Episode 30

“…”

“…I don’t really like this.”

Amy tossed the red dress she had been holding onto the chair.

“As the duke cherishes you, I want to see you for a long, long time too.”

“Thank you. I also want to see you for a long time.”

I forced a broad smile in response to her words.

Amy gestured to the employee standing nearby. The employee handed her a scarf. It was a cobalt blue scarf with a distinctive feature: a golden pattern gradually spreading as if golden watercolor had been dropped onto the fabric.

It was definitely not a scarf suitable for me, the court jester. Even with my limited knowledge of fashion, that scarf was clearly not for men.

“To do that, you know what you have to do, right?”

However, Amy casually draped the women’s scarf around my neck and quietly continued.

“This is a gift instead of a brooch. When you find a new love, tie it yourself as if I did it for you.”

I forced a smile while looking at my reflection in the mirror. Amy, too, raised one corner of her mouth, gently patted my shoulder, and then left.

The women’s scarf felt a bit suffocating around my neck.

* * *

‘A woman’s scarf….’

I had a sense of what Amy’s intention was in giving me a scarf. However, I wasn’t sure where her direction was leading.

Perhaps it was a warning because I, a man, thought I loved Duke Raiden Akaruth, or maybe she had noticed that I was a woman. It wasn’t clear which one it was.

It seemed more likely to be the former, but…

‘Don’t jump to conclusions. There’s nothing certain.’

I shook my head nervously and left the scarf hanging on the hanger. Anyway, it was a gift from someone in a higher position.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

I turned my head at the sound of someone knocking on the door.

“It’s me, Flinn!”

At the sudden voice of Flinn, I quickly grabbed a coat to cover myself.

‘It’s dark outside. It’s the first time Flynn has come to see me at such a late hour.’

“Flynn, what’s going on?”

Wondering what could be the matter, I hurriedly opened the door. The corridor beyond the door was shrouded in darkness. Everyone else seemed to be asleep.

“I saw the light on, so I thought I’d check, just in case…”

The light escaping through the crack in my door illuminated Flynn. He offered me milk and cookies with steam rising, asking, “Do you want to eat together?”

Whether he feared my refusal or not, Flynn was fidgeting. There was no way I could refuse such a delicious offer.

I properly put on my coat and opened the door. “Come in.”

“Th-thanks.”

Flynn cautiously stepped inside, looking around my room.

“Did the work just finish?”

“Yeah, the work ended a little while ago. But, um, there’s something I need to practice…”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“It’s, it’s nothing!”

Flynn lightly shrugged his shoulders and gave a shy smile.

“What about you?”

“I’m fine too.”

“To be honest, I heard you went out with Miss today…”

Flynn seemed worried about me, hearing that I might be in trouble.

“Maybe nobles have some tricky parts…”

“Well, it’s better to serve Miss than do hard physical labor!”

I laughed and shook off his concern. In return, Flynn glanced at the scarf hanging on the coat hanger.

“I’m hungry! Let’s eat quickly.”

Without asking further questions, I quickly changed the subject. Flynn didn’t press me for details. Instead, he went to the window, threw it open, and, as if doing something he was curious about, looked outside.

As I silently observed what he was doing, Flynn turned to me with a sly smile.

A chilly breeze blew in from outside the window. Flynn, following the wind, abruptly climbed out the window.

“F-Flynn?!”

Startled, I rushed over to the window and saw Flynn on the roof.

“I thought you fell and got scared!”

“Sorry if I surprised you.”

“You don’t even need to apologize…”

In response to my words, Flynn gave me a lovely smile.

“Let’s eat here.”

I brought milk and cookies and handed them to him. Flynn placed the dishes on the roof and returned to the window.

“Can I have your hand?”

I nodded involuntarily. As I cautiously extended my hand, Flynn took it and gently pulled me.

“Ch-chase, hold on tight.”

With Flynn’s assistance, I silently landed on the roof.

The roof was flatter than I had thought. Like two stealthy cats, Flynn and I tiptoed across the roof.

“H-How is it?”

The view from the roof was breathtaking. The lantern lights scattered throughout the mansion resembled fireflies.

“I didn’t know there was such a place.”

Feeling the wind, I slowly sat down on the roof.

“S-Sorry!”

Only now realizing that he was holding my hand, Flynn withdrew his hand in surprise.

