I Possessed As A Childcare Extra Chapter 33

Narkis asked quietly,

“Brienne. Do you think Annie likes going on a long journey?”

“If it’s the Annie I know, she’d probably hate it.”

It was an easy question. Anyone who knew Annie even a little could answer it.

“Then why doesn’t she show even the slightest sign of disliking it?”

Was this a problem only he couldn’t solve?

“Did she not?”

At Brienne’s counterquestion, Narkis changed the topic.

“Do you think Annie could hide her dislike for me?”

“If she could, you wouldn’t have noticed that she dislikes you in the first place.”

It was a clear answer.

“And you wouldn’t have noticed that she dislikes me either.”

Brienne continued calmly and lifted the corners of his mouth.

“So don’t be too hurt. Miss Annie dislikes us both equally.”

Hurt? He didn’t even feel like scoffing. There was no point wondering if the degree was the same. Annie disliked Brienne because of him. Still—

“Why does she look so… lighthearted?”

Only after saying it did he realize. Annie had been compliant because she felt relieved.

‘Relieved about what?’

From here on, it was a mystery again.

“Well, if we make a positive guess… maybe Miss Annie has finally opened her heart to you?”

Brienne’s silly remark wasn’t helpful at all. Narkis replied flatly.

“If you spout nonsense one more time, I’ll fire you.”

“That sounds nice. I’ll build a tower in the forest and live in seclusion.”

Ignoring the grinning Brienne, Narkis sat down in his chair.

‘Opened her heart…’

Impossible.

Even as he firmly reached that conclusion, the spring of Irendil came to mind.

Lilacs in full bloom.

January 17th. The young lady’s twelfth birthday dawned.

The young lady who had looked like an angel the night before descended under the sunlight as a god of light. Her braided golden hair looked like a halo of adulthood. With diamond accessories adorning her here and there, she was dazzling even in a biological sense.

There was no time to sob and crawl on the floor.

“I’m here to get you, Edel.”

“I got here first, you bastard!”

Brother-obsessed idiots never changed, no matter their age.

“You’re dazzlingly beautiful.”

“Aaah! Put me down right now!”

No—he’d gotten worse.

As planned, Narkis had become a sword master and could freely wield sword energy.

I hadn’t known it could be used like telekinesis. According to him, Leoni, who should have arrived first, was now stuck somewhere beyond the door.

“You crazy— I swear I’ll— you insane— aaagh! Damn it!”

A monstrous scream rang out, like he was holding back because the young lady was present. Narkis, acting as if he heard nothing, extended his hand.

“Will you grant me the honor of escorting you today?”

Maybe because I’d only ever seen him buried in paperwork in the office, Narkis looked unfamiliar in a black formal suit.

The face that once looked like a mythical pretty boy had grown firm and sharp over five years. Its graceful lines remained, leaving him poised on the boundary between boy and man.

And something I hadn’t noticed when he was younger…

His lips were unusually red.

Did all his blood vessels gather there? His face was pale, yet only his lips were vividly red—it made no sense. And why were they so full?

…What am I even thinking right now? Why am I staring at his lips?

Different thoughts! Healthy, proper thoughts!

I hurriedly looked away—and met crimson eyes. Just as red as his lips.

Narkis had been looking at me even before I looked at him.

“Get away from Edel, you dog—!”

A scream shook my head. I quickly lowered my gaze.

The young lady placed her small hand in Narkis’s and suggested,

“Can’t you put Leoni down?”

Narkis asked gracefully,

“Edel, can you see Leoni?”

Well… no, she couldn’t.

“You lun—!”

As Leoni went mute again, the young lady stated her opinion clearly.

“It’s my birthday, and I don’t like seeing my brothers fight. Let’s all go in together, getting along.”

Narkis’s eyes curved slowly. He was angry.

“My sister is too kind.”

The moment he finished speaking, Leoni dropped down outside the door as if he’d popped into existence. A perfect landing. His slicked-back black hair and suit were neat, without a wrinkle.

Leoni lifted his blazing red eyes.

“Ha… you bastard…”

I thought he’d stride over and smack the back of Narkis’s head.

“I’m holding back because of Edel.”

He only growled. He acted more like a gentleman now that he was older—though he was still just seventeen.

“Congratulations, Leoni. Thanks to Edel, you get to walk into the hall.”

“Shut— can’t you be quiet?”

The young lady put an end to the flashy exchange.

“If you keep this up, I’ll go in with Annie instead.”

She still used me as leverage. But the days when Narkis and Leoni would glare at me intensely were long gone.

