“…My nanny?”

“Yes, Young Madam. A message arrived from House Vitence. They said she’ll be here within a few days.”

“…”

“It must be difficult to adjust to such an unfamiliar place on your own. It seems your family wanted to look after you.”

Her heart pounded so violently it felt painfully out of sync.

“Roll up your pant legs! Honestly, your comprehension is hopeless… Imagine how disappointed the master must be!”

Her nanny, Margaret.

To Rayleigh, she was the embodiment of terror—a woman who disguised violence as “discipline.”

Until now, Rayleigh had never questioned how she had been treated.

She had simply believed she deserved every punishment because she wasn’t good enough.

But that wasn’t true.

She had never done anything terrible enough to deserve such abuse. And even if she had made mistakes, the beatings and constant shouting had long crossed the line into outright violence.

Only after regaining the memories of her previous life had she realized that.

“Young Madam? Are you alright?”

Seeing Rayleigh suddenly go pale, one of the maids hurried over to support her.

“I… I’m fine.”

“If you’re not feeling well, I can let them know you’ll be skipping breakfast. You don’t have to force yourself.”

Even after Rayleigh insisted she was alright, the maid continued speaking gently, clearly worried.

That kindness alone was nothing like Margaret’s treatment, and it made a lump rise in Rayleigh’s throat.

“No. Serge and I promised we’d have breakfast together today. I can’t stand him up. Let’s go.”

If she also skipped the meal because she “wasn’t feeling well,” just like Serge had skipped dinner the night before, it would look as though she were sulking because of him.

Besides, she genuinely wanted to get along with Serge. The last thing she wanted was to create unnecessary friction.

As she walked toward the breakfast room, she organized her thoughts.

There was no way her birth family had sent Margaret out of kindness.

Whether it was to monitor her every move or for some other hidden agenda…

If it were up to me, I’d send Margaret straight back. But it’s not that simple.

Even if Rayleigh ordered her to leave, Margaret would simply ignore her.

She could try asking the Duke to expel her by using her position as the temporary daughter-in-law…

But Margaret wasn’t a servant employed by House Elestain.

From the ducal family’s perspective, she was practically an official envoy from their in-laws.

If they drove her away carelessly, how would they deal with the political consequences?

The baron’s family could accuse them of insulting a guest and demand outrageous compensation.

They might even try to use it as an excuse to annul the marriage and extort an enormous settlement.

No duke would take such risks based solely on the words of a little girl who had only recently married into the family.

And if the engagement were truly dissolved…

That would be the absolute worst possible outcome for Rayleigh.

But the thought of enduring Margaret’s presence again…

She didn’t even want to imagine it.

That would be the beginning of a brand-new hell.

I need a legitimate way to send Margaret away.

Then…

This wasn’t the time to despair.

Her family’s sinister ambitions.

The knowledge she possessed about the future.

She would use everything at her disposal to find a solution.

***

“So, the nanny from House Vitence is expected to arrive within the next few days.”

“Mm.”

After hearing his aide’s report, Walter gave a small nod.

“Will you permit her visit? It coincides with the Day of Rest.”

Yuan’s concern was reasonable.

The Elestain family kept itself isolated primarily to ensure that the secret of their beastfolk heritage was never exposed.

Allowing an outsider into the estate during such a sensitive period was hardly ideal.

But Walter answered casually.

“It may actually be a good opportunity.”

“A good opportunity…?”

“A chance to test them.”

His gaze drifted toward the terrace outside the window—the same place where he had spoken with Serge the previous evening.

Serge had a difficult personality.

Yet despite his harsh words, Walter could tell as a father that his son had grown rather fond of his wife.

He didn’t want his young son to be hurt by placing his trust in someone who hadn’t been tested.

That was why the arrival of someone from Rayleigh’s family seemed almost like an opportunity.

With the head of the house preparing to leave, it would be much easier for hidden motives to reveal themselves.

That little girl herself was probably innocent.

But if her birth family harbored ambitions…

That would be a problem.

He could not afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.

If even the slightest issue arose, he would have to destroy that family and send the child away as well.

Even as he thought so coldly, he couldn’t help hoping nothing would happen.

Whether that hope was for his son’s sake…

Or because he had grown attached to that tiny little girl…

Even Walter himself couldn’t tell.

***

When Rayleigh entered the breakfast room, a servant opened the doors for her.

Sitting at the head of the brightly lit dining table was her husband, Serge.

The thick round glasses and timid posture were exactly the same as before.

Looks like he didn’t suddenly transform into a fox this morning.

