(Not so Secret?) Arc:

Ch. 4: Puer duo

-Oh then how about we grant yours?-

In a manor

Alfreds Pov-

Alfred made his way back into the room to find everything where is should be. The boy was still sitting on the bed had finished his food. He was looking around the room, but once the door opened he directed his golden eyes to Alfred. "It seems you enjoyed the meal" The young lad nodded his head vigorously. Alfred walked up to the child and inspected him. "You did well, but you missed a few things" He then points to the bib. The child follows the gaze to discover that a small amount of creamed potatoes were on it.

A conflicted expression adorns his face. "Just lean forward" Alfred reaches out and unties the bib from the boy's neck. He then places it on the tray and makes sure to grab both ends such to avoid dropping the food it holds. The butler then takes a moment to deposit it on the trolley.

"Alright then which shall we do first, have our talk or get you dressed?" The boy inspects themselves by lifting the sheets and then puts his hand to his mouth contemplating, eventually he lifts two fingers.

Alfred nods "alright then, you may get out of the bed."

The child carefully folds the sheet away to their right. He then swings his legs to the left and lightly hops out of bed. The butler inspects the boy to find that he is wearing a terribly damaged and stained set of clothing, what was once a nice white cashmere turtleneck and black silk trousers.

…

Alfred gave an appraising look at the clothing.

"Perhaps I can have Fredrick repair those" The boy nods sheepishly while scratching the back of their head.

At some point Alfred had pulled out a small book and was writing in it.

"Take off the clothing and put it on the bed, after that I'll hand you something to try on."

Alfred made a move on the box and began to unload its contents, which consisted of white silk pajamas, a formal attire consisting of a white morning coat, grey vest, a dark blue tie, white trousers and wing collar dress shirt. Completing the current wardrobe for the boy was a crisp white polo, khakis, grey wool socks, and black topsiders. The Undergarments were set off to the side.

Choosing the third set for the boy, Alfred removed it from the box. He then placed it on the bed and glanced at the boy who had now removed his old articles. The copper headed youth had just finished taking off a black turtleneck undershirt and underpants.

The boy appeared perfectly healthy at a quick glance and… almost radiant? Alfred noted a thin scar along the boys left rib cage about two inches long. The butler made a few more notes in the book and placed it in a pocket on the inside of his coat.

When he looked up the child had silently moved up to him and was staring up at him with an expectant look. Alfred pointed to the clothes he had set down.

"That is what you will wear for now, you have a formal attire and something to sleep in as well, but those are in the box. I expect you to sort them into the dressers behind me."

The golden eyes shifted from Alfred, to the box, then the clothes on the bed. The boy gave a thumbs up and began to put the clothes on.

While he's doing that I need to go grab one more thing. "lad, I'm running a quick errand to grab something, don't leave the room." The boy was currently putting on the white polo. He had his left arm through the shirt and was still getting the rest on, but gave a thumbs up.

Alfred exited the room and made a left turn, making his way to the walk in closet from before "thankfully the miss was prepared for most things that would happen to her children, I'd rather avoid heading down to Dr. Aquarius's office for now." Alfred once more ventured into the room and shortly thereafter, came out with a small red plastic box with a white cross on it.

The butler carried the box by a handle and stopped right in front of Room R-Four.

Bzzzt

Alfred pulled out his scroll to find that Jacques had messaged him. "We are breaking for lunch. The schedule changes are finished, the heiress position has been transferred, and I've included the document for it. You and I will meet once the conference is over to discuss the child, but for now their existence must remain secret to the rest of the board."

The graying eyebrow rose toward the Caesar cut that was on the butlers head.

"Understood"

Alfred sent his reply and looked at the boy who was already sorting the clothes into the dressers. Alfred nodded with approval and looked back to his scroll. He opened the document that Jacques had sent and he briefly scanned it. Most of it he was familiar with as he had taught the now previous heiress it. Alfred knew the young miss wasn't going to be happy hearing about the fight between her sister and father.

