CH 102

"Let's see, my baby, let's see how big you are."

Penelois removed Elexa from her arms for a moment, then looked around and scanned the child's body. The child grew up day by day, and it was sad that she was missing those moments. It was a choice they made to be together, but the more she went on, the more she wondered whether this was the right thing to do hundreds of times.

"I left you like this...... what on earth am I doing?"

Penelois was examining Elexa with tears in her eyes, then Sarah and Claude, who were quietly watching them from the other corner, entered. Startled, Penelois pulled up Elexa and hugged him.

"Who, who are those people......"

"He’s my friend!"

"Friend?"

At Elexa's explanation, Penelois's eyes widened. Because a child who was locked up in this mansion couldn't possibly have any friends. His nanny, Crassida, also never told her that Elexa had a friend.

"Hello, I'm Claude Ambrosia and I'm a friend of Elexa."

Claude came down from Sarah's arms and greeted Penelois. Sarah looked at Claude's polite introduction with a pleased look.

"Ambrosia......? The son of Duke Ethan Ambrosia?"

But when she heard Claude's name, Penelois looked pale and restless. The weight of the name Ambrosia was very significant. Penelois, who was originally a slave from another country, knew Ambrosia.

"My, my Elexa and Young Lord Ambrosia are friends."

She shook her head in disbelief. A person of power who was just and beautiful, and even the Emperor of the Empire couldn’t take care of him. The son of that Duke of Ambrosia had a relationship with Elexa. She couldn't believe it even when she saw it with her own eyes.

'The platinum blonde...... looks so much like Ethan Ambrosia in the portrait.'

If it wasn't for that platinum blonde hair, the symbol of Ambrosia, she would never have believed it. Penelois, who was staring blankly at Claude's face, opened her mouth hastily as if she had suddenly thought of it.

"How did you get in here?"

Penelois couldn't hide her anxiety and gave Sarah a wary look. Not only was the security tight, but it was almost impossible to get in here as she was being monitored. Didn't the knights rush into the room just because Elexa's small voice was heard until just a moment ago?

"Why at times like this the knights......"

Now, even though she was having such a conversation with Elexa, the knights were quiet. If it was normal, as soon as Elexa called her, the knights would come in and drag him out. Sarah stepped forward and said, as she was in a situation that was sufficiently alert and misleading.

"I think I can explain it to you."

"Who are you?"

"Greetings, Penelois-nim. My name is Sarah Millen.”

Upon hearing Sarah's name, Penelois narrowed her brows, trying to remember who she was. But none of the nobles she studied with the information she received from the Third Prince was Sarah's name. Not surprisingly, she disappeared 6 years ago and had just now resumed her standing.

"I’m the little head of Count Millen’s family, and the nanny of Claude-nim."

"Ah."

Only then could Penelois recall what she had heard from the Third prince. For the first time in the history of the Crombell Empire, a Lady, who was never married, was said to be recognized as a Little Countess? Penelois, who had a feeling of near longing at the time, looked at Sarah with a new look.

"I brought Elexa-nim into Penelois-nim's room."

Sarah generated mana from her two hands and drew a white world tree symbolizing Ambrosia and a birch tree symbolizing Count Millen’s family in the air. At the mysterious sight, Penelois stiffened with his eyes wide open.

"Magician......"

The astonished voice of Penelois flowed slowly. A magician in a fairy tale, or in the mouths of luxury men, appeared before her now. The magician that even the Emperor of the Empire couldn’t easily meet.

"I used a magic spell so that the sound inside the room could not be heard outside. So, even if you scream freely, the knights won't know."

"......"

"You know how we got in here, don't you?"

The figure of Penelois, who opened her mouth blankly, was exactly like Elexa. Sarah bowed her head, bent one of her knees, and politely apologized to Penelois.

"I'm sorry for coming in like this without your permission."

"Ah, that, no, it’s nothing......"

Seeing Sarah being overly polite, Penelois waved her hands helplessly. If she was really the Little Countess of Millen and a magician, Penelois could not be rude to Sarah. Although she was the Third Prince's lover, she was a commoner in the Crombell Empire. Moreover, although it was covered with her hair, the seal of the slave was clearly engraved on the nape of her neck. Penelois unknowingly wiped the nape of her neck and narrowed her brows.

"No, it's true that I was rude. Such an unannounced visit to a lady's bedroom. Whoever it is, you'll be offended."

"......"