Yesterday had been understandable, but if he’d missed breakfast too, things would have become unbearably awkward between them.

“Good morning, Serge. Are you feeling better?”

“Ah…”

When Rayleigh greeted him warmly, he lowered his head and fidgeted.

It seemed he’d only just remembered that, according to his own excuse, he had canceled dinner because he was supposedly sick.

“Thanks to your concern…”

“That’s wonderful! Though if you’re still not feeling well, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”

“Yes…”

“…”

“…”

The conversation ended abruptly once again.

Since she’d already figured out her husband’s personality the day before, Rayleigh wasn’t particularly hurt by it.

Awkward, yes.

Disappointing, no.

“Hm? Where’s Father?”

“He… had some work to take care of today. He told us to have breakfast by ourselves.”

“I see! Alright.”

She immediately took her seat.

The breakfast spread was flawless.

Fresh salad, warm bread straight from the oven, fluffy omelets, handmade sausages, and steaming soup.

Back at the baron’s estate, Rayleigh had always been forbidden from eating too much because “girls shouldn’t get fat.”

Now she could eat delicious food without worrying about such things.

It felt like a dream.

Margaret’s impending arrival still weighed heavily on her mind.

But refusing such a wonderful meal would only hurt herself.

She generously spread butter and grape jam over a croissant before taking a large bite.

The rich flavor filled her mouth with simple happiness.

Then, from across the table…

“Is it… good?”

“…!”

Her husband had started a conversation first!

Deeply moved, Rayleigh looked at him as Serge slowly continued.

“When you… came into the dining room… you looked depressed…

But after you started eating… you looked happy.”

“…”

Apparently, Serge was surprisingly observant.

Unfortunately, what he’d observed was that she had entered looking miserable and immediately brightened up the moment food appeared.

Did I really look like I was about to lick the plate clean?!

“Was I eating too quickly?”

“N-No… I just… it was nice… seeing you enjoy your food.”

“…”

Put nicely, it meant she looked adorable while eating.

But it also meant she had been stuffing her face.

Embarrassed, Rayleigh fell silent.

Panicking, Serge hurried to explain.

“I just… um…

I wondered… if something bad had happened…”

“Ah…”

“I wasn’t sure… whether the food made you forget what was bothering you…

Or whether I had imagined that you looked sad…”

He bowed his head.

“There’s nothing wrong with eating well… I’m sorry…”

His communication skills were truly disastrous.

Yet Rayleigh couldn’t bring herself to be upset.

He really had been trying his best to notice her feelings and start a conversation.

Maybe…

He had simply been worried because his wife looked unhappy.

Maybe we became a little closer after spending time together while he was in fox form yesterday?

Smiling shyly, she answered his earlier question.

“No… I was just worried my table manners were bad.”

“Not at all…

And… you don’t have to worry so much about etiquette… when you’re with me.”

His words were clumsy.

But there was unmistakable warmth in them.

Because of that, Rayleigh found herself speaking more honestly.

“The truth is…

I was feeling a little down this morning.”

“Y-You didn’t have to force yourself to eat breakfast with me!”

“What? N-No! That’s not it! I wasn’t upset because I didn’t want to eat with you!”

Desperately, she tried to stop the misunderstanding before it got worse.

Of course, she couldn’t explain that she’d been abused or that her parents were monsters.

But she at least wanted him to know that he wasn’t the reason.

After listening quietly, Serge rested his chin on one hand.

“So…

your nanny from your family is coming…

and your relationship with her is… uncomfortable?”

“Yes…”

Saying it aloud made it sound like nothing more than childish complaining, and Rayleigh shrank back a little.

But Serge didn’t seem to think so.

“Then just tell her to go home.”

“My parents are… very strict. Even if I told her to leave, she wouldn’t listen.”

“…”

Behind the thick lenses that Rayleigh couldn’t see through clearly, Serge’s golden eyes darkened ominously.

But he kept his expression calm as he continued.

“Then we’ll simply tell Father to forbid her from setting foot in the estate.”

“N-No! You can’t!”

“…?”

“If that happens, it would cause serious trouble for the ducal family…

And if my family makes an issue of it…

it could even lead to our engagement being broken.”

“…”

Serge quietly studied her flustered face before asking in a low voice,

“…Do you not want our engagement to be broken?”

“Huh? Of course not.”

If the engagement were dissolved and she were sent back to her birth family…

The hell waiting for her there would be incomparably worse than anything she’d endured before.

Hearing her firm answer…

The tips of Serge’s ears turned a faint shade of red.