Chapter 56
Chapter 56
I watched the red mark bloom on the back of Mercedes’s neck, small enough that she herself might not even know it was there. Usually the same pale shade as her skin, it deepened to a vibrant crimson whenever she was agitated. It was a warning signal, a tiny beacon broadcasting her rising fury.
A strange feeling prickled across my skin, raising the hairs on my arms. It was unsettling, like two paintings in drastically different styles, haphazardly stitched together.
A beautiful, meticulously crafted landscape marred by a child’s crude, erratic scribbles. Yes, it was that fissure I’d glimpsed before, a jagged, violent line fracturing the serene image. I was terrified of what might emerge from that abyss.
A cold sweat trickled down my spine. But I couldn’t show weakness, not here. That would be a fatal mistake. “Cesar will manage.” I added, quickly assessing Mercedes’s reaction. Her face drained of color, as if painted over with whitewash.
“But such a thing… I… I’m worried about the pain His Highness will endure.”
Her concern was valid. I understood her fears. But if she were to ask whether Cesar should spend his life sheltered, solely under her care, I could answer with absolute certainty: No.
“There is no reward without sacrifice. Pain and hardship are inevitable.”
A choked gasp escaped Mercedes’s lips. She sat frozen for a moment, then shuddered violently and sprang to her feet.
“No… No, you can’t do this!” Her voice cracked, barely containing her surging emotions. Tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks as she glared at me with open animosity. Her gaze was so venomous it felt like a physical blow. She made no attempt to hide her blatant hostility.
The intensity of the confrontation drew the attention of the other servants in the dining hall, their expressions shifting to anxiety and unease. In stark contrast to the tension, Cesar was preoccupied, playfully twirling his fork.
I sighed slowly. This incident confirmed my suspicions: Mercedes was… strange. Her emotions were too volatile, swinging wildly between extremes.
The disparity was, at times, frightening. Such instability would hinder Cesar’s development, despite her years of dedicated care. For his sake, she needed to be removed. My eyes flashed with resolve. “I won’t be requiring your assistance any further.”
“What?” She blinked repeatedly, her eyes losing focus and glazing over.
Silence descended. My intent was clear. This was my rejection of Mercedes, a refusal of her past offers of help and, most importantly, a clear directive to stay away from Cesar.
Comprehending the weight of my silence, she stumbled. Her chair toppled with a clatter as she recoiled, then fled the dining hall.
I stared at the empty space where she had been, the raw bitterness in her expression lingering in my mind. A sudden chill ran through me.
“This is the right thing to do.” Despite the conviction in my words, my mouth felt dry. I avoided looking at the door through which she had escaped.
I glanced at Cesar, wondering if he was upset by the dismissal of his nanny. “Did you… not like that?” He simply stared back at me, his expression unreadable. “You’re usually quite vocal when you disapprove… Oh well. Let’s try this again. Today, we are absolutely using cutlery.”
Yes, this was what mattered. I calmly placed the fork back in Cesar’s hand. “No throwing this time, alright?”
Of course, even if he threw it, I would simply fetch another. I sacrificed seventeen forks that day before finally achieving the desired result.
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