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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: A Visit to Daniel Dawson
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He seemed completely smitten, but I decided to play along for now.
“I heard about Nina from the Young Lord. He was so worried about her that I couldn't help but be concerned as well.”
*Perfect, that sounded natural!*
*Now all I have to do is ask if I can look after Nina in Kivrin's place…!*
“Oh, you can come to see Nina anytime. I already told Viscount Rose it was fine.”
“…”
“I was a bit taken aback at first when he suddenly appeared and asked with such a scary look on his face. Haha.”
The jealousy of an otherworldly being disguised as a nanny was truly something else.
In the end, I set off for Baron Dawson's residence with Rose the next day.
When I told her I was going with ‘Viscount Rose,’ Winter surprisingly agreed without hesitation.
Inside the carriage, which rumbled along as listlessly as I felt, I let out a sigh.
“I didn't expect to be going alone with you, without even an escort.”
Rose scoffed.
“Why would you need something like that when you're with me?”
*Something like that?*
“Why? Are you going to be my guard?”
“If I feel like it. Besides, the Duke and Duchess said, ‘As long as the nanny doesn't see the Young Lord as a monster, anyone will do.’”
Rose said nonchalantly.
*Hmm. So at the very least, Winter and Menelik must know that Rose is no ordinary person.*
I recalled the conversation I had with Kivrin this morning.
“R-Rose isn't that bad of a kid.”
“…Putting aside the fact you called him a ‘kid,’ is his real name actually Rose?”
“His adoptive mother g-gave it to him. She told him not to c-cause any trouble… so he said he'd behave.”
Kivrin had implied that even if Rose disliked me, he wouldn't cause me any direct harm.
*Alright, well, for Kivrin's sake, I'll try to make an effort.*
I gave Rose a bright smile.
“I see. I'll be in your care today.”
“Hmph.”
*…Unbelievable.*
Soon, the carriage came to a stop at our destination.
I stepped out of the carriage before Rose and was left speechless.
Baron Dawson's residence wasn't a manor; it was just a house.
A one-story house with a front door that was half-falling off its hinges and creaked loudly.
“…”
*Even most commoners probably live better than this…*
Rose crossed his arms and offered his impression.
“He's certainly spared no expense.”
*On what, exactly?*
I rubbed my eyes.
Then I spotted a gleaming leopard cage next to the shabby house.
A bandaged leopard was sprawled out inside it.
Rose narrowed his eyes.
“We've seen it. Let's go back now.”
He was cutting his losses way too quickly.
“Let's at least give him the housewarming gift.”
“Do you really want to go into that house?”
“It'll only be for a moment. You threatened him with a scary face, and now you're going to act like this?”
Rose grumbled and walked toward the house, which looked like it was on the verge of collapsing.
I was starting to understand why Kivrin had called him a ‘kid’.
Daniel welcomed us so warmly it made me feel guilty.
He had only one servant in his house.
“These are very precious tea leaves. Thank you, Your Ladyship.”
Rose immediately tried to turn away.
“Well then, we should be…”
*Tsk.*
I nudged Rose with my elbow.
Fortunately, Daniel was too engrossed in examining the tea leaves to hear what Rose was about to say.
“I'll go brew some tea, so if you could please wait a moment?”
“Of course!”
I replied cheerfully on purpose and sat down at the table with Rose.
Rose whispered quietly.
“Are you really going to drink it?”
*He's dropping the formalities now.*
“What's wrong with it? Mera picked out these tea leaves. They're really sweet even without milk. For the Young Lord's sake, you should try being a well-mannered guest.”
*Kivrin would be so thrilled to hear we saw Nina and left in less than five minutes.*
Rose frowned.
“There's a strange noise coming from the ceiling. I think there are rats.”
*I'm the future Duchess, so why does it seem like you had a more pampered upbringing…*
He was truly a disappointing otherworldly being.
He lacked the extraordinary qualities of the main characters in **, so I was slowly starting to underestimate Rose.
A moment later, Daniel brought the tea.
The color was beautiful and the aroma was lovely, which made my eyes widen, but the taste was even better.
“Wow, this is delicious!”
“Haha. I'm quite good at brewing tea. My professors were particularly fond of it, so much so that they didn't want to let me graduate…”
*Oh, dear.*
Faced with such a tragic backstory, my lips twitched.
