Conversing in the greenroom (Dr. Charles)

Camille sighed, his gaze drifting to the fleeting patterns of shadow that played upon the stone floor, stirred by the capricious dance of leaves, animated by the breeze through trees outside the luminous stained glass. Time had slipped away from him in this sanctuary, far exceeding what he had planned. Though his heart remained weighed down with sorrow, he could not deny the faint, tentative sensation that the confession had begun to peel away layers of a burden he had borne for what felt like an eternity.

Camille came to the quiet realization that he had buried his emotions much like furniture cloaked beneath a white shroud, forgotten but not gone. The thought of lifting that covering had always filled him with nightmarish fear, unsure of what damage time and neglect might have wrought. Yet now, as he tentatively unveiled them, he found a surprising resilience amidst the long-hidden feelings, a bittersweet relief tempered by the sharp sting of an ancient pain resurfacing alongside them.

The priest's voice rose gently, breaking the reverent stillness of the high-vaulted church. “What is it?” he inquired, his tone laced with quiet concern.

Camille blinked, as though surfacing from a distant thought, and smiled faintly. "Ah, forgive me," he murmured. "I seem to have drifted off for a moment. If you will permit me, I shall pick up where I left off."

The greenroom, bathed in the soft glow of gas lamps, was a tableau of opulence and sophistication. My mother drifted effortlessly into the midst of her social circle, leaving me momentarily adrift amidst the sea of powdered wigs and silk finery.

With the option to shadow her graceful strides or carve my own path through the illustrious convention, I hesitated, casting a discreet gaze over the assembly of nobility and affluence, all patrons of the refined arts.

My heart, however, sought a different target amidst the elegant ensemble: The enigmatic figure of Rene Teleny, his absence whispering like the echo of a half-remembered melody, drifting through the air with a haunting allure.

Though every noble countenance bore its own appeal, I was yet undecided whom I should approach.

Briancourt caught my eyes as he laughed and jested with my circle of friends, his jovial manner drawing all eyes. In a shadowy alcove the Vicomte de Pontegrimeux loomed a figure whose history was entwined with my father's, though now dimmed by the passage of years. By his side was the striking Venus d'Ille, a commanding presence draped in shades as dark as her resonant laughter, which soared effortlessly above the other converdations of the room. Then, my attention shifted to Marguerite, a childhood confidante, now accompanied by a fair-haired man whose familial resemblance suggested he was a brother, perhaps, rather than a suitor.

At last, my attention fell upon a striking man, his imposing frame almost eclipsing those around him in the greenroom, as if he were a solitary oak amidst a woodland of of slender birches and hazelnut bushes.

Doctor Charles, affectionately known as Charlemagne for his majestic golden beard, stood before me, his presence commanding attention amidst the luxurious setting. We had known each other for years and despite his boyish charm, his vast knowledge and worldly wisdom lent an aura of authority to our exchange as he greeted me first upon my approach

"Ah, Camille, my boy! How splendid it is to see you again in polite company. It has been a while."

With a slight bow, I rested my hand upon my breast, the motion so subtle that it could easily have been mistaken for a mere instinct of refinement. "Doctor Charles," I murmured, my voice laced with an almost theatrical warmth, “It's always a pleasure.”

Doctor Charles gaze softened as he reagered me with genuine concern. Still he didn't address it at first, obviously waiting for me to relax and disclose myself in my own pace while enganging in a casual conversation.

“How is your dear mother faring, Camille? I trust her health has been steady, as usual?”

I was acutely aware of the doctor’s keen scrutiny, his gaze lingering on every shift of my expression. With an effort to appear composed, I summoned a smile that I hoped might pass for genuine, and responded with a quiet sincerity, “Mother's health has been quite stable, thankfully.”

It seemed that my efforts had been in vain, for the good doctor, with an almost imperceptible arch of his brow, saw through my carefully constructed façade. His voice, laced with the faintest touch of sarcasm, broke the silence, “And hopefully you feel well, too.”

He said this in a somewhat asking voice and obviously waited for an answer.

With a subtle shake of my head, I conceded to the growing pressure within me. “To be frank with you, my mother asked me to talk to you, - and...” For a moment, I hesitated, my gaze drifting to the ornate ceiling above.

I recognized Dr. Charles as a dependable guardian of secrets. However, I hesitated to reveal the complexities of tonight's events, fearing he might not appreciate the significance of the emotions that swirled within me.

Finally, in a hushed tone, I confided in Dr. Charles: ”Doctor, I've been feeling rather unwell this evening. My heart races and I can't seem to concentrate properly.”

Dr. Charles chuckled softly, the sound laced with a certain warmth, yet his words, though well-intentioned, carried a sting.

“Ah, Camille, my dear boy. Is it possible that a fair maiden has captured your heart and set it all aflutter this evening?”

They lingered in the air, sharper than I wished to admit, for deep within me, I could not deny the grain of truth these words held.

I smiled sheepishly, shaking my head, while his grin gradually faded and was replaced by genuine concern.

“ No, no, nothing of the sort. It's just... I feel off, you know?” I exclaimed.

“Of course, Camille. I'll tell you what, why don't you come by my office tomorrow and we'll have a closer look?”, offered the doctor and added with a sly smile: “Or better yet, I could pay a visit to this magnificent mansion of yours. It’s been a while since I’ve had the pleasure of admiring its grandeur.”

For once, my smile was free from artifice, warm and unforced, as I replied: “That would be wonderful, Doctor Charles. Thank you.”

As our conversation continued, my thoughts drifted to another matter naturally, just like petals carried by a soft breeze and finally as the topic of our conversation inevitably turned towards the concert we had both attended, I ventured with a subtle curiosity, “By the way, have you seen Rene Teleny? I wanted to speak with him after his performance, but I haven't been able to find him anywhere among the crowd here.”

Dr. Charles gave a nonchalant shrug, tilting his head ever so slightly, before responding with a smile that bordered on wry: “Ah, I'm afraid not, my boy. Last I saw him, he was captivating the audience with his musical prowess on stage. But fear not, I'm sure he'll turn up soon enough.”

As I nodded appreciatively, bidding Doctor Charles farewell, a sense of comfort settled within me, wrought not by mere words but by the ineffable essence of Doctor Charles himself. I made my way back to the centre of the greenroom, my eyes scanning the crowd for my mother. I had no doubt that she would wish to see me once more, and perhaps, as was customary, gently encourage me to exchange pleasantries with some of the other artists present.

Hello, here is Selfmaiden speaking!

I have to say, I was honestly surprised by how many people voted for the last chapter. I really didn't expect everyone to choose C. Honestly, I thought Camille talking to his mother might be the least attractive option, but I guess it really suits his character, right? After all, he's kind of a mama's boy at heart. 😅

For this chapter, there won't be a poll, since the dialogue with the doctor was something I definitely wanted to include anyway. (But don't worry, in the game, you can still choose whether Camille has this conversation with the doctor or decides to deny his mother's wishes to find one.😉)

In the upcoming chapter, Camille will finally meet his mother and also the talented Asian songstress SuiSing, who, by the way, I named after a character from one of my favorite childhood movies: A Chinese Ghost Story. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it! It is absolutely funny.

Even though there's no poll this time, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter. Your feedback means a lot, and I'm so thankful for all the support you've given me along the way. 💖

Also here is the obligatory link to my self-programmed visual novel game "Teleny":

https://selfmaiden.itch.io/teleny