Chapter 19
Among all the people I’d worked with during my office years, there had been someone exactly like Chloe.
She’d joined the company one year before me, and everyone called her the “complete package.”
There was no point arguing with someone like that. The only thing it accomplished was draining the other person’s mental energy. The best approach was simply not to engage with her seriously.
There was a saying:
You don’t avoid filth because you’re afraid of it—you avoid it because it’s filthy.
Quite a few coworkers had quit their jobs because of her.
Unfortunately…
I couldn’t quit this job.
Nor could I simply ignore the challenge that had been thrown at me like some kind of test.
As for enduring it…
“Absolutely not.”
I already knew, down to my bones, exactly how people like that could drive someone insane.
So I’d decided to confront the problem in a different way.
If I couldn’t leave…
Then I’d make Chloe leave.
Chloe would eventually help Cheres during the war.
That part of her destiny absolutely couldn’t be altered.
After digging through my memories, I finally remembered that Lady El had married the second son of House Oyster and later managed the trading company’s branch in the Kingdom of Ivelique.
The moment I remembered that…
I knew exactly what to do with Chloe.
Of course, even if Chloe would eventually become something of a villain…
I couldn’t completely erase her role.
What if changing her future caused us to lose the war?
A shiver ran through me.
Absolutely not.
“Kyah! Nya!”
“Ah.”
I’d been so lost in thought that I’d stopped watching Hayden.
Fresh from his bath, his fair little face seemed even brighter than usual as he enthusiastically practiced walking.
He was gripping the sofa and toddling along.
His legs were surprisingly strong.
The muscles in his little calves were already visible.
If this had been Korea, those national-treasure legs would’ve been sent straight into a youth soccer league.
After walking a short distance…
He simply turned and stared at me.
Why is he looking at me like that?
What does he want?
“Nya! Nyaaa!”
“Hm? Do you need help? Is it hard?”
Hayden patted the sofa he was holding.
I tilted my head in confusion…
Then suddenly clapped my hands.
“Hayden, you’re amazing!”
“That was incredible!”
“Well done!”
Was that it?
Only then did Hayden grin with complete satisfaction.
“Giggle!”
He happily turned around and started toddling in the opposite direction.
Step by step…
When he reached the other end, he looked back at me again.
“You’re the best!”
“That was so impressive!”
This time I applauded even more enthusiastically.
“Nya! Nya!”
That reminded me of a story I’d once heard.
Someone had praised their puppy so enthusiastically—dancing around after it successfully went to the bathroom outside—that afterward, every single time the dog pooped, it would wait for its owner to dance before coming back.
Apparently…
My praise had conditioned Hayden too.
I’d accidentally turned him into an attention seeker.
By the time he’d finally finished practicing his walking—rolling around with excitement the entire time—
I was completely exhausted.
Please…
No more clapping…
My palms feel like they’re on fire.
* * *
After that…
I completely stopped caring about whatever Chloe did around the mansion.
Chloe somehow misunderstood that.
She started believing it meant I regarded her as someone special.
She even seemed convinced that I’d acknowledged her as my superior.
In reality…
I was simply ignoring her because there was no point dealing with crazy people.
Still…
Now that I’d decided to send Chloe away, even her ridiculous comments became much easier to tune out.
Countess Maleite truly loved her daughter.
She was also so generous-hearted that she’d extended that same affection to Cheres.
When Cheres had lost his parents and been drowning in grief…
She had taken him in.
That was why…
He had silently tolerated every outrageous thing Chloe had done until now.
A mixture of gratitude…
And a lingering sense of indebtedness.
I finally understood why, in the original story, Hayden hadn’t been able to treat Chloe harshly at first.
Because of Countess Maleite.
And because of Cheres.
However…
Countess Maleite cared about House Beredan even more.
When Chloe became overly obsessed with Cheres…
She’d sent her away to her maternal relatives.
“I told her she could return once she’d come to her senses.”
“That promise was never fulfilled.”
“But the Countess understands.”
“Chloe simply isn’t someone who can be controlled.”
I quietly recalled Cheres’s words.
In the end…
I felt as though I could understand Countess Maleite’s heart.
Just because someone was your own child…
Didn’t mean you truly understood everything about them.
At that very moment…
Chloe was lying comfortably across the sofa, humming to herself while reading a gossip magazine.
