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Chapter 34
She didn’t even realize how she had left the conference room.
It had been fine to meet her and hear her opinion, but the mention of days off had instantly put him on edge.
Even though he knew she had been giving up her own rest to take care of Fleur, the thought of Maricel leaving the grand ducal house made him uneasy.
He knew this conversation would eventually happen, but he wished she wouldn’t bring it up.
Even though it was just a visit to her family home, the anxiety of her potentially leaving his side was unbearable.
Morgan was astonished at how much he had changed in just a few months.
If he tried, he could force himself to be satisfied—but it would be meaningless. And he didn’t want to.
Morgan wanted her completely—her body, her heart, and her soul, entirely devoted to him.
‘Even with this, I’m this anxious… what kind of confidence is this?’
He scoffed at the once-so-confident version of himself.
This anxiety nearly ruined everything.
He had been angry that she didn’t trust him, yet he hadn’t expected that anxiety could manifest as aggression.
He had scared Maricel and made her step back.
He had meant to look impressive, yet ended up acting foolish. Morgan couldn’t help feeling ridiculous.
‘Did she see my face?’
It was already the second time his face had flushed in front of her.
The first time had been at night, so she probably hadn’t noticed—but this time, she certainly had.
‘Sigh… a grand duke, and he’s blushing like a fool.’
He even regretted not simply telling her the truth—that as the nanny of the grand ducal heir, she could become a target of their enemies.
But paradoxically, he didn’t want her to know.
If she felt burdened and decided to abandon the position or leave the grand ducal house, that would be far worse.
‘I’ll have to make sure the guards are thorough.’
“Lovely young lord, it’s time to get up.”
Fleur was unusually slow to wake today.
I gently stroked Fleur’s cheek and pulled back the blankets.
“Maricel, can’t I sleep a bit longer?”
Fleur scrunched his eyes shut and tugged the blanket over himself in protest.
“No. Today is the day you meet your tutors for the first time.”
I tugged the blanket again and smoothed Fleur’s back.
Then I flung open the curtains and windows.
The fresh sunlight and moist morning breeze rushed into the room at once.
Outside, flowers, trees, and chirping birds seemed to celebrate this new meeting, filling the room with a peaceful energy.
“Today is going to be a wonderful day, young lord.”
Facing Fleur with the window at my back, I smiled warmly. The young lord groaned but slowly got up.
Sitting on the bed, he stretched and rubbed his eyes, giving me a slightly resentful look.
How adorable he was.
I hurried over, kissed his forehead, and pulled the blanket off completely.
“Come now, there’s no time to dawdle. We must hurry, young lord!”
There was much to prepare to make a good impression on the first day.
Look at my little one… isn’t he cute? I hope everyone will take good care of him—that was the thought in my heart.
I washed him, fed him, and dressed him.
Normally, I prioritized practicality and comfort in his clothes, but today was special, so I paid extra attention.
I paired dark blue suspenders with a luxurious white blouse adorned with frills on the collar and sleeves, finishing with a blue bow tie that matched Fleur’s eye color.
The goal was to highlight both his cuteness and intelligent image.
No matter what he wore, he looked refined, but today he looked especially so.
I also coordinated my outfit with his.
I wore a white and blue dress, styled my hair neatly, leaving a few strands loose for a comfortable touch.
“All ready! How do you feel, young lord? Nervous?”
He was about to meet four strangers, not familiar grand ducal staff, for the very first time.
How could he not be nervous?
“A little… nervous…”
Hearing him admit it was actually a relief. If he had said he wasn’t nervous, it would have worried me more—he might have been hiding his tension.
“Shall I tell you a secret, young lord?”
“Hmm? A secret? What is it?”
His curious eyes blinked at me.
“I’m nervous too.”
“But… you’re an adult, Maricel. Why are you nervous?”
The child blinked innocently, tilting his head.
“Even adults get nervous before a first meeting. You wonder what kind of people they are, and hope they’re kind. That’s why.”
