"Mommy! You found Arlo!" Alan jumped up and went to go hug Valerie and the bunny.
"Where was he?" Alan asked.
"Oh, he was under a low table near our room." Said Valerie, quickly making up a lie.
"I knew he couldn't have gone far! Oh, thank you, mommy!" Alan thanked his mother once more before heading off to the garden to nibble on fresh lettuce with Arlo.
Valerie sighed and felt someone behind her so she jumped and turned around as quickly as she could. She saw it was just Rave and placed her hand on her heart in an attempt to slow it down.
"Lord! Rave!" Valerie said, punching the man in his arm.
"Sorry Val. Have you found Arlo yet?" Rave through his arms up, then rubbed the spot he got hit, then lowered his arms back to his side.
"Yes, turns out Malphus had him. Apparently, he hadn't abandoned the bunny." Valerie said.
"So, maybe then he hasn't abandoned you." Rave dragged his words out lifting his eyebrows up and down.
"What do you mean?!" Valerie asked out of shock, she hadn't told many people about her and the bunny being compared.
"What? You didn't think I knew about you and Malphus meeting in the woods and him deciding to make you his, then doing the same thing with a bunny?" Rave asked casually.
"Who told you?" Valerie asked, feeling betrayed.
"I heard some other maids talking about it." Rave hunched his shoulders.
"Right well I-" They heard someone clear their throat and they turned around to see Malphus standing there his back leaning on the corner of the wall, his arms and legs crossed.
Valerie and Rave both took a step back. They were standing so close together it was hard to see past them, but that was only because they had grown comfortable with each other and hadn't even noticed it until they were caught red-handed.
"Making out with other men already I see. No matter that, you'll get your punishment later. For now, I need you to come with me." Malphus said, standing up properly. Valerie and Rave both slightly blushed at the remark. Then Rave was sent a death-finding glare and he immediately stopped blushing and lowered his head.
"Bye Rave." Valerie waved her friend off and he sent her a slight smile.
"What is it that you need help with," Valerie said once they were in Malphus' study.
"Nothing. I enjoy your company and so I'd like to have you around while I work." He stated the truth. Valerie blinked as if he said something like he was pregnant and she was the father.
"Have you seen a ghost?" Malphus asked as he closed the door and went to sit down at his desk.
"No, I'm fine. So, how was your day." If Malphus wanted her in the room she didn't want to sit there silently and watch him work.
"It was fine. I went to a play, I think it was nice. I'll take you to see it some other time." One part of Valerie's mouth curled up into a smile. Of course, he would take her to see whatever play he saw because he thinks she'd enjoy it.
"Of course," Valerie said, trying not to fall down the same rabbit hole twice.
"So how was your break?" Malphus asked, he hadn't looked up at her since he sat down.
"Alan wasn't very fond of Oscar, he didn't want to do anything with him," Valerie said disappointedly.
"That's horrible." Valerie knew he didn't think it was horrible because she could see a smile resting on his face.
"But, we had fun because yesterday we went fishing and swimming. Then we had a small fish banquet." Valerie said, happy that she could make something out of the time they spent in Valerie's hometown.
"Great, then we'll go fishing and swimming and have a fish banquet. I'll have time planned for next weekend." Malphus said scribbling something down on a piece of paper aside from his paperwork.
"There's no need. I'm sure there are things that need your attention more than we do." Valerie said, hoping for the stubborn man to change his mind.
"I have enough time to play in the water after 3 pm Saturday," Malphus claimed, knowing that's not why Valerie was insisting on him not making plans.
"If you insist, I must go now. Alan has to be hungry by now even though he likes to nibble on the lettuce outside with Arlo." Valerie said, not meaning to incase she and Alan were to get in trouble.
"Alright. Before you go though, don't clean my study while I'm not in here." Malphus said, finally looking up at Valerie for the first time in this conversation.
"Yes, sire." Valerie had already opened the door and just in case someone was there as saw this happen, Valerie would be acting like a servant so no suspension rises.
She walked off to go find Alan and make him eat, while Malphus sat in his study thinking 'finally back on track'.