(Secret) Arc:
Ch. 3: Puer Unus
~Those you expect~
In a Manor
Alfred had seen many things during his service as butler to his old friend and employer, Jacques, but when he was called to "pick something up". He wasn't expecting to find a child awaiting him on the front patio.
This however didn't mean he lacked experience with children, he had personally raised one in this household and was busy with overseeing the care of another. Alfred took a moment to sort out the intentions of Jacques. Since he had asked for room R-four that would mean he intended to let the child stay here for the time being.
With a practiced motion he picked up the child without waking it up and folded the white cloak over his left arm.
He then began to make his way toward Room R-four, which required him to go up the stairs on his right upon entering through the door, past several paintings.
The trip was quiet given that most of the staff was either in the kitchen downstairs or in the conference room which he just passed. Alfred rounded a left corner and spotted some rooms.
One was behind him .The others were down the hallway, mirroring each other before taking another turn to the left. Taking the few steps toward residence four he turned left and opened the door.
Inside was a queen size bed with some of the usual accommodations you could expect. Dressers were to his left with the beds headrest against the wall on his right. The wood table was on the far side of the bed facing the right wall with a leather chair tucked under .Finishing the room were 2 sets of windows which white curtains concealed.
Alfred nodded after having confirmed everything was where it should be,then he frowned. He needed to childproof the room later.
"First let's take care of you"
Looking at the still sleeping child. He walked to the opposite side of the room and set the child and cloak down on the table. He then proceeded to fold the three sheets on this bed down.
Once everything was prepared he picked up the child and put them to bed. While he knew he should remove the blanket, he also knew that would likely result in rousing the one wrapped in it. A few things needed to be prepared before that occurred.
Confirming once more that everything was set up correctly.
He exited the room and made his preparations. At this point the scroll in his left breast pocket buzzed. Pulling it out he discovered that Jac had messaged "this isn't temporary"
"Cryptic as always"
Alfred smiled. He knew that if his old friend has messaged him about this during the meeting it meant he was worried. He would need to make some more permanent accommodations then.
There was food, lessons, and…
"oh dear, I believe we don't have anything that will fit."
Frowning he pulled out a pocket watch and checked how much time he had before he believed the child would awaken.
"Thirty seven minutes, plenty of time".
Alfred pulled out his scroll and punched in the numbers for the store he frequented when buying for the children.
"Hello Alfred, need something for the young miss? She destroy another set of clothes?"
"Ah no. We passed that stage a while ago. I need to make an order for a young, ah hold on"
Alfred realized his blunder and walked back to the room and walked back in to find the still sleeping child. Raising his hand a white light emanated from it before dimming.
"Al?"
"Nothing to worry about Fredrick. I need clothes for a young boy, for reference he's about the same dimensions as the young miss, I will go with the usual three styles, in the usual pairing."
"Anything else?"
"I need it delivered in under thirty minutes"
"You don't say Alfy?!"
Alfred smiles a little bit at the younger man's enthusiasm.
"You can make it I presume?"
"But of course, just let me off the line, got a record to set!"
Alfred ended the call, Fredrick seemed to be having a good day.
"I should drop by sometime"
Looking over at the child he noted an idea to suggest to Jac.
"So thirty minutes eh?"
Alfred made his way down the stairs and made his way past the foyer. He then went deeper into the manor and prepared to make a right turn, but stopped.
He gazed over at a portrait of a young woman with white hair that hanged over the hearth.
"Good day, Madam"
He bowed slightly and continued to the kitchen. Once at the door he knocked on the door three times, he could tell the kitchen was busy due to the sounds emanating from it.
The time was nearing the break for lunch that would occur for the conference meeting. They had been at it for five hours now if you didn't include the break they had.
While he was certain Jac could go for another three hours without food. Alfred knew the others weren't quiet as durable, especially . That man's temperament completely changed once he got Kitchen staff should have that under control as they were prepared now.
The door opened to reveal a large older woman with short black hair in a traditional chef's attire.
"Al?"
The woman stared at Alfred inquisitively, probably as he normally didn't disturb them during the conference meetings.
"Hellen I need you to make me a creamed potato. "
The woman folds her arms while taping the air with her steel ladle.
"Al, I keep telling you to call them mashed potatoes"
"I'll take that as a "right away sir"?
Hellen sighs lightly while rolling her eyes, then casting a look at Alfred.
"Yes, is the young miss sick?"
"If you mean sick of being cooped up then yes"
"You really need to let the girl out" Hellen said somewhat protectively.
Alfred frowned for a moment and rubbed his chin thinking about something that had crossed his mind earlier. "There might be an opportunity in the near future that I can use to convince Jacques."
The large woman actually stopped lightly swinging the ladle and looked at him seriously.
