Breakfast was quiet as usual.
The morning light filtered through the tall dining room windows, casting long pale shapes across the table. Silverware clinked softly. Servants moved without sound.
Fainyx ate steadily, eyes low, attention drifting between his food and the window.
Then the Duke spoke.
"Your maid Estrella will be returning this afternoon."
Fainyx stilled.
Just slightly.
The Duke set down his cup with the same unhurried calm he did everything.
"She has completed her leave. She will resume her duties as your personal maid going forward." He glanced at Fainyx briefly. "Are you agreeable to that?"
Fainyx looked at him.
Then nodded once.
The Duke returned his attention to his food without further comment.
Across the table Liam perked up immediately.
"Oh, Fainyx's maid coming back? The one from the annex?"
"Yes," the Duke said simply.
Liam grinned. "She seemed really nice."
Adam said nothing but glanced briefly at Fainyx with something quiet in his expression.
Fainyx had already looked back down at his plate.
He continued eating.
Calmly.
As if the news hadn't settled somewhere warm and steady in his chest the moment it was said.
The morning passed.
Then the afternoon came.
Fainyx was in his room reading when the knock arrived.
Soft. Measured.
The door opened and Weinhart stepped inside, posture impeccable as always, silver hair neat, expression composed.
"Young master," he said. "Your maid Estrella has arrived."
Fainyx closed his book.
He set it aside carefully.
Then he got up.
He found her near the main entrance hall.
She stood with a travel bag at her feet, speaking quietly with one of the household maids. Her uniform was freshly pressed. Her warm brown hair was pinned neatly. She looked exactly as he remembered.
Fainyx stopped a few steps away.
She hadn't noticed him yet.
He looked at her.
And something in his chest moved in a way he hadn't expected.
It had been weeks.
Weeks of adjusting to the main palace. Of navigating new faces and new rules and the constant quiet pressure of being watched and measured. Of Jaren. Of meals missed. Of late nights in the garden.
Weeks without a single familiar thing.
Except...
She turned.
Her eyes landed on him.
For a moment she simply stared, as if she needed a second to confirm it was real.
Then her face changed completely.
"...Young master."
Her voice came out soft. Unsteady.
Fainyx looked at her.
His face was still.
Calm.
Neutral as it always was.
But inside---
'...I missed you.'
He reached into his pocket.
Pulled out his notebook and pen.
Wrote slowly and carefully.
Then held it up.
[ Welcome back. ]
And for just a brief moment---
The faintest smile touched the corner of his lips.
Small.
Almost imperceptible.
But it was there.
And Estrella saw it.
That was all it took.
Her composure broke entirely.
Her hand came up to cover her mouth. Her eyes filled immediately, the tears spilling before she could stop them, and she let out a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a sob.
"Young master---"
She crossed the distance between them in two steps and knelt down, pulling him into her arms carefully, the way she always had, like he was something precious and fragile and entirely worth protecting.
Fainyx didn't move.
He didn't pull away.
He simply stood there, arms at his sides, face pressed slightly against her shoulder.
She held on.
"I heard," she whispered, voice trembling. "I heard what happened while I was gone. What that woman did to you."
Her grip tightened just slightly.
"I'm sorry." Her voice cracked. "I'm so sorry, young master. I should have been here. I should have stayed. I should have protected you and I---"
She stopped herself.
Took a breath.
"I'm sorry," she said again, quieter this time.
Fainyx stayed still.
He thought about writing something.
Reassuring her.
Telling her it wasn't her fault.
That it was fine.
That he had managed.
But his notebook was still in his hand and his arms were too occupied because somewhere between deciding not to move and the warmth of her arms around him---
He had leaned into her.
Just slightly.
Just enough.
He didn't write anything.
He didn't need to.
Estrella seemed to understand anyway.
She always did.
She held him for a while longer, one hand resting gently against the back of his head, the way she used to when he was still small enough to carry.
When she finally pulled back she wiped her eyes quickly, clearly embarrassed, and let out a shaky breath.
"Look at me," she said softly, half laughing at herself. "Crying in the entrance hall."
She looked at him properly.
His face.
His violet eyes, still and clear as always.
She reached out and gently fixed a strand of silver hair that had fallen across his forehead.
"You've gotten thinner," she said quietly. The smile on her face didn't quite hide the worry underneath it.
Fainyx looked at her.
Then wrote.
[ The food here is good now. I'll gain it back. ]
Estrella read it.
Then laughed, a real one this time, warm and watery all at once.
"You'd better," she said firmly. "I'll make sure of it myself."
She straightened up, brushing her uniform smooth, composing herself back into the capable maid she was.
But her eyes were still bright.
Still a little wet.
Still looking at him like he was the most important thing in the room.
Fainyx looked back at her.
And somewhere behind his still, neutral face
Something quietly settled back into place.
Like a part of the world returning to where it belonged.