“Wow… adults get nervous too… But… my uncle has never been nervous once.”
A question mark appeared on his face. I smiled faintly but couldn’t laugh openly in front of my child idolizing their invincible uncle.
“Well, maybe it just doesn’t show. Until you knew I was nervous, you wouldn’t have noticed, right?”
“Ah… true…”
Fleur’s eyes wandered slightly, still not fully convinced.
Of course. It’s hard to imagine his idol, the invincible uncle, ever being nervous.
“But your uncle probably wouldn’t get nervous about this. I, however, am nervous.”
Finally, the child’s expression relaxed.
I couldn’t help but smile faintly.
“Well then, I think you’re ready. Shall we go, young lord?”
He nodded energetically.
We shared a bright smile and then headed to the reception room.
Even though we left early on purpose, the room was empty, just as expected.
The reception room…
It felt nostalgic.
The place of that miraculous success after a near failure at the interview.
‘It was close, but we made it. And now, I’m acknowledged.’
Only a few months had passed, yet it felt distant, proof of how fiercely I had lived.
Taking care of Fleur had also given me affection for the grand ducal house.
Now that I thought of it…
This would be the first time seeing Morgan since the conference room!
It had been surprising, thankful, and pride-inducing when he called me “my person.”
He didn’t easily include anyone in that category.
Once someone became “his,” Morgan would protect them to the end. That was why the knights of the grand ducal house were so loyal to him.
And now I was included—how could I not feel proud?
‘I also felt oddly protected, a sense of belonging, and a strange loyalty when he said I was “his person”…’
In a way, my lifeline had been extended a little.
‘Such a grateful person…’
Creak—.
“……?”
The reception room door opened, and a group entered led by Morgan.
Fleur and I rose from the sofa and stepped aside.
Morgan, as always, wore just a white shirt and pants—comfortable, casual.
Yet even in this casual attire, he exuded authority, standing out among the group.
“Greet them.”
Morgan glanced at me, Fleur, and then the tutors, speaking alternately.
First, a middle-aged woman in a calm navy dress stepped forward, her demeanor literary and refined.
She was the eldest woman, so she must be Baroness Veronica Zevia.
“Fleur Ergana Yohaim, I am Veronica Zevia of the Zevia Baron family. I will be responsible for your writing lessons.”
Her greeting conveyed the calm and experience typical of a mature woman.
“Nice to meet you, Baroness Veronica Zevia.”
Fleur responded with the poise befitting a grand ducal heir.
“Fleur Ergana Yohaim, I am Riley Rendon, eldest daughter of the Rendon marquis family. I am honored to be your grammar tutor.”
Lively Riley greeted with a shy smile. She looked charming.
‘Does she have a fiancé?’
It was surprising that such a pretty woman was unmarried.
‘I’ll ask when I get to know her better.’
Fleur responded as usual.
Next, the silver-haired, slightly graying Elias Xavier stepped forward and bowed.
“Fleur Ergana Yohaim, I am Baron Elias Xavier. I will be responsible for your history lessons, covering both imperial and world history.”
Despite his aged appearance, his voice was strong and spirited, like that of a young man.
‘Indeed, one stays young when doing meaningful work.’
Finally, a man with silver hair and gray eyes stepped forward, bowing slightly.
“Fleur Ergana Yohaim, I am Kaden Ryder, second son of the Ryder count family. I will be responsible for your common language lessons. I look forward to working with you.”
His silver hair, gray eyes, and pleasant mid-range voice gave him a mysterious aura.
He looked handsome and sharp—probably popular—but he was still unmarried.
A second son from a count family…
‘He must be picky.’
Lost in thought, she unconsciously met his gaze.
Their eyes locked.
‘Why?’
Then she realized: since he was last, it was a cue to introduce herself beside Fleur.
“Nice to meet you. I am Maricel Manuah, daughter of the Manuah marquis family. I am Fleur’s nanny and will be taking care of him. I look forward to working with you.”
