CH 14

Although she made a commotion in the Duke of Ambrosia's mansion, blowing up the doors, the Empire remained silent. It could be so quiet even though a magician appeared in the Empire after decades.

'If they could sell this information anywhere, they would be able to earn enough money to live on for the rest of their life.'

Sarah saw the loyalty of the sẻvants of the Ambrosia family once again. Of course, there may be other reasons that are not entirely loyal.

"Is this how you do it?"

"Yes, that's right. You're good at it."

"Umm, but Nanny please do it one more time."

"Oh my, you've already checked five times."

Sarah had been spending time with Claude since early in the morning. This was because today was the first day Claude and the Duke decided to have breakfast together. After waking up from dawn, Sarah put a table in the child's room and taught him a class on table etiquette.

"It's not like that…... It's the first time I'm eating with Father."

Claude blushed and bowed his head. No matter how many times he practiced, the child was trembling and nervous. He checked the time over and over again.

"I'll be watching over you, so don't be too impatient."

Claude grabbed the tableware with his two tiny hands. Sarah could see that the tableware was about to slip because he was sweating from tension. She could understand Claude's fear that he might make a mistake and make his father dislike him more. However, if he kept getting nervous like this, he would really make a mistake.

Sarah pondered for a moment as she watched Claude, who was about to practice until the end. Then a good idea flashed through her mind.

"Young Master Claude, would you like to make a bet with me?"

"A bet?"

Claude's eyes, which were staring at the tableware intensely, headed toward Sarah. Sarah pinched her arm for a moment at his rabbit-like appearance with his ears pricked up.

"I asked the kitchen and they said that today's menu is freshly baked bread, beef stew, and fresh salmon salad. As usual, the food should come out in order, but…… They said that they will skip the order and serve all the dishes at the same time for the busy Duke."

"Really?"

For a moment, Claude, who was memorizing the order of the tableware tailored to the course, had a complicated expression.

If the food doesn't come out in order, how should I eat it?

Since he had never eaten like that before, the boy's face quickly turned into tears.

"Young Master Claude, what do you think the Duke will eat first? Bread? Stew? Salad?"

"Hmm, Father is…..."

Claude forgot that he had been thinking about table manners before and was lost in thought. Claude, who put his hand on his chin and was serious in his own way, was cute. His Sara couldn't stand it this time and placed her hand gently on the child's head. The thin, soft platinum hair gently intertwined with her fingers, and the feeling was exquisite.

Claude had no idea how seriously he was contemplating, nor did he know that Sarah was stroking her hair. Claude lifted his head as soon as Sarah let go of her hand after enjoying this little bliss.

"Bread!"

"Bread? Why do you think so?"

"The chef always served the bread before meals! So Father will eat bread first, too!"

Claude exclaimed confidently. Looking at the sparkling eyes, Sarah smiled brightly.

"Then I'll bet he will eat the salad first."

"Okay!"

"If Young Master Claude wins, I'll make you something worthy of praise from the Duke today."

"Really?"

At Sarah's words, a pretty blush appeared on Claude's cheeks.

"Of course, I don't lie."

Sarah nodded with an arrogant look and raised her chin. It looked so reliable that Claude came down from the chair and pulled Sarah's hem.

"Let's go quickly, Nanny."

"Yes, Young Master Claude."

***

When they went down to the dining room together, the servants were wandering around frantically. Everyone looked busy because their Master and Young Master were about to have the first meal together. They placed a vase on the table and put fresh flowers in it to create a bright atmosphere, as Sarah had told them in advance. Upon hearing Sarah's opinion, the butler and the head maid could not contain their admiration and praised her until their mouths were dry.

'Young Master Claude will be very happy.'

'Master will be a little awkward, though.'

The old-fashioned dining room that seemed to suppress something for some reason wasn’t good for the child's emotions. That was why she tried to make a little change, but Sarah was satisfied because the atmosphere seemed to be warmer than before. As expected, it was right for a house with children to be lively like this.

"The Duke hasn't come down yet."

"Yeah…..."

Claude looked around slowly to see if the brightly decorated table was awkward. The old-fashioned but dreary restaurant that didn't look like it was inhabited was turned upside down in one day. This first sight was made by the hands of the nanny. It was strange to see such a change overnight, so Claude became unfamiliar with the mansion he had lived in all his life.

"......"

Claude saw a cushion on his chair that looked big and fluffy no matter who looked at it. He had a chair tailored to his height, but it was so hard that it always hurt his butt. However, he thought that if he complained about being hurt for nothing, he would not be an adult, so he endured it.

"Did Nanny order this?"

"Yes! What do you think? Do you like it?"

Claude stared at Sarah without answering. Whenever he made eye contact, she smiled. Whenever he talked to her, she laughed, haha, hoho.

After getting seriously ill a while ago, even the servants avoided him, being afraid of getting sick. Sarah, who treated him without any signs of difficulty, was unfamiliar. It was unfamiliar, she didn’t let him do things on his own, and she listened to him well. He felt something pounding in his chest.

"Good job."

Eventually, Sarah smiled brightly at Claude’s murmur, who turned his head away with his red cheeks.

"Master is coming down."

At that time, the butler announced the Duke's appearance in front of the stairs leading down to the dining room. Then, the busy servants rushed to the front of the stairs at once and stood in a line. Claude also followed the servants and walked towards the stairs.

Ethan, dressed in a neat angular uniform and neatly swept up and fixed his platinum blonde hair, seemed to protrude from the picture.

"Ah."

Ethan slowly descended the stairs and found Claude and Sarah standing behind him.

"You came early. Countess Millen."

"I have to be diligent to always be by Young Master Claude's side."

Sarah bowed down and whispered gently into the child's ear.

"Say good morning to the Duke."

"Can I do that?"

"Of course."

Sarah grinned and patted Claude on the back. Claude, taking a step forward rigidly, looked up at the Duke from afar and opened his mouth carefully.

"Good, good morning, Father."

At Claude's greeting, Ethan paused for a moment and stopped walking. He could see a look of anticipation on the child's pale face as he looked up at him with blushing cheeks. Ethan looked at Sarah standing behind Claude. Sarah smiled at him like that. After a moment of wrinkling his forehead due to the awkwardness, the Duke sighed heavily and nodded his head.

"......Yes, good morning. Claude."

So Ethan passed the child and sat down. Claude, who had been stiff in the meantime, turned his creaking head to look at Sarah.

'Good job.'

A faint smile formed on Claude's lips as Sarah whispered to him. When the Duke sat at the table first, Claude followed him and sat opposite the Duke. Sarah calmly stood behind Claude.

"......?"

Ethan slightly narrowed his brow as he looked at Sarah standing behind Claude with the servants. The butler, who quickly noticed his Master's discomfort, brought a chair and put it next to Claude.

"This is the seat of Countess Millen."

"Let's eat together. If you stand there, I don't feel good."

The Duke offered Sarah a seat as if it were natural. It was not a formal offer, but a genuine one. However, Sarah shook her head and refused.

"It's okay. I'm Young Master Claude’s nanny, not a guest."

"However, isn't Countess Millen’s position different?"

"I appreciate the kindness, but I don't want to be treated any more than Young Master Claude's nanny in Ambrosia in the future."

Claude thought that the nanny who confidently said everything in front of his father looked a little cool. After Sarah formally refused, he couldn't offer it anymore. Ethan sighed quietly and picked up the tableware. At the same time, Claude and Sarah's eyes twinkled and shined.

"......?"

What was that?