Childcare Diaries - Chapter 48

“It doesn’t mean anything. I just thought it would be nice to attend a banquet that is held around this time.”

Kentrail stared carefully at the King to see if that was true.

As the King saw him like that, he continued.

“I know what you’re worried about. The knights are placed in the palace at this banquet, I will guarantee the safety of the Count’s family.”

“I don’t need a knight in the Royal Palace.”

How could he trust strangers and entrust her to them?

“Give permission for the nanny’s two younger siblings to attend the banquet.”

“Siblings? Did she have siblings?”

“Yes.”

Seeing the King’s eyes brimming with curiosity, Kentrail sighed. For some reason, the King he had seen since childhood was not helpful.

*** 

“No. That’s not it.”

Brielle’s voice echoed through the room.

“This… this isn’t?”

The one with the bewildered voice was Ellie. After she learned that she was also going to the royal banquet, she had been practicing etiquette.

Brielle was by her side, firmly serving as the etiquette teacher.

“You have to bow a little more. The hem should be raised a little more.”

Ellie was practicing in her dress with the richest hem she’s ever owned.

“How am I?”

At Barry’s voice, Brielle looked up and down at him and gave a thumbs up.

“Ha… But, are we really allowed to go?”

As she did her practice, Ellie murmured softly.

‘The Count said it was okay, though it’s rare for a fallen noble to attend such a banquet.’

Ellie, who began to open her eyes to an aristocratic environment, fell into trouble.

‘We are aristocrats who are now nothing but commoners.

If she goes there, there must be aristocratic children who tormented her when she was young. Ellie was worried that she might be a nuisance to the Count and Brielle, she was afraid.

So, she was still practicing and continued to practice. She didn’t want to get caught.

“Uncle got the permission to go.”

Meanwhile, Brielle was excited. It’s been so long since he’s been out of the mansion, and it’s been great being able to participate with his favorite people.

Besides, it was a party with water.

The word water struck young Brielle’s heart.

Marie was also practicing.

‘They said this party was to show the prosperity of the kingdom to the neighboring countries.’

Few countries have complete water purification facilities. It was a party that only wealthy and technologically advanced countries could have. So, it could be said that all the high-ranking nobles were present.

‘To attend such a place…’

Marie gazed at Brielle, lightly tapping her hand.

‘Please, I should not be terrible as the Young Master’s nanny.’

Ellie, Barry, and even Marie didn’t mind being insulted. They were worried that they would be a nuisance to the County.

*** 

Items arrived one after another at the mansion.

The butler ordered the employees and maids to move the items.

“What is all this?”

Brielle stood at the entrance to the building and looked at them curiously.

“These are the items the Count ordered.”

The employees who brought it responded politely to Brielle.

“I see.”

“He said that it is necessary when going to a banquet.”

The butler added an explanation to Brielle. Then, he sent the people to bring what the Count had ordered.

Marie panicked when the items reached her room by the maids.

“Why are you bringing that thing here…?”

She quickly asked the maid who had brought it, but the maid laughed, saying she was just doing what the butler told.

Ellie, who was at the front door, was also perplexed when she helped move the belongings and was told that it was hers.

“…Mine?”

When she arrived at her room holding it preciously, Ellie saw her sister surprised, surrounded by even more boxes.

*** 

“Count.”

Marie called Kentrail, who had returned from the palace late.

“How have you been?”

He approached Marie and asked kindly.

“Items have been delivered to the mansion today. They say they were ordered by the Count.”

“That’s right.”

“But, why is it all in my room…”

“It’s yours and the kids, right?”

“Yes…?”

Kentrail laughed at the reaction he hadn’t even thought of.

He then lifted one of his arms, draped it gently over her shoulder, and began to walk ahead.

“It looks like you haven’t even opened it yet.”

“Yes… I thought the butler was mistaken.”

“He wouldn’t. You’ll understand when you open the box.”

Saying so, he smiled pleasantly. As Marie looked at his face, she changed the subject. “Did your visit to the Palace go well?”

“Yes. Now, without me, things will work to some extent.”

“Ah…”

She paused for a moment. Because her heart was pounding, he wanted to know what was going on and lowered his head to gaze at her face.

“Why?”

“It feels like you’re clearing your place up…”

He knew what he was saying was misleading, though it wasn’t wrong.

“Right.”

Tears began to form in Marie’s eyes. His expression of clearing his place made her anxious.

“Why… Is it really that dangerous right now?”

Looking at her, Kentrail brought his own forehead to her and made slight contact with her before falling away.

“What are you talking about? Then, I can’t even be this peaceful right now.”

“However…”

“I’m just thinking about whether to step down as chancellor, so don’t make such a face.”

Slowly, he wiped her tears with his thumb.

“I’m trying to be an unemployed man, do you really hate men who don’t work?”

As she said those words, he glanced at her.

“No. You’ve laid down your position as chancellor well. You’ve been working overtime every time and haven’t been able to take care of yourself properly.”

Marie spoke as if resentful that he had suffered up to this point.

“Now, I want to spend more time with Brielle and you.”

Many nobles want to become bureaucrats and hold a position, but on the other hand, there are nobles who prefer to take care of the estate and stay away from the official position.

Kentrail had risen to the top of the ranks as a bureaucrat, so he wanted to stay away from the office. He thought a lot when he saw the writings left by his older brother and sister.

