The Maid Hates Childcare - Chapter 57

As I stood dumbfounded, Michael stuttered out the words he had prepared.

“I will try not to burden my elder brother and sister-in-law. If you wish, I’ll even give up my status as a prince. So…”

“Wait a moment. Please calm down first.”

Michael took deep breaths.

I waited for him to calm down before asking again.

“Did you tell them before coming here?”

“Yes. I’m on my way after telling them I would be independent.”

Michael laughed awkwardly at my words. There was a dark bruise on his left cheek.

‘He must have been hit by the empress.’

What terrible parents, to raise a hand against their child who wants to be independent, instead of worrying for them. It was the worst.

“Did you tell them your destination?”

“…They didn’t ask where I was going.”

He didn’t even have a chance to explain.

I thought it was good he hadn’t mentioned the destination, but I was still worried all the same.

“What if they don’t accept you?”

“I came prepared for that too. But… I hope you’ll take me in, even if it’s as a servant.”

“A prince as a servant? That’s nonsense.”

“It would be more useful that way.”

Michael lowered his eyes. They were already red.

“I want to live as Michael, not as the hated prince. I realized it after hearing what sister-in-law said yesterday.”

That he wanted to become someone whose name is called, no matter what form of life.

I couldn’t bring myself to tell Michael, who spoke those words, to go back.

“But…”

Just as I hesitated to answer.

From behind, Kashar’s hand pulled me towards him.

My head lifted instinctively, and he whispered after kissing my forehead.

“Eileen, did you not get scolded enough yesterday?”

“…There’s someone in front of us! Shh!”

“Someone? Where?”

Kashar looked around as if he couldn’t see anything.

Michael, seemingly unbothered by being treated like a ghost, pleaded.

“Please take me in, elder brother. Any role would be fine.”

I thought he would ignore him again this time.

But.

“In my castle, everything has its own usefulness.”

It was a cold voice.

That meant, what could you do here?

I thought Michael would be hurt hearing those words, but he seemed to have already made up his mind.

“If you wish, I will spend time with the children so that sister-in-law can be more comfortable.”

It was a role I had heard of many times before.

Wait a minute.

“Excuse me, just a moment. That’s my role, isn’t it? I’m the nanny…”

Taking care of the children was entirely my role.

Of course, since coming to this castle, Aishtra and other servants have helped a lot, but I was still at the center.

My bewildered eyes turned towards Kashar.

Kashar, meeting my eyes, laughed silently and then spoke mercilessly.

“Good. You’re hired.”

“…Thank you! I will truly do my best!”

Michael expressed his gratitude over and over.

Watching this scene, Kashar called the butler and gave instructions.

“Dracu, give him a room.”

“Understood. This way, please.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

Michael followed Dracu.

As he entered the castle, the children came out first.

“Oh, it’s Michael hyung!”

“From today, he will be living here as the young masters’ nanny.”

“Really?!”

At Dracu’s explanation, Louis jumped up and down in joy.

Michael blushed and shyly said a word about his successful employment.

“Yes. It’s thanks to you all.”

“I’ll teach you well. Hyung.”

“Thank you, Evan.”

Everyone looked warm and happy.

Except for me.

Michael had succeeded in getting a job.

Traditionally, there is only one nanny position.

Then what about me…

My gaze turned to my employer. Of course, it was Kashar.

According to Rihart law, the guardian was above the nanny.

The moment our eyes met, Kashar gently announced my termination.

“Eileen, congratulations on getting fired.”

I became unemployed in an instant.

‘What? Give me back my job!’

Hey, young masters? I’ve been fired. Are you listening?

My dazed gaze fell on the children.

Suddenly remembering me, Louis pointed at me.

“Then is Eileen not our nanny anymore? Is she our real new mom now?”

“Eileen’s not married yet.”

“Then she’s our future new mom.”

“That’s right.”

The children put their heads together.

Kashar, finding the children amusing, placed a hand on each of their small heads.

“Since the little ones seem confused, it would be good to clarify.”

While seemingly speaking to the children, his gaze was directed at me.

“Wait a minute! How can this be legal?”

I couldn’t just stand there dumbfounded and let my job be taken away.

‘This is a violation of labor law!’

As my mind went blank, he held out a small box to me.

“…Kashar?”

“Be engaged to me.”

I received an engagement in commemoration of losing my job.

“Oh my. Congratulations! You were already our sister-in-law, but this has a different meaning!”

“What’s an engagement?”

“It’s something you do before getting married. Like a temporary marriage.”

“Wow, Eileen. Congratulations! When I grow up, marry me too!”

“Congratulations, future madam!”

Everyone’s cheers poured out towards me.

When I came to my senses, a ring was placed on the ring finger of my left hand.

The bright red diamond, seemingly over 14 carats, resembled Kashar’s eyes.

He interlocked our fingers, as if pleased with the ring-adorned finger.

Kashar was wearing the same ring as me.

‘Even the attire.’

On his arm were the cufflinks I had given him as a gift.

Kashar pinned a brooch that matched the set to my chest.

‘When did he find this?’

It was something I hadn’t even mentioned because I was too embarrassed to say ‘This is a couple’s item!’

Kashar smiled contentedly at my appearance.

I wondered if even this had been planned.

He kissed the back of my hand.

“We’ll marry after the curse is lifted.”

Under imperial law, the insane were not allowed to marry. That was why he had proposed engagement instead of marriage.

The bright red diamond sparkled in the autumn sunlight.

It was the moment I transitioned from the children’s nanny to the duke’s fiancée.

[This is the timeline separator]

Autumn passed and early winter arrived.

It was cold outside, but the castle with its ondol floors was cozy.

