”
“No, Master. You will always have meals like this at the manor from now on.”
“Always?”
“Yes, that’s right, Master Jediel.”
Jedidiah’s lips curled into an exclamation of wonder. He had relaxed a great deal in the hour since he had entered the mansion.
As soon as he sat down at the table, a servant approached him and whispered a report to the butler. Veronia did not miss the brief furrowing of the butler’s brow as he listened to the report.
“The Madam Godmother says she will not be able to join us for lunch because of the headache she has had since morning.”
“…I see.”
Killion’s brow creased in a similar fashion to the butler’s.
“Then why don’t we go and greet her ourselves after we finish eating?”
At Veronia’s suggestion, Killion nodded immediately.
“That would be fine. Go and tell my mother so.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
At Killion’s command, the butler left the dining room.
“I believe your mother still needs a little more time.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Veronia smiled at Killion’s worried gaze. This reaction from her godmother was so normal. She hadn’t expected it to be easy. Killion was right, she just needed more time.
***
The butler stood politely before the godfather.
“He’ll be stopping by to say hello after dinner, Madam.”
“Tell him he’s welcome.”
At the butler’s report, the godmother spoke coldly.
“Tell him that I am so unwell that I can hardly sit up.”
“… But, Madam.”
The butler looked at the godmother, her eyes still and calm.
