“I’d like sheep.”
“What do you mean?”
“Livestock. I think sheep would be a good livestock to put in my enclosure.”
Dorothea was very pleased with the livestock remarks she made upon receiving the proposal of engagement. Not only that, she went even further and began to treat the imperial Prince like livestock.
“Think about it. A horse is likely to run away, and a cow is strong enough to pose a threat to me. But a sheep, if it goes outside the fence, they will become prey to carnivores.”
“...”
“Once you’re tamed, it’ll be hard to survive outside.”
Luke turned his head as he looked at the chattering face.
It was obvious that if he kept answering every single one of her nonsense, he would sink to the bottom of her level.
When Luke kept his mouth shut and continued to ignore her, Dorothea stopped teasing him and went back to filling the handkerchief with red patterns.
The face of the woman who was carving red patterns one stitch at a time on the 'normal and beautiful' white handkerchief that Dane had asked for was very serious.
“So, why did you call me here?”
“Please show me your trust.”
Dorothea, with a satisfied expression on her face, unfolded the completed guardian before Luke's eyes.
“If you spend all day with me, you will come to trust me. You will see my impeccable abilities, character, and even my dignity.”
It was at that moment that he was about to turn away without any regrets, his eyes becoming even colder as he listened to the other person's pointless words.
For the second day in a row, Philip's voice was heard standing guard in front of Dorothea's door.
“Thea, we have a guest.”
A faint smile appeared on Dorothea's face.
Mrs. Jenix, with her dark copper-colored hair neatly tied up, stood before Dorothea with smooth, light steps, without a single rustle in the hem of her dress.
“Welcome, Madam. As you can see, I am not feeling well, so please understand that I cannot stand up to greet you.”
“You don’t have to worry about it since I came to see you even though I knew that Young Lady wasn’t in a good condition. If we’re going to judge who was right or wrong in this situation, it’s probably my fault for not being able to wait and walking away.”
Mrs. Jenix, who had been answering calmly, stopped when she saw the tea table ready to receive guests.
She could see the tea she often drank and scones made from grains.
“...”
“I prepared this because I thought the lady who came all the way here might not be feeling so light-hearted. Anything delicious makes you feel much better.”
“I will gratefully accept Young Lady's consideration.”
Mrs. Jenix answered softly and sat down carefully.
Soon her eyes turned to Luke, who was standing right next to Dorothea like a shadow.
“It seems like you two have a closer relationship than I thought.”
“Not yet. According to him, he is still contemplating whether or not to become a livestock in my fence.”
Words continued to flow, either grumbling or complaining.
“Is it because he lacks basic trust in people? He keeps misunderstanding the favors I offer him. I have no choice but to keep him by my side until he can trust me. Is that okay, Ma'am?"
Dorothea leaned forward, asking a question with a smile on her face. As she momentarily lost her balance and stumbled, Luke's hand naturally grabbed her shoulder.
It was a quick and careful touch that could only come from focusing all of your attention on the other person.
Mrs. Jenix, who had been staring at him for a brief moment, finally nodded.
“His Highness the Seventh Prince should also be here.”
Whatever was being said in that room, she was certain he would not speak of it outside without Dorothea's consent.
The woman took her eyes off Luke, who was silently standing there, and picked up the teapot.
The gesture of holding the pitcher and pouring it into a cup was full of flowing elegance.
What was reflected in the image of the perfect lady who would be a role model for all noble ladies was a deep and heavy... hardship as heavy as the weight of life.
How much time and how much time do you have to spend to blend in with her gaze, gestures, straight back, neat toes, and wrinkle-free, well-kept dress as if you were breathing?
A smooth, beautiful white hand placed a cup of tea of just the right temperature towards Dorothea.
Then Mrs. Jenix watched Dorothea reach out for the neatly placed scones and silently confess her guilt.
“That day, I was the one who drugged the alcohol served to everyone, including His Highness the Third Prince.”
Even though the Prince was revealed to have been personally harmed by his nanny who had raised him since childhood, the room was quiet.
Dorothea, who should have been shocked, calmly picked up the scone, spread jam on it, and took a big bite.
Luke's hand grabbed her chin and lifted it up in warning.
