The Nanny of House Herzen - Chapter 3
Fortunately for Evelyn, there was no one else in the mansion who could nurse the baby. This was why they took her in, despite her ragged appearance.
“So, your name is Evelyn?”
She wondered if she should have kept her real name a secret.
It was too late for regrets now. Evelyn managed to pick up her spoon again.
“Yes, Evelyn… Biern.”
She used the surname of a cook she was close to as a child. The head maid nodded without suspicion, as Biern was a common surname among the commoners in the kingdom.
“Alright, Evelyn. Eat up.”
Evelyn forced herself to eat the bread soaked in soup that the head maid had prepared.
She had to nurse the baby; that was her sole usefulness in this mansion.
* * *
The baby who had saved Evelyn’s life was named Johanson.
In just a few days since Evelyn’s arrival, little Johanson’s cheeks had filled out, and her face began to glow healthily.
However, Evelyn mostly felt numb. Looking at Johanson’s golden hair, reminiscent of the brightest midday sun, momentarily eased her grief over her own lost child, but it was only a brief respite.
She struggled to eat properly, and the head maid continued to nag her.
“It’s not just about worrying over you anymore. You need to eat well so our little Miss gets nutritious milk.”
Despite the nagging, the head maid clearly cared, even ensuring that Evelyn had treats like fine pastries and puddings. Nevertheless, Evelyn found it hard to eat well.
Still, her milk flowed abundantly. It seemed odd to her that her body continued to produce so much milk when it felt like it had no other purpose since she had lost her own child.
On her tenth day at the Herzen estate, the head maid finally decided to give her a tour of the mansion.
“You’ve been cooped up in the little Miss’s room for too long. Now that you’re a servant of Herzen, you need to at least know the basic rules. Come, follow me.”
Evelyn followed the head maid around the mansion. They toured the servants’ quarters and dining hall in the basement, and the banquet hall on the first floor.
The mansion was as quiet and mysteriously secretive as the rumors about it suggested. Other servants were seldom seen, seemingly busy with their tasks.
They returned to the second floor, where Evelyn had been staying. At the foot of the stairs leading to the third floor, the head maid paused and lowered her voice to explain.
“You must never go up these stairs. The Duke’s bedroom and office are on the third floor. I’ve said before, our master isn’t as strange as the rumors suggest. But he is very strict. He does not tolerate mistakes. So, do not go up these stairs.”
Evelyn thought she detected a strange smell coming from the direction of the staircase. She nodded earnestly.
“Yes, head maid.”
It was then she realized that she hadn’t seen the Duke at all during her ten days at the mansion.
Evelyn had stayed primarily in the young lady’s room, which meant, in other words, that the Duke had not even glanced at his daughter. Considering the infant had nearly died ten days ago, it seemed a terribly cold neglect.
Perhaps her thoughts were apparent because the head maid began walking back to the young lady’s room, and added.
“You may have sensed it, but the truth is…”
Her hesitation before continuing made it clear it was difficult for her to say.
“The master is heartbroken over the loss of the Madam and hasn’t yet been able to see the little miss. So, as long as you don’t go upstairs, you likely won’t see the Duke for a while.”
This was somewhat a relief for Evelyn. She nodded to show she understood, and the head maid continued.
“However, if you do happen to see him, do not greet him first. Just make yourself scarce quickly. That’s how everyone does it here. Understood?”
“Yes, head maid.”
Evelyn’s simple reply seemed to please the head maid. When they returned to the young lady’s room, the head maid left without further comment.
* * *
“Wah, wah!”
A high-pitched cry came from the small bed. The young lady often looks for milk after her bath and falls asleep in the evening.
Evelyn approached the bed and carefully picked up the little baby.
“Shh, Johanson. Did you wake up already? Are you hungry?”
Over a month had passed since Evelyn started caring for Johanson. She opened the front of her loosely tied dress and gently guided her n–ple to the tiny lips of the young lady.
Johanson, as if she had never cried, latched on and contentedly closed her eyes. After feeding from both sides, Evelyn made sure to pat her back for a long time to prevent her from spitting up.
Initially, the young lady had been fussy and sensitive due to hunger, but lately, she had become gentle and slept well.
This did not lead to additional responsibilities for Evelyn, which meant her days were relatively leisurely. She knew that once Johanson was weaned, she might no longer be needed, which meant her usefulness would diminish.
Evelyn tried not to think too deeply about it. After all, she had walked out of those miserable reeds on her own feet… As long as she was alive, she would find a way to keep living.
After Johanson fell asleep in her arms, Evelyn carefully placed her on the bed and quietly watched her golden eyelashes.
Her own child would have had such eyelashes if they had survived. Because they shared the same trait.
‘Come to think of it… the late Duchess must have been blonde too, right?’
