Chapter Text
You have had to work against the clock the last days, since it was officially announced that they would come to plan the stay of new siblings of sin in the abbey, the people who come to evaluate barely gave you all time to put things in order, it was especially difficult now that there are fewer people than when you arrived, Herlinda had to go to take care of a sick relative just before the announcement was made, so there were only Eudora, Jack and you for the tasks, Cardinal with his good heart tries to help , but even with his skills there are other things he has trouble doing, like laundry, and it wouldn't be proper either way.
You felt like you got struck by a witch’s cammock when from your room you hear them arrive; you hear the voices go to the living room, but you perceive there aren’t many people, two to be exact, you go out in search of Eudora, whom you find adjusting her dress in front of a mirror in the hallway near the dining room.
“Is the Cardinal not with you?” she asks looking at you and fixing the straps of your pants and your sleeves.
“No, I haven’t seen him, I took a shower…” you try to explain, but she’s still thinking of making you look presentable.
“We’re ought to be presented to these new people, I would feel more comfortable if you two were here” You couldn't believe what you were hearing her say, she, feeling safer with the Cardinal around when there are strangers in the house, Eudora is absolutely adorable, and it makes you so glad that she's warming up to her master.
“Where’s Jack?” you ask her.
“The luggage is being lowered from the carriage, he’s doing that, I have seen so many suitcases through the window, they must belong to many people...” she tells you while walking to the living room.
You approach the living room, she knocks on the door, you hear some loud words, you think someone is upset, she lets out a sigh when Sister's voice allows you to pass. When you enter, you cannot find Mr. Saltarian in sight, in fact there is no one in the room except Sister, he approaches you, you see that the doors that lead to the tea room are half open and some voices come from there.
“Finally, you’ve arrived, maybe having you here will calm him down” says Sister to you, the three of you walk towards the tea room.
When the doors are slammed open and you see Papa Emeritus III come out with that smug air you remember, and the Cardinal behind him with his arms folded, refusing something they must have been talking about alone, his face softens when seeing you in front.
“Bellissime creature” says Terzo, joining his gloved palms very satisfied.
He introduces himself giving an unnecessarily loud ovation and kissing the hands of the two of you, you see Sister roll her eyes, the Cardinal introduces you both, this time he couldn't help but say your name.
“Bongiorno” he says looking right into your eyes, even though, is the evening “Did I scare you little one?” you didn’t notice that you took one step back when he talked to you, you have to remind yourself to not give yourself away.
“N-not at all” you answer once he let your hand go. You have to do better.
“Do you want me to?” he said in a deep tone, you look away at your co-worker, who is stiff-bodied, you don't remember when you've seen her like this, maybe she's realizing that he's one too and she's never been so close. You don't know if Eudora is scared or she is nervous, she just looks tense.
“Terzo, leave them” says the Cardinal behind him, snapping him from his gaze, he fixes his raven black hair, looking unbothered.
“Now, now, let’s not get heated again, I promised Sister that I’m not hypnotizing nobody here” he explains, you can only hope he respects that promise.
He looks at you and Eudora, inquisitive, that's when you remember that at the dance you had your face covered and that you and she look alike, you remember when you met her and you even thought she could be your sister, he's trying to find out who of the two is the one that vomited on him, but by promising not to hypnotize anyone in the abbey, he will have to use his intelligence.
“Good, now…” Sister starts speaking to you all, but gets interrupted by the Cardinal who’s striding towards the liquor table.
“Now leave to your room, you must be tired, you rat-rider” he says in a serious tone, trying to sound calm.
“Oh! Those nasty little things” Terzo says as Sister leads you and Eudora to the sofa near the fire “Good thing I bought my kittens with me” you open wide your eyes, you don’t want the rats to be hunt down “Although, I much rather like more of a…”
“Sister!” calls the Cardinal, like a boy calling for mother when his older brother doesn’t let him play.
