Chapter 51

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 51

“Are… aren’t I dressed more flashy than the Queen?”

Marie asked Kentrail, taking advantage of the commotion.

“No, and it suits you well, what about it?”

Still, she looked around her with swaying eyes. She was relieved to see other people’s dresses so gorgeous.

Looking at her like that, Kentrail added.

“The Queen wore it not because she likes that type of dress, or because she’s setting an example.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s the King’s taste.”

“Oh…”

As soon as Marie heard those words, she felt rejected.

Because of the King’s taste, the Queen was the one who changed her own taste like that. If the Count told her that he wanted it, she wouldn’t do it. She was sorry, but she liked a man who acknowledged her own taste.

‘I can’t help it in this era.’

The Queen must have liked the Ling that much. She struggled to look at it positively.

As she turned her gaze again, she saw the duke’s greetings followed by the marquis’ greetings.

It was amazing. Marie really didn’t know that a scene like this would unfold.

The king, as it should be, sat with the Queen.

There, one by one, before going up the stairs, when they greeted each other, the King said a few words of encouragement. And, the pro-king faction was even called to his side and had a conversation.

Finally, it was Kentrail’s turn.

He gazed at Marie anxiously for leaving her for a moment.

“Go on.”

Marie, who can now roughly guess what he was thinking just by looking at Kentrail’s eyes, urged him.

“I’ll come as soon as possible.”

“Yes.”

He led Brielle towards the stairs.

Marie watched the scene with her siblings by her side.

‘You were such a shining person.’

He was not even discouraged in the presence of the King. He greeted. His dignified attitude shone more than any other aristocrats.

The King called Kentrail and talked for a long time. He frowned and nodded his head. Still, he occasionally turned his head to check on Marie and the children.

Seeing that, her chest tickled a little at the feeling of being protected by him. When he had finished talking to the king, he bowed his head lightly to the Queen.

And, when it was his turn, Brielle took a step back and said his greeting. It was Kentrail’s order to prevent him from being carried onto the King’s lap.

Far from being offended, the King laughed out loud.

Brielle greeted the Queen in the same way.

‘Uh….’

Even from a distance, Marie saw. The Queen’s expression passed by in an instant, but there was definitely sadness in it. She knew those eyes.

A long time ago, when she worked as a daycare teacher, one of the primary kindergarten teachers loved the children, but struggled with a recurring miscarriage. She always had those sad eyes gazing at the children.

“Ah…”

The Queen really can’t kill Brielle’s parents.

‘How can a person who wants and loves a child think of taking the child’s parents? Besides, she couldn’t look at him with those eyes if she had killed the Young Master’s parents.’

The Count was right. The queen was not guilty.

Marie looked at the queen for a long time until Kentrail returned.

“Is your sister okay?”

Before Marie went to greet the King, she looked over to Ellie.

“Yes, pretty.’

At that, the child smiled mischievously.

With Barry joining in, the three of them finished each other’s checking once again, and Kentrail called Marie.

Finally, it was their turn. Marie took the children and moved forward slowly. Even if she didn’t turn her head, she could feel everyone looking at them with curious eyes.

She tried to pretend to be calm and stopped at the beginning of the stairs. It was a place where people greeted the King and Queen.

As she greeted with the two children, Marie then raised her gaze and looked at the king.

Moments later, the King beckoned her to come up.

Every step Marie took was so heavy that she almost fainted. It was the two children, equally nervous, by her side that kept her going.

Eventually, she reached in front of the King.

“Thank you for inviting us, Your Majesty.”

As Kentrail said, she even said thanks. The first hurdle was over.

“Yes, you are the Count’s nanny.”

“Yes, I am. My name is Marie. The two children next to me are Barry and Ellie.”

“Marie. Fallen noble. What family descendant are you from?”

“It’s the Fiora family.”

“Fiora…”

The impression was that the king remembered what incident caused them to fall.

Marie, who did not know very well about the Fiora family, was nervous for a moment.

‘I hope he won’t ask any questions…’

For a while, she searched for the Fiora family in the study, but nothing was left of it, probably because it was a small family.

“Ah… I remember. There, the family head went out of business, and the territory and titles that were left were taken on the condition that the bonds are cleared.”

“Yes.”

And, all those who were wearing the surname Fiora became fallen nobles. It was a typical example of a wrong family head.

“There was a story like that.”

Marie wished this time would go by quickly. She was worried that she might make a mistake. On the other hand, the King, who did not know her heart, laughed as he watched Kentrail coming up from below to prevent the story from getting longer.

“Huh, he doesn’t have that much patience. Does he think I’ll eat you up?”

Following the King’s gaze, Marie glanced back slightly.

The Count was getting closer. She relaxed a little.

She felt reassured that he was by her side. As if it was with the two children, her stiff shoulders seemed to loosen a little.

“Didn’t you greet me before?”

“There must be a lot of people you’re yet to meet, but I’m here because you’re holding on to my person.”

The word “my person” shocked everyone.

Marie, who is the subject of the word ‘mine,’ stared blankly at Kentrail’s face, even in front of the King.

As he noticed her gaze, Kentrail turned his head before smiling brightly.

