The moment they stepped into the inn, the knights traveling with them looked visibly relieved and delighted. The innkeeper's cooking turned out to be absolutely top-notch. The food had all been laid out piping hot, but there was still no sign of the Duke anywhere. Unable to hold back, Luca finally asked about it. Seeing that little Luca had grown considerate enough to want to share good food with others truly moved Hazel, especially given how hungry he must have been himself.
When Hazel told the children to go ahead and eat first, the two siblings' faces fell with disappointment. They insisted firmly that food was only good when eaten piping hot. It wasn't until Hazel promised to warm it back up later that the two sweethearts finally agreed, picking up their spoons and happily digging in. No matter how unfamiliar a dish might seem, the children now happily devoured anything the estate's head chef made.
The Grand Duke soon arrived at the inn as well, and the moment he got there, he asked whether the food had suited the two children's tastes. Perhaps because it was snowing so heavily outside, Hazel noticed a thick layer of snow had settled on the Duke's coat. Before she could mention it, a knight stepped forward to offer him a drink.
To set a good example for the children, Hazel gently declined. Watching the Grand Duke raise his glass, she thought, with looks like that, he could easily land a job as a beer commercial model. But it was the snow clinging to his shoulders that occupied her thoughts far more. She desperately wanted to brush it off for him. But given the no contact clause in their contract, she had no choice but to lean in close and blow it off instead.
And the sudden gesture made the Grand Duke jump in surprise. In the end, he simply took off his outer coat and handed it to Hazel. "In a situation like this, should I be thanking you? Then again, I did just let you satisfy your urge to brush the snow off me. So really, you should be thanking me."
At that moment, little Luna, standing nearby, broke into a mischievous grin. She imagined what the knight Daniel's reaction would be if he saw this scene. To her surprise, Hazel happened to learn that Daniel was actually a holy knight. No wonder she'd sensed holy power coming from him earlier.
After eating, Hazel took the children to check into their room. They were told they'd be staying in the largest room at the inn. To her surprise, the moment she opened the door, she came face to face with the Grand Duke. The innkeeper, walking behind them, looked puzzled. Hazel explained that there had been a double booking mix-up. "Something like this has never happened before, honestly." The innkeeper quickly covered her mouth in embarrassment. "Surely you two don't want the children sleeping in a separate room, do you?"
The witch everyone believed ate human flesh had by now completely won over everyone's affection. Even the innkeeper had mistaken her for the children's mother. This left the Grand Duke utterly baffled. Hazel and the children didn't resemble each other in the slightest. The innkeeper explained bashfully, "A handsome man, a beautiful woman, and such adorable children besides. Anyone would mistake you all for a real family."
Hearing the compliment, Hazel blushed, too. I suppose I really am rather pretty, aren't I?
In truth, the outfit she was wearing was never meant to be a nanny's uniform. It was an expensive gown, the kind only a wealthy young lady would ever wear. Because of this, rumors had once spread through the estate that the Grand Duke harbored improper intentions toward his nanny.
Coincidentally, at that very moment, a group of knights happened to be passing by the door. To their dismay, they learned they'd have to share a room with the Grand Duke. Even though every fiber of their being wanted to refuse, in the end they had no choice but to reluctantly accept.
Hazel took the children into their room as well. Before long, little Luca had already drifted off to sleep. Soothed by Hazel's gentle patting, Luna too fell peacefully asleep. Hazel wanted to use the spare time to squeeze in a bit of magic study. But she'd barely read for a little while before she was overcome with drowsiness.
Suddenly, a loud noise rang out from beyond the window. The moment she stepped outside, she saw angels blowing their horns in a resounding fanfare. It seemed his holiness the Pope had made it there safely. It was then that Hazel noticed the Grand Duke was also standing out on the balcony. "So these angels were summoned here by the Pope."
"Did you know he actually has the power to conjure illusions?"
Hearing that, Hazel turned away a little embarrassed. With that, the Grand Duke turned back inside and returned with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. "It's not work hours right now, so I don't suppose you have any excuse to refuse, do you?"
Hazel accepted the glass of wine, surprised at just how delicious it turned out to be. She also learned that the locals traditionally drank this particular wine to celebrate the new year. Watching Hazel's bright, cheerful smile, the Grand Duke found himself lost in thought without realizing it. She seems to know so much about so many things. And yet at other times, she acts as innocent as if she knows nothing at all. She really is a strange, mysterious woman.
Not long after, the empire officially held its New Year's ceremony. The children followed their brother to be presented before the Pope. However, they were instructed to have the children and their nanny wait in the drawing room first.
Just then, someone called out to the Grand Duke. "It's been a whole year since that last festival, hasn't it? Since we last saw each other. This year his holiness wanted to see you first thing, too. Seems he still favors you as much as ever."
The Grand Duke knew perfectly well that was exactly how it looked to outsiders. But in reality, the Pope felt nothing but disdain for him. Sure enough, after he offered a polite greeting, the Pope only mumbled a half-hearted reply before striding straight past him toward the knight Daniel. "It's been too long, Daniel."
Watching the tense, awkward air between the two of them, the Grand Duke wanted nothing more than to slip away immediately.
A little later, the group had a private meeting. It was then that the Pope's demeanor suddenly shifted, worlds apart from just moments before. She bluntly confronted the knight Daniel. "Abandoning me to follow the Grand Duke instead. Are you happy now?"
The remark made the Grand Duke freeze mid-sip of his tea. He quickly tried to smooth things over. "Don't worry, I pay him quite generously." Could he really not recognize that as the lament of a woman who'd lost the one love of her life?
Afterward, the group shifted the conversation to Hazel. The Pope noted that she was nothing like the rumors suggested, and in fact got along wonderfully with the children. No matter how closely she looked, nothing seemed suspicious about her. If anything, the only odd thing was how extravagant her outfit was. Hardly what you'd expect from a nanny.
The Grand Duke quickly changed the subject, mentioning that he planned to bring his two siblings along to the palace dinner that evening. The Pope's expression immediately darkened. "Are you sure it's really wise to bring children to a dinner like that?"