Baby Prisoner of the Winter Castle Chapter 107

Maximilian, who had escaped Brielle’s room so that Brielle could have some time with the Marchioness (even though his mind went blank after witnessing such an incredible sight afterwards), decided to deliver the news to Rosalie in person. 

 

When he knocked on Rosalie’s door in the attic, there was a commotion from behind the door as something seemed to be falling over.

 

Considering her usually calm temperament, Maximilian thought it was strange and tilted his head.

 

Soon, the door opened.

 

In her room, which he glimpsed briefly, clothes, hats, and books were scattered on the floor.

 

Maximilian quietly looked around at this scene and then glanced at Rosalie with a questioning look.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

In response to his question, the small old woman shrugged her shoulders and looked even smaller and more awkward.

 

“I… will leave this place as soon as my belongings are packed.”

 

“I don’t know why you’re suddenly saying that.”

 

Rosalie barely raised her head with a determined look on her face.

 

“I am telling you that I must quit here, Duke.”

 

He led Rosalie to a nearby chair that looked comfortable and helped her sit down.

 

“I’m not here to blame you. Of course, I won’t allow resignation either.”

 

“Oh my, kind Duke. You shouldn’t forgive this useless old woman.”

 

She sniffled and wiped her eyes.

 

“Not only did I lose the precious young lady, but I almost caused harm to the precious Madam. Where could such an ominous servant be found?” 

 

“Cici is.” 

 

The Duke had only just mentioned that much, but Rosalie’s crying grew slightly louder.

 

“Oh, my dear lady… Perhaps she’s crying somewhere right now.”

 

She was definitely crying.

 

Although those are tears of joy.

 

Maximilian hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to convey the truth that even he had not yet fully accepted.

 

‘So she was… Cici.’

 

There had been times when he thought they shared a similar color. 

 

But that was just the extent of it.

 

The Cici he thought of was a tomboy who stubbornly pulled his arm, saying, ‘Max!’ 

 

However, Brielle was, as far as he knew, the most elegant and beautiful woman in the world. They were very different.

 

‘No, if I think about it carefully.’

 

Brielle sometimes showed surprising behavioral skills.

 

Wasn’t she climbing over the wall when she ran into him one night? As she tore off all the clothes.

 

That aspect was definitely ‘Cici’-like. 

 

No, that wasn’t all.

 

She loved Clarisse bravely before anyone else.

 

Despite knowing that there was only sadness at the end of their relationship with that child, there was no hesitation in expressing those emotions.

 

It also matched the personality of Cici that he remembered. 

 

‘Ah…’

 

Why did he only find out now? 

 

He might have considered the possibility that she could be Cici at least once.

 

He gently patted Rosalie’s shoulder as she continued to cry, then knelt down in front of her, meeting her gaze directly.

 

Now was the time to talk, not as owners and employees, but as comrades who had been concerned about Cici together for a long time. 

 

“Rosalie, have you ever thought that the Duchess and Cici look alike?”

 

“….!” 

 

Rosalie was shocked and looked up with a tear-covered face.

 

“I, I would never dare to have such disrespectful thoughts. Oh my, it would be rude towards Madam. Even if they… were to resemble each other, no matter how much is it.”

 

“Did they look alike?”

 

“W, when I see Madam’s reckless side… Ah, oh my, it’s not like that. I didn’t dare to think such absurd thoughts of comparing the madam to young lady Cici while looking at her.” 

 

Perhaps Rosalie had been suppressing the torment of recalling Cici whenever she saw the Duchess?

 

“You’re better than me.”

 

He grinned.

 

“Yes, yes?”

 

“So don’t be too surprised and listen. If you faint again, Brielle… No, Cici will be sad.” 

 

When she asked, ‘What do you mean?’ Maximilian spoke calmly.

 

Brielle was Sissy.

 

Rosalie didn’t faint.

 

However, she remained stiff, as if unable to breathe properly, for a while. When Maximilian urgently rose from his seat, deciding that they needed to call for a doctor again.

 

“Oh my, my young lady…!” 

 

Rosalie suddenly came to her senses, jumped up from her seat, and ran out into the hallway.

 

“….?”

