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Author: rolypoly
Whenever I made eye contact with the Young Master, I scratched my cheek and smiled awkwardly, reminding myself of my purpose.
I’m not even an aristocrat, so this is not the time to admire it. Above all else, I had to move for the Young Master’s safety.
Of course, there are escorts, but it is necessary to check whether there are any dangerous or suspicious people carefully.
So I approached Rimson Hyung, who is in charge of the wheelchair today.
“I’ll take a look around and come back.”
But Hyung was strangely surprised and grabbed me, saying I couldn’t.
Of course, I’m not the one who will stop just because of that.
I went through the crowd and ignored Hyung’s call behind.
But no matter how hard I looked, I could only find the best things.
‘First— it looks fine. No one is suspicious.’
Half relieved, I looked around meticulously again just in case.
Meanwhile, the distinguished guests’ conversations could be heard little by little.
“It’s a wheelchair, as expected, and it’s definitely the rare disease I’ve heard of.”
“I feel sorry, but… it’s the Duke’s flaw.”
“Still, to open a poetry reading session in public. The Duke of Denkart made a very generous decision.”
How come it’s a generous decision?
I glanced at the nobles who talked about it.
Even though he had a child, wasn’t it the Duke who didn’t take any responsibility for it?
I didn’t understand why he was praised when all he had done was give his son a reading party and do one thing that a high-class aristocratic family always did.
In the meantime, the unpleasant noises about the Young Master didn’t stop. It was even about the disease.
There were also rumors that it was a disease that could make his legs rot and that if he made a mistake, he wouldn’t even be able to be the next successor.
“I heard from a member of the Imperial family’s doctor. He said it was a miracle that someone with that disease would step on the ground again.”
My teeth trembled when I heard it.
I wanted to tell them that the Young Master is someone who will achieve that miracle soon.
I wanted to say clearly that when he becomes an adult, he will become a much cooler adult than they are now and stand proudly on both legs.
But— there was nothing I could do here.
As it was the first time for the Young Master to greet the nobles in the capital, he had to pass without any fuss. That was right.
So I bit my lip to calm my anger.
“What are you thinking that you won’t hear me no matter how many times I call you?”
“….”
“A competent servant of the Young Master, who leads the trend?”
When I raised my head, which I had lowered to hide my expression, I saw a well-dressed boy in front of my foot.
He was usually dressed neatly, but he seemed to care more today.
The finely made jewels were a little brighter than the hair. The grey buttons and the sleeves were subtly decorated.
I quickly softened my face and smiled at the owner of the voice.
“Manel-nim, you’re here.”
“Is it just my feeling? That tone is a bit annoying.”
“…Haha, there’s no way.”
“Yeah, you’re saying you’re happy to see me, right?”
It was typical of Manellano to ask questions in a way that didn’t match his neat outfit.
He nodded his head softly and turned his head to me.
The gray eyes that got closer harbored clear anger.
“Our Lobel must have been bored before we started, right? You listened to each and every cry of insects.”
At the sound, some of the ladies who were talking moved their seats with red faces.
I was a little surprised by the unfavorable treatment from Manellano.
No, he’s kind of polite in front of people—.
But I didn’t hate it.
I told him I was thankful from the bottom of my heart for saying things I couldn’t say.
“Thank you.”
“….”
Manellano blinked his eyes as if he had never expected my friendly words.
For the first time, he seemed naive, like children of his age. It was cute.
I spoke to him in a slightly relaxed tone.
“But I wouldn’t be bored. Rather, I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Hmm, yeah.”
“By the way, there is a good seat. I will guide you to a very good seat from over there.”
“Be confident. You’re good enough to serve me.”
Our Young Master now looks like a noble who lives well from his face, but this guy also looked like the Young Master.
I don’t know what he meant, but he has a bad way of speaking for a Young Master— and he doesn’t really suit me.
“Yes, thank you for the great honor. I’ll guide you right away.”
Anyway, let’s move quickly and go back to the Young Master.
Busily moving with that determination, he followed me leisurely. The difference in the length of the legs was severe, so I couldn’t help it.
—I’m tall for a girl, too. So I felt a slight resentment.
“A lot of people have come. Engaf is also coming.”
“Yes, thankfully, many distinguished guests attended.”
I answered meekly.
As Rimson Hyung and I looked at the carriage, he said that it seemed like almost all of the aristocracy in the capital were there.
But then, Manellano murmured so that only I could hear him.
“The great Rezandar didn’t come this time either.”
