Chapter 13

Nikolai’s subordinate spoke urgently.  

“It’s an article exposing the corruption of the Capital Patrol!”  

Nikolai snatched the newspaper roughly from his subordinate and read the contents.  

Names of those who had taken various bribes from Geiser were visible.  

“Ugh…… What is all this about!”  

Bang, Nikolai slammed his fist on the desk hard.  

His face turned red with anger he couldn’t contain.  

But now was not the time for this.  

The Capital Patrol could arrive at any moment.  

“Boss, you should leave first. We’ll handle the aftermath.”  

“That’s right! We need to hurry!”  

Nikolai closed his eyes tightly and fell into thought.  

Suddenly, misfortune was rushing in like a storm.  

Why?  

What caught his eye was the article on the very front page.  

The article about the reunion of Duke Conver and his son after seven years.  

‘Could it be?’  

Nikolai’s eyebrows furrowed mercilessly.  

Was it revenge for trying to take his son first?  

It was entirely possible.  

If asked to name the most influential person in the Tiramble Empire after the Emperor, it would be Duke Conver.  

‘Did I incur Conver’s wrath?’  

Nikolai ground his teeth.  

It was something he had anticipated when he was commissioned by the Fuchs Grand Duke.  

Nevertheless, he accepted the commission.  

He thought there was more to gain by siding with Grand Duke Fuchs.  

Moreover, he thought securing the child raised by a woman alone would be easy.  

He believed he only needed to move one step ahead of Duke Conver, who was not in the capital.  

But he was completely wrong.  

“Damn it!”  

The more he thought about it, the more curses spilled out.  

At that moment, the sound of frantic hoofbeats was heard outside the window.  

They were members of the Capital Patrol in blue uniforms.  

“Boss! You need to leave immediately!”  

“Got it!”  

There was no choice.  

He had to escape for now.  

Nikolai opened a door connected to a secret passage.  

* * *  

“Head Maid, the doctor asked me to give this to you.”  

Young maid Tilda handed a medicine container with ointment to Vanessa.  

Vanessa, who was organizing the ledger, took off her glasses and smiled at Tilda.  

The sixteen-year-old young maid had just joined the Ducal House as the youngest and handled various chores.  

Though young and inexperienced, her nimble fingers suggested she would become a useful maid in a few years.  

“Thank you.”  

“But Head Maid, about Ray’s nanny, you know.”  

“What about the nanny?”  

As Tilda cautiously opened her mouth, one of Vanessa’s eyebrows twitched and rose.  

“I don’t know how to treat her.”  

“In what way?”  

“It’s uncomfortable…… Though she’s an employee like us, she dines with the Master and Young Master. She spends most of her day outside.”  

“…….”  

“Should I treat her casually like an older Unnie, or respectfully like an elder?”  

Tilda scratched her forehead as she spoke.  

Vanessa pressed her temples with her fingers as if she had a headache.  

She had anticipated this.  

That’s why she opposed hiring the nanny.  

But the Young Master was adamant, and the Master agreed, so the contract went ahead.  

As an employee, she had to follow their decision.  

‘In the end, all the aftermath falls on me……. Ugh.’  

Vanessa suppressed her rising irritation and smiled kindly at the young maid.  

“Young Master Ray relies on and cherishes her a lot. So you should be respectful. But she’s not a superior, so treat her as you feel comfortable.”  

“Yes, Head Maid.”  

“And since it’s a one-year contract…… By the time you adapt to each other, a year will have already passed.”  

“True, that’s right.”  

Tilda felt she had done well to share her concerns with the Head Maid.  

The Head Maid had a reputation for being strict and stern, but she always smiled warmly at her.  

Tilda liked the Head Maid, who answered her trivial questions seriously.  

* * *  

The third night at the Ducal House.  

Unlike Astrid, who spent most of the day outside, Ray showed remarkable adaptation to the unfamiliar Ducal House.  

He was an admirable child in many ways.  

Ray, who had shouted at Astrid calling her a liar, apologized the next day.  

She also apologized for not considering Ray’s feelings first.  

They were chatting together as they lay side by side, as they did every night.  

“Today, Jeffrey made a delivery mistake, and I was sweating bullets. He mixed up Mr. Will’s medicine with Mr. Julian’s and delivered them wrong. It’s a good thing I noticed in time. If I hadn’t, it could have been a disaster. Even thinking about it now makes my heart race.”

Ray shook his head at the gossip about the pharmacy assistant Jeffrey.  

“Wasn’t it because the orders were overwhelming today?”  

“Well, a bit.”  

“Sometimes I feel sorry for Jeffrey. No matter how hard he works, one mistake seems to ruin everything. As, you’re too harsh on Jeffrey.”  

“Oh, look at this. Harsh? Don’t say such things. The pharmacy business involves people’s health.”