Now, I wasn’t even in their sight.

“Sorry, Edel.”

“My fault. Don’t be mad.”

Narkis and Leoni apologized at the same time, each offering an arm—left and right.

Shaking her head, the young lady placed one hand on each arm. The brother-obsessed idiots smiled warmly, as if they’d never fought at all.

The pure-white young lady between her brothers in black suits looked like a child bride.

Would the ending of this childcare story also lead to marriage? She’d choose a male lead soon enough. I should at least attend her wedding. That was still ten years away, though.

“Ms. Annie is quite something too.”

While the Tricen siblings drew everyone’s attention, a gentle voice spoke up. It was Reina.

“I’m impressed. I didn’t expect you to stay in that position for so long.”

“Ah, um, yes.”

I thought she was being sarcastic.

“Even though you weren’t ready, you’ve grown that much. That’s worth acknowledging.”

Did she mean I’d worked hard for someone who got in through connections?

“It’s thanks to you, Miss Reina.”

After Cecil left, Reina was the only one I could ask for advice. She didn’t like me much, but she still taught me properly.

“You must’ve had many difficult moments.”

It sounded like there were many meanings behind her words. Cleaning up after the men in a childcare story was one headache, but a few years ago, there had also been servants who harassed me.

“I was able to get through those thanks to you too.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

Reina feigned ignorance, but I knew she’d stopped people from bothering me.

“I just wanted to say thank you.”

I replied awkwardly. It had been a long time since Reina spoke to me first, and I got oddly excited—like I’d been drinking at noon.

“Um… Miss Annie.”

Reina, uncharacteristically hesitant, added quietly,

“It would be wise to be a little more alert of your surroundings.”

With that, she went after the young lady.

What was that about, all of a sudden?

I didn’t have time to think for long. The hem of the young lady’s dress was already disappearing beyond the door.

 

 

****

 

 

The central hall was packed with guests who had risked their lives to come.

“I can’t believe Lady Edel is already twelve.”

A noblewoman with captivating violet eyes dabbed her tears with a handkerchief.

“It feels like just yesterday I was changing her diapers…… sniff.”

It was Cecil, now Countess Seymour. She hadn’t retired to raise a child, but to carry on her family line.

Her husband, whom she used to complain about—asking what on earth he even did at home—was exactly as she’d described him.

‘A modest blond beauty we found in the South, hohoho.’

Her ten-year-old son, Lucas Seymour, took after his father completely, with blond hair and green eyes.

In other words, he looked very much like our young lady. Far more like a sibling than those pale, dark, or red Tricen men.

“I’m already twelve, so I wish you’d stop talking about diapers.”

Now properly aristocratic, the young lady replied with a gentle face and a sharp tongue.

“But you’ll always be my baby.”

“That baby has grown into a child who knows how to take care of her own bodily needs.”

“My goodness. When did you become such a sharp, clever child? Please grow up just a little more slowly.”

Cecil sniffed playfully, but she seemed genuinely regretful too. After greeting the count, the young lady turned her gaze to the little heir.

“Hello, Luca.”

And this was something everyone knew.

“How have you been?”

Lucas disliked the young lady. Even with his stiff, distant manners, she simply laughed it off.

“Thank you for coming today.”

Once, when the young lady told him he could speak more casually, Lucas had asked,

‘Is that an order?’

‘Uh…… no, it’s not.’

‘Then I’ll continue speaking like this.’

Everyone also knew why Lucas disliked her. He must have felt from a young age that she’d taken his mother away.

The young lady paid a great deal of attention to Lucas. In the original story, he was a tragic villain who tried to assassinate Serpin and died for it.

And that was because he’d been bewitched by Delia. Despite that official setting, Lucas clearly disliked the young lady.

She never explained how Delia had seduced Lucas. Judging by her bitter expression…… it probably hadn’t been anything wholesome.

Rather than using him, the young lady wanted to guide Lucas onto the right path—so he could live a normal life without killing anyone.

Lucas avoided her gaze with a sulky expression. Then, by chance, his eyes met mine.

Attempted murder is a no-no, okay? Hoping Cecil’s son would grow up properly, I smiled brightly.

Lucas flinched and bowed his head. He hid behind Cecil’s skirt, looking almost shy. Cute.

I couldn’t hide my fond smile—until I felt a sharp stare.

When I turned my head, Narkis, surrounded by his attendants, was looking straight at me.

What was he staring at? His deep eyes narrowed. Did I do something wrong?

As I ran through my mistakes in my head, a commotion broke out near the entrance.

A tall man was striding forward, rising above the crowd.