Perhaps a preemptive strike is in order. I will need to get the children to meet before her mood inevitably sours, it might act as a buffer. The young miss should be doing her assignments on Mathematics and World history right now, thirty minutes from now she has singing class and then dance lessons, after that there's review for her assignments and then will be issued an assignment for business strategy.

Well that's the first half of the afternoon schedule. I'll see if I can fit something in. First I need to talk to the boy though and see what he knows.

Alfred enters the room and finds the boy. The white polo fits him almost perfectly. The child had loosely tucked the polo into his khakis and was wearing his grey wool socks and black topsiders. He was now staring at a picture of the family emblem.

"Child"

The boy looks over towards Alfred ,Gold eyes meeting red.

"We need to talk about a few things now, take a seat over there."

Alfred points to the side of the bed facing the table and chair. The child somewhat hesitantly moves over to the spot designated and sits there, displaying the first sign of discomfort since arriving here.

Just like I thought…

Alfred moves over to sit across from the boy in the leather chair.

"Alright then I'll start things off, I'm Alfred Clutch, you may refer to me as Mr. Clutch."

The boy extends his hand where normally a Hello Mr. Clutch would do, confirming Alfreds suspicions.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you unable to speak?" The boy visibly stiffens, with a trace of fear in his eyes. The butler smiles softly.

"Relax it's just a question, I need to know so I can help you to the best of my ability" The child nods very slowly.

"Alright well then let's work out what you can do." Can you write?" the boy nods "Can you demonstrate for me?" The boy looks around for something.

"Here" Alfred hands the child the book he was using and a pen. "Write your name and age here"

The boy presses the end of the pen with his thumb and writes down the requested information. He finishes and, after pressing his thumb on the end of the pen again, hands both of the items back to the butler who inspects them.

The writing is very nice and clean, but a problem immediately presents itself to Alfred. He didn't know the writing system the boy used.

"This is English?" The boy nods questioningly. Alfred continues reading and finds the number nine next to some of the symbols.

"So your nine years old?" The boy gives a thumbs up and grins a little.

"Ok we have a slight problem, but it's nothing we can't handle" A worried expression plasters itself across the face of the still unnamed boy.

"Your writing system, while it uses the same spoken language, is written differently." The worried expression turns to one of horror on the child, but he calms himself down as he waits for the butler to finish.

"Do you know mathematics?" The boy nods "good, then we have something to work with, I'll arrange for you to be taught how to write using our system, additionally you will be taught sign language. Now I need you to extend your hand towards me."

The boy complies "now I'm going to take a small blood sample alright?" The boy briefly hesitates, but then nods.

"Good lad"

Alfred sets down the red box on his lap and releases a clasp that is facing him, after that he opens it to reveal some adhesive wraps, bandages, a small pair of rods for stints, rubbing alcohol, disinfectant, cotton balls, and a syringe.

All of these items are placed in separate bags that are sealed

"Seems that someone was keeping this med-kit stocked, I will need to thank the doctor later". The boy eyes everything in the box, but seems to relax when he sees the contents.

This child….

Alfred removes the rubbing alcohol, disinfectant, two cotton balls, a bandage and a syringe from their bags.

"I'm going to take a small blood sample alright? "The boy nods and presents his right arm palm up.

Alfred then after taking the lid off the brown container for the alcohol and pours a small amount onto the cotton ball, making it damp. He then reseals the alcohol and puts it back in the bag, closing it securely. The butler then rubs it on a vein on the boys arm, he then sets the cotton ball aside and checks to confirm that the needle is clean and not requiring the disinfectant. He prepares to insert the needle, but looks up at the boy. "

You may close your eyes if you wish" The boy shakes their head and takes a deep breath, visibly relaxing their body and looks up at the roof. Alfred quickly, but with a practiced hand inserts the needle and draws the blood. The butler then removes the needle, and stores the syringe in the med-kit, he then applies a bandage to the vein that is bleeding slightly. The boy to his credit, didn't flinch.

"Good work lad that made it easier for me." The boy who was looking at their arm, looks back to Alfred and gives a salute with it, noticeably stiffening at the slight amount of pain that would linger for a while.