The appearance once again surprised those around him.

“Huh, you were a person who could smile, too. Haha, I haven’t seen it in a long time, so I forgot that fact.”

She had heard rumors in the Royal Palace that Kentrail’s expression wasn’t what it used to be, though she didn’t realize it until she saw it in person.

The King stared curiously at Marie, who gave him a smile. However, the chancellor took a step in front of Marie and covered her gaze.

“Send her quickly. People are waiting downstairs.”

Because of the urging, the King became even more curious about Marie. But now, he thought that if he revealed his curiosity, he might be bitten by that viper-like eye, so he struggled to send her away.

“There is only one reason why I invited you guys. I called you because they said that you are taking good care of the one and only nephew of my old friend with the utmost sincerity.”

Marie was internally surprised at the word “friend.” It was a story she had never heard from Kentrail.

Although as Kentrail was reminding that he was an enemy and not a friend, the Queen’s voice came.

“Your Majesty, please let me greet them now.”

She admired the voice as beautiful as the face.

At that, Marie, along with the children, quickly bowed to where the queen was sitting.

“Welcome.”

The Queen looked at Marie as she greeted her. Her gaze wasn’t pretty, but it was also for a while. She then turned her eyes to Ellie, who was standing next to Marie.

“Yellow suits you really well.”

Seeing the child, the Queen smiled happily. Ellie didn’t expect the Queen to compliment her, so she couldn’t even say thanks. Seeing this, the Queen smiled once more.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to be offended.

‘As expected, she is very interested in children.’

Seeing that, Marie loosened her boundaries a little toward the Queen.

Thus, the greeting of the three of them ended safely.

“Wow, sister, I want to eat that.”

As Marie gazed at the chocolate fountain, she told Ellie to eat and not get it on her clothes. She then said she could go.

Excited, Ellie ran to the fountain.

Marie did not take her eyes off the distant child.

Brielle was also seen following her to the chocolate fountain. After that, Taylor followed at the same time.

A glass was placed in front of Marie’s gaze as she watched the children. When she turned her head to find the one who held out the glass, she saw Eujes.

“Teacher.”

It was nice to see him in a place like this, and his voice rose.

“How are you doing?”

“Yes. The Young Master is over there.”

“I know. He’s excited.”

“It has everything kids love.”

From water droplets to chocolate, and various cookies and cakes just by a hand’s reach. The children were busy eating and holding plates.

“Drink.”

Eujes handed Marie the glass once more.

“Oh, I don’t like drinks.”

Even though it was the Royal Palace, they were conscious that they were in a dangerous situation. So alcohol was absolutely forbidden.

“Ah. I guess you’re not drinking.”

He picked up the cup and gave it back to a passing attendant.

“I’m sorry. I’m already nervous about coming to the Royal Palace, so I’m going to refrain from drinking.”

Marie gave a reasonable excuse.

“No. Of course, you may not drink.”

Saying so, Eujes smiled so that she wouldn’t be sorry, then picked up the other glass the attendant was carrying and handed it to her.

“This is non-alcohol.”

“Oh, thank you.”

She brought the drink to her mouth. It was a lemon-flavored drink. It was sour but refreshing and worth drinking.

“Sister.”

And, as she drank another sip, Ellie came over with her own plate.

“Did you only take enough to eat?”

“Yeah. Of course.”

Ellie, who answered her sister, first took a fork of one of the loaves and put it in front of Marie’s mouth.

“Ah~”

Marie, moved by Ellie’s cuteness, opened her mouth and took the bread, and ate it.

“How is it?”

“Hmm, it’s delicious. Maybe it’s because you gave it to me.”

Ellie confirmed that her sister was eating deliciously, and she started eating it herself. She dipped it in chocolate from the chocolate fountain and even tried the cookies. All were delicious.

“Huh? Teacher Eujes.”

It was only when her stomach was filled with a certain amount of pleasure did she see him.

“It’s been a while, Ellie.”

“Thank you for saving me last time.”

“I’m glad you’re okay. I received the letter you sent me.”

Ellie, who was talking warmly with Eujes, quickly scanned around.

Looking at her, Marie wanted to know why the child was suddenly doing it.

‘He’s over there. He’s looking this way, too.’

The person Ellie was looking for was Kentrail.

As she had guessed, the Count was looking at this place with eyes full of jealousy. It was interesting in itself.

Finally, Kentrail started walking towards them.

“I’ve been away for too long.”

“No, the King suddenly called you.”

He tried not to vacate Marie’s side as much as possible, but after greeting the nobles, the King suddenly called him.

Marie kept telling him to go, so he went lightly. Still, he didn’t feel good because it felt like a fly flew in through that gap.

“Count.”

Eujes, who did not know his thoughts, greeted with a sad expression on his face.

When he saw Kentrail, he thought he would see Kentrail more often after he became an official, but the people joked, telling him that seeing him at the Palace would be like picking a star in the sky.

“If you frequently met in the hallway, it would be that you’re not doing anything.”

Seeing that he was with Marie, the words were slurred to the point of being childish. Kentrail spat out the words and glanced at her.

Ellie put the scene in her eyes and smiled.

This kind of conversation happened several times.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────