Chapter 15
As she followed the staff member who wore an unreadable smile, Nina felt her confusion deepen with every step.
She couldn’t understand why these unexpected things kept happening.
She had desperately wanted to cleanse herself, but a spa? That was unexpected. The “Sally Juice incident” was another unforeseen variable that hadn’t appeared in her foresight.
‘Still, that one was my mistake.’
No matter how she looked at it, Nina believed the Sally Juice incident was entirely her fault.
She’d panicked when she suddenly developed a fever.
She had assumed that drinking Sally Juice, like always, would quickly resolve the issue.
If this incident hadn’t happened, she might never have realized that normal children don’t drink Sally Juice when they’re sick.
She couldn’t remember exactly when it had started, but every time she’d cried about being sick or uncomfortable, the adults around her would always give her Sally Juice.
So she had assumed everyone did the same.
‘I really am a complete idiot.’
Feeling suddenly ashamed of herself, Nina bit the inside of her cheek.
What good was knowing the future up to age fourteen if she didn’t even understand basic common sense?
‘I have to be more careful from now on.’
Otherwise, the Ravians would find out that she was nothing more than a burdensome child.
They’d realize that everything until now had merely been a desperate trick she’d come up with after sleepless nights.
And if that happened…
‘They’ll definitely be angry.’
Even if they knew she had tricked them, would they still look at her with pity like before?
Probably not.
“This room is… What’s wrong?”
The staff member, who had been leading Nina down a lavish marble corridor, suddenly looked worried as they stopped in front of a door.
Nina, who had been pressing down on her aching chest with both hands, quickly shook her head.
“My chest just hurt a little for a moment. I’m fine now.”
‘It’s okay. What matters is the present.’
There had been a few unexpected variables, but it looked like things were still going according to plan.
When she shared information about Duke Cherny with Ravian, he hadn’t asked any questions like she’d expected, but he seemed to believe her for now.
In other words, she had managed to prove her usefulness—at least for now.
That must be why they brought her to a place like this.
Meanwhile, while Nina had disappeared for a children’s spa course, Ravian had finally chased off Mira and was heading to the lounge.
Not solely to replenish his missing caffeine and nicotine.
[To Duke Dmitri Cherny]
I’m impressed that your luscious hair turned out to be a wig.
But it’s quite unfortunate that you’ve been deceiving the entire nation all this time.
If you wish to avoid national disgrace, and are willing to make a modest gesture of sincerity,
then attend the upcoming Carnival Grand Banquet—without underwear—as a sign of your resolve.
“Why no underwear, though…?”
Ravian mumbled, staring at the note. Merci explained in his usual calm voice.
“It’s subtle enough to not draw too much attention but still noticeable to the right people.”
“You twisted bastard.”
“I’d rather not hear that from you, boss. Anyway, are you really planning to go in person?”
“Who else would go if not me?”
The Carnival held every February in the capital city of Vina was a grand, historic event, even bigger than the New Year’s Festival.
Since the disappearance of the First Princess, the royal family had been quiet. It was a good chance to gauge their mood and test the waters with Duke Cherny.
Really, who else would attend such a lively event but Ravian?
Still, something was bothering him—why didn’t he feel excited?
“F***.”
A curse slipped from Ravian’s mouth as he chain-smoked like a chimney.
Merci flinched slightly.
“Sorry. I’m just worried that while you’re gone, someone might give the little princess more Sally again.”
“…”
“So, did you talk to her about it?”
He wanted to, but it was just one thing after another. Instead of explaining that, Ravian changed the subject.
“That clownish duke turned out to wear a wig. If this gets out, high society will go nuts.”
“You already sound convinced.”
“You said even his grandfather wore a wig. That kind of thing’s hereditary, you know.”
“Wow, who knew hair loss could be passed down through genes?”
A flicker of dark sarcasm passed through Merci’s golden eyes—a twisted mix of hate and fear.
But it lasted only a moment.
As always, he returned to his usual calm expression and gave Ravian a pleasant smile.
“So what happened with the little princess?”
“She was so grubby, I dropped her off for a full-course spa on the third floor. That lunatic Mira had already… Anyway, what’s everyone else up to?”
“Kiss is supervising cleaning. Smoky went to find a suitable nanny. We figured someone close in age to the princess would be best.”
“Why?”
“Because kids do better with other kids. And the person would still meet your list of conditions.”
Ravian frowned.
He didn’t think his list was all that unreasonable: someone too clueless to guess Nina’s true identity, with lots of weaknesses, trustworthy, obedient, and experienced in caregiving.
“Having a snot-nosed kid take care of another? That’ll be something.”
Given that most of their members were slum kids forced into adult responsibilities at a young age, it was hardly outrageous.
Unlike the privileged world of blue bloods, in the slums, children were often breadwinners before they could even walk properly.
Still, ever since the damn Sally Juice incident, Ravian had found himself unwilling to trust anyone fully—not even his own people.
That was probably why he was dreading the trip to the capital.
Normally, he would have stayed for weeks. But this time, he planned to go, handle his business quickly, and return.
“Well, yeah. Better than some elderly lady with a glowing resume who dumps Sally on a kid because she can’t be bothered.”
“If you’re that bothered, why don’t you talk to the princess yourself? Anyway, I’ll handle the rest. Once her spa’s over, take her shopping.”
Ravian blinked slowly, stunned.
“Shopping?”
“Yeah. She probably needs all sorts of things—”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
“Me, personally…?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Why? What for?”
“Because right now, I’m her tragic sister, Kiss is an overwhelmed working mom, and you’re the useless dad. If you’ve got any conscience, you should at least do something.”
Merci said it with the gentlest, most sincere tone—while spewing complete nonsense.
It was so absurd Ravian nearly nodded in agreement out of reflex.
“You’re insane.”
He’d never even gone shopping with a date.
With an expression of disbelief, Ravian looked like he’d lost half his soul.
Merci sealed the deal with a bright smile.
“If you don’t go, I’ll send Mira instead.”
Suddenly, Ravian found himself standing at the entrance of the shopping street—alone with a six-year-old hostage.
‘I feel dizzy.’
He was overwhelmed. He desperately craved nicotine again.
Nina was just as dizzy. It was her first time in such a crowded place.
Her dizziness was a little different from Ravian’s, though.
‘In the original future, I was always inside some hideout, wasn’t I?’
Things were starting to differ more and more from what she had foreseen—but she didn’t mind.
She had never wanted everything to go exactly the same anyway.
It was a little dizzying, but the fact that she was out with Ravian made her heart flutter warmly.
