Jeanne couldn’t answer, and Canela’s smirk grew wider.

‘Just as I thought.’

Did this nobody really have connections to get a recommendation to a great noble family?

Canela covered her mouth with her fingertip and frowned.

“If you forged a recommendation letter, I won’t stand for it. This is an insult to the Astra Count family and a challenge to their rules!”

“Oh, there was someone who said they’d submit a recommendation...”

Jeanne’s words made Canela burst out laughing.

“Who on earth was it?”

“Me.”

A voice echoed from the second-floor stairs.

It was a youthful voice.

The gaze of Jeanne, Canela, and the other interviewees all shifted simultaneously to the stairs.

Golden blonde curls.

Ruby-red eyes sparkling like jewels.

A small mole near her eyes.

A girl with a doll-like face, so unreal she didn’t seem human.

Jeanne and Canela’s faces stiffened.

Because that girl was—

‘The one I saw in the alley last time...!’

Canela’s expression turned rigid as she stared at the child.

Her clothes were extravagantly luxurious.

Her red dress was decorated with Laville’s Lace (designer Laville’s lace made with gold threads and jewels).

From her shoes to the pins in her hair, everything reeked of wealth.

Like, like... the daughter of a great noble.

‘No way...’

Jeanne’s eyes were very wide too.

“You, no, you are...”

Erilot smiled brightly and approached Jeanne.

The child, hands clasped together, eyes sparkling.

“Thank you for coming.”

“What on earth is going on...?”

“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself.”

Erilot spread her dress skirt wide and lightly bent her knees.

“I’m Erilot Astra, third generation of Chronos Astra, first daughter of Daymond Astra, 23rd heir of Astra—”

“......”

“Erilot Astra.”

All the interviewees bowed their heads.

“It’s an honor to meet Lady Astra.”

“It’s an honor to meet Lady Astra.”

What?

Jeanne’s eyes widened.

‘What?’

Canela’s mouth dropped open.

‘Wh-what?!’

I stared at the frozen Jeanne with wide eyes.

Canela looked like she was about to faint.

‘Well, that’s understandable.’

When I met Jeanne, I dressed as plainly as possible to secretly observe Canela, a nanny candidate.

It would be hard to recognize me as a great noble’s daughter.

Besides, Canela even saw Han Ji-hyuk speaking casually while in servant’s clothes.

At best, I looked like a countryside noble visiting the capital with her servant.

That was the only way to look.

Canela was utterly flustered but soon said,

“L-Lady, please forgive my previous rudeness...!”

“Rudeness? What rudeness?”

I asked, and Canela’s face turned pale.

I tilted my head slightly and looked at Canela.

“What rudeness are you talking about?”

“W-well...”

The interviewees exchanged strange looks, apparently sensing something between us.

I stared at Canela, who was pale and muttering, “B-because... that was when you smoked a cigarette in front of me?”

“Lady...!”

People flinched.

“What? You smoked a cigarette in front of a child?”

“Good heavens, what kind of...”

When I saw her at the pastry shop, I thought Canela was a skilled villain in society.

Someone who manages her reputation very well.

‘Reputation is important.’

If I said, “Canela Miya is a scumbag who made thugs beat a child!” few would believe me.

Surely, there must be a misunderstanding.

Canela’s a decent person.

‘They’d react just like this.’

That’s why I held the interview.

For everyone here to see.

People who send resumes to Astra would eventually become nannies to other noble children somewhere else.

If this gets out in the nanny world, Canela would never find a job again.

Canela seemed to realize this as her face turned pale.

“A-Aga, that was a misunderstanding. I do smoke but—”

“......”

“—it’s true.”

Canela squeezed her eyes shut.

She seemed resigned to accepting the smoking since she couldn’t deny it.

“When I started smoking, you came over to where I was...”

“......”

“I never imagined a child would suddenly come there.”

The interviewees looked convinced.

Then, in hushed tones, they murmured,

“Well, we didn’t know Miya-san smoked, but it’s a personal preference, so maybe it’s understandable?”

“She said she didn’t expect the child...”

Canela sighed.

She seemed relieved the reactions were relatively mild.

I smiled gently and said to Canela,

“Yeah, I understand. But why did you try to hit me?”

The room grew noisy again.

“What?”

“You tried to hit a child?”

“To Lady Astra?!”

Canela’s face turned pale again.

“That was a misunderstanding too...!”

“You sent thugs to beat me and my servant? That’s a misunderstanding?”

“Th-that’s... no! That’s also a misunderstanding! Your servant assaulted me first...!”

Canela no longer looked at me but shouted toward the whispering interviewees.

Since it was obvious she’d be working as a nanny at the Astra mansion, she was desperately trying to save her reputation.

Canela lowered her eyebrows.

“You saw it too, right? Your servant grabbed and threatened me.”

“That’s because you threatened me first.”

“We really do have a lot of misunderstandings between us... The blame for them is probably mine.”

Canela held her collarbone and sighed in pain.

‘Wow, this is serious.’

That’s why a socially savvy villain is so scary.

If I had just lightly scolded Canela, it might have backfired.

Canela looked at me with teary eyes.

“My friends overreacted because they saw me being assaulted...! It’s my fault for not stopping them...”

So she was saying, “It was your fault that my friends tried to assault you.”

“I helped a lot of people. So...”

She meant, “I’m a good person who repays kindness.”

“No matter the reason, if it caused you to be threatened, it’s my fault. I apologize.”

Even though it was a misunderstanding on her part, she was apologizing.

The interviewees looked at each other and nodded.

They seemed to accept Canela’s words.

“See? There’s no way Miya-san would do such a thing.”

