Dimitri Mansion
Esmeralda still stood close.
One hand lightly gripping Andre's hoodie.
The smile on her face still refusing to leave.
"…Don't play Mr. Nice with me."
Andre raised a brow.
"…You rushed downstairs like the house was on fire and that was wierd."
Her eyes widened immediately.
"…I did not!"
"You were barefoot."
She glanced downward instantly.
"…Okay that part is irrelevant."
"And besides it's my house."
Andre chuckled quietly.
And strangely
the sound caught her off guard.
Because after yesterday
after at the infirmary
hearing him laugh again felt… relieving.
Too relieving.
Esmeralda folded her arms dramatically.
"…Anyway."
A pause.
"… I'm happy to see you but you are late."
Andre blinked.
"…I came exactly when you told me."
She pointed accusingly.
"…Still late emotionally."
Andre stared.
"…That sentence made no sense."
"…It made sense in my head."
He sighed.
"…Walking here from the gate takes time you know that right?."
She gasped dramatically.
"…Wow."
Before she could continue
one maid walked past pretending to dust a table.
"…Young Madam has been waiting since seven in the morning."
Esmeralda froze.
"…Grace."
The maid smiled innocently.
"…Even changed outfits three times."
Andre slowly turned toward Esmeralda.
Silence.
Pure silence.
Esmeralda's face went pink instantly.
"…Do you want to loose your job."
The maid disappeared laughing.
Andre folded his arms slightly.
"…Three outfits?"
"…Shut up."
"…Seven in the morning?"
"…Andre."
"…Interesting way to land up in a hoodie."
She groaned dramatically and grabbed his sleeve.
"…Can we move before I fire people?"
She dragged him upstairs quickly.
Huge hallways.
Expensive paintings.
Ridiculously tall ceilings.
Andre looked around again.
"…This place still feels illegal."
Esmeralda chuckled.
"…Never knew you were a fan of mansions."
Andre walked forward slowly.
Looking around like he was trying not to stare too hard.
"…I'm not."
A pause.
"…I just didn't expect this."
He looked back at her.
"…I knew your place would be big…"
Another glance around.
"…but not this big."
Esmeralda turned and gave a smile.
"…You get used to it."
Andre shook his head slightly.
"…I don't think I would ever be able to live in a place like this."
That made her pause.
Just slightly.
"…Why?"
Andre shrugged.
"…Feels like too much space for one person."
A small silence followed.
Esmeralda laughed.
"…Well I've been here my whole life."
He looked at her.
"…Yeah... But on the bright side it's a masterpiece."
"…It is."
Then suddenly
she stopped walking.
For the first time since he arrived
her expression softened.
A little.
"…Thanks for coming."
Andre looked at her quietly.
"…Where did that come from?."
She shook her head.
"…Really."
A pause.
"I mean it."
Something about the way she said it felt different.
Smaller.
More sincere.
They stepped onto a long balcony overlooking the mansions gardens.
Silence settled briefly.
Birds.
Fountains.
Wind.
Esmeralda leaned against the railing.
Then looked sideways at him.
"…Can I ask something?"
Andre shrugged.
"…Go ahead."
She hesitated.
"…Yesterday."
A pause.
"…In the infirmary."
His expression changed immediately.
Smaller.
Colder.
She noticed.
"…You do know you were scary right?."
Andre looked away toward the garden.
"…Why?"
"…Because you acted like none of it mattered to you ."
"Like you were some kinda monster."
Silence.
Then
he answered quietly.
"…People getting hurt stopped shocking me a long time ago."
That sentence landed heavily.
Too heavily.
She looked at him carefully.
"…What happened to you?"
He laughed softly.
Humorless.
"…You keep asking questions you won't like answers to."
Esmeralda frowned.
"…Try me."
Andre stayed quiet for a long second.
Then finally
"…You ever meet people who smile while ruining your life?"
Her expression softened.
He continued.
Still calm.
Too calm.
"…People who teach you not to expect kindness?"
Wind moved between them.
"…Eventually."
A pause.
"…You stop reacting."
That silence afterward felt painful.
Because he didn't sound dramatic.
He sounded practiced.
Like he had already accepted something ugly.
She stepped beside him slowly.
Shoulder almost touching his now.
"…You know…"
Her voice lowered.
"…I still want to know."
Andre looked at her.
"…Why?"
A small smile appeared.
Unexpectedly soft.
"…Because."
She nudged him lightly.
"…You're becoming important."
That sentence hit strangely.
He didn't answer immediately.
Then...
"WOOF!"
A large dog came rushing in from the side corridor.
Fast.
Direct.
Straight at Andre.
Andre stopped.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't step back.
Just… watched it.
"…You serious?"
The dog barked again, circling him.
Suspicious.
Protective.
"Hey—hey!....Whisker"
Esmeralda moved quickly.
Dropping down slightly, grabbing the dog by the collar.
"…Relax, don't be mean to him."
She stroked its head gently.
"…He's my—"
She paused.
Just for a second.
"…my…"
Andre raised a brow slowly.
A smirk creeping in.
"…Your what?"
Esmeralda cleared her throat lightly.
"…My friend."
Andre's smirk widened.
"…That's not what you were about to say."
She avoided his eyes.
Chuckling softly.
"…You imagine things too much."
Andre crossed his arms slightly.
"…Nah."
A beat.
"…You almost said something else."
Esmeralda stood up quickly.
Brushing it off.
"…Nothing really."
A small pause.
"…Give me a minute."
Without waiting
She turned and walked out toward the back door.
