The Greatest Showman #1505 – 4 Hairs

A black umbrella with a wooden handle shielded Renly from the rain. Raindrops lightly and gracefully bounced off the umbrella, while the dark red brick wall and deep green shade resembled a watercolor painting. The world seemed to converge at that moment. Beneath the black umbrella stood a tall, majestic figure, wrapped in a light gray windbreaker. His stature seemed capable of holding up the very sky.

From behind a black door, a small figure peeked out. The child raised their face with wide, inquisitive eyes, scrutinizing Renly without any attempt to hide their curiosity or amusement.

Without warning, the child stuck out their tongue and made a playful grimace. Their head twisted left and right as their naturally curly hair fluttered like strands of wisteria in the wind.

Renly chuckled softly. The child appeared to be no older than four or five, with baby fat still lingering on their round cheeks, making the grimace all the more adorable, like something from a cartoon.

Renly crouched down, bringing himself to the child's eye level. With a warm smile, he greeted, "Good morning. I'm Renly Hall. May I ask if Mr. Nolan is home?"

The child bit their lower lip, thinking for a moment before responding in a voice full of earnestness, "Mom said, don't open the door for strangers! I don't know you, so you can't come in!" With that, they slammed the door shut.

Renly, still squatting, was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, but couldn't help but laugh.

However, the door creaked open once again, and Renly looked up to see Emma Thomas, dressed in a lounge suit, standing in the doorway. "Oh, my God, please forgive our rudeness," she apologized. "I was in the kitchen cleaning up after breakfast and didn't expect Flora to run to the door like this. I'm so sorry, Your Excellency."

Emma looked flustered, hearing the sounds of boys playing in the background, their voices filled with the simulation of airplanes and bombings. The house was alive with energy.

"I'm sorry, it's break time, so the boys are allowed to play," Emma explained, but she quickly corrected herself, "But look at me! You're right on time, exactly at nine o'clock. Please, come in, Your Excellency Renly."

Renly smiled politely and waited for Emma to invite him further inside. Once she did, he nodded, folding his umbrella before stepping in. He placed the umbrella in a nearby iron bucket and began removing his wet jacket.

In many noble households, the housekeeper would take care of hanging up guests' coats as a sign of respect or intimacy. Renly had experienced this at Matthew's house, where the host would take the coat as a gesture of closeness.

However, this was not the Hall or Dunlop household, but the Nolan residence.

Renly noticed a young boy standing nearby, whose features—though softened by youth—carried traces of Christopher Nolan's expression. The boy, polite despite his nerves, bowed slightly. "Lord Renly, may I hang your coat for you?"

The boy looked around fourteen or fifteen, with a growing frame. Behind him, two other children peeked from the stairs, secretly observing, while Flora stood eagerly at the entrance.

Renly chuckled, amused by the scene. "Of course," he replied, handing his coat to the boy.

The boy, now identified as Roy, took the coat and hung it on the rack with precision. Renly waited for him to finish before offering a warm smile. "Thank you, Mr. Nolan."

The other children burst into laughter, covering their mouths. "Mr. Nolan! He called him Mr. Nolan!" they teased. Flora's tinkling laughter joined in.

Roy blushed, shooting a playful glare at the others, then turned to Renly with a slight bow. "I'm Roy, not Mr. Nolan, sir. Or rather… Your Excellency."

Renly grinned. "You can just call me Renly," he said with a wink. "I'm trying to look younger."

Roy Nolan, the eldest son of Christopher and Emma. The Nolan family had four children: Roy, Oliver, Manus, and Flora—three boys and one girl.

Christopher had a tradition of using his children's names as code names for his film projects. For example, The Dark Knight was dubbed "Roy's First Kiss," Inception became "Oliver's Arrow," and The Dark Knight Rises was "Manus-Rex." This time, the working title for Interstellar was "Flora's Letter."

Christopher was protective of his family's privacy, rarely mentioning them in public to ensure they could live normal lives outside the spotlight. Few people knew the names of Christopher's children, and even the use of their names in his projects remained obscure.

Renly had only learned about this naming convention through Andy and, when he was invited to visit, made sure to be respectful of the family's privacy.

As he gazed at Roy, Renly couldn't help but smile. Roy, with a curious blink, remarked, "But you're very young."

Renly chuckled, realizing the compliment. "Thank you!"

"Roy!" Emma's voice called from the hallway, her tone slightly more stern now. "Why haven't you invited Lord Renly in yet? It's rude to keep guests standing at the door."

Emma, like Christopher, was clearly well-educated and aware of the social norms of their class. The couple's understanding of etiquette was apparent in how they conducted themselves.

Emma's nerves, however, were still on edge. Her simple t-shirt and slacks, with her hair hastily pulled up in a shark clip, reflected the rush of the morning. It was clear she had prioritized the children's needs over her own appearance.

"Please don't worry, Ms. Nolan," Renly replied, his tone warm and understanding. "The rudeness is mine. I should have remembered what mornings with children can be like."

Emma's relief was palpable. Renly's respectful and considerate manner helped ease the tension. "Thank you," she said, "If you'd follow Roy, he'll show you to your father."

"Of course," Renly agreed, ready to proceed.

Roy, still slightly in awe, looked at Renly and gestured, "Lord Renly, please follow me."

"Your Excellency," Roy corrected himself quickly. Though Renly had tried to downplay the formality, Emma's insistence on the proper title reminded them both of the distinction between them.

Renly followed Roy, quietly appreciating the subtleties of the Nolan household's dynamic.