The Nanny of House Herzen - Chapter 79
She respected and admired the Duchess so much that on nights like these, Ellie felt utterly lost. The sounds from the Duke and Duchess’s bedroom were far removed from the aristocratic decorum she had always envisioned for nobles—miles apart, really.
But the wet nurse, following close behind, said.
“Young maid, there’s no need to fret. This household’s lords love and cherish each other more than any other nobles I’ve known.”
Even when the Duchess screams, and the Duke never lets her go? Even when there are frightening crashing sounds? Ellie swallowed those questions and gave an awkward smile.
“I suppose so.”
The wet nurse found Ellie quite amusing and laughed.
“Trust the words of someone with experience.”
Ellie’s face scrunched up even more.
Experience? Did that mean the wet nurse made those kinds of noises with her husband too? The thought was too terrifying to entertain, so Ellie stopped herself.
“I-I will.”
The nurse laughed again at her innocent response.
* * *
The next day came.
Ellie grew increasingly worried as the door remained closed for an unusually long time. Maybe she shouldn’t have run off when the Duchess screamed yesterday. What if the Duchess had suffered immense pain behind those closed doors?
The Duke’s physique was imposing, like that of a hunter, while the Duchess was so delicate. If he were rough, she could easily break.
After some time had passed, Ellie could no longer resist the urge to check. She wanted to see with her own eyes that her dear lady was unharmed, that she wasn’t injured. She wanted to ensure every part of her was okay.
Mustering all the courage she had, Ellie gently pushed the door open. To her surprise, the Duke was awake, kneeling on the floor beside the bed.
She could hardly believe her eyes. The master of the house, who supposedly never needed to kneel before anyone—not even the king—was kneeling here, in his own home.
Upon closer inspection, she noticed the Duke was holding a towel. Ellie squinted her eyes, watching him carefully. The Duke, with a touch more delicate than any maid, was gently cleaning his sleeping wife’s body.
Ellie stood mesmerized by the scene, watching the Duke place the towel down once he finished. Then, with utmost reverence, he kissed each of the Duchess’s toes, one by one, with painstaking attention.
Just as Ellie held her breath, thinking the Duchess was still asleep, she saw the Duchess move, curling towards the Duke like a playful cat. Her face, still heavy with sleep, radiated the joy of being loved.
Ellie’s heart fluttered for some reason. She quietly closed the door, thinking that perhaps, trusting the words of someone with experience might not be so bad after all.
* * *
“We truly are a family now, aren’t we?”
Carius asked as the peaceful morning was coming to an end. Evelyn’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What a silly thing to say! We’ve been a family for years now.”
Carius shrugged, handing her a cherry.
“I just mean it feels more real now that we’re actual parents.”
Evelyn took the cherry from him, then cautiously looked at the closed door, her face slightly tense. She was sure no one would be listening, but she felt a need for reassurance.
Satisfied the door was firmly shut, she looked back at him with a stern look.
“Don’t say things like that, Carius. We’ve been parents for quite some time.”
When he remained silent, Evelyn continued confidently.
“It’s true that I’m honored and happy to have given you an heir. I am genuinely thankful to God. But having Fritz doesn’t change how much I love Johanson. Have you forgotten? It was Johanson who saved me from that misery.”
Carius nodded with a tender smile on his lips.
“She didn’t just save you.”
Then, he took the cherry from her hand and pushed it back into her mouth. This time, Evelyn quietly accepted and swallowed the red fruit.
“Thinking that way, you really shouldn’t say things just to scare me.”
Evelyn scolded her husband gently and noticed the relief on his face. Seeing the resemblance between his expression and her own, she finally smiled comfortably.
5. Summer Again
Summer arrived.
Carius stood in front of Fritz’s room, pretending to be downcast. He had just encountered Johanson, who had returned from outside.
“Father, crying?”
Johanson asked, and he tried to hold back a laugh. He had intended to divert Johanson’s attention, knowing she would insist on seeing her sleeping brother.
It seemed his acting skills had improved significantly. Feigning a somber tone, he replied.
“Yes, I’m a little sad. Your mother chased me out because Fritz is sleeping.”
Johanson frowned.
“The baby need lots of sleep to grow. Grow big so he can play tag with Johanson.”
“…Is that so?”
Carius asked, feigning ignorance.
Johanson spoke with a more serious expression.
“Don’t be jealous of the baby. Just because Mommy is with baby doesn’t mean she loves Baby more than us.”
