TPOVF 12

Chapter 12

“I’d like you to change the room.”

At Yurenia’s request, Chester’s brow furrowed. He crossed his arms and spoke.

“The room. So that’s why you hadn’t unpacked?”

“Pardon?”

At Chester’s question, Yurenia blinked her round eyes as if to ask what he meant. He added an explanation.

“Your luggage was still in your room. Did you not like it? If you want a larger room…….”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

Yurenia hastily waved her hand at the duke’s words.

“Not my room—young master Kail’s room. I’d like you to move his room elsewhere. Somewhere better suited for a child.”

“What’s wrong with this place? It’s the best room in the mansion after my own bedchamber.”

Chester asked in a tone that suggested he didn’t understand. At his attitude, Yurenia’s mouth fell slightly open.

‘So that’s why.’

She had wondered why the child’s room was placed in such a corner. The duke, in his own way, had done his best for his nephew.

“It’s a fine room. But this isn’t a proper nursery.”

“Nursery?”

Chester repeated the word as if he’d never heard it before. Watching him, Yurenia suddenly recalled the reaction of the duke’s aide, Enzo.

He too had acted unfamiliar with the word ‘nursery,’ just like the duke.

‘Surely not.’

In that instant.

A small realization flashed through Yurenia’s mind.

‘There’s no nursery here.’

Strictly speaking, this room where Kailus stayed could be called a nursery.

But it was a nursery in name only—not a properly furnished ‘nursery.’

‘It must be because the duke is unmarried.’

Yurenia could easily guess the reason.

Typically, in noble households, the mistress prepares a nursery when she has a child.

And the child is raised there until they come of age and leave for the academy or move to another room.

In other words, until the master of the mansion marries and has children, there is no separate nursery.

As an unmarried duke who suddenly had to raise his nephew, he probably hadn’t been able to prepare that far.

From what she could see, the mansion itself didn’t seem to have been inherited from his father either.

This was likely the best room he could provide.

But she couldn’t raise a child here. Yurenia, gazing firmly at the sharp corners of the bed, spoke resolutely.

“Your Grace, young master Kail needs a room meant only for a child.”

“Is this insufficient?”

“A nursery needs soft rugs so a child won’t get hurt if they fall, and small furniture suited to the child’s height. The corners should be rounded too.”

Chester looked around the room as he listened to Yurenia’s explanation. As he examined the furniture with sharp eyes, she continued.

“Also, since young master Kail will be without a nanny, the nursery should be close to the guardian’s bedchamber. So that you’ll know immediately if something happens.”

“Then this won’t work.”

Chester muttered with a frown.

This was at the far end of the west wing.

Chester, Kailus’s current guardian, resided in the east wing.

The east wing and west wing—practically opposite ends. The location of this room was the worst possible for a nursery.

Chester’s deliberation didn’t last long.

“Fine. We’ll prepare a new room for the child. Near my chambers.”

“Thank you!”

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask?”

“Hmm…….”

Yurenia rolled her eyes. Looking at the child sleeping with soft breaths, her pink eyes sparkled.

“There is one more thing.”

“Tell me.”

“Young master Kail’s play clothes. Please get him new play clothes. Shoes and a hat too.”

“Understood. And?”

“Pardon?”

“Is there nothing you want to ask for yourself?”

“For myself?”

Yurenia’s eyes widened. The duke’s sharp gaze was fixed on her.

“Nothing.”

“I’ll grant you anything, so speak up. Opportunities like this don’t come often.”

“I’ve already been promised more than generous treatment. I’ll be a good teacher to young master Kail. Thank you.”

“Is that all?”

At her polite and neat response, Chester’s eyes narrowed. He asked in a conspiratorial tone, as if trying to coax her.

“Think carefully. Is there really nothing you want to ask of me, a grand noble?”

“If you insist…….”

At his persistent questioning, Yurenia hesitated and began to speak. Chester tilted his chin as if urging her on.

“Please don’t forget your dinner appointment with young master Kail today. Definitely.”

“……Pfft.”

A soft laugh escaped Chester’s lips as he watched Yurenia with a serious expression.

He shook his broad shoulders, laughing silently. Bringing his hand to his mouth to compose himself, he nodded.

“Haha, alright. Don’t worry, Tutor. Valerio does not speak falsehoods.”

“Yes!”

Yurenia, who had been puzzled by Chester’s unexpected reaction, beamed.

Outwardly she was all smiles, but her heart pounded at hearing a line she’d only ever read.

‘I get to hear this dialogue in person!’

Yurenia clasped her hands together to hide her fluttering heart.

[Valerio does not speak falsehoods.]

The family motto of House Valerio, which appears importantly in the original novel as well.

At first hearing, it sounds like they keep their word faithfully. But in truth, there was a terrifying and chilling meaning hidden within.

It also meant that a person of House Valerio will make any words they utter become reality.

But now was before the original story began—before House Valerio had turned dark. So it likely meant nothing more than keeping their promises, as the words suggested.

“I look forward to working with you!”

Yurenia smiled brightly like sunshine. A warm light shimmered in the ice-blue eyes watching her.

“Malenda Margo.”

An exceptionally low and deep voice echoed through the duke’s study. Startled by the duke’s summons, Malenda answered.

“Y-yes, Your Grace.”

“Thanks to you, I got to see Kail after a long time. Aren’t you curious how he was?”

“I-I was curious. You didn’t see anything unpleasant, did you? That young new woman probably couldn’t handle young master Kail. As you know, childcare comes from experience.”

“Hahaha.”

The duke responded with a cold laugh instead of an answer.

At the sharp laughter spreading through the study filled with chilly air, a chill ran down Malenda’s spine.

‘What’s this?’

Something didn’t feel right.

The duke’s gaze, which had always been generous toward her, was now stinging.

He had been a man who knew nothing about children and let her words slide.

What had that new tutor woman done to make him glare at her like he wanted to devour her?

“As Your Grace well knows, only I can handle young master Kail. Even his mother, Marchioness Mave Dalton, acknowledged that.”

“My sister-in-law is not your employer. Since Kail came here, your affiliation has changed to House Valerio as well. Didn’t you know?”

“Th-there’s no way I wouldn’t know!”

She hadn’t known.

But that wasn’t what mattered now. Feeling threatened instinctively, Malenda cried out frantically.

“I have been loyal to House Valerio!”

“I’ve always felt it, but you’re truly diligent, Nanny.”

“You recognize that. Your Grace, I will continue to work hard for House Valerio—”

“Embezzling diligently, abusing a child diligently. You’ve lived a busy life, haven’t you?”

Swish!

The duke threw a stack of documents in front of Malenda as he finished speaking. Papers filled with dense numbers fluttered down.

Malenda stared blankly at the fallen papers, then gasped at the familiar contents.

“This is……!”