Living as a Butler to the Northern Duke chapter 71

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The people gathered in the clearing busily whispered among themselves.

While the Grand Duke stood in front of Ronen to shield him from their stares, he couldn’t block the malicious words from reaching his ears.

Ed felt a pang of sympathy for Ronen, who had no choice but to endure this gossip from people unaware of the true circumstances.

“What a mess this is.”

Ed bit his dry lips and cast a glance behind him.

There, Ronen stood, his head lowered as he stared at the ground, hidden in the shadow of the Grand Duke.

Despite his innocence and youth, he didn’t dare step out from behind the Grand Duke, holding his breath to avoid attention.

The Emperor looked down at the black-haired child before turning to address the nobles.

“I hadn’t intended to bring this up personally…”

Finally, the crowd’s attention shifted from the Grand Duke and the boy to the Emperor.

“I know that the Grand Duke Asnel has spent much time and effort searching for his younger sibling. I, too, felt deeply saddened and distressed by it.”

Turning back, the Emperor directed a gentle smile at the Grand Duke.

“Thus, I made inquiries from every possible source and investigated myself. After all, the younger sibling of Grand Duke Asnel is, in a way, also my sibling.”

The Emperor’s voice echoed through the clearing, and Ed held back a sigh, feeling stifled.

“Eventually, we found a child with a lead pointing to Ronenkeaz Linden. Seeing this child alone, with features strikingly similar to those of the Grand Duke, and noting the necklace he wore, it seemed highly likely that he was indeed the Grand Duke’s sibling. However, upon hearing that the Grand Duke had already found his brother, I refrained from mentioning it.”

At the Emperor’s words, eyes once again turned toward the child.

“But after meeting the child the Grand Duke claims as his sibling, and piecing everything together, I became certain that this child is indeed Ronenkeaz Linden.”

The Emperor paused, scanning the crowd, his gaze narrowing slightly to see how the Grand Duke would react, before continuing.

“This child is the true sibling of the Grand Duke.”

As the people’s stares bore into him, the child tried to shrink back, bowing his head.

The Emperor approached him gently.

“Don’t worry; they mean you no harm.”

The Emperor lifted his head again, looking back.

“So I had intended to speak with Grand Duke Asnel about this during the hunt… but it appears the child was frightened by the tremor earlier and came here.”

With a look of regret, the Emperor scanned the area before turning to the Grand Duke.

“It seems he just missed his brother, Grand Duke Asnel.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Even after I’ve said this much, it appears the Grand Duke remains firmly convinced that the child he found is his true sibling.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“I see. I trust the Grand Duke’s discernment as well. Still, there cannot be two siblings for the Grand Duke. I hope the truth comes out sooner rather than later, but we can’t bring personal matters into the holy hunt honoring the first emperor.”

“…”

“Therefore, let’s continue this discussion after the hunt, during the celebratory banquet.”

Ed looked down, biting his lips.

“Is he just here to stir things up and leave?”

The Grand Duke addressed the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, I have a request.”

“And what is that, Grand Duke Asnel?”

“I humbly ask to withdraw from the hunt. I request this out of concern that I may cause Your Majesty undue worry if I can’t focus properly.”

The Emperor tilted his head, smirking before he responded.

“I’d hoped we’d finally join the hunt together, but it seems luck is not on our side. So be it. If that’s your reason, I permit you to withdraw, Grand Duke Asnel.”

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The journey back to the palace was quiet.

In the still night, inside the slowly moving carriage, the Grand Duke gently stroked Ronen’s head, soothing his clearly troubled little brother.

“Ronen, a lot happened today, didn’t it?”

Sitting next to him, Ronen nodded.

“…Yes, it was a lot.”

His downcast eyes fixed on the Grand Duke with a somber expression.

The Grand Duke gently pulled him closer, knowing why Ronen was feeling low, and softly stroked his forehead.

“Remember when I told you? I left a mark of promise right here, on your forehead.”

“…Yes.”

Though he answered, Ronen still looked downcast.

Seeing this, the Grand Duke leaned closer and continued.

“And, remember here, on my left ear, I have a little mark, too?”

