Living as a Butler to the Northern Duke chapter 10

What? Why suddenly?

“It’s because I had such a wicked thought.”

Ronen confessed as if he was making a heartfelt apology.

“I kept thinking that if Ed and the Duke were family, you’d leave me behind… I kept wishing that you wouldn’t be related.”

Ah, so that’s why Ronen was so tense and gloomy earlier.

Standing beside the bed, Ed met Ronen’s downcast eyes.

“Young Master Ronen.”

“Yes, Ed?”

“If you find your family, would you leave me behind?”

“N-No!”

Ronen jumped in surprise. Ed smiled gently.

“Then what are you worried about? Even if I were related to the Duke, I would never leave you alone and go anywhere.”

“R-Really?”

“Of course.”

Ronen’s face brightened noticeably.

Ed unfastened the cuffs and extended his hand to Ronen.

“And since you said that even if you were the Duke’s family, you wouldn’t leave me alone, how about you give it a try, Young Master? Extend your arm.”

In the original story, just the mere act of conducting a family relationship test was stretched out endlessly, frustrating the readers to no end.

So Ed treated the test kit like a toy, turning it into a playful role-playing game.

“Young Master Ronen, your family didn’t abandon you; they lost you.”

Whenever Ronen seemed to forget, Ed would remind him.

Every time they performed the test, Ronen would be fascinated by the glowing magic stone, and he would be deeply disappointed when the result showed they weren’t related.

To comfort him, Ed would say,

“Don’t be disappointed, Young Master. The result might change tomorrow. We might turn out to be family after all.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

So, day after day, they would continue playing with the family relationship test kit, pressing the button casually as if it were no big deal.

They even tried it on Sena, the only gentle maid in the Count’s estate, and Soy, the dog they were raising in the garden.

Although the cost of the test sheets was high, making Ed’s wallet thinner with each passing day, it was worth it just to see Ronen happy.

At first, Ronen was deeply disappointed that he wasn’t family with Ed, but as time went on, he gradually recovered and whispered to Ed,

“Maybe tomorrow will be different, just like you said. Maybe we’ll turn out to be family.”

Though Ronen’s innocent words about the expensive test sheets made Ed’s eyes a little misty, as long as Ronen’s spirits were lifting, that was enough for Ed.

“But, Ed.”

Just as Ronen was about to extend his arm for the test, he leaned closer to Ed and whispered in his ear.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Ed also lowered his voice in response.

“I don’t think the Northern Duke is my family.”

Now, what is this about?

“Why do you think that?”

“…He’s just too handsome, so he can’t be my family.”

Ed chuckled to himself.

Smooth, pale skin.

Hair that was originally black but looked ashen.

Large, clear eyes that were naturally red but now gleamed like violet gemstones.

Lively, red lips.

No, Ronen was handsome.

Although still young and a bit thin, Ronen’s handsomeness would surely bloom magnificently in the future.

Ed smiled warmly.

“Why, you’re much more handsome, Young Master Ronen. Far more than the Duke.”

Ronen’s cheeks turned bright red, and he fiddled with his ears as if they were getting hot.

Ed chuckled softly.

“Now, go ahead and extend your arm, Young Master. Since the Duke is also searching for his lost family, it might be a good idea to conduct the test.”

“Alright, then. Please extend your arm, young master. Since His Grace the Grand Duke is also searching for his lost family, it would be good to conduct the test.”

Ronen, saying “Okay,” extended his arm but then, as if suddenly realizing something, clenched his fist.

What’s wrong this time?

As Ed tilted his head in confusion, Ronen leaned in and whispered again.

“But Ed.”

“Yes, young master?”

“…What if I really am family with His Grace the Grand Duke?”

What do you mean, ‘what if’? You’d be walking on a path of roses from then on.

“What do you mean, young master?”

“Ed still hasn’t found his family yet. But if only I find mine, won’t Ed be really upset?”

Already this considerate… Ed smiled faintly.

“Why would that worry you, young master? If you find your family, wouldn’t that give me hope that I might find mine too?”

“Oh.”

