DSMBL CH 25

Chapter 25

With a serious look, I nodded. Considering all the luxury and money I’d spent, who would trust me? I nodded sincerely. Although the nanny didn’t seem entirely trustworthy, but she had years of experience working on the estate. I’d keep an eye on her, and if she tried anything suspicious, I’d report it to Cassius.

Besides, I planned to leave this place soon. I had no intention of taking over the household management. Theo was already too adorable, and I couldn’t afford to get more entangled with the duke’s household.

However, the nanny seemed taken aback by my reaction.

“The Duke assigned me to manage the household affairs!” she exclaimed.

“…Yes, I understand,” I replied calmly.

“You don’t seem to realize how important this is! From now on, anytime you need to spend money, you’ll have to come to me to get it!”

I didn’t plan to spend much anyway. Why was she yelling so much?

Theo tugged at my clothes, seemingly startled. He promised to protect me, after all. I patted his head and said, “Alright, I’ll do that.”

“Aaah!!”

Good grief! Why was she screaming? I sighed and turned to the nanny.

Why was she so determined to make my life difficult? Did she want to take my place as Duchess? Cassius was young enough to be her son.

Or was it because I’d stood up to her? Whatever the reason, it was irritating. Even if my title was just for show, I was still the Duchess.

And yet, the nanny didn’t seem to notice how frightened Theo was.

“How rude,” I muttered.

“You said it yourself, Duchess! What purpose do I serve? I’m the one who must leave if it’s not for Theo! Now I have a reason to stay!”

“Good for you. If Cassius entrusted you with an important task, focus on doing it well. I don’t see why you’re acting out in front of me.”

The nanny clenched her teeth, her face turning red with anger.

I stared at her coldly.

“Do you feel like you’re above me?” I asked.

She flinched. Even if she secretly thought so, she shouldn’t show it. Such an attitude was dangerous in a world where social hierarchy mattered deeply.

The nanny trembled, glaring at me as if her eyes might pop out.

I chuckled softly.

“If that’s what you want, just say so. I’ll go directly to Cassius and tell him you want to take my place.”

“N-No! Of course not! I’m just stating facts,” she stammered, her voice laced with bitterness.

“From now on, all the money you spend will be under my supervision. Keep that in mind,” she spat before turning on her heel and leaving.

“Are you really going to let this slide?” Luna asked.

I glanced at her and nodded.

“For now.”

I’d talk to Cassius about it eventually, but I didn’t feel like doing anything immediately.

Turning back, I checked on Theo. His small shoulders were trembling as he buried his head in my dress.

“Theo, are you okay?” I asked gently.

Luna remained silent. This wasn’t the time to discuss the nanny. The most important thing now was Theo, not her.

Theo hesitantly looked up.

“Is the nanny a bad person?”

“Hmm.”

I sat Theo down and hugged him, gently stroking his head as he looked on the verge of tears.

“Has she been good to you, Theo?”

Theo thought for a moment, then nodded quickly before shaking his head.

“I don’t know,” he said softly.

My heart ached seeing him like this. For Theo, his world likely consisted only of the nanny and Cassius. His confusion made sense.

I hugged him tightly.

“It’s okay. Hmm, how about we do something fun today?”

“Something fun?” Theo asked weakly, his usual excitement gone.

“Yeah, something super fun. Have you ever gone swimming?”

Theo’s eyes sparkled.

“Swim… swimming?”

I nodded as he grew visibly excited.

“Yeah, swimming.”

“Can we really?”

“Miller said we could, so I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Yay!” Theo squealed, jumping down and stamping his feet in excitement.

“Can we catch fish too?”

Uh-oh. I didn’t know how to catch fish. Just thinking about slippery, flopping fish made my skin crawl.

Before I could respond, Luna stepped in.

“There will be a guard accompanying you. I’m sure one of them knows how to catch fish.”

“Wow! Let’s go right now!” Theo exclaimed, tugging at me eagerly.

A bright smile bloomed on his chubby cheeks, and I couldn’t help but smile too.

***

Meanwhile, Cassius was looking for Charlotte. He felt he needed to explain the situation with the nanny, but she had already left with Theo.

“Left? Where to…” he muttered.

The head maid lowered her head.

“They’ve gone into the forest. They’re accompanied by the guards, so you don’t need to worry, Your Grace.”

“The forest?”

That was a place completely unfit for Charlotte. She was a person who belonged in the glamorous city, someone who enjoyed banquets and wore high heels. Although, she had been changing lately.

“Did she really go into the forest?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Young Master Theo wanted to play in the water.”

Cassius ran a hand through his hair, looking somewhat taken aback. When he was young, he had gone to the forest to catch fish and play in the water, too.

With his late father.

He had even built a small cabin near a stream, and whenever he needed some peace, he would go there.

But after his parents passed away and he suddenly became the Duke, he had lost that leisurely time.

It had been a long time since those memories resurfaced.

“Should I send someone to tell them to come back?”

“No.”

Cassius shook his head. Although he thought the forest didn’t suit Charlotte, but there was no reason for her to not go there.

“Theo will be happy.”

“Yes,” the head maid replied with a subtle smile.

“Even though the guards offered to carry him, he insisted on walking.”

Cassius gazed at the head maid, lost in thought. She used to be a person who smiled a lot. But after the passing of the Duke and Duchess, a shadow had fallen over Isteria, and the head maid’s laughter had disappeared.

“…A lot has changed in a short time, Your Grace. I think it’s all because of the Duchess. I thought she was a sensitive, sharp, and dangerous person, but it seems I only saw one side of her.”

Cassius nodded in agreement.

He felt the same. He still couldn’t believe the dramatic change.

But Charlotte seemed to carry all of her past memories with her. Perhaps, as she said, the awakening of the divine power had influenced her.

It was a mysterious force, after all.

“…I owe a lot to Charlotte. Please take good care of her.”

“I will try my best.”

Charlotte had said it was a weak divine power, but it was helping Theo to recover. Charlotte was using her life force to heal Theo.

‘Now that I think about it, I never properly thanked her.’

Cassius clenched his fist.

He had momentarily forgotten how great a sacrifice that was.

While thinking of Charlotte, the words she had said to him recently came to mind.

“I was thinking of holding a banquet. I think you should know, Cassius. Is that okay?”

He also recalled her uneasy look when she said that.

“…Charlotte said she wanted to hold a banquet?”

“Yes, it seems Luna gave her some advice.”

“Advice?”

“Things have been noisy both inside and outside the mansion. Everyone is worried. It seems she thought holding a banquet would show that Isteria is still strong.”

“Ah.”

That made sense now. She had suddenly decided to hold a banquet after saying she didn’t want to, and there was a reason behind it.

Cassius pressed his lips together.

“I really owe Charlotte in many ways.”

“If you take care of her as well, Your Grace, you’ll be repaid.”

That made him recall something Charlotte had said. After fully healing Theo, she had asked for a wish to be granted.

What could it be?

He suddenly felt curious.

“Is there anything Charlotte needs or wants?”

The head maid shook her head.

“I don’t know. Don’t you, Your Grace?”

Cassius closed his mouth.