Episode 22

Lady Ellie’s face turned even paler at my words.

In the original story, she was quite a clever woman. She knew exactly where she could extend her influence and where she should refrain. By now, she should start understanding the situation unfolding before her.

“Nanny, let’s consider this calmly.”

I lightly tapped the wrist she had been gripping just moments ago. As I tapped in a steady rhythm, I could feel Lady Ellie focusing on me.

“Even if I don’t say anything, eventually… someone will figure it out.”

“They wouldn’t…”

“They wouldn’t? Really? For someone so confident, you reacted quite openly when I prodded.”

I continued with a sly smile.

“You’re likely to react this way around others too, aren’t you?”

“I-I…”

“Besides, haven’t I told you? No secret lasts forever.”

“…”

“Your affair with His Grace has been going on for too long to remain hidden. Over all these years, do you think I’m the only one who might have seen something? The Duke’s estate has many eyes and ears.”

I hammered my point home.

“Do you think no one would eventually use this as leverage to get something from you?”

The sweat droplets falling from her chin grew more numerous. It seemed she realized there was truth in my words.

I observed her and then shifted the direction of the conversation.

“Don’t worry. Unlike others, I won’t just use you. I do have some conscience, after all.”

Now that I had used enough stick, it was time for the carrot.

“After all, both you and I have our lives tied to Servi’s mood. Isn’t that right?”

I whispered as I spoke.

“If you cooperate well, I’ll even provide you with a way out.”

“…What kind of way out?”

“If you wish, I’ll arrange for you to escape abroad when the time comes. That might be useful around the time young Lord Servi becomes Duke.”

“I can arrange to leave the country myself…”

“No, you can’t. His Grace has likely blocked all avenues of escape for you to prevent any chance of you fleeing abroad.”

Of course, the Duke would have done that.

The Duke wasn’t just capricious; he was also a greedy man. Once something was in his possession, he wouldn’t let it go even if he lost interest, always finding some use for it.

Moreover, he hated when those under him acted against his will.

This applied to his mistress and his sons alike. Only Aria might be forgiven.

He would have blocked any escape routes for his mistress long ago. He wouldn’t want her moving beyond his control.

“Am I wrong?”

“…”

“You wanted to stop at some point but couldn’t, right? You feared the Duke’s retaliation. Staying meant fearing Servi’s retaliation. You were walking on thorns.”

‘Just like me.’

I would flee abroad when the time was right. Whether I offered this woman a choice to escape as well would depend on the situation then.

‘After all, she was partly responsible for the Duchess’s death.’

And she hadn’t treated me well either.

“…”

Seeing her stricken expression brought back a strange feeling.

In the original story, she had escaped retribution. Her secrets remained hidden until the end. That allowed Aria to have a happier ending.

Around that time, Aria, unaware of anything, even helped foster a relationship between Lady Ellie and the Duke.

She thought they suited each other and hoped they could be like a mother and father to her. Whether they officially married wasn’t mentioned in the original, but who knows?

‘After all those years, would the Duke who kept Lady Ellie as a mistress suddenly marry her?’

Probably, he just made the hidden mistress a public one. Judging by Lady Ellie’s reaction now, that outcome wouldn’t have been particularly happy for her.

Anyway, for now, she’s someone I need to use.

‘She might be of more use later… For now, I need to prevent any mishaps.’

As long as she did her job well, I was willing to offer minimal protection. I whispered to her.

“Take this.”

“What is…?”

“It’s the document you need to decode.”

I slipped the Oracle document I had copied from the library into her hand.

“I’d appreciate it if you could do it quickly. And don’t even think about telling anyone.”

I gently patted her shoulder.

“If you do, you might face some dire consequences before young Lord Servi even becomes Duke.”

Even as I spoke, it sounded like a typical villain’s line, but one with actual power to back it up. It felt fitting and somewhat sad at the same time.

‘Get a grip, Mindia.’

