I Possessed As A Childcare Extra Chapter 28

It was the first time I’d ever called her that. Even if the young lady treated me affectionately, I couldn’t treat her the same way. If it slipped out in front of others, it would get annoying in all sorts of ways.

The young lady looked a little hurt, but also seemed to understand my position.

But suddenly, love?

She had looked at me and Holly sticking together with a weird expression. Was she jealous of that?

Still, a maid clinging to her lady and saying, “My lady, marry me!” is something that only happens in novels…

KWAANG!

“Annieeee!”

Holly, who flew in like she was about to break down the door, shattered my train of thought.

“Gasp, my lady! I’m sorry…!”

Holly bowed her head in apology, and the young lady replied in Imperial language.

“…Isss oh-kay.”

…Why does she sound grumpy?

“Holly rushed in as soon as she heard the young lady was here. She must’ve been very worried about Annie.”

Cecil came in with a smile. Her sharply curved lips seemed to say, ‘I told you to enter quietly.’

“There’s plenty of ice, so it’ll stay cold all night. Holly brought wash water too.”

On the small cabinet beside the bed, she placed a bucket of ice, a water bottle, and a basin.

“Thank you…”

“You’re welcome. Now then…”

Cecil, turning like an actress, wrapped an arm around the young lady’s shoulders.

“Lady Edel, it’s time to sleep.”

“Aweddy?”

“Of course. See, even the sun has gone to sleep.”

Well, it was dark outside… Baby-talk was hard to get used to.

The young lady grumbled back.

“Can’t I stay wit Annie more?”

“You can see her after the sun wakes up. Good children grow big and strong by sleeping early.”

“…I don’t hafta be good.”

Cecil’s smiling face stiffened. I felt like I should read off a newspaper headline: Shocking truth… Lady Edel declares she does not want to be a good child.

I stepped in for the broken Cecil.

“You need to grow tall and strong, my lady. That way you’ll be able to protect me.”

I’d protect myself, of course, but children need to sleep.

“…Hmph.”

Now it was my turn to glitch. Did the young lady just snort?

“Fine. Goodnight.”

“Sleep well…?”

She hopped off the chair and went thump-thump toward the door. Her little back somehow looked sulky. Why was she upset?

Cecil snapped out of it at the last moment and hurried after her.

“Then rest well, Miss Annie. Lady Edel, just a moment…!”

Looks like she was pretty shocked. Well, fair enough…

“Annieeeee!”

“Wait—ugh!”

Holly once again crashed into me, wrapping me up as though she meant to squeeze my neck.

“Hic… Annie…”

As I tried to catch my breath, Holly shook, shoulders trembling as she wept.

She must have been really worried. I hugged her, telling her I was fine and that she didn’t need to cry.

“You… are… an idiot?”

“…What?”

A word far fiercer than the young lady’s “dummy” shot at me—

SMACK SMACK!

“Idiot! Idiot!”

“Ow! Ow!”

She hit my back with far more force than any cotton-ball fist.

“I heard everything! You said you’d stay behind?!”

“D-did I? Did I say that?”

“If the young lady! Goes to the restroom! You just follow! No backtalk!”

“I was wrong! Ow! I said I was wrong! Ow!”

She hit me once every single word, perfectly on beat. Unsatisfied, she grabbed my shoulders.

“Why would you stick yourself in the middle of nobles fighting?!”

“I’m sorry…”

I shook helplessly as she shook me back and forth.

It may have been to protect the young lady’s dignity, but surely there was a smarter way to handle it. I didn’t know how to sass Freda and then follow the young lady out.

“What can you even do without the young lady?!”

“Good question…”

Extras don’t accomplish anything without the protagonist.

Honestly, I hadn’t been planning to do anything. I just went with the flow and let the inevitable happen. If I had any role at all, that would be it.

Wanting it to end with me… wasn’t about disrupting the storyline—it was just because I wanted the young lady to get hurt less.

As if I could stop anything. This world would move the way it was written no matter what I did.

“You said you were going to train your cheek for this?!”

“Um, well…”

I didn’t even try to defend myself by saying I didn’t expect to get hit three times in a row.

Holly’s dark-brown eyes glistened with tears.

“I’m sorry.”

“Annie, you really…”

“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

Biting her lip to hold back tears, Holly snapped:

“If you don’t want to cry, then swear, or get angry! At least complain!”

I almost asked, Do I really have to?

“Don’t act like it’s nothing.”

Hearing that, I closed my mouth.

Only then did I realize how my attitude—acting like I’d simply endured what was inevitable—might look to others.

“Don’t try to comfort me. I’m the one who’s going to comfort you.”

Holly forced the words out between trembling breaths. I felt guilty toward everyone who sincerely worried for me.

