The Little Knight and the Nanny

[Adamantium Babe]

Year of our Lord 1215, Italy.

In the vast and fertile land of Monferrato the people lived their lives happily.
The harvest gave them a lot so they could feed their families and there were no wars in the regions around. It was an actual period of peace, at least in their homeland, and that was all that counted.

Now Monferrato was ruled by a rightful, but severe man: Valerio Francesco Leone, Count of Monferrato. He was always busy elsewhere and rarely showed himself in public. Especially after the death of his beautiful wife, Agnese.
He only had one son, the young Valeriano Domizio Leone, which was far more interested into becoming a knight rather than stay in Monferrato and being a ruler.

Valeriano craved for adventure and he often daydreamed about saving princesses from the enemy or finding powerful artifacts.
Unfortunately, as his father left for the third time that month, he was obliged to stay here...with a few servants, a priest that was also a teacher...and a nanny. Yes, for some reason his father believed that he STILL needed a nanny, even if he just became 14.

That was a real pain in the ass. Literally.

Today he decided to skip his usual theology lesson and go for a walk outside the castle, in the fields, hopeful to find someone to play with.

[Silvery_Lady]

When the woman couldn't find the young master, after searching for him all around the castle with the servants, she finally surrendered to the possibility that the boy had left the place for the umpteenth time, to roam around the nearby village like he had done in many other occasions.

Always without permission and against her orders, of course.

Despite all the chastisements and all the whippings, Valeriano was still the most stubborn child that she had ever met in her life, determined to do what he wanted all the time, totally ignoring the lectures of his guardians.

So, she had finally sent the two stable boys out, to track down the teen, with the order of taking him back home, even dragging him by force, if necessary.
He couldn't be far, after all, since she had seen him during breakfast, more or less one hour and a half before.

Amalia let out a sigh, watching the two men leaving the front yard; now she was going to be forced to punish the young master again and she hated the idea.

Why that lad could not just obey and study, following his father's commands?

[Adamantium Babe]

Young Valeriano in the meantime was enjoying his freedom as he laid down in the meadow between the woods and the fields, under an apple tree. From there, he could see the farmers work hard under that morning sun. He felt so peaceful and relaxed...until he saw two very familiar men asking the farmers something. A
One of the women pointed at the tree under which he was resting. He tried to hide himself in the grass, but it was useless: the two men saw him and went towards his spot.

He sighed: it seemed that the fun was already over. Unless...

Valeriano smirked and started climbing up the tree, sitting on a tall branch.

The servants arrived there and praued him to get down and return to the castle.

"Not for all the gold of this land!" the boy chuckled.

[Silvery_Lady]

The two young men looked up, sighing sadly when they saw Valeriano sitting on that branch.

-Please, young master...come down. They will whip us if we come back without you.- one of them pleaded him, with a broken voice -Why are you always running away like this?- he added.

At the answer that arrived from the kid, the other man, who was a bit older, frowned a bit, before speaking too.

-Your nanny told us to tell you that, if you don't come back with us without making a fuss, she will send a messenger with a letter to your noble father tonight, to inform him about your behaviour.- he informed the teen, seriously -You can spare us the whip and you can avoid troubles with your father, if you want. Just, please...come down.- the servant asked again, staring at Valeriano.

[Adamantium Babe]

Valeriano gasped: troubles with his father meant that he would disappoint him. And the last thing the boy wanted, was to disappoint his father. Plus, he would be really sorry if the two servants got whipped because of him.
He thought about it for a second and then sighed.

"Alright. I will come down, then."

He carefully climbed down the tree and fixed his clothes.

"I don't see the utility in theology lessons anyway...or any other lesson. Except swordfighting. That is actually useful!"

[Silvery_Lady]

Once the teen was back with his feet on the ground, the older servant gave him one grateful glance.
-Thank you.- he said -You're sparing us a lot of trouble. As for your studies, i'm afraid that we don't know much about that, young master.- the man went on, while they started to walk back, toward the castle -But i'm sure that you will need to know many things, to be a fair ruler like your father, one day.- he concluded, with a smile.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

So, after a while, the three of them crossed the main gate of the castle, just to be received by one very angry nanny.

