NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15 - Love Nest
Upon arriving at the Marquis’ house, they were greeted by a line of strong, macho male servants at the grand entrance.
Nisha was taken aback by the sight of the impressive mansion and the imposing servants.
In the center of the entrance stood a silver wolf statue with eyes that appeared to be set with blue diamonds.
“It’s amazing,” Nisha marveled, experiencing a world she had never known.
“Nisha’s room is this way,” Diarmid said, gently guiding her by the arm.
Nisha followed him nervously as he showed her around the vast mansion.
“Nisha’s room will be on the west end, across from my room. It’s the bedroom your father, Nate, used.”
“My dad… what is he doing now?”
“…Your father… is dead,” Diarmid replied, struggling with the difficult topic.
Nisha’s eyes welled up with tears, and Diarmid’s heart ached for her.
“I see… as expected…”
“Didn’t your mother tell you anything?”
“I don’t have many memories of my mother…”
“What have you been up to?”
“I was in an orphanage in a small village. When that orphanage went bankrupt, I came to the current orphanage.”
“I see, I’m sorry I couldn’t find you sooner.”
“No,” Nisha reassured him.
Nisha didn’t have many memories of her life before becoming an orphan. She faintly remembered living with her mother and a man with flaxen hair named “Kuma.” She knew that Kuma wasn’t her father, but her memories were hazy. Eventually, she ended up in an orphanage in a small village, and from there, she met Brigid at the royal capital’s orphanage. Brigid’s flaxen hair reminded her of Kuma, making her feel nostalgic.
“Thanks to that, I was able to meet my mom, so I’m okay with that.”
Seeing Nisha smile cheerfully, Diarmid found it endearing.
“This is the room Brigid prepared for you,” Diarmid said as Nisha looked around her new bedroom, her eyes lighting up.
The room was adorned in bright blue and silver, creating a soothing and calming atmosphere. Silver stars adorned the deep blue ceiling, and a brown stuffed boar rested on the bed.
Nisha embraced the stuffed boar and said, “Mom for me…”
Overwhelmed with happiness, Nisha noticed something and asked Diarmid, “Where’s mom’s room?”
“Brigid is in the eastern end,” Diarmid replied.
Nisha realized the distance between their rooms and asked, “Why? Mom said she wanted to adopt me, so you put up with it and married my uncle?”
Diarmid raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. “No such thing.”
“True?” Nisha pressed.
Diarmid felt guilty as he looked into her innocent eyes. “…It’s true. We love each other.”
“I see! Good! I have to thank mom!”
Nisha exclaimed and ran down the hallway with all her heart, still resembling a child in her excitement.
“Mom!! Thank you for the wonderful room!”
Nisha hugged Brigid with an angelic smile.
“That’s not true! I just chose it, and Diarmid prepared it for me.”
“But you chose me!! I’m so happy!!”
The two of them shared a heartwarming moment between mother and child.
“But you know…?” Nisha looked up at Brigid, occasionally beckoning her closer.
Brigid leaned in closer to hear her whisper.
“Um, don’t tell me, okay? My room is across from my uncle’s room… not yet… it’s a bit scary… Isn’t it okay if it’s near mom’s room?”
Brigid bit her lip, feeling torn.
“I see. That’s right. It’s okay! Let’s move! Move!”
Brigid decided promptly, looking at Diarmid.
“Brigid! Don’t spoil her too much! The Marquis family has lived in the west wing for generations. The guest room is on the east.”
Nisha was puzzled by Diarmid’s words. “Is Mom a guest?”
Her question made both Diarmid and Brigid break into a cold sweat.
“No, we haven’t been married yet… we were planning on moving to the west wing soon,” Diarmid explained.
Brigid added, “It’s the room next to mine.”
“Yay! I’m so happy!!”
Brigid couldn’t say anything in front of Nisha, who was thrilled.
“But, is it okay if I stay in mom’s room today?… I’ve been sleeping with everyone at the orphanage for a long time…”
“Okay? Shall we do this until you get used to it?”
Diarmid interjected, “Brigid, I told you not to spoil her too much!”
He didn’t like how Nisha seemed to be prioritized in everything.
“I’m sure she’s feeling anxious in a mansion she’s not used to. It might help her feel more at ease if we pamper her a little. Besides, ‘pamper’ and ‘spoil’ have different meanings, right?”
Brigid, with a governess-like demeanor, held up her finger and began a lecture on the matter.
“To spoil a child is to do things for them even when they don’t want to be spoiled. This can hinder their growth. Pampering, on the other hand, is necessary for healthy development. Especially in Nisha’s case, as she was separated from her parents at a young age and her environment has changed. It’s natural for her to feel upset, and we must provide strong support.”
“But…”
The butler and maids applauded Brigid’s explanation.
Diarmid, frustrated and alone, gritted his teeth. He felt left out.
“…Mom… did I cause trouble? Are you sure you don’t need me?” Nisha asked with concerned eyes.
Brigid hugged her tightly. “That’s not true! Nisha!! You are the most important person in the world. You’re an angel!”
“Then, can you show me to mom’s room?”
“Yes, of course!”
Hand in hand, the two of them headed to the east wing.
“Hey! Brigid!! That’s not an angel! It’s a wolf! Be careful!” Diarmid warned.
“What nonsense are you talking about now?” Brigid laughed.
Nisha joined in, and the two of them walked down the hallway, occasionally skipping with excitement.
The maids began to prepare the rooms, while Diarmid was left feeling irritated. The butler, witnessing his master so attached to a woman for the first time, observed the situation with amusement.
Nisha had arrived at Brigid’s bedroom, and her eyes widened in surprise.
The room was color-coordinated in blue and silver, a perfect love nest dyed in her own colors.
“Mom… is this… maybe… my color?”
“Ah, no, um, I’m sorry, okay? Did you feel uncomfortable? If you feel uncomfortable, I’ll fix it right away. We can separate our rooms, and I’ll ask Diarmid to sleep with me, and we can find you a new nanny or governess.”
Brigid was flustered as she realized the room’s color scheme matched Nisha’s.
Nisha, overwhelmed with emotion, took a deep breath. The dark clouds in her
chest parted, and sunlight began to shine through. The light was the same flaxen color as Brigid’s hair. The parts of her heart that had been frozen began to thaw.
“…Nisha-kun, I’m sorry…”
Nisha shook her head in a panic when Brigid apologized using formal language. She didn’t want Brigid to address her with “kun” anymore.
“No! I was happy!!”
Nisha hugged Brigid tightly and buried her face in her skirt to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. Her ears drooped.
“Because when I first arrived, I did a lot of rude things to you…”
Nisha’s wolf nature made her uncomfortable with physical contact from others, and her shyness had caused numerous misunderstandings and conflicts when she had first met Brigid.
“Has that ever happened?” Brigid tilted her head, clearly not bothered by Nisha’s initial shyness. For Brigid, helping Nisha overcome her shyness was a rewarding experience.
“I’ve said a lot of selfish things, and I’ve also said some mean things.”
“It’s normal for children to be selfish,” Brigid reassured her.
“Is it okay to be selfish?”
“That’s fine. If it’s not okay, I’ll just scold you.”
“Don’t you hate me?”
“I might get angry from time to time. But, you know, I can’t hate you.”
Brigid laughed and shrugged off Nisha’s concerns.
Nisha realized how much she had been saved by Brigid and couldn’t help but express her gratitude. “Thank you for staying by my side.”
Brigid silently stroked Nisha’s head as she softly grumbled. Nisha’s shoulders trembled with emotion. She knew that Brigid had lived a life she couldn’t even imagine, and that’s why she wanted Nisha to be happy from now on.