✧ʚ .·:¨༺♡༻¨:·. ɞ✧

“Gulp.”

I choked on the sudden question.

The lullaby had drawn all the aggro, making me forget there were several other scenes that shouldn’t have been discovered.

—The princess and the hero one year younger than her……

—The dragon who wouldn’t look out of place being excavated as a fossil……

He must have heard this.

Duke Cromwell looked quite serious for what I’d chosen as a light topic for conversation.

He seemed to be contemplating whether to continue speaking.

“Everyone has their preferences, but as the lady’s nanny, you should refrain from romancing minors.”

It took me a moment to understand his words.

Lorelai Keith is eighteen.

People here become adults at 18.

And Duke Cromwell heard my younger man monologue.

‘Is he worried I might date a minor?’

Duke Cromwell is saying this? Duke Cromwell, of all people, who married his own daughter?

♡SYSTEM♡ Mental strength decreased by 10!

[Mental strength: 85/100]

Ah, I shouldn’t be shaken by something like this.

Looking at my decreased stat, I forced an awkward smile.

“Your Grace makes such amusing jokes!”

Taking nonsensical words seriously would make me genuinely suspicious.

“Even if I have personal preferences, do you think I’m crazy enough to date a child?”

Since it was brought up, I needed to emphasize how strange relationships with large age gaps are.

“Adults might look cool to kids, but we all know the truth, right? It’s just pathetic when older people can’t get along with their peers so they pester young children instead.”

If you don’t want contemptuous looks from the lady’s nanny, don’t marry your daughter……

“……”

Did he understand?

Duke Cromwell looked at me as if we weren’t talking about him.

If his gaze could speak, it would surely say, ‘Good, I’m glad it’s not you.’

“Besides, what romance would I have? I’m too busy raising the lady.”

I have no intention of dating here.

‘I need to quickly make Anastasia an imperial princess and return home myself.’

It’s overwhelming to think we’re still in the tutorial period, and I have no idea how to live after returning to my original world, but…….

‘According to the quest reward.’

I looked at the glimmering profile window.

Quest Reward: Return to reality, 6 billion

If that 6 billion is in cash.

It’s more than enough to start a new life.

‘Your Grace shouldn’t marry the lady either.’

……These words rise to the tip of my tongue.

I’d surely be arrested if I actually said that.

“I’m glad to hear that’s the case with you.”

Duke Cromwell answered and turned his attention to Anastasia.

Anyone would know the conversation had ended.

The only sounds in the dining room were Anastasia drinking her milk and me eating.

My stomach still felt queasy after swallowing the food.

“I’ve selected the lady’s guard.”

I raised my head at the unexpected news as I was struggling to tear off pieces of bread.

Only a day had passed and he’d already found someone?

“How skilled are they?”

After expressing my gratitude, I continued asking.

This is no time to marvel at Duke Cromwell’s drive.

“Michael Cipher. He’s capable.”

Just hearing the name doesn’t mean I know the knight, but if ‘the’ Duke Cromwell says he’s capable, his skill is guaranteed.

Despite my churning stomach, I felt things were going well.

The meal ended awkwardly.

While Duke Cromwell finished feeding Anastasia and completed his own meal, I had barely eaten a piece of bread.

‘Ah…… my stomach feels awful.’

The system window seemed to know this too, as no notification about increased health appeared.

‘At least I got to eat for free.’

If I had paid for it myself, I would have died from the waste of money.

“So it was true that you have no appetite in the morning.”

Duke Cromwell remarked as he wiped his mouth.

“Haha……”

Unable to tell him it was because of him, I just laughed.

“Thank you for watching the lady for me. Did you take care of her all day yesterday?”

“No.”

Duke Cromwell answered immediately.

I had been worried about them being alone, but now I feel disappointed that he didn’t look after her—human psychology is strange.

“I thought you two had bonded since the lady didn’t cry today.”

“Didn’t you once say that was an expression of affection?”

“The meal……! Today’s meal was delicious too.”

Hit right on target, I immediately changed the subject.

“You barely picked at it.”

