Living as a Butler to the Northern Duke chapter 93

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Returning to his room after Ronen had told him to rest until evening, Ed sat and thought deeply.

‘I don’t want to be a burden to Ed.’

The image of the Duke speaking to himself with quiet resolve kept resurfacing in Ed’s mind.

Ed lowered his gaze and examined his hands, turning them over thoughtfully.

He took a deep breath and left his room.

As he walked toward the Duke’s office, many thoughts swirled in his head, but only one thing felt certain.

‘I want to be a source of strength for His Grace.’

With that, Ed knocked firmly on the Duke’s office door, steadying himself as he received permission to enter.

He opened the door slowly and found himself gazing at the Duke seated at his desk.

Despite his evident fatigue, the Duke was managing state affairs with his usual unwavering commitment, and Ed felt a sense of reverence rise within him.

Looking into the Duke’s warm red eyes, which were watching him attentively, Ed began to speak.

“Your Grace, I have something I wish to tell you.”

“What is it, Ed?”

“It’s… about myself.”

Ed intended to tell the Duke about his own power, his healing ability.

He knew the Duke was distancing himself out of concern, and he wanted to ease those worries and heal him.

“Something about yourself? Then I must make time for it.”

Setting aside his pen, the Duke rose and gestured for Ed to sit on the sofa.

He also brought over the teapot and cups from the desk.

Seated on the sofa, Ed took a moment to gather himself.

Noticing Ed’s apparent nervousness, the Duke poured the tea in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“This is the tea you made earlier, Ed. You mentioned it was good for fatigue, and I have to say it’s made me feel noticeably better. I’ve been sipping it sparingly.”

Accepting the warm tea from the Duke, Ed took a sip and collected his thoughts.

The Duke waited patiently, his calm gaze steady on Ed.

Finally, Ed spoke.

“Your Grace, I believe I may be able to serve as someone who can alleviate your worries.”

The Duke listened intently, focusing on Ed’s carefully chosen words.

‘Alleviate my worries… Ed, you’re already someone precious to both Ronen and me.’

Yet the Duke didn’t interrupt, waiting quietly as Ed gathered his courage to continue.

“I… I possess a small amount of healing power.”

“…Healing power?”

“Yes. I’ve never told anyone before, but I think this power could potentially counter the side effects you experience, Your Grace.”

The Duke, who had been sipping his tea, set his cup down on the table.

“Could you tell me more about this power?”

Ed took another sip of tea to moisten his lips, then answered.

“I refer to it as a healing power, though I don’t fully understand its nature. And….”

As Ed met his gaze, the Duke gave a small nod, encouraging him to continue.

“I understand your concerns, Your Grace. But after that night we held hands… I was truly unharmed the next day.”

“……”

“Moreover, even if my body were to suffer adverse effects as you worry, I believe I can heal myself, so I don’t see it as a serious risk. You might find this uncertain power unsettling… but I ask you to trust me.”

The Duke watched Ed, who was speaking with a calm resolve.

‘A non-priest who possesses a healing ability would surely attract attention. At best, he could be summoned for a trial by the temple; at worst, he could be kidnapped and exploited if his power truly has no cost.’

Knowing this risk, Ed must have kept it a secret from everyone until now.

The Duke glanced around the room.

Even though they were alone, he carefully scanned their surroundings before speaking in a low voice.

“Ed, do you remember when this power first manifested?”

Ed thought back to his past, but couldn’t recall a precise moment when it began.

Not wanting to fabricate details and risk raising the Duke’s suspicions, he answered honestly.

“I’m not exactly sure. I noticed that my wounds and injuries seemed to heal faster than those of others, though it’s a subtle difference. But when compared to others, the effect is definitely noticeable.”

The Duke tapped his fingers lightly on the table before responding softly.

“Just to be sure… you haven’t told anyone else about this ability, have you?”

Ed took another sip of tea before replying.

“No, I haven’t.”

“I see.”

“Have you ever used this power to heal someone else?”

“No, never.”

The Duke stroked his chin thoughtfully, lowering his gaze.

‘Why is Ed willing to risk so much for me?’

He knew Ed had been quietly distressed, looking at his own hands in the conservatory.

But for the Duke, such discomfort was an unavoidable part of his daily life.

With a few days of rest, he usually felt better.

‘But for Ed to go this far just to ease this small discomfort…’

The Duke felt something unfurl inside his chest, a sensation that spread slowly downward like a tickling warmth.

Taking a sip of tea, he spoke.

“Thank you for trusting me and revealing this, Ed.”

“Then, Your Grace, would it be possible to try again to confirm if my power can be effective?”

The Duke, seeing Ed’s single-minded focus on healing him, smiled faintly.

“Ed.”

“Yes, Your Grace?”

“But since we can’t be sure your power is flawless, let’s confirm that there are indeed no side effects first. After that, we can discuss it further.”

“……”

“Let’s also keep your power a secret from others.”

Ed, who had been gazing down at the Duke’s hands, lifted his eyes.

He looked somewhat disheartened, his gaze subdued.

The Duke, seeing Ed’s expression, felt an urge to reassure him, to tell him not to worry.

But before he could act, Ed spoke up once more.

“Your Grace, may I have a word with you, please?”

Noticing the spark of resolve in Ed’s previously weary gaze, the Grand Duke nodded.

“Of course, Ed.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. I know you’re advising me out of concern, but I lost my family when I was young. Back then, I was powerless, forced to surrender to whatever fate threw at me.”

The Grand Duke poured warm tea into Ed’s empty cup and waited for him to continue.

“Most of my life has been like that. When the wind blew, I had to face it; when it rained, I was left to stand in it. A constant series of unchangeable situations.”

“…”

“But something changed when I couldn’t stand by while Young Master Ronen faced unjust treatment. I acted on my own, and everything shifted. The lonely young master found a compassionate Grand Duke, and I, once just a servant, gained a broader view of the world and experienced so much more under Your Grace’s warm care.”

The Grand Duke tilted his head slightly, meeting Ed’s gaze with even greater intensity.

“I understand well what worries you, Your Grace. But if there’s a way to heal the side effects you’re suffering, and you chose not to attempt it only to later suffer more damage… that would be unbearably painful and harsh for me.”

“…”

Ed paused, looking at the Grand Duke, his lips pressing together before he finally spoke again.

“So please, Your Grace, let me have the chance to heal your wounds.”

At Ed’s repeated request, the Grand Duke eventually nodded.

However, he suggested they first consult the physician, as he might be unaware of any hidden issues with his body.

“Ed, since we arrived in the North, have you felt any unusual symptoms?”

Ed rolled his eyes as he thought, then shook his head.

“No, none at all.”

“And you’re sleeping well?”

“Yes, the room is warm, and the blankets are so cozy that I’m sleeping even more deeply than when I was at the Earl’s estate.”

“What about your appetite? Are you eating well?”

“Of course.”