The evening finally arrived.
Stella prepared herself, putting on the dress that Carla had given her. She combed her hair carefully and styled it into a simple pigtail.
The royal green dress, with its modest yet elegant design, suited her well, complementing both her skin tone and the color of her eyes.
"So, now let's go get to know the rest of the family."
Stella felt a quiet curiosity about the remaining members of the household. There was something unusual about them, something she could not yet define.
As Hannah had said, she came to accompany her.
Hannah was the head butler of the house and had held that position for about five years. She oversaw everything, from supervising servants to organizing events, maintaining order throughout the estate.
After climbing the stairs, they headed toward a large dining hall. The corridor leading to it was wide and softly lit, with polished floors reflecting the warm glow of evening lamps.
The entire family was already seated at the dining table.
The grandfather sat at the center.
He was an elderly man with fully silver hair, dressed in refined and elegant clothing. His posture was straight, his hands calmly clasped, and his presence carried a sense of quiet authority and experience.
Next to him sat the grandmother. Her expression was warm, and she exchanged gentle smiles with those around her, maintaining a calm and welcoming atmosphere.
Adam sat beside her. He appeared completely composed, displaying politeness and restraint, occasionally exchanging brief glances with Stella.
On the opposite side sat a young man. He was handsome and well-dressed, with a natural elegance and a pleasant smile that did not seem forced.
Next to him sat a little girl.
She was delicate in appearance, yet noticeably different from the rest of the family.
Her face was round, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes a clear blue like the sky, and her white hair matched her pale complexion.
"She's an albino, and has to have some problems, especially with sunlight. It will be more to take care of her than an ordinary child, but there's no problem. I've already taken care of Jean, so it's not that difficult."
Several servants were present in the dining hall, moving with precision and professionalism. Their movements were quiet and coordinated, as if each action had been practiced many times before.
Among them was Carla.
She appeared somewhat tense, her eyes occasionally shifting as if expecting something.
"She must think I'm going to cause her some trouble because of what I made her tell me."
The table was filled with a wide variety of dishes and drinks, all carefully arranged and clearly expensive, reflecting the wealth of the household.
After a few moments, everyone noticed Hannah and Stella entering the hall.
Mrs. Loran spoke, "Let me introduce her to you, she's Annie's new nanny."
Upon hearing this, the little girl turned to look at Stella.
Her gaze was calm, almost indifferent, and after a brief moment, she returned to her meal without saying anything.
At that moment, Mr. Loran spoke, "Annie, dear, say hello to your new nanny."
As soon as she heard that, she stood up, greeted politely, and then returned to her seat.
"I knew there would be some problems, she must not have liked me," Stella thought with a quiet sigh.
After that, Stella greeted everyone, "Good evening."
Mr. Loran addressed her, "Welcome to our house, and I hope you enjoy working with my granddaughter. It is your responsibility from today."
His words were precise, his tone measured, without any unnecessary additions.
Stella replied politely, "I hope to meet your expectations, Mr. Loran."
After that, she left with Hannah, who guided her back and began explaining the house rules.
Everyone woke up at five in the morning, and work continued until ten in the evening. Stella's responsibilities were limited to taking care of the little girl and nothing else.
Lunch was at one o'clock, dinner at nine, along with several other instructions that she was expected to follow strictly.
After Hannah left, Stella closed the door behind her and let out a quiet sigh.
"Uh, I came to explore the continent, and now I'm working as a babysitter. And what is with all these rules? The rich love complications and unnecessary problems. Of course they do, because they don't have real ones."
She felt exhausted, without rest all day, constantly thinking and planning what to do next.
After a moment, she walked to the small desk beside the bed and picked up a few books placed there.
"I hope there's something useful about this place."
She checked them and found they were mostly children's stories and basic health care tips.
Even the books were chosen according to her role.
After flipping through them briefly, she set them aside and decided to sleep.
But she couldn't.
The dinner scene had reminded her of her own family.
"What are they doing now? My father must have recovered a little after the operation… Mom is taking care of him, and Jean… they must be worried about me."
A quiet sadness settled in her chest whenever she thought about them.
"If only I had been able to help… they would have had the money they needed, and I would still be with them."
She closed her eyes slowly.
"It doesn't matter now. What I know is that I will return… no matter what it takes."