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Chapter 23
No way—no matter how tired I was! I can’t believe I dozed off here!
When she opened her eyes and saw that she was still at the Duke of Douglas’ estate, it was clear this wasn’t a dream.
Shiver. Feeling a chill, Erne quickly sat up and tidied her messy hair.
Thankfully, the room was empty.
‘What time is it? Are the kids up?’
Falling asleep at the home of Windsor, Shuknenn’s guardian, was deeply embarrassing to Erne.
She could feel the heat rising to her face.
‘I should check on the kids’ rooms first…’
The long hallway was blanketed in a cold, heavy silence.
Since the sun was up, it didn’t seem like too much time had passed.
Erne let out a small sigh of relief and clutched her chest.
“Oh. You’re awake, Miss.”
As she was walking and trying to recall the way to Shuknenn’s room, Huger’s voice called from behind her.
No one had been around, so when a familiar face appeared, Erne turned around with a bright smile.
“H-Huger! By any chance, are the children and the Duke…?”
“Master Shuknenn and his friends just woke up and headed to the dining hall for lunch.”
At Huger’s words, Erne finally relaxed.
She had come as a guardian for Selene and Ash, and yet here she was, falling asleep and abandoning her charges—what kind of tutor, no, what kind of teacher does that?
She seriously began to question her qualifications as an educator.
“I’ll guide you there.”
Choosing not to reject Huger’s kind offer, Erne quietly followed behind him.
‘Why do things always go awry when I meet that schemer?’
Though everything seemed peaceful, not a single day went by without some complication.
‘Parent meetings really are the hardest…’
Erne sighed, shaking her head at herself.
When the dining room door opened, she saw the children joyfully devouring the delicious food before them.
“Oh! Teacher’s here!”
Selene, who had just taken a huge bite of meat, was the first to spot Erne and ran straight over.
“Selene. Didn’t I teach you not to leave your seat during meals?”
At Erne’s gentle but firm tone, Selene looked sheepish and quickly scurried back to her seat.
“T-Teacher, eat with us!”
“Did you sleep well?”
Ash’s question was innocent enough, but when Shuknenn spoke up, Erne’s face flushed red.
‘He knows I fell asleep…’
She wanted to be a dignified instructor, but the reality was that she had fallen asleep right along with the children—a completely irresponsible teacher.
Erne sat down with a gloomy expression.
“I-I wasn’t asleep, you know…”
She knew it was a poor excuse, but her pride wouldn’t let her admit it.
Hearing her weak protest, Shuknenn snickered and pushed his bell peppers to the side before stuffing a juicy piece of meat into his mouth.
‘D-Did Shuknenn just laugh at me?’
Erne was overwhelmed with shock.
Children, at the very least, were geniuses at detecting lies.
“How are you feeling?”
The voice belonged to Windsor, who had been dining with the children.
Yes, that Windsor!
Erne’s previously downcast face immediately twisted into a glare.
Lately, her fatigue was entirely thanks to that man—Windsor, who looked like a villain and behaved like a nightmare parent.
“Duke. We have a lot to talk about, don’t we?”
Erne ground her teeth. She had a mountain of things to say about the so-called “family doctor.”
That quack had turned her, a perfectly healthy woman, into a terminal patient.
She swore to herself she wouldn’t let it go.
“I feel the same. Let’s talk after the meal,” Windsor said, nodding toward the children enjoying their food.
Following his gaze, Erne nodded in understanding.
There was no need for the children to hear the adults’ conversation.
“This is your steak, Miss.”
Once their silent agreement was settled, a gleaming, juicy steak was placed before Erne.
The smell made her mouth water. The meat looked thick and tender.
Without hesitation, Erne took a bite.
‘Damn. Why is it so good?’
Falling asleep was embarrassing, but the meat she was eating after waking up? Absolutely divine.
Then again, meat was always good.
They say even Mount Geumgang is best after a meal—so first, food.
She was so focused on the meat that she didn’t even notice the way Windsor was watching her from the side.
＊＊＊
“I’m telling you, he’s a quack!”
“Hanter has served the Duke of Douglas household for a long time.”
“So frustrating. I’m completely fine and healthy!”
Erne spoke firmly while watching the children play hide-and-seek in the estate garden with Windsor beside her.
“There’s no chance of a misdiagnosis. He’s a capable physician.”
Windsor’s repetitive response made Erne feel like she was talking to a wall.
“Hanter will prepare medication for you. Take it with you when you return home.”
“No… I know my own body better than anyone…”
How did a simple outing turn into a medical check-up?
Erne rubbed her spinning head.
No matter how many times she insisted she was fine, Windsor refused to believe her.
Eventually, she gave up trying to explain.
She let out a long, hot sigh, and Windsor’s persistent gaze swept over her like a searchlight.
His intense stare made Erne take a cautious step back.
She had grown wary—he seemed ready to fuss over her every move.
“Why are you looking at me like that? You’re not going to spill juice again, are you?”
Every action Windsor took seemed suspicious. At least to Erne.
She subtly inched backward with her teacup in hand, just in case he did something strange again.
“I told you earlier… I thought it was tea.”
