Childcare Diaries - Chapter 47

“It’s over there.”

As they approached the training ground, the sound of cheering echoed far away.

Everyone was concentrating on training. Due to recent events, the knights were very angry. They all vented, saying that they would not let it go if they caught anyone who was threatening their master.

In addition, Barry, who used to run errands under them, came back after a full improvement, so they couldn’t stay still. At this point, it seemed that Barry would overtake them.

So, because of various reasons, it was rare these days to have no people in the training ground.

Derek looked at them in admiration.

All eyes were alive.

As Ellie entered the gym, a few knights knew her. The little girl who lived in the county since childhood was like a niece of the knights.

They had a close relationship with Ellie because she had a good personality.

But, everyone stiffened by the stranger who followed immediately after her. He was an unusual man at first glance. Looking at his well-trained body and the sword he was wearing next to him, he looked like a very strong man.

“Ellie.”

Barry turned his gaze after the knights and found his sister. He hurried over and hid his sister from the stranger.

“Brother?”

It was a misunderstanding because Barry had never seen Derek. Ellie calmed her brother and brought out her words.

“He’s the one who saved me. He came here to introduce himself.’

Only then did Barry realize his own mistake and hand in an apology.

Derek took Barry’s hand and accepted the apology.

“But, Ellie, are you okay?”

Barry, who was speaking with Derek, asked. He must have been seeing Derek following her. Even so, Ellie, who must have been alone with a man named Derek, was fine.

‘Is it because she’s a psychologically stable person?’

Anyway, she seemed to be getting better little by little.

“What?”

Barry, who didn’t want to make his sister aware that there was someone behind her for nothing, hesitated, saying it wasn’t a big deal.

And then, Sir Taylor entered the rehearsal hall.

The knights began to take turns looking at Taylor and Derek. Comparing the man who seemed unusual even if he pretended to be, and Sir Taylor, a genius recognized by the swordsmanship academy, they were busy figuring out who would be stronger.

Having just heard Ellie introduce him to Barry, they assumed that he was far superior to them.

‘Sir Taylor is more modest.’

Derek, who heard the whisper, gazed at the person walking in the distance.

He had a build and height similar to his own.

Taylor looked at Derek, too.

‘Who is it? I don’t think he’s normal… I think he’s a mercenary.’

Taylor, who was looking at Derek, saw Ellie was there and guessed his identity.

Derek and Taylor’s distance narrowed, and they finally met. Shaking hands back and forth, they both looked at each other nervously.

“You were here.”

However, someone broke this atmosphere.

It was the nanny with the hidden power in this mansion.

The knights turned around with blank expressions on their faces.

She, who came to thank Derek like Ellie, did not know why the atmosphere in the training ground was like this.

As if watching a romance play, Ellie stared at her sister as an exciting scene broke.

“Haa.”

At the sound of his brother’s sigh, Marie, who did not know anything, made a puzzled expression and asked Barry for a reason.

Meanwhile, Barry didn’t have much to say.

*** 

Marie and Derek walked out separately and talked to each other.

“Thank you again.”

“No. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect her until the end.”

He kept repeating it over and over again.

“Is Ellie not going out after that day?”

At his question, Marie nodded her head at his question. To be exact, she couldn’t get out. If she said she would go out, Marie herself would be devastated.

“It must be hard to be here all day.”

She also agreed.

Even though Ellie didn’t show it, she was sure. Brielle was also slowly hitting his limits.

“When will it end…”

Marie wasn’t asking for an answer. It was something that came out of frustration.

“I can feel the criminals coming closer and closer, so it will be over soon.”

“Yes, it should end without everyone getting hurt.”

That was her wish.

“That’s right.”

Derek pulled out two small mirrors from his arms. One was a bronze mirror with ducks on the back, and the other was decorated with flowers.

“Tell Ellie, this is in return for choosing the clothes for me last time.”

“The child probably wasn’t doing it because she wanted something in return.”

“Still, I’m giving it to her because I’m grateful.”

“Ah… Then, it would be just one duck shape.”

Marie was about to hand back the flower-shaped bronze mirror.

“I brought two. One can be used by the nanny.”

“Yes…?”

She was taken aback by the sudden gift. They were never close enough to give and receive gifts like this.

However, before she could refuse, he quickly disappeared.

Marie, who at first did not know that the gift was a form of regret for having misunderstood her, continued to stand unaware of the situation.

*** 

She picked up an envelope with blue flowers on it. Marie hadn’t even thought of opening the letter that came to her.

She never thought she would receive a letter from there.

This pattern was only used by the Royal Family.

Everyone was skeptical that the flower was a symbol of the royal family, not a valiant beast, though when they saw that blue flowers were also painted on the crowns used from generation to generation, they all tried to think so. They only thought that the previous kings loved flowers.

“Ha…”

When Marie was caught holding it, Kentrail stepped in.

“I’ll check on your behalf. Even if you say you’re not too nervous.”

She reassured him that it would be a useless story. It was something she had never expected, to receive a letter from the royal family. But, she had nothing to worry about. It must have been written as a useless invitation.

