Chapter – 10
“Yeah, I brought one for you while I was bringing Lilliana’s.”
As she said that, Anriche held out the cocoa cup to Elliot.
Elliot hesitated whether to take it or not, then glanced at Magg for approval.
Magg gave a slight nod, as if telling him it was fine.
Only then did Elliot quickly grab the cocoa cup with both hands and crawl into the blanket.
“……”
Anriche couldn’t hide her strange expression.
Wait, what did I just see?
It felt like…
‘Elliot thinks of Magg more like his real mother than me.’
It was true that before possessing this body, Anriche had treated Elliot coldly.
But still, the current situation—where he asked permission from his nanny even while his mother stood right in front of him—didn’t feel normal either.
Until now, she had vaguely thought it was because he was hurt by having a mother who found him bothersome…
But as she thought that far, Anriche shook her head internally.
‘No, I might just be overthinking this.’
Magg had been the one sincerely taking care of Elliot in Anriche’s place all this time.
There was no need for unnecessary suspicion.
She must have been too sensitive because of what happened with the maids earlier.
Anriche smiled and spoke to Elliot.
“Hey, Elliot.”
“Yes?”
“Mom was thinking of sleeping with Lilliana today, so would you like to sleep with us too—”
“No.”
The immediate answer made Anriche give a bitter smile.
Well, she hadn’t exactly expected a different reaction.
“Alright, if you don’t want to, then I can’t force you.”
……Huh?
For a moment, Elliot’s eyes widened.
Mother was giving up that easily?
But Anriche simply walked toward the door.
She didn’t get angry or irritated.
“Then I’ll be going. Good night, Elliot.”
“Ah, yes…”
Elliot nodded blankly.
After giving a small smile, Anriche neatly left the room.
Click.
The door closed.
Elliot stared blankly at the door and replayed what had just happened.
‘…Mother didn’t get angry at me.’
Anriche had always wanted her words to have absolute authority in the duchy.
She was the type who did not allow rejection.
But today, even when Elliot refused her suggestion, she still smiled calmly.
‘Come to think of it, she’s been like that all day. She didn’t raise her voice or glare at anyone.’
After thinking for a while, Elliot turned to Magg, who was straightening the bedding.
“Hey, Magg.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you think Mother was really gentle today?”
The moment he asked that, Magg’s hands paused.
Elliot continued slowly.
“Earlier today too, she didn’t get angry when we met. And she even brought cocoa like this…”
“Young master.”
“Hmm?”
Elliot blinked.
Magg sat beside him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Of course Madam was very kind today. I was also surprised.”
“Right? You felt that too?”
Elliot asked excitedly.
Magg let out a long sigh.
“But young master, think about how Madam has treated you until now.”
“…How she treated me?”
“Yes. Madam has always found you bothersome, hasn’t she?”
Elliot’s face darkened like a cloudy sky.
Seeing that, Magg shook her head with a sorrowful look.
“Even if she is kind to you now, there’s no telling how long that kindness will last.”
“Th-that’s how it is?”
“At least, that’s what I think.”
Magg held Elliot’s hand tightly.
Her eyes toward him were full of gentleness.
“I’m just worried… that you might get hurt, young master.”
“…Magg.”
“So don’t worry too much. I will always be by your side.”
“Yeah… thank you.”
Elliot nodded slightly.
Yes, that should be enough.
A satisfied smile formed on Magg’s lips.
“By the way, Magg, that girl earlier…”
“That girl?”
“Yes, um… Lilliana Averitt?”
Lilliana Averitt.
The name felt sweet on his tongue, like candy.
A girl with soft golden hair like clouds and clear light green eyes like spring buds.
Elliot’s cheeks turned red like a ripe apple.
“I… think she’s the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
“Ah… yes.”
A faint caution appeared in Magg’s eyes.
This was the first time Elliot had shown interest in someone other than his father and Magg.
After hesitating, Elliot spoke carefully.
“She’s my fiancée, right?”
“Well, yes.”
Though she’s nothing more than the daughter of a fallen count family.
Magg swallowed the bitter words rising in her throat.
Elliot looked up at her with sparkling eyes.
“Then… am I going to marry her someday?”
“Well, that’s…”
Magg trailed off and glanced at Elliot.
“More importantly, do you like Lilliana that much, young master?”
“Yes, I like her.”
Without hesitation.
Magg’s expression stiffened.
This was dangerous.
The more people Elliot “liked,” the less influence a “kind nanny” like her would have.
‘I even made sure that girl wouldn’t set foot in the duchy for this reason.’
Magg bit her lip.
A fiancée attracting Elliot’s attention would only cause trouble.
‘No, what were the Ronini baron couple doing?’
They should have prevented Lilliana from coming in the first place.
Suppressing her irritation, Magg smiled gently.
“You barely even spoke with her, though?”
“That’s true, but she still seemed very kind. And also, and…”
Elliot lowered his head shyly, hiding his expression.
“…She’s the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
“……”
Magg was glad Elliot wasn’t looking up.
Otherwise, he would have seen her distorted expression.
After a moment, she softened her voice.
“I was actually worried you might feel upset, young master.”
“Upset? Why?”
“Because… Madam has always treated you poorly.”
Magg glanced at him sideways.
“But she treats that girl so well, doesn’t she?”
“Hmm…”
“I thought you might feel hurt seeing that.”
But Elliot only looked confused.
“Huh? Why would I feel hurt?”
“Well… because it’s like she’s taking away your mother’s affection…”
“No, I don’t think that’s it.”
Elliot shook his head.
“Just because someone treated me badly doesn’t mean they must treat everyone else the same way.”
“But still, don’t you feel disappointed?”
“I do feel a little disappointed. It would be nice if Mother treated me better too… but…”
After thinking for a moment, Elliot smiled.
“But I don’t want her to be mean to Lilliana.”
“…I see.”
Magg barely forced a smile.
Elliot nodded brightly.
“Yes! Speaking of which, Lilliana earlier…”
They continued chatting for a while.
After some time, Magg stood up.
“It’s getting late. You should sleep now. And give me that cocoa.”
“Why?”
“I’ll throw it away. It’s already cold anyway.”
She reached for the cup.
“Instead, I’ll make you a new one tomorrow.”
But Elliot frowned.
“No. I’ll drink it.”
“…Pardon?”
“It’s… the first cocoa Mother brought me.”
“Young master.”
Magg called again, but Elliot remained firm.
“It’s still warm.”
“But…”
Magg looked displeased.
But Elliot didn’t take his eyes off the cup.
After a long hesitation, he took a sip.
Warm. Sweet.