“It’s okay.”

In case Flynn felt embarrassed, I offered him the milk. Flynn, still startled, sat down next to me and awkwardly accepted the cup.

“S-So, anything new lately?”

Glancing at me, Flynn hesitated for a moment and took a sip of the milk. Flynn’s question seemed a bit strange, but at that moment, someone crossed my mind.

Was it Abel who asked Flynn because he was worried about me?

Well, if it’s Abel, then it’s entirely possible…

I nodded my head decisively.

“Well, of course! Nothing’s wrong.”

“If, if anything happens, be sure to tell me.”

Flynn opened his mouth with a serious expression. Despite the unexpected sight, I hesitated for a moment, but I couldn’t help bursting into laughter.

As Flynn hummed and looked at me, I quietly spoke.

“…I feel really lucky to have met you here.”

Flynn’s cheeks instantly turned red.

It was a sincere statement. I raised my chin, looking up at the sky.

Though shrouded in mist, the moonlight that illuminated us was as clear as day.

* * *

As the day before the guests’ visit to the mansion arrived, it seemed like things were somewhat sorted out, at least to some extent. Dark circles under the eyes of the servants were prevalent, signs of weariness evident.

And I was no exception. My tiredness was at this level due to the somewhat injured leg. I had been excused from heavy lifting or moving tasks.

I walked, pressing my stiff under-eye skin with my hands.

“Senior, may I come in?”

“Yeah, come in!”

Upon entering the instrument storage room, the first thing that caught my eye was the piano positioned in the center.

It was fascinating. A variety of instruments used by the orchestra were laid out.

Amidst the instruments, Roel stood with an exhausted demeanor.

“Senior…?”

Roel’s face was a mess. It looked like he could collapse at any moment.

“Are you okay?”

Instead of answering, Roel smiled.

The problem was that when he smiled, his tiredness made the sunken parts of his cheeks more noticeable.

“Senior, hold on a moment…”

For a brief moment, he looked puzzled, then willingly extended his hand to me.

I took out a piece of chocolate from my pocket and placed it on his hand.

“Sweet things are the best when you’re tired.”

In response to my words, Roel smiled faintly.

“Quite so.”

“I learned that from you, Senior.”

Roel placed the chocolate into his pocket with a content expression.

“By the way, what’s there to do?”

“We need to clean the instrument room today.”

He sighed.

I carefully asked him while looking around the instrument room.

“Um… do you mean Senior and I have to clean it together?”

The instrument room was quite spacious, given the numerous instruments stored. Even if I rolled dozens of times, it wouldn’t be enough.

“Unfortunately, that’s correct.”

“Oh…”

I involuntarily uttered a brief exclamation of admiration. It was a breathless expression of admiration, lacking any energy, like a deflated balloon.

“First.”

Roel looked around the instrument room. Then he extended the documents and a pen he was holding towards me.

“Could you check if the number of each type of instrument matches the records?”

“Yes.”

I took the documents and the pen.

“And once you’re done checking, go get cleaning tools from Mr. Henry and start cleaning. Just let him know you’re cleaning the instrument room.”

Roel continued speaking while glancing at the wall clock.

“I’ll quickly check the guests’ rooms and come back. I’ll be back soon.”

I nodded. After thanking me for my efforts, Roel moved away. However, he abruptly stopped, perhaps remembering something he hadn’t conveyed.

“Oh, right. I forgot to mention something important.”

He took out a key from his pocket and handed it to me.

“Room inspections are essential. Got it?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Only then did Roel leave the instrument room.

Sunlight streamed through the slightly opened curtains. Dust particles floated in the air, reflecting the sunlight.

The long rays of sunshine touched the piano.

‘First…’

I approached the piano. A grand piano, boasting a sleek black shine, was placed in the center.

‘Four pianos.’

After marking a check next to the piano, I hesitated for a moment.

The white keys seemed to tempt me. Unconsciously, I reached out and touched the keys.

‘Do…’

The distinctive clear sound of the piano resonated. Whether it was well-maintained or not, there was no discordant sound.

Re, Mi, Fa, Sol.

As I revisited my memory and slowly followed the scale, a voice from the direction of the door startled me.

“…What are you doing there?”

Startled by the voice from the door, I hastily withdrew my hand from the piano.

Raiden was leaning against the door.