Pov François
I let him go and went downstairs to join the servants.
I watched them rush in and empty the car of all the luggage.
– hhum.
I passed the first aid kit to one of them and sent the rest to the kitchen
"Don't set the table for tonight," I ordered.
The courtyard emptied immediately, leaving us both face to face in a momentary silence.
"You look unwell," I murmured to break the silence.
She just breathed and took off her glasses
– It was awful, that guard never stopped complaining
"My entire trip was a headache," she added, resting her hand on her suitcase.
– You will come with me tomorrow
Before pulling his suitcase alone up to his terrace, he stops
– and the children?
she asked more gently
– they stayed very far apart
- GOOD
And he enters her room, so tightly locked with a double lock
From what I can see, nobody will be having dinner tonight.
I put my hands behind my back and went to the kitchen.
"Only one person will be at the table, the rest can rage," I murmured to the chef, and turned around.
I waited an hour in front of the gate, making sure that all the outside servants had left, then put the key in the lock and gave it to Regina.
I went back for one last check, going from room to room, turned off the lights, closed the windows, and made sure of every last little detail before going up to my room.
22:30
Now my day begins, in the calm of the house, I place a flask of tea and a liter of hot milk on my tray and add two cups.
He, too, couldn't sleep.
I slipped away in the moonlight and reached his balcony where I found him lost in thought.
I step forward, place the tray in front of him, pull up a chair, and sit down with my files
– a cup?
I proposed
"Why not?" he said, shrugging his shoulders.
I take a cup and simply pour milk into it and push it towards him.
Silence
I watch him sip his cup
"Hérèse !" he called out to her.
"Yes?" he murmured between sips.
– Are you being harassed?
He stopped and put down his cup before giving me a casual look.
"I think I have a knack for getting myself into trouble," he said, cracking his knuckles.
"I woke up on the wrong side of the bed on the first day back at school," he chuckled.
– I even have the whole school against me
– how did that happen
He lowered his eyes and picked up his cup again.
"Can I have another one?" he asked, to avoid the question.
So I just served him another one
– no one is forcing you, you are not obliged to make friends with them….
– Isolating yourself makes you feel like easy prey
He stared for a long time at the bottom of his cup
"I hit them, I sat in the middle of their groups without knowing, and so it ended in war," he murmured.
– I'm seen more as an aggressive, impulsive person
– that's pretty good
- hmmmm
Then he turned away, and said nothing more.
I didn't insist and instead plunged into my pile of work, letting myself drink cup after cup until the liter was finished.
At 2:10 am before laying his head down and falling asleep on the table.
The only time he really looks like an 11-year-old
"You grew up too fast," he whispered to himself.
I hurried and tidied the table, picking everything up and placing it next to the table.
I went down to his room and got a blanket even though I knew
I went back upstairs and placed it on his shoulders, and as I expected, he jumped and stood up automatically.
– haha~ I'm going
he murmured, his eyes half-closed
He pulled the blanket over his head and staggered off from side to side.
But if I touch him again he will wake up and won't sleep until the early morning