Chapter Ten
_A Very Useful Bad Rumor
Nyla straightened her posture and locked her gaze with Elion's. No fear... no retreat... only clear eyes charged with determination and defiance...
"Is it time for my reward?!... Your Excellency."
"And why do you believe so?!"
"Intuition..."
"Good..."
"..."
He was searching through one of the documents, and Nyla, puzzled by his response, tilted her head in confusion. She looked at Victor as if to ask if he knew anything, but he shook his head, equally perplexed...
"This..."
Nyla took the paper Elion passed to her; it was an employment contract for the House of De Walter...
[ The contract stipulates that the aforementioned Nyla Logan Harvey shall work at the De Walter Mansion as a nanny for the Young Lord for an indefinite period, with a salary of ×××××× gold pieces per year, inclusive of housing and clothing provided during her period of employment...
Work conditions: Caring for the Young Lord of De Walter, Damian Elion De Walter, and protecting him.
Respecting her place of work and maintaining loyalty to her employer..
Signature: ..... ]
"Do you have anything to add?!"
"..."
Nyla's expression brightened. She shook her head in refusal of any additions and took the quill without a single question. However, before handing her the writing quill and ink, Elion said calmly:
"The ink is magical; it is a contract bound by life..."
"And is there a problem with that?!"
"No. Sign..."
Nyla signed her name and handed the contract back to Elion with a happy smile on her face. Elion felt bewildered, thinking to himself:
'Does she love this child to the point that she is fine with forfeiting her life...?'
"Hans, escort her to her room..."
"By Your Majesty's command..."
Victor bowed and motioned for Nyla to follow him. But before Nyla departed, she looked at Elion calmly and said:
"Do you need to speak with me, Archduke?!"
"..."
Elion looked at her with vacant eyes, but in Nyla's view, she knew they carried much. She ignored his silence and said with a playful smile...
"We have plenty of time to talk..."
Elion nodded instinctively, and Nyla's smile widened, while Victor stood in a state of astonishment. However, he loved what was happening before him, thinking:
'I will do anything for this man to become a living human being again...'
* * *
After they left the office, Nyla asked Victor as they headed to the third floor:
"Does Damian know about this?!"
"No, I couldn't tell him.."
"That's good; it will be a happy surprise for him tomorrow..."
"I agree with you.."
Nyla looked at Hans with a smile and a scrutinizing gaze, saying:
"Do you feel hatred toward me?!"
"I don't know my feelings, but I certainly don't hate you much, Miss Harvey..."
"I see why the Archduke keeps you by his side... a person with vision.."
"I thank you for your praise, My Lady..."
"But Viscount Hans, you must be careful... even if you find many, many secrets, there are still more... protecting De Walter is the duty of every individual within it..."
"Do you believe there are traitors other than yourself who wanted to destroy De Walter?!"
"Other than me, they intend harm.."
"Do you know them?!"
"Currently, no... but I will know them very well."
"I would be happy to exchange information with you, Miss Harvey..."
"As would I... regarding the two maids... could you let them stay with me a little longer?"
"In any case, I was going to place them under your command.."
"Thank you..."
Hans smiled, puzzled as to why the Grand Duke had changed his mind about making Nyla Harvey Damian's nanny after saying the opposite. He thought he would ask him at some point...
* * *
The room Nyla was left in front of was luxurious in every sense of the word. Not that she hadn't seen such things before; being the personal nanny to the heir is considered a privilege deserved only by the families most loyal to the Archduke, who is considered a greater power even than the Imperial Family...
"How may we serve the Lady?!..."
The two maids stood with their heads bowed before her, waiting for her orders. Nyla looked at Celine and then at the other maid who had spoken, saying thoughtfully...
"What is your name?!..."
"Martha. My name is Martha, My Lady..."
"Good..."
"..."
"..."
"Martha and Celine, you will be in my service starting today... Mmm... I want us to be friends and hide nothing from one another..."
The two maids grew flustered when Nyla stood between them, as she was shorter and a bit younger than them..
"Certainly, My Lady..."
The maids spoke while Nyla grabbed them both firmly by their arms, smiling gently despite the strength with which she held them...
