1.6

The busy streets were full of people and a few stalls sold their wares here and there, with street vendors looking for a customer to buy their items.

Everything was seen from the first floor of a restaurant. The porch full of tables, was with customers sitting and talking to each other at a lively and loud pace.

Brandon looked down at the street as James finished the dessert he'd ordered so much and reminded his mother of. Claire smiled and took a bite of her strawberry cake too. The love for sweets was something shared between mother and son.

"Where do you guys want to go next? Somewhere in mind?" She asks, curious as to what they would say.

"I don't have any, ma'am." Brandon said simple.

"I don't know either, Mom." James said, taking a last bite of his dessert.

James saw that only crumbs were left on his plate, before he stood up and drew their attention to himself. With a little shame he spoke up.

"I, hm, go to the bathroom. Can we decide when I get back?"

"Of course, son."

She said, watching her son leave, but was a little disappointed in their response. Neither of them had any idea what they wanted to see, even though they lived here. Although Brandon mostly went out to buy books, not for walks, she hoped he wanted to at least go somewhere.

With a sigh, she focuses her gaze on Brandon who looks back down the street, his chin propped up in his hand. Her gaze was indifferent to what she saw, but she seemed to be thinking of something else.

And her keen eyes could see right through the facade he maintained.

"Brandon."

She called to him and he turned his eyes to her. James' same eyes met the green of the boy who was now a man, but she still saw him as the boy who came with his mother to work at the mansion.

The expression, without reaction, didn't hide his true face from her.

"Because you're sad?" she asked, analyzing his every reaction.

Countess Miller realized, for a moment, her eyes almost widened at the question that startled him.

"I'm not, ma'am."

But the answer that came was different, but not unexpected for her.

"It's no use lying, Brandon."

He didn't answer and was silent.

James appeared, a smile on his face, not noticing the slight tension taking place at the table there.

"Where are we going now?" He questions and the countess smiles at him.

"I was thinking about walking the streets, maybe we'll find something to do."

"Ok."

James nodded in agreement. Brandon doesn't answer, staying silent the entire time they leave, but the boy doesn't notice.

Just like in the morning, there were people coming and going along the road. The knights were behind the trio, while James was a little ahead and next to the countess was Brandon.

The redhead didn't know what to say after being questioned in such a way by the woman.

'Was I too obvious?'

Such a question crossed his mind, but he soon dismissed it. If it had been obvious, even the earl would have asked him or one of the servants.

The countess who was far too perceptive. A trait that James had acquired, so he could read it like her, just not as masterly.

However, he couldn't help but be anxious if she realized why. She was very smart and it wouldn't take long to connect the dots.

'Maybe she even knows.'

A shiver ran down his spine and his stomach went cold at the thought.

Mrs. Miller didn't ask him, interacting with James all the time and he answered her too, but not in the same way as before. She smiled softly at her excited son and enjoyed the ride itself.

"Mom, can I go over there and play?"

James stopped and pointed to a spot. It was a game tent, where he had to hit the target and win a prize. A simple but fun game for him.

It wasn't festival season, but it wasn't uncommon to find places like this on the streets. There were even a few more when you arrived at the square, as it was the ideal place with the highest concentration of people of all ages.

"Fine. But Carl will accompany you."

She nodded and an ordinary looking brown-haired, brown-eyed knight nodded and followed along with James. The boy was motivated to win an award and show off his skills.

Mrs. Miller watched him walk away before she smiled at Brandon and glared at him. He felt he knew what would happen by the look she gave him.

"Now that James isn't here, let's continue our conversation where we left off."

Her voice was friendly, but it had a serious air that showed she wasn't joking, although he had a little softness about it.

They both sat in an open area of ​​a nearby shop. It was a food store with an outside area with tables that stood next to the entrance. The location provided a direct view of where James was to confirm his presence and safety. There were also some customers, but they were few and not close, like the knights who also sat, but not so close.

It was enough to have a private conversation, without anyone listening if they talked at a certain point.