Curiously looking at him, he said in an offended tone.
“They’re always absent. They didn’t even come to my public reading. Now, guide me.”
“…Yes.”
Soon I showed him to a seat close to the front.
The audience was already full, but this place was prepared by telling the butler in advance.
—I actually kind of expected Manellano to bother me.
“Lobel.”
Now I was really going to leave him, but Manellano suddenly called me.
Before I could answer, he pulled my hand back, and something soft touched the back of it.
It was soon warm and ticklish.
“I’m following the trend, too.”
Manellano smiled shamelessly, kissing the back of my hand.
Before I could express any dissatisfaction, he let go as if nothing had happened.
Because he lowered his body, it was hard to see him because it looked like he was hidden.
It was so casual that I couldn’t say anything here.
‘Is it… a simple joke?’
So I was upset, but I just grabbed my hand and tried to go back.
Because I don’t have to react to every joke.
However, at that time, one of the Young Masters who had come with him sat down and said sarcastically.
“Even if they decorated it like this. Can the guests who attended with their precious time be able to concentrate properly? The sound of the wheelchair coming to the stage would break the whole atmosphere.”
The shiny shoes hit the gravel on the floor. It was something I didn’t want to hear.
I barely resisted the urge to take off those shoes right away and slap him.
‘Then what do you want him to do? It’s hard to use crutches here.’
People would have been more rude to our Young Master if he had just been carried back.
However, except for Manellano, the other Young Master groaned among themselves as if in sympathy.
“What else would you like to do? This would have been the best place to accommodate this person.”
“Well, do you remember the name of the disease? I heard it’s a disease that you can’t stand forever.”
“I asked my doctor, and he said it was a miracle to get better.”
As I listen, it sounds like a bunch of pathetic people trying to find fault with everything.
‘—Be patient. I can’t ruin this reading session that the Young Master has been preparing for all night.’
My stomach was boiling, but I turned around.
But then, one by one, a deep sigh came from somewhere.
“O, oh my—”
“How could something like that…”
I suddenly felt strange and looked around. Everyone was staring straight ahead with a startled look.
Even Manellano was speechless with his mouth open, and some people jumped up from their seats in various places in the audience.
I slowly turned around and looked straight ahead.
“…Huh?”
With the support of Rimson Hyung, the Young Master was heading to the stage.
Although he was walking much slower than a normal person, he was clearly walking on his own feet.
The Young Master shone in the moonlight illuminating the large garden in the cloudless night sky.
His eyes were looking straight ahead, his lips were tightly closed, and he walked without hesitation.
The Young Master was clearly walking.
“…Young Master?”
Seeing that walking movements were familiar— it was clear that he had been practicing walking. As I had suffered from the same disease as the Young Master, I knew it better than anyone.
I stared blankly at the situation for a while, then burst out laughing, and then frowned.
‘I mean, when did you… get better?’
Everyone is surprised, except for the Duke, who doesn’t change his expression, but in the meantime, when I see Crimson Hyung and Arif Hyung— it means that they already knew.
‘…Then, he only didn’t tell me?’
I’ve been more worried than anyone else. I was disappointed and a little angry at the Young Master who left out the fact that his condition had improved only for me.
But more than that, I was glad that the Young Master could walk and that he could make that face in front of so many people.
So I smiled.
After all, it’s a smile of joy.
The smile didn’t stop easily. I looked at him with my hands covering my mouth.
In the meantime, the Young Master walked like a miracle they said and stood in front of the podium.
At that time, he was alone. He stood without the support of Rimson Hyung.
Everyone was staring at the sight, holding their breath.
Even with his back to the bright night, his green eyes scanned the seats one by one, and he reached me.
The Young Master, who seemed nervous a little while ago, smiled at me.
Now I couldn’t stand it.
“Do you pay tribute to our Young Master who made a miracle?”
I spoke low enough to be heard by Manellano and his friend, and clapped.
Starting with me, Manellano, who wrinkled his eyebrows, joined in, and the pathetic boys who only looked at the Young Master with blank faces clapped together.
Then everyone in the audience clapped their hands.
Even though the Young Master looked at me with confused eyes, he stayed in his seat until the applause stopped.
Soon after, my favorite voice began to shine through my favorite poem.
I lowered myself from the spot and looked up at him endlessly, fearing that I might miss even one syllable.
It was a strange thing.
I am far from the Young Master without even touching one finger, but his voice makes my whole body better, as if honey is flowing like this.