Chapter 9
1179 Words
I ran into the crying stranger more quickly than I would have thought. He was sitting on the fountain looking at the water and I ran to talk to him:
"Excuse me!"
The stranger looked up and smiled when recognizing me:
"Hello again.
-Do you feel better?
-Yes, much. Thank you for the last time."
I sat down next to him hesitant to speak.
"I don't want to pry but I really think that you deserve better. I'm not here to tell you what to do or to judge you in any way. I just want to tell you that what I personally believe is that you should break up with him. You deserve so much better than this. And he isn't treating you right."
Gilbert's eyes became rounder than I would have thought possible.
"Break up with whom?
-With the man who made you cry.
-Do we seem like a couple?
-I'm sorry if I misunderstood but you said that you loved him. I didn't mean to spy on you, I just happened to be near."
Gilbert laughed and I was taken aback. I didn't expect him to laugh.
"I am not accusing you of anything. But if you want to know, we are not going out. We are just sleeping together."
I expected this even less and felt my cheeks growing hotter. I didn't need details.
"Is he forcing you?"
Gilbert laughed again.
"No. You heard me say I loved him.
-I prefer to ask.
-You really don't have to worry. I'm fine.
-But this doesn't excuse anything. You are in a kind of relationship nevertheless and he should treat you with respect. That's the bare minimum. You are a human being. Not his pet.
-Wow, you are really worried about me.
-Of course."
Gilbert smiled before getting closer to me. His face was suddenly way different from the kind and sad one I saw earlier.
"What is it?
-I'll let you in on a secret."
I frowned. Did he have to be this close?
"I don't love him."
I needed a moment to process. Seeing me lost, Gilbert finally drew back, his mysterious smile still clear on his face.
"But you said...
-I lied. Just like the tears. You were so cute worrying about me that I felt bad lying to you too.
-So you don't love him."
Gilbert laughed really loudly and almost fell in the fountain.
"Who would love him? You saw how despicable he was.
-Then...
-Why am I sleeping with him? Or why am I pretending?
-Well, both.
-He has something I need. As simple as that.
-Can I help you get it?
-Well, I guess you could but I've been pretending for almost a year now. Our contract will soon come to an end and I'll be free. I was so clingy that he won't ever try to find me and I'll live a peaceful life far away from here.
-Still if I can help with anything..."
Gilbert suddenly hugged me and we fell in the fountain because of the momentum. All wet, Gilbert started laughing uncontrollably:
"I'm so sorry. You were just so cute I couldn't hold back anymore."
Gilbert was still holding me so I struggled to get up from the water. He suddenly realized that I was struggling and let me go.
"I'm so sorry. Do you want me to get you something to change into? I should have a blazer in my locker.
-No it's okay. I will soon dry anyway."
Cadmael appeared as soon as Gilbert left. Seeing me all wet he soon started taking his clothes off. I turned immediately red and tried stopping him:
"What are you doing?
-Giving you my clothes.
-It's okay. I'll dry soon anyway.
-But you will catch a cold.
-I won't get sick from this much.
-But we can see everything."
I followed his gaze and saw that my white shirt was in fact seen through now. Cadmael continued striping but I still didn't let him:
"What would you wear if you gave me your clothes?
-I'll wear yours.
-The wet ones? Out of the question."
Cadmael started pouting but I made up my mind. How could I take this young child's clothes? He was already bullied enough and I didn't want to add to his misery. Cadmael seemed very bothered by my rejection and told me not to move before disappearing. He came back right away and handed me a sweater.
"Wear this.
-Is it your sweater?
-Yes. I'll go get you new clothes after.
-No need. This is fine."
I accepted the sweater but it was way too big for me. I looked at Cadmael ready to complain about his huge build but he seemed so happy that I didn't say anything. Was he that happy that he helped me? He was so cute that I rubbed his head just like I would do for a puppy. I suddenly realized what I did and retracted my hand surprised.
"Sorry."
Who was I treating like a puppy? He was the future emperor of the country. I had to show a little respect. What if he killed me because I treated him like a child? Cadmael looked at me for a bit before taking my hand and placing it back on his head. He closed his eyes and smiled.
"I like it."
I couldn't hold back my laughter. I wanted to tell him that he looked like a puppy but thought that an emperor wouldn't like that so I just rubbed his head which widened his smile. Poor child. His father abandoned him in a precarious environment and he never felt any warmth from anyone. This was no way for a child to grow up. I already abandoned him for 11 years. Did I have the right to abandon him again? I really wanted to comfort him. Was this okay?
Diana asked me to go for tea one time a week and I agreed. I was scared of getting close to her but one : I didn't want to be rude and two : I really liked her company. We usually went to the same place and talked about books for hours. I always left without telling Cadmael and when I came back he was always waiting for me as a little abandoned puppy. I brought him cake but didn't tell him who I was with, which made him pout.
As we were talking with Diana one day, our conversation drifted from books to animals and especially horses.
"I really love horses. I think they are the most gracious creatures I've ever met. I really like rabbits as well but horses have a special place in my heart. What about you?"
I froze and forced myself to smile:
"I really love horses too."
This made Diana smile but for some reason I started shaking. As I arrived home I went to the stables for some reason. I haven't come since I was a child and felt really out of place. I felt so dizzy that I ran away immediately.
- Writer
