ance himself from the unsettling feeling creeping over him. His expression

words escaping as if against his will. "The other go

he replied softly. "Or perhaps because they

g moment, his gaze so intense it was almost a physical touch. Then, it soft

a Clara

r resolve. It drew her deeper into th

t last, his calm voice strained. "I

touched Maria

it comes to the chi

hing akin to admiration flickered in his eyes, w

ompetent as you believe yourself to be. Are you pr

allenge. A

s soft, but her cour

d rose slowly, his height

ood as

esk the only thing separating them. The ai

irst time, Álva

his voice low. "Don't challenge me so

e, born not of fear, but of a strange

a near whisper, "you underestimat

ly still for a sing

all for now.

l excuse

and turned to leave, her hear

ould feel the Count's eye

way she'd never experienced before. She had barely pulled the door closed behind her when the sound

ound Doralice at the door

frantic as she tried to intercept

the foyer, both caked in di

caught between la

her voice trembling on the verge of

ve, a looming shadow f

va

e presence was enough to make the chi

single word was low

ther. He placed a hand on each of their heads, tilting their chins up one

quiet but each syllable sharp as gla

led in unison, their ey

ze to her, a hint of challenge in his faint

curiosity as they looked at the new governess. Maria Clara o

soft and inviting. "Nothing li

antomime of obedience th

a tightness in her chest. The contrast was jarring. The joyful chaos of mome

l standing there, motionless as a statue carved

vast, cold distance. A wall he had

-a fierce instinct to tear that wall down, piece b

nced, pushing the bedroom doo

inside, the performan

ve been tidy once, was

lara bl

wavering as she ignored the mes

iately cross

. I'm in charge

late, copied his si

o! Who decides Helena

ook of authority. "

little boy repeat

eep breath, keeping

our father asked you

expression a perfect imitati

lways do what

ess in the girl's eyes. Was this a plea for attention? A test o

n to their level, restin

because someone told us to," she answered softly, her voice firm but k

eyes na

you'll leave too.

in the air, h

his small face a mix

g?" he asked in

. She reached out and gently

omise she intended to keep. "I'm not p

y, as if to hide the hurt

muttered, climbing onto the pr

ara's ca

down from the bed. Y

d with a stubborn little smirk. "It's my dadd

after her, and the two of them

d never gain their respect. But she also knew that harshness would only reinfor

her feet, and spoke in a voice t

have to help me. Today, we start with a bath. Tomorrow, i

step forward. ".

defiant line, clearly distrustful of this woman wh

his cue. After a long moment,

... you have t

linked, surpr

haughtily. "And I want to know if you can actually sing. I

ed with the force o

d, but this time it was fil

y. "If you get down, I will

widened with

al dignity of a tiny queen, she slowly climbed down from the b

to be a pr

" Maria Clar

ight in Helena's eyes. The pure rebelli

ios

s a s