Windsor mumbled in a tiny voice, clearly crestfallen at Erne’s suspicious reaction.
He knew why she looked at him that way.
“Even if it was tea, it was probably lukewarm. You said so yourself—you’d just come back from putting the kids to bed. And then you mumbled nonsense about juice being hot…”
Erne wasn’t fooled by Windsor’s blatant lies.
“…Haha. Miss Ellen, you’re very suspicious by nature.”
“Wouldn’t you be? Spilling orange juice and calling for the family doctor over it…”
Even recounting his ridiculous antics made Erne trail off in disbelief.
Windsor, now embarrassed, scratched his head and looked off into the distance.
‘That man is unbelievable!’
Erne fumed at his shameless attitude.
She was no longer afraid of him, no matter how much of a villain he was rumored to be.
To her, Windsor was now nothing more than a problematic parent—no more, no less.
“Princess.”
“I get scared every time you call me now.”
“You’re even good at jokes. Is there anything you’re bad at?”
“Understanding you, maybe.”
If a sword and shield had human forms, it would be these two.
Not wanting to continue the childish banter, Erne mumbled darkly.
Meanwhile, Windsor completely missed the gloom in her tone and beamed proudly as he watched Shuknenn leading the kids.
“My doll is stronger! Ash, you be the villain. Villains are always dumb anyway.”
Childish, but cutting words echoed across the garden.
Normally, Erne would’ve jumped in to scold them, but her silence prompted Windsor to glance at her.
He was debating whether to speak or not—he’d gone back and forth dozens of times.
Finally, he mustered his courage.
“Erne.”
“Yes?”
She lifted her head in surprise, lost in thought moments before.
Her unfocused, blank gaze strangely calmed him—like a kind of magic.
Even her dazed expression looked cute to Windsor, who murmured with a soft smile:
“If you ever need something… if you need help with anything… use me. Use the Duke of Douglas. Use me, Windsor Douglas.”
Once the words were out, he felt proud of himself. He looked at Erne expectantly.
Lost in thought, she looked somewhat touched—at least, that’s what it seemed like.
But Erne? Absolutely not. Even Shuknenn, still swinging a branch like a sword, could read her unimpressed expression loud and clear.
With a sigh, Shuknenn let his shoulders slump.
His father had no idea just how pained Miss Ellen’s expression had become, and it was just plain embarrassing.
＊＊＊
“Well then, thank you for today.”
“Not at all. You’re welcome to use the Douglas estate anytime for outings like this.”
Erne flinched and shook her head vigorously.
If she agreed, he’d just say something weird again—she could feel it.
‘He’ll probably start talking about using him again…’
Erne shuddered at the thought and quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, Shuknenn’s asleep.”
In the carriage, Shuknenn had dozed off.
Luckily, Windsor didn’t seem suspicious about the abrupt topic shift.
Instead, he smiled awkwardly as he looked at the sleeping boy.
“He was the first one up from his nap earlier. Must be tired.”
“That’s right—you said you didn’t make him nap, didn’t you?”
For a growing child, naps were essential to proper development and health.
Erne’s expression turned questioning as she recalled Windsor’s words from earlier.
“I tried, but he’s incredibly stubborn. Since he was little, Shuknenn’s had a weak heart. He often fell asleep because he was sick or because of medication.”
“…”
“He’s much better now, but back then, he spent most days lying in bed. He got sick frequently, not just with his heart.”
So that’s why… Erne looked at the sleeping Shuknenn with teary eyes.
She admired his strength—it must have been tough enduring so much pain at that age.
“I think now that he’s somewhat recovered and can live normally, he tries not to nap. Maybe he hated those times when he couldn’t do anything but lie down, so now he treasures every waking moment.”
Gasp. Erne covered her mouth with both hands.
She had been about to scold Windsor for not giving him a nap—only to be blindsided by this touching story.
All those days bedridden… and now, he doesn’t want to waste time sleeping…
Erne sniffled, trying her best not to burst into tears in front of a parent.
“I’m just glad he’s healthier now.”
“Yes. He’s improving steadily. Not completely, but since meeting Selene and Ash and playing with them, he’s brightened up a lot. That’s all thanks to you, Miss Ellen.”
Windsor’s heartfelt gratitude made Erne glance between him and Shuknenn.
They didn’t look exactly alike, but their expressions—the haughty attitude and signature gaze—were a perfect match.
‘Like father, like son. Two peas in a pod.’
Maybe he got his looks from his mother’s side.
That’s what Erne figured as she looked at Windsor with misty eyes.
But now, it was time to say goodbye.
“Well, thank you for bringing us back. Be careful heading home before it gets dark.”
With a soft smile, Erne gave Windsor a small bow.
She hurried to wrap things up before the emotional moment could drag on.
‘If I don’t end it now, we’ll be stuck here for another hour!’
She wasn’t scared of him anymore, but Windsor was still exhausting for other reasons.
After all, it hadn’t been long since he went from being a “scheming parent” to a “difficult one.”
“Once you’re inside, I’ll head off as well.”
At Windsor’s words, Erne nodded reluctantly.
When she turned around, Windsor was still staring at her.
His gaze was so intense that her heart skipped a beat for no good reason.