She didn’t seem to possess the slightest awareness that this was my bedroom.
Taking advantage of Hayden’s nap…
I sat down across from her.
“Chloe.”
“Yeees?”
“I have something I’d like to discuss.”
“Anything.”
“I’ll gladly listen.”
Are you my boss or something?
Still…
I only had to endure this a little longer.
Assuming my plan worked.
“…I’m thinking of holding a banquet soon.”
“Nothing extravagant.”
“Just a small gathering.”
“A banquet?”
Chloe’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“That’s exactly my specialty.”
“Don’t worry, Roana.”
“I’ll take care of everything.”
“So I’ve finally found something useful to do as your maid.”
“You should devote yourself entirely to Hayden.”
“While I’m preparing the banquet, you absolutely mustn’t neglect him.”
“Understood?”
I simply nodded.
“Of course.”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
“Don’t worry, Chloe.”
Go ahead…
Start packing your bags soon.
* * *
While Chloe enthusiastically devoted herself to planning the banquet…
I prepared to go out with Hayden.
I was worried about him.
Since we’d already be leaving the mansion, I also planned to stop by the shopping district.
Hayden desperately needed new clothes.
Recently…
He’d been growing at an astonishing rate.
Everything he owned had become too small long ago.
Fortunately…
This world had baby carriages, so taking an infant outside wasn’t especially difficult.
Besides…
Several knights would accompany us.
Before going shopping, however…
I visited House Maleite.
Since Hayden had fallen asleep in his stroller, I decided to finish another errand first.
Fortunately…
The Maleite estate wasn’t far away.
Countess Maleite warmly welcomed both Hayden and me.
“Have you been well, Duchess?”
“I have.”
I smiled and nodded.
I’d thought so before…
But she truly had a completely different aura from Chloe.
If Chloe possessed the fragile beauty of someone who looked as though she’d shatter with a touch…
Countess Maleite gave the impression of a kind yet resolute mother.
Even so…
Their appearances were unmistakably alike.
Looking toward Hayden, the Countess said,
“I’ll have one of the maids come take care of the child.”
“No.”
“Thank you for your kindness, but that won’t be necessary.”
I felt uneasy whenever Hayden left my sight.
Too many terrible things had happened recently.
I still hadn’t forgotten the flour porridge incident.
Besides…
He was sleeping peacefully.
I gently pulled the stroller closer and tucked the blanket carefully up to Hayden’s neck.
“Once he falls asleep, he rarely wakes.”
Then I changed the subject.
“Did you know that Lady Chloe genuinely works very hard, regardless of the outcome?”
I had another reason for steering the conversation this way.
Naturally…
A mother cared more about her own daughter than someone else’s sleeping baby.
“Ah…”
Countess Maleite’s expression immediately darkened.
It was the face of someone who knew her daughter better than anyone.
She pressed a hand against her forehead.
Of course she knew.
She’d personally taken Chloe away herself.
“I’m truly sorry, Duchess.”
“I never intended to send Chloe to serve as your maid.”
“I was persuaded by Sir Bogus.”
“He told me that perhaps, if Chloe were given an important responsibility, she’d finally come to her senses.”
So that’s how he convinced her.
Bogus…
I really need to have a word with you.
Why are you so good at your job?
“…She caused another incident, didn’t she?”
“I specifically told her not to behave rudely toward Your Grace.”
“But she insisted she was special…”
“…that the rules didn’t apply to her.”
Her exhausted expression made it painfully obvious how much suffering Chloe had caused her.
“It’s alright, Countess.”
“Nothing irreparable has happened yet.”
“But you’re right.”
“I’ve also come to realize that Lady Chloe isn’t an ordinary young lady.”
“…”
“Even so…”
“Her concern for Hayden appears to be genuine.”
“She never tried to hide how worried she was about him.”
Everything I said…
Was true.
“Chloe?”
“Yes.”
“So I’d like to make a suggestion.”
“I wonder…”
“If Lady Chloe were to marry and raise a child of her own…”
“Perhaps she might change.”
According to the original story…
She never really did.
But even so…
To Countess Maleite…
This was probably the last hope she could cling to.
And honestly…
For the sake of the Countess’s own peace of mind…
It would be far better to have Chloe far away than constantly driving her to despair right before her eyes.
