24
Emilia’s POV
Francesca’s mood improved a bit since afternoon. Though she didn’t chatter like she always did and didn’t play with her toys like always. She preferred to watch cartoon on her tab, and I joined her in watching it. If only to get my mind away from everything that had been running through it since yesterday.
I just witnessed how closed off Francesca can be, and it was unsettling. I kept thinking maybe I’d done something wrong, but it seemed everything was linked to that nightmare she had. And she had also refused to step out of the room. She’d had her breakfast, lunch and dinner in the room. And she hadn’t asked for Alaric. Not once.
I ran my hands through her ailky, silver hair, kissing the top of her head and she giggled a bit, her eyes trained on the cartoon she was watching. This was the sixth one of the day. I wondered if Alaric would disapprove of it. But it seemed like he had gone out this night with his men. And I wondered if he’d come back all bloodied up like he had the last time. That day it was a miracle Francesca hadn’t noticed him that night before I steered her away from his sight.
He and I had to have a talk though. I needed to talk to him about how unhealthy it was to have a child being in the company of men who were parading around with guns. Francesca seemed to had gotten used to it because she didn’t flinch the way I had when I had first seen them lurking around in the shadows that first time.
She wasn’t scared of them. So that only mean she was used to it and it had become normal for her. But that doesn’t mean that it was right…that it was healthy.
I contemplated requesting for a meeting from him to talk about it, and the nightmare, but I frow Ed wondering if he’d even appreciate my opinion or maybe he’d just throw it in my face that I wasn’t her mother, to suggest such things. And that I was overstepping my bounds.
But then again, I was her nanny and I was supposed to be watching out for her. If I noticed something wasn’t healthy for her, them I was in the position to point that out, wasn’t I?
I let out a shuddering breath and moved Francesca’s hair away from her head once again. I could hear the roar of engines as they sped into the compound, indicating Alaric’s return.
“Mommy?” Francesca called, her eyes not leaving the tab. “Can I get some chocolates?”
I nodded. “Of course sweetie, you can. Do you want chocolate bars or ice cream?” I asked.
“Can I get both?” She asked and I shook my head.
“Of course not. Just one. You have to choose,” I answered.
She turned her head and stared up at me with puppy eyes. “Please mummy,” she pleaded with a pout and I sighed. I could never turn her down when she makes such cute faces, so I nodded my head.
“Alright, baby girl. I’ll go get some for you,” I answered, getting up from the bed. “Or do you want to come with?”
“No,” she answered too quickly, shaking her head. I frowned.
“Are you mad at daddy?” I asked her and she shook her head. I was about to give up and go to the kitchen when she said very quietly that I almost didn’t hear her. “Yes.”
I stepped closer to her, concerned. “Why? Baby why are you mad at Daddy?”
“Because,” she began, and then kept quiet as if she didn’t want to say it.
“Tell me sweetie,” I urged her, taking her hand in mine.
“Because he doesn’t care about you,” she said at last, releasing a breath. I went still, blinking as her words sank in.
“What made you say that?” I asked quietly.
“He doesn’t play with you the way he plays with me. Daddy plays with people he cares about,” he explained.
“Your daddy and I play in our own way, sweetie. Your daddy cares about me,” I assured her, kissing her head and tucking her hair behind her ears. “And he cares about you too.”
“Daddy hasn’t come to check me today,” she stated.
“Daddy is just busy,” I explained. “But he’ll come soon.”
“He didn’t come yesterday,” she murmured.
“Oh honey. He will come today. I promise,” I assured her. “Now stop sulking or else you won’t get your chocolates and icecream.”
She smiled a bit and I grinned at her. “That’s my girl,” I kissed her cheek and then stepped out of the room. I walked briskly to the kitchen, not wanting to run into Alaric or Allesio but that just seemed inevitable.
“You will replace those men before the end of the week. Security should be tighter at the port and ” he stopped, pausing as he noticed me standing there and watching them.
“Do you want something?” He asked icily.
I opened my mouth to talk, to ask him what’s wrong, but then I decided against it and told him instead. “Francesca has been looking for you.”
“I’m busy,” he replied through gritted teeth.
“But-”
“I do not like repeating myself, Emilia,” he snapped, his eyes narrowing at me. I glared back at him. “Noted,” I answered, shooting him a grim smile and staring at Allesio whose eyes were wide, and focused behind me.
“Daddy?” A tiny voice called and I whirled around, seeing Francesca standing there with tears in her eyes.
“Francesca,” he said, shock coiating his voice but she turned around and ran back upstairs, heading for her room.
“Shit,” I cussed, running after her.
“Francesca! Honey!” I called out, running into the room with her as she climbed the bed and buried her face in one of her teddies, crying.
“Sweetie,” I whispered. “what’s wrong?” I asked, even though I knew why exactly she was crying.
I sighed, taking her in my arms and hugging her while she cried.