Childcare Diaries

After a few days, a pretty dimple appeared on Brielle’s face again.
It had reappeared since Marie opened her eyes.

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Sometimes he clings to her side while sitting on the bed and holds her hand to check her warmth, and even when she sleeps, he would come to her side and look into her several times.

“Young Master, go and eat.”

“No.”

Ever since she opened her eyes, Brielle was reluctant to even go to dinner.

‘Young Master…’

But, knowing the child’s anxiety, Marie couldn’t force herself away from him either.
And another person, Ellie, didn’t even want to leave her side as well.
It was Barry who was busy with all this.

“I’ll go and get you some food.”

After taking charge of all meals for the Young Master, his younger sister, and his sick older sister, he left the room without any complaints.
It was clear that the Knights Academy had a significant influence on him.
As the children of his age entered puberty one by one, Barry became more dignified.

Marie was gazing at Barry quietly with her eyes.
It was because he reminded her so much of Siege Kayler.
She always knew who he was.
Even though it had been a long time since she had read the book, and many had been forgotten, Marie still remembered the feeling and style of the person.

He was a righteous man.

‘He’s the male protagonist in this world, but of course, he had that kind of personality.’

He was full of sympathy and was worthy of a leader.
However, it was far from the original story for him to become friends with Barry.

Barry could not even go to knights school, and he lived with the guilt of having an older sister like this for the rest of his life and died at an early age.

However, it was different now.
Even excluding her own subjective feelings, Barry turned out to be a pretty decent kid.
He was completely different from the time when he was going back and forth through life in a miserable back alley in the original story.

He was honest and upright.

It truly shows how the circumstances allowed him to live according to his nature.
Come to think of it, Marie and her two siblings were not really alike.

“Huu…”

“Marie, why?”

“Are you sick, sister?”

She must’ve sighed without realizing it.
The two children, with their eyes wide open, looking up at the sick person, caught her eye.
Marie reached out her arm and stroked Ellie’s hair.

‘She’s such a cute kid.’

What happened to Ellie in the original story was pictured in her mind.
She shook her head quickly, trying to blow the thoughts away.

“Marie.”

Perhaps they thought it was rather strange, but Marie leaned her torso and she embraced the children holding her arms.

 

***

 

“Are you walking already?”

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Marie’s head turned at the voice behind her.
There was Kentrail standing in the light.
As if he had lost some weight while she collapsed, he had a sharper image.

On the contrary, it matched his personality better from the outside, making the ladies flutter.

“Count.”

But, Marie, who knew why he was so skinny, didn’t like it that way.

“You need some more rest.”

“It’s cramped when I’ve been inside all the time.
And, if you look at me now, it’s the Count who should rather rest.”

Marie shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.
Kentrail took off his coat and went closer to her, before putting it on her shoulder.

“Even if it’s in the mansion, it’s still cold for the patient.
Besides, I’m not the one working so hard that I collapsed for days.”

Contrary to the blunt tone of his voice, she could see his fingertips carefully tying up the buttons.
Maybe the buttonhole was so small that his face was getting too close.

“Uh…”

She was careful to open her mouth as her breath could reach him.
Kentrail lifted his head, which had been bowed to her small voice.

The distance was so close that he could see his own reflection in her eyes.

They couldn’t take their eyes off each other.
Although someone might see them like this, for that moment, it didn’t matter.

“Marie! Where are you?”

If it wasn’t for Brielle’s voice, the two’s faces might have gotten a little closer.

At that, the two separated in a hurry and cleared their throat.

“I’m here, Young Master.”

Marie, who first came to her senses, hurriedly replied to Brielle.
Then, a lively, small sound of footsteps, that did not go well with the two of them that were in a state of tension, resounded.

“I’ve been looking for you for a long time.
Huh? Oh, uncle’s here?”

When his uncle, who would normally see him and smile brightly, now averted his eyes, Brielle smirked strangely.

“What’s wrong? Uncle?”

“It’s…”

Seeing Kentrail blushing, Brielle approached him swiftly.

The top of the shirt, which had been half-united after taking off the coat, was exposed enough for a low-height child to see.

“Well… I have work, so I should go first.”

He patted Brielle’s head and went away, but for some reason, Brielle’s cheeks swelled up for a while at the uncle’s appearance since it was as if he had put his mind somewhere else, before returning to normal again.

 

***

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Jayden visited the Count’s house after a long time.
Finally, the grounding was released.

It was thanks to the extraordinary friendship between his father and Kentrail that he was able to come in and out of this place even though outsiders were strictly forbidden.

The child, who heard in the letter that Brielle’s nanny was ill, came to the mansion with various things.

“Come on, here.”

Marie accepted the gift from Jayden.
There were different kinds of candies, too.

“I use it after taking the bitter medicine.”

At his words, her cheeks twitched to contain her laughter at the childish gift.

“Can I take this?”

She asked, trying to control her expression.

“I thought it was a return for the bookmark you gave me last time.”

The way Jayden spoke with his hands crossed was different from usual, and Marie laughed out loud in the end.

“I can give you sweets, too.”

