Lunch had barely ended when Lucien spoke.He didn't announce it like a decision meant to be debated.
Just like something already settled.
"Eve will be under your supervision from today onward."The table went quiet for half a second.Eve was the first to react."Really?"
There was excitement in her voice, immediate and unfiltered, like the idea had arrived exactly the way she wanted it to.
Miranda, on the other hand, slowly lowered her fork."…You're serious."Lucien didn't look at her. "I usually am."Miranda gave a small, sharp laugh. "Of course you are. I just didn't think your seriousness had started including questionable decisions."Lucien finally glanced at her, calm as ever. "It hasn't. You're still here."That shut her down instantly.
Eve leaned slightly forward, eyes bright as she looked at Mallory. "So you're really my governess?"Mallory paused for a moment. "That's what I've been told."
"That sounds very official," Eve said, nodding seriously as if she had just learned something important.Mallory's lips twitched faintly. "It's supposed to be."
Lucien rose shortly after, as if the matter no longer required his attention.
"Don't overwhelm her," he said lightly, glancing at Eve.Eve gasped. "I don't overwhelm people."Miranda muttered under her breath, "That's not what the servants say."
Eve didn't hear her.Or chose not to.
⸻
By the time they reached the library, Eve was already talking.Not loudly.Just constantly.
The library itself was large enough to make silence feel intentional.Tall shelves lined the walls, filled with books that looked older than most conversations. Light filtered through high windows, falling across wooden tables polished with care.
Mallory stood near one of them while Eve circled slowly, already touching books like she was greeting old friends."I like this room," Eve said. "It feels like it listens."Mallory glanced at her. "Rooms don't listen."Eve nodded seriously. "This one might."That earned a small exhale from Mallory—almost a laugh, but not quite.
"Alright," Mallory said. "Let's start with reading."Eve immediately sat down."For fun?" she asked.
"For learning."
"That sounds less exciting but okay."
Mallory opened a book in front of her.Eve leaned closer instantly. "Do you like books?"
"Yes."
"Which ones?"
"Useful ones."
Eve tilted her head. "What makes a book useful?"Mallory paused slightly. "If it teaches you something you didn't already know."
"That's a lot of books then," Eve said thoughtfully.Mallory nodded once. "Yes."Eve seemed satisfied by that answer for exactly three seconds before speaking again.
"Do you live here now?"Mallory hesitated. "For now.""That's good," Eve said quickly. "Brother Lucien doesn't usually bring people here."Mallory's eyes lifted slightly. "Oh?"Eve nodded seriously, as if sharing classified information. "Not to talk of women."
Mallory paused. "…I see."Eve continued without noticing the shift in tone. "So I think you must be very special."Mallory blinked once, then looked down at the book again.
"I wouldn't say that."
"But he chose you," Eve insisted.Mallory turned a page slowly. "That doesn't always mean what people think it means."
Eve frowned slightly, thinking hard."That sounds complicated."
"It usually is."
Eve leaned back in her chair, still watching her.
"Brother Lucien doesn't explain things much," she said. "I've noticed," Mallory replied.
"But he doesn't ignore things either."That made Mallory pause again.Eve continued, softer now but still curious. "So if he brought you here… I think it means he noticed you."
Mallory didn't answer immediately.Instead, she looked at Eve properly this time.Not as a child talking too much but as someone who noticed more than she should."…Maybe," Mallory said finally.Eve smiled like that was the correct answer. And then immediately ruined the moment by asking:"Can we read something more interesting now?"
Mallory closed the book slightly."…Of course."
⸻
Somewhere deeper in the manor, Lucien stood by a window for a brief moment.
As if he could hear noise from the library even from there.
And for once he didn't look bored by it.