"Take it easy now I'm going to ask few a yes or no questions to confirm a few things, then we will get started. Ready?" The boy, focusing on Alfred, nods slowly. "OK, do you know who your family is?"

The boy nods, but then a puzzled expression crosses his face, the boy starts looking to the sky as if it will help them answer the question, when he looks back at Afred, tears were running down the child's face. Alfred has alarms going off in his head as he's realizing he made a rare and terrible mistake by leading with that question. Alfred stands up moves to retrieve the white robe.

"Whoever was taking care of you, cared about you, they did their research and left you with the Schnee family, we will be taking care of you for the time being, so have faith in their decision." The boy nods, but is still crying.

"This cloak, your old clothes and that blanket over there are among the few things you have from them, so take care of them ok?" The child nods a bit more vigorously this time. Alfred sighs with relief.

Good, it's a pity the child can't speak, but it kept the board from hearing about him right then. He should also now have something to work towards. "Young man, for the time being focus on learning to write and sign, aside from that you are free to do as you please around the house, but you may not leave it, and if instructed to stay out of a place you must follow instruction. Do I make myself clear?"

The copper headed youth stands up and hugs Alfred. Alfred raised an eyebrow, wondering what it was that he said that got that reaction out of the child. Sighing mentally, he places his hands on the shoulders of the boy and begins tapping the right shoulder.

"I need you to stay in this room for the time being, we have guests and it would be problematic for us if they found out about you. I will be heading out to find a few things, also in the near future I will introduce you to a potential friend, so be on your best behavior."

The boy had a shocked expression that the young miss would make if she was told she had free time if she passed the requirements for her assignments. So he might have been growing up in a similar environment to the young miss, or at least was isolated, possibly due to the inability to speak. Alfred walks to the door and opens it to leave. He makes his way down to the conference room and knocks on the door lightly. "Enter!" Alfred walks in to find the board finishing their lunch break.

"Why hello." A voice sings out. "Evening Ms. Jude" A green eyed woman with a calculating look naturally found on the board members softens at the sight of Alfred. "Al, I hope Jacques hasn't been working you to the bone?" Jacques throws a mock offended look at Ms. Jude. "Well excuse me if he's always the best man for the job, do you want me to tell him to be half the man he is?"

Alfred lightly coughs and puts his right hand up to his mouth. "I'm fine with my current workload madam." "So what brings you out here Alfred?" The butler turns his attention to the oldest man in the room, Director Baud. "I'm here to check that the staff is doing their job correctly, I hope the services they have provided are adequate?"

"Quite, you trained them well." "I had a good teacher" Mr. Peat spoke up. "As much as I love the atmosphere we are setting up right now, I believe we are due to get back on with the meeting." Everyone gave a harsh glance towards the speaker.

"What?! It had to be said. We are already ten minutes behind schedule, and I have my daughter's wedding to attend. "

Jacques raised an eyebrow at this. "I thought I stated that everyone should clear their schedules for the conference?"

Mr. Peat throws his hands in the air "I did, but then my daughter up and surprised her family by declaring she's going to marry her boyfriend one week ago! I can't dissuade her into changing the timing for it, and if I'm not there to walk her down the aisle, my wife will kill me!

The room gets noticeably colder as the board is well aware of the one thing that can calm and scare a raging Mr. Peat, his wife. "Director Peat, I believe that would fall under a contingency you didn't account for. Your daughter has been dating that man for several years."

Mr. Peat looks at Jacques. "It's my job to know these things about my staff. When is the wedding?"

Director Peat deflates. "Seven PM Jacques."

Jacques contemplates the situation for a moment and speaks up" Well isn't it just a simple matter of rotating to your presentation? Keep in mind that your opinion on the other presentations will be absent, but those you have attended will be noted. Go prepare your presentation. You have ten minutes." "Yes sir!" Mr. Peat stands up and walks out of the conference room. The atmosphere which had at some point gotten chilly warms up at this point.

