***

Most butlers in high noble houses serve one family for their entire lives until old age.

In comparison, the head butler of the Blanche family was merely a 15-year veteran novice (at 65 years old), but during those 15 years, he had weathered the storm of serving three different masters.

To such a butler, Belinda Blanche was, surprisingly, quite a competent master.

She wasn’t as kind to employees as Jonas Blanche had been, but her mere presence established discipline within the mansion. Unlike Sybel Blanche, she didn’t meticulously handle everything herself, but having a good eye for people’s usefulness, she placed excellent talent in the right positions.

That wasn’t all.

‘How remarkably well she fits in.’

The butler couldn’t help but admire Belinda, who had been processing documents with an unwavering straight posture for hours in the study.

It had only been five days since she entered the main building’s study.

She wasn’t overwhelmed by the study’s dignified atmosphere but blended in naturally as if she had been there for a long time.

It was a sight unimaginable from her past when she swept through social circles, causing all sorts of incidents.

Hoping to retire peacefully without welcoming a fourth master, the butler spoke.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has sent a letter to you, Master.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Belinda, who had been busily moving her pen, was just about to pick up the letter from the silver tray and open it with a paper knife.

Suddenly, she paused and stared intently at something.

The butler also looked in the direction of Belinda’s gaze, but she was only staring at some unknown empty space.

Then abruptly,

“I’m tired.”

After leaving just that one comment, she entrusted the Crown Prince’s letter to her assistant and stood up briskly.

“Tomorrow is the succession ceremony at the palace, so I’ll return to the annex to rest now.”

It was a very sudden declaration of rest, but it was a plausible reason.

Then, after being seen off by the main building’s employees with straight and elegant steps, Belinda began running as soon as the employees were out of sight, holding up her skirt.

Following leisurely behind her, Terry asked.

“Master, are you running at full speed right now?”

“Do I look like I’m crawling?”

“Yes. If you’re in a hurry, should I carry you?”

“…No thanks.”

Glaring at the annoyingly chattering Terry, Belinda ran all the way to the annex and didn’t stop there but headed straight to the second floor.

The Cerberuses, huddled together not knowing spring had arrived and wondering when the fireplace would be lit, excitedly followed Belinda up the stairs without understanding why.

Soon, Belinda arrived in front of Leo’s study room, knocked twice, and then flung the door open.

“Ratchet!”

Woof, bark, arf!

A trio of Cerberus barks followed her exclamation.

Leo, who had been reading a book, was startled by Belinda’s sudden intrusion and opened his eyes wide.

“Oh? Did you finish work early today?”

Belinda immediately approached Leo, hugged the child tightly, and whispered.

“I’ve been so busy I couldn’t properly oversee your studies. But you’ve been working so hard on your own. That’s wonderful.”

As she patted Leo’s back, her gaze fell on the system window that hadn’t been closed yet.

[The Star of Heroes’ intelligence has broken through its limit. The total amount of intelligence has improved.]

Belinda didn’t know it, but this was an achievement thanks to Leo’s increased dedication to studying, as she had been fervently engaged in a battle with herself.

She tried to pick Leo up and give him a high airplane ride, but failing due to unexpectedly low stamina, Belinda cleared her throat embarrassedly and whispered.

“Shall we sneak out and play, just the two of us today?”

“Just the two of us?”

“Yes. Without anyone knowing. Sometimes such deviations are necessary.”

Leo, who had been rolling his eyes with his neck flushed red, smiled so brightly that both dimples appeared.

“I love it! Oh, not that I love deviation too much… I mean, I like it moderately!”

***

Even while I was busy dealing with Sybel, Leo hadn’t neglected his studies.

I couldn’t hide my proud smile as I checked Leo’s stat window.

[Name: Ratchet]

[Age: 9]

[Intelligence: 100/299]

[Physical Strength: 110/299]

[Divine Power: 76/99]

[Magic: 103/299]

Although his Divine Power was lacking, Leo’s abilities had become impressive, just as I had initially aimed for.

