Sarah, who was prepared to hear the nagging for running away, was taken aback when she saw Ronda and the servants apologizing on the contrary.

“N, no. I’m sorry. I suddenly took Young Master Claude and ran away and……”

“It’s our fault. After that, we deeply reflected on ourselves.”

Ronda bowed her head deeply. Her face, hardened by her guilt, did not know how to loosen.

“Master also asked me to tell Lady Sarah that he was reflecting on himself after you left.”

“……The Duke did?”

“Yes.”

Sarah could feel a rush of guilt creeping in. It was because she had made up a lot of situations that Ethan would be worried about and had been arrogant.

“It’s not something for the Duke to reflect on. This is because I’m acting too…….”

“No. From now on, we will do our best not to make Countess Millen feel uncomfortable.”

“……”

Sarah looked at Claude with a troubled face. Claude also had a bewildered expression, not knowing what was going on. Hadn’t Ronda shuddered all this time, saying that he shouldn’t even be in Sarah’s arms?

“Young Master Claude, what should we do?”

“I don’t know.”

Claude shrugged his shoulders and yawned loudly. As he went back and forth with a quick change in an instant, he suddenly felt sleepy. Sarah comforted the child’s body and patted him on the back. The child’s warm cheeks touched her shoulders and carried his weight.

“……Let’s get Young Master Claude to sleep first.”

“Yes. I’ll take care of him.”

This time Ronda took the lead and walked to Claude’s room without asking her to hand him over. It was very different from the way she had been following her around and over-protecting her for the past few days. Maybe she had adapted to the overprotection before she knew it, so she couldn’t get used to her normal behavior anymore this time. Sarah followed Ronda quietly and glared at May, who stood a little far away.

‘Really, I told you to keep it a secret!’

May secretly avoided Sarah’s gaze filled with such resentment. Still, should she say it was fortunate that Claude didn’t know? Sarah tried to think positively, and followed Ronda into Claude’s room and laid the child in bed. She flicked her fingers and the child’s clothes quickly turned into comfortable pajamas.

“Wow!”

After Sarah had come, she had changed his clothes like this a lot, but Claude would be surprised every time after time. It was so cute that a small laugh leaked out between Sarah’s lips. The azure mana that started from her hand ran through Claude’s body once as she moved her finger. She thought it would be cumbersome to take a bath in a sleepy state, so she simply washed him off.

“It’s refreshing……”

Claude smiled broadly as he felt his body refreshed. He just came in and started to feel sleepy, but it was very comfortable and nice when the nanny washed him in this way.

“I’ll stay with him until he falls asleep.”

Saying so, Sarah gestured to Ronda and the servants in the room. They nodded once more and quietly opened Claude’s door and left.

“Do you have to stay with me until I fall asleep?”

“Of course. I’ll watch you fall asleep.”

When she said she would stay with him, Claude buried his face in the pillow with a more peaceful face. The feel of the soft blanket and pillow made him even more drowsy. Sarah smiled as she gently brushed the child’s hair that became one with the bed. Then Claude said in a voice full of sleep.

“……You know Nanny.”

“Yes.”

“I was a little jealous of Elexa.”

“……”

Claude’s words made Sarah’s face slightly stiff. Seeing Elexa with his mother, she was worried that Claude might be a little lonely. It seemed that the appearance reminded him of the existence of a mother. Her heart throbbed with guilt.

“But I’m a little less jealous now.”

“Why?”

Seeing Sarah tilting her head curiously, Claude blushed and smiled mischievously.

“I have Nanny.”

“……!”

Sarah’s eyes widened at Claude’s answer. Her eyes, which contained the face of a brightly smiling child, fluttered slightly. It felt like something in her heart was melting away. She felt a pleasant pain in her chest that was tightening. Sarah unconsciously brought her hand to her chest and pressed it tightly.

“Actually, this is a secret……”

Claude said in a drowsy voice, beckoning Sarah to come closer. As she brought her head closer, Claude whispered in a very small voice into Sarah’s ear.

“I wish Nanny was my mother”

“……!”

“It’s a secret, okay?”

Claude blinked slowly and smiled softly. The child’s words were a little slurred as the sleep rushed in.

“Mother might be upset if she hears it. So it’s a secret……”

“Ah……”

Claude’s eyelids, which had been closing slowly, trembled once and then calmed down. Sarah was silent for a while as she listened to the child’s breathing, which gradually changed evenly.

“Young Master Claude.”