"I'll hold you to that, I'm serious, that girl needs to go out. It's been months since she did something that wasn't planned."
This time it was Alfred's turn to look seriously at Hellen. "Hellen, we both know how that man is about his daughter. Trust me I can make it work. Now I think that's enough. I need the creamed potato outside room R-four along with a glass of milk. "
The cook lightly growled out "Mashed potatoes, I'll have them there in Five minutes" and walked back inside the still lively kitchen.
Alfred had a neutral expression on his face, but he was happy having the woman around as it kept him from being too professional.
He made his way past the hearth, stopping to think about how the woman on the wall did the same for Alex at one point. Sighing, Alfred made his way up the stairs and winded his way back to the residence hall and continued down the hallway to Room R-four.
He continued past the rooms and went to the end of the hallway. A corner turned left to reveal more doors, but his objective was behind the door in front of him.
Alfred stopped in front of the door and reached into his right coat pocket and retrieved a key ring from it. He gripped it with his left hand such that all the keys were in his palm, with his thumb hooking over the key ring, He began to flip them over his hand with a practiced motion, using his right hand to flip the keys to the back of his left.
Alfred found the key he was looking for and inserted it into the doorknob. With a twist he unlocked the door and deposited the key ring back into his coat front was a walking closet full of old items that he had taken the time to organize for the Madam.
They were originally meant to raise the young girls, but Alex didn't want to look at them anymore given his wife's... state. To avoid them being thrown out, Alfred stored them in here.
"Let's see I need..."
Alfred walked into the room and after about five minutes walked out with a rather large white and blue bib with an apple design. The words "I'm a princess" were sewn into was also carrying a blue gown for children.
Alfred made his way back to the across the hallway and came across a food trolley with a plate of creamed potatoes,a glass of milk, and some coffee. Alfed nodded with satisfaction at Hellen's efficiency and courtesy. He then set down the Bib on the tray that the plate rested on. Next Alfred opened the door to see that the child was still sleeping. He quietly pushed the trolley into the room and after taking a left turn with it he left it near the end of the bed.
Rustle
Alfred turned to look at the bed to see a wide eyed child with golden eyes staring at him and… crying? This puzzled Alfred, but he straightened his back and walked over to the child.
Childs POV-
I don't know how long I have been asleep since drowning. I've been in a white void for a while now, but can't really say how long. It was really warm, I almost didn't want to wake up were it not for the smell of something nice suddenly rousing me.
I woke up and saw that the world was white? No that's a blanket on my face. I moved it out of my way to see where I was.
Rustle
I was in a room of some kind, it felt familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on why.
I ignored inspecting the room to find the source of the smell, which was something new to me. I found the source of it, but something immediately shifted my priorities. It was a person…. and he was now staring at me. It was an older man wearing something black and white. He had a patch of greenery above his mouth, some wrinkles, and some white greenery on his head. Wait that's the wrong word…. was it hair?
Glad at the new revelation I almost missed what the man said to me.
"Hello young lad"
I stared at him to see a pair of red… eyes staring at me gently. He pulled something white from his shirt and wiped at my eyes.
!
Ah the liquid was coming out of my eyes.
"I don't know why your crying child, but I can assure you you're in one of the safest places in Remnant, there's nothing to fear here."
I nod at the man and stare at him expectantly. He gives off this calming vibe that makes me believe what he's saying.
"Alright now I think before we get to know each other a little better here, you probably should have something to eat."
Eat?
I cock my head to the side staring at the man questioningly. The man returns an amused look and walks over to the end of the bed to pick up the source of the nice smelling thing and sets it down in front of me.
Alfreds pov-
I set down the tray on the bed. "Wait one moment" The child nods to me again and keeps his hands in his lap. Good boy, seems patient despite being hungry. I pull off the bib from the trolley.
"Lean forward please" The child leans his head in my direction and I quickly secure the bib to the child.
"Thank you"
The child smiles happily at me. I re position the tray of food onto the child's lap.
"Take your time eating"
The child looks at the food and gives me that stare again. Could he not know how to use a utensil?
"I'll demonstrate what you're supposed to do" I pick up the spoon.
"you hold it like this". Alfred takes a small scoop of the creamed potatoes.
"and do this" I look at the child who nods understandingly.
"You then do this" I bring the spoon to his mouth.
"open your mouth" The child reacts as instructed and I place the contents in his mouth. I used my left hand to close his mouth and pull the spoon away and set it down on the plate.
"That's all there is to it" I stare at the child to find him in a state of shock?
I raise an eyebrow at him. Ah he started crying again. I wipe away his tears again with the handkerchief.
"Are you alright young man?" The boy notices my presence again and nods vigorously, but is now eyeing the plate differently from before, replacing a curious look with one of wonder?