“Chew it properly. Don’t swallow it. Chew it some more.”
“...”
Dorothea, who had been chewing with a look of discontent, was finally able to swallow the contents of her mouth and take a sip of tea after a long time.
And asked.
“Did you take any medication with your alcohol?”
Somehow, it induced stomachache by making a course meal of meat dishes, but it seemed like everyone suffered for longer than expected.
“His Highness the Prince is very good at drinking, so even if he drinks a lot and gets drunk, he quickly comes to his senses.”
"Is it so?"
“I tried strong hallucinogens and strong alcohol, but they didn’t work, so I mixed the two and it seemed to work.”
"I see."
Dorothea was amazed at the new knowledge she had just learned.
“Richard is in very good health.”
How can he be so healthy when he's addicted to cigarettes, alcohol, and women?
'The lifeline is really long.'
Who would have had to struggle like that just to extend their lifeline?
They say life is unfair, and that saying is absolutely true.
Dorothea swallowed her words and instead of putting the half-empty scone in her mouth, she put it down slightly and spoke in a voice that was neither too small nor too loud.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am.”
Without a trace of laughter, the mouth that had been apologizing quite seriously soon became stiff.
“I’m probably the one who ruined your plans.”
“I guessed.”
Regardless of whether the Third Prince was good or bad, he was a very useful tactic for her and was still a character she could use to her full potential.
Because if Richard dies or gets hurt here, whatever the reason, it's her fault.
Even if there was a story behind the woman in front of her, she would have done the same.
The woman, holding the teacup in her hand, remained silent for a while with a faint smile on her lips before suddenly blurting out something unknown.
“Once a young Prince is born, the Prince’s childhood is usually spent with a nanny who is of noble blood. The conditions are that she must be well-educated, have noble bearing, have a good reputation, and love the Prince more than her own life.”
The calm voice that was reciting the conditions one by one paused for a moment before continuing.
“It is the Empress Dowager’s job to select a wet nurse who meets such qualifications.”
“...”
“The Empress was weak and could not withstand the influence of the local nobles, so she was easily swayed, and the Emperor, immediately after ascending to the throne, was in a position where he had to show his ‘sincerity’ to the Empress dowager and the nobles below her who had supported him.”
“Did she happen to not want to hire a nanny?”
Was Richard a picky eater from the moment he was born and began suckling?
Mrs. Jenix smiled at Dorothea's curious eyes.
“No, being the Prince’s wet nurse is a very honorable position. And Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has chosen her wet nurse very carefully.”
The Empress Dowager always looked for women who would desperately want the position and gave them jobs.
The first time Lady Jenix held the Prince in her arms was exactly one year after she lost her young son.
The innocent smile of the child in her arms brought back the affection that had been drying up in her heart, which was tattered on the inside even though it looked fine on the outside.
“You are now in charge of raising the young Prince. Since you are still young and inexperienced, it will be difficult for you, so it would be nice if you could talk to me about the Prince sometimes.”
It was a subtle suggestion.
On the surface, it was a request to become the Empress Dowager's eyes and ears, under the pretext of receiving 'advice' on how to raise the Prince in a better environment.
Perhaps it was a natural fate for a Prince to be watched by those who wanted to watch his every move, even before he could babble, just as he was born into this world.
However, Madame Jenix in her younger days was already filled with affection and compassion for the Prince.
“Therefore, I have declined Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s offer. She can leave the raising of the Crown Prince entirely to me, and unless it is appropriate, I will not send any further notice.”
“How did she react to Madam's rejection?”
“She didn’t do anything. She just smiled and told me to do it.”
With an incomprehensible smile, she sent Madam Jenix back to the Prince's side obediently.
“That child is a Prince. No matter how much you raise him in your arms, he will grow up to be a Prince. One day, he will eventually come to me.”
Until then, Madam Jenix didn't know the meaning of the words flying behind her as she turned around.
“No matter how cute and lovable a child is, one day they will leave my arms and become an adult. And once that child leaves my arms, I will never be able to hold them in my hands again.”
The innocent child who jumped into her arms has grown up.
“When the boy was thirteen, one of the servants in the stable died.”
“Died?”
