Chapter 49
Melodia the Priestess smiled warmly as she looked at Lohen, who arrived a step later than I did. Following her mood, her hands gently caressed my head.
“Was it as you expected?”
“Yes. Actually, I had said that the children in the orphanage seemed to belong to the Grand Ducal family. So I wanted to check. And as I thought, I was right.”
“I see!”
For some reason, everything felt more rushed compared to the story. It was as if the Grand Duke already knew something. And yet, all of it was thanks to her.
It was both astonishing and unexpected, so I quietly stared at her.
‘So this was the reason he changed.’
In the past, the Grand Duke wouldn’t have arrived so quickly. He would have come only after the children had grown to some extent.
‘Though that wasn’t the only thing that changed.’
The twins wouldn’t have met the Grand Duke so soon, and they wouldn’t have swapped appearances either.
If that had been the case, Lariga might not have fallen ill so early.
I looked at Lariga, who had fallen asleep during the carriage ride, with a pang of regret. Normally, Lariga would have been older and then fallen ill—but because of me, because of the changes I made, she was already sick.
It was only natural that my heart ached.
At that moment, the Grand Duke, carrying Lariga in his arms, approached us.
“It’s been a while, Melodia Priestess.”
“It’s been a while, Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”
“I should have thanked you for finding the children, but it seems I am late.”
Melodia the Priestess shook her head proudly.
“No, Your Grace. Just seeing that you have found the young masters you were looking for—I feel as though I have already received enough thanks.”
She was so kind-hearted, one might think she was an angel.
“Oh. I forgot to tell you something.”
“Excuse me?”
“The orphanage you told me about back then.”
“Ah. Yes. You instructed us not to conduct any investigation for the time being. I suppose… you intended to investigate the place where the young masters suffered misfortune separately.”
“Right. I burned it down in a fit of anger.”
“Oh… what?”
It was only natural that Melodia the Priestess, listening quietly to the Grand Duke’s words, turned pale. Stammering, she tilted her head in disbelief.
“Your Grace… I think I misheard.”
“That’s right. I burned it down. And punished the orphanage director accordingly.”
“…And… the children there? The teachers must have been there too…”
No. Please tell me no. That can’t be… She seemed to send countless unspoken questions with her gaze. But the Grand Duke was firmer than ever.
“It’s none of my concern.”
“Your Grace!! No matter… no matter how notorious the rumors are about you, this is too much. How… how could you…?”
Even as Melodia the Priestess covered her mouth in shock, he didn’t move an inch.
‘I would have said something.’
Even I used to feel that way. How could someone just let people burn? How could they do that?
I demanded more explanations, argued, but he said nothing. The only relief was that the Grand Duke seemed willing to resolve things after listening to the twins.
‘Though he never said what happened afterward.’
So I had hoped to hear something today, but instead, the Grand Duke only left room for misunderstanding. He could have simply said that he resolved things well, that he handled other matters for everyone except the director—but he said nothing further.
“We can’t stay here forever…”
“Your Grace, truly, truly, they—”
“If you’re curious, go see for yourself.”
That was all. Melodia the Priestess wanted to argue at his strict demeanor, but she was just a priestess.
In front of her stood the Grand Duke, who was said to have no feelings. To him, the lives of others weren’t particularly important.
Knowing that, she let out a deep sigh and bowed her head low.
“Now, let us go. Deputy Priestess Relevia wishes to see the orphan… no, Aisha.”
“Understood.”
Deputy Priestess? My eyes widened at the unexpected name.
She was not someone you could see just because you wished to. She was said to be a Great Sage, far surpassing human lifespan. She rarely appeared publicly.
Most affairs were handled by the High Priestess in her stead, so even on special occasions, she would not step outside.
‘Relevia…’
Those who have seen Deputy Priestess Relevia say that just seeing her feels as if God has manifested. Simply being in her presence cleanses your sins, and those she blesses are healed from any illness.
‘If she wants to see me… maybe she could help. Lariga, who suffers from a disease even physicians couldn’t identify—could she cure it, even if it’s an illness of a child with almost no allies?’
In the story, Lariga had been sick her entire childhood. I didn’t want her to endure that. She couldn’t even properly experience her age now because she slept all the time.
A smile naturally spread across my face.
“But Your Grace,”
Melodia, having somewhat recovered from the shock of the orphanage burning, spoke in a firm voice.
“Do you know why Relevia wished to see Aisha?”
“Why? We don’t know either, which is why we came. If anyone knew, it would have been you, who came to meet us.”
“I assumed that since Your Grace was coming, Relevia wished to see you or the young masters. But to hear it was… Aisha that she wanted to see.”
She looked at me with surprise. The Melodia I knew at the orphanage had been endlessly kind and gentle—but now, her expression was oddly different.
I couldn’t tell if it was positive or negative… or some other feeling.
‘Or maybe she’s slightly irritated that I’m being treated specially? Nah, can’t be. She’s Melodia the Priestess.’
I shook my head and forced a smile.
“That’s a good thing, right?”
So I grasped the hem of her robe and smiled as brightly as before. Fortunately, Melodia quickly relaxed and met my eyes.
“Yes. Of course. That she specifically called for you means it is special. Perhaps…”
“Let’s go first. There’s no reason to stand here any longer.”
“Ah… yes. I will guide you.”
The Grand Duke nudged her. Until a moment ago, she had been quietly observing me, and only then did she nod.
“Yes. Let’s go this way.”
No more words followed. Whether the orphanage incident had shocked her or she was lost in thought, Melodia simply led the way silently.
We followed her endlessly until we finally stopped in front of a room.
“Deputy Priestess Relevia is in here.”
“Let’s go in.”
“Ah… since only Aisha is to be seen, it might be better to enter alone.”
“Why should that be? I am this child’s—”
The Grand Duke glared at me sharply, still holding Lariga. I returned his gaze in kind.
But what he said in the end surprised me.
“I am her guardian.”
It was certainly different from what I expected—like a contractual guardian or someone temporarily responsible.
“Ah… guardian. But… it doesn’t matter. Even if I am not allowed in, Your Grace will go in anyway.”
Having yielded, Melodia stepped back and knocked to announce our presence. No sound came from inside.
So I wondered if we should wait, but Melodia quietly opened the door.
“Let’s go in.”
“Is it really okay to just enter?”
“Yes.”
That was all she said. We stepped through the door she opened and found a woman seated in a chair, exuding an air of nobility.
“Welcome.”
“Deputy Priestess Relevia. I heard you were looking for us.”
“That’s correct. Grand Duke Casimir Blair. I have found that child. And I only wish to see that child. Could you leave us?”
Despite her gentle appearance, her tone was firm.
“But I must enter as well. I am the… guardian of this child.”
Her age was impossible to determine. Though her voice sounded middle-aged, her appearance contradicted it completely.
Her silver hair gleamed in the light, her eyes veiled with white lace, making her appear almost holy.
“Guardian, a fine word indeed. But, Duke Blair, everyone has their own fate. Even children. It is something one must bear alone.”
“Deputy Priestess.”
“Yes. I am listening.”
“Sigh… must I truly not be here?”
“Yes. You may not.