The moment I let my guard down, I’d be dragged into the original plotline. I had no intention of allowing that.

“Understood? Let’s be careful with each other.”

“…”

Just as I finished speaking, I saw the maids returning, looking concerned.

‘Servi and Aria will be back soon.’

I needed to wrap this up. The maids were already whispering among themselves.

“Why does Lady Ellie look like that?”

“Is she sick?”

Seeing the nanny drenched in cold sweat, the maids began to grow suspicious. I quickly changed my expression and grabbed her hand.

“Oh dear! Lady Ellie, you still haven’t recovered from your cold? You’re sweating so much.”

“…”

“You should have said something. You were overexerting yourself earlier, weren’t you? If you had told Aria, she would have made you rest.”

Lady Ellie looked at me with a blank expression. I smiled slightly and continued.

“Thank you for your concern…”

“It’s nothing. You’re like a mother to me as well. It would be upsetting if you were sick.”

Of course, she had never treated me like a mother or protector. At best, she ignored me. More often, she prevented me from interacting with Seth and Servi, and withheld treats given to other children.

In light of that, my offer to her was quite generous. She seemed to realize this too.

“…Thank you for saying that.”

She bowed her head slightly. I thought I heard a faint apology, but I ignored it.

It was likely just a desperate apology, not genuine.

No need to take it seriously and soften my resolve. I whispered kindly to her.

“Go rest quickly. You need to recover soon, right?”

In other words, get to work.

She trembled for a moment, then took a deep breath and pulled her hand away from mine. She walked past me without another word.

As the situation settled, the wrist she had gripped started to throb. She must have squeezed it hard enough that I thought it might bruise.

‘A bruise is a small price to pay for securing the nanny.’

I gently massaged my wrist and thought of Chris.

‘Once the code is broken, I need to contact Chris.’

Finally, I could return the favor he had given me. I looked at the cold lemon tea on the tea table.

The remnants of the tea time were still there. Decoratively arranged cookies, madeleines, and fragrant lemon tea. Carefully, I poured tea into an empty cup, and the refreshing scent of lemon filled the air again. The red tea with floating lemon slices reflected my face.

There was a mark on my cheek from where I had been slapped.

‘Will it leave a scar?’

My expression was quite telling. I looked like I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.

“…”

The frustration returned.

‘It was the first gift I received.’

From the person I cherished most in this world.

At least I still had the necklace and the herbs left.

I quickly finished a cup of tea before it got cold. I wanted to make this one cup truly mine.

“…Sour.”

The strong sourness was still hard to enjoy, but it was more bearable than before.

Clink.

Just as I sighed and set the cup down, I heard a voice.

“Mindia, you wretched girl…!”

I turned to see Servi, his eyes wild with anger.

‘It seems he hasn’t made up with Aria.’

I feigned concern and asked.

“Lord Servi, is Aria alright?”

“…You wretched thing!”

Genuinely furious, Servi approached me quickly.

‘Am I going to get slapped again?’

I braced myself for the sharp pain on my cheek.

‘Try it, if you dare.’

After being hit so many times, it was more of an itch than pain. That kind of insult didn’t hurt anymore.

Servi looked around and grabbed something. It was a large, sharp rake used to gather leaves in the garden. Even the maids watching let out gasps of horror.

“Young Lord!”

“Master Servi! Please, calm down!”

‘This is bad.’

It seemed a slap wouldn’t suffice for him.

Soon, the sharp end of the rake came hurtling toward me.

Crash!

The rake struck the tea table, sending teacups flying and shattering them.

‘I didn’t see this coming.’

I stood there, unable to think of dodging in that moment.

‘If this happens again… I need to remember to avoid it.’

Would it hurt if it pierced me? Would I have to face Chris again? I could endure drinking poison for him countless times but…

A fierce gust of wind blew the next moment. I closed my eyes, unable to withstand the force of the wind.

Clang!

The sound of metal clashing fiercely echoed.