The Count's Secret Maid - Chapter 68

Translation: godsn

Robert lay with his eyes closed as if dead. Anxious, I examined his complexion.

"Why would the Young Master be like this? He kept trying to go outside, so I forcibly kept him in the room thinking it might be dangerous—was something the matter? Is he feeling unwell somewhere...?"

"He's fallen asleep."

"Huh?"

Unlike me, Nanny quickly regained her composure and patted Robert's back as she cradled him in her arms. Just as she'd said, steady breathing sounds came from Robert, who had rested his cheek against her shoulder. Only then did I feel somewhat relieved. He'd collapsed so abruptly that I'd thought something terrible had happened.

After tossing restlessly for a while, Robert half-opened his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes. When the child's gaze turned toward me, I instinctively tensed—but his dazed violet eyes glistened with moisture.

"Mama..."

"Yes, Young Master. Don't worry and go back to sleep."

Nanny patted Robert's back again. His small hand clutched at the hem of her dress. Though he closed his eyes again, his face remained scrunched up. As if he were having a nightmare. A teardrop slipped between his closed eyelids and splashed onto Nanny's shoulder.

After soothing Robert and laying him down on the bed, Nanny turned to me with a kind smile. It was as if she'd read my mind. I'd been anxiously checking Robert's condition over and over.

"I'm sorry."

I'd acted carelessly, thinking him just a stubborn child. But he was still young—he might have cried while knocking on the door. And though I'd known that, I'd pretended not to notice. All of it filled me with regret and guilt toward Robert.

As I bowed my head, Nanny waved her hands in flustered denial.

"Oh no, it's nothing. He just fell asleep."

"Fortunately nothing happened this time, but leaving the Young Master alone was my mistake. I should have stayed by his side."

"But you only left briefly to fetch something for the Young Master. It's alright."

Nanny smiled warmly as she spoke, then turned her gaze back to Robert. The affectionate way she rubbed his chubby cheeks and smoothed his forehead spoke volumes.

"Attending to the Young Master must be quite difficult for you."

"Not at all."

"You can be honest with me. The Young Master is particularly demanding with you, Ann."

"...... It's nothing."

I couldn't immediately deny it. As if understanding my feelings, Nanny let out a soft chuckle.

"It's because he's lonely."

At this sudden remark, I stared at the back of Nanny's head until she continued speaking.

"The master passed away early in an accident, and the mistress has been so busy with family affairs that she rarely has time to spend with the Young Master. There were many days when they wouldn't see each other at all. By the time the Young Master learned to walk, it had already become normal. The reason we came to this mansion was to ease the Young Master's loneliness without his mother."

I hadn't known any of this. With his naturally cheerful disposition, I'd never sensed any hint of it... Who would have thought such sorrow hid behind that mischievous face?

"But even here, I'm the only one who stays by his side, so he must have still felt very lonely. Then you appeared, Ann—imagine how happy he must have been."

A new target for his pranks?

"You became one more person who'd stay with him every day."

"......"

"No matter how badly he behaves or how much he throws tantrums, because you never leave his side, the Young Master must have found joy in that."

Her voice, laced with laughter, came out gentle. I rolled my eyes. Though her words struck me as profoundly sad—my heart aching for young Robert's circumstances—remembering all the things that child had done to me quickly turned that sadness into anger.

If I have to endure his loneliness twice over, my head might explode.

"I hope you can understand that it's just a lonely child throwing a tantrum."

When Nanny turned to me with a smile, I couldn't bring myself to argue and simply nodded. She also advised me that since the Young Master was stubborn, it was best to accommodate his requests as much as possible. It wasn't particularly helpful advice, but I just kept nodding.

So does that mean I should let him climb the iron horse statue too? As if sensing my dilemma, Nanny sharply interjected.

"Don't indulge him if it's about climbing the iron horse statue—it's dangerous."

"Understood."

Finally, I shook my head and turned my gaze back to Robert. His face had already settled into tranquility, his breathing even and steady. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠At least in sleep, he looked like an adorable cherub straight out of a fairy tale book.

"Ugly... mumble..."

My softening heart shattered into pieces in an instant.

This time, I think Nanny got it wrong. That kid definitely hates me.

"Huh? Where are you going?"

From a distance, Johnny pretended not to notice me, waving enthusiastically with a face full of laughter. What's his deal? I scowled, but Johnny ignored my reaction and cheerfully approached. I didn't want to deal with him. I tried to slip away quickly, but he stubbornly blocked my path.

"You look exhausted? Must be busy."

"Yeah. Extremely busy, so move aside."

When I took a step to the right, Johnny mirrored me, standing in front of me again. I shifted left—he followed suit. Seriously? I deliberately put on my fiercest glare, but it had no effect. Johnny just grinned, flapping his hands excitedly.

"Just hear me out for a sec. So, Alicia—!"

Without waiting for permission, Johnny launched into a rambling account of his latest interactions with Alicia. I clutched my throbbing forehead.

Apparently, my advice to "do better" had worked—Johnny and Alicia had grown much closer lately. Ever since, every time he saw me, he'd prattle on about Alicia. Alicia did this, Alicia said that. I had zero interest in hearing any of it.