A little faster than usual.
Andre watched her leave.
Still smiling slightly.
"…Yeah… definitely something else."
The dog stayed.
Now calmer.
Andre glanced down at it.
"…So you like me now?"
The dog wagged its tail once.
Andre huffed a quiet laugh.
Then vanished.
Esmeralda returned.
Then
Without another word
She grabbed Andre's wrist.
Firm.
Sudden.
"…Come with me."
Andre didn't resist.
Didn't even argue.
Just let himself be pulled.
A faint smirk still on his lips.
Esmeralda's room
Andre glanced around briefly.
"…Nice room."
Esmeralda then jumped on her bed as it bounced her up and then down.
"Yeah."
"You know you are the first outsider I have ever brought in here."
Andre went and sat close to her
"Does that make me special."
Esmeralda looked at him casually
"Don't get cocky."
"So you ever dated anyone or have a relationship or stuff like that."
Andre sighed deeply
"If you remember how I was before I met you, you should have your answer."
Esmeralda smiled
"So does that make me special."
Andre gave a dangerous smile
"Yes it does."
Esmeralda leaned closer
"Hmmmh.... Smooth."
"…But did you notice anything?"
Andre looked up.
"…About what?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"…Maria."
A pause.
"…Did you notice anything unusual?"
He didn't even think twice.
"…No."
Simple.
Direct.
Honest.
Esmeralda blinked slowly.
"…Nothing?"
Andre shrugged.
"…She's been normal."
That made her scoff.
Almost disbelieving.
"…She's in love with you."
Silence.
A beat.
Then
Andre laughed.
"…What?"
He shook his head.
"…No."
A small smirk.
"…We're just friends."
Esmeralda stepped closer.
"…You're as blind as a bat."
Andre leaned back slightly.
"…You're overthinking it trust me."
She frowned.
"…I'm not."
"…You are."
"…I'm not."
"…You are."
A pause.
They stared at each other.
Neither backing down.
"…The way she looks at you—"
Andre cut in.
"…People look at people."
"…Not like that."
"…You're imagining things."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You really don't see it?"
Andre shook his head.
"…No."
A small pause.
"…And even if she did—"
He shrugged again.
"…That doesn't change anything."
Esmeralda leaned closer
"Uhum... What do you want to say."
"Nothing."
Her expression changed.
That sharp tension?
Gone.
Replaced.
With something playful.
She moved closer.
Slow.
Deliberate.
"…You know…"
A pause.
"…for someone people are fighting over…"
Another step.
"…you're surprisingly clueless."
Andre watched her.
Not moving.
"…People aren't fighting over me don't be ridiculous."
She smiled.
"…Oh?"
She moved closer again.
Too close.
"…You made poppy and Emilia enemies with me?"
A beat.
"…Now we have Rufus and maria?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Rufus is on you."
"And I don't know why he's so obbessed with you."
Esmeralda stood up and gave a dramatic pose
" I'm hot."
"Sexy."
"Elegant."
Andre gave her a dumb look
" I don't see the person with those qualities."
Esmeralda walked toward the wardrobe.
"Just give me a minute, and I will show you that I'm hot."
Andre nodded quickly.
"…Yeah, okay."
A beat.
Then
No curtain moved.
No door closed.
Nothing.
Andre blinked.
"…Uh."
Esmeralda glanced back.
"…What?"
He pointed vaguely toward the window area.
"…The curtain?"
She looked at him like he'd said something unnecessary.
"…Why would I cover it?"
Andre froze.
"…Because you're changing."
She shrugged casually.
"…And?"
A pause.
Then she added, completely calm:
"…You've already seen me half naked before."
Andre's brain stopped for half a second.
"…That was different."
She tilted her head.
"…How?"
"…That was— accidental."
She nodded slowly.
"…Ok... does not change what happened."
Andre exhaled sharply.
"…You are unbelievable."
Esmeralda continued anyway.
"…Besides, I have my bra and panties on."
Andre turned away immediately.
"…I didn't need that information."
She smirked slightly behind him.
"…Too late."
Andre raised a hand slightly without looking.
"…Just—tell me when you're done."
She walked further in.
"…Close your eyes then."
He did immediately.
"…They're closed."
A few seconds passed.
Then
"…Done."
Andre nodded slightly.
"…Good."
He opened his eyes.
And immediately
Stopped.
Esmeralda was standing there.
Still in a changing posture.
Looking completely unbothered.
Andre blinked once.
Twice.
Then
"…You said you were done."
She shrugged.
"…I changed my mind."
"Still think I'm not hot."
A pause.
Andre stared.
Then
He laughed.
Hard.
"…What is wrong with you?!"
She pulled on a shirt.
His shirt.
The one she had worn before.
Familiar.
Loose on her frame.
Andre's laughter stopped mid-breath.
"…Wait—"
She adjusted the collar slightly.
"…What?"
He pointed slightly.
"…That's mine."
She looked down at it.
Then back at him.
"…I know."
A beat.
"…It's comfortable and I'm in love with the smell."
He rubbed his face.
"…It's just a regular perfume."
She walked past him casually.
"…You're just dramatic."
He turned slightly.
"…You just changed in front of me twice and stole my shirt."
She paused at the mirror.
"…And?"
A small smirk.
" I'm hot right."
Andre sighed.
But he was still smiling.
"Nope."
"…And next time I'm not closing my eyes."
Esmeralda glanced at him through the mirror.
"…There won't be a next time."
A pause.
Then
She smiled.
"…Probably."