Chapter 251

When Jeanne failed to answer, Canella’s lips curled into a smirk.

‘Of course.’

As if someone like her would have the connections to submit a recommendation to a great noble family.

Canella covered her mouth with one hand, feigning concern.

“If you forged a recommendation letter, we can’t just let it slide. That would be an insult to House Astra and a challenge to its authority!”

“Ah, well, there was someone who said they would submit one for me…”

At Jeanne’s words, Canella let out a scoffing laugh.

“And who, exactly, would that be?”

“Me.”

A voice came from the second-floor staircase.

It was a youthful voice.

All eyes—Jeanne’s, Canella’s, and the other interviewees’—immediately turned toward the stairs.

Lustrous, wavy golden hair.

Jewel-like red eyes.

A small beauty mark beneath one eye.

A girl so doll-like in appearance, it was hard to believe she was human.

Both Jeanne and Canella’s expressions stiffened.

Because that girl was—

‘The one from the alley…!’

Canella froze on the spot, staring at the child.

Her clothing was extravagant beyond words.

Her red dress was adorned with Lavilz lace—a designer lace by Lavilz, known for its gold threads and gemstone embellishments.

From her shoes to the hairpin decorating her head, everything exuded wealth.

Like—like… a great noble house’s young lady.

‘This can’t be happening…’

Jeanne’s eyes also widened in shock.

“You—you’re…”

Erylotte beamed brightly as she approached Jeanne.

Hands clasped together, her eyes sparkled.

“Thank you for coming.”

“What… what is going on here…?”

“Oh, I was late in introducing myself, wasn’t I?”

Erylotte spread out her dress slightly and gave a graceful curtsy.

“Granddaughter of Kronos Astra, eldest daughter of Daymond Astra, and the 23rd direct descendant of Astra—”

“……”

“Erylotte Astra.”

The interviewees immediately bowed their heads.

“We greet Lady Astra.”

“We greet Lady Astra.”

What?

Jeanne’s eyes flew wide open.

‘What?’

Canella’s mouth gaped.

‘W-W-What?!’

***

I looked at Jeanne, who was frozen in shock.

Canella, too, had the expression of someone whose breath had stopped.

‘Well, it’s not surprising.’

When I met Jeanne, I had dressed as plainly as possible to secretly observe Canella, one of the nanny candidates.

It would have been difficult for her to recognize me as a great noble’s young lady.

Plus, Canella had seen Han Ji-hyuk, dressed in servant’s clothing, speaking informally to me.

At best, she must have thought I was some provincial noble out on an outing with my servant.

That was the only logical assumption.

Canella remained stiff and unmoving. But soon—

“L-Lady Astra, please forgive my past rudeness…!”

—she dropped to her knees.

“Rudeness? What rudeness?”

At my question, Canella’s face turned deathly pale.

I tilted my head slightly and looked at her.

“I asked, what rudeness?”

“T-That is…”

The interviewees exchanged curious glances between me and Canella.

They had sensed that something had happened between us.

I watched Canella, who was terrified, stammering,

“Th-That time, I mean…”

“Oh. You mean when you smoked a cigarette in front of me?”

“L-Lady…!”

People gasped.

“What? She smoked in front of a child?”

“My goodness, how could she…”

I had already noticed back at the bakery—Canella was a socially adept villain.

A bad person who managed her reputation meticulously.

‘Reputation is everything.’

Even if I said, “Canella Mia is trash who tried to have thugs beat up a child!”—who would believe me?

No one.

They would say, “No way. There must be a misunderstanding. Canella is such a kind person.”

That’s why I arranged this interview.

So everyone here could see it for themselves.

The people who applied to Astra—if they weren’t hired here, they would eventually become nannies for other noble children.

Once word spread through the nanny network, Canella would never find a job again.

Canella seemed to realize this, as her face turned even paler.

“A-Ah, my lady, that was a misunderstanding. The smoking—”

“……”

“—is true, I admit.”

Canella squeezed her eyes shut.

Since she couldn’t outright deny it, she had reluctantly admitted to smoking.

“But when I started smoking, my lady happened to walk into the area where I was….”

“……”

“I never imagined a child would come to that place.”

The other interviewees nodded in understanding.

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