Tabitha was not her real name.
Before coming here, she had been a prostitute—bought solely because of her beauty.
Believing she had finally escaped a miserable life, she instead fell straight into the hands of criminals. The man who bought her instructed Tabitha to pair with Benden and infiltrate the Baron's Manor to earn Ron's trust and carry out a mission.
What mission?
She was never told.
Egbert frowned as he listened.
"So this woman was only a pawn. If we want the real information, we must get it from her handler."
Thomas nodded.
"I asked Tabitha. The man who bought her never showed his face—he always kept it covered. She doesn't know what he looks like."
Egbert's eyes narrowed.
"So cautious… perhaps someone we are familiar with."
"Let's check with Mr. Abel. Hopefully he has better results."
They walked to the next interrogation room. Before they even entered, they heard Benden's screams and the crisp sound of bones cracking.
Egbert stepped inside.
"Did you get anything out of him?"
Abel shook his head.
"He still refuses to say who ordered him. But the rest is clear."
Benden sobbed, voice hoarse, "I've told you everything I know! What more do you want?! He never showed his face—I truly don't know who he is! But I'm sure he's a noble. His clothes were too fine. Not a commoner!"
Ignoring him, Abel continued his report:
"His real name isn't Benden. He used to dabble in… shady work in Gonna Town. One day, a man approached him, offered a large sum, and showed him a letter—ordering him to come to the Baron's Manor and put on an act."
Egbert's attention sharpened.
"A letter? What did it say? Tell me every word."
Benden answered hurriedly:
"It was about the Baron's illegitimate child. The writer begged Lord Ron to take the child in and claimed the child belonged to the former Baron."
Egbert's expression darkened as he pieced things together. Mellitoria's mother had been a commoner—uneducated, barely able to write. No wonder the letter contained little content.
He asked coldly, "You're certain the one who hired you is a noble?"
"Yes! Absolutely yes! Please, let me go. I hold no malice toward Lord Ron. I—I can earn merit to redeem myself!"
Egbert and Abel shared a look.
Egbert nodded. "I'll report to Lord Ron. The rest is yours."
Benden paled. The killing intent in their eyes made his blood freeze.
Egbert sneered.
"You dared to poison Lord Ron and Miss Mellitoria. Your fate is sealed."
Panicking, Benden shouted, "I didn't poison anyone! It was the kid—him!"
Bang!
Abel punched him square in the abdomen. Benden collapsed, vomiting bile.
"How dare you poison the Lord! Tired of living, are you?!"
Only now did Abel grasp the full severity of the crime.
Egbert left the dungeon and headed to Ron's chambers. At the door, he ran into Diana, who was also about to report.
"Head Maid Diana, you've completed your investigation?"
"Yes, Butler Egbert. Since you arrived so quickly, I assume the interrogation yielded results. As expected of you."
Egbert shook his head.
"It was mostly Mr. Abel. Let's report together."
Diana stepped aside. "Please, go ahead."
Egbert knocked, received Ron's permission, and entered with her.
In Ron's chamber
Ron sat on the sofa by the window, the room dimly lit except for a floor lamp casting warm light over his figure.
Egbert bowed and reported:
"Someone obtained the letter left by Miss Mellitoria's mother. Using that, they recruited Benden and two others to impersonate the illegitimate child. Their plan was to stabilize their identity first, then secretly eliminate you, so the fake son could naturally inherit."
Ron nodded and continued:
"But the unexpected happened."
He tapped the armrest rhythmically.
"The first surprise was the appearance of the true illegitimate child—and she was a girl. The letter likely didn't specify the gender, so they found a boy."
"The second," Ron continued, "was that we kept the informant—Benden—alive. This ruined their timing. When they heard I sent people to investigate, they panicked and resorted to poisoning."
Egbert said respectfully, "Exactly as you deduced, my Lord. Benden was cornered and poisoned tonight's dinner, attempting to harm you and Miss Mellitoria."
Ron's eyes narrowed.
"Oh? Are you certain he intended to harm both of us?"
Egbert paused.
"…Yes."
Ron turned to Diana.
"And your side?"
Diana bowed.
"After investigation, the one who poisoned the food was Jonah. He found an opportunity during meal delivery to approach the dining cart."
Ron fell silent.
A five-year-old successfully poisoning a Baron's meal?
That was… troubling.
It showed just how infiltrated the manor had already become—but also revealed Jonah's disturbing talent. This was not something an ordinary child could accomplish.
According to Benden's orders, Jonah was supposed to poison both Ron and Mellitoria.
Yet only Ron's serving had been poisoned.
A glint of contemplation flashed in Ron's eyes.
"I understand. Both of you may leave."
They bowed and exited.
Ron sat quietly for a moment, then rose and walked to Mellitoria's room.
He pushed the door open softly.
Irene sat by the bed, looking distressed. Mellitoria was nowhere in sight.
Ron approached and lifted the quilt slightly—there she was. The blanket rose subtly with her small breaths.
Irene stood quickly.
"Young Master… Mellitoria has been crying for two hours. She won't eat, and she won't listen to anything I say."
