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Chapter 48
“Good morning, Teacher! Did you sleep well last night?”
Shuknen greeted energetically as he opened the door and entered, giving Erne a polite bow with his hands over his belly.
Erne squinted, still not fully awake, and offered an awkward smile at Shuknen, who had burst in so suddenly.
That greeting was something she had once taught children in Cheonghakdong.
“Haha. Hello, Shuknen. Did you sleep well?”
As Erne habitually opened her arms toward him, Shuknen promptly ran over and hugged her without hesitation.
“I’m so happy you’re staying at our house. Was there anything lacking?”
“Lacking?”
“Well, the pillow might’ve been the wrong height, or maybe the blanket didn’t feel nice?”
“……”
“If you don’t like anything, just say the word. I’ll have it all replaced!”
Nestling into her embrace, Shuknen puffed out his chest proudly, as if to say he’d handle everything.
“So this is what it’s like being on your home turf.”
Seeing how much bolder Shuknen was compared to how he’d been in Cheonghakdong, Erne could only smile awkwardly, at a loss for words.
“Hmm?”
Erne finally glanced around, having been too focused on Shuknen to notice her surroundings.
They were gone. Both of them. She was sure she had fallen asleep with Noma and Rivera last night.
“Looking for your friends?”
“Huh?”
How did Shuknen know about last night?
As Erne stared at him in surprise, Shuknen hopped down from her lap and said,
“They’re in the dining room. I was told to wake you up so you could join them.”
“Already?”
Checking the time, it wasn’t particularly late.
Realizing everyone except her was waiting in the dining room, Erne quickly got out of bed.
“Teacher, I’ll wait in front of the door until you’re dressed.”
Shuknen’s voice was unusually cheerful today.
Before the door closed, he added in a smug voice:
“I won, Teacher.”
“Huh?”
As Erne hesitated while pulling out the indoor dress Windsor had hurriedly prepared for her, Shuknen proudly held up two fingers in a V-sign.
“I won rock-paper-scissors to be the one who gets to wake you up!”
“……”
With that final triumphant note, the door closed behind him.
Then the maids who had followed him in quickly surrounded Erne, offering warm water and assistance with her clothes.
Even as she received their help, Erne couldn’t shake off her disgruntled mood.
“Why are they playing rock-paper-scissors over who gets to wake me up?!”
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“You’re all mean. You could’ve just woken me up.”
Erne pouted slightly as she joined Noma and Rivera in the dining room.
To think they’d leave her out!
Noma gave a sheepish smile at Erne’s discontent.
“Well…”
She hesitated, casting a subtle glance toward Windsor.
Thanks to the Duke glaring daggers at them last night, Noma and Rivera couldn’t dare mention that they’d actually slept in a different room.
“Her Highness was sleeping so soundly. I figured you were tired from everything that happened, so I asked them not to wake you.”
Seeing the twins struggling to answer, Windsor stepped in. Erne, unsuspecting, shyly bowed her head in gratitude at his thoughtfulness.
Windsor’s kindness often flustered Erne, even with her second-life experience.
“But still…”
As she trailed off, overwhelmed with embarrassment, Windsor simply gave her a gentle smile.
Soon, maids began setting the table with plates of delicious-smelling dishes.
“Let’s eat before the food gets cold. It’s a rare chance for the three of us to dine together.”
Windsor skillfully changed the subject.
Erne slowly picked up her utensils, exasperated by his morning flirtation once again.
She knew exactly what he was doing—deliberately excluding Noma and Rivera from the family dynamic. It was shameless and embarrassingly transparent.
“Best to just play dumb in moments like this.”
Nothing is wiser than pretending not to know.
“Thank you for the meal.”
As soon as Erne picked up her utensils, Shuknen followed suit. Watching this display of manners—something she had taught herself—Erne silently marveled.
“Yes, children truly are the future of Nesheld.”
Kids learn quickly when taught. Realizing her educational philosophy wasn’t wrong, Erne felt a little emotional.
“Mmm, this soup’s really good.”
Noma also savored the mushroom soup, enjoying a warm breakfast.
Looking around the lively breakfast table, a smile naturally formed on Erne’s face.
It wasn’t quite Cheonghakdong, but it was far more peaceful than the Nesheld royal palace.
