Childcare Diaries

Derek was back.

“Uncle…!”

Ellie saw him first and welcomed him.

“Ellie. It’s been a while.”

As he smiled, the harsh face turned into a soft one.

“Are there people who came with you?”

Asking that, she glanced at his back and asked. It was the advanced squad among the knights who came to join Derek. They came here thinking that it would be good to greet Kentrail in advance.

“Yes.”

Derek patted Ellie’s head. It was a sign of intimacy.

“Do you know where the Master is?”

“The Count? I think he is at the training ground? He is there often these days.”

“I see.”

As a thank you, he gave Ellie cookies from a famous shop in the estate.

“Thank you.”

After receiving the gift, Ellie was excited and ran to the place where Brielle was. She planned to share it with him.

“Then, this way.”

Derek, who was watching the scene, led his knights to the training ground.

* * *

“Ellie, where have you been?”

Marie asked Ellie, who had disappeared for a while. She went somewhere and reappeared as she sewed torn clothes.

“I saw Derek and went there.”

“Derek? He must be back.”

As she counted the days remaining until the knighthood ceremony, Marie sighed. It was because there wasn’t much time left.

“Yes. Young Master, look at this. He gave me cookies.”

Ellie offered Brielle the cookies.

“It looks delicious.”

“Right? Let’s share it. They all seem to taste different.”

“Yes. Okay.”

Marie, who was worried about whether she should tell the children that Kentrail would be leaving, was also worried about how to say it.

“Here, Marie.”

Brielle cut the cookie he had received in a third and handed it to her as well.

“Thank you.”

Marie put the cookie in her mouth. It was delicious.

“Still, the knights I never saw before also came along.”

This time, Ellie opened her mouth while sharing her own cookies.

“Really?”

“Yes. Everyone was wearing a big sword. What’s going on?”

Marie thought that now was the time.

“In a few days, the knighthood ceremony will be held at the Royal Palace.”

Hearing Marie’s words, Ellie and Brielle nodded, thinking that the knights seemed to have come because of that.

“The Count will be there, too.”

“The Count…? It looks like it’s been a while since he last went out.”

Brielle stopped eating, listening to Ellie before turning towards Marie.

“Even in the County, there will be knights who want to go to the Royal Palace.”

Marie added the words quickly.

“That’s right. Then, we might not be able to see them anymore.”

Brielle, who was very attached with the County’s knights, looked sad. Marie’s conscience was stabbed because none of the Counts’ knights went to the Royal Palace and because they were going to receive their appointment.

“That’s why the Count is going to watch the knights.”

“I see.”

Brielle nodded his head.

“Then, who remains in the mansion?”

Ellie threw the question at her sister. She knew that there were forces that endangered the mansion, but at this time, she wondered if the Count would be absent.

“Sir Taylor will be here.”

“Hmm…”

Her sister, who was desperately trying to make them understand, looked strange, but Ellie smiled ignorantly. She then continued to eat the cookies she had been eating.

* * *

Kentrail treated the knights who had followed Derek with much welcome. Finally, everyone went to their quarters, and only Derek and him were left in the dining room.

“Good job. Thanks to you, I got more knights.”

“No. It’s nothing compared to what the Count has done for me.”

The biggest thing that persuaded his older brother was not the benefits that Kentrail would get when the throne was changed. However, the fact that Kentrail was the only person who had stood by Derek’s side before.

“Everyone from the other families said they were ready. Our question is whether the king is aware of this or not. According to what I found out through Biddle, these days, he suffers from nightmares and lives with anger all day because of Caveran. Because of that, the officials who were always by his side also avoid the King, so it’s good for us.”

“Yes. Caveran might not know.”

“Well, with our knights leaving, they might think something is strange. So, it’s important to hit that side first.”

“Understood.”

“There are three days left. In the meantime, take a good rest and replenish your stamina.”

“Yes, Master.”

Both of them fell asleep with tension.

* * *

There was only one day left for the knighthood ceremony. Kentrail, who had spent the whole day discussing affairs with the knights of other families and the knights of the Charant family, went to his bedroom at night.

He knocked on Brielle’s bedroom.

“Yes.”

Marie opened the door.

“What about Brielle?”

“He’s asleep.”

Following her, he went inside and gazed at his nephew, who was lying on the bed with his body bent. Then, he reached out his hand and straightened Brielle’s posture.