Because he had feelings of disdain for the current King, she was afraid he would throw it away without giving it to Marie. Although he brought it because it was a letter that came to her.

However, when he saw her contemplating her for a long time like this, Kentrail thought that he should have thrown it away as well.

“Maybe I have committed a crime without my knowledge.”

“You were always in the mansion.”

“Then… you know my past.”

“How can the king know what only you and I know?”

Marie, who had barely regained her composure at his words, opened the letter with a careful hand. The time and place were indicated in neat handwriting.

“What’s this?”

The letter, which did not give any specific reason, really shocked her. Kentrail confirmed it and frowned.

“Useless party.”

“Yes?”

“It’s a party with waters. It’s held every summer.”

“I’ve never seen the Count or the Master participate before?”

“Of course. Because I’ve never been there.”

“Can I?”

Kentrail’s unanswering attitude was stern.

Marie thought of having a banquet in the pool villa. She had no swimsuit here, so a pool party would be impossible, and it was like a banquet to enjoy the cool water.

“Why did he invite me…?”

As far as she knows, since the fall of her family, Marie has never been invited, even anywhere else.

When she asked Ellie, she got the same answer, so it must have been correct.

“He’s been curious about you before.”

“Who is it?”

“That King.”

Having omitted the honorifics, she was startled by his answer, and she looked around to see if there was anyone listening. Fortunately, there were only two of them in the spacious garden.

As she sat down with a screen and a table and a chair, her mood seemed to fly away, but now it has fallen into this letter.

“Are you sure you want to attend?”

“You don’t have to go.”

Marie felt no credibility in his words.

Who has ever disobeyed the king’s command? It was something he could do as a chancellor.

“I don’t even know the etiquette here. Isn’t there a special way to greet the king here? Isn’t there a way to drink tea? I’ve been drinking tea uncultured up until now.”

Kentrail gazed at her with a cute expression on her gibberish. It was the first time he’d seen her like that. Marie has always been the one who does her job perfectly. He liked that look, too.

“It’s all good.”

“Yes?”

Marie thought he said that her manners she spoke of were good. She grumbled that the Count was of no help for her.

She pondered whom to ask for etiquette. Though unfortunately, she had no one to remember. She was frustrated that she didn’t have many personal connections.

“Are you sure you want to be there?”

“Of course. I’m not the Count. I know what kind of anger I’ll get if I don’t go.”

It had been so long since Ellie and Barry had been threatened, and if she didn’t go, she wondered if they would be taken to the king and tormented.

“If you want to attend like that, I’ll teach you.”

“What?”

“Etiquette.”

“Isn’t etiquette divided into men and women?”

“I’m good at both.”

Marie’s eyes rolled as the Count was showing off his pride after a long time.

‘How did the Young Master get through this situation so well?’

Brielle, who entered the social world long before her and even greeted the King, looked great.

“Ellie and Barry should practice, too.”

Marie’s eyes widened at those words.

“Can the kids go with me?”

There was only one invitation that flew in, and only Marie’s name was written on it.

“Then, I’ll go and Brielle will go as well. Are you going to leave the children alone in this situation?”

“It’s not like that…”

Marie wondered if she could do this, but even considering the enemy troops, they’d be better off moving together.

“Don’t worry about unnecessary things. I’ll take care of everything in the Royal Palace.”

“Yes.”

In the end, Marie gave a small reply.

Kentrail gritted her teeth as he looked at her, who was at a loss.

*** 

“Long time no see.”

Kentrail came to the Palace.

He stood there to scrutinize with a mean face that kept him sleepless with the useless correspondence.

“I guess you weren’t very busy.”

Even at the cheeky servant’s words, the King just smiled and passed it on. Such a snarky appearance scratched Kentrail’s stomach even more.

“Someone recommended a competent manager.”

The King eventually listened to Biddle, who was recommended by Kentrail.

He gave Biddle an honorary title. Although it was the lowest rank, as a commoner, it was a title that could not be easily obtained except as a knight.

The nobility was not given territory and could not be inherited, although Biddle was very happy.

“You seem to be. You can afford to send me such a letter.”

Ag that, the King grinned as if he knew this was coming.

“I had no choice but to do that to see your busy face.”

Kentrail wanted to say that it would be better to see the Queen at that time other than him, but he barely pressed it. He did not want to engage in affairs of the couple.

Moreover, if the Queen was the culprit, the closer the relationship with the King she got, the more difficult it would be.

‘Still…’

Maybe knowing that his cousin had an unhappy marriage, his heart was heavy. Since they were close when they were young, the thin but piled-up bond was so frightening.

‘But, uncle…’

Kentrail recalled having asked his uncle to stand as a witness when his parents pleaded innocence.

‘And, he rejected.’

The first reason he doubted his uncle was for a reason.

“Why now? His Majesty must know what is happening to our family.”

This was what Kentrail wanted to ask the King from the beginning.

Even though there were many chances, he had not invited Marie to attend the royal banquet like this time.