Chapter 50

Was it perhaps a guilty conscience? Even the cicadas hushed their cries at the voice that seemed to tear through the garden at dawn.

“Everyone, clean up the area. We shall conclude that Toto was the one who did this.”

Adrian pinned the entire incident on Toto. Although everyone knew that even if Toto had done half of it, a rabbit could never hang a man on a clothesline and write a sign, they all remained silent.

Toto, who made a tearful sacrifice of its reputation to protect Ramona’s honor, became the star of the Cassius household. Everyone began to carry treats, trying to lure Toto whenever it was in sight.

Perhaps because it didn’t just stick to its owner but scurried around everywhere eating its fill, Toto seemed to be resembling a pig more and more each day.

***

“Using this incident as a turning point, how about we refrain from hiring people with criminal records?”

“If everyone turns their backs on those who have sinned, those people might just end up committing crimes again,” Adolf replied.

“We can’t hire everyone, though. Besides, it’s strange that the sentences are so light compared to the crimes committed. If the punishment is weak, isn’t there a higher chance of reoffending?”

Ramona presented her opinion to Adolf along with a tray of grilled short rib patties. Looking at the beautiful, glistening sheen of the patties, Adolf swallowed hard and spoke.

“According to the principle of double jeopardy, a judgment has already been passed and the price has been paid, so he cannot be judged again.”

“I am aware of that, but it makes no sense for a judge to reduce a sentence based on a criminal’s letter of apology when the victim has never forgiven them.”

“That is true, but it is not something I can interfere with—”

Listening to Adolf, Ramona promptly covered the grilled short rib patties with the tray lid.

“—However! I shall do my absolute best to look into it. A judge sentences based on the law, but an apology should solely be intended to move the victim’s heart. A judge should not reduce a sentence at their own discretion just by looking at a letter. Indeed, you are quite right!”

Despite receiving a satisfactory answer, Ramona did not remove the lid yet.

“Also, this country is strangely lenient toward alcohol. If someone commits a crime while drinking, their sentence is reduced claiming ‘diminished responsibility’ due to mental and physical weakness. That is also a bad habit. If one commits a crime in such a state, shouldn’t they deserve an aggravated punishment instead?”

“I cannot give you a definitive answer on that either, but I will exert some influence so the judiciary can discuss it. Ahem, so, may I eat now?”

“Of course. Please, eat plenty. I made a lot just for you, Lord Adolf.”

The moment the lid was lifted, Adolf broke into a very satisfied smile. The delicious aroma had been causing a riot in his stomach while he was forbidden from eating.

“Oh, this is truly delicious. I will really work hard on those matters. If there is anything else in life you feel is unjust, please tell me.”

As Adolf polished one off in an instant, Ramona piled the patties high on his plate. Watching this, Adrian shook his head. He inwardly applauded Ramona, who had mastered the “User Manual for Duke Cassius” despite having been here for only a few weeks.

“Hiring criminals is unsettling, but I don’t think everyone committed a ‘bad’ crime. Some people might have done it because they were just too hungry.”

The three adults nodded as they listened to Raon talk about “crimes of survival”—situations where someone knows it’s wrong but steals because they feel they might die of hunger.

“It would be too much to block the future of such people. I’ll discuss that within the scope of our household.”

Accepting Raon’s opinion, Adolf signaled his intent to weed out criminals among the employees while still leaving some room for discretion. Satisfied with the promise of “extenuating circumstances,” Raon gave a bright smile and took a huge bite of his grilled short rib patties.

“Raon, chew your food thoroughly. There’s plenty, so don’t eat too fast. You’ll get a stomachache if you do.”

“Yes, I’ll chew carefully!”

Despite his words, whenever Ramona cooked, the three men ate as if they were in combat. Watching the three generations of men eating while glancing at one another’s plates brought smiles to the faces of the onlookers.

In contrast, Toto sat on the table, savoring its hay while shaking its head at the sight.

“I ate so well today. Thanks to Ramona, Monday evenings are truly happy.”

Feeling good now that his stomach was full, Adolf expressed his gratitude.

“I feel the same. Thanks to Ms. Ramona, it’s quite entertaining to see my father rushing back from work on Mondays,” Adrian added.

Every Monday, Adolf was obligated to attend the State Council at the Imperial Palace in Eclipse. Usually, he returned quite late, but ever since Ramona began staying here, he had been racing back at incredible speeds.

Adrian’s friend, Young Marquis Heath Kleine, occasionally attended the council with Marquis Kleine. He had recently contacted Adrian, worried that something disastrous had happened at home because Adolf had started sprinting out of the palace the moment the sessions ended.