“Ungg…”

In the middle, there was a whining sound.

Kentrail kissed Brielle on the cheek as he looked at the child’s face. He came here tonight because he thought his emotions wouldn’t be controllable if he saw Brille awake, but now, he wanted to see the child’s pretty eyes.

“Count.”

Marie placed her hand on his shoulder. Kentrail placed his hand on it. The two looked at Brielle for a while in that state.

“Remember? We buried our time capsule.”

“Yes.”

“When time passes, let’s open it together.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t forget to take care of yourself first. It’s important to catch the King though it’s more important that the Count is safe.”

Kentrail looked at Marie.

Tears were running down her cheeks. Seeing that, he pulled her hand and sat her next to him before wiping away her tears.

“You, too. Brielle is precious, but don’t forget that you are precious as well. I’m leaving Taylor, so if anything happens, find him. Then, Jayden’s mansion, then Siege’s estate. Move in this order.”

After that, Marie hugged him.

It really felt like something was going to happen.

“It’s okay. I will succeed in this task, and I will keep you and Brielle safe. Ellie, too.”

Kentrail looked at Ellie, who was sleeping soundly next to Brielle.

“After this is over, let’s send Ellie to school. She wants to be a great teacher, so we can’t stop her.”

At that, Marie nodded her head.

“We have to send Barry and Siege back to the academy, too. They’ll be late to graduate at this rate.”

Kentrail spoke quietly about the future.

“When Brielle grows up and is old enough to take over the title, let’s travel around.”

“Good.”

The lovers’ two lips met. Soon, they moved away and touched each other repeatedly—like lovers who could never kiss again if not for this moment.

* * *

The day dawned.

Kentrail finally checked today’s movement and participating families.

“Taylor, take care of the mansion.”

“Yes, Count. Have a safe trip.”

With those words, he got on the horse. The butler wiped his tears with a handkerchief and gazed at his master. Seeing him like that, Kentrail smiled softly. Then, the horses departed. Derek was next to Kentrail.

“What about the Commander?”

“He headed to Caveran mansion. When the Count gives a signal, he will attack the mansion.”

“Have you checked where Caveran is?”

“Yes. Count Bent is attending the knighthood ceremony today and has said that Caveral will remain in the mansion.”

Everything was going as expected.

It was information obtained by giving money to employees who were dissatisfied with Count Bent. Some of them later decided to testify their condition in a noble trial to be held not only to destroy the head of Caveran but also the whole Caveran family itself.

As he checked important things with Derek, the Palace began to appear.

Everyone had a determined look.

The things that happened to and from flashed through Kentrail’s mind as he made his way to the Royal Palace. He wasn’t close with the King, but he was also a human, so there was no way he wouldn’t have had a good impression towards the King.

Now, beyond that time, he was aiming his sword at the King.

“Count Charant enters.”

As soon as he entered, the servant who was standing next to him shouted loudly toward the inside of the Palace.

Many people glanced at him. In the passing gaze, meaningful eyes came and went. A man with long silver hair bowed his head to him. Kentrail also greeted with his eyes. Looking around, it was confirmed that Jayden and his father had not come as he had advised.

“Please, gather at the Palace’s training hall!”

The servants began to call in the nobility just before the knighthood ceremony.

After checking their armor, the knights headed there. Some of the nobles, excited that their family’s knights would gain an honorable position, smiled brightly. It was a smile that didn’t know what was going to happen after a while.

In the middle was Count Bent. Kentrail walked over to his side without hesitation.

“Uh-huh. Why are you pretending to know me?”

Looking at his bewildered eyes, he seemed to have no idea what was going to happen here today.

“If possible, let’s go and watch it ​​together.”

“What?”

Not only Count Bent but also the other nobles who surrounded them looked at them with bewilderment. It was surprising that those who were sworn enemy to watched the ceremony together.

“Will Count Bent yield to me?”

With Kentrail’s question, the nobles withdrew and headed to the training hall on their own.

“What is this?”

“What can it be? We’re going to be late. Let’s hurry up.”

Kentrail, who tightly surrounded Count Bent to keep him from escaping, glanced at Derek standing behind him. It was to signal him to hold onto Count Bent when the matter started. And so, all the nobles were seated on the chairs in the training hall while the knights were on the other side.

Everyone stood in the seated position.

Kentrail and the knight commander exchanged glances with each other.

Finally, the King came up to the stage.