It occurred to me that Yasmin approached Dietrich using snacks as a tool because she thought he was simpler and easier to handle than me.
Dietrich wasn’t a reincarnator like me; he was a real child.
‘I don’t know why she’s trying to get close to us in that way, though.’
Was it simply because she wanted to be friends with us?
Or was she trying to coax the young masters to seize power in the household?
Either way, I couldn’t let her do anything that would cause real harm to Dietrich.
Granting children whatever they want to win their favor.
In the world I originally lived in, we called that ‘kind abuse.’
“Mrs. Anna, Yasmin seems to have gone too far this time. Allow me to apologize on her behalf.”
The butler hurriedly came running and stood before the nanny, perhaps having heard the news that Yasmin and the kitchen staff were being scolded.
“She seemed overly enthusiastic. I’ll give her a proper reprimand. How about docking her pay for about a month?”
Trying to slyly attribute it to enthusiasm, are you?
What a cunning man.
“Mr. Gerard, let me make this clear. This is a fireable offense.”
But our nanny wasn’t someone who would let such a transparent trick slide.
In our house, with no mom or dad around, she’s dealt with every kind of thief and schemer. She’s a tough one.
“I’m sorry! I was wrong!”
Realizing even the butler couldn’t easily break the nanny’s resolve, Yasmin hastily fell to her knees.
What should I do…?
Firing a nanny isn’t difficult, but the fact that she’s from the main family bothers me.
Firing someone whom Grandfather sent to us as an act of goodwill over something like this would damage his reputation.
‘The nanny has given her a good scolding, so should I let it end here for now?’
By now, even the employees sent by the main family should realize…
…that our household isn’t to be taken lightly.
No matter how young Dietrich and I might be, as long as the experienced employees in the mansion are standing firm, they can’t push us around.
“Nanny.”
Having made my decision, I dragged out the last syllable and called for the nanny.
All the employees in the mansion turned their eyes toward me as I stood in an elevated position.
“Yasmin made my hair look so pretty. Since she did, could you let it slide just a little?”
Instead of locking eyes directly with the nanny, I deliberately made eye contact with each of the employees sent by the main family.
Most of them avoided my gaze, quickly lowering their eyes.
Surprisingly, the person who maintained direct eye contact with me the longest wasn’t Yasmin but the butler, Gerard.
So, he has more backbone than I thought. Is it because he’s from the main family, no matter how tarnished?
But since he’s now working in this household, he has to follow our rules.
“Yasmin said she’s sorry. She won’t do it again, right?”
“…Yes, young miss.”
The response came after a brief pause.
Even if the nanny was angry, the current heads of this household were Dietrich and me.
After hearing my words, the nanny took a step back as well.
“Understood, young miss. Then Yasmin will be punished with a two-week probation. Since you’ve given her a final chance, she should use this time to reflect.”
With this much pressure applied, I believe no one will dare to manipulate Dietrich anymore.
Dietrich may be simple and foolish, but he is still my…
Hmm.
I gazed at the employees from the main family who were bowing their heads and remaining silent for a long time.
Only then did the subtle anger that had been simmering in my chest since hearing about Dietrich’s fractured ankle begin to subside slightly.
***
“It’s been a while, young miss.”
When Yasmin returned after her two-week probation, her face looked a bit thinner than before.
Since Dietrich and I were the ones who had reported her, I was worried that things might feel awkward when we met again. However, her gentle tone was unchanged.
“May I do your hair for you?”
“Sure. What will you do today?”
“Today, I’ll tie it up into a single style and decorate it with pretty flower ornaments. How does that sound?”
Her demeanor toward me was so warm that she didn’t even seem like someone who had just finished her probation.
Without saying much, Yasmin started brushing my hair softly.
She also spoke gently to Laura, who had been standing nearby, watching us cautiously.
“Wouldn’t fresh flowers look beautiful as decorations for the young miss hair?”
“Pardon? Oh, yes!”
“Which would look better, orange or purple flowers?”
“Well, since the young miss hair is a lovely shade of pink… wouldn’t purple flowers suit her better?”
Pink and purple are indeed a classic combination that works well together.
Hearing Laura’s suggestion, Yasmin glanced at my sky-purple dress and nodded in agreement.
“You’re right. Then could you head to the garden and pick a few purple flowers for us?”
Saying this, Yasmin handed me a tray.
On the tray lined with dark velvet were several hair accessories shaped like flowers, intricately crafted from tiny gemstones.
“While Laura fetches the flowers, shall we pick a hair accessory together, young miss?”
Laura hesitated for a moment by the door, seemingly uneasy about leaving just Yasmin and me together, especially since Yasmin had only recently finished her probation.
However, Yasmin paid no attention to Laura’s concerns. Instead, she focused on holding up various ornaments and matching them to my hair with a gentle smile.
Her affectionate manner made me signal to Laura with a glance that she could go.
Only then did Laura leave the room.
“All the staff in this mansion seem to adore you, young miss.”
“Of course! Everyone loves Mariela.”
“Well, it’s only natural for the lowly to flock together.”
Although her tone remained gentle, there was a subtle chill that I had felt once before.
I widened my eyes and looked up at Yasmin.
Yasmin reached out and grabbed my shoulder.
She gripped it so tightly that a soft groan of pain escaped my lips.
“You’re a liar and a bad child, young miss.”
Is that so?
“You were jealous because I only gave snacks to Young Master Dietrich, weren’t you? That’s why you tattled to the nanny, right?”
I was just a three-year-old toddler, barely half her size, and she chose to bully me when we were alone like this?
“You saw how the young master was scolded by the nanny this time, didn’t you? Children who like to lie and tattle deserve to be punished like that.”
If I were truly three years old, I would have been terrified by her words.
“Your brother got scolded because of you, young miss. Do you understand? You’re a bad girl, just like the bad maids. That’s the difference between you and the people from the main family.”
As her grip tightened to the point of making my shoulder ache, I subtly twisted my body. Yasmin only dug her fingers in harder.
“Don’t worry. We’ll make sure to fix the bad habits of you and the maids.”
Finally, Yasmin released her grip on my shoulder after squeezing it one last time.
Just then, Laura returned.
Laura came back holding violets and hydrangeas, and Yasmin, as if she had never been intimidating, smiled softly and accepted the flowers.
What should I do?
Should I cry and tell on Yasmin for bullying me while Laura was away?
‘But Yasmin clearly said ‘we.’’
Not just Yasmin, but multiple people from the main family’s staff might be plotting to ‘fix’ us.
If they were all in on it together, throwing a fit and driving Yasmin out now would only backfire.
If I wanted to expel someone, I’d have to do it all at once to avoid any lingering issues.
‘Besides, if I made a big scene crying again, and they turned their focus back to Dietrich like last time…’
Dietrich, unlike me with an adult’s mind in a child’s body, was truly seven years old. He wouldn’t know how to handle it.
In that case, I had no choice but to endure for now.
Suppressing the fury rising to the top of my head, I hunched my shoulders like a frightened child.
Yasmin looked down at me and smiled calmly.
“All done, young miss. Your hair is finished.”
Using two mirrors, Yasmin showed me the adorable purple flowers neatly tucked into the curls of my hair.
If she treated me as a baby and bullied me, then I’d use my role as a baby to fight back.
I’ll need to investigate the main family’s staff a little more closely.
After all, no one suspects a three-year-old toddler.
