Daran was in a horrible mood when he left the meeting room.
The list that the elder handed to him was threaded into pieces and discarded into the trash.
Aspen sat in his arms quietly, his chubby arms wrapped around Daranâs neck.
âAre you going to get married?â asked the boy as they marched down the hallway. The furrow between Daranâs brows grew deeper, âNoâ¦I donât knowâ¦Maybe.â
The elders were right about one thing.
This kingdom indeed needs a Luna and an heir.
âIf you are to get married, why did you yell at those people?â the boy asked. âAre you in love with a certain lady that the elders forbid you to marry?â
Daranâs heart ached for a quick moment.
The woman that he was in love withâ¦Well, the elders didnât stop them from being together, the fate did.
His heart died the moment that they parted.
He would never fall in love with another woman, ever again.
So maybe he should listen to the elders and choose a Luna. He didnât need to love her. As long as she was a Luna material, that was all that mattered.
âWell, donât you worry?â
Daran rubbed the boyâs bushy hair and smiled, âEven if I do get married, you can still call me daddy and hang out with me. Nothing will change. Now, let us go interview your new nanny.
He took the boy back to his chamber and asked the servant to summon Lady Kurt. About half an hour later, the servant reported back to them, saying that Lady Kurt was there.
Daran raised his head. His eyes flickered to the door as that woman stepped in.
A strange feeling surged up in his chest at that moment.
She was wearing a black long dress that covered up her entire body, looking very much like a prède. And her face was still covered by that mask.
There was nothing about her that could stand out or catch a manâs attention.
Yet strangelyâ¦he could not take his eyes off him.
She walked closer and curtseyed to them.
âMy King, young master, good day.â
Daran pressed down the strange feelings at heart and nodded, âLady Kurt, do you know why I called you in here today?â
Janet was so nervous that she could hardly breathe.
She and Medline were working on ways to approach Aspen again when the servants from the court came to knock on their door and said that the King wanted to see her.
She tried asking the servant what this was about. But the servants would not say. Medline tried to come with them. But she got stopped by the servants.
Her heart was filled with worry and anxiety on her way to the packhouse.
Why did Daran suddenly want to see her?
Did he find out about who she was?
Or even worseâ¦did he find out who Aspen was?
âNoâ¦My King. I donât know why I am hereâ¦â she answered in a light voice, holding her head down.
âDid I do something wrong?â
Before Daran could answer, Aspen jumped off his chair and rushed to Janet, crying, âYou are going to be my new nanny! Are you happy? You can stay in the packhouse with me all day long from now!â
â¦What?
Janet snapped her head up, looking astonished.
Daran wanted her to babysit Aspen.
That was why he summoned her?
Aspen shook her hand eagerly, âDonât you want to be my new nanny? Come on, just say yes, will you?â
Janet looked at the boy and gave him a soft smile.
Of course, she wanted to stay close to her child. It almost killed her to be kept apart from Aspen.
If she was his nanny in this packhouse, she would have an authorized identity to stay with Aspen.
And more importantly, it would be easier to sneak Aspen out of the packhouse this way.
Of course, she would have to face the danger of her identity getting exposed, but that was a risk that she was willing to take.
âIt would be my honor,â she answered firmly without hesitation.
Aspen let out a cry of joy immediately.
Yet Daran spoke up at this moment in an icy voice, âNot so fast. You have not passed my interview yet.
Janetâs heart skipped a beat as Daran stood up from his chair and walked up to her. He stood in front of her, staring down at her face with a searching gaze.
âWhat is your full name?â he asked.
âJâ¦Janine Kurt.â
She made up a fake name urgently.
âAre you married?â he pursued.
Janet bit her bottom lips nervouslyâ¦Why did he ask that?
~1 life â Daran let âDonât get me wrong, Lady Kurt. I am not interested in your personal life.â Daran let out a snort, âI am just wondering if a single lady who has zero experience with children can take care of the young master.â
Janet took a deep breath.
She wanted to say that she was single. But Aspen was staring at her right now. She didnât want to give the child the impression that she was having trouble with his father âIâI am married with a child, My King.â She answered in a low voice eventually. Daran felt a fleeting pain and anger.
â¦She was married? With another man?
He didnât understand where those strange emotions came fromâthe truth was that they just met and he barely knew this woman.
Yet the moment he heard her say those words, the flame of jealousy started burning in his chest.
How weird.
âGood.â
Daran ignored the angry beast inside of him and said in a cold voice, âThen you know how to care for a child.â
âI do, your majesty, you can trust the young master to me.â
âBe very careful, Lady Kurt, you donât want to make any mistake with this job.â
He warned her ruthlessly, âThe only reason I chose you as the nanny is because the young master likes you very much. So if I find any signs of misconduct or sloppinessâ¦you will be punished. And nobody can save you.
Janet gave a small flinch.
He was serious about those punishments.