Chapter 36
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The Nanny's Tantrum
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The next day, Philomel slept in late, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with Lady Deless, and savored her free time. No longer a princess, she was free from heir classes and all other obligations.
But that peaceful moment was shattered by shouting from outside.
"Come out here! You vulgar wretch!"
Philomel opened the door and stepped out, only to come face-to-face with someone she hadn't seen in seven years.
"Nanny."
"Oh ho, so you've finally shown your face."
"Nanny, please stop!"
The nanny was causing a scene right in front of Philomel's quarters, while Ellensia tried to calm her down.
"How dare a wretch like you show your face around here?"
The nanny glared daggers as she bellowed.
"I don't know how you tricked His Majesty into letting you stay, but it won't work on me. If you have even a shred of conscience, get out of here right now!"
Philomel had anticipated something like this ever since Ellensia mentioned the nanny was in the palace.
She regarded the nanny calmly.
"I was planning to leave even without you telling me. So stop making a racket and why don't you back off? People are watching."
The palace servants nearby watched tensely, not daring to intervene.
It was a clash between the former princess's nanny and the ex-princess herself, after all.
"Now I see it—you take after your mother completely! Because of you and that woman, our poor Princess Ellensia hasn't even been able to see her father all these years! You know that, right?"
"I'm fine, so please stop!"
Ellensia grabbed the nanny's arm to restrain her, but it did little good.
"What is the meaning of this rudeness? Stop it at once!"
"You stay out of it!"
Even Lady Deless, who was usually so mild-mannered, was no match for the nanny.
Philomel let out a sigh.
She hadn't liked the woman, but the nanny had been her primary caregiver through most of her childhood. Seeing someone like that openly hostile didn't sit well.
Was her mere presence destined to stir up trouble wherever she went?
As Philomel's mood sank, the nanny suddenly staggered and toppled over, as if shoved.
"Aaaah!"
She flopped onto the floor, screaming and flailing.
"You pushed me! Owww, my back! Help!"
"...What are you doing?"
Philomel and everyone else stared at her in bewilderment.
"You pushed me!"
"Who? Me?"
The nanny jabbed a finger at Philomel, who responded incredulously.
"Don't blame innocent people for your own clumsiness! We all saw it."
Lady Deless stepped forward to defend Philomel, and the others nodded in agreement.
Anyone could see the nanny had fallen on her own. No one but Ellensia had even touched her.
"No way! Someone definitely pushed me... Princess, you saw it, right?"
The nanny looked hopefully at Ellensia, who shook her head.
"Just get up already. This is embarrassing—what a disgrace."
Ellensia grabbed the nanny's arm with a cold expression, trying to pull her up.
The nanny grumbled indignantly, but with Ellensia not taking her side, she had no choice.
"I can't... I think I twisted my back. I can't get up."
After groaning for a while, the nanny muttered weakly. Back pain was her chronic ailment.
In the end, four attendants had to carry her off like luggage, each grabbing a limb.
No one could piggyback her—she was too heavy, and she screamed in pain if anyone touched her back.
"Aaaah, it hurts! It hurts! Be gentle!"
Even so, her cries echoed sporadically down the palace corridor.
"Meow."
A mew came from behind.
Philomel turned to see a silver-furred cat peeking out from her room, stretching contentedly.
She gazed at it for a moment with a strange feeling, then turned away.
"Princess Ellensia."
She called out to stop Ellensia, who was following the nanny. There was something she wanted to tell her.
"What is it?"
"I don't know how this will come across, but you should keep your distance from the nanny. From my experience growing up with her..."
"Philomel."
Ellensia spoke in a somewhat low voice.
"Don't speak so ill of the nanny."
"..."
"I'll apologize on her behalf for today. There must have been some misunderstanding. But the nanny is a good person."
"No. She's not."
"Enough. I don't want to badmouth her behind her back. It's not right."
Philomel was at a loss for words. She'd only meant to give advice, but it made her feel like a petty gossip.
"Princess, the nanny is..."
"I'll be going now. I should at least comfort her after the accident."
Ellensia paused mid-sentence with an "Ah."
"By the way, what did you decide about the registry? Have you given Father your answer?"
"Not yet."
"What do you think, Philomel?"
"It's a gracious offer, but I feel it's too much for me."
Ellensia smiled gently.
"Think about it positively. I'd love for us to be sisters. Living here, you and the nanny might even clear up your misunderstandings someday."
With that, Ellensia walked away gracefully.
'Misunderstanding?'
Philomel almost laughed in disbelief. She knew the nanny far better than Ellensia ever could—a hundred times better, at least.
