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SERIES: The Extra Guardian Has Missed Her Cue to Leave
CHAPTER: The Extra Guardian Has Missed Her Cue to Leave, Chapter 89
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It was a name she hadn’t heard in some time.
So, Aileen’s gaze naturally turned to Eugenia.
And she, too, recognized Eugenia in an instant.
“It is you, isn’t it? That… what was your name again? Ah, right! Yes, Eugenia!”
The prettiest maid among the servants of the Marquisate of Kereyton.
She herself had secretly glanced over, stealing looks at her face several times.
Because of that, it was only natural that she had memorized the name.
A hint of delight flickered in Aileen’s eyes.
“What are you doing here?”
“Teacher Aileen, why are you here…?”
The two women questioned each other at almost the exact same time.
Then, Aileen’s expression changed in an instant as a single hypothesis struck her mind like a bolt of lightning.
“No way. The fact that you’re here, could it be…!”
Aileen’s face began to flush.
Forgetting that she needed to make a good impression in front of Jacqueline, she started looking around like a madwoman.
But for all her searching, the only people before her were Jacqueline, the butler, the Head Maid, and Eugenia—just the four of them.
With a face on the verge of tears, Aileen took a large step forward and fiercely grabbed both of Eugenia’s arms.
“...Ugh.”
How could such a powerful grip come from such a slender body?
Eugenia tried to endure it, but as the force intensified, she couldn’t help but let out another groan.
“W-wait…”
It was then.
“Let go of her.”
A chillingly low voice flowed from behind Eugenia.
This time, she recognized the voice instantly.
Holding her breath, Eugenia turned her head and looked up to see Enrique’s profile, his jaw clenched.
With his black-gloved hand, he gently took hold of Aileen’s wrist.
From Eugenia’s perspective, it was a graceful, gentle motion, but Aileen’s face contorted into a deep frown.
“...Ah!”
Letting out a short, sharp cry of pain, she finally released Eugenia’s arms.
Only then did Enrique also take a step back from Eugenia.
At the same time, his eyes shifted toward Eugenia’s ankle.
The moment he saw the thin ankle, tightly wrapped in a white bandage, his jawline hardened.
“It’s fine. It looks worse than it is.”
Though she had spoken in a near whisper, he seemed to have understood, as his frown eased and he gave a silent nod.
Meanwhile, Jacqueline, startled by Enrique’s sudden appearance, turned her body completely toward her son and asked.
“Enrique? What are you doing here?”
“It was noisy on the first floor, so I came to see. Who is this?”
He was practically glaring at Aileen.
It was a gaze that even able-bodied men would find hard to endure, and Aileen, too, cowered in fear, her shoulders hunching.
As an added touch, she cradled the wrist he had grabbed as if it were in pain.
Jacqueline looked back and forth between Aileen and Enrique before speaking.
“Ah, yes. Have you heard the news about Lady Haljan?”
“Yes. I have sent Albery to offer our condolences.”
“Yes. Well done. Though I imagine Albery must have wanted to strangle you.”
It seemed to be true, as Enrique pressed his lips together and offered no reply.
“In any case, because of that unfortunate event, she is unable to serve as the governess for this year’s Growth Assembly. I was at a loss as to who to appoint.”
“I see.”
“But Lady Haljan, that thoughtful woman, apparently wrote a letter of recommendation and sent this person to us, even in the midst of her grief.”
Jacqueline finished her lengthy introduction and looked back at Aileen.
The wrinkles around her eyes deepened, forming crescents.
“Come to think of it, we have yet to hear the teacher’s introduction.”
“Ah… I apologize, Grand Dame.”
With a flustered expression, Aileen swept her disheveled hair back behind her ear with the back of her hand.
Her neat features were soon revealed.
Her brown eyes, the color of acorns, were not deep but exuded a calm atmosphere.
Overall, she had a gentle, puppy-like impression.
Despite having just cornered Eugenia like a madwoman, Aileen now displayed a calm demeanor as if nothing had happened.
“I am Aileen of the House of Baron Blair. Shamefully, my family’s influence is meager, so I work as a private tutor.”
Jacqueline nodded at the clean introduction. Then she immediately turned her gaze to Eugenia. As if to say, *now it’s your turn to answer*.
“And Eugenia, it seems you know her.”
“Yes, Noma-nim. She is an acquaintance of mine.”
Normally, she would have spoken eloquently without a moment’s hesitation, but for some reason, it wasn’t easy at this moment.
Eugenia barely managed to move her trembling lips.
“Teacher Aileen… was the one who taught Young Lord Joshua and Young Lady Selmia at the Marquisate of Kereyton.”
At that moment, everyone present, except for Eugenia, wore a different expression of shock.
The most surprised person, of course, was Jacqueline.
“...What did you say?”
As if her throat had gone hoarse in that short time, Jacqueline asked in a raspy voice, half-mixed with air.
Her eyes were trembling like an aspen leaf.
Jacqueline’s gaze, which had been fixed on Eugenia, slowly and stiffly moved to Aileen.
“Is that, is that true?”
