I Was Marked as the Grand Duke Male Lead’s Stepmother - Chapter 6

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 6

Two days passed much faster than expected.

Just packing clothes to wear immediately, personal items, and having meals with her parents filled up all the time.

Soothing her parents’ hearts, which were mixed with worry and disappointment, required more effort than she had thought.

She decided to prepare anything else needed through Emma at the time, and entered the Duke’s Household carrying only light luggage.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Please rest comfortably.”

Porel guided Marisselle to her room and said he would provide a formal introduction along with a tour of the manor’s main facilities tomorrow morning.

“Thank you, Porel. And, if it’s alright, could you spare some time this evening?”

“May I ask the reason?”

Porel’s polite counter-question followed.

“I’m meeting the young master tomorrow, so there are some things I’d like to know beforehand. Ah! You don’t have to answer any questions that are difficult to respond to.”

“Then I’ll spare some time after dinner.”

* * *

“Please tell me if you know anything related to Young Master Fleur. Anecdotes, things you’ve heard, anything is fine.”

Porel wondered how much of what he knew he should tell, and whether this person was truly trustworthy.

As his thoughts deepened, time passed and the wrinkles on his brow grew deeper.

He could just say he didn’t know about things that were difficult to discuss, but it was hard to judge what kind of impact that might have on Fleur.

The more Porel thought about it, the more he seemed to fall into a maze, so he stopped thinking and looked into Marisselle’s eyes.

He decided to use the teachings of his father, who had been the previous butler.

‘When judgment is difficult, look into that person’s eyes. Eyes find it hard to lie.’

Marisselle’s eyes that he looked into showed no trace of selfish motives. Eyes that said she’d be grateful if he told her, but it would be fine if he didn’t.

Then Marisselle, as if understanding Porel’s concerns, wore a gentle smile and reassured him.

“If it’s burdensome, you don’t have to tell me. I have no intention of putting you in a difficult position at all… It’s because I hope Young Master Fleur can escape from his suffering as quickly as possible.”

As soon as Marisselle finished speaking, Porel slowly opened his mouth as if his resolve had been set.

“…I understand that Young Master Fleur received strict heir education at the Quiana Duchy before being adopted into the Duke’s Household.”

“…”

“Princess Paisley, that is, had a political marriage with the Quiana Marquis at the request of the Quiana Marchioness, who was Young Master Fleur’s mother…”

Porel’s story matched the rumors that had been circulating.

The Quiana Marquis agreed to Paisley’s marriage as a condition for Miles, who was Fleur’s father, to inherit the marquis title in exchange for having the family’s debts forgiven by the Duke’s Household.

Their married life was not smooth. He told her the inside story that Paisley craved his love and attention but didn’t receive it, and that influence was entirely borne by Fleur.

Marisselle recalled the story she had heard from Porel as she returned to her room.

While bringing up the story, he had been subdued and his pity toward Fleur had shown through.

She could tell how he viewed Fleur.

In the story of someone who knew the Duke’s Household’s history better than anyone, she could feel something beyond it.

And she thought of Fleur. At the young age of six, he had experienced something he couldn’t handle.

Marisselle could understand as someone who had experienced the same pain. But she also couldn’t understand.

She had experienced her parents’ sudden death in her previous life, after becoming an adult. Even so, it had been difficult to bear.

She had even thought about dying to follow her parents. If only there had been a heart she could tear out, that would have been better. All she could grab was skin and clothes.

Then she understood what the pain of beating one’s chest meant.

The unprepared death of a loved one was too cruel and harsh for those left behind.

Every day was painful. When threads of memory touched everything in the world, deep longing swallowed even tears.

Everything was paused and returned from existence to nothingness. A state of being alive but like being dead.

If even an adult was like that, what about young Fleur who had lost his parents who were his entire world? Her heart felt heavy.

Marisselle had no choice but to choose being a nanny for her own survival, but thinking of the life of a child placed before such a desperate reality, an even greater compassion occupied her consciousness.

She had once heard that self-pity was a rusted emotion.

Just as iron left wet in water rusts, if life is left soaked in past sadness, emotions rust and eventually corrode the entire life.

So after that, she had been careful about using the word compassion.

But now was a time when compassion was needed. How could one understand that heart without compassion toward people?

Fleur probably couldn’t even feel sadness now. All the painful things would be buried somewhere in the depths of that unconscious.

