Chapter 29

“… I can’t remember any of them….”

“Wouldn’t he have gone back to his entourage after Duke Evendell was injured? A knight? Or maybe…”

Tennon, musing over this, glanced at Rashid. However, Rashid was calm and did not reveal his emotions.

“Send a letter to the Duchess.”

“Ok, I’ll have him do that and deliver it to the Ducal House of Evendell.”

“Peyton, what have you heard so far?”

Rashid, who was leaning his head against his desk, looked up in annoyance.

“It’s hard to reach her there.”

“Then where…”

Rashid picked something up from the table.

A small, pointed piece of wood.

Doubts, uncertainty, and a desire for victory showed in Peyton’s master’s bloodshot eyes.

“The dukedom’s deepest, most remote area, where one can enter and exit only by burying things like this.”

*********************

“Yes!”

The baby swan’s eyes were teary.

I couldn’t help but hug Haniel because for once, she had slept well.

“Baby, are you up?”

Yes, this is it! A hug that was cozier than the softest of clouds.

The best thing about adopting Haniel was that I didn’t have to hesitate anymore when I wanted to hug her.

As I closed my eyes and furiously rubbed my cheeks against her’s, Haniel burst into laughter; perhaps it was ticklish.

“Mommy? Mom?”

“Of course!”

“Isn’t it ticklish?”

“No, Mommy.”

I’d always wanted to say this.

I endured the feeling of seeing her tears long enough.

Nonetheless, my thrill didn’t last long due to someone who was overly practical.

“Madam, I shouldn’t say this, but you’ve only been having fun today.”

“Then you shouldn’t have said it.”

“Oh, I’ve been up all night thinking about it and I’m not sure I’m suitable for this.”

The dark circles under Selene’s eyes came down to her chin, possibly because she had stayed up the entire night.

However, Haniel didn’t run away and was still attached to her, so Selene accepted that she was already on the same boat as I.

“Don’t give up; I think Haniel’s already adjusted.”

“……Mommy? Mommy!”

“Oh, my God.”

“Madam, if you cry here, I’ll run away.”

This is such a touching moment.

However, as Selene had said, it was difficult for me, the mother, and Haniel, the daughter, to survive through this harsh world together.

Balance was also necessary.

“You know, Selene….”

“Just in case, please refrain from saying that the only person you can trust is a nanny.”

“Anyway, isn’t it amazing? Haniel didn’t say anything when I was a human. How did you recognize me?”

I carefully laid down Haniel, whom I held onto to regain my reason.

If you’re too much of a babysitter, it would affect the nanny’s job; I had to consider everyone’s positions, not just mine.

As for why? A good mother has to set an example for her baby!

“Haniel, tell me. How did you know I was your mom when I turned into this?”

“I smelled your scent!”

“Ah…”

Look at this! Look, the people of the lake, at our Princess.

I hugged Haniel again.

Do you hear this? You heard it! You heard it!

They were speechless and gasping at Selene, who now showed a grim face, saying, “There’s nothing more to be surprised about.”

“There’s no problem. I’ll need to make plans for her future first.”

“Kyak, kyak, kyak!”

“If you had a baby like this, wouldn’t you want to make plans?”

“Well, that can’t be.” Selene was about to peck my beak this time.

Now that I see it, she is more of a sister-in-law, not a nanny.

But what she said was wrong.

Raising a child with only love is absurd in any world. Isn’t Haniel a precious young lady who is the current princess and daughter of the late Emperor? I cannot neglect Haniel’s early education.

“…She needs to go to school first.”

“School? You mean Lady Melloe’s school of etiquette?”

“Where else? I’m torn, but I can’t help it. Though Lady Melloe is strict, no one is as cultured as her in the lake.”

I didn’t like it, but I had no choice.