“He was grooming the Prince's beloved horse when he accidentally got beaten.”
Dalgrak.
The teaspoon fell into the empty teacup.
“Even though the Prince grew up without wanting anything, he never knew how to be content. He coveted what others had, and he had to have what he coveted.”
And then Richard met Dover Spencer.
Dover had quite an impact on Richard, who was just entering puberty.
It was Dover Spencer who taught Richard, who suffered from an inferiority complex among his successful brothers, how to rise by stepping on others.
It was Dover who introduced 'stimulating play' and encouraged the gullible Richard to empty the pockets of the new nobles and merchants.
“More than the evil Lord Dover, I really hated the child who fell for his tricks. Dover Spencer was just a bad guy, but Richard was the one I held in my arms, fed, clothed, and raised. I held him so dear that I once thought of him as my own life.”
So the betrayal of that trust was even more painful and heartbreaking.
The shattered heart could not be put back together by anything.
“That child will know nothing. Until the day he dies, he will never realize what kind of hurt he has caused others. His innocence is terrifying. His ignorance is even more terrifying.”
Only then could Madam Jenix understand what the Empress Dowager was saying.
The child she held in her heart for a moment was of royal blood and would grow into a monster worthy of that title.
Even if that was the fate of those born into the royal family, she couldn't accept it with ease.
“So that’s why you didn’t stop the intruder.”
“It’s cowardly. No matter how much I hate it, I can’t do it myself, so I can’t do anything but leave the door open and hope that someone else will do it for me.”
The woman, with a bitter smile on her face, confessed the whole story of the incident and her sins, then closed her mouth.
There were a lot of missing parts to her story.
Like, who on earth told her that they were planning to attack Richard?
There were dozens of servants and maids coming and going in the hallway, and each and every one of them was skilled, so it was impossible not to feel something was strange.
It is also unlikely that Mrs. Jenix would have made and carried out the decision on her own.
But rather than argue about the puzzle that didn't fit, Dorothea quietly reached out and placed her hand on top of hers.
“What I hear here today will never leak out.”
Mrs. Jenix smiled and asked in a gentle whisper.
“Aren’t you going to punish me?”
“Is there anything to punish?”
At best, she opened the castle gates by adding drugs to the drinks of the Prince and nobles.
If they look at it that way, Dorothea, who exploited the Third Prince every time, used him whenever she needed to, and even used him as bait, should have already been executed in prison.
“So, it’s okay if you go now.”
Dorothea took a deep breath as she sent Madam Jenix away, who had confessed her sins with a smiling face.
It was difficult to keep her back straight and have a conversation the whole time.
Luke, who had been staring blankly at Dorothea, who was catching her breath while her shoulders were drooping, opened his mouth.
“You guessed it all from the beginning.”
The culprit will come looking for you. You also know who that person is.
“And yet you deliberately kept me by your side.”
Isn't she the one who attempted to murder the Prince?
Dorothea, who had been lying down, answered weakly, wagging her foot.
“I have no intention of making a big deal out of it anyway.”
It would do Luke no good if it was revealed that she had tried to harm Richard.
Rather, the result will be that the authority of the entire royal family will hit rock bottom because of the Prince being toyed with by a mere nanny.
Moreover, if this incident were to surface, people might once again talk about the incident from a few years ago when Luke single-handedly dealt with his nanny after discovering her betrayal.
“Your pride won’t allow you to recall the fact that you almost got hurt because of a nanny’s intuition, right?”
“...”
For a moment, Luke's eyes turned sharply toward Dorothea, who was adding useless words.
She, who was rolling around on the bed, lifted her head slightly and asked.
“Now that I’ve broken the pattern I know, can you trust me a little more?”
“If I know it, it’s useless if I can’t use it. Don’t make a fuss by giving me a discarded card.”
Dorothea sighed, looking quite disappointed, and buried her head in the bed.
“I told you this on purpose because I thought it would be comforting to know that you weren’t the only one who let their guard down and almost got stabbed in the back of the head by their nanny...”
Should I kill her? Should I just kill this woman who could die just by flicking her forehead with my finger right now?
Instead of trust in his opponent, murderous intent rose in Luke's heart.
