It was a surprisingly firm opinion, completely different from his usual passive and hesitant demeanor.
Railey stood frozen, as if struck in the back of the head, mouth agape—then suddenly burst into laughter without realizing it.
“…L-Lady Railey?”
“Oh! I’m sorry, it’s not that what you said was funny or anything like that…”
She quickly shook her head to avoid misunderstanding and explained.
“I’ve never heard anyone say that before, and hearing it just made me feel so refreshed. Like… a truth dropped from the sky! That’s the best way I can describe it.”
“……”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“No, I should apologize. I don’t have a mother, so my situation is different from yours… I hope I didn’t overstep by saying that.”
“Not at all!”
She hurriedly waved her hand in denial, but then felt a slight pang of guilt. Serge had no mother, and she felt she may have brought up a painful subject.
The word ‘mother,’ when spoken by him, carried a shadow of sorrow—but Railey hadn’t noticed it.
“What’s important is that you shouldn’t think you’re a bad person. There’s no need for such pointless self-blame.”
“Yes, you’re right. I won’t beat myself up over it anymore.”
“I also understand why you want to take action yourself… If I were in your position, I think I’d do the same.”
For the first time since coming here, Railey felt like she was truly connecting emotionally with her husband.
It was a bit ironic that this bond formed over shared struggles with inadequate parents, but it gave her confidence that they could get along much better from now on.
With a bright smile, she turned to her husband.
“Anyway, I’m really relieved.”
“…Relieved?”
“That you don’t despise me, Young Master Serge. I was worried you might hate me for being someone who’s ungrateful to her parents.”
“…Worried I’d break off the engagement?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“……”
In the shadowed corner where the moonlight didn’t reach, Serge absentmindedly tugged at the hem of his robe.
Railey didn’t notice that this small gesture was his way of hiding embarrassment.
He mumbled something under his breath, then raised his head.
“Anyway, go in and get some rest. And I… I’ll do what I can to help you, Lady Railey.”
“Yes! That’s really reassuring.”
“Then… I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
With those words, her husband vanished swiftly. Maybe because he was of the beastfolk race, his movements were incredibly light and agile.
‘Wait… did he say see you in the morning?’
Though she had agreed to dine with the Duke, there hadn’t been any particular arrangement with Serge—yet he had said it first.
He still seemed awkward around his wife, but maybe this was proof that he was getting comfortable enough to suggest eating together on his own.
Smiling, Railey returned to her quarters.
When she had first gotten out of bed, her heart had felt unbearably heavy, as if weighed down by a boulder. But now, she felt as if she could float—it was that light.
It was a night that taught her how powerful empathy and support from another person—something she had never received once in her life—could be.
***
The next morning.
Railey, having straightened her appearance, was on her way to the breakfast hall when she suddenly inhaled sharply.
Margaret appeared before her, wearing a sly smile on her face.
“I’ve come to greet you. Since I’m now assigned to assist the lady here at the duke’s estate, I’ll do my utmost from today onward.”
Her silky politeness was a sharp contrast to the demonic fury she had aimed at Railey the day before.
It was obvious she was putting on an act for the surrounding staff, and it was so transparent it was almost nauseating.
Railey had to suppress her revulsion at her nanny’s two-faced nature and act naturally to avoid drawing suspicion.
Just like in the past—meek, nervous, obedient.
“Good morning, Margaret. Thank you for coming. But I think I’ll be spending the morning with the Duke and his son. Could you come back this afternoon?”
“Oh my, I see! Then I’ll escort you to the breakfast hall.”
“…Alright.”
Railey didn’t want to be around the nanny for even a second longer, but forced a strained smile and started walking.
Margaret chatted away cheerfully, as if yesterday’s incident had never happened. She acted like a sweet, devoted nanny who genuinely cared for Railey.
She had behaved this way even back at the Viscount’s estate—one moment scolding her until she cried, and the next checking in on her kindly.
Railey used to fall for those fragments of warmth, blaming herself for not being able to meet expectations.
But not anymore.
Like a fresh breeze blowing into a suffocating space, a familiar and welcome face appeared ahead.
“Young Master Serge!”
“…Lady Railey.”
“Good morning! Did you sleep well?”
“Yes…”
It was her husband, neatly dressed.
Though his large glasses still covered most of his face, making him seem a little awkward, nonetheless he looked proper.
Serge, who had hesitantly accepted Railey’s greeting, suddenly paused.
His gaze landed on Margaret, who stood beside Railey.
“Oh, this is my nanny, Margaret. She’s come from my family home to help out.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Young Duke. I’m Margaret Odiv.”
Margaret introduced herself with proper courtesy. Having once served as an etiquette tutor back at the Viscount’s estate, her manners were impeccable.
However, the atmosphere around Serge turned disturbingly cold as he stared up at her with a slanted glance.
Margaret suddenly felt a suffocating pressure, like an invisible force was gripping her throat—squeezing, choking. Her body began trembling uncontrollably.
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed on the spot.
“Seems she never learned proper manners…”
Serge muttered in his usual indifferent, languid tone.
Yet those words struck Margaret with irrational terror, as though they were a death sentence.
Bowing her head low, she began apologizing in a panic.
“I-I’m sorry! Forgive me…! It must be the fatigue from traveling…!”
“Margaret, are you alright?”
Thinking she was truly unwell, Railey asked with concern. Margaret barely managed to respond.
“I-I just need to rest a bit… miss…”
“Miss…?”
Serge’s low voice cut through the air like a blade, and Margaret quickly corrected her words, nearly foaming at the mouth in panic.
“Y-Young Madam Elestine! I deeply apologize for my insolence…”
Railey didn’t truly wish to defend Margaret, but she feigned concern and offered a mild gesture of support.
“Margaret surely didn’t mean any harm. Please forgive her, Young Master Serge.”
“…Alright.”
The crushing pressure finally lifted from around Margaret.
Serge cast a brief, disinterested glance at the woman now crumpled on the floor and murmured.
“…Managing people from your birth family is your responsibility, Lady Railey.”
“Thank you for understanding, Young Master Serge.”
“Not at all. Shall we go in for breakfast, then?”
“Yes, let’s. Margaret, I’ll see you this afternoon. Please rest well.”
“Understood, Young Madam Elestine…”
After Railey and Serge entered the breakfast hall and the doors closed behind them, Margaret—still shaken—was helped to her feet by the servants.
Her mind was a whirl of confusion.
What was that?
A sudden panic with no warning. As far as she knew, she had no such condition.
But that doubt didn’t last long.
As if the memory had been ‘pushed aside,’ everything started to feel natural again.
Yes… I must have just been tired.
It must have been like a passing spell of dizziness.
But more important things lay ahead.
She needed to manipulate that foolish girl and deliver exactly what Marquess Malvern wanted.
That way, she’d earn the glory of rising above the rank of baroness—into a title that could be inherited.
Fingering the magical tool hidden in her pocket, she once again indulged in fantasies of her glorious future.
~~~
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