At the end of the day, the conclusion was that they should choose a path where they could be together even a little bit. It would be possible to increase the amount of time that can be devoted to catching the criminal.

Seeing that Marie had stopped her tears, he moved on again.

“Would you like to go and check the present with me?”

“Sure.”

He lowered his arm, which had been carefully placed on her shoulder, and reached out his hand.

Kentrail has never been so nervous in his life that he might be rejected.

Her white hands were overlaid on his hands. It was the first time the two held hands.

The butler, who was watching them from a distance, had a happy face.

*** 

“This—”

Marie’s open box contained a pale purple dress. The dress was tightly embroidered with silver embroidery. In addition, transparent jewels were set on the sleeves and neck.

It didn’t seem right to ask what it was that didn’t have the usual brilliance. It felt like she had to carry it around with her instead of wearing it.

“Do you like it?”

“It’s too much…!”

At Marie’s cry, he smiled as he looked at her.

Next to her, Ellie was watching the scene.

‘Wow, that’s how you look when you fall in love.’

She could tell at a glance. Those eyes that seem to melt just by looking at them. All the brother-in-law candidates she had posted up to this point had disappeared from her mind.

‘It’s a lovely expression that I don’t know what to do.’

The parties may not know about each other’s feelings, but in the eyes of the third party, Ellie, it was so clear.

Kentrail then took his seat and began to look at the two of them with his chin resting.

“Originally, I wanted to tailor-made clothes for you. I feared that it would be more dangerous if rumors spread. I tailored ready-made clothes to your size. Is that okay?”

It was called ready-to-wear, but in reality, it was like new again. There was no such thing as a jewel with such high-quality embroidery on that dress.

“I think if I bring this and sell it, I’ll be able to get a good price for it, right?”
“What?”

He smiled as he watched her joke with embarrassment.

‘It’s a good time. The Count smiled so well.’

When she was with Brielle, she was funny, but it felt a little different. Ellie nodded her head as she watched her sister put the dress on her body.

‘You have a good eye. Wait, the necklace?’

Now that she knew who gave the necklace, Ellie burst into an exclamation alone. The Count was more active than she thought.

Ellie and Kentrail, who were observing like this, met eyes. Ellie seemed to have caught a glimpse, so she was startled.

“Ellie. This is yours here. Open it.”

“Yes…?”

She had heard earlier that she had her own ready, although the child was surprised. She carefully picked up the box that had been pushed aside and opened it.

“Wow!”

It was a bright yellow dress.

“When I asked the dressing room, they said that it is the color chosen by many young girls entering the social world for the first time. Do you like it?”

Ellie’s head nodded.

She never dreamed she would see herself in such a pretty dress. She glanced at her sister’s gaze. Seeing Marie nodding her head, Ellie grabbed the dress and ran to the mirror.

“Can I go and try this on?”

“Sure.”

Ellie hurried out of the room. It looked like she would change into the next empty room.

Looking at the child’s excited look, Marie felt sorry for her.

Yes. Ellie probably envied others as well. She didn’t say anything, but she must have swallowed her envy inside as she watched the young girls debuting in the social circle in pretty dresses…

“Thank you.”

Marie looked at her own dress, and she felt a little uneasy, but when Ellie was given her dress, she said her thanks.

‘How could I not love her like this?’

Kentrail had such a heart for Marie. He wanted to express it, but it was a pity that he couldn’t.

Meanwhile, Marie, who was embarrassed by his eyes, asked what the boxes were next to it.

“Open it.”

At that, she lifted the lid of another box. There were shoes that went well with the dress.

To her surprise, it was the perfect size for Marie’s feet.

“How did you know?”

At her question, he struggled a lot with the preparations secretly. Kentrail took off the shoes Marie and Ellie had taken off and measured them roughly.

“Try it once. Maybe the size is wrong.”

Marie carefully shoved one of her feet into the shoe.

“It’s perfect.”

It’s been a long time since she’s worn these high heels. Her face shone brightly. Marie, too, felt better when she put on new shoes.

“I’m glad.”

When she was happy, he became happy at the same time as well. Kentrail was satisfied with his ability to buy something like this for the first time.

The door opened as Marie looked at her own feet in the mirror.

Ellie in a yellow dress came in cautiously.

“Oh my God, Ellie!”

Her red cheeks contrasted with the yellow, making her even more adorable.

“Uh… Isn’t it strange?”

Ellie told them she really likes it, though she was worried that her sister and the Count didn’t find it the same. She observed so carefully that she was afraid that the pretty clothes she wore didn’t suit her.

“It suits you really well. The yellow looks really good.”

Then, she looked at the Count to see if what her sister had said was true, and he nodded his head. Immediately, the child’s face brightened.

Her face was so happy that she could not help it.

Ellie ran to the mirror, looking back and forth at herself.

“Try wearing the shoes, too.”

Kentrail pointed to the shoe box that had Marie’s.

“Shoes?”

Ellie quickly ran away.

There was a pair of pretty ivory-colored shoes lying there. And, her sister who came to her was also wearing pretty shoes. She seemed to have grown taller than usual because of those shoes.

Fortunately, Ellie’s one also fit her feet perfectly.

Two sisters stood side by side in front of the mirror.

Two similar faces looked at each other. Kentrail also smiled equally brightly.

For a moment forgetting the King’s invitation, they enjoyed the pleasant mood.