The Villainess Is Shy In Receiving Affection

It was June five years ago when she said she had to get as far away from the mansion and Magic Tower as possible. During that time, more than half of the servants who were working there had already quit their job and left the mansion. Most of them only remembered the shocking fact that ‘the Madam had left the house,’ but what they didn’t know was the story behind it all. So wouldn’t it be alright to call for a wizard right now?

“I get it. I will send a request and letter to the Magic Tower’s Master Owen. He will be the first one to check.”

The letter reached the Magic Tower at high speed, and it only took less than half a day for the Magic Tower to assign someone to send to the mansion.

* * *

“I am apprentice Jeremiah.”

The Duke blankly stared at his son bowing in front of him. He knew that this child didn’t like him that much. But he had never thought that this son of his would only introduce himself as an ‘apprentice’ at their first meeting in many years.

“A… apprentice.”

Surprised, the Duke repeated his words in a low voice. Jeremiah soon raised his head and his handsome face blossomed into a smile. He looked just like Claude. Well, to be more precise, he resembled Beatrice.

“I haven’t received the title of wizard yet. But I will try my best to treat your daughter, Your Grace.”

The natural sound of the words ‘your Grace’ leaving the child’s lips, as words that defined the Duke’s special power and standing, seemed to emphasize right away how the son thought of his father.

“Welcome home. I had been waiting all this time, Jeremiah Valdwin.”

The Duke also responded with a simple greeting of words imbued with his heartfelt feelings. Everything he said was sincere, but it didn’t seem to reach him. Seeing as how Jeremiah passed by him without saying anything.

“It has been a while, brother.”

Now, Jeremiah bowed to Ronnie who was standing next to the Duke. The brothers, only a year apart, didn’t have many memories of each other.

“O, oh!”

Ronnie must have been nervous seeing as after saying that, he couldn’t say anything more. On the other hand, Jeremiah led their conversation without being emotionally stirred.

“I heard you have a new guest, but I don’t see them.”

“… Did you hear about Melody?!”

“Collecting information about the client is a matter of course.”

“Th, that’s great….”

“Even if that’s not the case, the fact that someone who was raised by a slave trader is living with the Duke’s family is quite the famous story.”

When he first heard that, Jeremiah even laughed. The presence of a guest like that perfectly fits the Ducal family he knew.

“Melody must be sleeping.”

“Sleeping?”

“Hmm, she hasn’t been able to sleep well these days. She was worried about Loretta.” Even Ronnie’s face when he said that was clearly tired.

“The newest youngest… is quite loved.” Jeremiah replied as he passed by Ronnie, muttering words to himself. “I would have never had to come here if she had been sold into slavery….”

Hearing his words, Ronnie swiftly turned his head to him in surprise. When their eyes met again, Jeremiah was smiling kindly.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, nothing.”

Ronnie concluded that it was impossible for a well-mannered child like Jeremiah to say such scary words.

“I heard wrong.”

“It’s sometimes like that when we’re tired.”

Higgins soon approached Jeremiah. “Young Master, let me guide you.”

“Thank you, Higgins.”

Jeremiah lightly nodded his head in response, then Ronnie suddenly jumped between the two of them.

“Wait, let me guide him! I am Jeremiah’s older brother.”

Jeremiah didn’t even say ‘Please do so,’ but Ronnie grabbed his arm and began pulling him deeper inside the mansion. Ronnie’s steps were light for the first time in a long time. He was glad to see Jeremiah after a long time, but he was happier about another thing.

‘Loretta will be fine now.’

Since Jeremiah is a proud wizard from their Ducal family, he will solve everything in a wonderful way. Now, Ronnie had nothing to worry about.

* * *

Ronnie persistently hovered around Jeremiah in the hallway of the mansion.

“Should I take you to Loretta first? Or do you need some time to rest? Or should I take you to your room? Ah, right, have you eaten yet?”

“Brother.”

“Yep! What do you want to do first?”

Seeing as how he approached him with his eyes wide open, he seemed to be absorbed in acting like the master of the mansion.

‘Talk about being overprotective inside the mansion….’

Jeremiah thought of Ronnie like that, but he didn’t bother to show the hostility on his face. Maybe it was because he thought that if it was Claude Valdwin, he would know his true intentions right away. He felt mild pity and irritation towards Ronnie, who was just smiling without knowing anything.

