Nanny Of The Villain

He began to tremble like an aspen when he saw Ethan Ambrosia’s face behind Jade.

“Ugh, hmm! Argh!”

The man, drenched in cold sweat, struggled and began to sob.

“You’ve been fine.”

Ethan stepped into the carriage with a noble smile.

The bound man tried desperately to get away from the duke, but it was futile.

The torn ligaments in his ankle throbbed and ached painfully.

Seeing this, Ethan clicked his tongue in pity, a faint trace of sympathy flashing across his face.

Jade shook his head and got into the carriage. The sympathy, if genuine, frightened him even more.

“Take it easy, my lord. You must stay alive until the imperial meeting.”

“Even after enduring such harsh torture, You’ve managed to survive until now. Isn’t life too pitiful to end so easily? I do have that kind of mercy.”

Jade glanced at his master, who spoke of mercy in such a friendly tone, then closed the carriage door with a tired expression.

‘He’ll be half-dead by the time we reach the imperial palace,’ he thought.

As soon as the carriage door shut, the bound man looked at the Duke of Ambrosia with fear-filled eyes.

Despite his harmless smile and the way he neatly adjusted his collar, Ethan appeared uninterested in the man.

‘If I stay still, like I’m dead, maybe I can survive,’ the man thought.

But as soon as that small hope crossed his mind, Ethan Ambrosia’s mouth opened.

“Jim Wood. You’ve repaid my trust quite painfully.”

“Ugh!”

The man named Jim Wood shook his head violently and cried out.

But with a gag in his mouth, his words were nothing more than muffled noises—like the howls of a wounded animal.

“Since you betrayed Ambrosia and became the first prince’s loyal dog, perhaps the first prince will show you mercy.”

“Ugh…”

“The second and third princes, however, will want to make an example out of you for splitting your loyalty.”

“Mmm! Argh!”

Jim crawled toward Ethan Ambrosia, tears streaming down his face.

Ethan frowned and pulled his foot back when Jim tried to kiss the top of his shoe.

His expression clearly showed his disgust at being touched by something so dirty.

However, his voice remained soft and sweet.

“I tried to protect you as much as I could, telling myself that there was no way you, who have been with me for so long, would betray me in my own mansion. But it has to end here.”

“Ack!”

Jim’s eyes trembled wildly at Ethan’s sorrowful tone.

‘I tried to protect you.’ 

‘I had no choice.’

For ten years, he had infiltrated the Ambrosia mansion as the first prince’s spy.

He was about to send a letter to his lord after uncovering the truth about Ambrosia’s curse.

But when he opened his eyes, he was bloodied and bound to the cold stone floor.

It was the duke himself who had severed the ligaments in his arms and legs.

It was the duke who had sweetly listened to his screams as his vocal cords tore from the brutal torture.

All because he learned what he should not have known.

“You should have come to me first, Jim, before trying to whisper those vulgar secrets to the first prince.”

“Ugh.”

“The second and third princes believe their weaknesses are written in the letter you sent to the first prince. I suppose I should clear up that misunderstanding.”

Ethan Ambrosia sighed deeply, his voice trailing off.

At the sound, Jim flinched as though stabbed by a knife.

Ethan had forged a letter in Jim’s name and sent it to the first prince.

What would follow from such an act was obvious.

“If the misunderstanding is cleared up, the truth about our family which has been hidden for so long will be revealed.”

“As head of the household, I must make a choice.”

“Arghhh!”

Bloody tears flowed down from Jim’s cheeks with saliva dripping from his gag.

Ethan clicked his tongue, looking at him with pity.

His eyes, filled with apparent regret, seemed almost caring.

But this frightened Jim even more, as he sensed his own impending death.

“Do you understand?”

“Ugh! Mmm!”

Ethan smiled sweetly and reached out toward Jim.

His hand caressed Jim’s cheek so tenderly.

However, as dark energy slowly seeped from his fingertips, Jim’s struggling body gradually lost strength.

His wide-open eyes grew dull and lifeless, his body slumping backward.

Jim’s once plain brown eyes briefly turned black before regaining their color.

“…”

He no longer struggled, cried, or made a sound.

His breathing became shallow, like that of a lifeless doll.

And with a faint cracking sound, the ring on Ethan Ambrosia’s finger shattered.

“You lasted longer than I expected.”

The artifact, which had broken at the same time Sarah arrived, crumbled further in his hands.

He rubbed the ring with a bitter smile and gazed out the window as the duke’s mansion grew smaller in the distance.

He could only hope that Sarah’s magic, now with Claude, would be enough to suppress his powers.

***

After Duke Ambrosia left the room, Sarah slowly placed Claude onto the bed.

Claude, who had been watching his father’s retreating figure, realized he was still in Sarah’s arms.

“Ah…”

Had he ever been held by someone for so long?

Lost in thought, Claude turned his slightly downcast face and pulled the blanket over himself.

Sarah smiled softly as she stroked the trembling blanket.

“Are you upset about spending less time with your father?”

“No.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“…”

Claude puffed out his cheeks in frustration.

Sarah’s unwavering smile, unchanged from when they first met, made him even more annoyed.

Eventually, he sighed, clutched the blanket, and answered bluntly.

“You made things difficult for my father.”

“Yes, I did. I’m sorry.”

“Then.”

Claude hesitated for a moment, lips pressing together stubbornly.

Though he refused to speak, Sarah saw him as an adorable little chick, puffed up with frustration.

Gently, she finished his sentence for him.

“Are you worried that the duke might be in trouble?”

Claude, caught off guard, turned away.

“Yes.”

Sarah clicked her tongue in sympathy.

At just six years old, he should still be pampered.

Unlike other noble children his age, Claude had already begun learning imperial languages and noble etiquette—all to gain his father’s approval.

No matter how indifferent Duke Ambrosia seemed, Sarah knew he cared deeply for his son.

Claude was silent for a while before whispering.

“My father… hates me.”

Sarah’s hand froze on the blanket, her brows furrowing in pain.

She tried to comfort him with a soft voice.

“That’s not true.”

Despite her efforts, her voice trembled slightly with suppressed emotions.

Claude’s tiny fists clenched under the blanket.

“I hate you too, nanny.”

Sarah simply smiled.

“I really like you, Claude. You’re lovely.”

Claude blinked in surprise.

The way she said his name felt… warm.

Even as Sarah left the room, Claude peeked from under the blanket, his cheeks flushed.

“What a strange nanny.”

Claude’s heart, who was muttering like that, was beating with a pleasant beating sound.