Chapter 21

Sefira was not only reading books but also secretly reading letters.

"Wait, hold on. Reading letters is not okay."

(Why not?)

"Letters are private, right? It's a breach of manners for someone completely unrelated and with no right to read personal correspondence. And to tell me about it, too. No, why did you even think of reading letters in the first place?"

(Some people insert letters between the pages of books.)

"Ah, I see, that's how it is."

This was unexpected.

Sefira has a good memory, but she doesn't have a sense of right and wrong.

So, I had to teach her.

No, she's an intelligent entity that learns on her own.

Maybe I should tell her to learn from others as well?

"Sefira, there's a saying, 'Learn from others' behavior and improve your own.'"

(I need more details.)

She quickly latches onto things she doesn't know, so I taught her about learning rules, considering others, and so on.

And once Sefira understood, she returned to the initial topic.

(Over the past few days, I observed the nursemaid's actions and deduced the cause. Is reporting this a breach of manners?)

"Yeah, it's a really dangerous area. Talks of a widow's remarriage are very sensitive."

Sefira's actions were based on her observations of my troubles.

But this approach was unexpected.

The current Sefira is very simple, driven purely by intellectual curiosity, and I want her to be more considerate and thoughtful.

She calls me 'master' and seems to care about me, but what should I do?

"Even if I say it, it won't help. Sefira, private letters are definitely off-limits. ...Thanks to you, I now know why Harty was keeping quiet."

(I am proud of my usefulness.)

"Yes, but that's not the point. Hmm, maybe I should give you a bit more leeway? Just giving you the right answers isn't enough. Your thinking is too linear."

(Your metaphorical advice is too abstract.)

Yeah, she has some emotional capacity.

"Alright, then from now on, observe humans as well. How do they get their emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness? When, where, who, what, why, and how. Systematize this to enhance your understanding of human emotions."

(Master's order accepted.)

"Alright, I'll go talk to Harty."

I left the Emerald Room and headed to the Red Room.

She should be resting there now, and I was doing research under the guise of a break.

And today, Ikt is off.

Herkov is on standby in the Blue Room, ready to assist at any time.

Because he says I fall asleep when I watch my alchemy in the Emerald Room.

"Harty, is now a good time?"

"Of course, Master Asha. What brings you here?"

She welcomed me immediately after I knocked and called out.

The Red Room is decorated with red-patterned wallpaper and is the smallest layout in my living area, with only a fireplace in the living room and bedroom.

And, as usual, there's not much furniture.

The living room has only a chair and a table, and the storage is just a small built-in shelf.

"I'll get straight to the point. The invisible intelligent entity I created, tentatively named Sefira, read your letters without permission."

"Letters... you mean... the marriage proposal?"

"Yes, it's about a remarriage proposal."

I nodded as Harty looked toward the bedroom.

Then I bowed my head.

"I'm sorry for reading your letters without permission."

"That is not your fault, Master Asha."

"But I was the only one who taught Sefira that it was wrong. So, it's my fault for not teaching her properly. And if you didn't want to say anything, it's my fault for not respecting that."

Harty sighed and smiled, as if resigned.

"As a nursemaid, as an aunt, and as someone who watches over Master Asha's growth, I was hesitant. But since it's known, I will speak openly. I know Master Asha is a wise person."

Harty had me sit down and went downstairs to prepare tea and some sweet pastries for me.

The topic, as expected, was the remarriage proposal from the Duke of Eulathion.

"My family, the Viscount's house, has risen to a position of importance thanks to His Majesty. Originally, it was an inappropriate position with no influential connections, and we are on the fringes of the Duke of Eulathion's faction."

Originally, they were a noble family under the Niftas Earl's house, and my father, the third son of the Earl, was a suitable match.

However, the issue of noble status arose when my father became the Emperor.

When the faction's leader proposed a remarriage to separate Harty, who was my nursemaid, the Viscount's house couldn't refuse.

So, Harty, who was reluctant, received a tearful letter, which Sefira read.

"Are you being forced into a bad marriage?"

"No, not at all! He is not a bad person, but..."

Harty vehemently denied it before covering her mouth.

Her blushing face didn't seem to be lying, and it was clear what was going on.

"Could it be someone you know and even like?"

Harty nodded slightly and began to talk about the remarriage proposal.

It turns out it was someone she had known for a while and who served in the palace.

He was to inherit his family's territory and leave the palace, and he had asked her to go with him as his wife even before the separation.

He also said he would raise Harty's daughter from her late husband as his own.

"This is not what I want. But if I miss this opportunity, his family will find another wife. He has been courting me, saying he wants me as his wife..."

Harty, who is still in her twenties and can build a new family, blushed as she spoke.

"If it's okay with you, Harty, I—"

"It's not okay."

Her expression changed from a smile to a serious one.

"I will go to the territory with him. I won't be able to stay here."

Yes, once she leaves, she won't be a nursemaid anymore and will lose her status in the palace.

Building a new family means she can't continue as a nursemaid.

We will have to part ways.

"I want to watch over Master Asha's growth. My sister, who was bedridden, was so worried about your future."

Harty's eyes welled up with tears as she gripped my hand.

"Most of all, I am frustrated that this marriage will once again connect the Niftas Earl's house and my family."

"Is the person from the Niftas Earl's family?"

It might be why she knew him before.

"I am angry with the Niftas Earl's house for not even sending a greeting, and with my family for acting pitifully and only fearing the Duke of Eulathion after my sister's death."

Harty's face flushed with a different kind of emotion.

"No greeting for the season, not even a letter for my birthday. They say it's thanks to His Majesty, but they neglect the foundation of that connection, Master Asha!"

"Harty, Harty, calm down. It's okay about me."

"It's not okay! Why should I leave Master Asha behind? I want you to be happy more than anyone else..."

Harty couldn't hold back her tears.

"His Majesty loved my sister and loves Master Asha. But neither can watch over you anymore. If not, I, at least, must be by your side."

This was a sense of duty born from genuine affection.

And it was a sense of duty because she cared for me.

I couldn't easily dismiss it.

But if I didn't say it now, Harty wouldn't be able to find her own happiness.

"I love you, Harty, and I'd rather see you happy and smiling than crying like this."

I should push her away more firmly.

But I feel lonely and sad at the thought of not being able to see Harty casually anymore.

To the person I call my family in this life, I could only say this much.

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Next: Parting from the Nursemaid 4