“Stop it now, the two of you” says Sister resonant, already massaging between the eyebrows “Remember that the property remains with the Cardinal, Papa, we are lending the premises only because he is part of the clergy, the abbey is more than suitable as you can see, but it’s still his”
“You understand, ottuso? The abbey is not owned by the clergy, ergo, nor by you” You can see that he is facing him with his arms at his sides, he looks with a determined mannerism.
“You really have rules here, no hunting inside, no hypnotizing, but the nasty rats get to stay and walk around…” says Terzo in a complaint, sighs, you can see the Cardinal trying not to lose patience.
“It is for the safety of the employees” Sister Imperator reminds him.
“Anyway… I like what I’ve seen so far, I can’t wait to see the rest of the staff, and the abbey of course. Very fine land, Cardinal, I can see myself living the rest of the winter here…” Papa says strolling slowly in front of you and Eudora.
“You? Live here?” refutes the Cardinal giving a stomp.
“And I assume you have an adequate place for rituals, speaking of rituals and staff, I haven’t been introduced to a beautiful rugged man that helped me with my luggage” says the black-haired man as he sits at ease on the next sofa. Even though you're not looking at it, you can feel her gaze on you, or it could be with Eudora, who is still as rigid and silent as a statue. You hear someone knock on the door.
“Come on in” Sister says, funny enough it was precisely who he wanted to see “Papa, this is Jack…” Sister introduces him and explains the tasks he does, Terzo jumps from the sofa for the introductions, Jack with a smile extends his hand to greet Papa, a smile that fades when they have contact, he must feel that he is not human. Even so, he maintains a good countenance and is kind.
“Well hello, mi bello, how do you do?” He takes the big hand between both of his “What an impressive handshake such throat crushers you have”
“I beg your pardon?” Jack asks confused.
“Papa, we must have respect between us” Sister reminds him.
“I’m being respectful” he says in a whine tone.
“I trust you’re smart enough to understand exactly what I mean, Papa” says Sister patiently still near the fire, not bothered that much for his words.
“I will tell you this only once, Terzo” speaks the Cardinal getting closer to him, standing between him and Jack, his face tells he doesn’t know who to be wary of, while Cardinal stands on his side puffing his chest “They are hard-working people, and you don’t get to treat them like your butlers and whores… unless they want to, but still! They’re not your employees, I’m the one that responds for them and they will be treated with the respect they deserve. Understood?” Eudora takes your hand without taking her eyes off the three men, you are surprised by both the gesture and the determined words of the Cardinal.
“Look at the child, pretty teeth grew a pair” Terzo says in a raspy voice, somehow you can’t be scared of neither of them, you just hope that his voice wasn’t so velvety.
“You ankle-bitter!” says Copia a little altered.
“We’ll finish this tomorrow, gentlemen” Finally, Sister says something to put an end to this awkward exchange between them. She herself makes the signal to Jack, Eudora and you that they can go to rest, Copia also excuses himself to go out next to you, Sister can't convince him to stay.
“Piccolo pezzo di mer…” Copy whispers as he walks out the door, but Sister manages to hear him and shuts him up.
“Copia!” she scolds briefly.
“Alright!” he yells looking back. In front of you, you see that Eudora takes Jack by the arm, he seems much more relaxed, you even think you see that he smiles a little.
You plan to stay with him late to calm him down or just accompany him, you put a hand on his shoulder, he looks at you out of the corner of his eye, you were on their way to the garden again when Jack and Eudora stop and turn around.
“Good night, sir” Jack says, as he extends one hand to him, the Cardinal stares wide-eye for a second before he shakes his hand “I think I never properly apologized for… that day”
“Not necessary, good night, to you both, listen, anything you need…” Cardinal says rather tenderly.
“Thank you, sir” says Eudora effusively taking his hand into hers. They both go to their rooms, talking under their breath.
“Amico, what just happened?” the Cardinal ask you, surprised with a little sweet toothy smile.
“I think you just won them over, sir” and it was to be expected, they did not expect their master to defend them in this way, especially since that day, but their loyalties are assured between them, since it finally became clear to them that the Cardinal sees them as human beings and not food or toys. Maybe even because they have a force to resist in common.