Free Web NovelChapter 124: Chapter 124
Dio took his time returning to his mansion. He spent so long at Louis’ house that he had his own room there, although whenever he was over he always stayed in Louis’ room.
He had never seen Louis’ dad because his parents had separated just before he met Louis. Louis also had a younger sister that had died as a baby from a terminal illness, the separation happened because of this.
Louis and Gisèle didn’t talk about her or their estranged father and husband and Dio didn’t ask any questions, although he knew that they would certainly open up to him if he asked. It was the same way neither of them asked him the details of how he lived after his parents’ death.
They all already knew, and making the person they cared about relieve such a terrible time was no fun for anyone. It wasn’t that they were bottling up their pain but that they had already moved past it and were now in better places.
"You don’t have to come with me," Dio said, his voice filled with understanding. Gisèle had to work hard to bring up Louis and him all by herself, he didn’t like to trouble her.
Gisèle scoffed, "The store won’t go under just because I missed a day, my workers can handle it."
It had been a full month since they returned home for the holidays, and during that time Dio had been with the Duforts. Noticeably, his caretakers hadn’t come to try to make him return to the Agar Manor, they had gone suspiciously quiet as a matter of fact.
Dio would be turning eighteen in a few months so he would no longer need his caretakers but that would have been a different case if he were still mute. Then they could make arrangements so that they would remain in the capacity of his caretakers on the basis that he was unable to take care of himself.
Dio hadn’t cared before, the only reason he was alive was Louis so he made Louis the focal point of his existence. He was forced to change however when they got to college, it was easy to ignore the glaring fact that Louis had dedicated his whole life to taking care of Dio without grudges while they were in the safety of his mother’s little house.
But going to college had forced him to see what he had consciously turned a blind eye to, he hadn’t wanted to entirely lose Louis so he quickly made changes. He had to earn being by Louis’ side, and he would keep trying till he was on his deathbed.
It was quite early, they had already had breakfast that Gisèle insisted on cooking although Louis could easily handle their meals. She insisted on cooking for them every morning because she would be too busy at work for the rest of the day, it was the only meal she could prepare for them and she made the most of it.
Although Dio was always quick to offer his help when either mother or son was cooking, he was yet to make a single progress. Clearly, there was not a single cooking bone in his body. They went often down to the archery range in their neighborhood, only then could Dio shine some.
Unable to dissuade her, Dio got on the carriage that would be taking them to his manor, Louis and Gisèle getting on as well. The ride was lively but Dio and Gisèle were the ones doing most of the talking, Louis was too tense to hold a conversation.
Dio silently laced his fingers with Louis’s and squeezed to let him know that he would be fine. He wasn’t exactly sure what they would have to deal with when they got to the mansion that housed all his demons but he knew for certain that he would be fine because Louis returned his gesture and Gisèle touched their cheeks with a soft smile, it was enough of a reassurance.
The large gates were surprisingly wide open when they rode up, making Dio sit up in consternation. The Duforts’ personal driver Leland didn’t slow down although there was clearly no one manning the gates, he drove the horse down the long cobbled walkway, not stopping till they got to the front of the sprawling mansion.
The doors of the mansion were also flung open, making Dio jump out his side of the carriage as soon as Leland halted the carriage.
Louis was hot on his tail, Gisèle being gently helped down by Leland behind them.
"Dio, Is something wrong?" He asked nervously, hurrying up to meet him.
Dio took Louis’ hand again, uncaring that they were in full sight of everyone, "I’m not sure." He said slowly, hesitantly walking through the open doors.
The foyer was just as deserted, it was jarring to Dio because his caretakers had always been particular about how things should be done at the mansion like they were the heirs and not him.
A big-boned cook came hurrying down the main stairs, a rolling pin held tight in her hands. She was fully dressed in a white chef’s uniform, a matching apron, and a cap.
"Master Dio! What a relief to see you." She breathlessly said, not slowing down even a little bit. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
"Colette? What’s going on?" Dio asked, slowing down to a stop at the sight of her.
Cook Colette stopped so abruptly that she nearly tripped on her own feet and came tumbling the rest of the way down, "Master Dio?" She called in a half whisper, her face going pale. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Gisèle showed up at this moment, "Dio? Louis? Colette? What’s happening?"
Colette seemed to recover at the sight of Gisèle, she quickly made her way down the rest of the steps, still clutching her rolling pin protectively. "Georges, Lucia, and Olivier tried making away at dawn with all of the gold in the treasure vault. Luckily, Anastasia caught them in time, and the hired hands immediately attacked."
"It was a morbid affair but we eventually managed to get back the gold, I sent off the hired hands with Anastasia to get the constable while I remained behind. I feared that it was them returning to try again and that was why I was in such a hurry." She managed to say her story although she was panting and could barely get a breath in.