The woman was marching in their direction, her dark skirt lifted up enough to avoid stumbling in it, and a very stern expression on her face; it was a mix of worry and annoyance, to be honest.
When she reached the three young men, she pretty much ignored the two servants.

-You're in deep trouble, you disobedient rascal!- she scolded the noble boy -Get inside this very moment and straight to your rooms. We will have a long talk about the meaning of "asking permission" today. And if you dare to talk back even once, i'll make sure that you won't be able to sit for lunch.- she threatened him, sternly.

[Adamantium Babe]

Valeriano frowned: oh, he REALLY couldn't stand her!

But instead of making a scene he bit his bottom lip and nodded, quickly walking inside the castle.
He ignored the snickers and giggles he heard through the hallways and up the stairs, as he finally reached his bedroom and closed the door with a loud bang.
He kicked one of the chairs away and started walking back and forth.

"It's not fair! Damn this prison that binds me, damn those stupid, useless lessons and damn this nanny that torments me! I am FOURTEEN years old! I should NOT be treated this way...especially from a servant. A noisy, loud-mouthed servant."
He huffed and fell on his bed, observing the soft velvet curtains. A golden cage was still a cage.
He remained there in silence and waited for his usual punishment.

[Silvery_Lady]

Amalia followed him inside, a few steps behind, rolling her eyes at ceiling noticing how annoyed the youngster was looking now; like if he was the one on the right side of this.
It was the typical behaviour of the boys of his age, she knew that...but still, it was a bit irritating, for the woman.

Anyway, his nanny reached his room soon after that Valeriano had slammed it, probably trying to vent out a bit of his frustration that way and, even if not intentionally, she listened his harsh words about his life and especially about her.
That was enough to hurt her feelings and her dark eyes became a bit glossy, hearing him talking that way, but she had a duty to perform so, after a moment, she opened that door once more and she walked inside.

Despite her eyes were telling the truth about how she was feeling at the moment, Amalia put on her most stern expression, while approaching the lad.
-You can't hide on your bed forever, you know?- she asked him, getting closer -How many times we'll have to tell you that is dangerous to go out alone, Valeriano? You're not some peasant boy, you must be safe. Someday you will rule these lands! Your father wants you to study, why can't you just obey?- the woman started her usual reprimand.

[Adamantium Babe]

And here we go: again with her talk about responsibilities and whatnot.

"I wasn't hiding..."

The boy sat up.

"Dangerous? Nanny, there are no real dangers in here! I was close to the fields and to the manor, in the daylight. Nothing bad would have happened! Besides, father is NEVER home to rule over Monferrato. He's always off to some great adventure or important event of some sort...while I rot in here. You may see this castle as a comfortable and safe nest. But not me. The few times I get out, I'm always surrounded by guards...everytime I try and approach a kid or anyone else, they get scared, and run away."

He had a sad look on his face and sighed.

[Silvery_Lady]

Once more, she sighed tiredly.
-My dear boy, you know so little of this world.- she told him, reaching the bed -Danger can arrive from anywhere, at any time Not all your father's subjects are good persons, you must understand this. There are people out there who would hurt you just to take off your clothes, to sell them. Your boots are most valuable than everything that they own. On top of that, there could be accidents. What if some kind of animal attacks you? What if you fall from a tree, breaking one of your limbs? You can't act like other children, i'm sorry. You must be very carefull and it's my job to look after you, to make sure that you are safe...- at this point she gave him one sad glace too -...even if this means being despised by you. Even if i'm "just a servant".- she added, her voice cracking a bit, to make him understand that she had heard him, a minute before.

When the young man then spoke about his fater, his nanny shook her head from side to side.
-Your noble father is ruling even when he's away, you'll understand this when you will be older. Anyway, you have to obey his orders, like everyone else, Valeriano. And he wants you to stay here and to do what you're told, am i wrong?- Amalia frowned slightly now -I hate to punish you, little one, believe me. But you must learn that every decision comes with a consequence.-