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Alois Trancy had been awake for hours, tossing and turning as he tried to find a comfortable position to sleep in. He was tired, exhausted even, yet he was simply unable to fall asleep. Hannah had put him to bed an hour ago. She’d tucked him in nice and tight before planting a kiss on his forehead, and wishing him sweet dreams like she had done every night since Claude’s death.
Don’t get him wrong or anything; he loved Hannah. He always had, really. She was so sweet and gentle with him, and took better care of him than his former butler ever had. But for some reason his past actions never reflected that. For the past three years, all Alois had ever done to Hannah was hurt her. He’d screamed at her, thrown things at her, slapped her, berated her, and he even gouged out her eye. He couldn’t remember what his reasoning for his behavior was, but all he knew was that he’d been horrible to the one person who showed him genuine kindness since Luka was taken from him.
Hannah had showed him nothing but compassion and patience, and what did Alois do in return? Abuse and belittle her for several years. The fact that she was still willing to be amicable towards him, even after how he treated her, was enough to make the blond’s heart ache. His vision blurred and he felt his pillow grow damp.
Dammit. He was crying now.
For the next few minutes, Alois stayed awake, sobbing and hiccuping quietly into his pillow. He wanted nothing more than to find Hannah and have her hold him, to rub his back and stroke his hair whilst telling him everything was going to alright. He yearned for the demonesses gentle voice and soothing touch. He craved it, yet he didn’t make an effort to move from his blankets. Not because he didn’t want it, but because he didn’t deserve it.
Suddenly, Alois heard the gentle creaking of his bedroom door, and then a gentle voice called out.
“Master, are you alright in here?”
He bristled underneath the bedsheets, scrubbing at his eyes with a clenched fist.
“Yes… I’m fine,” there was the slightest bit of hesitation in his voice, and he hoped that Hannah wouldn’t pick up on it.
The door suddenly closed and he heard a series of footsteps before they came to a stop next to his bed. His bed frame creaked, and Alois felt the mattress shift with added weight as she settled down beside him.
The blond bristled once more. “I said I’m fine, Hannah. Honestly, why must you always do the opposite of what I tell you to do?”
A ray of moonlight casted through the curtains, and Hannah could briefly catch a glimpse of her Master’s face from where he was curled up. There were tears tracks on his cheeks, and his eyes were red and puffy from crying. The poor thing looked utterly miserable, though Hannah couldn’t seem to understand what for. She knew he couldn’t have had a nightmare.
“Didn’t you hear me?” Alois asked after a minute; his tone was exasperated. “I said nothing’s wrong. Now go away.”
Unfortunately, his voice cracked and gave way to the angst he was currently feeling. He fought back another sob as Hannah stood and made her way to his side of the bed, and watched her kneel down to cup his wet face in her hands.
“You are not fine,” Hannah said firmly, yet there was also a hint of gentleness in her words. “Now come here.”
Before Alois could even register what was happening, he was being pulled flush to Hannah’s chest. She wrapped him up in her arms, rocking him to and fro as she rubbed his back and carded her fingers through his soft, fluffy hair. His head was tucked perfectly beneath her chin, and he could perfectly hear her heartbeat from where it thrummed within her chest.
Alois had calmed down after a few moments, only occasionally sniffling against Hannah’s chest. He wanted to ask her something, but didn’t know how well she would take it. What if it made her upset with him? What if she left him after insinuating such as thing?
The thoughts made him so crazy that he eventually just blurted it out.
“Do you hate me?”
He felt her shift beneath him, no doubt uncomfortable with his inquiry. Yet she cleared her throat and resumed her prior ministrations through his hair.
“Of course not, Master. Why ever would you think that?”
“It’s just… I thought that after how I treated you, you wouldn’t want anything to do with me.”
Hannah clicked her tongue sympathetically. “I could never hate you. It’s not your fault you were acting that way.”
“Of course it is,” Alois mumbled into the woman’s nightgown, tears prickling his eyes once again. “I didn’t have to act the way that I did. I chose to do those things to you.”
Who could ever love a brat like me? Vile and vulgar. I don’t deserve any of it.
Hannah gently pulled him away from her. She looked him in the eyes, her gaze warm and unwavering, as she brushed her thumbs along the soft skin of his cheeks.
“Listen to me, Alois. The way you acted in the past does not define you. You may have behaved in undesirable ways, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t deserving of love. If I’ve learned anything from my time spent on Earth, it’s that human children are very resilient. And that especially holds true for you. You’ve been through so much already, and I don’t know anyone else who could have gone through what you did and still come out sane.”
Hannah paused to wipe a stray tear from his eye before continuing, “You’re so strong, Alois, and so capable and brave. I love you so much. I couldn’t be prouder to call myself your maid and governess.”
Alois sighed in relief as he collapsed back into Hannah’s comforting embrace. He buried his face in her shoulder and wrapped both arms around her midsection. Fresh tears gathered in his eyes, but this time he knew they weren’t from grief.
She loved him. She really, truly loved him.
Hannah helped him lie back down and tucked the covers around him. She stood up from the bed and was halfway to the door when Alois called out for her. He didn’t want her to go. Not when she made him feel so safe.
“Wait. Please don’t leave. Stay with me?”
The demoness smiled softly.
“Of course, Master.”
As she resumed her position on the bed, she reached out to tangle her fingers in his hair once more. Alois made a contented noise. Claude had never been so soft with him. The most he ever did was sit beside Alois and not say a word. He didn’t offer balmy touches or reassurance. He just existed. And while he would hold Alois if asked to do so, it never felt warm or genuine. If anything, the spider’s prescence felt ice cold.
But he knew Hannah was affable. She was safe.
Alois felt his eyes drooping shut a moment later, and he gazed sleepily at the maid.
“Hannah?” he murmured.
“Yes, Master?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything.”
That was the last thing Alois uttered before sleep fully engulfed him.