Quickly, a black-haired woman smiled and began to serve them, bringing the menu and writing down the drinks ordered, as none of them saw the need to eat due to the fact that they had just had lunch. Her clothes were commonplace and only an apron in front of her distinguished her as an employee rather than an ordinary person.

When she was done taking it, she quickly brought out the orders and placed them in front of the two of them with care and kindness. All the while, she couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong, because neither of them spoke or even reacted. It made her feel a little nervous, even though the woman had kind features and the man was a nonchalant one, but he seemed polite.

With a curt nod, the raven-haired woman walked away, heading to other tables, sighing in relief to get out of there. The countess noticed and laughed a little, to relax. Brandon looked at her nervously, a fear beginning to well up inside him, as to where this conversation might take.

"So why don't you tell me why you're sad?" The purple haired woman said. "And this time no lies, please."

"..."

He didn't say anything, just like the first time. Only with his eyes glazed over the orange drink in front of him. His mind went back to why he was upset. Brandon couldn't bring himself to tell her that, in fact, he couldn't, since it was a case that involved her son.

As much as he's known her for years, you never know when a simple fact, and something that he is, would change a person's behavior, or perhaps, better say, show her true colors.

The nobility, in particular, was very sensitive to such an occurrence, so much so that they almost condemned those who involved themselves as of the same sex. Most valued traditions, values, lineage and the like, and some thought they were superior in some ways and looked down on others for far less, making various excuses and blaming the other for being that way.

And if they were of different classes, with one party having less power, of unknown origins and therefore a commoner, it was obvious what would happen.

After all, what was not lacking in the world were prejudiced people.

However, as much as Brandon believed that Claire wasn't the way he was thinking, he couldn't speak. There was nothing guaranteed. His mind wandered to the negative side and he had a lot to lose; even Phillip too. The man could have betrayed him, but that didn't mean he deserved to go through hopeless hell just because he told his mother what happened.

The worst that could happen with just a few words from you would be his death and that of the other, because there was no way to protect yourself.

His eyes fluttered and showed the anxiety he was trying to hide.

'I can not.'

Brandon closed and pressed his hand to her knee, a signal to calm down and regain composure. He couldn't, not even for the woman in front of him, who practically treated him like a son. If she were his mother, it would be harder for him to imagine her reaction, whether she would hug him or condemn him, if she said she was proud or disgusted. The look of disappointment or an extremely negative reaction wouldn't be good, whichever it came.

If it wasn't easy to talk to a stranger, how difficult will it be for the people he truly cares about? How much courage should he muster to say? Could he?

And Brandon didn't even have one person who was supposed to be by his side, supporting him, when that moment came.

Claire watched him, seeing how he didn't say anything, even though he looked like he had something to say. His choice was decided when she managed to muster calm, but he didn't say anything. He wouldn't say, even to her. It was visible in her steady but rather dark eyes.

"It must be something serious not to want to tell me. Now I understand why James is not close to you, even though he knows you are sad." She said and smiled a little bitterly. "Do you want to know how I know? It was at tea yesterday, as soon as I saw him, I knew."

Her tone was soft and sweet, sounding affectionate to him. It made him feel a little bad, but it was something he had to do. Mrs Miller looked at James then, but the expression remained the same as she looked at Brandon.

"I had gone there because I saw James doing some tricks, you were smiling with your lips, but your eyes looked sad. I wanted to talk to you alone, but who knew he wanted to come? At least that earned him some new clothes, as social events will soon begin again."

She laughed and lifted her lips, smiling at the figure of her son throwing a dart at the dartboard, but missing the mark. She returned her gaze to the green eyes that were watching her intently.

"Since you were a kid and you were a little sad, it wasn't something you liked to show in front of others, even in front of your mother or me. She couldn't understand why, as Phillip demonstrated it. I think it was similar to Ferion, but he didn't hide it either, so I didn't know why."

She spoke, sipping some of the reddish drink she had ordered. Brandon understood everything she was saying, noting that yesterday he had done just that and other times before. And even at this moment.

"But I could tell and you would be happy again after a while. I would ask your mother what had happened and she would always answer me what it was about and say that she had talked to you. I don't know how, but she had the talent to erase that sad look on her face to make her smile again."

