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Chapter 6
“Nanny.”
The moment Father’s voice and expression changed, every servant in the room froze.
Except for one person—the nanny.
“Yes, my lord. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of—”
“Since when has this been happening?”
“Pardon?”
“When did you start correcting my daughter’s manners?”
The nanny, desperate to escape the situation, didn’t notice what Father was actually asking.
Or maybe she did—and just pretended not to.
“Well, I’ve always been the one taking care of the young lady! So I’ll handle it again this time. I’ll take her to her room and give her a proper scolding—”
The confident tone in her voice made Father scoff.
“What business is it of a nanny’s whether my daughter is well-mannered or not?”
The gentle voice that everyone knew was gone.
What came out was the voice of a completely different person.
“My lord?”
“If anyone saw this, they’d think you were her mother.”
“N-no, my lord, that’s not what I—”
The nanny, realizing that things weren’t going the way she expected, waved her hands frantically and bowed her head.
But the kind, patient man everyone knew—my father—was no longer there.
Something that never would’ve happened before… was happening now.
“Has it always been like this?”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Have you always been the one blaming my child for everything?”
The nanny hesitated, clearly unsure what to do, and then tried to defend herself.
“Well, since the young lady doesn’t have a mother, I didn’t want her to grow up spoiled, so yes, I may have been a bit strict. But it was all for her own—”
Her mouth moved faster than a motor.
But the faster she talked, the harder Father’s expression grew.
I found this scene fascinating.
Who would’ve thought that gentle, soft-spoken Father could look like this?
Guess living twice really lets you see everything.
“When I first hired you,” Father said slowly, “I was looking for someone who would take good care of my daughter.”
“I-I did take good care of her!”
“I see. I didn’t notice until now because Amanet never said much… but it seems I was mistaken. I asked you to care for her—not to overstep your place.”
The nanny’s face went pale. She shook her head desperately, denying reality.
“N-no, my lord, I truly did my best. I really did.”
“And this”—Father’s tone hardened—“is the result of your best? That a mere nanny thought she could treat the daughter of a marquis however she pleased?”
“I-I didn’t mean—”
“Oh? Then say it. Tell me I’m wrong.”
The nanny’s lips trembled. She couldn’t lie. Finally, she bowed her head.
“Go on. Say it.”
“I truly did my best, my lord. Maybe some things didn’t come out as I intended, but I did everything for the young lady’s sake.”
“The process doesn’t matter. Only the outcome does. The process is what matters to children still learning. But right now, what matters is the result of your actions.”
Her lips quivered.
“But the young lady liked me, my lord. She did. So, in the end—”
“Enough.”
Father’s words cut through her excuses like a knife.
“No more lies.”
“It’s not a lie—!”
That was the moment his temper finally snapped.
“Get out.”
“…What?”
“I said get out. Before I change my mind and have you dragged out.”
At that, the attendants who had been standing back all stepped forward.
The nanny’s face crumpled. She bowed her head.
“I’ll take my leave, my lord.”
“She’s not your master,” Father said. “Your master is Amanet. So pay your respects to her.”
“Yes, young lady. I’ll be leaving now.”
I gave her the brightest smile I could and waved enthusiastically.
Just to make it clear that I had no hard feelings—at least on the surface.
“Okay! Goodbye, nanny!”
Her face froze, but she had no choice. She bowed once more and left.
Father sighed softly, then looked at me.
“For now, Amanet, you can decide what happens with the nanny later, but…”
But of course, he wasn’t someone who’d act on impulse. I already knew that.
He couldn’t just throw out the nanny without a replacement ready.
“What?!”
“Well, as much as I’d like to do it right away, you’re still a child, so…”
“So what?”
“For now…”
I glared at him, eyes wide.
That seemed to scare him a little—he flinched.
And just like that, the stern marquis vanished, and my usual timid, daughter-loving father returned.
“Uh… shall we go eat?”
“What about the nanny?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Okay! I’ll trust you, Dad!”
I threw myself into his arms, burying my face against his chest.
I knew it wasn’t possible to replace the nanny immediately. But I wanted to push him a bit.
A little whining could go a long way.
Father let out a helpless laugh and started walking, still holding me in his arms.
“My beautiful daughter.”
“Yup! I know I’m pretty!”
Maybe it was because the nanny was gone, or because everyone was nervous after what had happened earlier,
but the servants all kept their distance, following behind us quietly.
Father walked for a while, then lifted me up a little to look at my face.
“Amanet.”
“Yes, Dad?”
“I’m sorry.”
“…Huh?”
His hand, large and warm, patted my head.
That hand—how long had it been since I’d felt it?
After he died when I was fifteen, I’d never felt that warmth again.
I’d missed it so much.
But his expression was full of guilt.
“I really am sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing, Dad?”
“I never imagined the nanny would treat you like that. I should’ve paid more attention. My smart Amanet… is that why you said you wanted to change her?”
He sighed deeply, looking so remorseful that it almost hurt to see.
“I should’ve realized sooner. I’m sorry.”
I wanted to tell him he was right—but what kind of eight-year-old would say something that calculating?
He’d only worry more.
He’d think I’d changed because of him.
Dad had done his best.
He was just new to being a father. He didn’t know better yet.
So I just had to play the role of a normal child.
I widened my eyes and shook my head quickly.
“No, that’s not why!”
“Oh?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Dad!”
I grinned up at him.
“Then why did you suddenly want to change nannies?”
“Because she never gave me chocolate! Hehe! I like chocolate almost as much as I like you, Dad! I hope the next nanny gives me lots!”
If I acted like a normal child, Dad wouldn’t worry.
“That’s why?”
“Yup!”
“Heh. My little girl… I’m glad you’re smiling. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything soon.”
Father finally smiled again.
So I didn’t push any further.
He was too trusting.
That was both his charm—and his biggest weakness.
It made him easy for me to handle, sure,
but it also made him easy for others to use.
That’s probably why Grandmother had turned him into her puppet.
I felt a pang of frustration.
I’d have to teach him how to spot liars someday.
As I made that silent promise to myself, we reached the dining room.
Father seated me beside him, then sat down himself.
As if on cue, delicious-looking dishes began to fill the table.
“Let’s eat!”
My cheerful voice rang through the room, and the meal began.
When I was little, I used to eat with Dad like this all the time.
But as I grew older, those moments became rare.
After the twins came to live with us, I started resenting him.
I avoided family meals altogether.
He wanted us to be close, so he always brought them to dinner.
Whenever I peeked into the dining room and saw them there,
I’d just quietly turn around and leave.
I’d seen the hurt look on his face. And I’d ignored it.
If I’d known…
If I’d known those moments wouldn’t last forever,
I would’ve eaten with him more.
Even though I’d already lived one life, I’d still made the same mistake—
believing that time with him would never end.
After he died, I couldn’t bring myself to eat in that dining room ever again.
So now, seeing him feed me bites of food with that warm smile…
It felt strange—
but so, so good.