 

As he turned back to look at her, Brielle, who had come with the Marchioness, stood with her arms wide open towards Rosalie.

 

* * *

 

It may be unexpected, but at the Duke’s mansion, a grand banquet has been scheduled for this evening.

 

When the employees started preparing dishes and ingredients, everyone in the villa started to move around busily for the first time in a long time.

 

Duke Maximilian called Noah into his office.

 

And Noah stood in front of his office with a face that looked as if his soul had left.

 

Noah prided himself on having faced quite a few challenging situations up until now.

 

As a young boy, he had quite a bit of experience fighting head-on against adults who were jealous of him.

 

Despite having accumulated plenty of experience and courage from those encounters, he still couldn’t muster the courage to face the Duke today. However, he wasn’t going to run away either. Noah knocked on the closed door, and soon it opened.

 

“Wizard Sinnet.”

 

Worried that he might encounter those devilish eyes again, Noah was relieved to find that the Duke greeted him in a manner not much different from usual.

 

“…Duke.”

 

“You should sit comfortably. We have much to discuss.”

 

The Duke got up from his desk chair and pointed to the sofa, telling Noah to sit down. He then sat down in the seat across from him.

 

“First.” 

 

The Duke seemed eager to get to the point without wasting any time. Noah couldn’t help but wonder if he would be forbidden from entering the villa and Sheridan after today.

 

The Duke cared for Clarisse, so… he deserved to do that.

 

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

 

“…Ah.” 

 

“It is all thanks to the wizard Sinnet that my wife was able to return safely. I will definitely not forget this favor.”

 

Noah shook his head.

 

“I’ve received more comfort from the madam, so in a way, I’ve already repaid that favor a little.”

 

“Even so, I can’t just ignore the grace that saved her life. I will definitely pay you back. Whenever it is, in the direction that Wizard Sinnet wants.”

 

“For now… I understand.”

 

“And I plan to request another official blood test from the Wizards. It would be better to follow a clear procedure for something like this.”

 

Noah adjusted his posture and sat down to face the Duke.

 

“I agree. If there was someone intentionally tampering with the process that led to the wrong outcome, compromising the purity of magic, the Wizards will certainly root out that individual.”

 

And he bowed his head to Maximilian.

 

“On behalf of the Wizards, I apologize to the Duke. We know that the Duchess lost a valuable opportunity due to our negligence.”

 

In this morning’s newspaper, it was written that the long-vacant position of “Marchioness Curno” would finally find a new owner.

 

If Brielle had gotten the truth quickly, this wouldn’t have happened.

 

“You don’t have to apologize for that opportunity.”

 

“But.” 

 

It was a title. And that of high-ranking nobles.

 

The history of willing to do anything for this has been repeated several times.

 

Even wizards.

 

There have been several occasions in the past where they have attempted to use the magical powers to gain titles or authority.

 

“My wife, the Duchess of Sheridan, said it would be right to give the position to someone who is ready. Even if she did regain her right to be a Marchioness.” 

 

“Then…” 

 

Noah, after pondering the madam’s unexpected response, cautiously shared his thoughts.

 

“Instead, it’s a disappointment for Marchioness Curno’s people. Madam could have been a good ruler.” 

 

“Hmm.”

 

Maximilian didn’t necessarily deny Noah’s opinion.

 

No, on the contrary, he nodded quietly as if he deeply agreed.

 

“And, wizard Sinnet.”

 

Perhaps there was something else to be conveyed, and the Duke changed the topic.

 

“Yes.” 

 

There was a brief moment of hesitation, uncharacteristic of Maximilian, as if he found the conversation somewhat uncomfortable.

 

“No, maybe it would be better to call you Noah Sinnet now.” 

 

Noah realized for a moment.

 

There was no doubt that he was talking about ‘that’.

 

His shoulders naturally shrank.

 

“I hope… there is no misunderstanding.”

 

“…Yes”

 

“I care about you a lot.”

 

The words, delivered as if engraved letter by letter, were sudden but felt deeply sincere. Noah couldn’t understand why the Duke was saying this all of a sudden. Wasn’t it Clarisse whom he cherished?

 

“You’ve been coming and going from my mansion since you were ten. Clarisse always looked forward to that day.”

 

“….”

 

“I waited too.”