TYWML 44

chapter 44

 Raoul Berna
2024.06.13.

Cassel’s brows furrowed slightly. His tightly closed lips showed no sign of opening—this was clearly something difficult for him to say.

While he hesitated, Noah, perhaps having already opened his heart a little, answered brightly.

“Alright, Uncle.”

Riena let out a soft chuckle.

He’s still a bit awkward, but… I think we’ll be able to grow close soon.

She took the boy’s left hand.

“Shall we go inside, then? I’ll show you your room.”

“My room?”

“Yes.”

Noah, who had been about to walk forward holding Riena’s hand tightly, turned back to look at Cassel, who was still standing still. The boy thought for a moment, then reached out his hand toward him.

“…?”

“Come with us, Uncle.”

Cassel awkwardly raised and lowered his arm a few times before, as if deciding, taking the small hand.

The three of them then headed to the third floor, where Noah’s room had been prepared. When they opened the door, Noah’s eyes widened.

“Where is this?”

“Of course, it’s your room. I told you I’d show it to you, didn’t I?”

Noah looked puzzled.

“My room?”

“Yes.”

“But it’s so nice…”

The boy couldn’t even bring himself to step in, hovering in the doorway.

When Riena led him inside, his eyes grew even wider. He glanced down at his feet, as if thinking, Am I even allowed to step on this carpet?

“It’s really alright. This place was made for you.”

“…”

“From now on, while you live here, let’s make happy memories and have good dreams. Once you get used to it, you can study, make lots of friends… if you want, you could even go to the academy.”

After a moment of hesitation, Noah suddenly threw himself into Riena’s arms.

“Thank you, noona.”

“You should be thanking Uncle Cassel, not me. He’s the one who said we should bring you here.”

She whispered into the boy’s ear.

“He might look scary, but he’s actually really kind and a good person. Most of all, he cares about you a lot.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Noah hesitated, then gathered his courage and went to Cassel, nestling into his arms.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Cassel’s eyes widened slightly—he hadn’t expected Noah to come to him so readily. His arms hovered awkwardly in the air, unable to wrap around the boy.

Back at the Marquess of Lorraine’s estate, he had seemed moved and hugged Noah warmly… but now he seemed awkward.

Riena mimed hugging to prompt him, and after a brief pause, Cassel embraced the boy. His touch was careful, as though afraid even the slightest pressure might hurt him.

“I know I’m late, but live here as you wish.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

For both Noah and Cassel, it was a comforting beginning.

The atmosphere at breakfast in the Winkler household changed noticeably. Where it had once been just Riena and Cassel, Noah now joined them at the table.

Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Noah was led to the dining room by a maid. When he saw the spread on the table, his half-closed eyes flew open.

“Wow…”

Usually, the two adults ate a light breakfast, but today was different.

A full meal, carefully balanced for nutrition, had been prepared for the smaller-than-average boy.

With Cassel’s help, Noah ate heartily. Cassel even put down the newspaper he normally read during breakfast, instead spreading jam on bread for him or cutting up his omelette, continually paying him attention.

Riena was also busy with things for Noah—adjusting the menu to suit his tastes, asking the kitchen to prepare plenty of snacks that children liked.

She hired a trustworthy maid to act as his nanny, and brought in a tutor—choosing not only for skill but also for character, worried Noah might be hurt again.

Cassel repeatedly told Riena she didn’t need to concern herself with Noah, insisting she focus on her own work while he took care of the boy in every way. And indeed, he was involved in most matters concerning Noah.

But Riena couldn’t take her eyes off him—and Noah, for his part, was uneasy without her. So she stayed with him all day until he adjusted to the mansion.

After about a week, Noah seemed settled enough that he no longer panicked when away from Riena. He had come to trust that no one in the household would mistreat him, and realized they were all very kind to him.

Eating three full meals and snacks each day, he had put on weight in both face and body in just a week. Riena called in Madame Lachapelle and, until then dressed in Cassel and Acher’s old childhood clothes, Noah was given new outfits.

With his messy hair trimmed and dressed in new clothes, he looked so refined it was hard to believe he was the same boy they’d first met.

Then, one peaceful day—

“My lady.”

The head butler came to Riena, who was leisurely reading a book after leaving Noah with his tutor. Normally, he conveyed messages to her through Amy.

It was rare for him to come directly, so Riena looked at him curiously. On closer inspection, his expression was slightly tense.

“What is it?”

“You have a visitor, my lady.”

“A visitor? Is it perhaps the Viscountess Donovan?”

“No, Sir Raoul Berna has arrived.”

“Really?”

Riena’s face lit up as she rose from her seat. It seemed Raoul had finally received the letter she had sent as soon as she came to the capital.

“Is he in the drawing room?”

“Yes, I have shown him in for now, but…”

The butler hesitated, glancing around. Riena stepped closer and asked quietly:

“Is there a problem?”

“The master is currently out, so you cannot receive the guest together.”

“It’s fine. I can see Raoul alone…”

As she answered casually, Riena suddenly realized what the butler was concerned about, and closed her mouth.

Right… this isn’t the Dyke County anymore.

Back home, where everyone knew she and Raoul were close friends, no one thought it strange for them to meet. In fact, the Count of Dyke welcomed his visits, since Riena would always be so delighted when he came.

But this was the capital—and the Winkler ducal household at that. And Riena was now Cassel’s fiancée, set to marry next spring.

Cassel himself wouldn’t care, but to outsiders who didn’t know about their contract, her meeting Raoul alone wouldn’t look entirely proper.

Still… I want to tell him what’s been going on. And about Cass, too.

If Raoul found out the Duke of Winkler was none other than his timid childhood friend Cass, he’d be delighted. Cassel, being who he was, wouldn’t show it outwardly—but surely he’d be happy to see an old friend again.

If the three of them met, it might feel just like old times.

Waiting for Cassel to return before greeting Raoul would avoid any misunderstandings, but there was no telling when Cassel would be back. And it didn’t feel right to just send Raoul away after he had come all this way.

After some thought, Riena suggested a compromise.

“What if we meet with the door open? That’s what’s usually done when there’s no chaperone, right?”

“Even so…”

“Raoul is a longtime friend. Our families were close, too. If I were to invite a friend to my wedding, he’d be the only one. I came to the capital without giving him any explanation—he must be very surprised.”

The butler still looked hesitant, so Riena added:

“He knows Cass as well. When Cass was staying in Dyke as a child, they met and played together a few times.”

At the mention of “Cass” from Riena’s lips, the butler looked faintly surprised, but quickly composed his expression.

“So the master knows him as well.”

“Yes. Cass would be glad to see him.”

After a moment’s thought, the butler yielded.

“Very well. I will show you to the drawing room.”

He appeared to back down smoothly—but in fact, he intended to inform Cassel right away. Unaware of this, Riena walked quickly toward the drawing room.

“Raoul!”

When she opened the door, she saw the familiar face of her longtime friend. Raoul was not sitting but pacing the room, and at the sight of him, Riena was overcome with emotion.

He seems to have grown taller.

It had been a full year since they’d met. From the look of him, Raoul had worked hard in the Imperial Knights over the past year—his build was more solid, his face more tanned. It struck her anew how much the little boy younger than her had grown.

But her nostalgic thoughts didn’t last long.

Upon spotting her, Raoul skipped any greeting and went straight to asking:

“What on earth is going on?”