"But if I find out you are hiding something from me... I will be sad... very..."
"..."
"..."
At her last word, she gripped them tightly. They swallowed hard and nodded in agreement, tears nearly pricking their eyes...
"I shall leave myself in your care..."
The maids bowed, and Celine spoke despite her trembling voice...
"Shall I prepare the bath, My Lady?!..."
"Very well..."
"I shall prepare the clothes while you take your bath, My Lady.."
The other was also trembling but tried to remain steady. Nyla waved her hands as if to say, do as you wish...
The two maids moved in unison while Nyla arranged her simple belongings in the drawer...
"The bath is ready..."
"Fine..."
"..."
"I will go in alone..."
Celine stepped back while Nyla entered the bathroom alone. It was prepared with great care—a bath with flowers and aromatic oils. Nyla felt refreshed, and as the warmth of the water relaxed her body, it began to push her mind toward deep thought..
She didn't particularly desire servants, but she would be Damian's strength and support within the Grand Duchy. A child without a mother is vulnerable to harm and bullying, especially since the family of the late Duchess evaded the matter to ensure their reputation's safety, and the Duchess was declared dead. As for her, she had no family to support her in helping Damian; all she had left of the House of Harvey was her father, while her mother was of common origin. It was true that Amanda would try to protect Damian, but her authority was limited...
Nyla took a deep breath and finally finished her bath, stepping out to find the two maids ready with new and luxurious sleepwear. Nyla sighed when she found the maids hadn't moved from their spots...
"I will finish everything alone; you may leave..."
Despite their confusion, the maids finally exited. It wasn't that Nyla wasn't used to servants, but she liked doing everything herself. In her previous life, she had been of the social elite; despite her harsh life, she lived in luxury, though it was stifling. In this world, she received intense care from her parents, so this wasn't foreign to her... but life in the countryside had made her tougher and stronger...
"Now let's think, how shall I surprise Dami?!..."
She smiled excitedly to herself, wanting nothing more than to pinch her child's cheeks and stroke his hair, but she suppressed her excitement to surprise him in the morning...
* * *
"You must finish your plate, Young Master..."
He had almost finished his plate, but the peas remained entirely untouched. Amanda sighed after her futile attempt...
"Young Master, if you finish your entire plate, I have a surprise for you..."
"..."
"..."
Amanda and Damian turned toward the source of the voice; it was Victor, smiling enthusiastically. Damian tilted his head in confusion, so Victor stepped forward and whispered in his ear...
"You will see Miss Harvey..."
"Really?!..."
Damian's expression brightened, and he quickly finished the rest of his plate, wiped his mouth, and said excitedly:
"I'm finished. Take me to see my mother.."
When Damian stood up stubbornly, Victor smiled playfully and said, looking at Amanda with confidence:
"My Lady, will you follow me as well?!.."
Victor wanted to deliver a message to his aunt. Amanda didn't understand yet, and Damian moved beside Victor with an excited face. What was strange to both him and Amanda was that the destination was inside the mansion, not outside...
* * * She had eaten her meal and dressed in the clothes prepared for her. They were simple in design but made of very luxurious materials..
'This is what was meant when "clothing" was written....'
Nyla didn't care much for clothes, even in her previous life; the most important goal was cleanliness and a good appearance...
She prepared excitedly to leave the room and head to the dining hall to meet Damian. The two maids followed her loyally. Before she even descended the stairs, she found the child standing at the bottom with wide eyes. Without any preamble, Damian rushed up the stairs enthusiastically until he hugged Nyla, who in turn patted him warmly...
"I didn't believe Mr. Hans at first.. I am happy"
"..."
Nyla found no words to truly describe her happiness. She now had the chance to stay beside this beautiful child and watch him grow before her eyes..
"Mom, how did you come here?!.."
"Young Master... Mrs. Harvey, from now on, has become Your Highness's personal nanny..."
"Really?!..."
