I Possessed As A Childcare Extra Chapter 19

“Young master Narkis.”

Kyle quickly bowed in greeting.

Dressed in riding clothes, Narkis looked down at us from atop his black horse.

Was it the sunlight? His red eyes looked darker than usual.

Even without an expression, the backlit Narkis looked terrifying. Why did he look so murderous?

His left eye narrowed. It took me forever to realize— I’d been staring!

I hurriedly bowed my head. I could feel his sharp gaze stabbing into my scalp… my poor crown…

“Kyle.”

Narkis dismounted, boots crunching on the dirt as he called out. Kyle replied as if he already knew the question.

“Lord Aaeon gave the order.”

He didn’t add anything else. Well, it would be awkward to say Aaeon was a hopeless, overprotective dad.

“And is it also His Excellency’s order that the lady’s maid does laundry like a housemaid?”

This one was just as bad—an obsessive little-brother type. He caught anything that could tarnish his sister’s honor like a hawk.

“No, this was just something I—”

“It sounds like an explanation is in order.”

Narkis cut me off and issued an order.

“We’ll talk as we walk. Follow me. Annie—just you.”

He singled me out again… Guess I’m getting interrogated.

I considered making an excuse about laundry, but Narkis handed it off to a passing maid before I could speak.

I hurried after him, bracing myself. Surely he wouldn’t pour tea on me again… right?

But the first thing Narkis said when we entered the room wasn’t “How dare a maid behave like a servant—do you value your life so little?”

Instead he asked:

“Have you known Kyle for a long time?”

What kind of tactic was this?

“You two seemed close.”

Was he trying to lower my guard before biting my head off?

“If answering is difficult, you don’t have to.”

What? This young master was telling me not to answer? His tone was different. Was I imagining things?

And why… did he prepare tea?

I sat awkwardly on the sofa I had once struggled to clean, staring at a two-person tea set. The two-tier tray even had scones and finger foods.

Was he bribing me…? No, this wasn’t psycho behavior.

A truth serum, then?

I sneaked a look across from me. Narkis sat with perfect posture, eyes fixed on me.

“There’s no poison.”

How did he know I was thinking that?

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll drink first.”

Just like last time, his pale hand lifted the teapot.

Pour—. The sound made me flinch.

This time both cups were poured exactly to the proper amount, as if measured with a ruler.

And it wasn’t black tea. It was apple mint tea.

“I heard you don’t like black tea.”

My fist clenched. That was because of YOU!

“It’s because of me, right.”

“Gasp!”

How did he know?!

“It’s written on your face.”

While I clutched my chest, gasping, Narkis calmly drank his tea.

“You see? You’re not dead.”

“Um…”

Why was he doing this? Worried it might show, I lowered my gaze.

“Th-thank you… for the tea.”

I reluctantly took a sip. Sweet and refreshing, yet it didn’t go down smoothly.

“Do you want me to check something else too?”

“N-no, I’m fine.”

I grabbed a random cookie and ate it.

“Is it good?”

“Yeees…”

It was good. I might get indigestion though.

“So, since when did you know?”

“Huh?”

“Kyle.”

Why did that follow with a “so”? He said I didn’t have to answer! Why was he so fixated on Kyle?

Oh—I get it. He didn’t like that I was close to his precious sister’s guard. Was he afraid Kyle would save me first in a crisis?

Don’t worry! Tricen’s ruthless hound will protect the lady first! I’ll survive on my own! Wahaha…

Please let me become a Sword Master too. So I can definitely survive. I don’t want to train, so preferably in the “I woke up one morning and I was a Sword Master?” way.

I was muttering my usual useless prayers when I realized—

I still hadn’t taken revenge for three years’ worth of stuff.

I forgot because of that grown man’s body. Attacking with your body because your face is off-limits?

“Why would I have any reason to know a knight, young master?”

Annoyed, I viciously chewed on a scone.

Just wait, Kyle. Reciting your embarrassing nicknames was only the beginning. Next time I’ll pretend I’ll blow away with one puff of your breath. Hehehe…

Fueled by determination—even if it meant using cringe memories—

“Annie.”

“Mmm?”

I answered with both cheeks stuffed full of scone.

Narkis’s eyes curved gently.

“Why are you lying?”

Thud. I dropped the half-eaten scone.

“Mmph— I-I wasn’t wying…”

“Then what?”

Narkis’s smile deepened. And he hadn’t repeated the same question this time!

I chugged my tea to force the scone down and barely managed to open my mouth.

“That’s… I just happened to get to know him.”

“ ‘Just happened’ to get to know the Lord direct knight?”

It worked on the young lady, though.

“Well… we just met by chance while I was doing laundry.”

Saying it made me irritated. That was your fault too!

“Three years ago?”

“Wow, young master, can you read minds or something?”

