Translator and Editor: Maru and Aki

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Chapter 18

They decided to play with building blocks.

Colorful blocks filled the room to the point it was quite difficult to get up and walk towards the door.

The shapes of the blocks varied. There were squares, triangles, circles, and even arch-shaped blocks.

Of course, they weren’t planning to play that from the start.

Luciana and River’s eyes sparkled when Daisy and Carlyx came in.

When asked what they wanted to play, Luciana said she was okay with anything, while River, who wore his messenger bag, took this opportunity to speak out.

“Playing blocks!”

And that’s how today’s activity was chosen.

River wasn’t simply building blocks. After stacking the blocks, he tilted his head as if to think. Then, not long after, he pushed a few blocks to the other side.

One fell, two fell, and a few more fell until a space in the stacked building blocks was formed.

River then inserted a new block instead of picking up what had fallen down. Daisy was able to read the deep meaning behind it.

‘He’s clever. You’re supposed to fill up the space with new blocks.’

Now, there are ten blocks left.

“Good job, good job! Ravi, good job! Luciana, good job!”

“That’s right! I, Ravi, did a good job!”

“What? Me too?”

The excited River tossed the blocks lightly. He tossed a handful of blocks and caught them again repeatedly. He seemed to be mindful of others so as to not hurt anyone, so he tried to make the blocks land on his fluffy hair before it fell to the ground. He even managed to throw it in the opposite direction.

‘With that level of consideration and cuteness, you must have saved the universe in your previous life!’

Daisy nodded with a satisfied expression.

‘He must’ve wanted to play safely. He’s so warm-hearted despite his young age.’

After some time, the expressionless Carlyx gently held River’s hand.

“River, stop throwing the blocks around. If you keep that up, you might get hurt.”

At Carlyx’s words, Luciana quietly took the blocks from River’s hand. After looking at Carlyx for a long time, River swerved his gaze. Now, his sky blue eyes only contained Daisy.

‘Are you asking for my permission? Is that so? Oh my, so adorable.’

So, Daisy encouraged him with a bright expression.

“Good job! Good job! Don’t mind your daddy, and throw it to your heart’s content.”

“Can I really throw it all? Yey, thwow, throoow!”

At my response, River’s face shone as bright as the sun, whereas Luciana’s eyes widened. Shortly after, she silently returned the blocks to River’s hand.

“Throw the blocks as gently as you did before.”

“Yes. Ravi won’t throw it hard. Ravi is not strong enough to do so!”

“That’s right. River can only throw the blocks in a gentle manner.” Luciana’s cheeks blushed as she said so. It seemed like she was proud that her younger brother had gotten permission.

Having seen their loveliness, Daisy continued to encourage them.

“Good job! Good job!”

Then, a firm hand lightly patted her shoulder. When she raised her head, Carlyx looked at her with a dreary expression, which she anticipated would happen beforehand.

He seemed to be mindful of his words because of the children.

(T/N: They are only mouthing the words here.)

-Daisy.

Carlyx tapped his ear vehemently and pointed at his lips.

-Why are you running your mouth instead when I told you to listen and follow me?

-I understand what you’re worried about. But as you can see, River is playing safely. What’s more, seeing as no one has come in until now, I’m sure no one will be able to see him act like this either.

Daisy pointed to the door and made an X sign with her hands. Then, she nudged Carlyx with a playful expression.

-The people you hire are all easy going anyway.’

Perhaps he had nothing more to say, but Carlyx decided to shut his mouth. He let out a small sigh as he watched Luciana and River play excitedly.

He thought of correcting Daisy, but he let it slide since he was quite amazed to see the children play freely like that.

“Caw!”

River, who threw the blocks as much as he could, began to make strange noises. Even so, Daisy did not mind at all and even copied him.

“Caw!”

“Caw!”

Daisy was fine with everything. It didn’t matter to her if River behaved like an alien or whatnot. Because River was still as cute as ever when he made the same strange sound over and over again with a wide smile plastered on his face. Even Luciana, who was usually quiet, timidly made the same sound.

“…Caw.”

“Ravi, caw! My sister, caw! Stepmother, too, caw! All togeyher, caw!”

“…Daddy, aren’t you going to caw, too?” Luciana glanced at Carlyx and asked.

Luciana was upset that River was leaving out their father. Even though he never played along with them, he always accompanied them. So, of course, he was precious to them.

And so, River tilted his head and asked innocently.

“Daddy, are you going to caw, too?”

Caw? What does it even mean? It was so absurd.

When Carlyx was about to refuse, Daisy, with her angelic smile, came into his sight. He could feel her gentle breath blowing in his direction.

Then, Daisy mouthed.

-If you don’t do it, I’ll visit the training ground tomorrow.

Due to that, Carlyx became petrified.

The knights will make a fuss if she starts to visit often. So, they’ll definitely be more than happy to laze around by using her as an excuse. He can’t let her mess with the progress of their training.

-What do you think, hmm?

Just thinking about it was torturous, so he was about to give in, but Daisy continued her words before he was able to do so.

-I’m going to visit you everyday and hug you.

