CH 37

"What about Veron?"

"He must be dealing with the young masters. They are young masters of families specially selected as Claude-nim's close friends, so we cannot neglect the waiting time."

"What about Ronda?"

"Head maid-nim is helping Claude-nim get ready."

"It's a big deal. I can't believe Ronda, not you, is helping Claude prepare."

"Head maid-nim told me to learn how to treat my master again under Sarah-nim. So…..."

"Okay."

While answering Sarah's question, May secretly looked at her. Originally, it was May's responsibility to help Claude prepare for small things, but after being kicked out of the place, the head maid was reluctant to let May approach Claude's side. It was because she noticed that it was May who made Claude reject Sarah. Although May avoided doing the chores and laundry that she used to do at Sarah’s mercy, it was her will to stay by Sarah's side. It was difficult to deal with the superior who watched her every move with suspicious eyes.

'If you want to ask for forgiveness from Claude-nim, you have to be by Claude-nim's side.'

May wanted to serve Claude again somehow. It wasn't because she wanted Claude's favor, to go along with the same momentum as before. It was because she wanted to make up for her mistake even a little, as she was caught up in her jealousy and tried to wield it as if to avenge a small child. So May was going to do her best to make an effort for Claude by Sarah's side.

"Umm, Sarah-nim."

May's voice calling out to Sarah was very cautious. Sarah, who was walking while looking forward, answered without looking back at May.

"What's wrong?"

"Did you know everything about the young masters who are meeting with Claude-nim right now?"

"Of course. It's the young master of Viscount Naven’s family, the young master of Baron Yugen’s family, and the young master of Count Pable’s family."

Viscount Naven, Baron Yugen, and Count Pable were all children of nobles, who were considered the most prominent in the political world. Originally, the young master of Marquis Bollun, who was in line with the First Prince, was included in this meeting.

However, recently, when the First Prince was stripped of his right to the throne due to his inappropriate conduct, Marquis Bollun closed the family door and retired. As a matter of course, his son, the young master of Marquis Bollun’s family, also failed to participate in today's meeting today.

"Why are you asking that?"

At Sarah's question, May began to pick out what she would say for a moment in her head. She pondered for a moment, and then she said in a cautious voice.

"I'm worried that Claude-nim might not be very interested in the meeting, since the young masters are older than Claude-nim."

"I heard that they already had met before I came. It's a little late for you to worry about it now."

Sarah stopped walking and turned to look at May's face, making eye contact. The moment May was caught in her straight gaze and transparent eyes that seemed to know everything, she was suffocated.

"If you have something to say, don't turn it around and say it yourself. I like it more."

"Yes."

May blushed and shook her head as if she had been caught trying to choose her words well somehow. It seemed that she still couldn't hide her habit of using shallow tricks.

"I don't think they're suitable for Claude-nim to befriend."

"Why do you think so?"

"First of all, Claude-nim is 6 years old this year, and all of those young masters are over 10 years old."

"Is that such a big deal?"

"Yes. I play with Claude-nim a lot. When you grow up, you can't help but draw a line."

May's insinuation of not choosing words was very straightforward. It was something she could say because May had been closer to Claude than anyone else.

"Does the butler and the head maid know that?"

Sarah did not ask whether May’s statement was authentic or not. May replied with a little excitement because Sarah seemed to trust her.

"They don't know."

At May's answer, there was a weak incontinence in Sarah's forehead.

"How can they not know?"

"The young masters are so clever, would anyone dare to think that they are "playing" with Young Lord Ambrosia?"

"How did you notice?"

"......I've been beaten up a lot when I was young, too. I've been beaten by my entire family."

Sarah pondered for a moment as she heard May's bitter voice fade. As she watched Claude was down all day today, she had her own guess, but it seemed that the situation was more serious than she had thought. It was fortunate that May was so quick to judge the situation and had told her so blatantly.

"Good job."

Sarah patted May on the shoulder and continued to move forward.

"......!"

May followed Sarah with a brighter face.

***

"Ugh…..."