As if there was no reason to hesitate, Aileen immediately gave a large nod.
“Yes, Grand Dame. The late Marquise of Kereyton was fond of me and gave me the opportunity to be with those lovely angels.”
As if she had prepared the words, Aileen spoke without faltering.
This time, she turned to look at Eugenia.
Lowering the corners of her eyes, she opened her mouth, her voice choked with emotion.
“Eugenia, I was just so surprised to see you earlier. I’m sorry. Did it hurt much?”
Eugenia unconsciously covered the arm she had grabbed with her other hand.
“N-no. It’s alright, Teacher.”
“That’s a relief.”
With her eyes cast down, she let out a slightly exaggerated sigh of relief, then raised her head to look at Eugenia again.
Just then, Aileen’s eyes changed slightly. To be precise, it was her gaze that had changed.
“So?”
“...Pardon?”
Unable to grasp the context of the sudden, sharp question, Eugenia’s eyes widened.
As if frustrated by her reaction, Aileen narrowed her eyes slightly and, hiding her impatience, asked again.
“I’m talking about Selmia and Joshua. Are they here?”
“Ah…”
Eugenia hesitated before nodding.
There was no reason not to tell her the truth.
“Yes. I brought them with me.”
It was then.
“Oh, dear God! Thank you.”
A voice, different from before—much louder and filled with elation—burst from Aileen.
She was on the verge of tears, her hands clasped as if in prayer.
“I couldn’t see the children, so I was certain something had gone wrong… Oh…! What a relief. Thank you, God. Thank you!”
It was an undeniably exaggerated tone.
But since her acorn-colored eyes were clearly glistening with transparent moisture, one could not doubt her sincerity.
Only after a single tear rolled down her cheek did Aileen wipe the moisture from her eyes with her hand.
Then, she began to hesitantly offer up her own story, which no one had asked for.
“When I heard the news about the Marquis and Marquise of Kereyton, I rushed to the estate, but I can’t tell you how my heart sank when I couldn’t find Joshua and Selmia.”
She was like a dramatic orator.
And Jacqueline, who had been listening as if mesmerized, was soon helplessly drawn in, unconsciously chiming in with agreement.
“My goodness…”
Aileen wiped away a final tear and said.
“But to think they are here, safe and sound! It’s something I never even dreamed of. God truly helped us.”
Enrique, who had been listening silently with his arms crossed and a slanted posture, suddenly interjected.
“It wasn’t God, but Miss Eugenia who went through the trouble.”
Eugenia’s face flushed slightly.
It occurred to her that Enrique was always the first, and the best, to recognize her hardships.
But Aileen ignored Enrique’s sharp remark.
Perhaps it was because of what Jacqueline said just then.
“You must have cared for our children a great deal, Teacher.”
As if asking why she would ever hesitate, Aileen nodded emphatically.
“Don’t say that. They are the children I raised, after all.”
Eugenia narrowed her brow. She felt the words could easily be misunderstood.
But it seemed Jacqueline didn’t think so.
“Oh! To think of those poor children in such a way. Thank you so much.”
She seemed to take Aileen’s words as nothing more than a figure of speech.
*Is it because I’m not familiar with the way nobles speak…*
Eugenia swallowed a sigh and kept her mouth shut.
“But how did you cross over to the Empire? I heard relations with the Duchy of Halant were severed and the borders were closed.”
“Yes, what you heard is correct. It was very strict. But I had a family that helped me, so I was able to cross more easily than others.”
Enrique, who had been listening quietly, cut in.
“Which family’s help did you receive?”
“Ah… I worked as a caregiver for a short time, and that household lent me their strength. They were a family of knights, so they… used a few shortcuts, you see.”
“Hmm, that family must be a powerful, high-ranking one in the Duchy.”
“...Yes, well. That’s right.”
Aileen’s voice trailed off, a bitter look on her face.
*She doesn’t seem to want to talk about it. Did something bad happen when she was working as a caregiver?*
Eugenia thought Aileen’s behavior was a little strange.
But just then, Aileen let out a small sneeze. “Achoo!”
“I’m sorry. I think it’s because I was caught in the rain… How embarrassing.”
“Oh, dear, where is my mind.”
Jacqueline seemed to have shed all her wariness for the sole reason that Aileen had been the twins’ tutor.
With a much softer attitude and tone, she gave her orders to the butler and the Head Maid.
“Cedric, and Leia. First, please prepare a room where the teacher can rest comfortably. I think it would be best to talk tomorrow, after the sun has risen.”
“Yes, Noma-nim. It will be done.”
Cedric took Aileen’s bag, and Lady Leia prepared to guide her.
“This way, then, teacher. Please follow me.”
“Yes. And Grand Dame of Herace, thank you for your hospitality and for providing me a place to stay.”
Jacqueline nodded with a benevolent smile.
“Go and rest well. May God watch over your night.”
Aileen returned the kind farewell with a gentle smile of her own.
Eugenia silently watched Aileen’s retreating back as she followed Lady Leia.
*To think I’d meet Aileen here, of all places.*
Her mind was in an indescribable uproar.
*But was she always like that?*
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