Someone whispered that.

Then, everyone’s eyes on me grew wary.

An arrogant brat who, as soon as she entered District 1, used servants to attack good people.

That was how they looked at me.

Then—

“Lady, I’ve brought them!”

Han Ji-hyuk’s voice echoed.

Behind him strode Mosco, proudly.

Mosco was dragging a bunch of thugs along.

Of course, those were the ‘friends’ of Canela who threatened Han Ji-hyuk and me in the alley.

Han Ji-hyuk glanced behind.

“Hurry up and come.”

He looked at the skinny woman trembling behind the thugs.

The skinny woman who was with Canela in the alley.

Canela’s frozen expression was needless to say.

I smiled gently at Canela.

“I see. So it wasn’t your fault.”

“Huh?”

“You’re not to blame, and it’s those thugs who did wrong. They tried to assault a child who doesn’t even know the situation.”

“Th-though... that’s true...”

“Right. Sorry for misunderstanding you.”

Saying that, I turned to Han Ji-hyuk.

“Take them all back to the manor. Dad’s anxiously waiting for them.”

When I said “Dad,” Canela and the alley bullies went pale.

I clasped my hands firmly, furrowed my brows, and said to Canela,

“You almost got attacked by your friends and suffered for days. You couldn’t sleep because of nightmares... Dad’s very angry.”

“...!”

“But you’re not at fault. I’ll explain it well.”

“I...”

“Glad the misunderstanding is cleared. Only those people will get scolded by Dad.”

One thing I’d forgive.

Even the main instigator Canela.

This made the thugs furious.

As expected, Canela’s “friends” shouted,

“W-what...! We were just following Canela’s orders!”

“She told us to discipline Lady’s bad behavior!”

I tilted my head.

“That’s odd. This story is different from what I heard... What’s true?”

Canela and her friends started shouting over each other.

“No, Lady! I never did that!”

“Canela is always the one ordering such things! Last time, she told us to scare a woman she didn’t like—”

“Shut up—!!”

‘Hmm, total chaos.’

They yelled and argued, revealing one scandal after another about Canela.

I sent Canela and her thug friends back to the manor.

Only then did the commotion settle.

Naturally, the interviewees were stunned.

Once they left, I could already guess what rumors would spread.

‘How enticing.’

Amid all the chaos, I whispered to Michelan,

“Give the interviewees a generous fee when they leave. Make it a good amount.”

“Interview fee?”

Michelan looked puzzled.

Usually, such things aren’t paid.

“Yes. There’s already a preferred candidate, but they came for an interview. Of course, they’re in a bad mood.”

“But this kind of thing happens frequently among noble families.”

‘They’re the ones who spread rumors; no point upsetting them. Besides...’

I whispered to Michelan,

“These people sent resumes to Astra. Even if not here, they’ll eventually become nannies of great noble children somewhere else.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Their words will greatly influence the children.”

That’s why teachers are forbidden from discussing politics with students.

Immature kids tend to follow adult opinions.

“There’s no harm in being well-regarded by great nobles.”

Preparing for the future.

Michelan widened his eyes and looked at me.

But then he chuckled.

“Haha... You’re truly amazing.”

“Why?”

“Nannies are insignificant to nobles. No one thinks a mere nanny could influence a great noble’s child.”

“...”

“You’re clever, remarkable, and lovable...!”

Michelan was being a proud father figure.

‘Whatever.’

I like Michelan anyway.

Michelan gave the interviewees a generous amount—about a month’s salary.

It was no wonder their faces brightened as they left the mansion.

And then...

“Why am I still here after the interviews?”

Jeanne, who had been called to my room, asked with a puzzled voice.

Michelan conducted the interviews.

Once they ended, the others left immediately.

But Jeanne seemed very surprised to have been called to my room.

I smiled brightly at her.

“You start working today!”

“...What?”

“...Yes.”

“You’re hired. Please become my nanny starting today, Jeanne.”

Jeanne’s eyes grew wide.

After a brief moment of surprise, she said,

“Miss.”

“Yes.”

“I suspect why you called me.”

“Hm?”

“I think it’s to be a witness to that ‘Canela Miya’ woman’s rude behavior.”

Jeanne smiled faintly and looked at me.

“I can be a witness. So you don’t have to hire me.”

“I just called you because I like you.”

“Yes?”

“In the alley. You were cool.”

“Being cool isn’t enough to be a nanny. A nanny is very important to a child.”

“So?”

I smiled and continued.

“A nanny influences a child. If I’m going to be influenced, I want it to be by someone cool who saved me without any selfish reasons.”

“...”

“Until I become as cool as you, will you teach me?”

“...”

“If this isn’t what you expected and you’re hesitant, take your time and contact me later.”

I clasped my hands tightly, looking at Jeanne.

I had three people on my side.

Conrad.

Michelan.

Han Ji-hyuk.

‘Those guys are all gentle.’

If a fight broke out somewhere, one hit would probably knock them out.

So, someone kind-hearted and incredibly strong like Jeanne would be a great help.

Jeanne hesitated briefly and said,

“I’ll think about it and contact you.”

“Great!”

Jeanne bowed and left the room.

‘She’ll say yes.’

She must be very desperate for money.

And Jeanne really liked children.

Sitting on the sofa, I hummed happily imagining.

Jeanne, the tiger who hides three trembling rabbit men behind her back and roars fiercely, threatening our enemies.

Now the nanny is secured.

‘Alright, now it’s Anatoli, the late princess’s turn.’

If I thought I could just leave her alone, I was wrong.

Since she annoyed me that much, I planned to give her a proper lesson.

I twisted my mouth in anticipation.