Aaron did not understand what Watson was trying to say. His Senirips face was a mask of confusion.
The conversation had left him feeling isolated and uncomfortable.
The dining experience had been particularly dull; plus, it increased the sadness he felt.
Kris's abrupt departure had only deepened his discomfort, leading Aaron to question his own existence.
Was it his fault that he was born as a Senirips ? Was his presence to blame for the melancholy that seemed to surround him?
Confined to his room, Aaron felt trapped. The mansion's vastness was overwhelming, and he knew only his own room.
He had ventured out briefly but had returned to the familiar solitude of his space.
Bored and restless, he tried to distract himself with books and novels, but nothing held his attention. In a moment of desperation, he decided to ring the bell by the door.
The heavy steps of the nanny approached, and she appeared soon after, her expression neutral. Aaron greeted her, although his look was not trusting.
"Is there any place in this mansion where I could find something to do? I need to entertain myself."
The nanny considered his request thoughtfully. "Well, there's the garden. It's a lovely place for a stroll and some fresh air."
Aaron shook his head slightly. "I'm looking for something more active. I enjoy playing soccer, though I'm not very good. Is there a volleyball court or something similar?"
The nanny's eyes brightened as she understood. "Ah, I see. There's a recreation room with a pool table. You might find that engaging. It's a bit more lively than the garden."
Hearing her, Aaron's face immediately lit up with interest. "That sounds perfect. Thank you!"
The nanny nodded and left.
Aaron followed her directions; he was both confused and lost as he walked in the corridors that had narrowed parts and were not very bright.
A kid can't walk alone in such dark corridors; if not, they would run to their mommy.
Although the mansion was beautiful in a way that could not be described, the architectural features made it too scary to walk alone.
With no one around on the big, wide path to make noise, Aaron's steps echoed.
Aaron's steps continued to echo in the corridors, and before he was scared, he now walked with ease.
As Aaron continued to walk, the thought that he was lost now came to his mind.
The corridors looked exactly like each other, and anyone would have gotten lost or confused if they weren't paying close attention, and Aaron wasn't paying attention.
Walkingin that narrowed path alone, Aaron became more scared. If he was scared the first time, he was at level one, and now his fear level had reached level two.
It was as if he was trying to scare himself as he moved further, and his stiff legs seemed to buzz with anxiety.
Finally, Aaron reached a place with many paintings.
The painting depicted a man with silver hair and striking blue eyes. The man's face was both captivating,
carrying the beauty that any person would be jealous of.
The painting was so captivating, and Aaron couldn't resist moving closer to watch more, although his body had given him some warning signals!
Where had his feet taken him? The paintings were all gone; Aaron stared at the empty corridor; he wanted to go back!
No more beautiful paintings to watch.
About to turn back, heading to his room, Aaron heard noises coming from the dark corridor that was empty.
What made such noise?
Who wouldn't want to check? Aaron gave up the idea of going back to his room. He followed the corridor and continued forward.
His footsteps echoed softly as he walked.
The noises that had been coming from the dark corridors kept on coming. Aaron did not want to give up,
and he kept going forward; his interest was already there, and he wouldn't throw it away for anything.
At a certain point, Aaron arrived at the place where the sounds were coming from.
It was a door before him, and behind that door, the sounds he heard before kept coming, louder and more powerful than before.
The door had a crack in it, showing a little view of the inside,
which was already a sign for Aaron, pushing him to go in.
He had already walked into the room. The room's whiteness and art display of the same beautiful man welcomed him.
Aaron moved forward to look at the paintings of the beautiful person.
His hands traced the paintings almost as if he were touching the beautiful image itself.
Busy touching the paintings, Aaron saw a very realistic painting.
He went up to it and was about to touch it, but he stopped halfway.
His eyes widened as he recognized the silver-haired man from the painting.
The face and everything else was strikingly similar to the artwork he had just seen on the wall seconds ago.
After a moment, the thoughts came: Aaron realized that he had walked into someone's place, someone's home.
"I'm sorry for intruding. I was looking for the pool table and must have wandered into the wrong room."
The man turned slowly, his silver hair catching the dim light.
His face, both angelic and devilish, was framed by an enigmatic smile that seemed incongruent with his appearance.
"It's alright," he said softly. "You're not disturbing me."
Aaron's heart raced. He knew he had trespassed into a private space.
He wanted to leave; that fear came to his body, making him self-conscious,
and he regretted his previous decision, but still, he tried to maintain composure. "I didn't mean to intrude. I was just exploring."
The man's eyes, though beautiful, held a depth that made Aaron feel as though he were being scrutinized. "Are you new here? I don't recognize you. Are you a member of this family?"
Aaron nodded; his body had already been in attention. "Yes, I'm a Senirips who just married Kris. I'm still getting used to everything here."
At the mention of Kris's name, the man's smile faltered momentarily before returning to its previous calm.
Aaron, absorbed in his nervousness, didn't notice the shift. "I see. Well, if you're interested, I could use some company. Let's talk about art."
Aaron's curiosity had long been piqued after what the man said. "I'd like that."
The man gestured to a nearby painting, his tone shifting to a more introspective quality.
"This is one of my favorite pieces. Do you see the emotion in the man's eyes? It's a reflection of a deep internal struggle."
Aaron stepped closer to the painting, examining it, still very interested, as the man permitted him.
The figure displayed in the painting was similar to the man standing before him, with silver hair and an intense gaze.
"The eyes do seem to tell a story. What inspired you to paint this?"
The man's eyes softened as he spoke.
"It's a portrayal of inner conflict, something I find fascinating. Art allows me to explore these themes in a way words cannot."
Aaron nodded, agreeing with him and much interested. "It's captivating. I've never seen art that feels so… personal."
The man smiled, with his face caring, an expression that had deep meaning. "Art is indeed personal. It's a reflection of the artist's soul, often more honest than any conversation."
Aaron glanced around the room, noting the various artworks that adorned the walls. "Do you always paint yourself? I noticed that many of your pieces feature the same figure...um you..."
After Aaron asked, the man's gaze grew distant for a moment, fully lost in thought.
"Self-portraits can be a way of exploring one's identity. Sometimes, it's easier to understand oneself through the reflection in a painting."
While listening, Aaron's interest and understanding deepened; he had a lot of questions to ask but kept them to himself
. The man seemed like he wouldn't want to give answers to those questions that might carry meaning to him;
he needed to be careful around the man.
The man looked at Aaron with a probing gaze. "So, are you enjoying your time here so far? The mansion can be quite overwhelming for newcomers."
Aaron hesitated, then replied honestly. "It's been a bit lonely, to be honest. Kris is often away, and I'm still trying to find my place."
The man's expression softened slightly. "Adjusting to a new life can be challenging. Sometimes, finding solace in unexpected places can help."
The man talked well; Aaron appreciated his insight. "Thank you. It's reassuring to hear that."
The man shifted and nodded. "You're welcome. Feel free to visit again if you'd like to talk more about art or anything else."
Aaron: "..."
Aaron's cheeks flushed slightly at the man's warm smile. "I'd like that. Thank you for your time."
The man carried a smile on his face as he watched Aaron leave the room.