Living as a Butler to the Northern Duke chapter 45

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“Come in, Ed. I know the journey here isn’t easy, and though I’ve told you many times there’s no need to come in person, you never listen. Was the trip hard for you?”

As soon as Ed stepped off the carriage, he rushed to the woman walking out toward the field, supporting her by the arm, and responded.

“Not at all, headmaster. It was no trouble.”

The woman was in her fifties, her hair streaked with gray.

Her hands were thin and lined with delicate wrinkles, and though time had left marks around her eyes, her gentle and refined expression had not faded.

Her left leg, injured by a monster, required her to use a cane, causing her body to tilt with every step, yet she never let her face show the pain.

She was Rosie, the headmaster of the orphanage, who had personally maintained the sign “Roa Orphanage” for over 20 years.

In the original story, Ed revered and leaned on her like a parent.

Though the Ed in the original might not have been the kindest person by nature, he was always gentle and mild-mannered around the orphanage headmaster.

When he learned she was gravely ill, he even took up dangerous work as an informant to raise money for her treatment.

Ed, having come to understand a few things through the drawings and notes left behind in his notebook, began supporting the orphanage, setting aside a portion of his salary to send donations over time.

And today, knowing it would be difficult to visit once he headed to the North, he had prepared a gift before going to the capital.

But now, Ed gazed around in surprise.

The once single-story orphanage had grown into a two-story building.

The previously shabby roof was gone, replaced by a sturdy second floor, with the top being prepared for a rooftop garden.

The crumbling walls had been reinforced with ironwood beams, and high-quality limestone covered them, ensuring no leaks from the rain.

The wooden door, worn from years of storms, had been replaced with a solid iron door.

Even the peeling wooden sign had been swapped for a resplendent, golden-hued one.

“…What is this?”

“Come inside, Ed. We can talk more once we sit down.”

As Rosie steadied herself with her cane, Ed gently held her arm, helping her into the orphanage.

The inside was entirely different as well.

The dim, old rooms had been brightened with white, cheerful colors.

The windows, which had been rattling in the wind and patched with cloth against the bitter cold and heavy snow, were now fitted with sturdy frames and reinforced glass.

Warm sunlight poured into the once-dark interior.

The mismatched wooden bookshelves had been replaced with solid walnut ones, filled with picture books.

Expensive colored pencils, paints, and feathered pens were neatly placed in front, within easy reach for the children.

As they entered the headmaster’s office, Ed was welcomed by its warm atmosphere.

The room, once bleak and in need of repair, had been completely transformed.

Ed glanced around in awe, prompting a soft smile from Rosie.

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Oh, I can prepare it.”

“No, no, just wait a moment.”

The sound of clinking tea cups filled the room as Ed continued to look around.

“Here, Ed. I wanted to share this tea with you since a special batch was gifted to us.”

The tea set was brand new, its cups rimmed in gold, sparkling in the light.

Then, Rosie pulled out a faded portrait from her pocket and handed it to Ed.

“…Ah, this…”

It was a small portrait of young Ed, cradled in a man’s arms.

Ed gazed down at the picture.

It showed a young man holding a child.

Beneath the portrait, there were two more drawings.

One depicted the child growing, holding the man’s hand, and another showed the boy slightly older, smiling as he held a wooden sword.

Ed recognized the figures in the drawings—it was a young Ed and his father.

This was something Ed already knew from the notes and drawings left behind in his notebook.

In the small bag that had been in the annex of the Herins Estate, there were items from Ed’s childhood, including a small doll he used to sleep with and a notebook he had kept recently.

Portraits were expensive and rare.

For Ed, who had few drawings with his father, these were priceless memories.

The man holding young Ed was broader and sturdier than the average man, with sharp, fierce eyes that resembled a hunter or a knight capable of overpowering foes with sheer presence.

But in his gaze towards Ed, there was only warmth.

Though the man’s expression wasn’t visible in the drawing of Ed smiling with the wooden sword, Ed imagined he must have been smiling too.

As Ed silently stared at the picture, Rosie took a sip of tea, allowing him time to reflect.

After a moment, Ed lifted his head and offered a faint smile.

“I found this picture while sorting through the office during the repairs.”

“…”

“I believe Den must have spent a great deal of money to have it drawn, perhaps as a birthday gift for you.”

“Ah…”

Rosie took another warm sip of tea before continuing.

“Portraits aren’t cheap, so we couldn’t have one made every year… But I remember when Den first arrived in Uphill Village. I thought he wouldn’t stay long.”

“…”

“Uphill Village is the most hidden and shunned place in the South. Nobles smeared its name, calling it a refuge for peasants falsely accused or serfs trying to escape excessive taxes.”

A light breeze stirred Rosie’s hair through the slightly open window.

“Even those who come here with hopes of a new life soon realize how hard it is to survive in this barren, desolate place. Their expressions change quickly.”

Rosie pushed up her glasses with a finger.

“Surrounded by thorny borders, working the fields every day just to eat. Facing that hopelessness, people don’t tend to have the best thoughts. Many pack up and leave, choosing to return to the world below.”

Ed listened intently.

“They say even the beggars here are worse off than those in the city.”

Rosie chuckled ruefully and sipped her tea.

“When Den first set foot in the village, I thought the same—he’d be gone soon. After seeing so many come and go, you get a sense for these things just by looking at someone.”

“…”

“Though he had sorrow in his eyes, there was a sharp edge at the end of his gaze.”

Rosie looked at Ed with a soft, almost caressing expression.

“I thought once you learned to walk and hold a spoon, he’d leave you in my care and be on his way out of this village.”

Her deep-set eyes narrowed slightly.

“It seemed like he had something he was chasing, something driving him forward…”

She then smiled warmly.

“But Ed, even after you started speaking, holding your spoon, and running around the mountains, Den never let go of your hand. He stayed here with you, even though it was not an easy place to live, lacking in water, food, and comfort. He did everything he could for you.”

“…”

“Yes, Den was your sturdy tree, but you were also the strong roots that helped him stand firm.”

Rosie paused, studying Ed carefully.

“So when Den lost his life trying to protect you and this village from the monsters, I was deeply worried. I feared that without him, you would collapse. You were each other’s biggest support, after all.”

“…”

“To think that you’ve grown up so well and earned someone’s trust,” Rosie’s voice trailed off as she gazed at Ed.

Feeling awkward, Ed scratched his forehead and, unable to hide his embarrassment, quickly changed the subject while sipping his tea.

“This tea is really delicious, headmaster.”

Rosie smiled gently and replied, “Is that so? You can thank yourself for that. You told me to serve this tea when you visited the orphanage. What was it called again? Ah, yes, the orange-scented black tea you like so much.”

Only then did Ed realize that this was the same tea he had enjoyed the day he visited the Duke by the lake.

Staring down at the teacup, the lingering orange aroma made his toes tingle for some reason.

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