"My lady, I have checked the whole palace. But the nanny is not here." Reynold, the personal knight of Leo, spoke in a gentle voice as he bowed his head.
But it only brought Renata on edge. She was sure that Penny was taken by force. They have deceived her.
"Then ask the guards at the entrance. Have they seen someone taking her by force?" Lucy was stunned to see how a girl that was only 3 was using such kind of remarks.
"My lady, it is impossible. The palace is not a place where someone can use violence.
The lady must have left by her wish. Since she had still not received any uniform, the guards would have taken her as a guest and let her go.
It would not have happened if she would have been registered as a worker in the palace.'' His tone was still calm as he could see that the young girl was worried about her nanny.
She must have an attachment to her. He had heard how her maids had mistreated her. It was the hot topic of the whole empire. He was sure that little concern that widow would have shown her, would have affected her.
His face softened at that thought as he walked closer and sat on his knees, "maybe she had some urgent matter to deal with. That was why she left? And would come back once she was done?" he asked as she stared into his eyes.
The look was so cold that he never knew a baby could give that kind of look. Her eyes were… he felt the same pressure as he felt in front of Leo!
"Cough cough.. I think she had gone back for the mourning maybe. Her husband 's rituals are not done yet. It would continue for two weeks and it would only be five days.
Why not wait for ten days and see if she comes back?" he asked in a soft voice, shaking the idea that she was dangerous.
She was just a kid. He must be thinking too much.
"Yes, princess. You do not need to worry so much. I will take good care of you in the meanwhile. And if you want, I can bring two more maids to make sure that you were never left unattended." Lucy who was silent all this while came forward when she felt that the knight was still struggling with her.
"Maybe she had left a letter for you. I shall go and check your room. It must be there." Lucy lied. She was worried that Renata would cry or would be heartbroken since she had seen how much Renata liked and trusted her nanny.
It would have been devastating for her that Penny left without a word upto the limit that she was not going to accept it and continued to believe that she was taken away forcefully. She felt that too much pain was bad for her age.
She wanted Renata to smile like morning. So, she thought of writing a warm letter and telling her that Penny had an urgent matter to deal with and she would surely come back.
She was sure that even if Penny did not come back, Renata would forget about her in a few days since the child only has short memories.
"So.. you mean that she had returned to her husband's family because of the mourning when they had thrown her out of the palace last night?
Or she had gone to her family who had sold her to the marquis and refused to take her back when she was thrown out?
Why would a person willingly return to this kind of place where she was tormented and beaten?" Renata asked as she stared back at Reynold with a mocking gaze.
'Her eyes were telling him not to treat me like a kid, since I am not one' when he felt embarrassed.
She then turned to the maid who was looking at her with a surprised look, "and you, i know that you would go and write a honey coated letter and show it to me as a proof that she went out of her own will.
So, spare the effort. I am not a fool and I know her writing. So, it would not be difficult for me to know that she had not written it." Renanta lied to explain that their tricks would not work on her.
Now she was doubtful if they had even checked the whole palace or if they were just lying in the first place.
Looking at her suspicious eyes and rage, Reynold cleared his throat, "but we have checked the whole palace. If she was not in the palace that only meant that she had left, my lady.
But if you are so doubtful, then I would send someone to the marquis state and check if she was there or not.
If she would not be there, I would arrange for her maiden family address too.
So, do not worry, I will investigate the matter in a better way so that you would not be disappointed and suspicious anymore." he offered as he did not want her to look at him as if he was a lady who does nothing but stand here the whole day and enjoy.
He was a diligent knight and known for his exemplary skills. But who would have thought that a three year girl would look down on him and it would affect his mind too. He would show her that he did work diligently.
"That is a nice idea. At least you have some brain." nodded the girl but he did not know whether to feel relieved or worried the way she had said that.. "But it is not enough, so I am coming with you. I will personally check if she has left by her own will or not!"