Just as afternoon began, I went down to the kitchen.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Michael. He was learning to cook from Barbieto.

“Now, don’t cut the root part of the onion, but turn it… Oh, future madam!”

“Sister-in-law, have you come?”

The two of them raised their heads in unison upon noticing me.

It was an embarrassing title no matter how many times I heard it.

Pretending not to hear, my left ring finger felt heavy.

There was no way to escape since it was true.

“Ahem, how is the lesson going?”

“His knife skills have improved quite a bit. At first, we were all worried his fingers might disappear.”

When Michael first barged into the kitchen, everyone was uncomfortable.

But as people are different, his gentle attitude and eagerness to learn soon captivated all the servants.

‘His looks must have played a part too.’

Who could dislike someone asking “How do you do this?” and “How do you do that?” with such a pretty face.

Moreover, Michael didn’t even avoid the Mains.

Though they were surprised at first, this too turned into praise for Kashar and me.

“That’s good.”

As I nodded, Michael replied shyly.

“It might be impossible to be as good as sister-in-law… but I want to become a good cook.”

Michael’s delicate hands were covered in scars from cuts and burns.

But his expression looked truly happy.

Seeing this gap, I felt complicated and subtle emotions.

‘Is this really okay?’

Is it really alright for the male protagonist’s dream to be a cook?

It’s not job discrimination.

‘The original story is getting more and more strange.’

This was the real problem.

“Um, sister-in-law. May I ask what that is?”

“Huh? Oh, this?”

“I’ve been curious about it for a while…”

What Michael asked about was the teddy bear attached to my waist.

I had taken it out because the pocket was so uncomfortable, but I kept hearing this question whenever I went back and forth.

“I received it as a gift from Kashar. I’m wearing it because it’s cute.”

“Indeed, it’s true love.”

He was being educated in new words by Louis and Evan.

I wasn’t sure who was the nanny and who were the children, but anyway, I was glad they were getting along well.

“Well, please continue. I’ll be going now.”

“Take care!”

It was a 90-degree bow.

It felt more like I had become a boss rather than a future madam.

I left the kitchen to clear my head.

‘Let’s leave it as it is for now.’

What more could I say to someone who had perfectly adapted to the castle?

When the female protagonist appears, I’ll make them meet somehow.

As I walked quickly, the silver chain around my neck seemed to have tangled, causing the necklace to sway.

Returning to my room, I fiddled with the chain.

At the end of it was a transparent rod, inside which a yellow light was filled about one-fifth, shimmering.

This was given by Hayang, a jewel used to measure the size of magical power.

[You should think about filling up the magic power quickly.]

As I stood still, Hayang spoke up.

[If you fill this up completely, you can bring me out.]

“I know that.”

I had already heard it dozens of times.

‘I need to do something more.’

I was already making good money from the ‘Choco Pie Jeong’ and ‘Makgeolli Han’ stores.

It was almost beyond pension level, bordering on profiteering, so I didn’t feel the need to do much more.

‘But there’s nothing like business.’

Magic power was equivalent to the recognition of items from another world.

Since magic power is recharged when someone uses an item I brought, business was the easiest way.

“How much magic power is generated from doing business?”

[It depends on how much influence you have in this other world.]

Hayang rolled its eyes.

The sight of the teddy bear’s green jewel eyes rolling was like a horror movie.

[If you make something that everyone uses naturally, something indispensable, it will fill up about half.]

“It’s more difficult than I thought.”

It meant I had to somehow make people consume and increase awareness, but the quantity of items was too limited for that.

[Ah, I forgot to give you this.]

“Huh?”

At that moment, three cards appeared in the teddy bear’s hand.

As I took the yellow card, it had ‘Magic Card for You’ crudely written on it.

“…What is this, some kind of children’s toy?”

[This is a magic card!]

Hayang shouted as if telling me not to underestimate it.

[You can get this when you change the fate of a main character-level being.]

“Wait, by main character, do you mean… Kashar and the twins?”

[That’s right. If you use this, you can buy special magic items.]

Hayang boasted that these were all things that couldn’t be bought even with money.

But I was stuck on a different part of what was said rather than those words.

“So it’s okay to keep changing the plot?”

Isn’t it usually the case that if you don’t preserve the original work, the world ends or something?

As I opened my eyes wide, Hayang muttered softly.

[It would be good for you too to change it.]

“Why?”

[The ending… isn’t good.]

“What’s not good?”

I asked again what was wrong with the ending, but Hayang said something irrelevant.

[When the rod in the necklace is about half full, I’ll answer one question.]

In the end, it meant it wouldn’t say anything without conditions.

‘Something that has an impact.’

A new business. This time, it seemed it should be something that everyone uses naturally, not something special.

‘Should I seek advice?’

It was a bit scary to bring up business talk with Frigia, I needed someone else.

“Ah, right.”

As I turned my head to the side, I saw stationery placed there.

I remembered trying to contact Jeiana but not being able to send it due to lack of time.

‘Jeiana. She knows quite a bit about high society and business.’

Wouldn’t it be helpful to invite her to the castle and have a talk?

Without hesitation, I started writing the letter.

[This is the timeline separator]

A week after sending the letter, Jeiana was invited to the duke’s castle.

“Welcome, Miss Jeiana.”

“I came to see how amazing the duke’s castle is.”

Despite her words, she looked happy to be invited.

It was just as I was bringing Jeiana into the castle.

“Sister-in-law! I baked a pie, would you like to try…”

“…7th Prince Michael?”

They both froze upon seeing each other.

After a moment, Jeiana asked me with a bewildered look.

“Miss Eileen, are you a royal collector?”

I was receiving a strange misunderstanding from the guest.