Episode 37

“…What? D-disposition?”

At the unexpected words, I widened my eyes in surprise.

As I stared blankly at the Duke, he nodded.

“Yes, disposition.”

“Uh…”

“Belze, tell me what you want to do with that woman.”

I was flustered.

‘Without asking anything, just like that?’

I felt pity, but I didn’t think there would be any significant changes in Emma’s situation right away.

After all, I was just an orphan who had received some sponsorship, while Emma had been taking care of Joshua for a long time.

Moreover, because Joshua had acted faster than I anticipated, I had missed the chance to get rid of her from the mansion.

‘I had hoped that the rumor about the ring passing to Edwin would spread more and make Emma desperate enough to steal the ring herself…’

That was the original plan, but it had become regrettably impossible.

However, I never dreamed that the Duke would ask me about Emma’s disposition.

That was clearly the responsibility of a member of the family.

So why was he doing this?

 

“You are now a member of Callios.”

“If you are disrespected, it’s the same as Callios being disrespected.”

 

At that moment, the words Edwin had said the previous night flashed through my mind.

“I-I…”

I looked at the three pairs of eyes staring intently at me and spoke in a trembling voice.

“Ah, as long as I’m healing Josh, it would be good if I didn’t see Emma.”

“While you’re healing Josh?”

“Y-yes…”

The Duke raised one eyebrow sharply.

I, shrinking back in fear, added in a smaller voice.

“I don’t know if you heard… but Emma has been interfering with Josh’s healing.”

“That’s right! Emma always calls Sister Belze a quack whenever she gets a chance!”

Fortunately, Joshua backed me up.

‘Damn woman, calling me a quack?!’

While I was seething, Josh innocently asked.

“But what is a quack, Dad? A fly made of stone?”

“It refers to someone like old man Gordon,” Edwin replied.

“Ah! But Sister Belze doesn’t have white hair like Grandpa Gordon.”

Ignoring the banter between his two sons, the Duke addressed me.

“I heard that she almost framed you for stealing their mother’s ring. Is that sufficient reason to let her stay?”

“…Yes, I’m fine. The misunderstanding was cleared up…”

I nodded timidly.

In the end, the false accusation amounted to nothing.

Moreover, it seemed no one here believed Emma’s words.

That was a relief for me.

‘I would want to have her kicked out immediately for being rude to Eddie, but…’

I wanted to muster the courage to say so, but I held back.

Despite her being a terrible person to Edwin and me, she was a dedicated nanny to Josh.

‘He already lost his mother at a young age; I don’t want him to lose his nanny too. Especially not because of me.’

As long as she didn’t interfere with healing or get on my nerves, it was okay.

At that moment, Edwin, who had been dealing with his younger brother, abruptly interjected.

“I’m not okay with it.”

Edwin’s voice was cold and firm.

“I even bought a tiara for Belze, telling them not to be so arrogant.”

“…”

“Everyone seems to think my words are a joke, Father.”

Edwin briefly glanced at the tiara atop my head before turning his eyes to the Duke.

His gaze was rebellious and defiant.

The Duke made a low sound of disapproval, his face darkening.

“Neglecting the household has let all sorts of mischief-makers disrupt our peace.”

“…”

“Belze, you’re too kind-hearted and gentle. There’s no other choice. I’ll handle this my way.”

I opened my previously sealed lips slightly.

‘Huh? Who’s kind-hearted and gentle?’

While I was dumbly staring at the Duke, he rang the bell on the table a couple of times.

The butler, who had been waiting outside, immediately came in.

“You called, Your Grace?”

“Dismiss Emma Caston.”

“Anticipating this, I packed her belongings earlier today. Shall I proceed immediately?”

“Yes.”

“Understood. However, I worry she might not leave easily.”

The butler spoke with a slightly darkened expression.

“As you know, she was brought in by the Duchess.”

“If she refuses to leave willingly, tell her we will tear up her recommendation letter and spread the word that she was dismissed for stealing the mistress’s belongings.”

The Duke spoke mercilessly.

This meant ensuring she wouldn’t find employment with another noble family.

Hearing the rather ruthless conversation between the Duke and the butler, I hurriedly spoke up.

“W-wait a moment…!”

“Hmm?”

The Duke glanced at me.

“You don’t have to go that far because of me…!”

“…”

“She’s Josh’s nanny. Please ask Josh too!”

Of course, I would be happy if Emma was kicked out.

However, I wasn’t sure if separating young Joshua from his nanny because of me was the right thing to do.

