Chapter 194: Assumptions


    It wasforting.


    The soft light of the snowy weather passed through tall crystal windows and an ambiance of serenity and calm enveloped the entire room. It was muchforting for the weary heart of a white-haired youth who sat on the chaise couch with uncertainty. The quivering silver within his eyes strained on the carpet. Lips pressed together in worry and doubt.


    This was the look Lady Maxiel saw when she returned with a tray of medicine and bandages. Her eyes softly softened as she sighed.


    "Moulin, dear."


    The youth immediately raised his gaze. He stared as his mother carefully ced the silver tray on the table beside the couch before she sat beside him with concerned eyes.


    "Tell your mother what happened." She tried to look as gentle as possible. Her precious youngest son mattered to her more than those two older brothers of his who appeared more like giant untamed dogs before her eyes.


    There was hesitation in Moulin''s chest. What should he do? He came here to talk to someone but his mother was just not the right person for this. Moulin''s mind nked. Indeed, in front of his mother, he was as flustered as the shyest child in the realm.


    Lady Maxiel revealed a helpless expression. "Why do you hesitate?"


    She gently held Moulin''s hands worriedly frowning when she saw the blood on her son''s palms. A blue ribbon was trapped within Moulin''s clenched fists. Lady Maxiel had to gently coax Moulin to open his hands so she could treat them. The youth, helpless against her warm gaze and soft voice, conceded and opened his palms.


    "Your hands are wounded..." She drew her brows together as she carefully picked up the blue ribbon stained with deep crimson. Moulin flinched when she did.


    His mother paused her movements when she noticed Moulin''s unusual reactions. His silver eyes were staring at the blue ribbon that she held between her fingers. Hopelessness and reluctanceyered that pure gaze. Thedy''s eyes caught every single bit of oddity on her son''s face. An assumption rose from her heart and she blinked, hiding her surprise.


    Ah...


    A smile graced her calm countenance. Her eyes warmed as she softly spoke to Moulin, "Don''t worry, I won''t take it away. I will give it back once we finish treating your wounds, alright?"


    Moulin was silent for a few seconds before he nodded. Chuckling, Lady Maxiel ced the blue ribbon on the tray and then dampened a clean cloth to wash away the dried blood staining her son''s delicate hands. Her movements were careful and elegant. While she smeared medicine on Moulin''s hands, she was mindful of Moulin''s somewhat lost expression.


    "Now..." She began while her hands busied themselves in wrapping the bandages on the fragile palms of her beloved son. "Tell me what happened..."


    "It..." Moulin swallowed as he lowered his head. "It was an ident. I was careless."


    Lady Maxiel chuckled as she shook her head. "My son, I am your mother, not a stranger. Although I may be born half Maeruthan, I can sense the lingering faint fragments of soul mana on your little fingers. I tell you, that I know this isn''t an ident out of carelessness."


    Moulin stiffened. His heart pounded in his chest as a flustered expression reced the confident serenity on his face.


    The Ladyughed briefly as she stroked her son''s wrapped hands. Her eyes nced at the ribbon lying on the tray. The blood had dried on its shiny fabric. Her eyes gently stared at it. "Is it a gift from someone special?"


    Once those words were spoken, Moulin stiffened. His fingers pressed on his knees.


    Moulin''s silence amused his mother greatly. Ah, her son had fallen in love. She could not mistake the panic and the embarrassment on that youthful face.


    "How wonderful. Can you tell me their name?" She asked with a smile. Her mesmerizing eyes made Moulin even more flustered.


    "I-I... Um... I don''t... C-can''t... I can''t... " He stuttered. Hisshes lowered as he slightly turned his head away with a reddened face.


    In her mind, Lady Maxiel almost squealed out of delight. However, she had small doubts. As her face remained calm despite her chaotic mind, she revealed a pleasant smile to ease the difort of her son.


    "Is he good to you?"


    Moulin froze, "He?"


    "So it''s a maiden?" She tilted her head.


    "No!"


    "Oh, then is he good to you?" Maxiel pressed as she yed her son.


    "That..." Moulin blinked. "Y-yes..."


    Oh, how she adored Moulin''s confused expression. Lady Maxiel felt so Her son looked so innocent and pure it made her want to toy with him for a little bit. It has been so long since she had teased Moulin.


    "Is he good-looking?" Asked Lady Maxiel with a cheeky grin.


    Moulin lowered his head with red ears. He nodded. "Mn..."


    Somehow his heart lightened when he replied.


