10 – Cypress Mosaic

“Did ​he ​actually ​let ​him into the ​room?”

At ​Lorenz’s ​surprised ​question, ​Margaret replied with a ​faint ​smile.

“It took two ​days, but he ​did.”

“Still, ​he ​let ​him ​in.”

Unless ​it was someone ​the ​child ​had consistently interacted ​with, the boy refused ​to let ​anyone into ​his room. ​Because of ​this, ​Lorenz ​had prepared himself ​for the ​worst-case scenario: the counselor ​failing to even set ​foot in Lucas’s room ​and leaving ​the ​mansion like a defeated soldier. Fortunately, ​it seemed they had ​avoided ​such ​a ​misfortune.

“At ​first, he stayed ​in the ​hallway ​outside the room ​with ​the door left open.”

A slight ​smile appeared ​on ​Margaret’s lips as ​she ​recalled ​the ​scene.

“What ​kind of ​treatment ​is done ​in a hallway?”

“He said it’s important not ​to force it. ​He mentioned that ​it was crucial to ​let Lucas ​get used to ​him ​gradually, staying within ​a distance that ​Lucas permitted.”

“Hmm…”

Lorenz’s ​expression ​soured.

While he ​had ​prepared for ​the ​worst, he ​had ​also ​harbored a sliver ​of ​optimistic hope. ​He ​had ​expected ​that a psychological counselor specializing in children might be able to capture the child’s heart the moment they met. But to think it took several days just to enter the room.

However, he admitted to himself that such an expectation had been somewhat excessive.

“Lucas spent time reading books or drawing in the drawing room of his suite, while the counselor did the same in the hallway outside the open door.”

“Is Lucas drawing again?”

At Lorenz’s hopeful question, Margaret shook her head.

“He seemed interested in the counselor’s drawings.”

“So that was the catalyst for letting him in.”

“Since he doesn’t seem hostile toward the counselor, I think we can be optimistic about the future. The fact that he’s letting a stranger into his room and spending time with him… for now, that alone is something to be grateful for.”

“I’d like to see for myself how he spends time with the child.”

The two stepped into the elevator.

“Then let’s stop by for a moment.”

Margaret pressed the button for the second floor, rather than [stolen content]the visit our sitethird where [Read on Read BL Novels]Lorenz’s bedroom was located.

“I’m told the counseling is mostly conducted like play. He blends in naturally with the child while observing his behavior and environment first. Perhaps that’s why Lucas seems to be adapting well without any resistance.”

“Is he with the child all day? The other lessons must still proceed as planned.”

“Yes, I told him so. He mentioned that he could observe Lucas’s lessons if necessary. The counselor finishes work at 5 PM every day.”

After speaking, Margaret looked back at Lorenz, who was pressing his fingertips against his temples. A look of pity surfaced in her eyes.

“Shall we postpone the meeting with the counselor that I mentioned over the phone?”

“I think… we should.”

He had planned to have a consultation with the counselor and the guardian after returning home today. However, in his current state, it seemed utterly impossible. The pain was excruciating, as if a chisel were being placed against his temples and struck with a hammer.

“Is the level high?”

“It soared to 100 during the business trip.”

Upon hearing the number, Margaret’s eyes darkened with surprise and worry. Realizing he had made a mistake by mentioning it, Lorenz hurriedly added,

“It has dropped to around 70 now.”

But she showed no sign of being relieved.

If the level exceeds 80, all external contact must be cut off immediately. Therefore, 70 was not a level one could be complacent about.

“70 is still a high number. You should go see Dr. Carver…”

Lorenz interrupted her, his voice soft but firm.

“Getting intravenous suppressants too often isn’t good either. You know well how potent they are, Margaret.”

Feeling Margaret’s distressed gaze, Lorenz forced a smile.

“I’ll be fine after taking a sleeping pill and getting some rest.”

Margaret’s complexion remained grim, but knowing she couldn’t persuade Lorenz, she didn’t press further.

