Chapter 44

Just as he was about to ask what she meant, Ramona’s voice cut through the air.

“What are you doing just standing there? I’ve packed everything. Oh! Anna, I almost forgot to say goodbye before leaving. I’ll be staying with Raon for a while.”

“Sister, I hope you’ll be happy there. And please, don’t come back here anytime soon. It would be even better if you never came back at all.”

Anna smiled brightly and clasped Ramona’s hands tightly. She gently stroked Ramona’s rough hands, the hands that had taken away the misfortune that had been cast upon her and covered it with happiness. Now she would never again taste the delicious food made by these hands, nor would she ever see her again.

Yet, because Ramona was going to a better place, Anna couldn’t bring herself to say she was sad. Slowly, tears began to well up in her eyes.

“What’s this? Are you sad because I’m leaving? Why are you crying? It’s not like I’m going somewhere I’ll never see you again.”

“Sniff… I’m sorry. It just feels wrong to cry when you’re going to a good place… I’ll pray for your happiness here. You deserve to be happy, Lady Ramona.”

“What nonsense is that? Stop talking nonsense and go inside and rest. Brown will worry.”

Ramona, who had wiped Anna’s tears with her sleeve, smiled and turned away with Adrian. Seeing them, Anna thought for the first time that the two looked well-matched.

As the carriage gradually moved away, Anna waved and muttered to herself: “Goodbye, Lady Ramona. My wonderful knight, even if you come back here, live a hundred years with that wonderful prince of yours.”

***

After her swordsmanship training, Raon washed up and changed into clothes Brown had chosen for him.

“Are we expecting guests today? The house feels unusually lively.”

Brown smiled gently at Raon’s question, observing the busy, slightly flustered servants.

“A very special person will be arriving soon. You must greet them warmly when they arrive.”

“Yes, I will!”

Raon grinned, unaware of who the guest was. Brown glanced out the window and, seeing a carriage entering the grounds, quickly took Raon outside.

“Grandfather, you’re here.”

“Ah, my grandson. Since we have a special guest today, why don’t you take the lead in welcoming them, Raon?”

“Yes! I’m a little nervous, but I’ll do my best!”

“Good. But don’t cry from tension, understand? Let’s greet them with a bright smile. They’ll be living here from now on.”

“Yes!”

Though Raon didn’t know who the guest was, his grandfather’s tone made it clear they were very important. He felt a slight unease at being tasked with greeting them, but his nervousness kept him from thinking further.

As soon as the carriage stopped before him, the door flew open, and something sprang out. Raon blinked at the familiar sight, and a rabbit bounded straight toward him.

“T-Toto? Toto? Is Toto the guest coming today?”

Holding the runaway, violent rabbit Toto in his arms, Raon grinned brightly. He’d been feeling a little lonely after class since he had no friends here. But Toto’s arrival brought him overwhelming joy.

“Toto, this is where I live. Isn’t it amazing? Still, I miss our old home with Mom.”

“Will things get better here from now on?”

Raon, who had been holding Toto and was about to turn and walk away, jumped when he heard a familiar voice behind him and spun around.

“Oh, Mom?”

“Hello, I’m back.”

“Oh, Mom… Mom!”

As he blinked, unsure if he was dreaming or awake, Toto tapped Raon’s cheek with his paw. Grounded in reality, Raon rushed to Ramona, who had just alighted from the carriage.

“Oh, my little prince, you’ve lost weight. You promised you’d eat everything and not be picky.”

“Oh, Mom, Mom!”

Overwhelmed with joy, Raon called out only “Mom!” as Ramona swept him into her arms and kissed his cheek. A warm liquid welled up in Raon’s eyes and spilled down his face.

“Are you crying because you’re sad to see me?”

“Oh, no. It’s not that. I just… Ah, Mother! Welcome to the Cassius Ducal Estate. Please, let’s live happily together here for a long, long time.”

Adolf’s words, that they would now live here, echoed in his ears. He no longer had to turn away and wipe away tears, longing for Ramona. Now they lived together in a place where he could see her whenever he wanted.

“Your Grace, I apologize for the late greeting.”

Ramona, who effortlessly lifted the seven-year-old boy into her arms, greeted Adolf. He smiled and nodded.

“Welcome, child. I hope you’ll make this your home from now on. Of course, I don’t expect you to spend your days cooking here. I just want you to share your time with us as you watch him grow.”

“I feel shameless saying this, but thank you very much for allowing me to stay here for the time being.”

Adolf shook his head at Ramona, who bowed her head with Raon in her arms.