“What do you mean?”
“Livestock. I think sheep would be a good livestock to put in my enclosure.”
Dorothea was very pleased with the livestock remarks she made upon receiving the proposal of engagement. Not only that, she went even further and began to treat the imperial Prince like livestock.
“Think about it. A horse is likely to run away, and a cow is strong enough to pose a threat to me. But a sheep, if it goes outside the fence, they will become prey to carnivores.”
“...”
“Once you’re tamed, it’ll be hard to survive outside.”
Luke turned his head as he looked at the chattering face.
It was obvious that if he kept answering every single one of her nonsense, he would sink to the bottom of her level.
When Luke kept his mouth shut and continued to ignore her, Dorothea stopped teasing him and went back to filling the handkerchief with red patterns.
The face of the woman who was carving red patterns one stitch at a time on the 'normal and beautiful' white handkerchief that Dane had asked for was very serious.
“So, why did you call me here?”
“Please show me your trust.”
Dorothea, with a satisfied expression on her face, unfolded the completed guardian before Luke's eyes.
“If you spend all day with me, you will come to trust me. You will see my impeccable abilities, character, and even my dignity.”
It was at that moment that he was about to turn away without any regrets, his eyes becoming even colder as he listened to the other person's pointless words.
For the second day in a row, Philip's voice was heard standing guard in front of Dorothea's door.
“Thea, we have a guest.”
A faint smile appeared on Dorothea's face.
Mrs. Jenix, with her dark copper-colored hair neatly tied up, stood before Dorothea with smooth, light steps, without a single rustle in the hem of her dress.
“Welcome, Madam. As you can see, I am not feeling well, so please understand that I cannot stand up to greet you.”
“You don’t have to worry about it since I came to see you even though I knew that Young Lady wasn’t in a good condition. If we’re going to judge who was right or wrong in this situation, it’s probably my fault for not being able to wait and walking away.”
Mrs. Jenix, who had been answering calmly, stopped when she saw the tea table ready to receive guests.
She could see the tea she often drank and scones made from grains.
“...”
“I prepared this because I thought the lady who came all the way here might not be feeling so light-hearted. Anything delicious makes you feel much better.”
“I will gratefully accept Young Lady's consideration.”
Mrs. Jenix answered softly and sat down carefully.
Soon her eyes turned to Luke, who was standing right next to Dorothea like a shadow.
“It seems like you two have a closer relationship than I thought.”
“Not yet. According to him, he is still contemplating whether or not to become a livestock in my fence.”
Words continued to flow, either grumbling or complaining.
“Is it because he lacks basic trust in people? He keeps misunderstanding the favors I offer him. I have no choice but to keep him by my side until he can trust me. Is that okay, Ma'am?"
Dorothea leaned forward, asking a question with a smile on her face. As she momentarily lost her balance and stumbled, Luke's hand naturally grabbed her shoulder.
It was a quick and careful touch that could only come from focusing all of your attention on the other person.
Mrs. Jenix, who had been staring at him for a brief moment, finally nodded.
“His Highness the Seventh Prince should also be here.”
Whatever was being said in that room, she was certain he would not speak of it outside without Dorothea's consent.
The woman took her eyes off Luke, who was silently standing there, and picked up the teapot.
The gesture of holding the pitcher and pouring it into a cup was full of flowing elegance.
What was reflected in the image of the perfect lady who would be a role model for all noble ladies was a deep and heavy... hardship as heavy as the weight of life.
How much time and how much time do you have to spend to blend in with her gaze, gestures, straight back, neat toes, and wrinkle-free, well-kept dress as if you were breathing?
A smooth, beautiful white hand placed a cup of tea of just the right temperature towards Dorothea.
Then Mrs. Jenix watched Dorothea reach out for the neatly placed scones and silently confess her guilt.
“That day, I was the one who drugged the alcohol served to everyone, including His Highness the Third Prince.”
Even though the Prince was revealed to have been personally harmed by his nanny who had raised him since childhood, the room was quiet.
Dorothea, who should have been shocked, calmly picked up the scone, spread jam on it, and took a big bite.
Luke's hand grabbed her chin and lifted it up in warning.