“I came here to handle the request received by the Magic Tower. Naturally, we will go where the patient is first.”

“Alright, then this older brother will guide your way.”

Thinking that he was at least a handy guide, Jeremiah followed him to Loretta’s room. The place they arrived at was a room that wasn’t used very much back when Jeremiah was still living in the mansion. He recalled in his dim memory that this room has always been locked.

The first things he noticed upon entering the room were the colorful toys, books, luxurious furniture, and pretty rugs. It was very different from the Magic Tower where everyone leads a frugal life. No, this was also different from the Ducal family of the past. He didn’t think this was a place where they would just waste money.

“Pretty, right?”

Jeremiah looked at the child’s face lying on the bed when he heard Ronnie’s question. Yes, if he was asked if she was pretty, objectively speaking, she is pretty. There were many instances where children the same age as Loretta came to the Magic Tower to become practitioners, but it was rare to find such a cute child among them.

“Yes, she’s pretty.”

As he answered while looking at Loretta, Ronnie turned his head at him in surprise, his face red.

“I, I wasn’t asking if she was pretty! I was asking you if this room is pretty.” He then pointed to a rug or a piece of furniture and began bragging such as, ‘I gave some good advice on choosing good ones.’

“That’s why, if you ever want to redecorate your room, you can ask me anytime. My discerning eyes are acknowledged by many merchants.”

“Well, brother grew up seeing only the good things under the Duke’s protection, so it goes without saying that you have a good eye.”

To the point where Jeremiah envied his comfortable eyes that only saw good things.

“Then I will look at Loretta’s condition now. Uhm, in silence.”

“Oh. Should I close the windows? Or do you need something? Just say it. I will prepare everything for you.”

“I just need it to be quiet – very quiet. As if there was no one else here.”

Jeremiah put one finger on his lips and smiled. Looking at him, Ronnie realized that he was asking for him to leave.

“Then I will wait for you outside the door. Let me know if you need anything.”

Only then did Ronnie hesitantly back away, along with the maid attending to Loretta.

“All I need is silence. Everything’s fine.”

“Then I’ll keep an eye on everyone here!”

He excitedly went out into the hallway and said, ‘Be quiet everyone! Jeremiah is treating Loretta!’ Jeremiah looked through the closing door and then shifted his gaze over to the bed with a slightly contorted face.

“… Loretta Valdwin.”

The thin and pale face of the child was familiar yet strange. She resembles him somewhat, and, 「I’m going to kill this child! 」 She even resembled his mother, who left those cruel words.

His small hands gently touched the nape of the child’s neck. It was thin enough to fit in his hands. His insides tremble in an ugly way. Soon, however, his cold-blooded instinct was suppressed by the emotions taught to him by the Magic Tower.

“…”

Jeremiah’s hand brushed on the child’s face, moving his palm on her forehead. Releasing a small amount of power, his magic flowed smoothly through the child’s body before returning to his hand again.

She had no particularly notable symptoms – biologically, that is. If so, is it a matter of the heart?

“You might even resemble that woman’s madness.”

Jeremiah revitalized the child’s body with basic healing magic. It is to prevent her from having any big problems even if she doesn’t eat something while she is unconscious.

“You don’t have to worry, little sister. I will give you a perfect recovery.”

He did it not because she was a child of this Ducal family. He was only using her to get the title of a wizard. If it wasn’t for that, this bratty little girl that his mother gave birth to and raised with affection… he might have wanted to get rid of her.

* * *

Melody only woke up when the sun was up in the middle of the sky.

“Ugh.”

To think that I’ve overslept! No matter how much she was a guest of this Ducal family, it is disrespectful of her to oversleep when the nobles were up and about. Besides, Melody had something to do. Things like massaging Grandma Higgins’ shoulders and reading small letters for the weak sighted maids.

The girl hurriedly washed her face and quickly changed her clothes. Her hair was messed up, like it was trying to look like a scrubbing brush, but soon it was bundled up and tied tightly with a green ribbon.

‘First, let’s check Loretta’s condition.’

That was Melody’s most important job in the mansion.

(T/N: I think the most pitiful here is Ronnie. He wanted to be an older brother, but Jeremiah only sees him as pathetic. Sad life ☹)