Loyal friend. Part four.

Sebastian said nothing, he just followed the tall figure, which quickly found himself outside the house.

It was quiet around. Even the wind did not rustle the foliage of the trees. The air was filled with the scent of fruits and flowers. Green hills, with bright green grass, smoothly descended and then as smoothly ascended up. And most importantly, the sun, a golden disc, gently touched the distant hill, slowly rolling down.

Adelard walked over to the log and sat down on it, stretching his arms up. The sleepiness slowly enveloped him. Taking off his shoes, he spread his legs forward and did not worry at all that Sebastian was looking at him in surprise.

"You came here to help, didn't you?" he asked.

"Yes."

And at that very moment, Madame Lucy laughed merrily and, opening the kitchen window, shouted, "Juliet, it's time to go home!"

“Thank you,” Sebastian said quietly. Although he himself did not even know what to thank him for. Clutching the small stone he had just lifted from the ground in his hand, he looked at Adelard once more, and this time, their gazes met.

"Monsieur, mother is calling you into the house," little Juliet suddenly said and hugged Sebastian's neck.

"Okay. I'll be right there."

Adelard was in no hurry to enter the house. He loved what was in front of him so much. Tranquil village, loneliness and the Sun, which circled over the fields, shouting the name of the Moon.

But when Madame Lucy's loud voice was heard again, he got up and returned to the house.

“Children, this is the man who saved us all. Look at him and remember his face. When you become adults, you must thank him for everything he has done for us. Take a close look at his face. This is the face of a great man. In this world, you will meet many bad people. In general, in this world all people are bad. And this is the only person who is too kind, too perfect. He is an angel and you should know about it. And if ever, he will ask you for help, you must forget about everything and run to help him. Because, Adelard is the most beautiful person in the world," Madame Lucy seriously said.

Three children looked at him with admiration, which made him a little embarrassed. He always could not stand the gaze of children and animals. Their gaze always made him feel the guilt which never existed in his innocent soul.

Little Juliet came up to him and unexpectedly hugged him with the words, "Mom is happy again. Thank you."

Her gentle voice sounded so soft that Adelard's heart burst into tears. He hugged her in return and felt tears of happiness.

A boy named James, who was younger than Sebastian but older than Juliet, holding his mother's hand, asked, "Mom, what did he do?"

Madame Lucy didn’t know what words to use to describe what she was feeling.

"Well, I think I should go home. It's late and I have some business to finish," Adelard said.

"Won't you stay with us?" Sebastian asked sadly.

"Next time. I'll be back very soon. Maybe at the end of this week. I'd like to see your new farm. Lucy, I'm leaving. Children, see you soon."

Leaving, Adelard did not even leave them the opportunity to properly thank him for the fact that the next morning the whole wagons of cows and sheep were already before their house. And the number of animals surprised them very much.

But the truth is, the world has never seen such kindness and understanding.

The morning had never been so fresh and beautiful, but at the same time so bustling. The scent of roses and sweets filled the whole house. Even the small rooms, which were decorated with bright flowers and old books that were in every corner, in every place. Various patterns on the walls created a morning coziness along with the sunlight that ran throughout the house.

André, the cook, was in the kitchen, as always, by the small window that looked out into the garden where Nicholas was reading the morning paper.

The other two maids were busy minding their own business. And each of them was happy. Each of them was grateful for every day they lived in this house.

One was tall, but very slender. Her hair was always gathered into a long braid. The other was small and a little chubby. She had red hair that always fell over her face. But both were equally beautiful and kind. One was called Mary and the other was called Mathilde. And both loved and respected Monsieur Adelard equally.

And now, climbing up the stairs, humming a happy song, Mathilde looked ahead, her gray eyes glowing with anticipation of seeing Adelard. She was in a hurry to wake him up and the worry that he was already awake was too much and when she reached the door, she knocked quietly and then slowly began to open the wooden boundary separating the two realities.

"Monsieur, are you awake yet?" Mathilde asked, lowering her eyes so as not to embarrass Monsieur, who was standing at the window without his outer clothing.

"Tell me, what is all the noise in town? Since this morning I hear voices and shouts," Adelard said, looking sadly out the window.

Mathilde, unable to tear her gaze away from him, smiling nervously, was convinced for the millionth time that there is no one in the world more beautiful than Adelard. But Adelard was expecting an answer and so she said, "Monsieur, this happiness is because of you. They are talking about you. I thought you knew about it. There are journalists and almost everyone. They're only talking about you."

Hearing the strange notes in her trembling voice, Adelard turned and asked with alarm in his eyes, "What's the matter with you? Are you not feeling well? If so, you can rest today."

"Monsieur, you are as kind as ever. No, I'm fine," Mathilde nervously said and smiled.

Every time she was alone with Monsieur in the room, she felt like her heart would start singing with happiness.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she still managed to say, "Madame Lucy came to town. She is the one who called all the reporters. If you come out of the house, they will be waiting for you with questions."

"Madame Lucy? I wonder what she's up to?" Adelard questioned and sat pensively on the bed.

The morning sunlight was like a golden veil over his slightly pale face. His black, slightly damp hair shimmered with a golden sheen. All of nature, all of the world wanted to highlight the beauty of just one man. But it would be too selfish to think so. After all, there are a lot of beautiful people in the world. But are they beautiful at heart?

"I don't know Monsieur. In any case, today is such a beautiful day. And so are you," Mathilde said awkwardly and blushing with embarrassment quickly left the room.

But Adelard only had to look at himself in the mirror and then direct his attention to the noise outside.

Today, he had no appetite. A slight headache was with him again. But blaming the weather, he put on his red satin shirt and dark trousers, which were still warm from the iron.

"Thank you, Mary," he whispered, as he always did when he put on the clean clothes Mary had prepared for him. And then, gathering his hair carelessly, he picked up his fan and headed forward with a happy gait.

"Monsieur your breakfast is ready! Monsieur! At least take some fruit with you!" the cook Andre shouted in his wake, but as always, the whirlwind of life carried Adelard away toward the noise and merriment and most importantly, toward Celeste.

"Adelard!" Nicholas exclaimed, though it was too late. Waving his hand, he smiled as fathers smile and said, "He's still a child."

"He will always be a child. He always needs love. Sometimes, I fear what society will do to him. They're smiling, but what will happen next?" Andre asked.

"I hope he comes to lunch. He's so thin and he doesn't eat much anyway."

"He's always been like that. Our little Adelard."

"Monsieur is very handsome. All the girls in the world are in love with him. But he doesn't seem to know it. Or he doesn't care. Do you think Monsieur could ever love anyone?" Mathilde asked and covered her face with a kitchen towel.

"Our Monsieur Adelard is a mystery of nature. I think an enigma must remain an enigma," Mary said, thus ending the conversation about Adelard.