Sarah again politely apologized. Seeing her face, Penelois knew that she was genuinely sorry for her. Penelois looked at Sarah's face with a very strange feeling. Sarah was a magician with a higher status than anyone in this mansion, and she was the one who the Imperial and royal families on the continent wanted to bring over. It was very unfamiliar for her to have Sarah bow her head like that. At this moment, she felt like she was really recognized as a noblewoman and a companion to the Third Prince.

'Does this woman know who I am? Will her attitude change if she knows that I was a slave from another country?'

Penelois bit her lip nervously. She was too humble compared to the people of Ambrosia.

'Penelois, this mansion is for you. You are the master of this place, and you are the noblest. So, please, don't lower yourself. No one here would be rude to you.'

'You're me, and I'm you. No matter how hard I try, I think of you when I'm discouraged. An insult to you is an insult to me. And no one could insult the prince of the Crombell Empire. Don't forget it.'

'You are my lifelong companion. Have confidence, Penelois.'

Penelois consciously tried to recall the words of her lover, Third Prince Eleon. This was a mansion for her, but other servants and knights, including Elexa's nanny Crassida, subtly looked down on Penelois during the day. The way they scrutinized her up and down, the way they quietly ignored her opinions, and the way they acted without regard for her feelings. There were things that she could understand even if she didn't like them. Even now she was in a position where she could neither see Elexa nor speak to Eleon at will. Even though she was being monitored in the name of protection, she could not even properly protest. Because she didn't want to hold Eleon back.

"If you know who I am, you won't say that."

"I know. I know you're the lover of Third Prince-nim, and I know you're the mother of Elexa-nim."

"......!"

Sarah smiled softly as she looked at Penelois, whose eyes widened in surprise. Strong status systems existed in countries on this continent, including the Crombell Empire. Even in the Crombell Empire, where slavery was illegal, the differences in status were very strong. Sarah couldn't even imagine the pain that Penelois, who had lived as a slave in a foreign country, would suffer. Unlike Sarah, who had the memories of Park Hyeyeon, she was Penelois, who had been taken for granted all her life. Even if Sarah were next to her and respected her as a person regardless of her status, Penelois would not believe her. She would probably live her whole life thinking about her status. She couldn't help feeling bitter at the thought of it. So Sarah comforted Penelois at this moment with the most reassuring words.

"Let go of your old identity. Penelois-nim is the companion of the Third Prince and will become a member of the Imperial family in the future. You must be aware of your new identity to be able to protect Elexa-nim in the future."

"......Elexa."

Penelois's eyes looking at Elexa in her arms became a little firmer. Her desire to protect the child was making her stronger little by little. Seeing this, Sarah smiled and spoke again.

"Will you excuse my rudeness just now?"

"I'll forgive you. Because you made it possible for me to see Elexa."

Sarah was able to smile pleasantly as she made eye contact with Penelois, who offered forgiveness with a slightly relaxed face. Penelois gently stroked Elexa’s hair, then looked at Sarah and bowed her head slightly.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

Sarah waved her hand and spoke softly. She seemed to get good scores from the future Empress.

"And thank you for taking Elexa to me. I haven't seen my child's face in a really long time."

"Claude-nim said he couldn't stand by and watch Elexa-nim, who missed his mother."

Sarah clearly appealed to Claude's meticulous and warm consideration. In 'Flower of Darkness', they had a confrontational relationship, but since he became friends with Elexa, she wanted them to have a good relationship.

"Thank you for your concern, Young Lord Ambrosia."

Penelois looked at Claude standing in front of Sarah and thanked him. Then, perhaps shy, he wriggled his hand and answered in a low voice.

"No, I'm happy that Elexa is happy."

Sarah added with a smile at the heartwarming sight.

"I'll pay you back for my rudeness today. Please think that bringing Elexa-nim is part of the price."

"......?"

Looking at Penelois tilting her head curiously, Sarah remembered the existence of Crassida Orlin beyond this room. For Claude's smooth friendship, she must deal with the fox carrying the tiger on its back.*

*refers to the act of bluffing by borrowing the power of another or wielding power beyond one’s own.

__________

T/N: Sarah’s full title is Little Countess Sarah Millen, as her father, the Count, hasn’t passed away yet. Thus the part "Little". When translating, I omitted the "Little" part because it would be too long of a title, imagine people calling her Little Countess Millen-nim. Plus doing so wouldn’t change the fact that she’s a Countess, and wouldn’t cause any major change regarding the plot. So I hope everyone can bear with my small change. Of course, I’m open to any suggestions and opinions about this, so if the major wants to stick to the full title, I’ll edit other chapters.