Ron sat at the bedside. Beside him lay a small pudding—Irene's treasured treat—completely untouched.
"Mellitoria."
At his voice, the quilt trembled.
A moment later, a small, teary face peeked out. Her hands clutched the quilt tightly, hiding half her face.
Her pitiful appearance tugged even Ron's heart.
"Are you afraid of me?" he asked calmly.
Mellitoria shrank back.
"No… not afraid."
"Do you hate me?"
"No hate!"
This time she replied quickly, louder than before.
Ron smiled faintly.
"Then that's strange. You're not afraid of me, you don't hate me… so why are you crying?"
Mellitoria froze.
The logic was too advanced for a five-year-old with barely any vocabulary. She didn't know how to answer.
"Sit up and dry your tears," Ron instructed.
"O-okay…"
She instinctively obeyed, forgetting she was supposed to be crying. Irene stared in shock.
Two hours of coaxing from me…
And he solved it with two sentences?!
Mellitoria sat upright. Ron noticed light red marks on her cheeks—his doing. In the urgency earlier, he had pinched too hard stopping her from eating the poisoned food.
"Irene, fetch swelling medicine."
She rushed out and returned quickly. Ron took the ointment, telling Mellitoria not to move, and gently applied it to both cheeks.
Irene watched with sparkling eyes, moved for reasons she didn't understand.
After finishing, Ron said to her, "Have the kitchen prepare a small meal for her later. Not too much—she'll get indigestion."
"Yes, Young Master."
Ron then placed the untouched pudding in front of Mellitoria.
"Eat this later, then go to sleep. Understand?"
Mellitoria blinked wide-eyed. She didn't respond.
Irene made frantic hand gestures behind Ron.
Ron frowned, then lightly placed a hand on Mellitoria's head.
"Why are you so slow?"
Her face turned red instantly.
"…Understood… Brother."
Satisfied, Ron rose and gave Irene a few more instructions before leaving.
The Next Morning
Egbert and Abel met Ron early in the study.
"Now that we've captured their pawns, the mastermind will hide deeper," Egbert said worriedly.
Abel added, "My Lord, I still believe Viscount Gordon is most suspicious. According to Benden, the man hid his face because he was mindful of his noble status. And as nobles of the Carlo Kingdom, we cannot wage war without cause."
Egbert remained silent. Abel's reasoning was sound, but Ron felt something didn't add up.
He waved his hand.
"After this incident, they'll lie low. Handle the aftermath and ensure the commoners hear nothing. No panic."
Both bowed.
Before leaving, Egbert asked, "Lord Ron, how should we deal with the three we captured?"
Ron asked, "Where is the child?"
"In the dungeon," Abel answered.
Ron's voice was indifferent.
"Keep him locked up."
The two bowed and left.
Ron had not asked about Benden and Tabitha—which already meant he had decided their fate.
Soon after, the study door opened again.
Joyce entered, startled.
"Forgive me, Lord Ron. I didn't know you were here."
"No need to apologize. You're here to handle paperwork? Sit."
Joyce froze.
Ron offering her a seat was… unheard of.
She walked over nervously and sat beside him.
Ron pretended to read, but his thoughts drifted.
Mellitoria was five. Under Irene's care, she no longer looked malnourished. Her hair had grown fuller and was slowly taking on Ron's color—a sign her health was improving.
But…
Her intelligence worried him.
She couldn't read. She couldn't form proper sentences. And she went silent whenever she saw him.
He needed a teacher.
A good one.
He lowered his book and glanced at Joyce, who was sorting documents meticulously.
…Wasn't there a perfect choice right here?
Sensing his gaze, Joyce looked up nervously.
"Lord Ron?"
Ron's expression became solemn.
"Starting today, I appoint you as Mellitoria's private tutor. Are you willing?"
"I…"
"You will no longer do cleaning work."
"But—"
"You will have two days off a week and work only five hours per day."
Joyce stiffened. This offer was… too good.
Ron delivered the final blow:
"As long as you agree, I will give you authority to purchase books independently."
Joyce's breath caught.
Authority to buy books… with the manor's name?
She could obtain any book she wanted.
She lowered her head immediately.
"It is my greatest honor to teach Miss Mellitoria. Thank you, Lord Ron."
Ron nodded—pleased.
Joyce hesitated.
"Then… what about these documents?"
Ron raised an eyebrow.
"Of course you will still handle them."
Breakfast
Mellitoria sat beside Ron. The redness on her face was gone; he nodded in satisfaction.
"You will live here from now on. But you cannot remain without a family name. From today onward, you will be called Mellitoria Arnold. Remember that."
Gasps filled the dining hall.
"R-remembered… Brother," Mellitoria replied blankly. She didn't understand what a surname meant, but the adults did.
Ron sighed.
"You're still too slow. You'll get better once you start lessons."
He beckoned.
Joyce stepped forward and bowed.
"This is your teacher from now on. She will guide your studies. If you understand, let's begin eating."
Ron calmly began his breakfast, leaving everyone else stunned.
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