Chapter 70

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 70

Chapter Title: The Maid and the Little Young Master (4)

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

"Yes."

I nodded, and the nanny's face relaxed with relief.

Robert sometimes wanted to go outside. The nanny usually managed to soothe him, except when his tantrums were at their worst. It was probably because it was dangerous.

But now that I thought about it, maybe Robert wanted to go to his mother. Maybe he couldn't go, and that's why no one listened to him.

Well, that wild, reckless behavior of his was probably the biggest reason.

"Ugh, my head hurts."

The back of my skull throbbed. It felt like I'd had a brief dream... But I was sure I'd tumbled down the hillside beforehand. Fortunately, the thick bed of soft fallen leaves had cushioned the impact.

As that realization hit me, I bolted upright.

"Young Master!"

I scanned the surroundings frantically for Robert, only to find him lying right beside me. His eyes were closed, which sent a chill through me. I pressed my ear to his chest and heard the steady thump of his heartbeat. Only then did I let out a sigh of relief and look around.

We were quite a distance from the hill visible above. It seemed we'd rolled pretty far down. No one passing by would spot us from this height, so there was no hope of that. We'd have to climb back up ourselves.

I staggered to my feet. My whole body was covered in leaves and dirt.

As I brushed them off, something caught my eye through the branches opposite—a pale building of some sort... Without thinking, I started walking toward it. The leaves crunched and screamed under my feet. My heart raced oddly.

Just as I was about to push through the bushes blocking my view...

"Waaah!"

Robert stirred awake. I jumped and rushed to his side. I thought he was crying, but he wasn't. His face was scrunched up, but his violet eyes just blinked innocently—no tears.

"Young Master, are you okay?"

"...Yeah."

"Pardon?"

"That was fun!"

Robert grinned widely. He sprang up, oblivious to the leaves stuck all over him, and begged to do it again. I was dumbfounded. Still, he seemed fine, which was a relief.

He insisted on rolling again, but I firmly refused, grabbed his hand, and started climbing back up. The path was steep, and by the time we reached the top, we were a mess.

I brushed the leaves from my hair and clothes, then straightened Robert's outfit.

"Does anything hurt?"

"Here hurts."

His little hand pointed to his knee. The skin was scraped, blood trickling from it. Must've hit a rock on the way down.

I panicked and checked his knee.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"Doesn't hurt."

"But you just said it did."

"Yeah, doesn't hurt."

Does it hurt or not? His face was smooth, without a single grimace. Maybe it really didn't. I sighed in relief.

I tore a strip from my apron and pressed it to his knee. He winced slightly but didn't whine like usual. I was surprised by his unexpected patience. While he held still, I wrapped the wound.

"Want me to carry you on my back?"

Robert's eyes went wide. He hesitated, not answering right away. It looked like shyness. His reactions had been different from usual all day, making this little guy seem oddly adorable. I chuckled and turned around.

"Come on, hop on."

He shuffled forward and leaned against my back. I gripped his bottom firmly and stood.

"Whoa! Wooow!"

Robert wrapped his arms tight around my neck and wriggled excitedly. I held his chubby legs securely and started walking. He kept exclaiming "Whoa!" and "Wow!" in awe.

"Having fun?"

"Yeah!"

"We'll head back like this, then."

"Okay!"

My body ached all over from the tumble, but his cheers from behind weren't unpleasant. Worried he might change his mind and throw a fit midway, I quickened my pace. Before long, the mansion was in sight.

"Next time, come with the nanny."

"Again?"

"Yes, again."

"With Mommy?"

I faltered for a moment. Robert's clear voice sounded cheerful.

"With Mommy too?"

"Of course. We'll come together later."

"When's Mommy coming?"

"Later."

"When?"

"When you've eaten well, stayed healthy, stopped throwing tantrums, stopped throwing things, and stopped asking to be put on iron shelves."

I added that last part as my own humble wish. If only he'd behave and stay safely in his room.

"Liar."

Robert saw right through my fib. Kids could be sharp. I pretended not to notice and kept going.

"It's true."

"Liar."

"Really."

"Mommy won't come! Even if Robert's good, even if he misses her..."

His bright voice turned glum as he mumbled.

What should I say? I was still no good with words or comfort, even after five years.