Yet Ellensia seemed to trust the woman she'd known for just a few days.
'Has the nanny already won her over?'
"Lady Philomel!"
Count Polan came rushing over, having heard the commotion from the attendants.
"What in the world..."
"Count, what were you thinking bringing that woman back into the palace? After everything she's done, you shouldn't have!"
Lady Deless confronted him sharply, and Polan looked flustered as he asked for details.
Once he had the full story, Polan bowed deeply to Philomel and the countess.
"I'm truly sorry! I thought a scolding back then would have taught her a lesson... This is all my fault for misjudging."
"You'll send her away immediately, right?"
"Of course. I'll notify her now."
Philomel sent Lady Deless back to her room and accompanied Polan toward Ellensia's quarters.
The countess didn't like the idea of Philomel going to see the nanny but didn't object.
The nanny wouldn't leave quietly. Especially if Ellensia defended her.
It wouldn't solve anything, but it was better than sitting idly by.
When they arrived at Ellensia's residence, the maids informed them that the nanny was being tended to in the princess's bedroom.
The nanny lay sprawled on the luxurious bed meant for the princess, with Ellensia seated beside her in a chair. To yield her own bed to a mere servant—truly a merciful heart.
Philomel hung back a step while the count stepped forward and announced the nanny's dismissal and expulsion.
"This is too much! Telling this poor old invalid to leave—it's as good as saying 'go die'!"
"You should have straightened up when we gave you a second chance. If His Majesty hears about your disgraceful behavior today, you won't get off lightly."
"His Majesty wouldn't possibly hold it against me, the empress's former nanny..."
"Shall we go ask him right now? I can report it immediately."
As Count Polan stood firm, the nanny floundered for words.
"Don't forget to apologize to Lady Philomel."
"But..."
"Ahem."
The nanny muttered reluctantly.
"...I'm sorry. I was wrong."
It seemed the matter was settled, but then reinforcements arrived.
"The nanny is just too pitiful."
Ellensia sniffled, stroking the nanny's wrinkled hand.
"She says she can't move at all because of her back. How could she possibly leave the palace like this?"
"Even so, letting her off without further punishment is already..."
"Don't you have any mercy, Count? At least let her stay until her back heals."
"Princess, for my sake, you're going this far... How will you survive this harsh world with such kindness?"
The nanny sniffled too, clasping Ellensia's hands tightly with both of hers.
The maids looked moved by Ellensia's display.
Everyone except Philomel and Count Polan, that is. A wave of emotion swept the room.
"Philomel."
Ellensia stood from her chair and faced her.
"If you're worried about Father getting angry, I'll talk to him. So, can't you forgive the nanny? She's reflecting on it now."
By addressing Philomel instead of the count, she shifted the one pushing for expulsion onto her.
Count Polan spoke up in her stead.
"No matter how pitiful, this can't be allowed."
"But the one harmed by the nanny wasn't you, Count—it was Philomel. Stand aside."
Ellensia's tone suddenly turned commanding.
Philomel watched the situation unfold coolly.
'If I refuse here, I'll be the villain desperate to chase out a helpless old woman?'
She was leaving soon anyway. Her reputation didn't matter.
But sacrificing it wouldn't achieve her goal.
If Ellensia took this to Justis, he'd side with his real daughter nine times out of ten.
Philomel would end up the bad guy, and the nanny would stay scot-free. Better to...
After a moment's thought, Philomel spoke.
"All right. We'll do as you say, Princess."
"Really?"
"Yes. I won't object if she promises to leave as soon as her back recovers. But how about this instead?"
Philomel held up one finger.
"Nanny, do you remember when I was eight and fell down the stairs, breaking my leg?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes... that happened."
The nanny looked puzzled, dredging up the memory.
"I remember you staying by my side, tending to me around the clock."
"Of course! I fed you your meals, carried you when you needed to move."
The nanny's eyes glazed over with nostalgia.
It must have been the golden days for her, wielding power as the princess's protector.
"It was so comforting having you there when I was in pain."
All bald-faced lies, of course.
Every moment exposed to the nanny's nagging and meddling had been hell for Philomel.
'But...'
Philomel beamed at the nanny.
"So why not do the same for the princess?"
"...For Princess Ellensia?"
"This time you're the one who's hurt, but you can still do plenty from bed. Teaching with words requires no physical effort."
The nanny nodded confidently.
"True enough. Even Empress Isabella, the princess's mother, grew up under my guidance. I didn't realize you appreciated my efforts so much, Lady Philomel."
"The bed here is plenty spacious too. How about staying in this room, just like when you slept by my side every night, and taking good care of the princess?"