“Even without an appetite, it’s so delicious my hand keeps reaching for more.”

Red eyes full of suspicion stared at me.

“If it had been bad, I would have spat out the first bite. Wow, the mansion chef’s skills are truly top-notch.”

I praised the food while giving a thumbs up.

‘Mary…… I wonder if she sells digestive medicine.’

My mind was only thinking about buying digestive medicine from Mary.

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

I tried to leave with my usual farewell.

“……”

But Duke Cromwell stood up too.

This is the awkward part when meals end together.

I maintained my business smile and hurried my steps to leave the dining room quickly.

However, even exiting the dining room was an ordeal.

“Who……”

Someone was guarding the entrance to the dining room.

“This is Michael Cipher, who will be the lady’s guard.”

“Greetings! I’m Michael!”

A youthful voice spoke energetically.

His blue eyes sparkled with the vigor only seen in youth.

A determination to protect Anastasia even at the cost of his own body.

♡PROFILE♡

Name: Michael Cipher

Access Level: 2

Occupation: Knight of Cromwell Residence → Lady’s Guard Knight

Relationship: –

Favorability with Lorelai: 2/10

Favorability with Anastasia: 2/10

Special Note: Recently placed under a dessert ban.

The profile window displayed his information.

‘His face seems familiar though.’

I couldn’t shake the impression that I’d seen Michael somewhere before.

Curly red hair and blue eyes.

The black uniform of the Cromwell knights.

“……!”

A familiar color-schemed dot character flashed through my mind.

‘Isn’t he the knight who dealt with the intruder?’

He said he’d assigned someone skilled. He really was skilled.

When the assassination event happens, if the deputy commander doesn’t appear, Michael shows up and k*lls the intruder.

‘I guess I don’t need to worry.’

He’s someone who won a duel against an intruder.

“I look forward to working with you!”

My heart felt lighter thinking we’d escaped danger.

I extended my hand and said.

“His Grace said you were skilled, but seeing you in person makes me feel even more at ease.”

“It’s an honor to be entrusted with guarding the lady!”

Michael grabbed my hand and shook it vigorously up and down.

‘That’s too strong.’

Not only was his movement boisterous, but his grip was also powerful.

As my body helplessly followed his movement like a sheet of paper,

“Cipher, don’t treat her like a fellow knight.”

Duke Cromwell grabbed Michael’s wrist to stop him.

“……? Oh, I made a mistake!”

Michael released my hand in embarrassment. Finally, blood could flow back into my hand.

“I’m truly sorry. Are you badly hurt?”

My wrist still tingled, but I had no intention of complaining.

“It’s fine. No need to apologize.”

I spoke politely.

His pitiful appearance as he fretted over a small matter was touching, and I wanted to make a good first impression.

Everyone makes mistakes in life.

Michael immediately performed his guard duties, not being the type to drag out apologies.

He followed three steps behind us.

Here, ‘us’ means me, Anastasia, and…… Duke Cromwell.

“……Aren’t you going to your office?”

“I’m heading in the same direction.”

“I see.”

I’d need to know his usual route.

I always left first, so I didn’t know.

How much longer would this suffocating company continue?

“……?”

Suddenly Duke Cromwell moved closer to me.

Does he want to see Anastasia?

I adjusted how I was holding the baby to make it easier for him to see.

“Michael is seventeen this year.”

“……”

Sigh, just when things were going well, he starts this again.

“You don’t need to worry.”

I said with a forced smile.

The misunderstanding that I like younger men enough to date minors seems firmly lodged in his mind.

If I don’t clear this up now…… I’ll hear about this forever as long as I work as a nanny.

Being treated like trash by a future depraved human.

“I don’t like younger men. Younger men feel like I need to take care of them, which is burdensome.”

That’s a lie.

I actually prefer younger men.

“I like older men, older men!”

I’m sorry, younger male leads in web novels and webtoons……

I hope this clears up the misunderstanding.

“But not older men with like five or ten years difference, just peers who are one or two years older.”

Mentioning specific numbers like this should make it seem sincere.

But why?

Duke Cromwell, who had been listening normally, suddenly faltered.