As long as he didn’t face them, he would manage to live for the time being.

It was probably an unconscious choice for survival, but the longer the time of neglect, the more his life would creak, and severely, it would break down.

When people bury pain, they often bury the entire situation of that time.

In such cases, when the past that was buried entirely gets dug up, the current me with problem-solving abilities disappears completely, and strangely, I get replaced by the incompetent me from that day in the past.

So I experience exactly the same pain as that day. That’s why people unconsciously don’t want to face past pain.

Mariselle had experienced this strange phenomenon quite a bit, both directly and indirectly, in her previous life.

But Mariselle knows that this is merely a trick played by the unconscious.

In times like these, having someone by your side to support and encourage you can give you the courage to face it. And it can also prevent your current self from disappearing.

Mariselle felt she wanted to play this role for Fleur.

So he could face his past pain and move forward toward the future.

Whether child or adult, there’s nothing better than maintaining a peaceful daily life and accumulating many good memories and experiences to build up the strength to face pain.

Mariselle first resolved to help Fleur accumulate many peaceful daily moments and good memories.

So for the child who was alive but as good as dead, she carefully brought out the compassion she had been holding back.

* * *

First floor central hall.

“From today, this is Miss Mariselle Manua from the Manua Barony, who will be joining us as Prince Fleur’s nanny.”

After Porel’s brief introduction of Mariselle, she stepped forward in front of the servants.

“Nice to meet you. Please feel free to call me Nanny Mariselle.”

After the introduction ended, small whispers could be heard here and there. She’s pretty, but so what, we hope this nanny is different, and so on—they brought up past nannies they had experienced and held a secret evaluation session.

“…It would be fortunate if she doesn’t flirt with His Grace and cause trouble.”

“How long will this one last before getting kicked out?”

“I just hope she’s not weird like the previous nanny.”

“But doesn’t this nanny feel a bit different?”

“Huh? Really? I can’t really tell…”

When she listened carefully, these were roughly the kinds of things they were saying.

Mariselle smiled lightly and continued speaking.

“Hearing various voices from here and there makes me think my shoulders might be a bit heavy.”

The group that had been chattering suddenly became quiet.

“I think I know what you’re worried about. It means you love the Duke’s Household that much and care for Prince Fleur.”

Then Mariselle swept her gaze over them once.

“I will also care for the Prince with the same heart as all of you, so please join me in this.”

Mariselle bowed her head slightly and signaled to Porel. That her introduction was finished.

“I hope you will assist Nanny Mariselle and serve the Prince with devotion going forward. As members of the Duke’s household. The introduction ends here, so please return to your positions and get to work.”

As soon as Porel finished speaking, everyone quickly returned to their respective positions as if they had been waiting.

Mariselle followed Porel toward Fleur’s room.

Fleur’s room was the second room to the left from the center of the second floor.

On the other hand, Duke Morgan’s office and bedroom were located consecutively as the second and third rooms to the right.

Fortunately, Mariselle’s room was adjacent to Fleur’s room.

“By the way, His Grace dislikes being disturbed while working.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. And thank you.”

When Porel had gone far enough down the stairs, Mariselle knocked on Fleur’s door.

Knock- Knock-

“Prince Fleur, I’ll be coming inside for a moment.”

* * *

“Prince Fleur…?”

After entering the room and walking a few steps, the sound of her shoe heels echoed in the heavy silence as if she were in a cave rather than a room.

Mariselle found the echoing sound irritating, so she lifted her heels slightly and walked as quietly as possible.

“Prince… From now on, I’m Mariselle, who will be taking care of you…”

Mariselle continued with gentle words so Fleur wouldn’t be startled while looking for places where the child might be.

He wasn’t on the bed, nor behind the sofa here.

‘The child’s room is excessively large.’

The large room must have made the child feel even more lonely and anxious. Thinking about it made her frown.

According to the butler, Fleur avoided people. Especially, he was extremely afraid of adult men.

This was probably a phenomenon that appeared as part of trauma related to the accident.

For meals, a maid would place food on the table, and Fleur would eat little by little when he was hungry.

Washing and changing clothes only happened almost by force when a new nanny arrived.

After that, Fleur became even more reclusive, and after the last nanny was driven away, they said forcing anything on Fleur was forbidden. However, there were orders to pay attention to his eating.

The more Marisselle walked through what could hardly be called a child’s room, the more her heart ached.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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