After a moment of contemplation, Ronen responded with a “That’s true,” and this time, he fully extended his arm, thinking, “If I find my family, it would also be good for Ed.”

Ed then securely fastened the family relationship test cuffs around Ronen’s arm.

The Grand Duke, perhaps finding their conversation somewhat childish, chose not to interrupt.

It was a gesture of mature restraint.

And when the results of the family relationship test finally came out with a little chime…

“……”

“What?”

“Congratulations, young master Ronen! You are indeed related to His Grace the Grand Duke Asnel Linden!”

The Grand Duke, having had a faint hope, was silently moved as his suspicion was confirmed, while Ronen was left in a daze.

Ed congratulated both the Grand Duke and Ronen on finding their family.

“Huh? I’m really family with His Grace the Grand Duke…”

But when Ronen looked over at Ed to speak, Ed could barely hear his words.

Perhaps it was because he felt as though a great weight had finally been lifted off his shoulders.

A wave of exhaustion and drowsiness suddenly washed over him.

Ed shook his head, trying to stay alert, but it was no use.

His fevered eyelids drooped heavily, and his body, which had been leaning against the bed’s headboard, slowly collapsed.

He could see Ronen’s startled attempt to reach out and catch him.

However, Ed’s already tenuous grasp on consciousness slipped away even faster.

He was just too tired and sleepy.

‘Ah, there’s no need to look so worried, young master Ronen. I’m just a little sleepy.’

He wanted to say that, but he failed as the sleep overcame him.

As his body slumped forward, Ed’s consciousness faded, feeling the support of a strong frame underneath him.

When Ed’s heavy eyelids slowly lifted, the first thing that caught his eye was a flickering red light, casting shadows as it burned.

‘What is this? Where am I?’

As his focus struggled to sharpen, Ed slowly closed and opened his eyes again, this time catching sight of neat, black hair and the strong back of a man.

A faint lamp was lit in the room, illuminating the darkness.

The fireplace crackled softly as logs burned within it.

The intense, blazing fire made the room feel oppressively warm.

‘…Ah, it was the fire from the fireplace.’

Recognizing the source of the flickering light, Ed rolled his eyes.

Simultaneously, his thoughts began to clear, and he remembered what had happened.

‘Oh, right. I’m possessed… as the servant Ed who serves young master Ronen.’

With that realization, it wasn’t difficult to deduce who the owner of that large, strong back was.

It was the Grand Duke Asnel.

‘But why is the Grand Duke here?’

Even with his head throbbing as if it were about to crack, Ed recalled that he had been poisoned. His entire body ached, but especially his throat felt as though it had been scorched by fire.

It was so parched that even swallowing a single drop of saliva was agonizing, making it hard to breathe.

His body was in shambles. His forehead was burning, yet his body felt as cold as if encased in ice.

How badly was I hurt?

He wanted to lift his hand to touch his throat, but even moving a single finger felt like an insurmountable effort.

Groaning came naturally.

“He’s been sleeping for a long time. Is there something wrong?”

At that moment, a voice spoke from in front of the fireplace.

“His throat is too swollen to even swallow water properly, so he’s having trouble taking his medicine.”

It was a conversation between the Grand Duke and the physician.

As the Grand Duke turned his head, Ed quickly closed his eyes tightly. He wasn’t sure why, but he just felt like he should.

“Alright, then. You may go now.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After the physician left the room, the Grand Duke walked over to the chair by the bed and sat down.

The firelight cast shadows that wavered and blurred, creating a boundary between light and darkness that Ed could feel even through his closed eyelids.

He felt a sudden urge to hold his breath.

The Grand Duke picked up the cloth that had been covering Ed’s forehead.

As the lukewarm cloth was removed, a chill seemed to seep into his entire body, making him shiver.

‘…Ah.’

At that moment, a large hand touched his forehead.

It was the firm, straight-boned hand of the Grand Duke. And it was warmer than he had expected…

He had imagined it to be rough and cold, but the sensation was different.

It made Ed feel as if strength was returning to his body.

This was a new feeling. Being cared for like this while he was ill.