Thanks to his friend, Adrian chuckled, imagining his father fidgeting in his seat even before the meeting was over.

“I had no choice. She said if I don’t keep to the time, she won’t wait for me.”

Adolf had forcefully squeezed his schedule to fit Ramona’s rule that “meals must be eaten together while the food is hot.” All for a single dinner that could cure the “Monday Blues.”

“I’m sure that’s the case.”

“And what about you? You used to go meet your friends every Monday, so why are you cooped up in the house lately?”

“Because the work you assigned me is so busy, Father.”

As the father-son bickering began, Ramona didn’t wait. She took Raon, who was holding Toto, and stepped out of the dining room. She knew from experience that watching them argue once or twice was fine, but if she waited for them to finish, there would be no end to it.

“Mom, when I grow up, will I argue with Daddy and Grandpa like that too?”

“Why? Do you want to?”

“Mmm, yes! Watching Daddy try so hard not to lose a single word to Grandpa… he looks a bit pathetic, but also cute.”

Pfft—

For a moment, the sound of someone stifling a gasp came from a hidden corner, but Ramona ignored it and picked Raon up.

“Right. When Raon grows up to be Daddy’s age, you can talk with him and argue if your opinions don’t match. But! You only fight with words. Understand?”

“Yes, I understand. I’m confident I’ll be good at using words!”

Looking at Raon’s clenched fists, it seemed he would grow up to be quite the handful for Adrian. Once they reached his room, a servant rushed over to wash the boy and change him into pajamas.

After a goodnight kiss, Ramona turned to leave and locked eyes with Adrian. She thought he would still be fighting, but he seemed to have finished surprisingly early.

“Is Raon sleeping?”

“Yes, he just fell asleep.”

Looking at Raon, who had fallen asleep clutching Toto (who had narrowly escaped a struggle to be washed), Adrian stroked the child’s hair and kissed his forehead.

“Sleep well, my son.”

Seeing him give a goodnight greeting in a voice so much softer and deeper than when he was arguing with Adolf, Ramona suddenly wondered if she had parents like that, then shook her head. If she had a family that loved her so dearly, they would have found her long ago.

‘You are alone in this world. We are your only family. Your own flesh and blood all abandoned you.’

On the rare occasions she had nightmares, those words would sharp-cut into her heart. Coldly, relentlessly. She felt a sense of revulsion at how familiar she had become with that helplessness, which made the blood in her body run cold.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

“Ah… Raon saw the Duke and his father arguing and said he wants to argue with his dad when he grows up.”

“What? Sigh… they really say you shouldn’t even drink cold water in front of children*…”

[*T/N: Comes from the proverb ‘아이 앞에서는 찬물도 못 마신다’ which means that children copy from their parents so the parents have to be careful around children]

“He said his father looked a bit pathetic yet cute while talking back to his grandfather.”

“Ack!”

Adrian, who nearly tripped over his own feet while walking, leaned against the wall to narrowly avoid an embarrassing fall.

“It means the way you were bickering looked that affectionate to him.”

“I’m glad he sees it that way, but I am definitely not ‘cute.’”

Looking at Adrian, who spoke with wide, serious eyes, Ramona nodded.

“Yes, you’re right. You don’t look cute at all.”

“Oh… wait, what? I’m really not cute?”

“Yes, you don’t look cute. Well, I’ll be going now. Good luck with the rest of your work, Raon’s Dad.”

Ramona gave a polite nod and turned toward her room.

Just as she disappeared from sight, a familiar face peeked around the corner. It was Anna.

“Is my lady gone?”

“She’s gone.”

As if things hadn’t gone according to plan, Adrian let out a faint sigh and looked at Anna.

“It seems what you said isn’t entirely correct. You said it’s game over for a man once he’s seen as cute!”

“Wait, no, I’m right. I saw it in a book—if a man is cute, it’s the end. But I guess the Young Duke just doesn’t look cute in her eyes. I can’t help you with that part, so you’ll have to try harder.”

The reason Adrian had been bickering with Adolf, grating on his nerves, was because Ramona seemed to find the sight interesting. And at her single comment, he had even stumbled to express his emotions in a “pathetic yet cute” way, but it seemed to have failed.

“Then why don’t you try acting even more pathetic and cute?”

“If I do that, my dignity will crumble.”

“Trade your dignity for cuteness.”

“Do you honestly think you could do that if you were me?”

At Adrian’s slightly sharp voice, Anna gave a beaming smile.

“I’m fine. My husband is already a modest man who’s great at housekeeping. Well, I’ll be off now!”

With a victorious smile directed at Adrian, Anna scurried away.