Then, Brielle pushed the cake that came out as his snack in front of Marie, probably because of heartache.
He took a big mouthful with his fork and brought it to her mouth.

“It’s really delicious.
Maybe it’s because the Young Master gave it to me.”

As she said so, she tickled his side and smirked as Brielle slipped behind her.
She didn’t even realize that Jayden had a pathetic expression on her side.

Eventually, Ellie joined, and the four talked for a long time.
Mainly the subject was Jayden’s sister.
Brielle’s eyes filled with envy as he heard the story of his time being grounded.

“You’re really wrong.”

Brielle was angry when Jayden didn’t side with his sister in the argument.

“What? It used to be my favorite toy.”

“If it were me, not only that, but the book I had and the candy… I would have given it all.”

The two words became more and more childish.

“Is it now? We’ll see after your uncle gets married.
Will you be able to concede all that much?”

“Of course.
At that time, just follow my lead!”

The two huffed and raised their voices.
However, it was Marie who was heartbroken when she heard that the uncle was getting married.
Sadly, she knew what this heart was and how absurd her feelings are.

For a moment, her eyes gleamed with sadness, but no one saw it.
Not even Ellie this time.

 

***

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Kentrail heard from the butler that Jayden had visited the mansion.

He put down the papers he was doing and took a moment to catch a breath.
A letter from Baron Jake, Jayden’s father, and his friend lay in front of him.

It mentioned that recently, he had heard that the security in the County was strict and had asked what happened.

Since there were people who supplied groceries and others, thus perhaps most of the nobles in the capital would have noticed that something was going on.

He tilted his head back and shut his tired eyes for a moment.

‘He’s a trustworthy person.’

Considering his abilities, status, and family, it would certainly be helpful if Baron Jake was on his side.
But, he couldn’t afford to get him into this fight.

Wasn’t he a friend? He did not know who the enemy might be and how dangerous the situation could be, but Kentrail could not ask for help blindly.

He just wondered if Baron Jake would take on Brielle if he ever puts himself in danger.

‘Perhaps, the queen…?’

He thought of his sister-cousin he had seen the other day.
The person who benefited the most after his parents died, would be his cousin on his father’s side and Kentrail’s uncle.

She and his uncle were number one on the list.

‘Can the King be trusted?’

He shook his head.
In the end, he couldn’t really trust anyone.

Kentrail thought he had to start with the trustworthy ones of those around him.

The butler is a man who has served the County’s heads for a long time.
He knew them all so well.
So, he was also the most dangerous.
If someone wants to secretly kill him, it will be possible through the butler.

‘But, there would be no need for the butler to make things complicated by causing such accidents…’

And so, he classified the butler as trustworthy.

The next person that came to mind was the knight commander.
He was a man trusted enough to bring Derek back.
Still, the rest of the knights were unknown.
As the criminal’s minions came out from there, he couldn’t completely trust them now.

Kentrail recently picked up the oldest ones and attached them as Brielle’s escorts, though he felt rather uneasy about entrusting this work.

‘I have no choice but to leave the work to only the chief.’

Still, Taylor was reliable.
That’s why he entrusted Brielle and the nanny to him.

Kentrail quietly pulled a piece of paper from the drawer.
In case something goes wrong, he selects someone for Brielle and begins to write down his right to inherit his property.

He will definitely protect Brielle, but it was good to have this kind of preparation.

He was able to succeed the County without any issue because his brother had written a will in advance.

Kentrail’s pen didn’t stop until the candle burned out.

 

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***

 

The King’s office.

There were three people gathered there.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes, long time no see.”

The King stared insensitively at his own father-in-law.
A political alliance, nothing more, nothing less.

“How have you been?”

“Thanks for the help, I’m not bad.”

Not bad—

At that word, the king snorted.

‘If that guy isn’t doing well, what is the life of his people who are still wandering in the streets?’ The King, not even thinking of hiding his heart, gulped down the drink that was laid in front of him.

“Your Majesty.”

Then, his Queen, who was sitting in a noble manner by his side, opened her mouth.

“It’s been two weeks since we have seen each other like this.”

It was nearly a month later, but it didn’t feel like a long time to the King.
So, he didn’t even realize the sadness and sorrow that passed through his wife’s eyes.

…All he could think of was that his wife resembled the person he hated the most.

“I knew it from the beginning, but the two of you are so much alike.”

The Queen’s hands shrank.
She knew she resembled her father, whom he hates the most.

Even the first impression of them was similar, and even if people saw them for the first time, it was recognizable that they’re a father and daughter.
It was sad at times.

If she had rather resembled her maternal side or her father’s brothers, he wouldn’t have hated her so much—Only useless assumptions continued to grow in her head.

The world regarded the King and her as a loving couple, but that was just an act.

“Hm.”

To break this chilly atmosphere, the father-in-law, Caveran, coughed in vain.

After he succeeded in attracting the King’s attention again, he then opened his mouth.

“Did you hear, Your Majesty? It seems that something is happening in the mansion of the Chancellor.”

“You think that is interesting news?”

The King pointed out Caveran’s voice, who seemed to be somewhat excited while speaking in a secret voice.