<Chapter 12>

“I’d like to request a room change.”

At Yurenia’s request, Chester furrowed his brow. Folding his arms, he spoke.

“A room, huh. Is that why you haven’t unpacked?”

“Excuse me?”

Yurenia blinked, confused by his question. Chester elaborated.

“I noticed your things were still untouched. Was the room not to your liking? If you want a bigger one…”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

She hastily waved her hands at the Duke’s assumption.

“Not my room. Young Master Kail’s. I’d like his room to be moved to a more suitable place for a child.”

“What’s wrong with this one? It’s the best room in the house after my own.”

Chester spoke with clear confusion. Yurenia’s lips parted slightly in realization.

‘So that’s why…’

She’d wondered why Kailas was placed in such a tucked-away corner. It turns out the Duke had done what he thought was best for his nephew.

“It is a nice room. But it’s not a proper nursery.”

“Nursery?”

Chester repeated the word ‘nursery’ like someone hearing it for the first time. Watching him, Yurenia was suddenly reminded of Enzo, the Duke’s aide.

He, too, had looked puzzled when she’d mentioned a nursery earlier.

‘No way…’

In that moment, a small revelation flashed through Yurenia’s mind.

‘There’s no nursery in this house.’

Technically speaking, the room Kailas stayed in was the nursery.

But only in name, it wasn’t properly equipped like a real nursery should be.

‘It’s probably because the Duke is unmarried.’

It wasn’t hard for Yurenia to figure out the reason.

In most noble households, once the lady of the house becomes pregnant, they prepare a nursery.

And until the child grows up and either leaves for the academy or moves to another room, they’re raised there.

In short, unless the master of the house is married and has children, there’s no nursery.

As an unmarried man who suddenly became guardian of his nephew, the Duke likely hadn’t had time to prepare something like that.

And judging by the house itself, it didn’t seem like it had been passed down to him by his father either.

This must’ve been the best room he could offer under the circumstances.

But still, it wasn’t suitable for raising a child. Yurenia looked thoughtfully at the sharp corners of the bed, then said resolutely,

“Your Grace, Young Master Kail needs a room made just for a child.”

“This one’s not enough?”

“A nursery needs soft rugs so that if a child falls, they won’t get hurt. Furniture should be scaled to their height, with rounded edges.”

As she explained, Chester looked around the room, carefully inspecting the furniture with a discerning gaze. Yurenia added,

“And since Young Master Kail will be without a nanny, the nursery should be near the guardian’s bedroom. That way, if something happens, he can be reached immediately.”

“Then this place won’t do.”

Chester muttered with a scowl.

This room was at the very end of the west wing.

Meanwhile, Chester, Kailas’s current guardian, lived in the east wing.

East and west were the complete opposite ends of the estate. This was the worst possible place for a nursery.

It didn’t take Chester long to decide.

“Alright. We’ll set up a new room for the boy. Close to mine.”

“Thank you so much!”

“Anything else you’d like to request?”

“Hmm…”

Yurenia glanced toward the peacefully sleeping child. Her rosy eyes sparkled.

“There is one more thing.”

“Go ahead.”

East and west were at completely opposite ends of the estate. It was the worst possible spot for a nursery.

“Got it. And?”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing you want for yourself?”

“For me?”

Yurenia blinked. The Duke’s sharp gaze bore into her.

“Nothing at all.”

“Come now, don’t hold back. It’s not every day you get this kind of opportunity.”

“I’ve already been promised more than fair treatment. I’ll focus on being the best tutor for Young Master Kail. Thank you.”

“That’s it?”

At her polite, no-nonsense answer, Chester’s eyes narrowed. With a tone like he was trying to tempt her, he asked quietly,

“Think carefully. Are you sure there’s nothing you want from a high noble like me?”

“Well… if you insist…”

Pressed by his persistence, Yurenia hesitated before she spoke. Chester gave a slight motion of his chin, urging her to continue.

“Please don’t forget your dinner appointment with Young Master Kail today. Promise me that.”

“…Pfft.”

Chester, who had been watching her with a serious expression, suddenly let out a breathy chuckle.

His broad shoulders shook slightly as he stifled a laugh behind one hand. After a moment, he nodded.

“Haha, alright. Don’t worry, teacher. A Valerio never breaks their word.”

“Okay!”

Yurenia beamed, confused but delighted by his unexpected reaction.

She was smiling outwardly, but inside, her heart was pounding from the thrill of hearing a line she’d only ever read before.

‘To hear that line in person!’

Yurenia clasped her hands, trying to contain her excitement.

[A Valerio never breaks their word.]

This was the Valerio family motto, a significant phrase in the original novel.

At first glance, it seemed to emphasize trust and honor. But in truth, it carried a chilling implication.

Anyone of the Valerio line would always make their words come true, no matter what it took.

But that came later, after the family’s fall into darkness. For now, before the original story truly began, it meant nothing more than a sincere promise.

“I’m counting on you!”

Yurenia smiled as brightly as sunlight. In the ice-blue eyes that looked at her, a flicker of warmth appeared.

* * *

“…Marlenda Margot.”

A voice, low and resonant, echoed through the Duke’s study. Marlenda flinched at the sound of her name and replied quickly.

“Y-yes, Your Grace.”

“Thanks to you, I got to see Kail again after a long while. Aren’t you curious how it went?”

“O-of course! I’ve been wondering. He didn’t show any difficult behavior, did he? That new young woman couldn’t have managed him. As you know, raising a child takes experience…”

“Hahaha.”

Instead of answering, the Duke let out a cold, sharp laugh.

The chill that spread through the study with that laugh made Marlenda’s spine prickle.

‘What…?’

Something felt very wrong.

The Duke, who had always been lenient with her at least, was now looking at her with scathing intensity.

He hadn’t known much about children and had always taken her word at face value. But what had that new tutor done to make him glare at her like this?

“You know as well as I do that I’m the only one who can handle Young Master Kail. His mother, Marquess Mave Dalton, acknowledged that, too.”

“She’s not your employer anymore. The moment Kail came here, you became part of the Valerio household. Didn’t you know that?”

“O-of course I did!”

She hadn’t known.

But that didn’t matter now. Sensing danger, Marlenda blurted out,

“I’ve served House Valerio with unwavering loyalty!”

“I’ve noticed. You’ve been very dedicated.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. I promise to continue serving—”

“Diligently embezzling, diligently abusing the child. Busy woman, aren’t you?”

Thunk!

Chester flung a folder onto the desk. Sheets of paper crammed with numbers fluttered as they hit the floor.

Marlenda stared at them blankly, then gasped as she recognized the contents.

“Th-this is…!”
 

<To be continued>

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