Chapter 79
The Count's Secret Maid - Chapter 79
Translation: godsn
"I want to see flowers too."
"You can't."
"Why?"
"Nanny will scold me."
I'd received quite the earful from Nanny after our last trip to the forest. A truly excessive amount. I witnessed firsthand how terrifying gentle people become when angered. Nanny didn't raise her voice or use harsh language. She simply grasped both my wrists and scolded me in a quiet, measured tone.
"Nanny's scary when she's angry."
"Yeah. Nanny scary."
Robert nodded with a grave expression. A sudden sense of camaraderie welled up in me.
"Stupid. Give me another one."
"......"
But I really wish he'd stop calling me that. Just when I'd start to forget, Robert would address me like that again.
Pointing at the white flower with its round cluster of seeds, Robert impatiently demanded I give it to him. Narrowing my eyes, I scanned our surroundings before grabbing both of Robert's plump cheeks and stretching them outward.
"You really are something, Young Master."
"W-wah!"
Robert flapped his arms like wings. I pressed firmly into his soft cheeks before pulling them upward to force his mouth into a smile.
"Are you going to call me stupid again, or are you not going to call me stupid?"
"Oooh, stupid!"
"Are you going to, or are you not going to?"
"H-hardy ma!"
"Will you call me that again?"
Spare the rod and spoil the child. But I couldn't administer corporal punishment, nor could I threaten to spank him like Nanny would. After considering how to safely discipline him, I'd settled on stretching those chubby cheeks.
After flailing his arms and slapping at my hands, Robert finally gave a reluctant nod. I exhaled sharply and released his cheeks.
His plump face had turned bright red. Robert clutched his own cheeks with teary eyes. I crossed my arms defiantly, daring him to actually cry.
"I'll tell Nanny!"
"Go ahead. I'll tell her too. About how you tried climbing the horse statue behind my back and fell."
"......"
"If Nanny learns that iron horse statue hurt you, she'll have it removed immediately. Then you'll have to say goodbye to the horse forever. Right now!"
Though truthfully, it would be Vincent doing the removing. For all I knew, he might already be planning to get rid of it. Either way, someone would dispose of it.
My words must have struck home, as Robert pressed his lips tightly together. Though he wore a sullen expression, his inability to retort suggested he'd been planning to climb the statue again. Thinking I'd just let that slide, were you?
I resolved to keep an even closer eye on Robert from now on.
"Here you go, Young Master."
Pretending not to notice his displeased face, I plucked another white flower with its spherical cluster of seeds. Robert hesitated, looking as serious as someone wrestling with a demonic temptation. When I gently swayed the flower from side to side, his violet eyes followed the movement.
Soon his small hand reached out uncertainly to grasp the flower.
I chuckled and handed it over, then plucked another one and blew on it. As the white seeds scattered, Robert's eyes widened and he blew on the flower in his own hand.
When the air before us filled with floating seeds, Robert broke into radiant laughter. His gleeful giggling suggested his mood had improved somewhat.
A timely breeze sent the seeds swirling even more chaotically. While Robert became engrossed in trying to catch the floating seeds, I picked some flowers growing near the forest's edge.
After shaking off the dirt and trimming the roots, I assessed my haul. Not many flowers bloomed near the forest's edge. Without venturing deeper in, there was a limit to how large a bouquet I could make. Since we were in the heart of the forest, there were no proper gardens here.
This should yield about three decent-sized bouquets. The rest will have to be sent as letters.
As I carried the bundle of flowers, Robert showed interest.
"Me too! Me too!"
"Shall we make flower bouquets together with these?"
"Yeah!"
Surprisingly, he displayed active enthusiasm. Before that enthusiasm waned, I began making bouquets with Robert.
I neatly arranged the flowers I'd picked, while Robert gathered them one by one with his small hands, clumsily assembling bouquets. Of course, their shapes were rather messy.
"Whose is this one?"
"My mother's."
"Wow. It's pretty. You're doing well."
I made sure to compliment him intermittently. Robert smiled shyly.
The lush, colorful bouquet was larger than Robert's own body. Quite greedy, aren't we? Robert shook it this way and that, examining it, then pulled out a red flower and inserted a yellow one instead. His seriousness was almost like watching a master florist at work. He was so earnest that I secretly smiled.
The second bouquet Robert made was just as large as the first.
"Who will you give this one to?"
"Nanny's."
"Nanny will love it."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Nanny was the type who would feel honored even if Robert spat out candy he'd been eating. I discreetly tidied up the haphazardly made bouquet.
"Will you give it to Nanny yourself, Young Master?"
Robert's eyes widened into perfect circles. It was as if he was asking, "Me?" I smiled and nodded. Then he hesitated, seemingly embarrassed to give it directly.
When I exaggeratedly said that Nanny would be incredibly, absolutely delighted if he gave it to her himself, only then did Robert give a small nod.
As time grew late, I made the last bouquet myself. This one was for a girl named Carrot. With few flowers remaining, it was less splendid than Robert's creations, but I still put my skills to use, combining red and pale pink flowers into a shape any girl would like.
Then something puzzled me.
"Is there none for Lord Vincent?"
"Nope. None."
Vincent, seems there's none for you. I secretly chuckled to myself.