"Do as I demonstrated" the boy reaches for the spoon and takes a scoop similar to the one I took.
He then holds it out toward me? I smile at him
"thank you, but you're supposed to eat the food. I already have something"
Alfred walks over to the trolley and picks up the cup of coffee. He then rounds the bed and approaches the table, after pulling out the chair he sits in it and begins to enjoy the coffee Hellen prepared him.
Alfred looks up to the child who's now eating the food as instructed, but is clearly struggling from eating faster. Good he also has restraint and follows instruction, should make things easier.
I take my coffee and watch the blissful child with a small smile on my face.
Childs Pov-
My mind stopped thinking for a little bit when he put the "food" in my mouth.
It wasn't that I became unable to think, but I became preoccupied processing all that was occurring in my mouth.
I had reflexively swallowed it after savoring the sensation. I was now "eating" as quickly as I could, mimicking what the man had done, but was taking the time to savor it.
I occasionally took a questioning look at the man, who was keeping his eyes on me while bringing something that smelled differently from my own food to his mouth and inhaling it?
I stared at him inquisitively. He responded by smiling by saying "I don't think coffee would be a good idea for you just yet, try the milk you have"
he nodded to "milk" that sat on my tray.
Ok then, let's try that. I put down my spoon and reached for the milk with both hands and remembered how he inhaled it. I brought it to my mouth and did the same.
"Cough"
I gagged slightly and then stopped for a moment.
"Take it slower child, the milk isn't going anywhere, just swallow, no need to inhale the milk"
I take a sip of the milk this time and realize how soothing the sensation is, different from the potatoes, but no less pleasant. I set down the milk and look back to my potatoes. I took a slightly larger serving of the creamed potatoes and after I put it in my mouth I realized my mouth was hot!
I started bouncing with an expression that hopefully read "help!" to the man. Thankfully he understood.
"Drink the milk again"
Was he smiling slightly? Must be my imagination. I ignored that thought as there was a far more pressing issue in my mouth.
I reached for the milk and took a larger sip this time. That did the trick. My mouth was no longer burning. I looked at the man thankfully and bowed slightly.
"your welcome"
Buzz
?
The man reached for something and pulled out a thin rectangle.
"yes?"
The block made a series of sounds
"Ah I see, I'll head down immediately"
The man stood up and looked at me
"Finish your food and wait here, don't leave the room, or the bed, am I understood?"
I salute the man and he smiles.
"Good. Now enjoy your meal."
Alfreds Pov-
Alfred left the child to finish his meal. There were some worrying things he had observed about the child, but fundamentally the boy was a good and thankfully obedient child.
That would make things easier when convincing Jacques of the plan he had in mind.
Before heading down he took off his left glove and tapped the floor with his hand, then put the glove back on.
Alfred made his way down to the front patio and opened the white door to reveal a familiar young man sporting a red cap and shirt. A white T-shirt is underneath it and blue jeans with white sneakers.
The man was holding on to a cardboard box while looking at the sky.
"Twenty one minutes, I think that's my fastest yet, Oh hey Alfy"
Fredrick meets Alfred's gaze.
"You can set it down Fredrick"
The younger man sighs and then grins as he sets the box on the ground. He then wipes off a bead of sweat on his face with his right arm and looks over at Alfred.
"So who's the new kid?"
"A guest"
Fredrick's grin widens. "You don't say? So is this "guest" going to be staying awhile?"
Alfred nods in response." There is a good chance of that being the situation, thus I would like to plan long term. I will be needing other orders later, but those will require more preparation"
Fredrick nods knowingly. "So definitely staying awhile, very well I can make those preparations, I'll just need the sizes sometime. That way I can get it just right." Fredrick pops out a small canteen and drinks from it. "One thing in life you can never go wrong with Alfy is water, keeps everything running the way it was meant to. I hope the boy can do the same for the young miss, she's… lacking in the friends department, part of the family job description I know, but seriously."
"Relax Fredrick, I have some plans in mind, and I may be dropping by with the kids."
"Great!" Fredrick suddenly looks back from the canteen to Alfred with a serious expression that breaks into a smile.
"I'll make preparations, just give me a one hour heads up."
Alfred pulls out his scroll and types in a few commands, then Fredrick's pocket buzzes. He ignores it.
"I take it that's my ticket to leave, take care Alfy! The man waves and begins to jog over to town. Alfred looks down at the box and taps it with his left hand. The box then vanishes in a flash of light.
He then watches a red ball cap vanish over the horizon. Alfred then makes his way inside and up the staircase to where the boy is. He get to the door to find the cardboard box right where he was expecting it.
"Alright time to get you sorted proper"
A/N
Ello all! Had a good week jamming out future ideas, hope everyone is doing well! I leave you with a cliffhanger of sorts. Look forward to part two!
-Merra