“No, nothing like that.”

Narkis smiled brightly.

“Sounds like I got it right.”

His face was literally glowing, so why did I feel like I was being hit with dark magic? Aaaagh…

As I silently groaned, Narkis set down his teacup and asked:

“Did you resent me?”

Is that even a question?

My past life ended early in my mid-twenties. This life, I’m still a teen. Even with two lifetimes combined, I haven’t suffered that much hardship, but your tyranny easily ranks in my top 30 most miserable experiences.

“You can resent me.”

Why was he so confident? I already resent you!

“As long as you don’t avoid me.”

Are you kidding? If avoiding you actually worked, I wouldn’t have been dragged here in the first place…

“Not that you could avoid me anyway.”

Stop reading my mind!

Was he doing this on purpose?

Judging by all the accumulated data so far, Narkis was intentionally provoking me.

Why? Was he hoping that if I got mad and flipped the table he’d have an excuse to kick me out? As if it would end with just kicking me out!

“I’ll compensate you.”

“Compensate… me?”

Was he seriously offering material compensation for bullying me?

“Is there something you want?”

“Well… I dunno. A pay raise?”

“That’s a given.”

His tone basically said, ‘You already got promoted.’ My heart pounded.

Then something more than a raise? Some kind of big-money apology?

What… what could it be?

Let’s match the scale of our young master.

A gold bar? A blank check? Or… land? Getting land would make me a retainer, right? Nope, land is out!

“…Haa.”

A faint sigh.

Narkis’s face was calm, but it clearly said, ‘Whatever nonsense you’re imagining, it’s pathetic.’

You said you’d compensate me! Isn’t that what compensation means??

But… why am I sitting like this?

Before I knew it, both my fists were pressed against my mouth. My face must be bright red even without looking. So warm. So embarrassing.

Okay, I can see why he’d pity me. I slowly lowered my hands and folded them politely.

Narkis pretended not to notice. That was gentlemanly of him.

“Think it over slowly. The family council is coming up soon.”

Family council? Oh, the clan meeting.

Once every six months, the Tricen direct line, branch line, and retainers all gathered.

What did that have to do with me? I just needed to work quietly and blend into the background like always.

“It does have to do with you,” Narkis stated firmly. He was reading minds.

“Me?”

“You’re Edel’s maid.”

Oh, right. But why would that matter?

I looked at him cautiously, and Narkis frowned slightly. Well, I can’t know everything.

“It’ll be the first council held without His Lord present.”

“Ohh.”

“No one knows what kind of sudden actions people might take.”

“Oho.”

“You need to be especially careful.”

“Waaah.”

“…If you don’t understand, ask questions.”

“Question! Why do I have to be careful? Am I going to get dragged into some political scheme or something?”

Narkis’s jaw tightened. I blinked, not knowing why. His eyes narrowed at me.

“Oh come on, no way?”

I tested the waters. No way, right? Why would I be part of some scheme?

Narkis didn’t answer. Instead, he asked:

“Who do you think Edel is?”

“Who else? She’s obviously our li—!”

Narkis raised one eyebrow. That meant, ‘What nonsense are you about to say?’

That was close. I almost said “our childcare-novel protagonist!” I confidently switched to the model answer.

“The Tricen Ducal House’s! One and only!”

“…”

“Lady…”

“…”

“…Lady.”

“You know well.”

The Tricen Ducal House’s one and only lady. And the protagonist of a childcare novel. She was absolutely, unquestionably destined to walk the path of political strife!

And I was her maid. The palace maid who gets beaten first and dies in her place.

Oh divine spirit of transmigration, please answer my prayers. I desperately need a “Sword Aura UP just by breathing!” blessing…

“You really can’t hide your expressions, can you.”

Unaware that my life was practically hanging by a thread, Narkis shook his head. My expression probably looked like I was already dead, or soon would be.

“What do I do?” Please tell me how to survive, young master.

Narkis blinked slowly and began with the obvious.

“Don’t leave Edel’s side. Not even for a moment.”

I nodded intensely.

“And your speech.”

Nod nod!

“Don’t speak unless someone asks you a question.”

Nod nod nod! I’ve practiced holding my tongue plenty! Facing the Tricen family is scarier than anything else. I’ve even gone toe-to-toe with the strongest in the world. I’m Annie—the maid who held a private audience with the master and lived!

…Maybe I don’t need “Sword Aura UP by breathing.” I’m already trained just by surviving daily life.

“Don’t give out any information that isn’t objective. Absolutely none.”

“Objective… information?”

“No matter what anyone says, say you don’t know.”

I had practiced that too. Without hope, I muttered:

“You mean even if someone puts a knife to my throat, I should still say that…?”

Even if I’m taken hostage, I guess I have to. I’m a loyal maid after all…

“Why would a knife ever reach your throat when I’m here?”