Gerome had been worried about his mother ever since the coming-of-age gala. He hadn't stayed until the end of the event because his mother had chased him out of the palace immediately after the first dance. However, Effie's current condition seemed even worse than the last time she had secluded herself.
"Does no one know what my mother is doing inside her chambers?" Gerome stared at the hunched butler of the mansion. Other than pouring tea into his cup, the man offered no answer to Gerome's question. "Why do you not answer me?" Gerome didn't even touch his tea.
The butler bowed even deeper, so low that Gerome grew slightly concerned for the man's spine. "There is nothing for you to worry about, my Lord."
Gerome snorted audibly. His mother wouldn't come out, and he wasn't even allowed to approach her room. Truly, Gerome could not let everything go according to this hunched butler's whims.