It was exactly what she wanted: normal moments shared with good people.
Of course, thinking of her father, Marquis Demian, would dampen her mood—but she brushed it off easily.
Other than the clinking of cutlery, there was no conversation at the table.
The one to break the silence, of course, was Windsor.
“After breakfast, I’d like to request some of your time, Princess.”
“Me?”
“Yes. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
Who? Erne was curious but agreed for now.
Then Noma raised her hand.
“Why?”
“I was thinking of stepping out today.”
“…Shouldn’t you be going back by now?”
This isn’t your house, and I’m just a guest here too. Her sharp gaze said it all.
Noma pouted at the direct hit, while Windsor—who had been glaring suspiciously at Shuknen for eating a tomato—spoke up.
“The Princess will be staying at the Douglas residence for the time being.”
“What? Is that really okay?”
She was the only one unaware of this arrangement. Though her voice remained polite, her eyes clearly questioned their sanity. Yet all three simply nodded.
Just what kind of deal had happened between them while she was getting dressed?
Her suspicious eyes landed squarely on the twins.
Hmmm. She let out a long nasal breath, but they didn’t even flinch under her gaze.
Something was definitely up between the three of them, but she couldn’t figure out what.
“So, Noma. Where are you going?”
“Huh? Oh, just… nearby. Got some errands.”
It was such a bland and short answer that it only raised more suspicion.
Sure enough, she avoided eye contact.
Finally, quiet Rivera spoke up.
“I asked her to do something for me. Don’t be too hard on her.”
With Rivera stepping in, Erne decided to let it slide.
As the adults talked, Shuknen gently reached for Erne’s hand.
“Hm? What is it, Shuknen?”
Turning to the sudden warmth, she found his small hand covering the back of hers.
“I want Teacher to stay with us forever.”
The straightforward, honest words of a child starved for affection poured out without hesitation.
Even though he now knew her true identity, Shuknen had run straight into her arms the moment he saw her yesterday.
It had tugged deeply at Erne’s heart, and she now stroked his head in silence.
“If there’s anything you need, just tell me. I’ll get you everything.”
It was hard to believe such words came from an eight-year-old.
Erne stifled a laugh and nodded.
“Yes. I want to stay with you every day too, Shuknen.”
It was an innocent white lie—reality made it nearly impossible, but she didn’t want to ruin his sweet childhood dreams.
His face lit up instantly with hopeful joy.
As she smiled at his beaming face, she had no idea this would be the last peaceful meal before the storm.
Unaware that a whirlwind day awaited her, Erne helped Shuknen eat his breakfast slowly, savoring every moment.
Everything felt perfect. Comfortable, familiar twins to lean on, lovable Shuknen, and even his doting guardian Windsor.
“At least, that’s what I thought…”
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“This maid… what did you say her name was?”
“She served the Princess back when you were in the palace, didn’t she?”
“No, before that. Her name.”
Erne gasped. The person Windsor brought her to meet in the reception room was a shocking one.
“Bellie. My name is Bellie, Princess.”
A woman with fiery red hair braided into two shy pigtails curtsied politely, gently lifting her dress.
The moment Erne heard her name, her mind went completely blank.
She didn’t know what to say.
From the moment Windsor first said her name, Erne had known exactly who she was.
Despite her vibrant red hair like the sun’s flame, the woman had a fresh beauty, lightly freckled, with emerald eyes known as the ‘charm of eternal green.’
Their eyes met, and Erne’s suspicions were confirmed.
“The true female lead of this trashy novel!”
But the question was—why her?
Noma, Rivera… and now the heroine too? Why is everyone here?!
At this point, it seemed the Douglas duchy had become the hottest social hub in town.
Erne gulped, carefully examining Bellie, who awkwardly averted her eyes.
And she came to a conclusion.
“Yep. No matter how you look at her—front flip or back—she’s definitely the heroine, Bellie!”
Why was the heroine, who was never once seen at the Nesheld royal palace, suddenly here…?
Erne rarely found herself speechless, but this time she swallowed her words.
Moreover, Windsor had introduced her as “a maid who once served the Princess.”
“But we’ve never even met before?!”
That’s right. This was their first meeting—completely, totally the first.
