Chapter 68

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 68

Chapter Title: Maid and Little Young Master (2)

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Robert lay there with his eyes closed, as still as death. Anxiety gnawed at me as I checked his complexion.

"Why is the young master acting like this? He kept trying to go out, so I thought it was dangerous and forced him to stay in the room for now. What on earth happened? Is he feeling unwell somewhere...?"

"He's asleep."

"Pardon?"

Unlike me, the nanny had already calmed down. She scooped Robert into her arms and patted his back. Just as she said, even breaths rose and fell steadily from Robert, his cheek pressed against her shoulder. Only then did my worry ease a little. He had collapsed so dramatically, I thought something terrible had happened.

Robert stirred briefly before half-opening his eyes. When his gaze landed on me, I tensed up instinctively, but his dazed violet eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"Mama..."

"Yes, young master. Don't worry—just sleep."

The nanny patted his back again. His tiny hand clutched at her skirt. He closed his eyes once more, but his little face scrunched up in distress, as if trapped in a nightmare. A single tear slipped from beneath his closed lids, wetting the nanny's shoulder.

After soothing him and laying him in bed, the nanny turned to me with a gentle smile, as if she could read my mind. I had been anxiously watching Robert the whole time.

"I'm sorry."

I had dismissed him as just a stubborn child and acted carelessly. He was still so young—he might have knocked on the door crying—and yet I had ignored it. I regretted everything, feeling sorry for Robert.

I bowed my waist, but the nanny waved her hands in flustered protest.

"No, no. He's just asleep, that's all."

"It was lucky nothing happened this time, but leaving the young master alone was my negligence. I should have stayed by his side the whole time."

"You only stepped out briefly to fetch his things. It's fine."

The nanny smiled kindly and turned back to Robert. Affection radiated from her hands as she rubbed his chubby cheeks and smoothed his forehead.

"Taking care of the young master must be exhausting, isn't it?"

"No, not at all."

"You can be honest with me. He fusses more with you than anyone."

"...No."

I couldn't deny it right away. The nanny let out a short chuckle, as if understanding my feelings perfectly.

"He's lonely."

Her sudden words made me stare at the back of her head. She continued without turning.

"The master passed away early in an accident, and even the lady of the house is too busy with family matters to spend time with him. There were days they never even saw each other's faces. By the time the young master started walking, it had become their normal routine. I came to this mansion to ease his loneliness from being without the lady."

I had no idea. He was always so cheerful; I never sensed any of that... Who knew that cheeky face hid such a sad story.

"But even here, I'm the only one by his side, so he must still feel so lonely. Then you came along—how happy he must have been."

Because he had someone new to play pranks on?

"Now there's one more person who'll stay by his side every day."

"..."

"No matter how badly he acts or how much he fusses, you don't leave his side. That must make him happy."

Her voice rang out softly, laced with amusement. I rolled my eyes. Her words tugged at my heart for the lonely little boy, but remembering what he'd done to me turned pity into anger in an instant.

Be lonely one more time, and my head might explode.

"So please understand that a child acting out is just his way of dealing with loneliness."

I couldn't argue with the smiling nanny, so I nodded. She advised that since the young master was so stubborn, it was best to indulge his requests as much as possible. It wasn't particularly helpful advice, but I nodded along anyway.

Did that mean I had to let him climb onto the horse mounting block if he wanted? She must have sensed my dilemma, because she scolded firmly.

"Don't let him climb the horse mounting block—that's dangerous."

"Understood."

I nodded one last time and looked back at Robert. His face had relaxed into peace now, steady breaths puffing out rhythmically. Sleeping, he looked just like the cute baby angel from a storybook.

"You little rascal, mmph."

My softening heart scattered to the winds in an instant.

The nanny must be wrong this time. He definitely just hates me.

"Hey? Where you off to?"

Johnny called out from afar, waving enthusiastically, his face lit up with a grin. What was with him? I scowled, but he ignored it and approached with open cheer. I didn't want to deal with him. I tried to slip away quickly, but he blocked my path anyway.

"You look beat. Busy, huh?"

"Yeah. Super busy, so move."

I stepped right, and he mirrored me. Left, and he followed again. Seriously? I glared as menacingly as I could, but it didn't faze him—he just grinned and flapped his hands.

"Hear me out for a sec. So, Alicia—"

Without permission, he launched into chatter about Alicia. I clutched my throbbing forehead.