"So, anyway—"

"Move. I'm busy."

"I know, just listen to this one thing."

I was tired, drained, and in no mood to humor someone else's love life. When I widened my eyes, silently threatening him to move or else, Johnny finally sensed the danger and cut himself off mid-sentence.

"Ah, got it. Fine, let's talk about something else."

"Something else, like what?"

"How've you been? Heard you're attending to the little Young Master now."

"Me? Well..."

I trailed off and let out a deep sigh. Then, with the hollow laugh of a man who'd seen it all, I shrugged. Johnny's eyes rounded.

"You look really worn out."

"Can't say I'm not."

"What, is the little brat disrespecting you just because you're a servant?"

I wasn't sure whether to say yes or no. He was dismissive, but not excessively so. I'd endured far worse disrespect before, so this much was laughable. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠His capricious tantrums were at least somewhat bearable because he was just a child, and after what Nanny had said about his loneliness, I even felt a twinge of pity.

Of course, that pity never lasted long.

Robert never tired of throwing tantrums at me. To put it nicely, they were tantrums—but really, they were closer to outright fits. Nanny, I think you were mistaken. He just plain dislikes me.

I shook my head firmly. If you keep indulging a kid, they'll grow up spoiled. Someone needed to scold him firmly, but there was no one like that around Robert. Nanny, who had been with him his whole short life, had only ever catered to his whims.

"Aren't you only staying at the mansion temporarily? Then just hang in there a little longer."

"I know."

I knew, but sometimes, I just wanted to quit on the spot.

Like right now.

"I want to go out."

"You can't."

"I want to go out!"

Robert flopped onto the floor, flailing his arms and legs wildly. His short legs kicked out with all their might, thumping against my knees. The more the pain intensified, the more my patience steadily transformed into anger.

Robert usually spent his time playing with toys in his room or loitering around the Iron Statue. When Nanny was around, he sometimes went for walks outside, but with me, he was confined to his room or wandering the corridors. Nanny had specifically requested that I keep him inside the mansion when we were alone. 'He's still so young, you see. And given how... well, you know?' I knew all too well. She meant I should refrain from taking him out since you never knew where he might dart off to.

"I wanna go out! I'm going out!"

But today, the young master's tantrum was especially severe.

"We'll go out together when Nanny returns."

"I want to go now!"

"Nanny would be sad if we went out without her."

"We can go out with Nanny later too."

"......"

Though Robert spoke faster than most children his age, he was particularly articulate in moments like these. This was where his proper upbringing showed.

Watching Robert roll around on the floor, I was at a loss for words. At least I wouldn't need to clean the floor today. But his ear-splitting screams made it impossible to gather my thoughts.

That stubbornness of his truly rivaled my former master's. Maybe even surpassed it. Back then, I'd resorted to desperate measures when my life was on the line, but I couldn't possibly do the same to a child—so all I could do was seethe inwardly.

"Let's do something else instead."

"Something else?"

Robert stopped mid-roll, his eyes widening comically. I nodded.

"Yes, whatever Young Master would like to do."

After a brief moment of contemplation, Robert suddenly beamed.

But that "something else" turned out to be no more welcome. Robert clung tightly to the leg of the iron horse statue, gazing up at me with desperate eyes.

"You want to climb up?"

Robert gave a single nod. Why on earth was he so fixated on climbing that thing? Watching his eyes sparkle eagerly, I wavered. Nanny had insisted I indulge most of his requests—but this was the one exception.

Perhaps sensing my hesitation, Robert scrunched up his face. Tears seemed imminent, so I quickly scooped him into my arms.

"You have to promise to stay still."

"Okay!"

Only then did Robert break into a radiant smile.

He didn't exactly inspire confidence, but as long as he went up and came right back down, it should be fine. I hoisted him with all my strength, lifting him to the height of the saddle. His small body wobbled as he clambered onto it.

The child's eyes gleamed as he dangerously leaned forward. Startled, I gripped his legs tightly.

"Young Master, it's dangerous. Hold onto the horse tightly."

"Okay, okay."

Though he answered obediently, he kept leaning further out. He wasn't looking down—his gaze was fixed on something much farther away. Puzzled, I followed his line of sight. Robert was staring beyond the window.

Outside the window, there was nothing but the trees surrounding the mansion. The only people passing by were a few of the mansion's servants. Yet Robert couldn't tear his eyes away. He stretched his neck, straining to see outside—as if searching for something.

What in the world was he looking at?

But then, the sparkle in his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes gradually dimmed, and his small face fell. The sudden shift was baffling.

"Robert."

The unexpected voice made me jump. Joelli stood beside us—I hadn't noticed her approach. She was alone.

Robert's sullen expression turned toward Joelli.

"Mother isn't coming. Come down now."

At Joelli's words, Robert looked down at me and squirmed. I realized he wanted to get off the statue. Just moments ago, he hadn't listened to a word I said, but now he was surprisingly compliant. I raised my arms and carefully cradled him against my chest. Robert buried his face in my shoulder.