“‘Of course, mistakes shouldn’t happen! What if someone’s health is affected by taking the wrong medicine?’ Is that what you were going to say?”

Ray mimicked Astrid’s voice as he spoke, and she rolled her eyes softly.  

Hehe, Ray smiled widely.  

Though teased by the little one, it was almost impossible for Astrid to dislike this child.  

“Is it fun to tease? Are you satisfied?”  

“Teasing? Me? Tease you, As? No way, I wouldn’t.”  

“Tsk.”  

Astrid deliberately ruffled Ray’s hair and laughed.  

“By the way, Ray? You started lessons with the teachers today, right? Reading, music, swordsmanship, wasn’t it?”  

“Plus art and etiquette classes. I was so busy today I felt like crying. Isn’t it too much for a seven-year-old? Do you think having five lessons a day makes sense?”  

When Ray spoke gloomily, Astrid made an even gloomier face and said.  

“Should I ask to reduce the lessons? I’m the nanny of the Young Master of this house, after all. They said they’d actively consider my opinion.”  

“It’s okay. It’s still manageable. It’ll get better once I adapt. It’s all for me, after all.”  

Typical of mature Ray.  

It was the right thing to say, but not something expected from a child’s mouth.  

Astrid gently stroked Ray’s head.  

“Ray, don’t grow up too fast. Just stay little for a long time.”  

“That’s impossible.”  

Ray’s round eyes became sharp.  

His lips did too.  

“Why is it impossible?”  

“First, I’m not a little kid, and second, as you know, I’m smart. Kids like me can’t help but grow up fast. The world of children feels too trivial and boring.”  

“You arrogant little one, you’ll get into trouble!”  

“Arrogant, yes, but I won’t get into trouble. I have you, As, don’t I? As, you will protect me.”  

Hehe, when Ray smiled brightly, he looked so cute that Astrid hugged him tightly.  

Let go, As! I can’t breathe! 

Ray protested, but even that was so adorable Astrid couldn’t let go of the child.  

‘Cute little thing.’  

She patted Ray’s back gently.  

It was time to sleep.  

“You know it’s the third night, right? You must sleep in your room until morning today. Don’t think about coming to my room halfway.”  

“Yes, I know.”  

“Seriously. Don’t just answer casually and sneak over. I don’t want to get scolded by the Head Maid for no reason.”  

“Yawn. Okay, okay.”  

Ray replied with a long yawn.  

He seemed very sleepy.  

Astrid stayed by his side until he fell asleep, and once she heard his steady breathing, she returned to her room.  

“Oh my! Head Maid!”  

The Head Maid Vanessa was waiting in her room.  

An unwelcome visitor.  

‘Entering someone’s bedroom without permission. I should ask for a lock and key next time.’  

She was sure she only thought it.  

“Don’t be upset about entering someone’s bedroom without permission. Besides, employees’ rooms can’t be locked, so don’t even think about asking for a key.”  

Oh my, does she have mind-reading skills or something?  

Caught with her thoughts exposed, Astrid stood silently.  

“Here, take this. It’s ointment good for scars.”  

Vanessa handed her a fist-sized cylindrical metal box.  

“It’s ointment with powder made from ground magic stones. It’s very effective. And expensive too, as you know since you’re a pharmacist.”  

“…….”  

Vanessa must have seen the scars on Astrid’s shoulder and arm when the tailors handled her last time.  

‘She’s doing too much.’  

Astrid accepted the ointment with a reluctant expression.  

Did Vanessa read my thoughts again?  

Vanessa spoke as if to explain.  

“Don’t be upset. You might think I’m meddling, but I can’t help it. It’s my nature. Once something catches my eye, I can’t just ignore it.”  

“Thank you. It’s expensive ointment, I’ll use it well.”  

Astrid answered briefly, wanting to send Vanessa away quickly.  

With a curt voice and a blunt expression.  

“Don’t hold back, apply it generously. If you apply it consistently for a month, the scars will fade and become almost invisible.”  

“Yes, I will.”  

“Then, goodnight.”  

Phew……. As soon as Vanessa left, Astrid let out a long sigh.  

She tossed the ointment container carelessly on the sofa and headed straight to bed.  

She lay down flat and closed her eyes, but nagging thoughts kept bothering her.  

In the end, she got up again and stood in front of the mirror with the ointment container.  

There were many scars on her shoulder and arm.  

Living as a secret agent for the information guild Basler sometimes required using force.  

Even if she successfully overcame crises, small wounds were inevitable.  

In truth, if she wanted to remove the scars, she could have made and used ointment herself.  

She just didn’t feel the need.  

‘It’s my body that I don’t even care about…… It’s funny that a complete stranger cares.’  

And it felt strange.  

Something seemed to poke at a corner of her heart, then twist and squirm.  

She scooped out a generous amount of ointment with her fingers and applied it.  

The cool and tingling sensation enveloping the scars wasn’t bad.