My advice last time must have worked; things seemed to be progressing fast between Johnny and Alicia. Ever since, he'd unload all their stories on me whenever we met. This happened, she said that—I didn't want to hear any of it.

"So anyway—"

"Move. Busy."

"I know. Just this one thing."

I was exhausted and drained. And the last thing I wanted was to hear about someone else's romance. I glared like I might make him regret it if he didn't back off, and he finally faltered, his rambling cutting short.

"Ah, fine. Different topic then."

"What different topic."

"How've you been lately? Heard you're tending to the little young master now."

"Eh, you know."

...I trailed off with a deep sigh, then let out a hollow laugh like some weary old man who'd seen it all. Johnny's eyes widened.

"You look wiped."

"Can't deny it."

"Why, does that little squirt boss the servants around?"

Was that it? He did look down on us, but not excessively. I'd endured worse disdain before, so this was something I could scoff off. His capricious tantrums were tolerable because he was a kid, and knowing they stemmed from loneliness—as the nanny said—stirred a bit of sympathy.

Though it never lasted long.

Robert threw endless tantrums at me without tiring. Calling them tantrums was polite; they were more like full-blown fits. Nanny, I think you're mistaken after all. He just hates me.

I shook my head. Indulging him all the time was why he was so arrogant. Someone needed to tell him off firmly, but no one around Robert would. The nanny, who'd been with him his whole short life, just accommodated every whim.

"You're only there temporarily, right? Just hang in a bit longer."

"I know."

I knew, but sometimes—like right now—I wanted to throw in the towel.

"I wanna go out."

"No."

"I wanna go out!"

Robert flopped onto the floor, flailing his arms and legs. He kicked his short legs hard against my knee, each thud ramping up my pain and turning patience to fury.

Robert usually played with toys in the room or wandered around the horse mounting block. With the nanny, he'd go for walks outside, but with me, it was just the room or hallway. She had asked me to keep him inside the mansion when we were alone.

'He's still so young. And besides... you know how he is.'

Of course. With how unpredictable he was, better not risk going out.

"I wanna go! I'm going out!"

But today, the little young master's tantrum was especially bad.

"We'll go when the nanny comes back."

"Now!"

"If we go just us, the nanny will feel left out."

"I can go with Nanny later."

"..."

Robert was advanced for his age in speech, especially now, articulating clearly. You could tell he'd been well-taught.

I was speechless watching him roll around on the floor. No need to clean today. His ear-splitting screams left me dazed, unable to think.

That stubborn streak rivaled my previous master's—maybe even worse. With him, lives were at stake, so I'd pulled out all the stops. But I couldn't do that to a child; it just burned me up inside.

"How about we do something else instead?"

"Something else?"

He stopped rolling and widened his eyes. I nodded.

"Yes, something you want to do, young master."

Robert pondered briefly, then beamed.

But that "something else" wasn't much better for me. He clung to the horse mounting block's leg and gazed up at me pleadingly.

"You want to climb up?"

Robert nodded once. Why was he so obsessed with that? Seeing his sparkling eyes, I hesitated. Even the nanny, who said to indulge him, had forbidden this one thing.

Sensing my reluctance, Robert scrunched his face—as if tears were imminent. I scooped him up hastily.

"You have to behave."

"Okay!"

Only then did he grin brightly.

It didn't inspire much confidence, but maybe just a quick up and down. I hoisted him up to the saddle height. His little body wobbled as he clambered on.

His eyes shone as he leaned out dangerously. I panicked and grabbed his legs tight.

"Young master, it's dangerous. Hold on to the horse."

"Okay, okay."

He answered well but kept leaning forward. He wasn't looking down. His gaze fixed on something farther away. Curious, I followed it. He was staring out the window.

Beyond the window were just the trees encircling the mansion. A few servants passed by—that was it. Yet Robert couldn't tear his eyes away. He craned his neck, peering out intently, like searching for something.

What could he be looking for?

But his sparkling eyes gradually dulled, his little face falling. The change puzzled me.

"Robert."

I startled at the sudden voice. Joelli stood beside us—I hadn't heard her approach. She was alone.

Robert's sullen expression turned toward her.

"Mother isn't coming. Come down now."

At Joelli's words, Robert looked down at me and wriggled. He wanted to get off the horse mounting block. He wouldn't listen to me earlier, but now he was all obedience. I raised my arms and carefully pulled him into my embrace. Robert buried his face in my chest.