The Villainess Is Shy In Receiving Affection

Chapter 186

* * *

After finishing all the conversations with the Records Keeper, Melody returned to the mansion with Claude.

As soon as they got off the carriage, everyone who had been waiting for her surrounded them. With sparkling eyes, as if expecting something.

Melody looked at the faces of her parents, Loretta, Isaiah, and Ronny in turn, and with difficulty uttered the first words.

“Um, can the consolation party be even more grand?”

In an instant, everyone’s faces were filled with bewilderment in their own way. Like trembling eyes or moving lips.

Afterwards, everyone’s gaze focused on Claude, who had accompanied her.

As if resenting why he didn’t send someone ahead to notify them of the results in advance.

“It’s not the young master’s fault.”

Melody quickly defended him.

“I was stubborn. Saying I wanted to tell the results myself.”

“…Dear.”

The Higgins couple approached and hugged her tightly from both sides.

“Somehow, it seems like you’re more upset than me. But I’m really okay.”

Melody raised her head and spoke vigorously to the two of them.

“When you try too hard, you don’t even have any regrets, you know?”

At her lively voice, the couple finally managed to smile. Even though it was close to being forced.

Soon, a large hand lightly landed on top of Melody’s head.

“You really did great, Mel.”

Isaiah roughly ruffled her hair until it became a mess.

“I’m so proud of you.”

Melody glanced at Isaiah, who had approached her side, and said coyly.

“But Isaiah must have expected me to pass at the top when he heard I was taking the exam.”

That was throwing back what Isaiah always said to her.

“Aah!”

He was startled and quickly removed his hand from her head.

“No, that’s!”

“I’m joking, thanks for comforting me. Did you have a good trip to the temple too, Isaiah?”

“Huh?”

He looked around with a troubled expression for a moment, then soon lowered his head and answered.

“…Uh-huh.”

“Why are you so gloomy? I said I’m okay.”

At that moment, Ronny stepped in, tapping Isaiah’s shoulder.

“That’s because this idiot made another stupid mistake at the temple.”

“Mistake?”

“During the sacred ceremony, the priest called Isaiah’s name more than five times, but he just sat there spacing out and dozing off.”

“Oh my, so?”

Isaiah soon shouted “Don’t say it!” with a red face, but Ronny continued the story without paying attention.

“Finally, the priest called out ‘Sir Isaiah Mullern!’ But this guy got up from his seat with a dazed look and shouted, ‘Ooh! please spare my life!'”

Thanks to that, the sacred ceremony of blessing the sword became a sea of laughter.

“No, that’s.”

Isaiah made an excuse with a tearful face.

“The temple chairs were soft and warm, making people sleepy…”

“Even so, how can you doze off at your own ceremony? You made me, who received your glory, look ridiculous!”

Ronny held his forehead as if he was still upset thinking about it again.

“When you knelt in front of me, everyone in the temple was laughing!”

Even though Ronny said that, he was proudly wearing the champion’s medal Isaiah had given him on his chest.

“Then, the party should be even grander.”

Melody clasped her hands together and looked around.

“Because it seems like there are at least two people here who need consolation. Of course, there’s also someone who deserves to be congratulated.”

“That’s right, today is the day of the most wonderful party!”

Loretta quickly shouted out loud.

“Because it’s a party prepared by Miss Loretta. Everyone, follow me.”

She headed towards the dining room with a triumphant walk.

Standing in front of the firmly closed door, Loretta looked over the party participants and slightly lifted her chin.

“Don’t be too surprised, everyone.”

After delivering a very pretentious remark, she clapped her hands.

Soon, the servants waiting beyond the door opened it from both sides, but…

When the beautifully decorated dining room was finally revealed, Loretta’s face turned pale and she waved her hands wildly.

“Ah! Ah! No! Don’t look yet!”

Wondering why she was doing that, everyone looked to where Loretta’s gaze was directed.

In the center of the dining room, a white cloth was hung, and on it was written in large letters, “Congratulations on passing, Melody!”

“Don’t look, Melody! Ronny, hurry and cover Melody’s eyes!”

Loretta shouted while jumping up and down towards the white cloth hung high.

The startled Ronny said, “Uh, uh! Okay!” and covered Melody’s eyes, but his fingers were all wide open, so it was practically not covering at all.

Soon, Loretta turned to Isaiah and asked for help, saying “Sir Mullern!”

“Yes, Captain!”

Isaiah, like the agile knight he was, tore down the mischievous cloth congratulating Melody’s passing in an instant.

But that didn’t seem to be a very good choice.

The decorations on the ceiling connected to the cloth fell together, and pretty yellow paper flowers all fluttered down to the floor.

Melody escaped from Ronny’s hand, took a step forward, and held out her hands.

Soon, a few yellow paper flowers gently fell onto her palms.

It seemed like someone had cut and folded them by hand.

Judging by the mix of decent and somewhat clumsy ones, they were probably made by different people.

‘…I.’

Melody hugged the flowers in her hands close to her chest and looked at the flower petals still fluttering in the air.

‘I’m loved as much as the number of these flowers. Maybe even more…’

Soon, all the flowers fell not only on the floor but also on the food in a bright yellow color.

“…Ah.”

Amid a brief silence, Loretta let out a sigh with a tearful face.