Claude headed towards the garden almost as if being dragged by the hand of the head maid Ronda. Claude's face contorted even more when he saw the noble young masters playing chess on the table prepared in the distance. The noble young masters, who were several years older than him, were candidates for Claude's friend, who came from all over the place to establish a relationship with Ambrosia. It was because they wanted to build relationships from an early age and become strong friendly forces for each other when entering the academy or going into the political world.

"Claude-nim, you can't make mistakes this time. You know that Duke-nim has different expectations for Claude-nim from before, right?"

Ronda whispered a word of encouragement into Claude's ear, who was blatantly expressing his dislike. Everyone in Ambrosia knew that the relationship between the Duke and Claude had subtly softened after Sarah came to this mansion. Ronda hoped that Claude would receive a lot of recognition from the Duke this time and be reborn as the true successor of Ambrosia.

"What about Nanny?"

While being led by Ronda's hand, Claude looked around looking for Sarah. The Duke of Ambrosia first recommended unconditional rest for Sarah, who had been lying in bed for a long time after the First Prince's stabbing incident. Therefore, Sarah had been partially absent from Claude's schedule recently. However, Claude, who had never longed for his nanny as much as this time, rolled his eyes anxiously, looking for Sarah's feverish brown hair again and again.

"She'll be down soon. So, Claude-nim, please feel safe and welcome the young masters first."

As Ronda whispered that, Claude seemed relieved and tried to relax. However, when a fishy smile appeared on the faces of the noble young masters who had found their prey for a while, Claude's face had no choice but to harden again.

"I've waited a long time, Young Lord Claude Ambrosia."

Their leader, the young master of Viscount Naven’s family, Ruth Naven, came forward and reached out to Claude as if to shake hands. There were three noble children who approached Claude. Led by young master Ruth Naven, who was 13 years old this year, was Alorde Pable, the young master of Count Pable, and Billion Yugen, the young master of Baron Yugen, who turned 11 this year.

"......"

Claude squeezed Ronda's skirt tightly and stepped back. The child's little fist trembled, turning white. When the young master of Viscount Naven saw this, a smile that swallowed a sneer appeared on Ruth's lips.

"You ignore my greeting every time I see you."

When Ruth Naven said so with a smiling face, Veron's face hardened. Ruth Naven, who was 13, was the oldest young master invited to Claude's social gathering. Since he was very intelligent and knowledgeable since childhood, he was expected to become a promising young man in society as he praised and boasted to the point where people’s mouths were dry. If Ruth Naven had the impression that Claude, the Young Lord of Ambrosia, was rude, rumors could have spread badly about Claude, who had not even entered the official social world yet.

"The Little Master is a little shy of strangers. He didn't mean to be rude, so I hope Young Master Naven can understand him with a broad heart."

Veron spoke for Claude's position in a soft voice. He seemed to be worried that it would harm Ambrosia's reputation even a little.

"Can't I not know that?"

Ruth Naven coughed a little as if he was displeased with the butler who interrupted him. Somewhere, when adults expressed their displeasure, he picked up coughing and imitated it, as if he was pretending to be an adult. He knew he should imitate an adult enough to slowly enter the social world. In other words, the time was approaching for him to be called a young man.

"Of course, the brilliant Young Master Naven must know this. I said this because I was afraid that you might be offended, so please understand."

"Of course."

Veron skillfully matched Ruth Naven's immature behavior. If he was to be active in the social world, rumors about Young Lord Ambrosia could have steered from the tip of Ruth Naven's lips until Claude grew up. Therefore, it was better to adjust it appropriately and crack down on it so that no words would come out in society in the future.

"I'll deliver the feelings of the butler to my father! Haha!"

Ruth Naven smiled proudly when he saw Ambrosia's butler who satisfied his needs. He felt as if he were being treated greatly by Duke Ambrosia’s family. If it was the Duke of Ambrosia, his father would be very pleased when he told him. Viscount Naven wanted to hear in great detail how his son was treated and what he had done in the Duke of Ambrosia’s mansion. And it soon became his pride and spread throughout the social world.

"My father also said that I should be kind to Young Lord Ambrosia, even if he lacked something."

Veron's smile slightly went down at Ruth Naven's words.