I Will Hold Your Hand Gently

Chapter 58: The Weight of Knowing

Cielle stood up as silence filled the room. The entrance to her room was open and lit by a little girl who looked to be about the same age as Lucia. She had braided hair and an innocent-looking face.

"Um... is someone here?" she asked in a small voice.

Cielle narrowed her gaze at the little girl, "Who are you?"

The girl froze in shock, then quickly ducked behind the door, "Oh my gosh... someone is here...!"

Cielle frowned, confused by the girl's reaction, "What are you doing here?"

"I-I'm... I'm Nancy... One of the senior maids told me to clean the place, but I forgot to turn off the candle..." Nancy answered in a soft, frightened voice, "Am I going to get in trouble...?"

"One of the senior maids?"

Nancy nodded, half her face still hidden behind the door. "W-who are you? What are you doing in this room...?"

She must be one of the newly recruited staff, Cielle thought. If she doesn't even know who I am... For one so young to be working as a maid, it had to be because of a financial crisis at home.

With a sigh, Cielle lowered her guard, "I'm the Duchess of this place, and this is my room."

"T-T-The Duchess...? Duchess Sigma?!" Nancy squeaked, eyes wide in panic, "P-please forgive my rudeness...!"

She quickly set the candelabras down on the floor and dropped to her knees, bowing deeply. Her small frame trembled, and she looked on the verge of tears.

The corner of Cielle's lips lifted in a faint smile. She stepped forward and gently placed a hand on the girl's shoulder.

"There's nothing to forgive. If anything, I'm thankful that you cleaned the place and lit the room," Cielle said.

Nancy looked up at her, surprised, "Y-you're not upset?"

Cielle shook her head. "No. Please get up. The floor is cold, isn't it?"

Nancy stares at her for a bit before standing up with Cielle's help. She also picked up the candelabras with a bow. Cielle couldn't help but giggle at Nancy's adorable antics.

"Thank you, Madam," said Nancy with a small smile, "If you will excuse me, I have to return before the senior maids notice me missing."

"You weren't supposed to be out this late?"

Nancy shakes her head, "No. The senior maids said that since I'm still new, I have to return to the dorms before midnight or I'll get caned."

"I see," Cielle smiles.

Nancy left after bidding farewell to Cielle. Left in the room by herself, Cielle turned off the candle lit in her room, one by one. Although she appreciated Nancy lighting up the room for her, there was a strange unease creeping in. Though the room was dimmer now, the air didn't feel any lighter.

Cielle stood by the window, arms crossed, her gaze lingering on the soft flicker of the last candle before she blew it out. Darkness wrapped around the corners of the room again, just as she preferred, but this time, it felt different.

"She said a senior maid sent her," Cielle murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

That part stuck with her. For as long as she's been here, no one has come to clean or light up the hallway leading up to her room. A few days after she was married, she passed by the staff room and recalled the senior staff members explicitly instructed never to assign cleaning duties in her wing, especially at night. She remembered that order clearly. So either someone disobeyed... or someone new was giving orders behind her back.