Knock!
"Young Master?"
The head maid gentle called behind the doors of the room. She was already given the role to be the honored guest's attendant and had come early to deliver the meal, worried of the young master's growing hunger. Two days have passed ever since he started to become more and more silent. She thought it might be because something happened inside the treasury halls the young master had visited daily.
Every day, he would enter with hopeful eyes and then return with a solemn and anxious expression. The head maid had also noticed that the Lord had not visited the young master during those days. Somehow he felt pity for the youth.
Meanwhile, within the dimness of the room, a young man laid on the bed. He faced the bedside where the magnificence of the sapphire moonflower was reflected within his silver eyes. As though in a trance, a dream-like daze. Countless thoughts are swimming inside his mind. Confusion melding with despair and anxiety. Like a pot sitting at the edge of a table, of the brink of toppling over and shattering.
Knock!
Knock!
"Young master?" The head maid's voice spoke once again.
Moulin was abruptly yanked from his thoughts. He slowly rose from the bed. The silky sheets are folding in layers at the end of his waist. With a sigh, he turned to sit at the edge of the bed. And with a soft voice, he replied. "Come in..."
There was a light shuffle before the door slowly creaked open. With soft steps, the head maid made her way inside—a wrinkle shaped between her brows once she gazed at the frail youth sitting on the bed. Worry and concern filled her gaze as she placed the tray on a nearby table.
"Young master..." She called with a gentle voice. "You haven't eaten well for the last two days. "Please take care of your body..."
Moulin glanced at her and nodded with a silent smile.
Afterwards he followed, and slowly are his meanwhile being suffocatingly silent. It was not suitable for a servant to overstep their bounds and ask about the lord's circumstances; however, she could not bear watching Moulin seem as if he would break at the next second. When she decided to open her mouth and accept any dreadful punishments for her actions, Moulin suddenly spoke to her first. Completely breaking the silence between them.
"Where are Snow and Kier?" He asked.
"P-Pardon?" She blinked. "Oh, forgive me If I acted impulsively. I sent the pups to be cleansed. A bath, young master. I thought they seemed to stain the bed when they slept with you young master. Forgive me..." She bowed with furrowed brows.
"No, it is fine. I am glad you thought of doing so..." Moulin smiled and gestured her to be at ease. He was internally impressed by how they managed to catch the two and sent them to the bath.
Not long after, he finished his meal and headed straight to the closet, and dressed himself. The head maid immediately called servants to clear the table while she hurriedly assisted Moulin with his clothes. After a while, Moulin thanked her and headed to the door.
"Where... Are you heading, My Lord?" The head maid asked after minutes of silent hesitation.
Moulin's fingers barely reached the door handles when he stopped. With lowered eyelids, he replied. "To... meet my mother..."
He looked back with a faint smile and then left the room.
................................
Footsteps echoed throughout the halls. Silver hair swayed with his movements. Breathing, slow and steady. Nevertheless, his eyes were layered with faint hopelessness and anxiety.
What if he would see nothing again?
What if his mother wouldn't speak to him?
These kinds of thoughts crowded his mind. Sadness filled his heart. There was only a tiny light flickering within the darkness of his heart that would be extinguished at the second. However, he held on to it. Desperate and Hopeful. Perhaps, today he would hear his mother's voice again. And they would talk, they would laugh. Moulin's chest tightened. Oh, how he hoped so...
The sound of the second doors echoed loudly.
Suddenly, a presence fills his perception. Moulin lifted his gaze. His feet stopped, and his fists clenched. Heart pounding loudly within his chest, his breathing seemed to stutter as his feet were rooted to the ground.
Before his eyes, where the warm daylight beams through the glass panes, a lone figure stood before the final doors. A dominant stature and a strong back, his golden hair gleamed wildly in rich gold. And as though he senses Moulin's presence, he turned around.
Moulin held in his breath briefly. It seemed as though he hadn't seen the man for hundreds of years. The Yearning and urge busted inside him ad the same time. He didn't know how to react or even speak a word. However, he had unconsciously moved to touch his lower abdomen.
His consciousness, reminding him of the wrong the man had done to him.
Golden eyes deepened with meaning as they stared at the motionless youth standing far within his sight. Unconsciously, Hadrian clenches his jaw. Suppressing. Restraining. Moulin looked pale. He had thinned. There was no brightness within the young man's eyes. All of these details seemed to shackle him around the neck.
And that delicate hand Moulin had placed below his abdomen made guilt slowly creep inside his gut.
Was Moulin afraid of him?
Did he not want to see him anymore.
Had his existence become fearful within the youth's eyes?
He wavered at the thought. It turns out; he was indeed weak and helpless against the young man walking towards him.
Out of the blue, Moulin began to walk.
His steps were unhurried, and he stared at Hadrian as he moved. With every step, it seemed to make the other person anticipate exceedingly.
Hadrian's eyes softened. He felt his shoulders relax as he took in Moulin's form. Absorbing it in his mind and greedily locking the memory away in his heart.
When the youth was already three steps away from him, Hadrian slowly reached out his hand. However, he didn't expect Moulin to only walk past him. Air brushed his shoulder as the sound of the young man's sharp footsteps entered his ears.
Hadrian stared at his hand. His eyes deepened as his brows furrowed. With a sigh, he lowered his arm.
When Moulin neared the door, he closed his fingers around the golden handle and lowered his gaze. Silently, he only stood there for several seconds before he raised his head.
His voice was hoarse as he spoke, "Wait for me... When I am finished... Let's talk." His brows furrowed as he pressed his lips together.
He didn't expect any reply as he pushed the doors open. However, before he could take a step inside, he heard Hadrian's deep voice. The man's deep voice vibrated in his ears.
"I will wait for you..." Hadrian spoke as he turned around to stare at Moulin. "No matter how long it takes..."
Moulin stopped. With complicated eyes, he swiftly entered the mirror hall, and the doors gradually closed behind him.
Golden eyes deepened. Hadrian felt the heaviness in his heart slowly yet certainly lighten.
He will wait...