Of course, raising his stats further from here would be quite arduous, but I decided to focus on celebrating this achievement for now.

Leo and I put on the plainest clothes we had with no decorations, then snuck out through the back door used by the employees.

Of course, I didn’t forget to secretly ask Sir Penadel to follow and guard us without Leo knowing.

So Leo and I hired a carriage and went down to the market in the royal city.

However, our escapade was modest.

We visited the most famous bakery in the capital to buy large loaves of bread and ate them while walking the streets, went to the area where nomadic tribes stayed to have our fortunes told that would make priests faint, and struggled for a long time at a small bookstore used by the middle class just to choose one fairy tale book.

We walked countless times since we didn’t bring the family carriage separately.

Despite spending such simple time together, the hours flew by too quickly.

When I came to my senses, the evening glow had already settled.

Leo and I sat on a bench in the square with a view of the clock tower to rest our legs that had worked hard all day.

To be honest, Leo was fine.

While wiping Leo’s hands with a damp handkerchief, all sticky from eating cheap candy sticks at the market, I casually asked.

“Did you enjoy today?”

“Yes!”

Leo’s answer was very energetic.

The child chattered away as if writing a diary about how savory the smell from the bakery was, how mysterious the crystal ball shown by the nomadic tribe was, and what the footsteps of people using the bookstore sounded like.

Leo, who chirped like a lark without rest, exuded the sweet scent of sugar.

While occasionally responding to Leo’s words, I brought up what I had prepared to say.

“Ratchet, I have so many things.”

It might sound like I’m showing off, but well, it’s true.

After an awkward cough, I continued leisurely.

“But you’re so precious to me that I wouldn’t mind giving you all of it. So much so that if you wanted the Blanche family, I could hand it over to you.”

Leo, who had been quietly listening to me, suddenly raised his head and stared at me.

As the sunset reflected in his clear blue eyes, they glistened like cherries, just as Sir Cherry’s had done once.

Feeling somewhat choked up, I slightly avoided Leo’s gaze and looked at the giant Rozel tree occupying one side of the square.

“I will support whatever you want to be or do, Ratchet. So you don’t necessarily have to become my servant.”

“….”

“When we first met, becoming my servant was the only way. But you saw today, didn’t you? How many paths and choices there are in this world.”

If Leo wanted, he could become the owner of the most famous bakery in the capital, a fortune teller predicting others’ fates with mysterious powers, or a very famous bestselling author filling a wall of the bookstore with his books.

He just didn’t know his own potential.

I stubbornly kept looking at the distant Rozel tree, refusing to turn my head toward Leo.

Pink buds had sprouted on the Rozel tree, said to be the first herald of spring.

When those buds bloom into pink flowers like clouds tinged with the evening glow, Ophelia will come to the royal city.

The real caregiver with the ability to provide sunshine and fertilizer for Leo’s infinite possibilities and future, to raise the child happier than anyone else.

“So if there’s something you want to be, tell me anytime. There’s someone I want to introduce you to. That person is family who is essential for you to grow into an adult…”

“But… Lady Belinda, you told me that the Blanche family is my home.”

At Leo’s sudden words, I had no choice but to turn back to him.

Leo must have been looking at me all along, still gazing up at me as before, and asked.

“Does that mean I can’t stay by your side?”

“Ratchet, I’m not someone qualified to raise anyone. I…”

To be honest, I wasn’t confident.

Do I really have the right to raise this child?

Can I raise him well?

I’ve never even experienced family love…

How can I give what I’ve never received, teach what I’ve never learned?

How can I be sure my parenting methods are correct?

This was reality, not a game.

There’s no reset button anywhere, and mistakes cannot be undone.

My decisions and thoughts would forever impact this child’s future… and if I made a terrible mistake…

“When I’m with you, Lady Belinda…”

Leo held his breath once as if holding back tears, then spoke.

“It feels like this, the hole in my chest fills up. So, Lady Belinda. Did you feel your chest filling up when you were with me, too? Were you happy?”