Sigh—

He closed his eyes and let out a small sound.

“…Caw.”

Although his voice was so small that it was comparable to the size of an ant, since everyone had their attention on him, they were able to clearly hear what he said.

‘I can’t believe daddy did it, too!’

Luciana’s pupils dilated slowly at his words. She then covered her mouth at a snail’s pace due to shock. Since he never once played along with their games!

Luciana, who just came to her senses, asked out loud.

“River, did you hear daddy say that?”

“Yes!”

Daisy was busy laughing at him. She could feel Carlyx’s intense gaze on her, but she couldn’t help it. In fact, she didn’t expect him to actually do that.

Honestly, she had very little expectations, but it was quite rewarding to see him act like that.

“Good job! Good job! Luciana, good job!”

“Sister, you’re doing a good job!”

Ever since Daisy came into this mansion, she always hid a small fear towards him in the corner of her heart.

Now, it seemed like she was able to get rid of that fear little by little.

***

On a day where the sun hid behind the clouds.

The breeze blew coolly just before the weather turned a little humid, signaling the start of a perfect day.

The pale white mansion, the widely-spread round windows, and the flat roof that goes well with the blue sky. Ironically, it gives off a strong grotesque feeling once the weather gets a little dark.

Although it was an aristocratic mansion, the inside was far from that.

At 6 a.m.

Usually, the servants of other households would start working already, but this mansion’s servants were an exception.

Tyler, who felt as if he was all alone, sighed. Dark circles appeared under his eyes.

‘…If people were to see this mansion for themselves, they would most likely think that it’s not even close to being a noble’s mansion.’

Tyler shook his head and looked out of the window. He could see the maid being guided by the housekeeper.

‘She has the same blonde hair as madam.’

To him, Daisy’s absence was more worrying than pleasing now. The reason why is because he recently realized that Daisy was a very capable and gracious person.

‘I’m going to manage the house to the best of my ability while madam is gone.’

Tyler, who was filled with determination, turned to leave to continue his job. For that reason, there was no one to watch over the housekeeper and the new maid after he left.

The housekeeper, who watched Tyler as he walked away from the window, said in a low voice.

“That’s Tyler, the butler of this mansion. He’s very strict, so avoid him at all costs.”

“Cough, cough—is that so?”

The new maid had been coughing for a while because she was not feeling well. And, because she looked sickly and frail, the housekeeper felt sorry for her. She must have been overworked to death in the mansion she stayed at before.

Thus, the housekeeper explained with a tone full of sympathy.

“Yes, but don’t be scared. He’d only nag or glare at you at most.”

“Cough, cough—”

The new maid’s slender shoulders trembled.

Tsk. The housekeeper clicked her tongue and tried to comfort the new maid in a benevolent manner.

“He’s practically powerless. That’s why you must remember that you will never get fired no matter what you do.”

“Yes. Cough, cough. I’m sorry.”

The new maid tried to cover her mouth with her hand. Achoo!

Gosh, you’re scaring me.

The housekeeper took a few steps away from her and waved her hand.

“Just don’t spread your disease to me. That aside, let’s go inside now.”

The housekeeper and the new maid used the back door to enter the Marquis’ mansion. The red carpet on the floor was murky and dull, but it did not make the mansion less elegant.

“This way.”

The housekeeper guided her to the third floor. The new maid, who kept covering her mouth with a handkerchief, followed the housekeeper with her black luggage.

When they arrived at the top floor, they were greeted with a shabby area. A couple of doors even had their paint peeled off.

Then, the housekeeper pointed to a room that was fairly big in size.

“This is where you’ll be staying from now on.”

“Huh? Are you giving me the entire room to myself?”

It was very uncommon for one maid to have an entire room to herself. Usually, two maids would occupy one room. The purpose is to allow them to help or monitor each other.

But even though it was crucial to do so, the housekeeper brushed it off as insignificant.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? You can use it because there are a lot of rooms left.”

“Other places have a lot of rooms as well, but they’d still share it.”

“Get used to it, and stop asking questions.”

“Cough, cough. I’m sorry. I’m asking because it’s hard to believe. Cough, can you show me your room then?”

“Sure. Come with me. My room is right next to the door separating the servants’ rooms.”

The housekeeper revealed everything with ease. It seemed like the new maid’s acting was quite convincing.

The housekeeper expected the new maid to be surprised to see such an unrestrained place. Surely, there are many things that would be hard to accept at first. Because she herself was like that on the first day of her arrival, too.

“Come on.”

The housekeeper opened the door. The floor was no different from the room she just pointed at before. Two wooden beds, a sink, and a wardrobe.

The new maid’s eyes secretly scanned the room for a moment. When she found a brooch on the stand, the housekeeper quickly called the new maid.

“I think you’ve seen enough. Let’s go.”

“Pardon? But that’s—”

“Come out quickly—I have to show you another place.”

As soon as the new maid left the room, the housekeeper quickly grabbed the doorknob to close the door. However, the new maid’s eyes were fixated on the brooch the entire time she was in her room.

A brilliant brooch with an antique design.

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