DSMBL Chapter 22

Chapter 022

The nanny spoke through gritted teeth, her eyes brimming with hostility as she glared at me.
“Are you insulting me right now? I’ve been taking care of the Duke, Lord Cassius, and now Young Master Theo for years. Unlike you, who know nothing, Duchess.”

“It’s not an insult, I’m just confirming the facts. Let me ask you again. What purpose do you serve if Theo is gone?”

The nanny trembled with fury.
In the original story, she became the female protagonist Laurencia’s ally and managed to stay in the mansion. But Laurencia wasn’t here, and the nanny wasn’t a good person.
I wanted to kick her out.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the authority to do so. That’s why she was so stubborn. I was nothing more than a ghost of a duchess.

“You seem to understand what I’m saying. But you not only leave Theo unattended, you seem to be using him to satisfy your own greed.”

The nanny quickly denied it.
“That’s impossible! I’d lay down my life for the young master. It’s different from someone like you, who’s only been here for six months.”

“Hmm. Still not getting it, huh?”
I furrowed my brows as threateningly as possible. I needed to subdue her to make my life easier.
“You’re just someone who’d be thrown out if you got fired.”

The nanny glared at me with murderous eyes.
“But I’m different. Unless I get divorced, I won’t be kicked out. You might want to behave before I decide to fire you.”

“The Duchess can’t do that! Only Duke Cassius can dismiss me, and he will never throw me out!”

I knew it wouldn’t work from the start. It was a bluff. The nanny’s reaction to the word “dismissed” was enough to show she was shaken.

As she said, her bond with Cassius was deeper than mine.

If I wasn’t careful, it could be me who gets thrown out.

What mattered was who harmed Theo.

 “I’ll be watching closely.”

With one final warning, I took Theo, who had changed his clothes, and left the trembling nanny behind.

Don’t mess with my child again.
Theo, who had stepped outside, muttered gloomily.

“What if the nanny hates me?”

“She won’t. Look, Theo. Cassius made this himself.”

It was a large bubble wand we had made together with some wire last night. I dipped it in the soapy water and created a giant bubble.

It was to distract Theo, and thankfully, he was immediately captivated.
“Wow, it’s amazing!!”

Theo, easily distracted, jumped around with excitement. That’s how kids should be—happy and carefree.
Even if I hadn’t been, I wanted Theo to be.

***

Meanwhile, the nanny, left alone, was replaying the words of Luna and Charlotte in her mind.

<“Do you really think Lord Theo will become your son just because you say so?  Wake up! She’s the Duchess.”>
<“The girl who used to hate the Duchess suddenly changed her tune. What, did she offer you more money?”>
<“Watch your words. For now, focus on the young master. If you disrespect the Duchess or Theo again, I’ll report everything to His Grace.”>
<“You think he’ll side with you?”>
<“And who do you think he’ll side with, then?”>

The argument with Luna kept replaying in her mind.

She had raised Cassius and Theo herself.

It was true that she had raised Theo like her own child after the previous Duchess passed away. But now, this outsider was trying to replace her.

“That wretched Charlotte…”
The nanny clenched her fists. She was sure Cassius would stand by her side. Decades of service couldn’t be beaten by a few months.
‘That bratty girl!’
How dare she threaten the nanny’s place and take Theo away?

She gritted her teeth, her resolve hardening.
That woman couldn’t be allowed to stay in the mansion.

The nanny went straight to Cassius, tears streaming down her face as she recounted the day’s events, accusing Luna and Charlotte of insulting her.

Cassius pressed his temples, looking exhausted.
“So, according to you, Charlotte threatened you?”

“Yes, Your Grace. She disregarded all my years of loyalty and humiliated me. I’m so wronged, I can hardly bear it.”
The nanny’s tears fell like a waterfall.

“Why would Charlotte do that?”

“She seemed suspicious about me being alone with the young master, so when I refused to leave…”

“…I was the one who instructed her to stay in the room with Theo.”

Cassius’s cold tone silenced the nanny. She froze.

“Are you saying you ignored my orders?”

“No, Your Grace! I wouldn’t dare! I was just worried about the young master…”

Cassius ran a hand through his hair, clearly uninterested in her explanations.
The nanny felt a chill. Cassius wasn’t even listening.
‘He’s fallen for that vile woman!’
She gasped for breath, refusing to give up.

‘There’s still a chance. I can fix this.’

Desperate, she pleaded with all her might.

“Your Grace, I’m truly worried,” the nanny began, her voice trembling with forced concern. “That woman, who calls herself the Duchess, might ruin Lord Theo… Theo…”

“Nanny,” Cassius interrupted her dragging words.
“Don’t interfere with Charlotte again.”

“W-What?”

“I said, don’t interfere with what Charlotte is doing. If you disobey, I will consider it as going against me.”

The nanny’s jaw trembled. She hadn’t expected such a response.

“Did you understand me?”

The nanny had no choice but to bow her head.
“…Yes, Your Grace. I understand.”

“Leave now.”

Cassius dismissed her coldly. Once outside, the nanny clenched her teeth in anger. Everything would be resolved once Charlotte was gone.
There were countless ways to get rid of her. No matter how noble or capable she was, Charlotte was just a young girl. She was no match for the nanny.

Stomping off, the nanny thought bitterly, I will make her regret crossing me when she’s thrown out of the mansion!

It had been several days.

Cassius watched the mansion where Theo’s laughter echoed. He had become used to this scene by now.

It was Theo playing with Charlotte. Despite the late hour, Theo was running around, sweating, playing hide and seek, and Theo ran over and clung to Cassius, laughing joyfully. His face, plump and rosy from fresh air, shone with happiness.

Cassius gently brushed the hair stuck to Theo’s forehead.

Though the hair had been cut unevenly by Charlotte, Theo had been thrilled, saying he felt like a prince.

“Big brother! I caught you! Now you’re the seeker!”

Cassius lifted Theo up and carried him on his shoulder. Theo squirmed and laughed out loud. Cassius couldn’t help but smile.

Things outside were becoming serious.

The snow beasts’ settlement had been found empty. Although it wasn’t their usual migration season, there were signs they had moved.

Cassius knew they needed to locate their new settlement before an attack occurred. Cassius had been on a strenuous journey for days.

In the past, he would’ve just collapsed into bed from exhaustion. But whether it was due to the effects of supplements or the joy from the child’s laughter,

He felt like his fatigue disappeared the moment he entered the house.

“Then we should find Charlotte first. Shall we go look for her together?”

“Yes.”

“Shh.”

Theo shrank into Cassius’ neck and hugged him. Snuggling up like a little squirrel, Theo rested his head on Cassius’ shoulder.

Theo smelled like sweat mixed with a savory scent.

Cassius unknowingly smiled warmly.