Rose, as if giving in, took a sip of the tea.
“How did Nina get hurt?”
Kivrin must have told him the treatment method before he entered the Snake Pit.
*That means it was at least a year ago, yet she's still bandaged.*
“She was attacked by a magical beast.”
Rose raised an eyebrow.
“What kind of beast?”
*…Rose, could you at least pretend you're not an otherworldly being unbound by the rules of high society?*
The kind Daniel answered earnestly.
“I don't know the specifics. It managed to find its way here even though a large chunk of its flesh had been torn off. I helped its mother give birth, and I suppose it remembered my scent from then.”
“…”
“I thought for sure it was going to die. It was in that bad of a condition. But… the medicinal herbs the Young Lord told me about were effective. It seems like it will still need a few more months of treatment, though.”
“Strange. Magical beasts prefer humans to animals. As their main course, of course.”
Rose said, as if it had nothing to do with him.
*Excuse me!*
Daniel reassured me as I shivered in fear.
“Don't worry, Your Ladyship. The Duchy doesn't allow magical beasts to attack people. I've also been giving regular reports on Nina's condition to the Duchess.”
I swallowed hard.
*I don't want to worry, but surely Rose's true identity isn't a magical beast, is it…?*
Daniel changed the subject.
“Did you know? Nina isn't the only one; most animals are unusually fond of the Young Lord. That's why I think he'll become a truly great head of the family.”
“…”
I glanced at Rose.
He seemed to think I was seeking his agreement.
“Well, I'm not so sure. He hasn't even… yet.”
And Rose's words were drowned out by the sound of someone banging on the door.
“Daniel! Open the door!”
*To think there could be a guest ruder than us.*
Daniel excused himself and stood up.
I was dumbfounded when Rose's face lit up and he gestured for us to leave while we had the chance.
“Dewey? What are you doing here without any notice?”
“This time it's for real! I caught something much rarer than a leopard bitten by a magical beast!”
*Huh? What could that be?*
Since it wasn't a large manor, I could hear their conversation perfectly.
My curiosity piqued, I was about to peek my head out.
Suddenly, Rose pulled me in, trapping me by his side.
Unable to move, I was about to protest when Rose muttered first.
“Can't even recognize a magical beast? What an idiot.”
“A magical beast?”
*The kind that eats people for dinner?*
“It's staying quiet for now since it's just me and you inferior humans, but it'll show its true nature if a proper human comes near. Still, it's a low-class one, so there's no need to subjugate it.”
I rolled my eyes.
*But what's with this behavior?*
*He hates me, so why is he protecting me?*
*Besides, he's practically screaming that he's not human!*
I asked, just to test the waters.
“So, the beast isn't wary of you because you're not human?”
“That's because…”
Suddenly, Rose leaned his face in close.
“You, you use honorifics even with the maids, so why do you keep speaking informally to me?”
*Is this really the time to be picking a fight about that…*
“You're the one who dropped the formalities first. You even told me to get lost.”
“Right. So get lost.”
I was overcome with indignation.
“What did I do wrong for you to hate me so much?”
“The very fact that you're leeching off the Duchy is what's wrong.”
“But my last name is already Nectarian.”
“Get a divorce.”
“…Listen, divorce between nobles isn't that simple, you know?”
I retorted, trying my best not to look at Rose with pity.
Rose was relentless.
“That's not my problem. Get out of the Duchy. And don't misunderstand. I'm also saying this for your own good.”
“You think I'll believe you if you say it like that?”
I wrinkled my nose.
Rose's mental age was definitely younger than my physical one.
*I'm starting to want to call Rose a ‘kid’, just like Kivrin does.*
*Maybe ‘Viscount Rose's’ good reputation at the Duchy is just the result of some trick he pulled?*
“You… you like the Young Lord?”
“Of course I like him.”
“If I get a divorce, are you going to marry him?”
I pouted.
Rose was horrified.
“Have you lost your… no, what did you eat… that's not what I meant! I'm his guardian! I became his guardian to repay a debt of gratitude! Guardian! Caretaker! Nanny! Don't you ever say something so disgusting again! I'll kill you!”
*He's making such a huge fuss when he could have just said no.*