    "So it is the looks again? Tsk, you really have your father''s eyes. When he first met me, he could not even try to properly hide his stare" She smirked amusingly.


    Moulin furrowed his brows and he finally met his mother''s gaze with a defiant look. "He''s a good man too!"


    "Oh, is that so?" She raised an eyebrow at Moulin''s sudden defense. "Does he like you?"


    "... Yes." The youth replied before he could even think. He paused in realization after a few seconds.


    Lady Maxiel blinked. Truthfully, she wasn''t expecting Moulin''s confident reply. Before she could even stop herself, a burst ofughter escaped her mouth. She immediately raised her hand to her mouth as sheughed.


    Watching his mother''s reaction, Moulin felt relieved and embarrassed at the same time. "M-Mother!"


    When herughter died down, Lady Maxiel wiped the teary corners of her eyes with her finger. "Ah, I apologize. I could not contain my delight." She chuckled with trembling shoulders.


    It was evident that she was still trying to hold herughter. Moulin frowned unaware of the pout on his mouth. "It is noughing matter..."


    "Ah, of course, it is." She smirked at him. "My son finally found someone else to share his heart with. I thought you were still secretly pining over that rat of the rius Family. Thankfully, that isn''t the case." She sighed. " Although, I am confused as to why you would refuse to say his name. However, if even if he were a poor woodcutter, a in fisherman, even if he possessed the blood of a beast or an unknown schr... if he is a good man who makes you happy then I am d."


    Moulin paused with dazed eyes. He felt as though he was curled up in a warm nket in a house under the cold frigid snow. Warmth overflowed from his heart as he heard his mother''s words. His silver eyes glistened.


    Lady Maxiel pinched her son''s cheek and grinned. "I was unconscious for almost a month and I also haven''t seen you for a very long time. It depresses me that I have no clue about the happenings in your life during those months. How unfortunate of me."


    A smile broke into Moulin''s face. A chuckle finally escaped his lips as he gently caresses the bandages on his hands as though feeling his mother''s touch on them.


    "Did you miss me, Mother?" He asked.


    "How could I not? Although your brothers fussed about you every day, they didn''t even bother to spare their mother a bit of their time." She huffed. "I should have sent them away instead of you!"


    Moulinughed. His heart was at ease and delight filled his chest.


    As the soft light of the day stretched to touch the walls of the room, Moulin and his mother continued to talks and banter with warm smiles. Theyugh and they teased each other to their heart''s content.


    An hour before the afternoon bell would ring, Moulin reluctantly excused himself. He had some things to do before the afternoon would arrive.


    When his hand slowly reached the door handles of his mother''s room, he stopped when she suddenly called his name behind him.


    Lady Maxiel revealed a worried smile to her youngest son. The faint light from the windows framed her figure in a heavenly halo. Her voice, soft but louder than a whisper.


    "Moulin... make up with your second brother. I know you and him fought this morning. Emlen cares about you a lot as you do towards him..."


    ...


    Moulin went silent. The feeling of being confused and worried once again returned. With a sad smile, he nodded and then moved to exit the room.


    Haunted by silence, he walked within the hallways. The servants and pages came to greet him with a bow. He only gave a soft smile in return and turned away, unaware of the gazes of adoration he had earned from them.


    When he arrived in his room, he pushed the doors opened and silently entered. The pups and P weren''t inside the room. The serenity on his face fell and was reced with uneasiness and wariness.


    With soft unhurried steps, he walked towards the balcony and quickly breathed in the cool air while closing his eyes.


    "Haa..."


    Snowkes piled on top of the banister and it was evident that P had forgotten to sweep it off.


    ...


    Moulin sighed.


    He recalled Emlen''s words. It began to echo in his head endlessly. His brother''s gray eyes, filled with disbelief and rage. The way he spoke his words as though he was throwing knives.


    -Can you discard all of it for me and your family?


    -Turn your back on everything you have hidden toe back to us?


    -Is it that important? Did... Someone special offered this to you? Is that the reason why?


    Moulin''s fists gradually clenched tight. His eyes opened in realization.


    Emlen spoke as if he had learned about Moulin''s rtionship with Hadrian.


    It was just an assumption but it felt as though thunder had struck Moulin''s body. His heartbeat quickened and he gripped the snow-covered banister. His fingers dug into the snow until his nails pressed on the stone.


    ''Did he know? But how can he know? The only one who knew of about him and Hadrian was P...''


    ...


    P...


    Moulin held his breath. Did she...


    ...


    Thefortable silence suddenly felt dreadful to him.