37.
“They are here with the guests. I heard that Judith Mayous received a revelation at the shrine of the last priestess.”
“A revelation?”
The Duke was struck with astonishment. Isabella, who had authorized the pilgrimage knowing full well the depth of Judith’s spiritual prowess, leapt to her feet.
“Yes…… something must have happened. Let’s go.”
When the Duke and Isabella hurried down to the drawing room, they found Judith, the Marquis and Marchioness Shoden, and a sturdy, masked young man waiting for them.
“Oh?”
Isabella’s gaze lingered on the masked man before shifting to the Marquis and Marchioness, and she faltered.
“Greetings, Your Grace, and Duchess. I apologize for arriving so abruptly without prior notice.”
Only after the Marquis Shoden greeted her did Isabella compose herself.
A few words were exchanged, followed by an explanation of the situation. Having heard the purpose of the Shodens’ visit, the Duke and Isabella granted permission to summon the household staff.
“In that case, we must certainly cooperate.”
Isabella rang the bell.
“So, I need only summon all servants with brown hair and green eyes?”
“Yes. Thank you so very much.”
The Marchioness Shoden’s eyes were already brimming with tears.
“I know the features of that child. Only I know. So, if he is here, I will surely recognize him. Our son has a mole on his left eyelid, right against his lashes. It is invisible under normal circumstances, but it shows when he closes his eyes. It’s so close to the lash line that he likely doesn’t even know it himself, but……”
At that, Isabella gripped the Marchioness’s hand firmly.
It was a display of warmth rarely seen from the Duchess, who was known for her cold, aloof distance from other noblewomen.
“I know that feeling, too.”
“Duchess…….”
That was enough.
Isabella, too, had lost a son. Or rather, a son who had run away from home.
“There are features that allow one to recognize that child,” Isabella said slowly. “Things only a mother who has raised and cared for them for years would know.”
She paused, then continued.
“Ekian’s fourth fingernail is slightly flat. The others are round—it’s the same on both hands. Ekian probably doesn’t even realize it, but I know it because I personally trimmed his nails when he was a baby.”
“That’s exactly it!”
The Marchioness Shoden nodded vehemently. The butler entered, responding to the bell. Isabella gave him the instructions, and the butler, having understood the gravity of the request, bowed respectfully and departed.
Brown hair and green eyes were the most common combination in the Empire. In a household as large as the Mayous Ducal Mansion, they could easily round up over a dozen such young men.
“I didn’t get to see the child’s growing years,” the Marchioness said, dabbing at her tears. “That is my greatest regret. I wonder how he grew up…….”
“Indeed.”
Isabella sighed with a pity that was quite uncharacteristic of her.
“My heart aches just thinking that I missed five years of our Ekian’s life. I cannot imagine the extent of your sorrow, Marchioness…….”
Judith watched the two mothers in silence, a faint smile touching her lips.
She might not be able to find the real Ekian, but she could at least find Hyude.
Beside her, the Master sat perfectly still. His mask rendered his expression unreadable.
*Strange.*
Judith glanced at him. *He seems… somber.*
She couldn’t sense his expressions or the tenor of his voice, yet that was the feeling he projected.
“Still, please do not lose hope, Marchioness,” the Marchioness Shoden said to Isabella in a gentle voice. “You have found such a lovely daughter-in-law. I heard that a child will be born soon, as well.”
At those words, both Isabella and Judith flinched. It was a situation they couldn’t even call a lie, so filled was the Marchioness’s comfort with genuine sincerity.
“Young Duke Mayous would not be an irresponsible man. I am sure he will appear without delay once the child is born healthy.”
“Ah, ahahaha…….”
“I haven’t talked to her for long, but she is such a warm and considerate young lady.”
The Marchioness seemed to have taken a liking to Judith. Isabella nodded vigorously.
“Ahem! She is indeed a child with no shortcomings, no matter where she is presented.”
“Indeed. Our Felix is also at an age where it wouldn’t be strange for him to start a family. I should be preparing my heart to welcome a daughter-in-law myself.”
If it were Felix—that was the name of the lost eldest son of House Shoden. Although that son would not be using that name now.
Judith smiled awkwardly at the sudden praise. The Marquis Shoden chimed in as well.
“Regardless, if we truly find Felix, the young mistress is a benefactor to House Shoden. We will do anything for you.”
“Ahem, well, we are providing her with everything she needs, of course,” Isabella replied, raising an eyebrow. “But she is a kind and clever child for whom I would want to do anything.”
“Ho ho ho, a daughter-in-law acknowledged by the Duchess herself…… she must truly be a jewel. I would be happy if our Felix brought such a woman home.”
Shortly thereafter, ten young men with brown hair and green eyes filed into the drawing room.
*Hmm?*
Judith’s brows furrowed as she observed the group.
Before she could even tilt her head, the Marchioness Shoden leapt up with a sudden, intense ferocity that shattered the polite atmosphere.
“Right now, could you all please close your eyes?”
Driven by years of yearning, she didn’t wait for permission; she rushed toward the men.
*Wait a minute. Something is wrong.*
Judith stood up.
The Marchioness, who had been peering at the men’s closed lids, grabbed the hand of one of them tightly.
“You—how old are you?”
The young man indeed had a small mole on the edge of his left eyelid. It was so close to the lashes that it was almost invisible, but it was there.
“Ah.”
The young man blinked, looking bewildered.
“I am not sure. I am an adopted child. My adoptive parents have passed away and……”
“Oh, my heavens!”
The Marchioness gasped, clutching his hand tighter. It was then that Judith intervened.
“Excuse me.”
Judith stepped forward, her brow furrowed.
“Hyude Lamis is not here. As far as I know, Hyude also has brown hair and green eyes……”
The butler’s eyes widened.
“Now that you mention it, there was the personal physician, too. I didn’t think that far; I only checked the servant list.”
“Then quickly, Hyude……”
“However, Hyude is currently away. He went out, saying he had received a letter from his home.”
But the Marchioness was no longer listening. The Marquis had run over to grab the young man by the shoulders.
“Felix, is it really you? Is it really our Felix? Yes?”
“I, I…… I don’t know much other than that I am adopted……” the young man stammered, overwhelmed. “After my parents passed away, I was just working here managing the mail. I cannot tell you anything else.”
He looked around anxiously.
“There is a gentleman in the southern provinces who was close to my adoptive parents. If you allow it, I will go there right now. I might be able to hear something……”
“Yes, yes. Let’s go, then. Where is it?”
“That…… I know there is an Imperial banquet soon……. I will go alone. Since, I might not be your son……”
It was then that Judith stepped between them.
She grabbed a wet towel from the table and vigorously wiped the young man’s eyelid.