A bouquet Of Roses

One night it was raining heavily. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed next to the manor. It didn't affect most of the members except for one,

Benedikt was huddled in the farthest corner of his room. The valet sat next to him trying to soothe his anxiety, giving him sweetcakes and tea definitely failed and the young man's anxiety just increased tenfold right afterwards. It was awful!

Before all of this he was happily spending time with the children who was wheedling him with uncomfortable and very personal questions he was able to answer them all confidently until the last one brought him back towards his troubled past. He couldn't hold on and just left the hall leaving both the kids confused.

"My lord I couldn't console him…." Verisha said as he and Igor quickly rushed to meet Benedikt in his room.

The door was gently opened and Igor took charge told the valet to stand outside and wait for him.

When he went inside he saw Benedikt sobbing and hyperventilating uncontrollably, his blue eyes was wide due to fear. When he saw his master, he shrunk even more quickly and refused to even see him eye to eye. Igor shut the door behind him closed the distance between them brought their foreheads together and spoke gently and quietly to not startle him any further. Each word was laced with softness and love and Benedikt's ears turned slightly red. He trembled and hiccupped and didn't understand as to what is going on and why his master who usually spares very few words to everyone, sitting and comforting him in his room without any qualms of propriety between master and servant.

"Something is really wrong with him!" a little bit of clarity returned to Benedikt and he tried to push his master away to keep some distance between them. His arms were weak and his legs was jelly, refusing to work. He struggled as much as he could but, the grip was tight and he was embraced by the lord of the manor who tried to reassure him again by rubbing a point on his lower back. He felt secure for the very first time in his wretched life and the comfort made him very sleepy…

He gave up and gave in to his impulses leaned onto his masters chest, slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep all while his master murmured some incomprehensible words throughout the night.

Noticing his breathing had evened out Igor carried the sleeping Benedikt placed him onto his bed wrapped him in blankets and kissed his forehead he contemplated pushing him a little to give him space so that he can sleep with him, then scrapped the idea as it was not appropriate for a master and servant to sleep in one bed.

Verisha's eyes lit up when his master slowly came out from the room. He looked solemn and Verisha understood that his master would not like to be disturbed so he let him be. After sometime he went to check on Benedikt hoping he was alright he peeped it open a bit and saw him sleeping soundly. Satisfied he left and returned to his room to sleep.