“Chew it properly. Don’t swallow it. Chew it some more.”
“...”
Dorothea, who had been chewing with a look of discontent, was finally able to swallow the contents of her mouth and take a sip of tea after a long time.
And asked.
“Did you take any medication with your alcohol?”
Somehow, it induced stomachache by making a course meal of meat dishes, but it seemed like everyone suffered for longer than expected.
“His Highness the Prince is very good at drinking, so even if he drinks a lot and gets drunk, he quickly comes to his senses.”
"Is it so?"
“I tried strong hallucinogens and strong alcohol, but they didn’t work, so I mixed the two and it seemed to work.”
"I see."
Dorothea was amazed at the new knowledge she had just learned.
“Richard is in very good health.”
How can he be so healthy when he's addicted to cigarettes, alcohol, and women?
'The lifeline is really long.'
Who would have had to struggle like that just to extend their lifeline?
They say life is unfair, and that saying is absolutely true.
Dorothea swallowed her words and instead of putting the half-empty scone in her mouth, she put it down slightly and spoke in a voice that was neither too small nor too loud.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am.”
Without a trace of laughter, the mouth that had been apologizing quite seriously soon became stiff.
“I’m probably the one who ruined your plans.”
“I guessed.”
Regardless of whether the Third Prince was good or bad, he was a very useful tactic for her and was still a character she could use to her full potential.
Because if Richard dies or gets hurt here, whatever the reason, it's her fault.
Even if there was a story behind the woman in front of her, she would have done the same.
The woman, holding the teacup in her hand, remained silent for a while with a faint smile on her lips before suddenly blurting out something unknown.
“Once a young Prince is born, the Prince’s childhood is usually spent with a nanny who is of noble blood. The conditions are that she must be well-educated, have noble bearing, have a good reputation, and love the Prince more than her own life.”
The calm voice that was reciting the conditions one by one paused for a moment before continuing.
“It is the Empress Dowager’s job to select a wet nurse who meets such qualifications.”
“...”
“The Empress was weak and could not withstand the influence of the local nobles, so she was easily swayed, and the Emperor, immediately after ascending to the throne, was in a position where he had to show his ‘sincerity’ to the Empress dowager and the nobles below her who had supported him.”
“Did she happen to not want to hire a nanny?”
Was Richard a picky eater from the moment he was born and began suckling?
Mrs. Jenix smiled at Dorothea's curious eyes.
“No, being the Prince’s wet nurse is a very honorable position. And Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has chosen her wet nurse very carefully.”
The Empress Dowager always looked for women who would desperately want the position and gave them jobs.
The first time Lady Jenix held the Prince in her arms was exactly one year after she lost her young son.
The innocent smile of the child in her arms brought back the affection that had been drying up in her heart, which was tattered on the inside even though it looked fine on the outside.
“You are now in charge of raising the young Prince. Since you are still young and inexperienced, it will be difficult for you, so it would be nice if you could talk to me about the Prince sometimes.”
It was a subtle suggestion.
On the surface, it was a request to become the Empress Dowager's eyes and ears, under the pretext of receiving 'advice' on how to raise the Prince in a better environment.
Perhaps it was a natural fate for a Prince to be watched by those who wanted to watch his every move, even before he could babble, just as he was born into this world.
However, Madame Jenix in her younger days was already filled with affection and compassion for the Prince.
“Therefore, I have declined Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s offer. She can leave the raising of the Crown Prince entirely to me, and unless it is appropriate, I will not send any further notice.”
“How did she react to Madam's rejection?”
“She didn’t do anything. She just smiled and told me to do it.”
With an incomprehensible smile, she sent Madam Jenix back to the Prince's side obediently.
“That child is a Prince. No matter how much you raise him in your arms, he will grow up to be a Prince. One day, he will eventually come to me.”
Until then, Madam Jenix didn't know the meaning of the words flying behind her as she turned around.
“No matter how cute and lovable a child is, one day they will leave my arms and become an adult. And once that child leaves my arms, I will never be able to hold them in my hands again.”
The innocent child who jumped into her arms has grown up.
“When the boy was thirteen, one of the servants in the stable died.”
“Died?”
