Chapter 35: The Letter (2)
Two days passed since then and Adrien found himself sitting in his room, working on assignments when a knock came from his door.
Amelia came in, a small trolley filled with food in front of her. Adrien had decided to order something to eat from the dorm’s canteen since Mikyle had returned to the Palace to eat with his family.
It hadn’t even been a week since Mikyle had moved into the dorms and Adrien was already feeling lonely without him.
Mikyle had spent almost every waking hour after classes with Adrien. He would accompany Adrien to the library to help him with his assignments, sit quietly in Adrien’s dorm room as Adrien worked on his painting assignment. He would wait on Adrien in the mornings so that he could walk with him, and he would make time to eat with Adrien at least twice a day.
Just the day before, Mikyle had insisted on taking him to dinner out in the city. It had been a simple and pleasant affair, one where Mikyle had surprisingly kept the flirting to a minimum. Actually, Adrien noticed that Mikyle had taken his teasing down a notch, and was conscious about physical touch. . .not that Mikyle had stopped doing either of those things, but that he seemed to be aware of the effect that they had on each other.
Adrien really needed to figure out why he kept feeling the way he did. It seemed too potent and slightly unnatural for it to be from just physical attraction alone.
Amelia made her way over to the table and started placing the food down onto it, drawing Adrien out of his inner thoughts. "Lord Adrien, a letter arrived for you," she then handed him an enclosed envelope after she finished placing the food down.
His eyebrows furrowed into a frown upon recognizing the pattern pressed into the wax. He opened the envelope and pulled the letter out.
[Adrien,
I have received news from the Head of your Department about your achievement in moving up a level in some of your classes. Your mother and I will be visiting next weekend to take you out to celebrate this joyous occasion.
Sincerely, your father, Count Mallorne. ]
Adrien leaned back in his seat, surprised over the news that the letter had brought and the way that the Count had signed it.
He knew that they had taken Cedric out to celebrate when he had tested out of a few of his classes. He just wasn’t expecting the Count to do the same for him. The Countess, yes, but not the Count.
This is really strange. Based on the Original’s memories, this just doesn’t feel like something that the Count would do. Did the Countess badger him into doing this? And what’s up with the way the Count signed the letter?
Adrien was practically slumped over in his chair, deep in thought. The meal that Amelia had brought him laid on the table, forgotten.
"Is everything alright, Lord Adrien?" Amelia asked, her eyes filled with concern as she looked at him from where she stood off from the side.
"Oh? Yeah. Just a visit from my family," Adrien mumbled, concerned with what may transpire during that visit. He really couldn’t afford anymore injuries. Hopefully it really will be a celebratory dinner like the letter stated.
Adrien shook off his thoughts, deciding that he wouldn’t worry about it until the time came. It wasn’t like there was anything he could do about it anyway.
He put the letter off to the side and decided to focus on his dinner. He would send a reply later to let them know that he would free up his schedule for them, not that he had anything planned.
After dinner, he went back to painting. Within the hour, he brushed the finishing strokes onto it, satisfied with the result.
Should I paint something else? It wouldn’t be a bad idea to stock up on paintings to give to Mr. Noam, and I have plenty of supplies to do just that.
Adrien placed the still wet canvas that was his school project on the floor, leaning the back of it against the wall. After grabbing a blank canvas, one that was on a much larger scale than the last one, he sketched a quick outline.
Clothed tables and blurred patrons made up the background. In the center was a round table with a flowing cloth draped over it. In the center of the table was a vase filled with blooming flowers.
Adrien finally realized what he was doing and stopped sketching after he had an outline of Milyle. Either because it was the last place he visited or because of something else, he found himself sketching the restaurant that Mikyle had taken him to.
Adrien placed his sketching pencil down and took a step back.
I definitely can’t finish this sketch. . .but I don’t want to abandon it. Should I just leave the companion seat unoccupied?
His hand itched as he stared at it. He really did want to finish it. He had a feeling it would be beautiful once it was done.
After making up his mind, Adrien put away his sketching tools. He was planning on applying paint to it tomorrow since it was growing late. He then threw a sheet over it, not wanting anyone, mainly Mikyle, to see it.
After getting everything cleaned up, he grabbed a change of clothes and the small shower caddy that held everything he needed to get cleaned up.
Upon entering his room after his shower, he found Mikyle sitting on the couch. A cup of tea and a tray of snacks were laid out on the table in front of him.
Mikyle’s lips lifted up into a smile before he took a sip of his tea. "I’ve brought back some sweets. There’s some orange tarts as well."
Adrien, uncaring of the fact that he was in his silk pajamas without the buttons done all the way up, sat down beside Mikyle. There was already a tea cup placed there so Adrien poured himself a cup of the still steaming tea.
A pleasant and calming aroma filled the air as he filled up his cup. He then grabbed an orange tart and bit into it, making a sound of pleasant surprise from how good it tasted.
"Hmm," Mikyle hummed, his voice sounding strained.
"Is everything alright?" Adrien asked, turning his gaze onto Mikyle.
Mikyle’s head was propped up on one hand and his eyes were focused on something just below Adrien’s neck. Adrien reached up and realized that he had left two of the buttons undone.
Adrien placed the tart back down onto the table and quickly finished buttoning up his shirt. "It was only two buttons. That’s no reason for you to react like that," he accused the man.
Mikyle lifted up a perfectly manicured brow, and a small smirk graced his lips as he slowly pulled his eyes up, his gaze lingering on Adrien’s lips. "Hmm, just two buttons you say?" He then brought his free hand up and slowly unbuttoned his own shirt without hesitation. Golden skin that was smooth and unblemished was unveiled from beneath the white material. The sharp contour of Mikyle’s collarbone peeked out. His hand paused just after freeing the second button from its confinement.
Adrien’s eyes zeroed in on the sight before him and his mouth became dry. His tongue darted out to lick his lower lip. "Okay. Okay. I get it." Adrien was barely able to turn his face away. "Please. . .just button your shirt back up."
A low resounding chuckle flowed out from Mikyle. "They’re buttoned, so you can look now."
"Why must you tease me?" Adrien complained, picking up his tea to take a drink, and nearly burning his tongue in the process.
"You are the one to tease me first," Mikyle pointed out as he leaned back into the seat.
"That was unintentional," he grumbled. How was he supposed to know that Mikyle would be waiting for him in his room?