HWSDR | Chapter 006

Chapter 006

Furthermore, the results of the investigation conducted by Mrs. Eurain, by assigning a maid to monitor Diane, revealed that she had never properly cared for Hayden.

Hayden was left alone most of the time, neglected in his room.

Even when Diane was with him, she was preoccupied with what she wanted to do and paid no attention to the child.

The maid who was monitoring Diane said hesitantly:

“It seems the Young Master is a strong person, Mrs. Eurain; it is as if he has been struggling to survive alone all this time.”

This was enough to make everything clear.

However, Mrs. Eurain realized that speaking of such matters would be of no use with that brazen woman, so she decided to confront her with the language of numbers and statistics.

“Ten thousand beak for the dress, and thirty thousand beak for the jewelry, in addition to three thousand beak for skincare.”

Mrs. Eurain recited these numbers with an expressionless face, then added:

“Do you need to hear more, or will you leave now?”

Diane raised her face, which was stained with makeup because of her tears.

“Furthermore, it turns out you stole the professional experiences of others. How long did you think you could deceive Vereidan?”

“M… Mrs. Eurain.”

“Go to the Countess of Yotley and wait there; a decision regarding you and the Yotley family will be issued soon.”

Mrs. Eurain informed her of this with chilling coldness.

The family of Count Yotley were the ones who had recommended Diane as a nanny and helped her forge her previous experiences.

During the investigation process, the fact that the Yotley family had been reaping financial profits of unknown origin throughout that period was uncovered.

Most of the noble families in the South owe their loyalty to the Vereidan family, the owners of the land.

And Vereidan, in turn, owes loyalty to the Emperor.

From a close perspective, what they did was a deception of the family of Duke Vereidan, and from a distant perspective, the matter was no different from deceiving the Emperor himself; therefore, it was never possible to overlook this matter.

Only then did Diane realize the reality of her situation, and she burst into tears of terror.

* * *

Mrs. Eurain, the head butler Oliver, and the first aide Bogus gathered in one place.

Ceres looked at them and then passed his hand over his face in distress.

“I truly feel ashamed, and I cannot look at your faces.”

The three bowed their heads before Ceres’s cold words.

Ceres was blaming himself, but his words were also directed at them because they had not realized the truth about Diane until now.

“We apologize, Your Grace; I should have checked the matter myself.”

“Have you uncovered all those involved?”

“We are investigating everyone who received even a single coin from the Yotley family.”

Bogus said that in a tone filled with guilt, then added:

“I apologize, Your Grace; we have also confirmed the disappearance of the other witness who guaranteed the nanny’s identity, and it is said that he has not appeared in the South since he gave his testimony.”

Mrs. Eurain bowed her head as well.

But Ceres knew well that blaming them alone would not solve the problem. This was Ceres’s mistake too; had he not caused the child to be placed in danger?

Such a matter must never be repeated, and for this reason, this meeting was held.

“We need a new nanny, but you….”

Mrs. Eurain was married, but her husband died early and she has lived alone since then, and she had never raised a child.

As for Oliver and Bogus, although they were married and had children, they were far removed from matters of child-rearing.

After being deceived once, they no longer had a desire to employ someone unless they were completely trustworthy.

And what about Ceres?

He does not even know the correct way to hold an infant.

While they were tracking the trail of the Countess of Yotley, they searched for new candidates for the position of nanny, but they did not find the right person.

After that shock, it became difficult to trust anyone, and the brilliant experiences of the candidates and their backgrounds seemed suspicious.

“We will continue to search for new candidates, Duke; I will conduct the investigation myself this time without relying on recommendations.”

Bogus spoke with determination.

“But the idea of introducing someone new again does not put me at ease.”

Mrs. Eurain said with a dark face; the wound of betrayal had left a deep mark within her.

“There is no guarantee that what happened will not be repeated again, Your Grace. What do you think about searching for someone from within?”

“But Madam, whom can we trust? Who knows who might deceive us again; we must be extremely cautious.”

Bogus said that, and Ceres asked:

“So, what do you think?”

Oliver hesitated a little before answering Ceres’s question:

“What do you think about asking for the Duchess’s help instead? We use the Duchess’s help temporarily until we take sufficient time to find the right person, for the Duchess was the first to notice the nanny’s corruption.”

“But she is from the Hegest family.”

“The aide’s words are correct, but are all those who belong to Hegest alike? Look at her way of dealing with the Young Master.”

Ceres’s thoughts sank into Oliver’s words.

Roana, Roana.

Ceres remembered Roana as she held Hayden, who was stained with flour soup, in her arms.

She did not care about her dress being stained with food; rather, she carried the child and made him burp skillfully, then wiped his face gently with a soft handkerchief.

After that, she was teasing him with a voice full of affection.

‘Do I look like food to you?’

“Ma! Mama!”

‘Ah, you must have proper supplementary food first; how do you live while eating this?’

Hayden, who was difficult to please, was laughing loudly as if Roana had pleased him, while Roana was smiling as if she had no other choice.

Roana was undoubtedly friendly toward Hayden, and Hayden was also very friendly toward her.

Hayden had never laughed with such a face before Ceres at all.

It was amazing to see that little one, who used to cry at the mere sight of him, embracing Roana and wiping his face stained with saliva on her chin.

Could he think of a better alternative than Roana at the current time?

“What is the probability that Roana would approach Hayden to find the opportunity to harm him?”

“She did not seem like a person who possesses such qualities.”

“I will monitor her well.”

Both the head butler and the head of the maids added their opinions in succession, while Ceres thought of Roana again.

Although she is the daughter of Hegest, Roana was not like them; if she truly belonged to Hegest, she would have tried to kill Hayden instead of taking care of him.

Furthermore, Roana was isolated here, and because of the nature of the people of Vereidan, most of them were repulsed by her for being from Hegest.

Therefore, Ceres concluded that it would be very difficult for Roana to build her own power to inflict harm upon Hayden.

When Ceres reached this conclusion, he finalized his decision.

“It is better that I speak with Roana first; I will speak to her myself.”

“If you intend to do that, then I suggest you ask the Duchess for another request.”

Mrs. Eurain said cautiously:

“I mean the family of Count Yotley; it has been a long time since the Count’s death, and it would be better socially for the Count’s family to be dealt with through the Duchess instead of Your Grace imposing direct suppression upon them.”

There was an unwritten rule that the affairs of ladies are settled among themselves; if Ceres intervened, he might be subjected to criticism even if the wife of Count Yotley was wrong.

Countess Yotley was deeply rooted in high society, and people tended to sympathize strongly with the poor widow.

Mrs. Eurain pointed to this point, saying:

“Is it not better to avoid unnecessary criticism? In addition, Countess Yotley is an expert and has long influence in the high society of the South, while on the other hand….”

Mrs. Eurain sighed and added:

“Vereidan lived without a lady of the house for a long time, as if it were an outcast from the society of the South throughout the period of the mistress’s absence; for this reason, we were not able to hear the rumors about Diane, and if we do not act with caution, we may be subjected to an attack from the society of the South, so it is better to make the Duchess the one who moves public opinion there.”

She meant that regardless of the facts, the Yotley family could use public opinion to gain votes of sympathy.

Ceres gritted his teeth hard; Mrs. Eurain’s observation was in its place, and this was something Ceres was thinking about as well.