For the first time in the conversation, Miller's expression was not pleasant. It was as if a melancholy had taken hold of the atmosphere. Brandon felt it too, after all, he had the same expression as the countess. Memories she hadn't remembered before bloomed in her mind like a movie. The two shared the same feelings of longing and affection. Someone important to them in different ways.

The countess looked steadily into the boy's silent face, showing her seriousness. Yet he could feel warmth in that expression.

"I'm not your mother Brandon, I can never, never will, take her place. She was an amazing, great woman, I'll admit. She was a very good mother too, I loved her help with my kids. And for that, I am very grateful for her."

The greenish eyes and clear in the sunlight were trembling at the countess's words.

"But that doesn't mean I don't see him as one of my children, even without blood. That I don't take it into account. I want to see you happy, you know? Without that sad look, but with the same smiles you did when you were excited about something or when you were playing with James."

His voice, tone, expression and eyes were all sincere. And Brandon knew it, yet he only listened to her.

"What I mean is, I will support you and listen when you need it. Even if it takes a while, I'll be available when you want to talk about what ails you. I believe it would be the same as she would if she were here. You understand what I want to say?"

She asked, not taking her eyes off his face for a second. She tried as hard as she could to make him understand.

And, as if she had, he shook his head gently, to answer her question, allowing himself to breathe after holding it without even realizing it.

"Yes, ma'am."

"That's nice."

She heard him say, smiling a little at him. The child in front of her was a little shaken. But she said what she meant, for it was all true. She worried about him, and it was unusual for him to be sad, especially as he is, without even showing it.

"Mother!"

A voice shouted loudly and attracted their attention. James was running towards the outside area of ​​the store with something that looked like a fox in his orange arms. Carl came after him, following his steps. The man took his job seriously.

"Hey, darling. Got something?"

"Um, yes." He nodded, before turning his eyes to Brandon and handing the stuffed animal into his hands.

"Here, it's for you."

The redhead widened his eyes at the item in his hands after James handed it over by surprise. He didn't think he would give the plush to him.

"But it's yours. You won."

He pointed, looking between them both. James smiled at Brandon's line.

"I got something for myself."

James took something out of his pocket and showed it to Brandon and his mother. The object in question was a slingshot, an item he could easily obtain.

"A slingshot?"

"Yes! I liked it. And it was Carl who got the fox… I'm not that good at target shooting."

He commented a little depressed, expressed on his face with a bit of embarrassment. Brandon squeezes the plush a little and nods, adjusting the plush in his lap.

"Thanks, James." The boy smiles happily.

"Son." The countess calls out to him, drawing her brown eyes. "Is there something for the mother too?"

The boy stiffened and his eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't gotten anything for his mother, because the last few times he'd tried he'd gotten nothing and asking Carl wouldn't be funny.

"No… Sorry."

"It's all right." She wasn't offended and gave a soft smile. It was a face that would not match the next line. "My son only cares about Brandon."

"That's a lie!" James yelled loudly, denying her claim.

"Of course, of course." The countess waved her hands, as if her son's words were mere apologies.

"Mother!"

Brandon seeing that was a little embarrassed, he knew what the lady was doing, being a little dramatic and wanting to embarrass James, but he couldn't hide a slight trace of shame on his face because he was mentioned there.

Mrs Miller was enjoying herself and he could see by the slight lift of her lips that she was holding back when she saw the scene of her son trying to change her mind.

She always enjoyed playing with her children, sometimes embarrassing them or giving them a different idea when they were young, but this diminished as they grew older as they became more perceptive to her tactics. However, she has also improved her arsenal over the years.

"Let's go to other games! I'll get you something!"

James seeing that his mother didn't believe him, exclaimed loudly and excitedly. He was going to get her something she liked.

Mrs Miller smiled at him, at her slightly red image and purple hair bouncing with the agitation she felt.

"So you want to get me something?"

"Yes!"

"Not a bad idea, we have time." She said. "How are you, Brandon?"

"Yes."

"Ok, let's go."