The Duke gave me a peculiar look.

“…That’s fair.”

Then he turned to Joshua and asked without resistance.

“Josh, do you have any objections to dismissing your former nanny, Emma Caston?”

“Umm… no!”

My worry was in vain.

Joshua responded so quickly that my intervention seemed pointless.

“I agree with whatever dad says! Besides, Emma isn’t my nanny anymore.”

“Huh…?”

“I told you I don’t want to see the nanny anymore!”

His words brought back the morning conversation.

 

“But come to think of it, why wasn’t the nanny around today?”

“Um… I told Dad I didn’t want to see the nanny anymore!”

 

‘So that’s what he meant…’

I thought she had just stopped looking after Joshua for a while. I never imagined Emma would be stripped of her position as Joshua’s nanny entirely.

“I don’t like Emma! I liked her at first, but now I don’t!”

Joshua expressed his firm opinion.

“Why is that?”

“Um… she kept telling me not to play with Mom’s jewelry. She said it could get damaged because it’s expensive…”

‘Hmm. That would indeed be annoying.’

From what I saw yesterday, Joshua was quite serious about his accessories.

Young children tend to have a strong attachment to their belongings. Joshua likely picked up on Emma’s envious glances at his jewelry box subconsciously.

“And… she kept… being mean to my brother.”

“To Edwin?”

The Duke’s eyebrow twitched at Joshua’s confession.

Noticing his father’s changing expression, Joshua lowered his head and fidgeted with his fingers.

After hesitating, he finally mumbled.

“…Brother only took me out because I begged him to…”

“…”

“But Emma kept saying Brother hurt me.”

“Didn’t you say otherwise at the time?”

The Duke looked sternly at Joshua.

“You said your brother dragged you along against your will.”

“…I-I’m sorry. I was afraid you’d scold me if I told the truth… hic, waaaaah!”

Unable to withstand the Duke’s terrifying gaze, Joshua burst into tears.

‘…So that’s how it happened.’

Emma’s behavior toward Edwin wasn’t just to drive a wedge between the brothers. Because of Joshua’s lie, the staff had accepted as fact that Edwin had forced his sick brother to go out.

As a result, people like Emma had taken to subtly blaming and mistreating Edwin.

‘…It must have been tough.’

I looked at Edwin, who was sitting quietly. My heart ached for him.

Given his personality, he probably hadn’t tried to correct his younger brother’s lie, finding it too contemptible. Instead, he must have silently endured it while continuing to do his best.

“So, you lied about how you got hurt because you were afraid of getting in trouble.”

The Duke glared at Joshua with a fearsome expression.

“What did I tell you is the one thing you must never do in this world?”

“L-lie…”

“Yet you did something so irresponsible? Do you know how much your brother suffered because of it?”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Dad!”

“Don’t apologize to me; apologize to your brother.”

“I-I was going to…”

Joshua glanced at the butler with teary eyes.

‘So that ring was…’

It dawned on me that Joshua’s ring was intended as an apology.

As I realized this, I saw the butler shaking his head quietly. There was no way the ring Joshua had commissioned could be ready today.

This made Joshua look even more distraught.

“Stop avoiding it and apologize properly.”

Unaware of the reason, the Duke scolded Joshua once more.

With no other choice, Joshua sniffled and apologized to Edwin.

“Sniff. I’m sorry, Brother. I lied…”

“…”

“P-please forgive me… Do you still hate me?”

“…”

“I-I wanted to apologize… but the ring… hic, waaaah!”

Joshua finally burst into sorrowful tears.

Edwin, who had been looking exasperated, eventually sighed deeply and responded.

“…It’s okay.”

“Sniff, I’m sorry, Brother! I didn’t mean to…”

While I couldn’t know Edwin’s true feelings, it seemed they were reconciling on the surface.

Watching the two of them, the Duke suddenly spoke with authority.

“Now, hug each other.”

“…Father! That’s a bit…”

“Hurry up.”

Edwin’s expression soured visibly at the Duke’s insistence.

After a moment.

“Sniff, Brother.”

“Sigh…”

Reluctantly, Edwin hugged Joshua, who had hesitantly approached him.

“I love you, Brother!”

Joshua, with his tear-streaked, snot-covered face, rubbed it all over Edwin’s chest.

Edwin’s face twisted in a grimace.

Although it was a touching scene of reconciliation between the brothers…

‘Why does it look like Edwin is serving a punishment?’