Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Grow Muscles Instead of a Baby!
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Yasmin must have approached Dietrich using snacks as a ploy because she figured he was simpler and easier to handle than me.
Dietrich wasn't a reincarnator like me—he was just a real kid.
'I have no idea why she's cozying up to us like that.'
Was it just that she wanted to be friends with us?
Or was she trying to manipulate the young heirs to seize power in the household?
Either way, I couldn't let her do anything that would actually harm Dietrich.
Indulging a child's every whim to win their favor—that was called "sweet abuse" back in my old world.
"Anna, it seems Yasmin went too far this time. Allow me to apologize on her behalf."
The butler came rushing over, no doubt having heard that Yasmin and the kitchen staff were getting scolded, and stood before the nurse.
"Her enthusiasm got the better of her, so I'll discipline her properly. How about docking her pay for a month?"
Subtly shifting the blame to overzealousness, huh?
What a sly fox.
"Gerard, let's be clear. This is grounds for dismissal."
But our nurse wasn't one to fall for such obvious tricks.
She was a battle-hardened veteran who'd dealt with thieves and schemers alike while Mom and Dad were away from our home.
"I'm sorry! I was wrong!"
Realizing even the butler couldn't sway the nurse's resolve, Yasmin hurriedly dropped to her knees.
What to do...?
Firing one nanny wasn't hard, but she was from the main estate, which gave me pause.
Grandfather had sent her as a favor, considering our family's situation. Dismissing her over something like this would bruise his pride.
'The nurse already gave her a stern talking-to, so maybe we can let it slide this time?'
This should send a message to the main estate hires.
That our house wasn't a total pushover.
And that no matter how young Mariella or Dietrich were, the long-time estate staff would protect us from being pushed around.
"Nuuurse."
Having made my decision, I called out to her, drawing out the end of the word.
Every servant in the mansion turned their gaze toward me, perched up high.
"Yasmini make my haiw pwetty pwease. 'Cause I cwy, so nuwse just scold a wittle bit, okay?"
Instead of meeting the nurse's eyes right away, I made a point of locking gazes with each of the main estate servants one by one.
Most couldn't hold my stare and quickly looked away.
Surprisingly, the one who met my eyes the longest wasn't Yasmin—it was the butler, Gerard.
He's got more backbone than I thought. Main estate blood runs thick, even if it's gone a bit sour?
But if you're in our house, you follow our rules.
"Yasmini say sowwy. Won't cwy no mowe. Wight?"
"...Yes, miss."
Her reply came a beat late.
No matter how angry the nurse was, the masters of this house were currently me and Dietrich.
With me speaking up like this, even she took a step back.
"Understood, miss. Then Yasmin's punishment will be two weeks of house confinement. This is your last chance from the young lady, so reflect properly."
With that nail driven in, I trusted no one would dare toy with Dietrich on their own again.
Dietrich might be simple and foolish, but he was still my...
Hm.
I stared long at the main estate servants, all bowing their heads in silence.
Only then did the faint anger that had simmered in my chest since hearing about Dietrich's sprained ankle start to ebb away.
"It's been a while, miss."
Yasmin returned after her two-week confinement, her face a touch more gaunt than before.
I'd worried things might feel awkward since both me and Dietrich had gotten her in trouble, but her gentle tone hadn't changed a bit.
"May I do your hair?"
"Yeah. How you gonna do it today?"
"Today, I'll tie it up into one, then add some pretty flower ornaments. How does that sound?"
Her demeanor toward me was so warm and steady, she hardly seemed like someone fresh out of punishment.
Yasmin quietly began brushing my hair with gentle strokes.
She even spoke softly to Laura, who was hovering nearby and watching us, without a hint of unease.
"Wouldn't fresh flowers make a lovely decoration for the miss's hair?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes!"
"Between orange and purple flowers, which would suit her better?"
"The miss's hair is such a pretty pink... so purple might be better, don't you think?"
Pink and purple were a safe, harmonious combo, after all.
Glancing at my sky-blue dress, Yasmin nodded in agreement with Laura's suggestion.
"You're right. Could you fetch a few purple blooms from the garden, then?"
As she spoke, Yasmin held out a tray toward me.
On the velvet-lined tray lay several delicate hairpins shaped like flowers, encrusted with tiny gems.
"While Laura gets the flowers, shall we pick out ornaments together, miss?"
Caught off guard by the sudden order, Laura hesitated by the door.
She must have felt uneasy leaving just me and Yasmin alone right after the punishment ended.
But Yasmin ignored her completely, focusing on holding various pieces up to my hair with that same soft touch.
Her manner was so tender that I signaled Laura with my eyes to go ahead.
Only then did Laura leave the room.
"All the servants in this mansion seem to adore you, miss."
"Of couwse. Evewyone wuvs Mawiewwa."
"Lowborns always band together, after all."
Her tone was still soft, but it carried that chill I'd sensed once before.
I looked up at Yasmin with wide eyes.
Yasmin gripped my shoulder.
She squeezed so hard a pained groan escaped me involuntarily.
"You're a liar and a naughty girl, miss."
Well, now.
"You got jealous because I only gave snacks to young master Dietrich, didn't you? That's why you told the nurse?"
I'm barely three years old by her reckoning, and she's cornering me alone like this to bully me?
"You saw how the young master got scolded by the nurse this time, right? Children who lie or tattle need to be punished like that."
If I were truly three, Yasmin's words would have terrified me.
"Your brother got in trouble because of you, miss. Understand? You're a bad maid-lover and a bad girl. As expected from main estate folk—they're on another level."
My shoulder was starting to throb from her grip, so I twisted away slightly, but Yasmin only clamped down harder.
"Don't worry. We'll fix all your bad habits—and the maids' too."
With one final squeeze, Yasmin released my shoulder.
Right on cue, Laura returned.
Seeing her with violets and hydrangeas in her arms, Yasmin smiled warmly as if nothing had happened and took the flowers.
What to do?
Should I cry and tattle that Yasmin bullied me while Laura was gone?
'But she said "we."'
Not just her—others were in on "fixing" our habits.
If I saw the main estate hires as a single bloc... crying and chasing Yasmin out now would be the worst move.
To drive them out, I'd have to do it all at once to avoid backlash.
'Plus, if I throw a tantrum and it swings focus back to Dietrich like last time...'
Unlike me, with an adult mind inside, Dietrich was genuinely seven. He wouldn't handle it well.
No choice, then.
I'd have to grit my teeth and let it slide for now.
Swallowing my rage, I hunched my neck like a scared child.
Yasmin looked down at me and smiled placidly.
"There, your hair is done, miss."
Using two mirrors, she showed me the cute purple flowers tucked between the ringlets of curled hair.
If she saw me as a baby to torment, I'd use that baby act right back at her.
Time to dig into the main estate servants' backgrounds.
No one would suspect a three-year-old.