Moulin frowns.
The soft sheets beneath his body crumpled as he turned to sleep on his side. The gentle morning light from the windows bathes his slumbering form. Flawless skin glowing with warmth. The light gently touches his closed eyelids.
A crease appeared between youth's slender brows. Slowly, Moulin's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light of his surroundings. A soft sigh escapes his lips as he did.
"…?"
Moulin felt the drowsiness leave his body as he slowly rose from the bed. His fingers curled on the furred blankets covering his body. Eyebrows furrowed in confusion, Moulin found himself staring at the open glass doors of the balcony.
A frown decorated his face. He recalled waiting for Hadrian at the balcony. Did he fell asleep? Did Hadrian move him to the bed?
Dismay flashed in his eyes. Hadrian told him he would explain everything to him when he returned last night, and yet he didn't. Instead, sleep overcame Moulin, and Hadrian didn't even bother to wake him up. Even when he woke up, the man's figure was nowhere to be found. Moulin's shoulders fell as he lets out a sigh.
"Honoured guest…"
Moulin abruptly shifted his attention when a voice spoke to him. His eyes caught the figure of a woman. With her hands clasped together, she smiled as she approached the youth on the bed. The young girl behind her followed her steps while hiding the disdain in her eyes.
Moulin recognized them as the people who had attended him last night before he went to join Hadrian and his grandfather for dinner. He nodded unfeelingly when she saw the head maid near his bed.
"Honoured guest, we are here to assist you. Please, come and cleanse yourself before you join the masters for the meal." Her voice was gently as though she was coaxing a child.
Moulin stared at her few a few seconds before nodding. "Please…"
The head maid attended to him after he bathed and picked elegant clothes for him to wear. Moulin silently let himself be assisted. However, when he saw the clothes brought before him, he frowned. They were too extravagant to wear for a mere breakfast. Gold cuffs, satin sleeves, accessories of the rarest stones, and gold jewelry for his hair, ears, and neck. Confusion flashed in his expression as he stared at the clothes.
What did they think of him as? A proud imperial prince of the palace?
Moulin was reminded of the time when his brothers brought him trunks of luxurious garments and jewelry. He accepted all of them so he wouldn't have to see the pitiful look on their faces. Moulin's face softened. Longing for his family came crashing inside him like a surging tide.
"Honoured guest?" The head maid looked at Moulin. Concerned filled his eyes. "Is it not to your liking?"
Moulin snapped back from his thought. His eyes immediately met the woman's gaze. A smile graces his face as he spoke, "May request another set of clothes? Can we have something simple and comfortable to wear?"
"Ah…" The head maid blinked at him. She then smiled and chuckled, "Yes, we do have a few, young master…"
Afterwards, she beckoned the young girl and told her to fetch some of the simplest and comfortable clothing for the young master to wear. It did not take long for them to finish. Finally, satisfied if his clothes, the head maid led Moulin to the doors. The young girl trailed behind them with quiet steps. She kept silent as they walked through the empty yet bright hallways.
Moulin's eyes stared straight ahead. His expression was hard to read. The head maid could not determine his thoughts at all.
'Where is Hadrian?' Moulin thought silently. There was no one else he was familiar with in his fortress, and he would rather spend his time with someone he knows the most. Moulin's mood grew depressed. Even Snow and Keir was nowhere to be found.