She seemed upset that it turned out very different from what she had imagined.

Melody ran to Loretta and hugged her tightly. So close that they were completely touching and couldn’t get any closer.

“…Thank you, Loretta.”

Even at the sincere gratitude, the child shook her head wildly.

“Really, I was happy that you made it rain flowers for me. You asked many people to make them together, right?”

“…Yeah.”

Loretta finally answered, hugging Melody back.

“Everyone willingly said they would make them for Melody. They made them with bright smiles.”

“I’ve never seen such a beautiful sight anywhere. Thank you for giving me courage.”

“…Really?”

When she carefully asked again, Melody nodded several more times.

“If Melody liked it, then I like it too. Ah, right.”

As if something came to mind, Loretta escaped from Melody’s arms and clapped her hands slightly.

“Eating something sweet will make you feel even better! Starting the banquet with cake is a wonderful tradition of the Baldwins created by brother Ronny!”

With a “ta-da!” sound, Loretta pointed to the large 3-tier cake placed in the center of the table.

But her expression darkened rapidly this time as well.

It was because she discovered that the large chocolate plaque placed in the center of the cake said, “Congratulations on Melody’s passing!”

“Ah, no. Melody! You can’t look at this yet either!”

Loretta quickly shoved the large chocolate into her mouth and mumbled with her cheeks puffed up on both sides.

No one could help but laugh at that cute appearance.

The best party with both consolation and celebration continued until a bit late.

* * *

Loretta, who had wonderfully played the role of the banquet host, fell asleep early.

It was partly because she was tired, but maybe it was also the effect of Melody lying next to her for the first time in a while.

Because when sharing a blanket with a friend, one tends to fall asleep quickly as it becomes much warmer than being alone.

On the other hand, Melody didn’t fall asleep until quite late.

She stared at Loretta’s sleeping face for a long time.

Sometimes brushing away the hair falling on her face.

‘Come to think of it.’

Lying together like this on a rainy day reminded her of a very long time ago.

When she first met Loretta.

That little child was afraid of the sound of rain.

‘I was troubled because I couldn’t block out the sound of rain no matter what…’

“It’s okay. Chapter 1 is very short.”

“So what I mean is… Loretta will be happy soon. So…”

“Don’t be scared, let’s go to sleep.”

The child who had barely fallen asleep at Melody’s comfort now seemed to not be afraid of the sound of rain at all, which put her mind at ease.

“I told you, Loretta.”

Melody whispered with a smile.

“You will become very happy. I was right, wasn’t I?”

But not all her words had been correct.

“Although it seems like Chapter 1 where I appear has become excessively long…”

Melody got up from her spot and slowly leaned down to rest her lips on Loretta’s forehead.

Usually, she would have left a light kiss saying “Good night, sweet dreams.” But today, she couldn’t easily leave.

“…Thank you.”

Melody barely got up and put on the shawl hanging nearby.

After carefully slipping out of Loretta’s room, she went down the stairs and returned to her own room.

She first sat at the desk and lit the lamp.

Taking out paper from the drawer, she wrote simple letters to each person she had met in this mansion.

After that, she changed into hunting pants and a shirt. She didn’t forget to put on the leather gloves Claude had gifted her on the Kristonson trip.

Lastly, all preparations were complete by wrapping a large cloak around her shoulders. Melody extinguished the lamp.

It was still raining outside, and perfect darkness fell on the surroundings without a single light.

Melody recalled what she had thought alone this morning.

On a day like this, it was good to move while avoiding the eyes of others…

‘So, today is a very lucky day.’

Melody opened the window.

The sound of the rain, which had gotten louder, was deafening to the ears.

She soon stepped on the window frame, and at that moment, she unconsciously glanced back at her room.

“…”

Should she consider it fortunate that her eyes hadn’t adapted to the darkness?

No, actually, that didn’t matter. Even in the pitch-black view, Melody vividly felt every corner of her room.

She forcibly turned her head and hurriedly jumped out the window.

As she ran to the stables, Melody prayed that she wouldn’t run into anyone.

* * *

Heavy breathing turned white between the strong rain. Melody briefly pulled on the horse’s reins and took out a pocket watch to check the time.

The appointed time with the Records Keeper was midnight, and there were 30 minutes left now.

She urged the horse again and rode towards the distant capital walls that had risen.

On a late night with painfully heavy rain, there were no pedestrians, let alone any carriages running.

Perhaps no one would be able to follow her movements.

The fierce rainwater that would continue to fall from now on would erase all the footprints left by her horse.

Soon, a small light set up in front of the castle gate came into view.

‘I’m almost there.’

Thanks to hurrying from the mansion, fortunately, it seemed she would be able to pass the castle gate with plenty of time before the promised time.

Melody slightly pulled on the reins of the thankful horse that had worked hard in the rain to slow down the speed.

At that moment, the sound of a hurrying horse’s hooves was heard from behind her.

Could it be a messenger urgently trying to leave the capital after receiving some command?

‘If that’s not it…’

Melody looked back with an uneasy feeling for some reason.

“…!”

A pitch-black horse was fiercely running towards her.

It was a horse used by the Duke when hunting, with a bloodline that had served only the royal family and high-ranking nobles for generations.

On top of it, Claude, who hadn’t even properly put on an overcoat, was staring at her with fierce eyes.