The Nanny of House Herzen - Chapter 13
It seemed that the Duke’s absence was a relief to many.
That same afternoon, Evelyn encountered the head maid in the third-floor corridor. She knew the head maid often passed through this hallway, but it was the first time she saw her boldly cleaning during such bright hours.
“…Head maid.”
As she bowed her head in greeting, the head maid chuckled.
“With the master away from the manor, I can work at a more relaxed pace. He should be back next week, so you can ease up until then.”
“Shall I help?”
Usually, she would not hesitate to refuse, but it seemed the Duke’s absence had made the head maid quite relaxed. Evelyn asked again.
“What about the little miss?”
“She just fell asleep. I’ll handle this corridor.”
The head maid released the mop she was holding and patted her back.
“Well, in other estates, it wouldn’t be a job for an old person like me. Nor is it really suitable for you.”
It wasn’t because she was old that it was a problem, but because of her position as a head maid.
Typically, a head maid would carry a heavy set of keys and only issue orders to other servants. But as she herself said, the third floor of this mansion held secrets as significant as human lives. Thus, she couldn’t allow lower-level staff free access.
Evelyn took the mop from the head maid and bowed deeply.
“Please rest, and leave this to me.”
The head maid was her lifesaver. Evelyn was glad to be able to do something for her in return.
As the head maid left, she gave one instruction.
“Just clean the corridor, do not open any doors.”
“Yes, head maid.”
In reality, Evelyn had hardly ever done such menial work. It would have been embarrassing if the head maid had stayed to watch, but fortunately, she left quickly.
Evelyn sweated as she mopped the long corridor.
The wet mop was so heavy that by the time she reached the end of the corridor, her arms were trembling. She lost grip of the mop handle, and the mop fell, leaning against a door handle next door.
Startled, she grabbed the handle again, but it was too late. With a creak, the door slowly opened.
When Evelyn quickly grabbed the doorknob, she saw something startling. Inside the dark, expansive room, it seemed as if numerous animals were alive.
She almost screamed but managed to swallow it. Her hand on the doorknob trembled.
She barely managed to pull the handle and shut the door tightly. Clenching her fists against her chest, she felt her heart pound wildly.
The familiar spicy smell that came from the Duke was filling the corridor by then.
So it was the smell of chemicals, used to preserve dead animals so they wouldn’t decay…
“Apparently, the corpses that come out of there don’t rot…”
She swallowed dryly.
She hadn’t seen any corpses. What Evelyn had seen were eagles spreading their wings and glowing eyes, or wolves that seemed ready to pounce, growling threateningly…..Just animals.
Evelyn repeated to herself. She hadn’t seen any corpses.
But such reassurances were futile.
She felt she understood why he had appeared before her. The man was another face of death that was relentlessly pursuing her. There was no warmth or kindness in him.
Her heart, which had once longed for him, turned cold.
3. The Hunt
As the head maid had said, the Duke returned about a week later. Like a ghost, he appeared without anyone noticing.
Perhaps he secretly brought more specimens to fill that room at the end of the corridor. That’s why he moved so quietly.
As night fell, Evelyn quickly washed herself, letting go of the brief rest she had enjoyed. His mention of ‘next time’ still troubled her.
After a quick bath, she was wrapping herself in a thin cloth when the door slid open without a knock.
The moment their eyes met, she staggered but managed to keep her balance and clung to the fabric covering her. Yet, the thin, wet cloth did little to hide her figure.
“…Master.”
Evelyn hesitated for a moment before adding a greeting. After all, she hadn’t had the chance to say goodbye when he left.
However, the Duke looked as if he had never been away. Appearing after a long absence, he didn’t even glance at the sleeping Johanson.
Instead, he merely surveyed Evelyn as if admiring a painting, then walked over to a small table and sat down.
“Come and sit here.”
While dripping water, Evelyn approached tentatively and started to sit opposite him, but the Duke directed her elsewhere.
“Not there.”
He pointed to a spot at the round table.
With no other choice, Evelyn awkwardly perched on the edge of the table, all the while clutching the cloth around her to maintain her modesty.
His dark eyes scanned her wet form. As if his gaze had been a trigger, milk began to leak from her.
She tried to cover herself with her arms, but her efforts were quickly thwarted.
His large hand gently took the edge of the cloth she was holding, pulling it away as delicately as one might unwind a bandage.
Tension made her n–ples stiffen, and drops of milky white liquid fell. The Duke watched the dripping milk intently, then tenderly extended his tongue to taste it.