“If you have no shame, then no one in this world does. Hahaha, hurry inside. How long do you plan to stand out here?”

After ushering Ramona and Raon inside, Adolf belatedly noticed his son, who had just gotten down from the carriage.

“You’re here.”

“Yes. I completed the mission.”

“Hmm, you look surprisingly intact. I thought you’d have broken at least one bone.”

Adolf scanned Adrian with his eyes and spoke with a hint of disappointment.

“So you’re dissatisfied?”

“No, of course not. Welcome. I’ll see you later.”

As Adolf turned away, Adrian immediately headed to his office.

***

“I love Mom’s room!”

Adiel led Ramona into a lavishly decorated chamber. The spacious room made it clear this wasn’t a typical guest room.

“This room is too grand for me.”

“Your Grace personally ordered this room to be prepared for Lady Ramona. Please feel free to make yourself at home here. If you need anything or find anything uncomfortable, just let me know.”

After Adiel left, telling her to rest before dinner, Ramona sank onto the sofa and ran her hands over the cushions. Realizing how expensive even this single piece of furniture must be, she felt a wave of pressure.

“His Grace said it himself, so don’t worry about it, Lady Ramona. Just carry on as usual.”

Brown smiled as he entered with a tray of refreshments brought by a servant from outside.

“Anna seemed a little disappointed. When you get home, try to comfort her.”

“Yes, I will. I’ll take good care of Anna, so please relax here. That’s what Anna wants.”

Brown felt a sense of satisfaction just watching her finally live comfortably—the one who had pulled him out of his hellish life and given him happiness.

“I’d like to make something to celebrate her arrival, but I wonder if we have any ingredients.”

“You don’t have to make anything anymore…”

“I’ll make plenty and pack some for you to take.”

“There should be everything except what doesn’t exist. If you need anything, I’ll tell the kitchen in advance. Big sis, I love you.”

Raon chuckled, stroking Toto, as he watched Brown quickly change his tune. After Ramona wrote down the ingredients, Brown hurried to the kitchen with the list.

Knowing that Ramona would be staying with them at the Head of the Family’s command, they prepared the ingredients without complaint.

Once everything was ready, Raon left Toto in the room and entrusted him to Brown, then rushed to start cooking. He was also hungry, having eaten an early and meager lunch.

The Head Chef, who had been staring blankly behind Ramona as she cooked, quickly began taking notes in his notebook. Though he was a professional chef himself, Ramona’s cooking methods were secrets he couldn’t afford to miss.

***

“Ramona cooked today? I brought her here to keep her from lifting a finger.”

Despite his words, a smile spread across Adolf’s face. He’d been thinking about the food Ramona made the other day ever since.

Her red-drenched dish, as addictive as any drug, had Freire, who was invited to the meal, utterly thrilled.

“Oh, is this stir-fried squid and pork belly? I love this!”

Freire didn’t just like it; he loved it enough to mix rice with the remaining broth. He was already expressing his joy with every fiber of his being.

“Ahem, then let’s eat.”

Even just looking at the dish, it was spicy enough to make one’s tongue tingle. Yet Adolf began eating as if nothing were amiss.

“Your Grace, doesn’t it burn your tongue?”

“It’s spicy, but it’s a delicious kind of spicy, so it’s fine. I’ve always liked spicy food, and I enjoyed spicy dishes even when I was in the capital.”

Ramona let out a sigh of relief after receiving Adolf’s approval. She placed a piece of red squid on Raon’s spoon. Watching him gobble it down with a wide smile, the dining table seemed to brighten on its own.

“Mom’s cooking is the most delicious in the world!”

“You need to chew properly and eat everything, including the vegetables. That’s how you’ll grow up to do great things like your grandfather.”

At Ramona’s words, Adolf cleared his throat and began chewing the vegetables. Adrian shook his head and already drank his second glass of water. The spicy food was delicious, but he still hadn’t adjusted to the lingering pain in his mouth.

“Our Raon is such a good eater, he doesn’t even complain about the side dishes.”

“Yes! Mom put so much effort into making it, I can’t leave any behind.”

“That’s right, you shouldn’t leave food your mother made. Absolutely not. Hahaha, by the way, isn’t it too spicy for you? Children usually can’t handle spicy food well.”

Adolf, concerned about the child who was wolfing down the spicy food, asked cautiously. Raon smiled brightly and replied, “Mom said if I don’t eat spicy food, my chili pepper will fall off.”

“Pfft!”

Adolf hastily covered his mouth to prevent a disaster and glanced at the same time. Adrian’s face turned slightly red.

“Why is everyone looking at me? I’m perfectly fine!”