I Will Hold Your Hand Gently

Chapter 59: The Calculated Leak

A few weeks had passed since the night Nancy first cleaned Cielle's room. Since then, the girl had returned every other evening, always with a candle in hand and a story ready on her lips.

Tonight was no different.

"And today, Mandy said the laundry was still dirty," Nancy huffed between bites of a sweet Cielle had offered, "so Penny and I had to rewash everything until she was satisfied!"

Cielle listened quietly, a small smile playing on her lips as she watched the child's cheeks puff with sugar and frustration. Dirt clung to the side of Nancy's face, likely from the garden paths or laundry basin.

Without a word, Cielle reached for her handkerchief, dabbed it with a bit of water, and gently wiped the grime from Nancy's cheek.

Nancy blinked, startled. Her wide eyes remained locked on Cielle's face, unmoving, even after the duchess had finished.

"Hm?" Cielle raised an eyebrow, mildly amused.

Nancy's mouth parted slightly before she blurted, "You're... really different from what everyone says."

Cielle paused, "What do you mean by that?"

The color drained from Nancy's face as she slapped a hand over her mouth, her expression frozen in horror. Her cheeks flushed deep red. She was still a young, innocent girl who didn't know how to filter her train of thought yet.

"P-please don't be mad!" she squeaked.

Cielle chuckled softly, not unkindly, "I'm not mad. But I'd like to know... What is everyone saying about me?"

Nancy hesitated, eyes flicking up to meet Cielle's, "W-will I get in trouble...?"

Cielle shook her head gently, placing a finger against her lips, "I won't tell a soul."

Nancy looked down, blinking slowly as if weighing her own courage. Finally, in a small voice, she began.

"...The new recruits were told the Duchess was... cruel. That she commands people around like servants are nothing but tools," Her voice dropped lower, "They said you once hurt an Esper at the Vergrumble party... and that you caused a scene at the Royal Ball."

She stopped, wringing her hands, eyes darting back up to Cielle's face, but the Duchess only smiled softly as though she had expected these kinds of rumors. So Nancy pushed forward, her words nearly a whisper now. 

"A-and... they said you come from the blood sucking Spheral family. That you... Whip any servant who annoys you. Or... anyone who looks you in the eye," She flinched as soon as she said it, expecting a hand or a shout.

But Cielle only tilted her head, her smile never fading.

"Mm," she said thoughtfully. "I see."

"Y-you're not mad?" Nancy asked again, her voice a mix of confusion and fear.

Cielle reached toward her. Nancy flinched, expecting, perhaps, a slap. Instead, she felt a gentle pat on her head. Startled, she looked up. The duchess was still smiling warmly. As Cielle leaned back into her chair, she folded her hands in her lap. 

"It's not as bad as I expected."

"Not as bad?" Nancy blinked, more confused than ever. "B-but... everyone thinks you're a bad person, Duchess."

Cielle gave a light shrug, "Well, I don't blame them."

"You don't?"

"No." She paused, then added, "But one part of the rumor is wrong."

Nancy tilted her head, "Which part?"

"I didn't hurt any Esper," Cielle said plainly. "If anything, I was the one hurt. And the person who sent that girl flying? That wasn't me, it was Zwei. The Duke."