Ronen’s eyes widened as he spotted it, the Grand Duke pulling back his hair to reveal the mark, and exclaimed, “Ah!”

“Yes, there it is.”

“And you have a similar one here, on your ear.”

The Grand Duke softly touched Ronen’s small ear, tracing the faint leaf-shaped scar on his left ear.

Technically, a scar and a birthmark were different, but he made it a point of connection between them.

The Grand Duke looked up at Ed.

“Shall we ask Ed, too? Ed, can you see the marks on both mine and Ronen’s ears?”

Sitting across from them, Ed rose and bent forward, examining their ears one after another before replying.

“Yes, there are similar marks on both your ears.”

“Truly?”

“Yes, Young Master Ronen.”

At Ed’s words, Ronen visibly relaxed.

The Grand Duke nodded.

“And our father had the same mark on his left ear, too.”

So, you don’t need to worry.

Ronen looked up at him, finally comforted, and leaned against the Grand Duke’s body.

The firm, reassuring presence of the Grand Duke held him even as the carriage shook, filling the air with a pleasant scent.

As the carriage gently rocked, Ronen felt himself drift off, and by the time he opened his eyes again, it was deep into the night.

He was lying in bed, a soft lamp glowing beside him.

The blanket was pulled up to his chest, and in a chair by the bed, the Grand Duke was quietly reading a book.

Ronen held his breath, watching him, feeling his eyelids grow heavy once more as he slipped into sleep.

He hoped he’d sleep straight through until morning, but again, he blinked awake in the dark.

It was deeper into the night, and the lamp had been extinguished.

“…”

And this time, the Grand Duke was gone.

His eyes darted around, and he turned onto his side.

There were still hours before dawn, so he tried to sleep again, pulling the blanket over his head and squeezing his eyes shut.

“…But this is strange. Why can’t I sleep?”

Ronen cautiously lowered the blanket and looked around.

Though the guest room in the palace felt unfamiliar, he didn’t dislike it.

The bed, the table, the fine carpet, and the beautiful lamp — everything was wonderful.

“Then, it’s not because I’m uncomfortable.”

He’d slept well enough at all the inns on the journey to the palace.

Ronen squeezed his eyes shut again, but sleep refused to come. So, he slowly sat up.

“Maybe a little walk around the room will help.”

Then maybe he’d feel tired enough to fall asleep soon.

Lying on his back, Ronen dangled his legs off the edge of the bed, lightly swinging them as he thought.

Then he lay back down, pulled the blanket up over his head, and held his breath.

“……”

He sensed someone approaching the door.

Creak.

As the door carefully opened, Ronen tightly shut his eyes, pretending to sleep.

After a moment, he could feel someone surveying the room, then the door quietly closed again, and the presence withdrew.

Ronen let out a soft sigh and lowered the blanket slightly.

‘I shouldn’t be a bother.’

Creak.

But the door opened again, and Ronen closed his eyes even tighter.

“Master Ronen.”

“……”

It was Ed.

Ronen didn’t respond, pretending to be asleep. But Ed came in, walking over to the side of the bed.

He stood there silently for a moment, looking down at Ronen, before speaking.

“Are you having trouble sleeping?”

Ed’s gentle voice made Ronen’s eyes sting.

Slowly, Ronen opened his eyes and met Ed’s gaze, who was crouched beside him, watching him with concern.

“Ed.”

“Yes, young master?”

“Something feels wrong. I can’t sleep.”

Ronen finally sat up, and Ed felt grateful that he’d decided to check in on Ronen’s room.

Before going to bed, Ed had gently opened Ronen’s door to make sure he was asleep, and he’d noticed the faint rustling under the blanket.

Ed had quietly shut the door, but then he’d leaned his ear against it, catching the sound of a small sigh and shifting movements inside.

Realizing that Ronen wasn’t asleep but only pretending, Ed reopened the door and slowly approached the bed.

Ronen tried to keep up the act for a moment longer but eventually opened his eyes.

The normally bright and soft gaze was now shimmering with an uneasy look, which made Ed’s heart ache.

Ronen was feeling anxious.

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