My silence made him bury his face in the nape of my neck without another word. He was clever enough to read the mood. I could picture his tiny face looking dejected.

"Do you miss her?"

"Yeah. But I have to be patient."

"Why?"

"Mommy's busy. Really busy. So I can't throw tantrums."

I'd thought he was just a bratty little lord, but here he was saying something so mature. Knowing his situation, though, it just made me sad.

Come to think of it, Robert never whined about missing his mother or wanting to see her. He clearly longed for her but never showed it. He just waited quietly. Endlessly, without promise of when it might end, and he endured it all in silence.

Were there all sorts of thoughts swirling in that little head? He knew what he could say and what he couldn't. We shouldn't underestimate him just because he was young.

'He's lonely.'

'But he's a good boy.'

The nanny and Joelly must have known this side of him already. I'd wanted to argue when I first heard it, but now I could nod in agreement. It was a shame his tantrums were aimed at me.

"The Master misses you too. A lot."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Then why doesn't he come see Robert?"

"He's doing something very important, so he hasn't been able to yet."

"Is Mommy an important person?"

"Yes. A very important lady."

Robert giggled delightedly, pleased by the praise for his mother. He wriggled so much in excitement that I had to readjust my grip.

"So you can wait patiently, right?"

"Yeah, ugly."

Oh, not the "ugly" again. My softened heart hardened in an instant. I got it—he was lonely, good, and mature—but sly too.

"Robert's fine."

He nuzzled my neck, his hair tickling my skin. "Fine, fine," came his soft, childish voice.

"You'll stay with Robert... right?"

He asked suddenly, anxiety in his tone. I paused my steps, then resumed as I replied.

"Yes. Ugly will stay by your side forever."

I felt a small nod against my back. I smiled. I wasn't sure if he fully understood, but I figured he did.

The mood had sunk suddenly. No good. I knew a fix for this. When I used to carry my little sister like this as a kid and felt down, I'd do this. I hoisted Robert securely and broke into a run. Laughter burst from behind me.

"Fun?"

"Yeah! Fun!"

His cheers spurred me on faster.

The distance closed quickly, and we soon reached the mansion. By then, I was utterly spent.

"Hah, hah."

I bent over, gasping. Robert wriggled down from my back, and I was too exhausted to catch him.

That was when it happened.

"Robert?"

A unfamiliar voice called. Footsteps followed. Who at this hour? Struggling to lift my gaze, the first thing I saw was a small figure darting forward. Then a tall man scooped up the running child.

Golden hair shimmering in the sunlight swayed. Below it, clear emerald eyes curved kindly. Impeccably dressed without a wrinkle, broad-shouldered and sturdy—the moment I saw that man's face, my mind went blank.

Why... why are you here...?

"Vincent!"

Robert beamed and rubbed his cheek against the man—Vincent's face. Vincent smiled back tenderly.

"You've grown even more since I last saw you?"

"Nanny says I've gotten tall!"

Robert stretched his arms up cutely. Vincent chuckled softly. His smiling eyes looked relaxed.

Watching them, one thing hit me.

He's watching.

His eyes...

Stunned rigid, he noticed another presence and turned. Question filled the emerald eyes fixed on me. He scanned me up and down, tilting his head slightly. His blond hair fluttered in the breeze.

"Who are you?"

His smooth voice made my heart plummet. The face before me, this situation—it was all too real.

"Ugly!"

"Ugly?"

"Yeah. Ugly."

He looked at me again. Finally, I clasped my trembling hands, bowed my waist. His shadow on the ground made my heart pound wildly. Unable to hide my turmoil, I bowed deeper. I swallowed dryly, forcing my quivering lips to move, but no sound came.

"New hire?"

"...Yes."

I barely managed one word and clamped my mouth shut. My scalp prickled. A brief silence, then he spoke again.

"I see."

That was it. His footsteps receded soon after.

Only then did I straighten up.

"Where's Mommy?"

"Mommy didn't come."

Vincent stroked Robert's drooping head comfortingly. His affection for the boy was palpable—so gentle. Staring at them, my vision blurred. A single tear finally trailed down my cheek.

How could this be? I'd imagined reuniting with him countless times, sometimes like a dream. But nothing like this.

Vincent Bellunita.

For him, it was a reunion after five years with a stranger.