“He was grooming the Prince's beloved horse when he accidentally got beaten.”
Dalgrak.
The teaspoon fell into the empty teacup.
“Even though the Prince grew up without wanting anything, he never knew how to be content. He coveted what others had, and he had to have what he coveted.”
And then Richard met Dover Spencer.
Dover had quite an impact on Richard, who was just entering puberty.
It was Dover Spencer who taught Richard, who suffered from an inferiority complex among his successful brothers, how to rise by stepping on others.
It was Dover who introduced 'stimulating play' and encouraged the gullible Richard to empty the pockets of the new nobles and merchants.
“More than the evil Lord Dover, I really hated the child who fell for his tricks. Dover Spencer was just a bad guy, but Richard was the one I held in my arms, fed, clothed, and raised. I held him so dear that I once thought of him as my own life.”
So the betrayal of that trust was even more painful and heartbreaking.
The shattered heart could not be put back together by anything.
“That child will know nothing. Until the day he dies, he will never realize what kind of hurt he has caused others. His innocence is terrifying. His ignorance is even more terrifying.”
Only then could Madam Jenix understand what the Empress Dowager was saying.
The child she held in her heart for a moment was of royal blood and would grow into a monster worthy of that title.
Even if that was the fate of those born into the royal family, she couldn't accept it with ease.
“So that’s why you didn’t stop the intruder.”
“It’s cowardly. No matter how much I hate it, I can’t do it myself, so I can’t do anything but leave the door open and hope that someone else will do it for me.”
The woman, with a bitter smile on her face, confessed the whole story of the incident and her sins, then closed her mouth.
There were a lot of missing parts to her story.
Like, who on earth told her that they were planning to attack Richard?
There were dozens of servants and maids coming and going in the hallway, and each and every one of them was skilled, so it was impossible not to feel something was strange.
It is also unlikely that Mrs. Jenix would have made and carried out the decision on her own.
But rather than argue about the puzzle that didn't fit, Dorothea quietly reached out and placed her hand on top of hers.
“What I hear here today will never leak out.”
Mrs. Jenix smiled and asked in a gentle whisper.
“Aren’t you going to punish me?”
“Is there anything to punish?”
At best, she opened the castle gates by adding drugs to the drinks of the Prince and nobles.
If they look at it that way, Dorothea, who exploited the Third Prince every time, used him whenever she needed to, and even used him as bait, should have already been executed in prison.
“So, it’s okay if you go now.”
Dorothea took a deep breath as she sent Madam Jenix away, who had confessed her sins with a smiling face.
It was difficult to keep her back straight and have a conversation the whole time.
Luke, who had been staring blankly at Dorothea, who was catching her breath while her shoulders were drooping, opened his mouth.
“You guessed it all from the beginning.”
The culprit will come looking for you. You also know who that person is.
“And yet you deliberately kept me by your side.”
Isn't she the one who attempted to murder the Prince?
Dorothea, who had been lying down, answered weakly, wagging her foot.
“I have no intention of making a big deal out of it anyway.”
It would do Luke no good if it was revealed that she had tried to harm Richard.
Rather, the result will be that the authority of the entire royal family will hit rock bottom because of the Prince being toyed with by a mere nanny.
Moreover, if this incident were to surface, people might once again talk about the incident from a few years ago when Luke single-handedly dealt with his nanny after discovering her betrayal.
“Your pride won’t allow you to recall the fact that you almost got hurt because of a nanny’s intuition, right?”
“...”
For a moment, Luke's eyes turned sharply toward Dorothea, who was adding useless words.
She, who was rolling around on the bed, lifted her head slightly and asked.
“Now that I’ve broken the pattern I know, can you trust me a little more?”
“If I know it, it’s useless if I can’t use it. Don’t make a fuss by giving me a discarded card.”
Dorothea sighed, looking quite disappointed, and buried her head in the bed.
“I told you this on purpose because I thought it would be comforting to know that you weren’t the only one who let their guard down and almost got stabbed in the back of the head by their nanny...”
Should I kill her? Should I just kill this woman who could die just by flicking her forehead with my finger right now?
Instead of trust in his opponent, murderous intent rose in Luke's heart.
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