Once Edmund tidied up the kitchen, he made his way upstairs.
As he reached the top, he slowed down by Nalsy's bedroom, listening to her moving about behind the closed door.
He contemplated on Nalsy's mood throughout the evening. Ignoring her getting scared by him as a welcome, she smiled at him whilst cooking and talking about the books she read,
He didn't say anything, but he noticed that every time their eyes met, she was stunned into silence and that her mood slowly diminished throughout the evening until she fell into complete silence, barely even eating the food in front of her.
Edmund wondered if he did something to trigger her low mood or whether Nalsy only faked her kindness towards him, and her silence, after she made eye contact with him, was her fear of him.
Usually, Edmund didn't mind people reacting with fear to him. He didn't care that some people crossed the road if they noticed him on their path or the petrified gazes of passersby. He also heard many horrible comments.
By now, his skin was too thick for it to bother him.
He heard it all that his eyes were so cold that they could freeze. That he had an evil aura that made him unapproachable by ordinary people. That his gaze was enough to scare the soul out of the person. He didn't expect Nalsy to think any different.
But somehow, there was a tug on his inside. Some little voice, telling him that he should try to show Nalsy that he isn't all that, but instead, he is so much more.
Nalsy opened the door, and her eyes met with Edmund's.
"I didn't realise you were here," Nalsy said with her smile back on her face.
"I was just going to my bedroom," Edmund said quickly, hoping that Nalsy would not think anything of him. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes. I forgot to bring the books upstairs."
"I'll get them for you." Edmund quickly turned around, and within moments, he passed said books to Nalsy.
"Thank you so much." Nalsy blushed.
"Your hair is wet." He noted.
"I've just had a shower."
Edmund's gaze landed on Nalsy's jumper.
"Nalsy, when I left you to do your shopping did you buy yourself anything to wear?"
"I was fine with my clothes. I didn't need to buy any,"
Edmund shook his head in dissatisfaction, swearing inwardly at Nalsy. He never met anyone quite as strong-willed as her, that would never ask for help, regardless of how much she struggled.
"After your doctor's appointment, I'm going to take you shopping. I was told to take care of you, so it's not up for discussion." He said in his 'General' voice. He expected another bout of resistance, but instead, Nalsy took a step back, hung her head, and shrunk in herself.
Edmund looked at her curiously as he found her behaviour unpredictable. He couldn't tell when they would butt their heads and when she would comply in the most pitiful way.
She held her bruised hands in front of her, picking at her nails and trying to stop her hands from shaking.
She looked small and frail, and it seemed that she tried to look even smaller by slouching and looking down.
Edmund looked at her pitiful state and wondered whether he wasn't a little too hard on her. He could use his commanding voice on his soldiers, but someone like Nalsy might not have the resistance to it and might mistake it for being told-off.
Edmund left the doorway without a word, only to reappear in Nalsy's room moments later. "Have this. It might not be most fashionable, but at least it's something to sleep in." he passed her his neatly folded pyjamas.
Nalsy looked at him with her big eyes that were filled with surprise.
"Thank you, but you don't have to." Nalsy blushed.
"Just put it on," Edmund said impatiently.
Nalsy looked away in embarrassment, disappearing into a bathroom. Within a minute, she was out, wearing Edmund's pyjamas that resembled a dress on her.
"Thank you," she said shyly, not willing to admit that the dry pyjama provided her with warmth and comfort.
Nalsy looked up at Edmund with a genuine smile and a sparkle in her eye.
She was surprised by Edmund, even if his usual rough manners accompanied his caring gesture.
"No worries," Edmund replied. Seeing Nalsy smiling made him feel all fuzzy on the inside, which was an unfamiliar feeling to him. "If you need anything, please tell me," Edmund said as softly as he could, wondering if he was so unapproachable that Nalsy would feel too anxious to ask for help. He felt responsible for Nalsy, regardless of whether it was an order from the Queen.
"Thank you," Nalsy repeated while crawling under the covers on her bed. Edmund snapped back from his thoughts, realising that he might be overstaying his welcome.
"Goodnight," he said, leaving quickly.