Chapter 73
The nanny spread her arms wide to hug Flitta, caressing the child’s face with a pained look, clicking her tongue in pity. Then she shot a reproachful glare at Roze and spoke in a scolding tone.
“Roze, how on earth have you been looking after the young lady? If you weren’t confident in serving her properly, you should have left it to me! But no, you just had to rush in, trying to win His Grace’s favor….”
The nanny wagged her tongue at Roze in rebuke. It was obvious she was making excuses for herself and shifting the blame. But contrary to her intent, the people listening turned their eyes toward the nanny with awkward, displeased expressions. Even the maids who usually didn’t think kindly of Roze gave her sidelong looks.
Everyone knew the nanny had taken a hasty leave out of fear of catching the illness and fled the duke’s estate. Everyone also remembered clearly that when someone had to volunteer to accompany the young lady into the annex, not one person had stepped forward except for Roze.
And yet, here the nanny was—twisting the truth, speaking as though none of that had ever happened. As though it had been Roze’s selfish ambition to volunteer, and because of that the nanny had been kept from entering the annex with the young lady.
Now she carried on as if the young lady’s frail appearance was all Roze’s fault, making a scene. For anyone who knew the facts, it was absurd beyond words.
The truth was, Flitta’s face did look more gaunt than before her illness. But wasn’t that only natural? She had been gravely ill—how could her face be glowing with health? The fact that she had miraculously recovered at all was something to be grateful for. To nitpick her appearance was nothing but stubborn fault-finding.
And Haven knew it. He fixed the nanny with a cold stare, then let out a faint, incredulous chuckle. It was such a small sound that only the butler standing near him heard it. But that was enough—the butler could sense his master’s displeasure.
“Yannick.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Haven’s voice was calm, no different than usual. But the butler flinched at being addressed and hastily bowed his head. Haven’s icy gaze lingered on the nanny before he spoke again to the butler.
“I think I shall reward Roze, in recognition of her service in caring for the young lady.”
“…Yes, Your Grace. Indeed, you should.”
The butler involuntarily froze for a moment. He had expected a scolding to fall upon the nanny, not this unexpected statement.
Of course, Roze more than deserved a reward. She had nursed the sick young lady with devotion and ensured her safe recovery.
But…
The way his master had addressed the young lady’s maid by name—“Roze”—and spoke so familiarly, so warmly… it was unlike Haven, who was usually aloof and indifferent toward his servants.
So it wasn’t just my imagination when those three walked in together earlier.
The butler recalled the way they had entered, Haven and Roze holding the child’s hands on either side, looking for all the world like a family of three. The memory unsettled him again.
He stole a cautious glance at Roze. She looked flustered at the mention of a “reward,” unsure of what to do, though she kept busy tending to Flitta.
Hmm… the mistress of the household should be the first to enter this estate. If things continue like this, he might end up bringing in a mistress instead. And if that mistress is a former maid, tongues will wag endlessly.
The butler clicked his tongue softly and furrowed his brow. He knew Roze to be gentle and kind—patient too, for she endured the nanny’s spite without complaint, diligently doing her work. And she was devoted to the young lady. Even the head maid secretly held Roze in high regard.
But as his master’s woman? That was another matter entirely.
It would have been better not to employ her at all…
The butler bit back a sigh at the thought of his master’s potential “disgrace.” Just then, Haven spoke again.
“I shall grant Roze five hundred setenas.”
“…P-pardon?”
The butler, answering out of habit, suddenly snapped to attention, eyes widening. At the same time, every servant present—including the head maid and the nanny—stared in disbelief, as though they’d misheard.
“Did… did you say five hundred setenas?”
The butler had to confirm. Five hundred setenas was no small sum—enough to buy a good house in the capital’s commoners’ district.
“Your Grace, that’s far too much…”
Roze herself, stunned, blurted out in protest. Five hundred setenas! It was excessive. Her monthly wage of three setenas was already considered decent. To be given five hundred at once—it was unimaginable.
Even if it was meant as a reward for saving the child, it felt overwhelmingly too much. She opened her mouth to object again, but Haven turned his gaze toward her, then addressed the butler and head maid instead.
“She saved my child. I am rewarding her for that service. Are you implying this sum is too great? That my daughter is worth less than five hundred setenas?”
“N-no, of course not! No treasure in the world could compare to the young lady. It was my mistake, Your Grace. Forgive me. I’ll see to it at once. Roze, offer your thanks to His Grace.”
“But, I…”
“Quickly now.”
Even the head maid urged her on. Roze gripped her skirt tightly in both hands and lifted her gaze to Haven. His blue eyes were fixed steadily on her.
Cold and indifferent.
And yet…
Somehow, deep within that gaze, it felt like he was hiding a trace of amusement. Almost as if he was watching her flustered reaction with quiet laughter.
That can’t be…
She gave a slight shake of her head and bent at the waist.
“…Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Continue to care well for Flitta, Roze. I’m entrusting her to you.”
“…I will devote myself to her, with all my heart.”
Her reply came a beat late, choked with emotion. What moved her most wasn’t the staggering sum of money, but his words—that he trusted her.
“…”
Haven looked down at the woman bowing before him, then let his gaze fall further.
Flitta, wide-eyed, looked back and forth between him and Roze before breaking into a bright grin. She didn’t fully understand, but her room had been newly decorated, and Roze had been rewarded, so she was clearly delighted.
“Everyone, that’s enough. Go back inside. Flitta, you should rest in your room too. Even if you’re better, you need plenty of rest for now.”
“Yes!”
Flitta eagerly nodded in answer. Haven gave a small smile at her response, then turned away, the butler and head maid following after him. Left behind were Flitta, Roze, the nanny, and the rest of the servants.
“This is absurd. That’s the kind of money you’d have to save for over ten years without spending a single coin! And she’s getting it all at once, just for looking after a child for a few days? If I’d known, I would have volunteered myself!”
One servant muttered under her breath, low enough to avoid Flitta hearing, though not low enough to escape Roze’s ears.
“Lucky, that’s what she is. Honestly, what did she even do? She just stayed holed up in the annex, fussing over a child a little.”
At the jealous words, Roze’s shoulders involuntarily hunched. Then another voice spoke up.
“That’s not true, Susan. If it was such an easy task, why didn’t you step forward back then? It was a chance to make good money.”
“Th-that’s because…! I wasn’t the young lady’s assigned maid. If I had been, of course I would have—”
The complaining maid faltered, fumbling for excuses. But the younger maid who had spoken up shook her head firmly.
“When they asked for volunteers to go into the annex, no one cared about who was assigned what. Anyone could have gone. But no one stepped forward—except Roze.”
“Veronica, are you saying I was wrong? You see her getting all that money for just a few days’ work and you don’t feel anything?”
“Well… honestly, I am jealous. A lot jealous.”
The maid called Veronica gave Roze a sidelong glance and shrugged.
“But what can I do? I didn’t have the courage, while Roze did. She looked after the young lady when no one else dared. That’s something. I couldn’t even bring myself close at the time. None of us could. That’s why the nanny here even took leave, wasn’t it?”
“What nonsense! How dare you suggest that’s why I took leave?”
The nanny, overhearing her own name, turned red with fury. Veronica flinched and stepped back, retreating from view.
“What is the meaning of this? How dare you speak of me that way—”
But no one looked convinced by the nanny’s protests. And just as she was about to lash out further, Flitta tugged on Roze’s hand and whispered softly.
“Roze, I want to go back to my room.”
