The scene
“Achille?”
Emilia sat up suddenly, calling to her nanny.
As if she had been waiting for this, the door opened.
“So you weren't really asleep.”
Rachel was standing in her pajamas, holding a small lamp.
“Achille—!”
With teary eyes, Emilia flopped down her skirt.
“I thought the light had gone out.”
Rachel picked up the clinging little princess, put her back on the bed, and then relit the lamp in the room.
“Leah didn’t turn it off, it went off by itself when I woke up.”
“It's a windy night, it must have been blown out by the wind.”
Rachel checked the room's window and closed it tightly.
“Okay then, I'll go now.”
“A-Achille!”
Emilia held on to the nanny who was about to leave after she had finished her task.
"What is there?"
“Achille... Leah is afraid...”
The little princess didn't even finish her words—
Thunder—
Thunder boomed again, and the little princess burst into tears.
"Leia's scared—! Leia hates lightning—!"
“Okay then, give me a moment.”
Without hesitation, Rachel climbed onto the bed and lay down next to the princess.
Emilia looked at her in surprise: “Achille?”
“I will stay by your side until the thunder stops.”
Rachel hugged the little princess and pulled the blanket over them both.
“This way, the sound will be a little softer.”
Emilia's eyes widened. Indeed, the sound of thunder seemed softer.
“How is he now?”
“Hmm, not that loud.”
“Are you still afraid?”
"just a little."
Emilia stared blankly at her nanny lying next to her. She couldn't see her face because of the darkness, but she could hear her breathing and feel her warmth. For some reason, it seemed reassuring.
Emilia fiddled with her fingers.
It was strange...the same darkness that had frightened her a moment ago was now comforting.
Emma was doing it too...
Emilia remembered the face of her former nanny, who was no longer there. Even if she did not allow the light to be left on, she would hold her and sing lullabies to her on stormy nights until she fell asleep.
Unconsciously, the little girl threw herself deeper into Rachel's arms.
The latter stiffened for a moment at the small warmth clinging to her.
“Achille.”
"Yes."
“Aren't you afraid?”
“From what?”
“Darkness...and thunder.”
“I'm not afraid.”
She added in an indifferent tone: “Because it all passes.”
“Pass?”
When the night passes, morning comes, and when the thunder ends, the sky clears. As it always was.
“That's why I'm not afraid.”
Rachel gently stroked the princess's soft hair.
“Your Highness, there is no need to be afraid of such things. It will pass quickly.”
“Hmm...”
It will pass quickly...this frightening darkness, and this thundering thunder.
Emilia repeated her nanny's words in her mind and closed her eyes little by little. The reassurance made her sleepy, and perhaps also the sweet scent of flowers emanating from Rachel.
“So… Achille, what are you afraid of?”
"I?"
"Yes."
Rachel was silent for a long time, staring at the little princess who was about to fall asleep, her eyelids slowly closing.
“...I'm not sure.”
Amid the distant roar of thunder, Rachel said nothing else. Her eyes were fixed on the princess's face, which had fallen asleep peacefully.
And so, the stormy night slowly passed.
After the storm
Since that night, Emilia has become more clingy to me than before.
“Achille, play with Leah!”
“Achille, eat with Leah!”
“Achille, carry Leah!”
Even bedtime was not spared.
“Achille, tell me a bedtime story!”
"It's getting late, Your Highness. Aren't you going to sleep now?"
“I will fall asleep if you tell me a story.”
The princess lifted the silk veil to her chin, her eyes shining. Oh, no sleeping early tonight either.
She sighed inwardly, but Edwin, sitting next to her, said:
“Just tell her one time, it's not difficult.”
Since that stormy night, Edwin would stay with his sister until she fell asleep before returning to his room. His love for her is limitless.
“Which story would you like to hear?”
“A story about a princess!”
A princess wants to hear a story about a princess... I don't understand.
“Aren't you even a princess, Your Highness?”
“I'm not a princess, I'm an imperial princess.”
