Belle Adams' Butler

Belle laid on the bed, sleeping with one hand near her face and the other that she had not moved much that rested on her stomach. Though it was the time of the morning, she was led to believing it was still night and morning was yet to come with the curtains that were not drawn out to let the light pass from outside. Today was one of those mornings where the sun was out, and the snow was spread all across the land. 

When she opened her eyes, she looked up at the ceiling of the bed which was made of wood. Her eyes took in the pattern that was carved on it. 

She wanted to lay down on the bed as much as she could, not because she was injured because injuries like these would eventually heel but because the death of her friend was still running in her mind. She felt sad that she had to find out about it like this, in this state. People she cared for died, the servants were almost gone except for the five of them who were still willing to work for her, and she was grateful that they were standing by her even with the bizarre events that were taking place in the mansion. 

The door of her room opened, and Belle turned her eyes to see her other friend appear through the door. 

"What are you doing here?" asked Belle, trying to sit up by pushing herself with one hand, and Simon appeared on her side to help her sit up. 

"I got a letter from Lucas that you were unwell. That you needed company," he smiled looking down at her, and Belle gave him a nod. It was thoughtful of Lucas to call Simon, especially when she knew Lucas was not that fond of her friend. 

She made some space for him to sit on the bed, and he sat next to her, "Are you doing okay?" he asked her. 

Belle's eyes fell on her hands that were on her lap. She didn't know how to break the news of what happened, "I received some news. It is about George."

Simon tilted his head to ask, "What about him?"

"He...he is no more," her voice was small as she said this. Breaking anyone's news about their death was hard. 

Simon didn't say anything for a few seconds. Like her, he sat quietly before asking, "Did you find out how?" 

"He said something about work…"

Simon nodded his head, "I see. I guess council work is never good. It is equal to going to sacrifice yourself at any point," he then said, "I am sure wherever he is, he is alright," Belle wasn't sure about that. Not when she had seen him like he had gone crazy. And he had been killed by Greed. 

"I guess," answered Belle, blinking her eyes when she felt her eyes starting to burn. 

"Come here, Belle," Simon called her, opening his arms and moving forward to hug her and she hugged him back. 

Belle hugged Simon back with her arms around his back. She swallowed the bubbling sorrow she felt in her throat. Her eyes watering again and she closed her eyes, "Everything will get better," said Simon to her. 

"I don't know when it will get better," she confessed, "I feel like I fixed one thing and then there's two more that breaks, and it only keeps happening over and over again. I feel tired."

"Is that why you are in bed now?" he asked her, "If you're going to hide in the room in your bed, the problem will not be solved, Belle. You will need to get out of it. Sometimes you need to fight pain with pain," he said, pulling back to look at her. 

Belle only nodded at him before looking down, "You were chasing the person, but now he's with you. Things will eventually get better in time. We all take time to heal."

"Do you think it's possible to keep a ceremony for him? For George," it was because if they hadn't received any word about his death from his parents, that would also mean that they had passed away. And though she had seen him like that two days ago, she still wanted to remember the good things about him. 

"We can do that," replied Simon, "We can go to Valeria and get it done. Tell me when you want to go, and we'll go there. Call the people who were close to him, and if there aren't, it can be just the two of us." 

She had asked herself if she had felt guilty for letting Greed out of the circle which she had placed him. It was her life over her friend who was already a deceased soul. She had picked hers, to live and thrive while killing the remaining part of George. The least she could do was to keep a ceremony where they could cherish the good things about him before letting him go. Hoping if he was here, still alive, he would support her decision. 

"What happened to your hand?" asked Simon, "Looks like you hurt your leg too."

Belle looked at her hand, "Something very stupid," she answered, not giving the actual reason and even though Simon knew it was something serious, he didn't press her, to tell the truth, "Thank you for coming to see me."

"How could I not. I was surprised that Lucas even decided to invite me here. It is not every day the Adams' butler is nice to people. Is he?" asked Simon, and this brought a smile upon her lips, "How are things with your relatives? Are they still trying to get you to sell the house?" 

"Haven't spoken to them in some time now," she doubted she would be talking to any of them. It wasn't like she shared any dear memories with them. 

"That's fine. Did you eat? I am starving! Let's get you out of the bed if you are willing to walk." He offered by standing up, and she gave him a nod.

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