Chapter 2

This is the view of the family from the perspective of Reia Dounar, the dedicated childcare maid of the duke's household.

"Reia, it's fine. I'll give Nicholas his bath today."

Even if Lady says so, I can't feel at ease. Sometimes Lady gets so absorbed in her work that she loses sight of what's right in front of her.

"Lady! Lady!"

Nicholas, ignoring Lady who was holding a towel, was playing with the soap, sliding it across the floor while naked. Lady managed to get Nicholas out of the bathtub, but the moment he was out, she seemed to relax and return to her work.

"Nicholas, you'll catch a cold."

I, the childcare maid, quickly wrapped the young master in a towel, but Nicholas, being Nicholas,

"Reia, why do you think soap is so slippery?"

asked me while being dried. His small oval face, gentle wavy blonde hair, and blue eyes like a clear autumn sky are just like Lady's.

"Maybe there are little fairies playing under the soap?"

I answered with a smile, and he looked a bit disappointed, but then immediately said,

"I think it's the same principle as why dry soap doesn't slide."

He answered with a serious face, but friction? Is that what he's talking about?

I, Reia Dounar, am twenty years old and the eldest daughter of a poor baron. I heard that Lady's grandfather also called himself a poor baron, but my family was a genuine poor baron, so poor that we couldn't even afford my younger siblings' school fees or clothing.

I gave up on marriage to work for this duke's household. However, while Lord, the younger brother of the king, is one thing, Lady seems like a free-spirited person who doesn't seem to be a lady from a noble family. She is always busy, either traveling around the territory, working, or deep in thought.

I often think that I, who came here to learn manners, might be more well-mannered than her.

Still, I am truly grateful to be working in this mansion.

Despite my family background, which would normally make it impossible for me to be hired, Lady liked me.

I was carrying Nicholas, who was trying to climb the wall using the momentum from running down the corridor, and Flora, who was crawling on the floor trying to go anywhere, to the children's room when Lady saw me and immediately decided, "You're great! You're hired!"

By the way, Nicholas is three years old, so even though he was trying to run up the wall with momentum, it was no faster than a slow walk, and he couldn't possibly run up the wall.

At that time, the other interviewees, who seemed to be well-bred young ladies from noble families, were flustered, saying things like "Oh my," "What should we do?" and "It will get dirty," and seemed unsure whether they should intervene even though they weren't hired. Well, I guess that's normal.

Lady is cute, kind, and cheerful, and above all, she is deeply loved by Lord. She is also a bit eccentric.

Lord is a tall, black-eyed, black-haired man, and he is an incredibly handsome man.

This handsome duke is also a skilled businessman, so I now firmly believe that the heavens are unfair, giving one person everything.

After bathing Nicholas and Flora and getting them dressed, it is now the family's dinner time.

While I was taking care of Flora, who would eat with her hands if left alone, Lord suddenly raised his voice. This is the first time I've seen him do this.

"That's not allowed, Marie. What if something happens to you?"

"Oh, Alex, it's fine in theory. I've already done some experiments. They were at one-fifth scale, but I put bricks on them, and they were fine."

Lord sighed deeply and covered his face with one hand.

"You're not a brick. You'll die if you fall from such a height."

"But it's fine. I've even thought of tools to use in case of a fall. Hehe."

"Hehe, no. Absolutely not. Do you understand?"

Most women would be dejected or teary-eyed at this point, but Lady tilted her head and shrugged, seemingly unconcerned, as if to say, "I got scolded."

The eldest son, Harold, who seemed to be completely oblivious to the conversation between his parents, said, "Reia, I want more meat. Can you ask for more?" while chewing.

Another maid quickly fetched more meat. The children are all so kind and rely on me, which is incredibly endearing.

Still, what's wrong with Lord?

"Father, can I talk?"

Nicholas, who had been quietly eating a dish of mashed potatoes with meat sauce, spoke up.

"Hmm? What is it, Nicholas? You want to talk to Father?"

When Lord turned to Nicholas with a melting smile, Nicholas swallowed the potatoes in his mouth and spoke seriously.

"I want to do that experiment. If it's dangerous for Mother, I can do it. I'm lighter than Mother, so I think I'll get less hurt if I fall."

Oh no, Nicholas, I think that's the last thing you should say right now.

I nervously glanced at Lord's face after hearing Nicholas's words.