Isn't she the same? Very complicated.
I pondered a little.
A story about a princess, huh...
The princesses I knew in the past did not differ from one of two types: those who wanted to kill their opponents, or those who wanted to kill their husbands.
Can I tell this to a girl under ten years old?
“Princess again?”
Edwin frowned and said to his sister: “Aren’t you bored of princesses’ stories?”
"Bored? Don't you like princesses, bro?"
"…no."
“Why? Princesses are beautiful and cute!”
“They are weak.”
His voice dropped as if he was remembering something.
“I don't like weak people.”
“So you don’t like Leia too?”
Emilia stared at him with desperate eyes.
“Leia is weak too.”
"You idiot. You're young, so naturally you're weak."
Edwin pinched his sister's nose, laughing.
“That's okay, I'll protect you.”
"That's right! You're a prince! And princes are the most powerful in the world!"
“You only realized that now?”
They started their usual argument. Edwin, who cannot support one servant, talks about protecting others.
“So who will protect the prince?”
“What? Well...”
He was confused when asked. Then he turned red and shouted:
"You! You will protect me! You are my nanny!"
I paused for a moment.
“Your Highness.”
"What! What's wrong! Is there a problem?"
"You shouldn't depend on others to protect you. You should learn how to protect yourself."
Edwin's eyes widened. Then he frowned and bit his lip.
"What do you mean? You mean you won't protect me?"
“I will protect you, as this is normal as I am your nanny.”
"permission?"
“But I can't be near you all the time.”
"this-!"
He almost said something but stopped, biting his lip. He looked at me angrily and then turned his head.
"Phew! You're getting so angry over a simple joke. I can protect myself!"
"truly?"
"Yes!"
He raised his voice irritably.
“I am completely capable of relying on myself!”
“That's a good thing.”
She turned off the lamp near their bed.
“Now it's time to sleep.”
"Ah! What about the princess's story?"
“Ah, princess.”
I remembered that I promised her. She looked at the rising moon, then bowed slightly.
“It's getting late. Sleep now.”
"Achille! You said you were going to tell!"
But I couldn't. I cannot tell her the story of a princess who orders the killing of her unfaithful husband and his maid.
“I will ask the butler to come tomorrow. She knows better stories than I do.”
"Really? Katherine's going to tell stories?"
"Yes."
I haven't consulted her, but I'm sure she will agree. I felt a little guilty towards Katherine, but there was no other choice.
“Now, good night.”
Another day as a nanny ended peacefully. It's finally my time.
Next morning
“Nani, didn’t you sleep well last night?”
Katherine looked at me worriedly as I yawned incessantly.
“Yes, just a little.”
I covered my mouth with my hand. I spent the whole night practicing inside my room until dawn came.
Am I starting to feel like I'm running out of time?
In order to find the truth about my death, I have to get out of here one day. And I need a fighting body then.
But the problem is that my body is not catching up with me now, no matter how much I train.
“I had difficulty sleeping.”
“Should I make you an herbal tea to help you sleep?”
“No, you don't need to.”
I wiped my tired eyes. Catherine placed her hands on her waist sternly.
“This is not suitable. You need a rest of at least half an hour.”
"What?"
“Nani, you can't concentrate like this. How are you going to take care of Their Highness? Right?”
She pushed me persistently.
“I'll take care of them for a bit, so you can rest.”
“But...”
I didn't like leaving my tasks to others. I hesitated a little.
Edwin and Emilia were busy at breakfast.
Maybe it's okay this time.
I gave in to the temptation to sleep and finally agreed.
“Okay, just a little.”
"Don't worry."
As I tried to withdraw quietly, the two children noticed me. Their bright eyes looked at me and I felt guilty.
“Are you going now?”
Edwin looked at me dissatisfied.
“Your Highness, it seems that the nanny did not sleep well last night. Wouldn’t it be better if she got some rest?”
“You didn't sleep?”
He looked at me as if he were scolding me.
“You went to bed early, what kept you up?”