41

41
Emilia’s POV
I walked out of the room, a frown forming on my face as I made my way to the stairs. Irene had called my phone a few minutes ago. She’d asked me to meet her in the main living room. Her tone had been light casual but it had seemed like she was holding back a smile.
Finally, I got to the living room and halted, my eyes going wide. The room was filled with people I didn’t know, men and women. At least a dozen. And they were all dressed in crisp uniforms, standing in a neat line. I hesistated. They were not part of Alaric’s men that were always in the shadows of the house.
Irene caught my eye and waved me over, her face warm with a welcoming smile. “Come on in, Emilia,” she said, gesturing for me to stand beside her. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet-or rather, someones.”
I stepped closer, almost shrinking under the dozen curious eyes on me. It was strange; I had been living here for weeks now and had never seen any of these people before. I recognized the occasional cleaning staff member, but never all of them at once. And now, here they were, looking at me as though I were the outsider.
“Everyone,” Irene began, her voice clear and authoritative in a way I hadn’t heard before, “this is Emilia. She’s been taking care of Francesca and helping out around the house. You can consider her Francesca’s nanny.”
A murmur went through the group.
I now understood why Irene had called me to come here. She was introducing officially. But I was confused. Why was this happening now, after I’d been here for so long? And where had they all been?
One of the maids, a young woman with dark hair and a kind smile, stepped forward and extended her hand. “It’s lovely to meet you, Emilia,” she said. “I’m Clara. I handle the cleaning for the upper floors.”
I shook her hand, smiling back, though the confusion must have shown on my face. “It’s nice to meet you, too,” I replied. “I’m sorry, I just-where have you all been? I haven’t seen anyone except Irene and a couple of others since I arrived.”
There was a brief, awkward pause before Irene stepped in, chuckling softly. “Ah, that’s probably because you came while we were all on a little… vacation,” she said, her eyes glinting with amusement.
“Vacation?” I repeated, surprised. I glanced back at the line of staff, who were now nodding in agreement, some smiling like they’d just returned from a pleasant trip.
“Yes,” Irene confirmed, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. “Alaric gave the entire household staff a paid vacation. He said we’d been working too hard and deserved a break. He even covered all our expenses.”
I blinked, taken aback. That sounded nothing like the Alaric I knew. The Alaric I’d come to understand was strict, controlling, and fiercely protective of his home and family. It didn’t fit the image I had of him, sending his entire staff off on a paid holiday.
“Why would he do that?” I asked, not intending for the question to come out quite so bluntly. “I mean, I’m not complaining-it’s just… surprising.”
Irene’s smile widened, her expression one of knowing sympathy. “He wanted the house empty,” she said simply, and the implications of her words settled in like a heavy weight. “He wanted to make sure you and Francesca had time to adjust, without too many people around. The same day you got here, he made us all leave the house ajd then made us go on a vacation.”
I felt a strange pang in my chest-something that was equal parts warmth and frustration. So this had all been deliberate. Alaric hadn’t wanted to overwhelm me, or maybe he’d just wanted to ensure I felt more at ease settling into this new role. Either way, it was an oddly thoughtful gesture, hidden beneath layers of his usual controlling nature.
I looked back at the staff, who were all watching me with a mix of curiosity and politeness. It was as if they were sizing me up, trying to understand who I was in relation to Alaric and why I was suddenly here, acting as Francesca’s nanny.
“Well,” I said, trying to regain my composure, “I’m glad you’re all back. It was starting to feel a little like living in a ghost house.”
A few of them laughed at that, and I started to feel st ease. Clara, the young maid, gave me a sympathetic look. “It must have been strange,” she said. “We’ve never all been away at the same time before. Usually, at least a few of us stay behind to keep things in order.”
“It was strange,” I admitted, glancing over at Irene. “But it makes more sense now.”
Irene gave me a small, approving nod, as if I’d passed some unspoken test. “We’re here to help now,” she said, her tone more serious. “If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask. And if you have any questions about how things work around here, just let us know. We all know this house inside and out.”
I smiled. “Thank you, Irene. And thank you, all of you. I’m still learning my way around, but I appreciate the support.”
The staff nodded, and I felt a small surge of belonging.
As the staff began to disperse, returning to their respective duties, Irene caught my arm gently, holding me back for a moment. “Emilia,” she said in a low voice, her expression a little more serious now, “you should know something else.”
I felt a shiver of unease. “What is it?”
“When Alaric sent us all away,” she continued, choosing her words carefully, “he did it with specific instructions. He wanted to ensure that you felt comfortable here, without too many Eyes watching your every move. He was thinking about you, even if it doesn’t always seem that way.”
I let her words sink in, feeling a strange mixture of emotions. It was a thoughtful gesture, yes, but it also felt manipulative in a way. Alaric was always a step ahead, always planning and calculating, even when it came to something as simple as who was in the house. It was his way of controlling the environment, making sure everything was exactly as he wanted it.
“Why would you tell me that?” I asked, faking a light laugh.
“I’ve been working here for years,” she answered with a wave of her hand. “And I know just how Alaric can be. He’ll act like you’re a thorn in his flesh but he actually cares.”
“Thank you for telling me,” I said quietly, meeting Irene’s gaze. “I appreciate it.”
She gave me a small, understanding smile. “You’re welcome. Just know that we’re all here to help. You’re part of this household now, whether you realize it or not.”
I nodded, feeling a swell of unexpected emotion. It was the first time anyone had said that to me-that I was part of this household. It wasn’t something I’d been expecting to hear, and it left me feeling both comforted and unsettled.
“I’ll remember that,” I said, offering her a grateful smile.
Irene gave my arm a gentle squeeze before stepping back. “Good. Now, I’d better get back to the kitchen before lunch turns into a disaster.”
I laughed, the sound lightening the mood. “I’m looking forward to whatever you’re cooking up.”
“You won’t be disappointed,” she said with a wink, before turning and heading back towards the kitchen.