CHAPTER~25
“Ch-Chased out? That can’t be……. Someone who devoted so many years to the family…….”
It wasn’t just anyone — it was Nanny Quina who had been expelled from the family.
Even after hearing Fennel speak, I couldn’t easily accept it as truth.
I was so shocked that no words came out and my mouth only opened and closed soundlessly.
It was understandable.
Nanny Quina had served the Decart family for over thirty years and was practically a ‘pillar’ of the household.
She was a living witness who had personally experienced all major and minor affairs of the Decart family from her teenage years to middle age.
Though she wasn’t from the direct bloodline and thus lacked the qualifications to join the Elder Council, she was someone who had earned absolute trust from the family heads she personally raised.
I couldn’t say I knew everything about her, but one thing was certain.
Nanny Quina was one of the very few people who treated me warmly, along with Fennel.
‘Don’t cry, Madam.
And please endure this.
I truly want to raise your child with my own hands.’
She was the person who had helped me when even the lowest maid ignored me, and told me to ‘hold on’ while comforting me warmly…….
“Are you saying Nanny Quina committed a crime?”
I still couldn’t believe it.
Fennel gave a heavy nod with a troubled expression.
“Publicly, that is what they say.”
“Publicly… meaning there’s another reason?”
Fennel nodded again.
As expected, Quina was not someone who would commit a crime.
Then why?
“It was shortly after Madam parted ways with our family.”
“Around that time, the Red Moon gradually stopped appearing.”
“Because of that, the Elders claimed we were cursed and were extremely enraged.”
“…….”
So the Red Moon stopped appearing right after my divorce.
……No wonder my ears had been burning.
“Everyone was on edge during that period.”
“And unfortunately, on one of those days, Lady Artène’s grandson fell gravely ill.”
“It was poison.”
“Then… don’t tell me.”
“Yes.”
“Just as Madam suspects, Nanny Quina — who was the nanny at the time — naturally became the prime suspect.”
“The evidence and alibi overwhelmingly pointed to her as the culprit.”
“…….”
“And at that time, the Duke happened to be away on a demon-subjugation campaign.”
“There was no one who could protect her.”
“After the young master passed away, Lady Artemene flew into a rage and expelled Nanny Quina.”
So that was why Lady Artemene felt sharper than she had five years ago when I visited the Elder Council.
She had even looked somewhat gaunt.
Wait—what had Lady Artemene been like in the original story?
The Decart family was only a supporting household, so details about the Elder Council had been brief.
‘I feel like I’m forgetting something…….’
My thoughts wouldn’t come together.
I pushed aside the puzzle in my mind and asked Fennel:
“Then no one knows where Nanny Quina is now?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Lady Artemene blocked every possible escape route.”
“Anyone who falls out of favor with the Decart family rarely meets a good end.”
Of course I knew that.
I gave an awkward laugh and nodded.
“But why did you say ‘publicly’?”
“If she was expelled because she couldn’t clear her name, doesn’t that mean the guilt was clear?”
“……I personally find many things suspicious.”
“Because afterward, a new nanny arrived.”
“A new nanny?”
Right — now that I thought about it, there had been several unfamiliar names in the records Fennel organized for me.
Just as Fennel was about to continue—
“Madam! Housekeeper!”
A hurried knock sounded and the office door flew open.
It was the same maid who had rushed to me last time.
Both Fennel and I stopped talking and turned to her.
“What is it?”
“You should come at once, Madam.”
“The nanny is with Lady Mela right now…….”
The new nanny was with Mela?
I hadn’t even approved bringing a nanny in yet……!
“M-Madam! Please don’t run, it’s dangerous!”
I ignored Fennel’s worried voice and dashed out like an arrow.
***
Mela’s room was the sunniest room in the mansion.
I had begged Ferzen for it, and fortunately, it wasn’t far from my office, so I arrived quickly.
“……How rude!”
As I approached briskly, raised voices grew clearer.
Through the half-open door, I saw a stranger lifting her hand high, as if she were about to strike.
I kicked the door open.
“Mela!”
I rushed forward and grabbed the woman’s wrist tightly.
“What do you think you’re doing……!”
The nanny turned sharply, her voice sharp and offended.
“I should be asking you that.”
“What are you doing to my child?”
When I spoke coldly, the nanny finally realized who I was — and unexpectedly smiled brightly.
“Ah, Lady Evlyen.”
“I’ve been wanting to meet you.”
“How delightful that we meet this way.”
Even though the Elders didn’t fully recognize me yet, addressing me like this was absurdly disrespectful.
I wanted to snap back, but assessing the situation came first.
Mela, still sniffing from crying, immediately hid behind me.
“What exactly were you doing?”
“As you can see, I was educating her.”
“I am the nanny of this household.”
“Please release me, Lady Evlyen.”
I ignored her request.
“I’ve never been told anything about you.”
“And I certainly never asked you to become a nanny.”
The nanny smiled sweetly again.
“Ah…… You must be a bit slow with news.”
“It must take you some time to adjust.”
“I understand, Lady Evlyen.”
“I am the official nanny of the Decart family — Grimora.”
Her expression was gentle and polite, yet her tone held a subtle mockery.
Especially toward me.
It was infuriating.
The most irritating part was the confidence radiating from her face.
Did she have someone backing her?
As I wondered, Fennel’s words resurfaced.
‘There are many things that feel off.’
‘A new nanny appeared afterward.’
There had to be something more to this than just “a new nanny.”
I regretted leaving the conversation early.
Just then, behind Grimora, a small head peeked out.
I stepped forward.
Two children — siblings, around Mela’s age — were hiding behind her.
“Then who are they?”
“And why are they in my daughter’s room?”
“Ah! Goodness, I forgot introductions.”
“These are her milk-siblings.”
“I brought them so they could get along well with Lady Mela.”
“Say hello, children.”
When Grimora urged them forward, I saw their faces twist with displeasure for a brief moment.
When she said ‘say hello,’ they had glared at Mela fiercely.
A strange discomfort crept into me.
Then I spotted something.
A familiar hair accessory in one boy’s hand.
“Hey — isn’t that Mela’s?”
“Why do you have it?”
I grabbed the boy’s wrist firmly and demanded an answer.
Up close, it was unmistakable.
It was the yellow ribbon hair ornament I had bought for her while I was in the capital.
As I leaned in to inspect it, the boy suddenly erupted.
“L-Let go! It’s mine!”
“She said I could have it!”
“A girl’s hair accessory is yours?”
“This belongs to our Mela—”
Suddenly, Grimora cut in and interrupted me.
“Lady Evlyen, please calm yourself.”
“There seems to be a misunderstanding.”
“Lady Mela gifted it to our young Master Lazar.”
I opened my mouth to tell her not to spout nonsense, but Grimora turned to Mela with a smile and pressed her.
“Isn’t that right, Lady Mela?”
“You gave it to him, didn’t you?”
“Or am I wrong?”
Her tone was as sweet as before, but something about it felt suffocating.
Mela’s small fingers, clutching my dress, trembled faintly.
‘Mela is trembling.’
She had never looked this frightened before.
Something must have happened while I was away.
A cold, sharp fury welled up inside me.
“What did you do to Mela……!”
I was about to demand answers when hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.
The door slammed open.
“What is this commotion!”
And the one who entered was none other than Lady Artemene.