"Well handled sir" "please, a child could see the solution to that one. Why he didn't is beyond me. "Director Baud looked over to Jacques. "Jacques, it was likely that he was worrying about his furious wife. A woman can change a man, no offense Julie"

"None taken, however I'd like to add that any human being can change another. Just like you changed Alfred, and as he changed me." A cheery atmosphere that rarely appeared in the board meetings surfaced, likely due to the current board members who rarely met these days.

Alfred's merry smile turned into a serious look that rarely made an appearance. "Sir, we need to talk, now."

Jacques raised an eyebrow, but it then settled as he stood up. "Tell Director Peat he has an additional ten minutes. I trust this won't be an issue?"

Everyone else in the room nodded "We will be fine here, go talk with Al Jacques." Jacques gave a curt nod, but was obviously grateful in the eyes of the board members. Alfred walked over to the door and opened it, after Jacques passed through he followed and began making his way down the hallway alongside his friend towards the residence rooms.

"Is this about the child?" "Yes sir" "what can you tell me?" "Firstly it's a boy sir" Jacques stopped. "Really now? I thought we were dealing with another girl given the skin and face." "Yes I will admit the boy is radiant, but that isn't the primary issue, I believe the child is mute."

"Were there any physical indicators?" "Negative, there is no scar tissue that would indicate damages that would render the child mute. I believe that the child is naturally mute, or was rendered mute at a very young age. "Speaking of which, what is your estimate of the chi-boys age?"

"Nine years old, additionally I discovered that while the child can understand me and dictate numbers, they are unable to read and write using our writing system." "How so?" "Sir the child can write well, but he's using a different writing system for English, one that I am unfamiliar with. Additionally I believe that his mute condition has made him very afraid of isolation, something that so long as we extend a hand, will bind him to us."

"This isn't why you called me out though is it? You could have waited until the conference was over." "Correct Jacques, I believe that the current board, minus Mr. Peat, should know about him." Jacques narrows his eyes and then gives Alfred a critical look.

"I believe I specifically stated that nobody should know about the child. "That you did, however, I also believe that we are no longer in your fathers days. Jacques noticeably stiffens at the mention of his father.

"I would also like to think that and will be receptive to training him. Ah I almost forgot, I took a blood sample of the child, since hopefully this would enlighten us about who he is. I will require the cooperation of Dr. Aquarius."

"That can be arranged, but I fail to see how this relates to the board?" "Sir I have a hunch that the child will be undocumented" Jacquesanders eyes widen. "Sir do you see the potential of a man who doesn't exist?" "I…..might" Alfred knew that he had his old friends consent at this point, pity it took the business route to convince him and not the benefits to the child, his wife would have approved, but bringing that up would be akin to Alfred shooting himself in the foot. It would only worsen things.

"I can arrange for him to meet the board once has left, I will test him before hand by letting him grade the young miss's math assignments." And by extension get the boy to meet her before she hears about the transfer.

"Alright, but this is your pet project, I won't have much time to be with the boy except when I would be in the company of my daughter. "Sir you might have time for a game of chess" Jacques slowly threw up their hands in the air.

"Fine Alfred, so did you like leading me around by the nose?" "This time yes" "That was well done" "Well I've lived with a man who has been doing that most of the time, I'd say the skills were taught by demonstration." "That so?" "Yes sir" alright I'll make my way back to the board meeting, I imagine Mr. Peat is in quite the hurry to get back home." "Go easy on him sir, His wife actually does put a pretty tight leash on him" "Well it keeps him punctual, most of the time. Now go prepare the boy" "of course sir." Alfred does a slight bow, folding his right arm and placing the hand on his chest." Good luck sir" "Don't believe in it, don't need it, but thanks" Both men make their separate way down the hallway.

A/N

Ello all! I know it been awhile since I updated, but I've been dealing with a stomach virus, not the best set of days I've had, still getting better. I'm bedridden at this time, so once I could muster enough energy I got to work on chapter four! Hope you enjoyed the big reveal, now I imagine some of you already put it together, and for those people, you get a strawberry cookie, everyone else gets regular. Now hide it from Ruby!

P.S. You might have trouble holding out against her puppy dog eyes. Find out why next chapter!

Till next time!

-Merra