“Ah, and Margaret, please have a car ready tomorrow morning at 8.”

“But Mr. Lorenz, it’s the day after your trip. I thought you would leave a bit later.”

Usually, after a business trip of several days, Lorenz would push back his start time by half a day to recover his condition. Margaret couldn’t understand why he was rushing to work earlier than usual, especially when he was in such poor physical shape.

However, Lorenz seemed to have made up his mind.

“There is a place I must visit.”

The elevator doors opened, and the two crossed the second-floor hallway.

Lucas’s room was opposite the master room used by his father, Damon Lockhart.

Beyond the large entrance door was a private drawing room; to the right of the drawing room were the bedroom and bathroom, and to the left was the study. It was a layout where one could live without great inconvenience even while shut away in their own room. That didn’t mean he could be left to stay within that small world forever. It wasn’t a matter of convenience or inconvenience.

When Margaret knocked, a response came from inside.

Opening the door only halfway, Margaret first explained the situation to the counselor, who was not yet visible to Lorenz.

“Mr. Bellotti, excuse me. Mr. Lorenz has returned home.”

“Then, shall I greet him now?”

A voice sounded as if the person were about to stand up.

“He says he just wants to see how the counseling is conducted for a moment. Would that be alright?”

“Yes, of course.”

Following the counselor’s answer, Margaret spoke to the child in a tender tone.

“Lucas, your brother Lorenz is back from his trip. Shall we go say hello together?”

Lorenz could imagine the child hesitating to answer with a reluctant face.

Even before his father passed away, the child had been wary of strangers. Even if he was called ‘brother,’ to Lucas, Lorenz was also just a stranger he didn’t know well.

The same was true for Lorenz.

He didn’t know much about Joshua Lockhart, despite sharing half the same blood. So, Lucas was a given.

Margaret glanced back at Lorenz for a moment and then opened the door wider.

The counselor and Lucas were sitting side by side on the carpet of the drawing room, using the sofa table as a desk with sketchbooks in front of them.

The child’s visibly tense figure appeared first, followed by the counselor.

A young man with brilliant, bright blonde hair stood up.

For a moment, it felt as if the sun had risen inside the room.

Sapphire blue eyes gazed at Lorenz.

It was as if stars were embedded in the sun.

“Hello, Mr. Lockhart. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Elian Bellotti.”

“……”

Despite the other party offering a greeting first, Lorenz could not respond.

He had spent his life exchanging such greetings thousands, tens of thousands of times in business and social gatherings. Yet he stood frozen, like someone who had just started learning a foreign language and couldn’t get the greeting out of their mouth.

It was definitely that man.

8:43. East 46th Street.

An Adonis who seemed sculpted from ivory and rose petals.

There couldn’t possibly be two people with such an appearance.

“Mr. Lorenz?”

Only after Margaret urged him in a small voice did Lorenz finally regain his composure.

“I am… Lorenz Lockhart.”

His own voice sounded as if it were coming from somewhere far away. For instance, as if he were currently dreaming, and his voice was echoing from outside the dream.

The eyes, which seemed transparent enough to stolen contentsee through, were [Read on Read BL Novels]overwhelming to [stolen content]maintain contact with for long. Avoiding the gaze looking straight at him, Lorenz spoke to the man while keeping his eyes on Lucas.

“Don’t mind me and please continue. I was simply curious about how it’s proceeding.”

“Yes, then.”

Before sitting back down, the man patted the small shoulder of the child who was looking up at Lorenz, offering encouragement.

“Lucas, shall we say hello to your brother, and then continue drawing?”

With a frightened gaze fixed on Lorenz, the child stood up. As expected, he was clutching his doll tightly in his arms.

Although his father had doted on him quite a bit, Lucas was a child who had been properly educated in etiquette and manners. Despite that, instead of speaking, he simply bowed his head in greeting. Lorenz responded with a short nod.