When Hans looked at the bright face of the child before him, he felt a warmth in his heart. This mansion had been cold for many years, and he loved the presence of this warm being. He looked around, sensing the presence of ears that would spread the news throughout the mansion, then smiled at his Young Master and said with his chin held high:
"His Majesty has granted the Lady the honor of caring for the Young Master and the respect of the House of De Walter... so any insult to Mrs. Harvey is an insult to De Walter..."
Damian opened his mouth in awe, very excited, and looked at Nyla as if to say, "Did you hear?" Nyla smiled affectionately at the beautiful child..
"Because my beautiful little one is dear to everyone's heart... you are their master whom they love"
Damian rejoiced sincerely, holding his mother's hand and glowing with happiness as he hurried with her into his room so his mother could see it..
Nyla was happy that the child was smiling so joyfully...
"He never looked at the room before... it seems he was waiting for the Lady..."
Nyla turned toward the source of the voice; it was Amanda, bowing her head in a sort of submission. Nyla realized the weight of the betrayal she had caused Amanda—the heart that had embraced her in this mansion...
She knew it would be difficult for everything to return to the way it was, but that didn't mean it was impossible. She took a deep breath and spoke kindly:
"Lady Amanda can call me by my name..."
"That would be overstepping my position, My Lady..."
Nyla felt frustrated. She decided to act slowly and deliberately, but that didn't mean she wouldn't start by acting firmly first and then letting things resolve slowly...
"Lady Amanda, I truly apologize... I cannot tell you anything..."
Nyla bowed to Amanda with total sincerity, which made Amanda feel tense and unable to respond. Hans smiled playfully; he realized the woman before him was cunning, but he didn't expect her to be this stubborn...
He stifled his laughter, and to bring everyone back to reality, he spoke calmly to Damian:
"Young Master.. your lesson starts in half an hour..."
"What?!... I don't want to"
Hans loved the rebellious and stubborn side of the child, but he still loved discipline in life. He looked at the child as if to say there was no room for negotiation..
"Mom..."
Damian looked with puppy eyes at his mother, who seemed to be even firmer than Hans. She said:
"No room for argument..."
"..."
Damian pouted cutely, and Nyla's heart softened. She looked at her child with a warm smile, then looked at Victor and said in a pleading tone:
"Mr. Hans, could you please ask Mr. Winson to finish Damian's lesson a little faster..."
Hans felt relieved that Nyla liked to spoil his master moderately, which was positive. He looked at his Young Master and said:
"I will speak with Mr. Winson. Perhaps if the Young Master puts in better effort today, he will be dismissed early..."
"I will finish the lesson faster than you can imagine.."
Damian lifted his chin defiantly while addressing Victor. Victor smiled at the cute stubbornness and said in a challenging way:
"We shall see..."
Damian hugged his mother tightly then left the room. Before Hans left to follow his Young Master, he spoke as if remembering something:
"The Lady may wander or do anything to entertain herself until the Young Master's lesson is over.."
"Thank you.."
Nyla smiled gracefully, and when no one remained in the room but her and the two maids, she began to wander the room contemplatively. While she was fiddling with one of the writing quills, Martha and Celine looked at each other, and then Martha, the bolder one, spoke...
"My Lady..."
"..."
Nyla turned without words and looked directly into the faces of Martha and Celine. Celine gathered her courage and said:
"Lina Franz is spreading bad rumors about the Lady..."
Celine grew flustered when Nyla raised an eyebrow in inquiry. She looked at her colleague, who spoke with a trembling voice:
"She says the Lady is seeking the position of Archduchess, and that the Lady's intentions are not pure..."
Nyla laughed with a sense of satisfaction. Lina hated her intensely, but she didn't know that her childish jealousy would sometimes help her...
"Let her spread whatever she likes..."
"..."
"..."
They looked at her and then at each other; the girls felt truly puzzled. Nyla knew that these two maids were new, having arrived after the kidnapping incident. Not just them, but more than two-thirds of the servants had been changed, and those who left were silenced either by threat or enticement, and certainly magic. As for those who remained, they were among those who had served the Grand Duchy for generations... the vast majority did not know its true nature, nor how Lina had spared no effort to tarnish her reputation, whether in the past or the present..
"Mmm, since the child is working hard, why not reward him with some delicious sweets?!.."
...... To be continued ......