A while after evening fell, Nanny returned. She must have changed into her house clothes and come straight to Robert's room, for her face looked weary. Normally, Robert would have rushed to her the moment she opened the door, calling "Nanny!"—but today he didn't, which made Nanny puzzled.
"You've used them all."
"Yes. I've used them all, though the quantity is a bit much."
When I handed her the considerably thick stack of letters, Nanny smiled brightly.
"We also made flower bouquets. The Young Master made them."
I gave her the two bouquets we'd prepared as well. Nanny's eyes grew round. Though their shapes were messy, Robert had spent all afternoon making them. Her gaze upon those imperfect bouquets was tender.
"Are these for Madam and the Count?"
"No. They're for Madam and Young Lady Carrot."
Once again, Nanny's eyes widened.
"Nanny, Nanny."
Just then, Robert tugged insistently at Nanny's skirt. She bent down to meet his gaze.
"Yes, Young Master."
"This is for you."
Robert presented the bouquet he'd been hiding behind his back. A letter was tucked among the blossoms—an unexpected gift.
"Nanny, thank you."
Robert planted a quick kiss on Nanny's cheek.
As Nanny accepted the bouquet, she started in surprise, then her eyes grew red-rimmed. " Thank you. It's so beautiful. How lovely." At Nanny's exclamations, Robert grew bashful, unable to meet her gaze, his toes tapping nervously against the floor. Then he swiftly turned and burrowed into his bedsheets.
"I'm grateful. I'll deliver the letters properly."
"Yes."
Nanny couldn't tear her eyes away from the bouquet Robert had given her. She gingerly touched the letter nestled among the flowers, then unfolded and read it. Her movements were careful.
I stared blankly at her face, caught between tears and smiles.
"Oh my. It has color?"
She asked while looking at the colored ink on the letter.
"Yes. It's colored ink."
"My goodness. So such ink exists."
"Is this your first time seeing it?"
"Yes, it's my first time. Until now, I've only ever seen black ink."
Nanny kept turning the letter over in her hands as if fascinated. Is this something they sell? Even I, aside from a brief period in my past, had never seen colored ink before. But then again, someone of my lowly status would naturally be unfamiliar with such things. Still, is it really such an expensive luxury that even nobles can't easily purchase and use it? If that's the case, where on earth did Johnny manage to get this?
"But I'm not sure if we'll be able to receive a reply."
"Huh? Is something the matter?"
"Madam has become busy again since yesterday, so it's become difficult to see her face."
Her previously moved expression darkened. I was flabbergasted. Just what kind of person is she? All I'd ever heard about Robert's mother from him was that she was busy—extremely busy.
"Hmm, what should we do?"
Nanny muttered worriedly. I felt concerned too. I'd promised him a reply. Imagining Robert waiting endlessly for a response that might never come put me in a foul mood.
Wasn't there any good way to receive a reply?
Ah, there was. One method.
"What if we ask the master?"
"The Count?"
"Yes. Perhaps he could deliver it directly and even bring back a reply."
Truthfully, this was the most reliable method. Nanny gave a small nod as if agreeing.
No, why today of all days...?
As usual, I waited by the entrance for the servant to deliver the letters. The only difference today was that there were slightly more letters than usual. But today, the servant wasn't alone. Of all people, Vincent was standing right beside him. Because of this, I couldn't hide my bewilderment.
"You have quite a lot in your hands today."
"Ah... yes."
I glanced at Vincent briefly before bowing deeply. Then I politely handed over the letters I'd brought first. The servant took the four letters with a puzzled expression.
"And what are these?"
"Well..."
I found it difficult to speak easily. My eyes kept darting to the tips of Vincent's shoes.
Why did he have to come along today of all days? After asking me to report on Robert's daily life, he'd completely vanished. Frankly, there was no reason for him to seek me out. So I'd been living comfortably until now, but his sudden appearance left me nothing but flustered.
Nanny knew I was reporting Robert's daily life to Vincent. That's why I'd planned to ask the servant to relay the request on her behalf, since she found it difficult to speak to him directly. It was the most reliable and accurate method. Given the affection he'd shown Robert so far, I thought he'd readily agree if properly explained.
Of course, it was also the least welcome method. Nanny hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate to make such a request when she was already indebted. I didn't particularly want to be involved with him either.
But if Robert climbed the iron horse statue again and had a serious accident, I—the one attending to him—would be punished. Wanting to avoid such a situation, I'd chosen the safest method, though I hadn't anticipated needing his help. Still, since I'd started this, I had to see it through. I couldn't just leave it unresolved like this.
At least I'd been relieved that I only had to relay the request to the servant.
One of the four letters was written by Nanny to request the delivery of Robert's letter. I'd thought everything would be resolved once I handed this over... Who could've guessed I'd have to meet him in person?
Biting my lower lip, I stiffly pressed my arms to my sides when something rustled. Digging through my pocket, I found a few pieces of candy. Johnny had given them to me yesterday. He'd stuffed them into my pocket even after I refused, saying they were quite sweet. Ah!
"W-would you like some candy?"
"Huh?"
The servant's eyes widened at my abrupt question. I quickly held out the candy in my palm. Maybe if he ate something sweet, Vincent would be in a better mood to listen.
The servant alternated his gaze between the candy and me in confusion. Behind him, Vincent's expression twisted sharply.