<Chapter 6>

There were times when household staff would look down on the tutor or act territorial.

Just because Yurenia was a young woman, they underestimated her even though she was clearly of noble birth unlike them, commoners.

Getting caught up in that kind of tension was exhausting. It was always better to maintain a polite distance.

“Anyway, miss, once you’ve worked here a while, you’ll understand what I mean.”

“Yes.”

Yurenia responded quietly, without adding anything more. She didn’t try to keep the conversation going.

As the silence started to feel awkward, Marlenda cleared her throat and spoke again.

“Honestly, I don’t know when our young master’s tantrums will end. They only seem to get worse by the day. Good thing it’s me looking after him. I’m the only one who can handle it. He’s not your average kid.”

As she spoke, Marlenda grew more and more agitated. By the time they reached the nursery, she was still ranting without even opening the door first.

“Since we’re on the subject, he was high-maintenance even as a baby. I thought he’d grow out of it once he could talk, but he’s just gotten worse. No wonder his mother abandoned him.”

Yurenia, who had been listening quietly, flinched at that last remark.

‘That’s a bit much.’

Putting aside her attitude toward Yurenia as the tutor…

Badmouthing Kailas?

Right in front of the door where he might hear?

‘This can’t go on.’

Yurenia decided to give Marlenda a chance to collect herself first.

In the gentlest tone she could manage, with a troubled look on her face, she said,

“Marlenda. Should you really say things like that? What if the young master hears you and gets hurt?”

“Oh my, look at me!”

Marlenda rubbed the back of her neck, clearly embarrassed. From her reaction, it seemed the comment might’ve slipped out without much thought.

“I’m such a blabbermouth. I didn’t mean it seriously.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Yurenia replied politely. Marlenda let out a hearty laugh and added,

“Well, if things ever get rough, don’t hesitate to come talk to me, alright?”

With that, she knocked on the nursery door.

But something felt off.

“……”

There were definitely signs of someone inside, but no one responded to the knock.

“Young master, it’s your nanny.”

“……”

“Young master?”

When silence greeted her again, Marlenda gave an awkward laugh. She shook her head and shrugged.

“See what I mean? Every day’s a surprise with this rascal. You’ll get used to it soon, Yurenia.”

“Yes.”

“Young master! Young master! Are you in there?”

After Yurenia echoed her politely, Marlenda pounded on the door. Then, grasping the doorknob, she frowned in frustration.

“Why’d he lock it again? Young master! Open this door!”

“……”

“I said, open up!”

She rattled the door so hard it shook on its hinges.

Still, it wouldn’t budge.

Standing behind Marlenda, Yurenia examined the door. It wasn’t locked in any visible way, yet it wouldn’t open at all.

Almost as if it had been sealed with magic.

‘He’s already using magic?’

While Marlenda continued shouting, Yurenia let her thoughts drift.

Adult Kailas was practically perfect, just like a main character should be. Magic was one of his core abilities, and he would later use it to imprison the heroine, Emilia.

But back in his childhood, the novel described him as struggling to control it.

‘Did I remember it wrong?’

She didn’t think much of it. Calmly, she reached out and took Marlenda’s wrist. The woman turned to her with a scowl, her face now completely different from the warm smile she wore earlier.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Yurenia wasn’t rattled by the harsh look.

“Let me try.”

“And what do you think you can do that I couldn’t? Go on, give it a shot if you think you can.”

Ignoring the condescending tone, Yurenia gripped the doorknob. As she gently pressed it down, to everyone’s surprise, it turned smoothly.

“Huh…?”

“Young master!”

Startled, Yurenia was pushed aside as Marlenda barged in and threw the door wide open. The moment she stepped inside, a mug Yurenia had been holding floated up into the air.

And then—

“Eek!”

Splash!

The milk inside flew through the air and splattered all over Yurenia’s face.

“……”

Drip.

Drip.

“Oh no! Miss!”

Marlenda shrieked as the white liquid trickled down Yurenia’s jawline. Yurenia stayed calm and wiped her face.

It was definitely…

“Goodness!”

…startling, yes.

“What on earth just happened?!”

But Marlenda’s frantic reaction somehow made her feel calmer in contrast.

Really, it wasn’t that big of a deal. When you worked with kids, getting hit with milk, flour, or dirt wasn’t unusual.

‘At least it’s lukewarm.’

She dabbed at her chin. If the milk had been hot, she might’ve been burned. But thanks to Marlenda dragging out the conversation earlier, it had cooled down.

‘Lucky.’

Shaking the moisture from her hand, she watched the drops scatter onto the nursery rug.

“Mmgh!”

Just then—

While wiping her face, Yurenia heard a child quickly stifle a gasp.

She cleared the milk from her eyes and scanned the room.

In the far corner stood a small boy, curled up tightly.

The moment their eyes met, the boy shouted with a flushed face:

“Who are you?!”

“Oh, heavens! Young master!”

Marlenda gasped at his rude outburst. She stomped into the room, fuming.

“You should apologize first! What are you yelling for? Honestly, I can’t take this anymore! Just look at what you’ve done!”

She pointed at Yurenia, now drenched, and dramatically placed a hand to her forehead.

“You’ve embarrassed the Valerio ducal family once again! If this keeps up, I won’t survive your antics!”

“I was just—!”

The boy flinched under Marlenda’s scolding, his small shoulders trembling.

Meanwhile, Yurenia finished wiping her face and turned her eyes to the boy with dark hair.

‘So this is him.’

A pale boy, curled up in the corner of a large room.

Kailas Valerio, age seven.

His tousled black hair shimmered under the sunlight pouring through the window.

Just as described in the novel, he had black hair and light green eyes.

But what caught Yurenia’s attention wasn’t that.

The way Kailas looked while being scolded… he didn’t resemble the heir of a grand noble house. Certainly not of a ducal line.

The boy looked like a wreck.

His jet-black hair was so long it covered his tiny face.

His sleeves hung off him like a scarecrow’s rags. His limbs were long and thin, practically skeletal for his age.

‘What on earth has Marlenda been doing all this time?’

Not that she needed to ask.

Marlenda’s very presence screamed the answer.

“What are you even good at, young master? Other than being a nuisance to your family! There isn’t a single peaceful day with you around!”

“S-stop it!”

“And that loud mouth! You never back down, do you? This is why no one wants to take care of you!”

Marlenda let loose every bit of scorn she had. Yurenia watched her closely.

At first, she thought it might be discipline.

But this wasn’t discipline. This was lashing out.

Marlenda hurled words with no filter, no thought of the damage they might cause.

“I’m only still here because I’ve known you since you were a baby! Who did you get this from, huh? Your mother is the picture of noble grace, and yet you’re… you don’t even know right from wrong! It really breaks my heart. Why are you so awful, Young Master Kailas?!”

[You’re breaking your mother’s heart. Why are you so awful?]

……How familiar.

She had heard those words too many times in her past life, from her own parent.

Yurenia gently bit her lower lip.

‘Pathetic adults… they never change their tune, do they?’

She furrowed her brow and stepped forward, taking hold of Marlenda’s arm.

“Marlenda, that’s enough. I’m fine.”

She had heard those words too many times before in her past life from her own parent.

Still fussing, Marlenda made a show of wiping Yurenia’s face with her sleeve, though there was nothing left to clean.

‘You’re quick to act now, huh.’

Yurenia thought with a trace of bitterness.

She saw right through Marlenda. Of course she had brushed Yurenia aside because she never truly cared in the first place.

All that concern?

Just words.

Marlenda hadn’t spared even a fingernail’s worth of real attention for her.
 

<To be continued>

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