The boy stayed in a cabin away from his father's mansion and away from the people there who once treated him with respect. He was here in this wooden and bare house with his new caretaker. It was far enough from the property that it was out of mind but close enough to call him over in the case of extinguished guests visiting. After all, he was his legitimate heir so it would be quite odd if he didn't have his son around.

The caretaker was busy making herself stew and the boy watched her with interest. She wore the uniform of a maid but she couldn't look more artificial in it if she tried. Her eyes showed no kindness and her rolled sleeves showed scars from who knows where. She sighed at his gaze and tasted what she cooked. She spit it out and immediately took it off the heat of the stove.

"Hey kid, take it. I'm sure as hell not gonna eat that."

She placed the pot on a table and went over to the counter to pick some more ingredients and try to make whatever meal she had in mind in another pot.

The boy picked up a ladle and shared with himself some of the concoction. It looked like something out of a witch's cauldron. It bubbled even after it was taken off the pot and it turned so dark it looked black which amazed the young boy. Did she manage to char a stew?

As he shared his portion the distinct lack of smell genuinely unnerved him. Even water had a more noticeable scent. He couldn't cook and the caretaker wouldn't normally share meals with him. The most she would allow was eating some of her freshly hunted meat.

He placed some in his mouth. It was odd. There were obviously what felt like bits of charcoal in it as well as cold pieces of meat. He attempted to take another spoonful but had to cover his mouth as he felt what went down come back up again. After forcing it down he took another bite. The maid looked at him with disinterest and continued making her own meal.

After finishing the unusual assortment of organic matter, even Tibaut would struggle to find edible, the caretaker sat down and ate her own meal. The smell alone would make a better meal regardless of if it tasted the same. Instead of being a dark, almost black colour, it was strong brown with the ingredients taking various shades of it.

Instead of being cold, her meat was still steaming as she picked it with her spoon and the stew had a nice consistency to it.

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He had just eaten but his stomach started growling when he saw what she cooked.

The boy got up and bowed to her.

"Thank you for the meal, Avis."

The maid paid him no mind and continued eating her salivating food by herself. As he walked away he felt a steaming piece of something hit his head. He looked on the floor and saw it lying there. He wasted no time dropping to the floor to pick and put it in his mouth.

The maid looked unamused and continued eating.

He got up and bowed again.

"Thank you, Avis."

She clenched her spoon but didn't let any reaction show on her face.

As he walked away she got up. She ran behind and tripped him to the floor.

"Listen here you little shit, I'm the one in charge here. Don't think kissing my ass is gonna do you any favours." She kicked him in the stomach and grabbed him to look at his face. He looked more like a girl than a boy, but that didn't help her opinion of him.

The boy looked her in the face and held a faint smile. "I'm sorry Avis, I promise I'll be quieter next time."

He didn't struggle out of her grip and looked genuinely happy as she held him up. She moved to slap him but stopped herself. "Don't give me that shit you little bastard, I know you hate me. Stop sucking up or I'll twist that little dick of yours off." She started moving her hand but the boy showed no reaction.

"Will I be more you?"

She let go of the boy's hair and wore a sour expression when he said that. His face slammed into the floor and he clutched his face.

"You're a real gross kid, no wonder your family wants nothing to do with you." She commented. She glared at him looking like she was starting a fight. She began walking away but the boy opened his mouth once.

"What's wrong with being like you?" He muttered. The maid looked ready to give him a beating and picked him by the back of his shirt. "You've cleaned my room ever since Daddy kicked me out and washed my clothes. You cook sometimes when I eat too much raw meat. And unlike daddy, you stop beating me when I get bruises. You do so much for me Avis. Is it so wrong I want to be like someone I look up to? Ever since mommy died you've taken care of me for all this time, unlike those other maids."

She let go of him and wore a conflicted expression on her face when he spoke.

"Shut up you bastard you hate me!"

"That isn't true," he shouted. He covered his face and recoiled but a slap or punch or any sort of blow never came. He got up and hugged her as she looked at him in disbelief.

"You're the only one that takes care of me, Avis. I don't think there's anyone I love more in the world than you. I know no one likes me but I like you."

She punched him in the stomach and sent him to the floor. He lay there gasping for air to breathe but seeing this infuriated the maid. There was no malice or distraught in his eyes. Just the same gentle resolve she saw from him every day. Seeing this resolve in his eyes weighed on her no matter how many times she saw it. She walked away with her teeth gritted and a scowl on her face that made anyone in her path think twice.