The child didn’t answer her when she called him softly. Sarah, who had been looking at Claude’s face for a long time, soon groaned with her face buried in her hands.

“That’s cheating……”

Bathump, bathump, her heart was beating loudly. To the extent that she couldn’t control herself.

Do I deserve to be told this? Am I worthy of that? Park Hyeyeon, who wrote Flower of Darkness, can I listen to these words?

‘I’m glad you don’t know it yet.’

It was bittersweet, but Claude’s words made her so happy that she couldn’t control herself. She was ready to give her everything for Claude, but on the contrary, it seemed that she was taking more from the child. She had always felt as if she had sown all these seeds of misery herself. She wasn’t ashamed of herself, and she was comforted by these little words from the child.

“I’m sorry, Dieline. I’ll be a little happier.”

Sarah enjoyed a brief moment of happiness as she cooled her cheeks which had turned red. Now, even if Dieline came and offered to take Claude, she could never hand him over, Claude was such a lovely child. After taking a few deep breaths and calming her excited heart, Sarah carefully covered the child’s chin with the blanket. Then she kissed the sleeping Claude’s cheek and stood up.

“Sleep well.”

With a sleeping well greeting, Sarah carefully closed the child’s door and went out. Then Ronda, who was waiting in the hallway, came up to her and asked.

“Is Young Master Claude asleep?”

“Yes. Maybe it’s a little over the nap time, but he’s sleeping well.”

“I see.”

Ronda glanced at Sarah, who seemed to be in a good mood, and then spoke softly.

“Master went to his room early saying he was taking a nap today, so how about Countess Millen rest as well?”

“The Duke takes a nap?”

Sarah asked, startled at the words she had heard for the first time. Ethan, who was always busy to the point that even ten bodies of his were not enough, was taking a nap. It was something she had never seen or heard of during her stay in Ambrosia’s mansion.

“Could it be that he’s not feeling well?”

“Master said he was just tired.”

“……”

Is it because of me?

There was a suspicion close to conviction. Sarah narrowed her forehead as she felt her conscience prickle.

“What happened to the Duke after I went out?”

“No. After stopping by the laboratory he had prepared for Countess Millen’s disciples, he went on to work as usual.”

“……”

As soon as she heard Ronda’s answer, she couldn’t easily get rid of the feeling that it was all the more because of her. Ethan didn’t even know the exact reason why she vomited blood because of the oath she had made with her disciples. Sarah simply said it would be fine, but gave him no assurance. With such a subject, she dismissed Ethan’s worrying protection as frustrating and even ran away from home.

“I’d like to go see him.”

“But I’m sure he’s already fallen asleep. Veron and I will watch him closely.”

Ronda waved her hand as if it was okay, and stopped Sarah. But Sarah, whose mind had already gone blank with anxiety about Ethan, could not hear her.

“No, I think I may be the cause, so if I don’t go, I’ll feel more uncomfortable.”

Saying that Sarah hurriedly moved on. Ronda, who was looking at her back, glanced at May, who was quietly hiding behind her.

“……”

“……”

When their eyes met, the two secretly nodded their heads and followed Sarah.

“Ah, Veron.”

Sarah, who quickly reached Ethan’s room at a fast pace, approached Veron, who was standing in front of the door. Veron, who found Sarah, glanced at Ethan’s door, then quickly approached her and talked to her.

“Countess Millen, did you enjoy your trip?”

“What about the Duke? Is he sick?”

Somehow Veron seemed to be acting as if he could not make Sarah worry, so she hurriedly asked how Ethan was feeling. Then, Veron’s face darkened as if in trouble. Even if he didn’t, she couldn’t help but raise suspicions that Ethan’s condition was unusual. Veron’s reaction gradually turned Sarah’s doubts into certainty.

“Master is all right. He asked me to tell Countess Millen to rest if you were worried.”

“Did it mean that I can’t look at his face for just a moment?”

“He didn’t say anything like that……”

“Then can I come in for a second? If the Duke is tired, I can help him.”

Sarah actively appealed her usefulness. As a sign of conflict appeared on Veron’s face, Sarah’s eyes became even more desperate.

“Umm, if it’s for a while, I think it’ll be fine.”

“Thank you!”

Sarah breathed a sigh of relief and passed Veron, opening Ethan’s door and cautiously entering. Looking at Sarah’s back, this time Veron and Ronda met each other gazes.

“……”

“……”

Nod. This time, the two looked at each other and nodded their heads a little, as if they had finished their work and went back to their respective seats.