“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t apologize, just take my comfort!”

She bumped her forehead into my shoulder.

I almost patted her back but let her pat mine instead. I had to quietly accept the comfort.

“You got it?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Did you REALLY?”

“Yes, yes.”

After a deep breath, I said the first thing I wanted to say.

“My… my cheek almost exploded.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“It really hurt. I’ve never been hit like that in my life…”

“…Even throwing her into a blazing pit would be too kind for that woman…”

Held warmly in Holly’s arms, I listened to her curses toward Freda. Her voice was terrifying—but somehow, it sounded like a lullaby.

 

 

*****

 

 

 

Knock, knock. I heard someone tapping on the window.

Only then did I realize I’d dozed off.

Holly must have gone back to her room—there was no sign of her. And there I was, lying there like some pampered noble, blanket neatly pulled up to my chin. Holly must’ve tucked me in.

Who was knocking on the window? Maybe I heard it in a dream.

No more knocks came, but I called out just in case.

“…Young master?”

I let out a dry laugh.

As if.

“You’re awake?”

When a reply came, I opened my eyes and stopped breathing.

To the right of my pillow.

Narkis, who had silently opened the window, was stepping onto the floor.

“I thought you were asleep.”

“Why? Why are you here…?”

Words wouldn’t come out. He knew very well the young lady’s room was next door. Did he come to see me again? Sneaking in while I slept?

“Why would you…?”

Narkis tilted his head calmly.

“Leoni told me to give you medicine.”

Give me what? The stuff he put on my arm before? Is that thing some kind of miracle cure? A balm that heals bruises, bumps, and guarantees three generations of health and longevity?

Why are you delivering it?

I couldn’t handle the multiplying question marks and scooted toward the wall. If the bed hadn’t been placed away from the corner, I would’ve rolled right off.

Moonlight poured over Narkis as he stood before the window. His white hair tinted blue, his pale skin, his crimson eyes—none of it ever felt familiar.

Was he even human? A normal person definitely wasn’t. The surreal sight made me forget how to breathe.

What has he been staring at all this time?

The answer appeared soon enough. His gaze was fixed on the small cabinet, and he picked up the water bottle.

“That’s my wash water…”

I opened my mouth too late. Drip, drip… The sound of water falling into the basin felt strangely cold. Then he slipped off his gloves one by one and dipped his hands into it. Splash, splash. Washing his hands?

Before I could even react to his obsessive hygiene, he poured more water. This time, he soaked a handkerchief. Even in the dark, it gleamed suspiciously. A luxury item far nicer than any cloth I owned.

As I held my breath and watched, his red eyes turned toward me—me, pressed flat against the wall.

“…”

What? WHAT?

“…Haa.”

He sighed?

Then he sat in the chair beside my bed.

“…”

“…”

His steady gaze continued. I had nowhere left to retreat.

“Come here.”

Please let me have misheard.

I couldn’t pretend not to notice that gaze anymore.

I lifted my body slightly and edged over. I only moved far enough to peel myself off the wall, but it was already too close. If I rolled over once, I’d land in his lap.

“Closer.”

The proper distance between a maid and a young master had been crossed ages ago, but I had no right to refuse. Hands clasped like in prayer, I shifted again.

“Turn your head.”

I’d been desperately staring at the wall. Slowly, I turned my head—past the ceiling, to the right.

My eyes fluttered shut as Narkis reached out.

The cool, damp luxury handkerchief touched my left cheek. He wasn’t wiping me as much as gliding over me—like my skin might scratch his precious cloth.

Why on earth is the heir of a ducal house wiping a maid’s cheek?

Frozen with half-lidded eyes, I saw his sleeve slip down, revealing his pale wrist.

Oh dear lord… I quickly looked away as though I’d witnessed something forbidden, then immediately felt wronged. What did I do to deserve this kind of situation?

Just as a groan was about to leak out, his hand withdrew. I thought this mysterious ritual was finally over.

Click. The medicine container opened.

You said you came to give it to me. If you came to give it, then just hand it over—what are you—

No. Don’t do it, Narkis.

Young master! Get a hold of yourself! Maintain your dignity!

My soul’s desperate struggle was useless. His fingertips, coated with ointment, touched my cheek.

My heart pounded so wildly I wondered if I might die. But him noticing my state wasn’t the problem.

The young master was applying medicine to a maid’s cheek with his bare hands!

Yes, the lady’s hit had been a bit sharp. Yes, my cheek was slightly scratched. But how does that justify the young master himself applying ointment?! Can a duke’s heir behave like this? Duke of the North! Your son is far too casual about decorum! Save me!

No matter how my soul thrashed, Narkis quietly and steadily spread the miracle balm across my skin.