The mansion of Rafaell was engulfed in silence that night. The young man found himself in one of the many rooms of the vast residence, immersed in thoughts. Seated near a window, he was in a studio filled with unfinished paintings, scattered paints and brushes, many covered canvases, and others barely painted, as if drops of paint expressed anger and regret.
Since returning at dusk, Rafaell had been reflecting on what Stewart had told him: Cielle was quiet and reserved, without making any demands or requests. This undoubtedly frustrated Stewart, accustomed to catering to the needs of a bustling household.
Rafaell had grown up with Stewart and knew well the butler's temperament, who had faced difficult days during his turbulent youth. Rafaell, though he had matured and become more responsible, still carried traits of his rebellious personality.
He had instructed Stewart to expect a demanding lady, but Cielle surprised everyone with her shyness and reserve. Rafaell wondered about her upbringing in the Burroughs' house and how she had lived there.
Under the moonlight invading the studio, Rafaell focused on a central painting, with cold blue tones and an unfinished pendant. He sighed and stood up, walking down the corridor in his comfortable clothes, his expression serene.
In the middle of the corridor, he stopped, surprised to see Cielle. She was standing, looking out, lost in thoughts while gazing at the sky through the window.
Rafaell hesitated, thinking of turning back to avoid being noticed. But as he tried to step away, he bumped into a vase, making a noise. Cielle turned around, startled.
"That's why I don't like vases scattered in the corridor," Rafaell muttered, annoyed by Stewart's choice.
When he turned, he saw Cielle walking towards him, her hands behind her back.
'Why is she coming here?'
Cielle wore the same thick nightgown as the night before, somewhat outdated, but as she approached, lit by the natural moonlight, her beauty was undeniable. Rafaell noticed this, impressed by her angelic aura.
"Jasper, it's you," Cielle said softly, stopping at a respectful distance from Rafaell.
Hearing his middle name spoken by her caused a strange sensation in Rafaell. He blinked, surprised.
"How do you know my... Ah, it must have been Stewart, I mean, butler Stewart." Rafaell quickly corrected himself.
Cielle blinked, reacting calmly to his correction, and nodded.
"What are you doing here so late?" she asked. "I didn't see you in the garden today."
Rafaell decided not to answer the first question.
"Were you looking for me? Why?"
"I wanted to invite you to join us for brunch, as thanks for last night," Cielle explained.
"Oh, I had to work somewhere else today," Rafaell said.
She observed his hands, noting how they were fine, well-cared-for, and without marks of heavy labor.
"I see," Cielle replied with an almost smile. "And why are you here so late?"
"Well, I came to rearrange the vase arrangements. It's the best time, in the morning the master likes to see new flowers."
Cielle nodded, watching him with curiosity.
"I understand."
"And you? Why are you here at this hour?"
"I thought I saw an owl flying over the house from my window. I wanted to see it better, so I came to the corridor," Cielle explained.
Rafaell approached the window, under Cielle's attentive gaze.
"An owl? There aren't any owls around here; maybe you saw a bat. Moreover, owls flying over houses are a bad omen, a warning of death. Better that it was a bat."
Cielle noticed the superstitious tone in his voice. "Maybe," she agreed.
There was a silence between them, a shared moment under the moonlight, connected by an unexpected conversation and each other's tranquil presence.
Taking advantage of the silence, Rafaell decided to ask:
"And how was your day here? Are you feeling more comfortable?"
"My day was wonderful," Cielle responded, and Rafaell could hear the sincerity in her voice, even without looking directly at her. She took a few more steps, stopping beside him. "Honestly, I have never been treated so well before."
Rafaell kept his gaze fixed on the garden under the night's darkness.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, everyone here is very kind and seems to make an effort to get close to me... Except..."
Rafaell frowned, still not looking at her.
"Except?"
"Well, I feel that the master of the house keeps his distance, as if he doesn't want to meet or talk with me. It's strange, considering he was the one who brought me here."
Rafaell swallowed hard, trying to hide his discomfort.
"The master is a very busy person, rarely at home. It's nothing personal, believe me."
"It's not that which bothers me," said Cielle, her voice calm.
"Then what is it?"
"It's that he keeps pretending to be someone he's not. That confuses me."
Rafaell finally turned to face her, surprised.
"What?"
Cielle looked at the moon, her face serene as the night breeze. She turned to him.
"It's you, isn't it? The real Rafaell Valentinov, the master of this house?"
Rafaell felt the surprise drain away, replaced by the acceptance of her discovery.
"So you knew already?”
The comfort Cielle had felt earlier seemed to vanish with the revelation, and she lowered her gaze.
"So it's really you..."
Rafaell noticed the change in her posture.
"You seem disappointed."
"No, it's not that! Don't get me wrong," Cielle hurried to explain. "I had my suspicions, but part of me still doubted. And now I remember the way I spoke to you last night."
"And how did you find out?" Rafaell asked.
"Your hands. They are too delicate for someone who works in the garden."
Rafaell observed his own hands, thinking to himself, 'They're not that delicate!'
"Besides," Cielle continued, "I wanted to be sure. And ask why you're avoiding me, sir?"
Cielle no longer looked at him as before, and this bothered Rafaell.
He placed one hand on his waist and raised the other, snapping his fingers.
"First, look at me," he said. Cielle lifted her eyes at the snap. "Second, don't ever call me sir, it's weird; I'm only three years older than you. Third, I wasn't avoiding you. I was waiting for the right moment to talk to you openly. But it seems that was foolish of me. Now that you know who I am, how about we go to my office?"
Rafaell started walking ahead, turning to her and pointing to a door. Cielle took a deep breath.
"It's time for us to talk," he said, with a serious tone.
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