I think I am unwell, mother!

I looked at her, bewildered and hesitant, searching for the right words until I managed to gather enough courage to speak: “To be honest, I am not quite sure. I’ve been feeling rather odd lately, but I am uncertain as to why.”

Uttering those words left me feeling slightly faint, a delicate shiver was running through my being for I couldn't dispel the haunting notion that my mother might somehow be aware of my clandestine desires, despite my fervent efforts to repress them.

It seemed irrational, for no one had glimpsed my transgression, and my mother showed no sign of suspicion. Yet, an insidious unease lingered, as if my innermost desires hovered on the brink of revelation, poised to challenge the flawless image she held of me, - yet a part of me longed for her to know and to understand.

Wordlessly, she lifted her arm, feeling my forehead with a tenderness unique to a motherly caress. I closed my eyes, welcoming the cool, soothing touch, while she spoke: “Your head feels a bit hot.”

She said this with a frown and retracted her hand. “I've advised you before, my dear, not to read those romantic novels in the garden. It's still too cold outside. Shall we ascertain if Dr. Charles is amidst the gathering in the green room?”

It was less a question and more an edict, leaving little room for objection. She gave a pleased nod as if sealing the matter, saying: "Although he might not have his instruments with him today, perhaps you could arrange an appointment with him for tomorrow, my dear?"

With a slight nod, I conveyed my understanding, though the thought of tracking down my doctor amidst a social gathering was hardly appealing. Yet, I knew she was right. My personal discomfort held no weight against the prospect of falling ill again and after two years of illness, neither she nor I could risk another bout of confinement to my bed.

“Ensure you have a glass of water”, she urged finally and added quickly: “No alcohol, Camille, understood? - And make sure you return in time for the second part. You can’t afford to be late twice in one evening.”

A sigh escaped me, a wave of weariness accompanying it. “I don’t think I’ll stay for long. I think I had better go home once I talked to the doctor”, I said quietly.

In fact, my nerves were so utterly unstrung that I feared hearing any more music this evening would have only exasperated me, whilst another intoxicating melody by Rene Teleny might have made me lose my senses.

In the end I felt so weak and exhausted that it seemed as if I was walking in trance, so, without exactly knowing whither I wended my steps, I mechanically followed my mother and found myself in the green room, just as she had requested before.

Hello, this is Jule from Selfmaiden!

Thanks for making it so far with me into the story. Now we have new question. Apart from Dr Charles, who do you want Camille to meet in the Greenroom.

• A) The vicomte de Pontegrimeux and his mistress the venus d'Ille

  B) Marquerite and Leonell, the mischievous aristocrat-twins

  C) Camilles mother Selene and the asian songstress Sui Sing

And if you want to meet all of the characters in the greenroom, feel free to do so in my visual novel game "Teleny" right here:

https://selfmaiden.itch.io/teleny