Chapter 10

Home Sweet Home

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It had been fifteen years since Robert last visited his grandmother's mansion.

And yet, almost nothing had changed in the place where he grew up. The cream-colored walls looked exactly as he remembered, as if time had never touched them. The double staircase, crafted from the finest wine oak, remained sturdy and gleaming, and the flower paintings by his late grandfather, Lord Claudius Vale, still hung in the center hall. Even the smell of the mansion hasn't changed. The surroundings still smell like lilies. It was his grandparents' favorite flower. There wasn't a part of the mansion where anyone couldn't see lilies. And every week, the maids replace all the vases in the mansion with fresh lilies, so the mansion remains fragrant with flowers all year round.

From where Robert stood at the main entrance, a large family portrait of the Vale family hung at the center of the hall, where the faces of his late parents, Lady Mielmia and Lord Alfred, along with his five-year-old self and his grandparents', were forever preserved.

Robert was happy to see that almost nothing around his grandmother's mansion, where he had spent his entire childhood, had changed; it was still the same as it had been when he was a child.

Well, except for one thing:

The carpet beneath his feet.

"Out of everything that could've changed, Grandma, you replaced that old carpet with this one?" Robert remarked, glancing down at the deep red carpet trimmed with gold along its edges. He even rubbed his shoes against it, admiring how elegant it felt to walk on the ground. "I thought that old carpet was your favorite. You almost didn't want me to stain it when I was a kid."

"The old one got stained, thanks to a certain caretaker you hired for me." Madame Vicky replied while recalling how frustrated she was that her favorite carpet was stained. "Not to mention it was handmade and over a hundred years old. I haven't been able to find anything like it since. This was the closest match I could get."

Robert didn't respond. He immediately became busy taking in the familiar surroundings. Meanwhile, Emil helped the stewards unload their belongings, which quickly earned him a scolding from Grandma Vicky.

"Emil, dear, stop that. Let them handle it," she said. "You're a guest here, not a servant."

Emil set down the last suitcase he was carrying and bowed slightly to the older woman.

"My apologies, Madame," he said.

"What did I tell you about calling me that?" she replied, placing her hands on her hips as if she was expecting to hear from Emil the correct response.

"Sorry, Grandma." Emil corrected himself and smiled sheepishly.

"That's it," she said with a satisfied nod. "Much better."

"Shouldn't you be resting, Grandma?" Robert suddenly interrupted the conversation, though he wasn't looking at either of them. His eyes wandered over the familiar corners of the mansion, inspecting the place as if searching for something out of order and no longer thoroughly enjoying the things he had remembered from his childhood.

"And shouldn't you have asked how I was first before asking me something like that?" Madame Vicky replied.

"I did...at the chopper going here, remember?" Robert said, sounding almost unbothered by her tone. "But instead, you kept asking things like, 'How are you, Emil?', 'How's it going for you, Emil?' 'Is Robert bullying you?' Like...really, Grandma? Do you honestly think I'm capable of bullying Emil? Your Emil?"

"Well, of course!" the old woman replied as if she were right. "You managed to bully my only great-grandson, Eric, by forcing him to marry a bitchy-psycho! Don't you think you'd do the same to Emil?"

"Of course not!" Robert's voice rose slightly, though he still held himself in check. "Is that really how you see me, huh, Grandma? Do you really think I'd bully your favorite Emil?!"

"Don't you dare..." Madame Vicky challenged him with a spark of mischief in her eyes. "Even though I'm old, I could still make you kneel right where you stand, you stubborn child!"

"Look who's talking? You're more stubborn than I am!" Robert shot back. But before he could further escalate his argument with his grandmother, Emil stepped in, addressing the older man even before reaching Madame Vicky.

"Okay, that's enough...Robert." Emil looked him straight in the eyes, as if quietly telling him to 'Just relax, and be the big guy, alright?'. After all, they all knew being sarcastic was Madam Vicky's way of showing how much she missed her only, beloved grandson. "I know you're tired...and your groin still hurts from what the crabs did earlier," Emil emphasized it gently. "So, why don't you go to your bedroom first? I'll attend to you later. And as for you, Grandma..."

He took Madame Vicky's hand and guided her a few steps away from Robert. Then he leaned in slightly and whispered, "I know you've been missing the special jasmine tea I always make for you. Would you like me to prepare some?"

"Oh! I want that!" Madame Vicky said brightly. "It's been a while since I've tasted your special jasmine tea, my child. Come! Let's go to the garden! Very timely that my jasmines are growing so nicely in the yard. Could you please make me a fresh cup of tea? Oh! How about a snack? Do you want me to prepare some?"

"No, Grandma," Emil said. "But I think your grandson is hungry." Then he lowered his voice so Robert couldn't hear. "He's terrible when he's hungry. So you'd better get dinner ready before he turns on your servants and scolds them without mercy."

"You're right," the old lady agreed. "I'll ask the maid to prepare dinner early. But make me some tea, okay?"

"Sure, Grandma."

Before Emil accompanied Madame Vicky outside, he was able to glance back at Robert. He saw him in his typical annoyed look. His arms were crossed, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes were narrowed in quiet irritation.

That was when Emil mouthed a silent "Go ahead and rest. I'll take care of your grandma."

It was a small gesture, but instead of making Robert more irritated, it eased the tension the older man felt. Realizing the change in his mood, he averted his gaze, exhaled quietly, and turned to head outside for some fresh air.

Now that he thought about it, Robert realized he had never truly been angry with Emil, not even once. What reason would he even have? First, Emil was remarkably good at handling difficult situations. Second, he always knew exactly how to calm him when his temper flared.

And lastly...

Emil deeply cared for the people Robert cared about.

If there were ever a reason for him to be upset with Emil, it would only be if Emil kept secrets from him, or worse, lied to him.

Robert hates liars.

But Emil wasn't like that. He wasn't a liar, and he would never keep secrets from him. Emil was the most honest person Robert had ever met; someone who would never do anything that might earn his anger or distrust.

So yes. With Emil, he was at peace.

As Robert stepped outside and gazed at the garden, he couldn't help but steal glances at Emil, who walked slightly ahead while guiding Madame Vicky with gentle care. In that moment, Robert knew Emil was the only person he could truly trust with everything in his life. And now that he knew his grandmother wouldn't be around for much longer, that he was once again nearing a point in his life where he would lose another person he deeply cares about and be hurt all over again, Emil was the only one he could lean on. Just knowing Emil was there with him was enough to ease his heart; a reassurance that this time, he wouldn't have to face the coming pain alone.

So with that thought of peace lingering, Robert took a slow step forward, letting the breeze coming from the mountains wash over him, and allowed himself, for the first time in a long while...

...to simply breathe.