t just a bit, enough to live.

His Lord had surely built himself, them, a very warm and beautiful sort of life. It would be a shame not to enjoy it properly by hanging on to old cumbersome worries and bad habits.

"Ahh, my wise and gracious young Lord. It is not as you fear, there are no leaks nor informants. The staff has been rigorously combed to 'our' new standards rather than the previous informal system of human resources. There is not a soul to influence the young misses nor upset our Lady Maria. There is no one suspicious enough to take in or to interrogate."

"Help me understand then. How is it that my three year old daughter is already playing with that sort of fire. Even as a child's play fantasies, how does she 'know'? "

"I do believe my lord, that children are no different than very small adults. However, they are more inquisitive and quickly pick up things from their surroundings. A bright yet sensible child like our Bubbles is even more so capable to finding out matters on her own. I do also believe, that it was you my Lord, who assigned her reading on those noble family trees and their records."

"This is far beyond my expectations."

"How wonderful then, that the child not only exceeds their frame but excels."

The old servant grinds the ink for his master's pen to dip and flow. Silvery red script marks the pages below in files previously unseen. Yet when the ink dries, nothing remains, as if it were just water.

The real log details aren't so easy to see.

"Philippe's accident was no accident. My brother and his son aren't stupid to have this occur in the first place, let alone with so many eyes and ears around. It was a well-planned scheme designed to look like an accident. Rosalia... she seemed so genuinely surprised and gleeful. I don't know if it's my personal bias but I want to believe that I can still tell when she lies, that she's not capable of so openly lying to and deceiving me."

"Sir, I do believe you're over worrying about your child. It is something all fathers do. We know her patterns. How she 'plays' with her maids is an entirely different pattern and style. When she dislikes someone, this isn't how she retaliates. This wasn't our eldest young miss."

The logs were written by other humans, and thus flawed. He only had the information reported to him and not the full truth.

"Our networks are still in place? Stable.?"

"Yes my Lord. Not a single cover is compromised. No report brings up enough to be concerned about."

"...Run it again Alfonso. Keep it on rotation, not even our agents should suspect the double, no make it triple checks. I can't afford to have a spy in my home and honored father-in law's troops are very much now and forever, home."

"As you command my Lord....perhaps, at least for the rest of the afternoon, you spend some time with the lady of the house?"

"My darling wife spoils me, Alfonso. I'll never get any work done, you know that."

"My Lord, if I may be so bold...you have done more than an acceptable job in all your work. In the court of house, in the Ventrella business operations, the community building and engineering progress. The bridge finished last week, was truly a marvelous bridge. It will save many families and people. "

The old man doesn't mind how his master kept silent. He's long learned to read the fiddling of pens, of how ears turn red at the start of a blush. It's far from being easy to read, unlike the Lady of the house and her unconsciously loud thoughts. A habit that seemed to be inherited. But Alfonso is if anything a learned man, in the topic of his third young master. His only young master Frederick, now Lord Ventrella.

Life is truly an odd and unpredictable thing. This old servant is both humbled and awed by it, by the miracle that was human potential.

The old man simply grins with his tired old eyes. Then gets to work cleaning and updating the lastest logs in their specially made ink.

Really now, the Bichierri boy's case was nothing to really worry about. Just young children, their clumsiness and messy little pranks. Amusing yes but it was quite easy to see the truth when one was as old and used to silly youngsters as Alfonso was.

But his Lord was never that good of a child, not that was he allowed to even be one. Really, it can't be helped on some matters with this sort of helpless master.

"Frederick, you have done more than anyone had expected from you. You have exceeded and excelled at more than you even thought you would. Your influence and your plans will be more than just a profit, and will be remembered as such. So my Lord...place a little more trust in yourself, spare a bit more kindness for yourself...if not for you then for this tired old man."

"Alfonso, are you guilting me to take a rest again?"

"Of course not my Lord. I am merely reminding you. Shall I remind you again how our Lady Maria gets upset when she perceives a lack of attention and affections on your part? Shall we have another episode before you learn your lesson there?"

"A cheap and effective shot Alfonso old chap- using my divine and terrifying wife against me. "

"Alright alright I understand, stop it with that already Alfonso- you're making me feel ashamed even. I'm heading to spend time with my wife, no need to emotionally guilt me."

"My Lord I would never, but yes please do go on and take the sweets with you. To not only the fair sex, it means far more for one's beloved to bring them sweets and share their time together than mere servants or anyone else. Off with you now."

"I am a grown man now Alfonso, you can't just 'off with me'."

The handsome young lord of the manor rolled his eyes, looking more his age finally, but did as he was told. Gathering up all the right things Alfonso told him would woo and appease his better half.

"Off with you now my young master.....really now. They just grow up so fast."

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