Chapter 300: An Astonishing View
Chapter 300: An Astonishing View
Celia Bennett's POV:
"To answer your former question, Master Pierre," I said as I paused, forcing myself to stand on my feet. I almost fell over to the side but I did everything I could remain standing.
Master Pierre immediately turned around as he attempted to rush towards me. "I got it," I tried to say just as I fell into his arms.
"What is it that you think you are doing?!" Master Pierre said, his tone quickening, as his arms were placed under my elbows and held me up straight.
"I was attempting to come to you," I said, looking down as my hands were now placed on his bare chest, at the point where his shirt was slightly unbuttoned. "You seem sad so I wanted to do what I could to try to cheer you up."
"Taking a step without the ability to stand and fall to the ground would cause more harm than it would good," Master Pierre said as he picked me up in his arms again and turned to walk back out onto the balcony. "If you wanted to come out to take a look, all you had to do was ask."
"I am sorry," I said, just as he set my feet down onto the cool concrete surface as I leaned towards the metal railing. "I was trying not to be of any trouble."
"Trouble?" He sort of scoffed as he turned to look at me, and then he turned to look away back over the view that was before us. "Trouble doesn't begin to cover it."
I didn't exactly know if that was a good thing or not. Especially by the way he said it at that moment. I looked down and reached up with my spare hand as I rubbed the center of my forehead. The last thing I wanted to be was trouble for anyone, let alone Master Pierre.
I heard him taking a deep breath and then huffing a bit as he let it out whenever he finally spoke next, "The attempt you made was appreciated. However, next time... Ensure you have the ability to stand steadily before you attempt to take a step."
"I was only..." I tried to say something, but he cut me off, and I didn't want to sound rude as if I were to interrupt him when he started speaking.
"I know... I know you were attempting to cheer me up," Master Pierre said as he quickly glanced over at me and then back towards the view before us. "I understand that. The last thing I want you to do is fall and get hurt. That would most certainly cause more damage than good."
I swallowed, my heart seeming to be at that moment as my throat was still sore from earlier when I attempted to swallow when I got caught.
I remain silent for an unknowable amount of time. I just stood there and took in the view. The breeze was almost salty. It was remarkable to smell the fresh ocean air, or whatever body of water this was. But one thing was clear: I could definitely taste a hint of salt on the wind.
"Come," Master Pierre said as he stood up for a moment and stretched. "I need to get you bathed."
"Bathed?" I asked, rather confused.
As I stood there holding onto the rail with both hands, Master Pierre turned to one side as he laid his elbow down on the top of the rail and looked at me with a crooked stance.
"Do you not wish to get clean?" Master Pierre asked me at that moment. His tone sounded sarcastic, but I don't think it was sarcasm. "Can you tell me the last time you actually washed your hair?" As I thought about what he said, I took my eyes away just as he asked the next question. "Can you tell me the last time you actually bathed yourself?"
I didn't want to think about that right now. I didn't want to think about somebody else bathing me. That would've been the furthest thing from my mind had he not brought it up. Instead, I looked directly at him, hoping to focus on him instead of the image that was trying to force itself to the forefront of my mind.
Master Pierre, as if sensing my sense of urgency, quickly stood up and rushed over to me, wrapping his arms around me. He even allowed me to wrap my arms around him as I lay my head down on the side of his chest.
"No..." Master Pierre said, letting go of me with his arms from being placed around my back, and now moving them to place them on either side of my face. "Place your head here. Place it here over my heart. Listen to the sound of my heartbeat."
I close my eyes for a brief moment as I did as he said. I listen to the sound of his steady heartbeat. It could've been the sound of the metronome. It was that steady.
I could fall asleep right here and now just listening to the sound of his heart, but I knew I would be able to do that. He was a businessman after all. I'm sure he had things to attend to at some point. I didn't even know what day it was right now.
After I was content, I showed him by pulling my head away from his chest. When I looked up at him, he looked down at me as I met his powerful, penetrating gaze, it seemed to look right through me. I even nodded my head, letting him know that I was all right.
"Good. Very good, now we can go and get you taken care of," Master Pierre said as he reached down and picked me up, cradling me in his arms once more.
As much as I love being carried from place to place, I did have my dignity after all. And it was seemingly falling apart. I didn't know what to do with myself if I was never allowed to walk anywhere. However, just as Master Pierre walked back down that one long corridor, he returned to the main for you, right in front of the small water feature at the center of the top of the walk around.
I finally got an opportunity to see exactly what it looks like. It was another small fountain. This one was also adorned with little fishes, with water spouting from their mouths. This one also had five fish. It made me wonder if there were a significant number of fish in each of his fountains that I have noticed so far. The one outside and this one had five.
Just as we reached the entrance to the second corridor on the opposite side of the foyer, the butler was seen walking back towards us.
"I am glad to have found you, Master Pierre," said the butler as he slowed his pace to stand in front of us. "All of the accommodations are set and ready. Just as you had requested, sire."
"Very good, that is all for now," Master Pierre said.