Mystic - EN version

Chapter 31 : Paperwork

– There are still these papers to sort through, announced Griselda, placing a pile of documents on Catherine's new desk.

The ginger's back was aching after just one day's work. And yet, as an ex-maid, she was used to physical exertion. But out of respect for Griselda, the young woman didn't complain. She just wasn't used to reading so much, so she went very slowly. Fortunately, the host of the mansion didn't seem to mind.

– Why do you have so much paperwork at home?

Griselda frowned, looking annoyed. Catherine realised that she had used the formal form of address again, out of habit, even though Griselda had asked her not to, as it made her uncomfortable. She tucked her head into her shoulders and winced.

– Sorry..., she murmured.

– Don't worry, you'll get used to it, smiled the silver-haired woman.

The assistant was about to dive back into her new job, but Griselda kept talking and answered Catherine's question.

– You see, I'm an ambassador. And I'm using my status to find your little brother as quickly as possible. Most of these documents concern him.

Catherine suddenly felt the need to sort through all the papers piled up in front of her as quickly as possible. Every day that passed only made her more and more anxious. She tried to keep a clear head, but it was hard, and she felt constantly on the verge of breaking down. She couldn't imagine a world without her little brother. She had looked after him since he was born. She didn't want to lose him.

– My job is, roughly speaking, to deal with relations between the families of Sirine and between the kingdom itself and other countries, added Griselda.

– And you like doing that? asked her assistant.

The red-eyed woman seemed surprised by the ginger's question.

– I don't really have a choice, you know. There's often only one, sometimes two ambassadors. Before me, it was Cerise.

– Cerise? repeated Catherine.

– Noah's mother. Arthur's wife. My best friend, and the person I loved. She died eleven years ago. It's been very hard for all of us. And, often, it still is. Some people say that wounds always heal in the end, but I don't think that's true. You learn to live with it, and for me, that's not yet the case.

– I'm sorry to hear that, the ginger gasped in pain.

– You don't have to be. You remind me a lot of her, you know.

Catherine smiled shyly.

– I would have liked to have met her.

– You'd have got on well together, I'm sure.

The ginger raised her face discreetly towards the ambassador, and as she met her gaze, she looked away. However, in the woman's red irises, she detected a glimmer of pain, sadness and loss. She probably didn't like talking about Cerise too much, so Catherine went back to her papers.

– You're not going to sleep here, are you? exclaimed Griselda.

Catherine shrugged. She was exhausted, and frankly didn't care where she spent the night.

The two women stood in front of the door to the maids' dormitory. The ginger struggled to keep her eyes open.

– Come, you're going to sleep with me, the ambassador declared abruptly.

Catherine's eyes widened, her cheeks flushed.

– What?

– I'll lend you my bed and I'll sleep on the sofa.

The silver-haired woman then took off down the corridor, towards the stairs leading to the first floor, without even giving her assistant time to reply.

– Make yourself at home, smiled Griselda once they had reached her bedroom.

Catherine nodded slightly, clutching her leather bag to her heart. It contained all her belongings and everything she cared about. The ginger sat down gently on the edge of the bed and sank into the mattress.

– It's very soft, she murmured.

She suddenly felt like jumping on it, just like when she was little. She dropped heavily onto the covers and admired the four-poster bed in amazement.

– I'll never be able to sleep in a bed that big...

Griselda came and sat next to her, and the mattress crumpled a little more under their shared weight.

– I wouldn't feel right letting you sleep on the little sofa, she explained.

Catherine said nothing. She wasn't going to refuse her host's proposal, that would be impolite, even if she was used to sleeping on very narrow bunks. Griselda stood up. She walked to the back of the room and unfolded a pretty wooden screen engraved with leaf motifs decorated with gold leaf.

– You can change behind this if you like and put your things on this shelf.

Catherine nodded.

– I'm going to go back downstairs and work for a while, OK? said the ambassador.

– I'll do that. Thank you very much, Catherine.

– You're welcome, replied the woman with a warm smile. Good night, Catherine.