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Chapter 04
“Kidnapping? Surely not! Call the police immediately!
And we must alert Master right away!
Wait, the young master? Is he… safe?”
The frantic footsteps pounded through the hall until a large door swung open.
“Young Master Antoine! Are you—gasp!”
The servants’ pale faces immediately turned toward Antoine’s bed.
But there was no child sleeping there. Instead, a girl sat casually, leaning back against the bed.
“Ah… Miss…?”
Spotting them, she raised a finger to her lips, a faint smile on her face.
“Shh. He’s still asleep.”
Her teal eyes slid downward, pointing at the bed.
Soft little wheezes and snuffles came from beneath the covers.
A small, round black mound rose and fell slowly.
Matching the mound’s movements, warm, gentle breaths continued.
Adelaide lifted the blanket slightly.
The servants finally exhaled in relief when they saw Antoine sleeping peacefully, an angelic calm on his face. Each furrowed brow softened, and their chests heaved with comfort.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Charmeaux, like many noble couples, had been wed in an arranged marriage, yet their bond went far beyond duty—they shared a love that transcended status.
Sometimes, a glance alone was enough to understand one another.
“You do it.”
“No, you say it first.”
“Isn’t this Mom’s role?”
“Isn’t it Dad’s turn?”
“But… I’ve never disciplined anyone before…”
“Then what about me? You think I carry a rod every day?”
When words failed, the husband simply ignored his wife’s signals, pretending not to notice.
In the silence, Eleanor Arjan de Charmeaux, the Marchioness, glared at him with disbelief.
‘Charles Brode de Charmeaux! Are you really doing this?’
She jabbed him deliberately in the side.
Startled, he twitched like a worm drenched in saltwater, staring at her.
Now it was her turn to ignore him.
‘Truly… such a sweet couple.’
Watching their silent exchange, I couldn’t help but exhale in relief.
My plan to greet my parents with a smile had failed. There was no way to grin in front of their solemn expressions.
After breakfast, we were summoned to the study.
“Ahem… Adelaide. Sneaking out of your bedroom without telling the adults—what were you thinking?”
“Antoine was crying, and no one came, so I went.”
“But what about the nanny? Where were you?”
“The nanny had stepped out. He said she’d be back after he slept, but I thought I’d stay with him, just in case.”
“What? The nanny? Even so… you could have called another maid!”
“I thought that since the nanny is responsible for him, another maid might cause her trouble… I’m sorry.”
In truth, I had simply focused on soothing Antoine first and forgotten everything else.
My hastily concocted excuse drew only exchanged glances and long sighs from my parents.
“No need to apologize. You deserve praise for thinking of another person even in such a situation. We should also hear the nanny’s side of the story.”
Madame Séverin, summoned by the mistress, nervously circled, biting her lips.
‘I’m certain I’m going to be fired!’
Her heart pounded with despair and anxiety.
‘Why yesterday of all days? Why did that girl have to act up yesterday!’
She glared at the door, imagining Adelaide might be there, grinding her teeth.
Adelaide had always been somewhat indifferent to her brother. Even when Antoine woke crying, Adelaide paid no mind—sometimes she even scolded him to quiet down faster.
But yesterday was different. She had gone to soothe him herself and even stayed the night—turning the morning into chaos.
And it happened while Madame Séverin had left her post!
She couldn’t ignore being summoned. Reluctantly, she made her way to the family’s study and knocked, hand shaking.
“M-Mistress… you called…?”
The person who opened the door was a gaunt middle-aged woman, as thin as a broomstick. Her eyes, dried and lifeless, resembled overcooked fish.
“Madame Séverin. I’ve heard about last night. Let’s get straight to the point. Why didn’t you go when Antoine was crying?”
Unlike ordinary servants, a nanny commanding respect, she raised children for future masters. Even my mother treated her with deference.
Though her voice betrayed anger, she held herself upright.
“…It was discipline.”
Her answer—or excuse—barely emerged.
“Young Master Antoine will inherit the Marquisate of Charmeaux. If we ran to him every time he woke from sleep, we would ruin his future.”
When my mother didn’t respond, she straightened her back, chin raised high.
“A future head of a great house must learn patience and restraint. Even a child is no exception. In fact, it must start early.”
Ah, that rigid… I remembered now.
Madame Séverin had been a teacher at a convent boarding school—a place where students, imprisoned by their own status, awaited release through graduation.
In other words, she intended to apply Spartan methods to a mere four-year-old.
“But… even so… she could at least have told us…”
“Mistress, you entrusted Antoine’s discipline entirely to me. It was your decision.”
Seeing my mother hesitate, she maintained a cold expression, shifting the responsibility onto her.
I gaped. When you entrusted him to me, it was fine. Now you interfere?
“Let me make this clear. Sweets and candies only dull the young master’s mind, raising him weakly. Toys, too. A boy should not play with dolls! To become a great soldier or official, he must memorize history and ancient languages from now on. How long will you indulge him?”
“But Antoine is still so young…”
“Proper upbringing requires guidance, and guidance requires discipline. Because you indulged him, mistress, this is the result: the future head of the house can’t even sleep alone!”
Enough. I could no longer bear it.
“Indulged?”
A short scoff escaped me, followed by a sharp, relentless voice raining down like a storm in her ears.
“A four-year-old doesn’t suddenly act spoiled unless you let him! And if something happened while sleeping alone? Suffocating on the pillow, falling from the bed, breaking a bone! It’s a miracle it wasn’t winter, or a fire spark could have… what then? If he were harmed, would you take responsibility?”
Down came the coffee from my father’s lips, spilling as he silently observed with furrowed brows.
Hot…
‘Sometimes, the worst customers end up helping.’
During seasonal training, staff practiced dealing with the most impossible guests. The memory, while irritating, suddenly proved useful.
“It’s all for the young master’s sake.”
Flushed red with embarrassment, Madame Séverin made her final desperate plea.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer—I laughed.
The laugh turned into outright ridicule.
“Do you really think that’s proper discipline?”
Her breathing became harsh.
“Ah… nanny… you really believe this is for Antoine? Truly?”
“Miss Adelaide!”
“What exactly do you imagine Antoine’s future self will be like?”
I leaned back in the sofa, casually wiping tears from my eyes.
Unconsciously, a hard line had formed at the corners of my mouth.
