Rene woke up to the sound of three knocks.
"Come in." he muttered before yawning.
The door creaked open. Silvia stepped inside, hands behind her back, tail swaying lightly.
"Wakey wakey. Sorry for waking you up so early. I just wanted to talk to you before I head to the kitchen."
"About what?"
"Oh, just anything." she said as she sat down beside him. "How long have you been here?"
"Five years."
"I see." she said. "Want to go for a walk with me before breakfast? I'll carry you."
"Carry?"
"Yup. Let's see if you're as light as you look."
He shrugged. "Sure."
Without hesitation, she scooped him into her arms. He didn't resist, arms loosely around her neck. She stepped into the hallway, the light spilling onto the polished floors.
"Anyone else live here besides Mari, Lord Thorne, Valerie, and you?" Silvia asked while adjusting her grip on him.
"There's another maid named Reina but that's it."
"Hm. Quiet place." she said, gazing at the tall ceilings. "Like a castle with no kingdom."
"Lord Thorne doesn't like having to worry about too many people."
As they turned down the eastern corridor, she slowed. A row of tall windows stretched along one side, casting faint reflections of the two of them in the glass.
"I used to live in a small village." Silvia said. "Everyone there knew each other. You couldn't hide anything. Sometimes I think that's worse than silence."
Rene didn't respond at first. His eyes stayed on the light slanting across the hall.
"What was it like?" he finally asked.
"Messy. Loud. Warm. People always talking over each other. Burning stew. Cats everywhere." She laughed quietly. "I liked it. I think."
"You think?"
Her smile thinned. "It's hard to remember now."
Silvia stopped walking. For a moment neither of them spoke.
"Do you ever want to leave? This place, I mean."
Rene blinked. "I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I haven't thought about it."
"Hm." She tilted her head. "That's not the same as saying no."
He didn't answer.
Silvia turned, continuing down the hallway at a slower pace. They passed a sealed door on their left. She didn't glance at it, but her tail twitched once—tightly—before stilling again.
"Strange house." she murmured.
Rene gave a small nod.
"Do you like it here?"
He hesitated.
"…It's quiet." he said.
She smiled faintly. "Quiet isn't always peace."
They turned the next corner—and nearly collided with Mari.
She stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the wall, one brow raised. Her eyes moved from Silvia to Rene and back again.
"You're carrying him around now?" Mari asked.
"He said I could."
"You shouldn't let people carry you around like a doll, Rene."
Rene opened his mouth to reply, but Silvia set him down gently on the carpeted floor.
"There." she said. "All yours."
Mari didn't move. Silvia gave her a small, practiced smile. "I'm off to the kitchen anyway."
And with that, she slipped past them, tail flicking once as she vanished down the corridor.
"You hungry?" she asked.
"…Yeah."
"Then come on."
Days passed. Silvia had adjusted to the environment soon enough. Rene could feel a great bond forming with her. She was so caring towards him, always spending her free time with him, making sure everything was perfect for him. Everything was well.
On one morning, she gently sat down at the side of his bed.
"Good morning, Rene. Lord Thorne gave me permission to bring you with me to buy some bread and such. Would you like to come?" She spoke gently.
"Oh, I'd love to!" He said, face lighting up with amusement.
"Very well. Don't let go of my hand once we get outside, okay?"
He nodded. Rene didn't go out much, as Lord Thorne had always been overprotective of him, so this was very exciting to him.
As promised, he gripped her hand as if he would die if he let go. The two walked through the busy streets of the nearby town.
"Wow! This is so amazing!" Rene's face lit up.
"Isn't it? Maybe you should run off with me. You would prefer to be alongside me, wouldn't you?"
"Run off?"
"Yeah. Run off. No more being trapped in that place. I could take care of you much better."
"But I was told the outside world is dangerous. And I'll miss Mari. I don't want to."
"Maybe I can bring Mari with us then. And truly, the world is not as bad as that old man makes it seem. Many cities are nearly completely safe from monster attacks."
"Really?"
"Yes. I don't want you to get hurt, but neither do I want you to grow up like that. I will protect you. But it's your decision."
"Lord Thorne wouldn't let that happen, would he?"
"Oh, don't worry about it. He certainly would. I'm good at convincing." She smiled down at him.
"I... I trust you, then. I want to be with you!"
She gave him a gentle rub on the head.
"Then it's settled. I will inform Lord Thorne once we get back."
Rene had never looked happier.