Little Gaston

Chapter 21

Gilles and Charles were nervously sitting in the plush couch they had been guided to, the room filled with more valuables than they had ever seen in their lives.

The door was opened just a little, probably to make sure they wouldn't run off with anything. Not that they would.

Both men were even trying to not to breathe in too deeply in fear of damaging anything and getting blamed for it.

A sudden cry sounded through the castle, making both men jump, and look around startled.

"Oh god," Gilles said, his hands gripping his pants and feeling panicked.

"It's probably nothing," Charles muttered, feeling his heart thud in his chest.

Before either man could do anything, the door opened and on elderly woman stepped in, rolling in a tray with a teapot and cups on it.

"Here, let's get you all a nice hot cup of tea. The weather is absolutely dreadful," Mrs Potts said, looking at the jumpy men with a small smile, "you want some milk?"

"Oh, uhm," Gilles said, looking at Charles, like always counting on his older brother to know what to do exactly.

"Uhm, ma'am, what was that shout just now?" Charles asked, looking at her with wide eyes. She seemed gentle enough, and even though he was apprehensive about asking, he instinctively felt as if he could trust the woman.

"Oh, that's just the master's little. Must have woken up feeling all miserable. He's sick right now, you see," Mrs Potts said, shaking her head in fondness, "he was a bit wild during a walk and fell into a puddle. Come back all soaked, clinging to his lordship, claiming he was fine and then by the time it was evening he was shivering in his mama's arms."

"They're caregivers?" Gilles asked, a little surprised, not having imagined the noble prince to be one.

"They are. Now tea?" she asked.

"If you don't mind," Charles said, feeling a little relieved. He himself was a caregiver, and he knew other caregivers, and he knew that most of them were reasonable people.

And now that he knew what the sound was, he could hear the distinct sobs, which were calming down already.

They had finished their cup already before the prince walked in, a servant opening the door and standing to attention when the man entered, the cut of his clothes rich, and his hair long and silky.

"Your majesty," Charles said, getting up and bowing, Gilles following a little slower, taken by surprise. Adam looked up at them, the two even larger then Gaston, who was by no means a small man.

But still, it would seem that the two would be capable of towering over Gaston. Adam wasn't even sure that he would be taller then them if he changed back into his beast form.

"Please sit down," Adam said, feeling a little tired, and worried about Gaston, "you said you were Gaston's brother's, right?"

"Yes, you're lordship. We were summoned here to take care of the belongings of our younger brother," Charles said, "but when we arrived, we were informed that there had been an attempt at your life. We uhm, we need your permission to take his stuff."

"Oh, yes, well," Adam said, frowning a little, wondering what Gaston would want, "I need to discuss that without someone first. I'll be able to answer you on that tomorrow."

"Thank you, your lordship," Charles said, Gilles nervously clenching his fists and keeping silent, wondering if they would be dismissed.

"So, his older brothers," Adam said, feeling curious beside himself while he reclined in the chair and gazed at the two men with curiosity, "tell me about him."