Chương 174: Dig His Own Grave and Then Backflip Into It

The Guthrys brought Dimitri back from their village. In some cases, being out in the countryside, without the pressure and stress of a bustling, chaotic city, could help a person relax and recover without too much external stimulation. However, the countryside didn't always have the medical specialists and technology to meet the particular needs of someone sick or injured. That seemed to be the case with Dimitri. He wasn't exactly thriving in the village.

The letter from Madam Guthry was sent from Horizon and was a mother's desperate cry for help. After Dimitri had his breakdown, he was taken back to his family's village about a day's travel west of Horizon not only to recover, but to distance himself from the problems with his project, Lycée, and Alessa. From what Tori heard, his mother had gone with him, as his father was finishing his term. As expected, his father was not reelected by his peers to serve another term. While Mr.

Guthry was still acting as a representative of their area, it was no longer necessary for him to live in Horizon year-round. The Prime Minister's mansion was vacated for the next Prime Minister. Mr. Guthry had returned to his village and only came to Horizon for large Chamber meetings. In those meetings, Tori was polite to him, but she never asked about Dimitri. She'd overheard some other chamber members ask about him and Mr. Guthry had been avoidant.

According to Madam Guthry's letter, her husband had been furious with their son and seemed ashamed. Their marriage had become strained, as well. Madam Guthry wanted her husband to pay more attention to their son after Dimitri's breakdown, but Mr. Guthry found little to be sympathetic for. He didn't say Dimitri deserved it, but he didn't excuse Dimitri either. This resulted in some resentment on both ends. Tori didn't think that needed to be shared.

In Soleil, she was a sixteen-year-old noblewoman, not a couples therapist, though she had her fair share of listening to relationship gripes in her original world. She understood Madam Guthry's frustration and resentment with her husband, but she also understood Mr. Guthry's frustration and resentment with their son. After all, Dimitri was the card that folded and sent the entire house down because he was negligent and did, and said, something stupid.

Not only did he tarnish his father's reputation, but his family's legacy, and sabotaged his own future. Despite all the backstory in the letter, the main point was that Madam Guthry wanted to know if there was anything with crystals that she could use to help Dimitri, as he wasn't eating or sleeping well, he was highly irritable, and didn't seem to have any regard for his own life at the moment. He had lost a lot of weight, with Madam Guthry's letter calling him 'skin and bones'.

Dimitri could barely walk and remained in bed. He refused to eat, and his mother had to beg him. He simply laid in bed and stared at the ceiling or out the window. He seemed to have given up, though just a few weeks earlier, he had been much more volatile. Tori theorized it was due to being taken away from Alessa and her influencing charm for so long. Was there a detoxification process? Was Alessa's charm strong enough to make the withdrawal symptoms so volatile?

I had wondered about how he was doing considering the effect of the charms, so I guess this is my answer.... Tori took a deep breath and exhaled as her carriage bounced along. She couldn't believe this was how she was spending her day. Just a week earlier, she'd been lazing on a water hammock with her friends. Now, she was taking a carriage to a rented residence to see one of her enemies. Dimitri was one of the favorites in the game if she remembered correctly.

He was somewhat influential, especially in Lycée, both as the number one ranked student and as the Prime Minister's son. He had fallen fast enough in his rankings thanks to Ilyana's hard work and determination to crush her enemies. That had been a big blow to his confidence and his social strength at the school. Because of him, his father was questioned, his family was investigated, and there was no longer a Prime Minister Guthry. That was a blow to his background.

Yes, Tori had hoped to chip away at him from the beginning, but who knew he'd dig his own grave and then backflip into it? The more they had found out about his failing project and his weak attempts to rectify it, the more they had wondered if Dimitri was an idiot. It wasn't just her and her circle of friends; their entire class had watched Dimitri go from this ideal student on a pedestal to someone they would shake their heads at when brought up in conversation.

His demise was also tied with Alessa, yet Tori noticed Alessa didn't face much criticism for her lack of oversight. She was painted as a victim, which was true, but it wasn't as if she was completely innocent of the ceiling collapse at the abbey. Some sort of protagonist halo? Maybe simply good PR? Gideon and Fabian hadn't involved themselves much in it.

Tori didn't know if it was because they witnessed the collapse or had been present in the throne room when Ilyana punched Dimitri in the face, but whatever the reason, they didn't coddle and protect Alessa like they would have in the past. At most, they were casual friends with her and helped in mundane ways, such as asking for an oven for her club. Gideon didn't pay for anything. He didn't buy her things. Even his words of support weren't as fervent as before. It was almost performative.

Fabian was the closest of the love interests in Lycée to Alessa recently, but considering that Dimitri had been suspended and Montan was in a transitional state escaping from his abusive home and trying to build a relationship with his estranged half-brother, thus having no time for her, being 'close' to Alessa didn't say much. Tori didn't think they'd ever completely cut ties with Alessa. They still wanted to support her and help her; they just weren't as obsessed with doing so.

Tori could only hope that was enough to prevent her own future and death. She looked out the window. They were in the fifth district, which still had plenty of aristocrats, but it wasn't the same as living in the first district in the Prime Minister's mansion. Tori had given the address to Mr. Novak when he picked her up at Lycée's gates that morning. The ride wasn't far at all, but she found she had a hard time imagining the former Prime Minister family living anywhere but at the mansion.

The carriage slowed to a stop in front of a townhouse with four stories and a peaked, black-tiled roof. The number on the gate was the house number Tori had been given. It was beautiful with black iron gate work and an almost Gilded Era style. I swear this game is just pulling styles from everywhere.... It was an elegant home, but much smaller than the mansion. It lacked a proper front yard, but right across the street was the district's main park, making such a yard or back garden unnecessary.

The location was still affluent. In fact, the Martin Estate was on the other side of the park. She'd gone with the others a few times when Albert invited them over. Her carriage door was opened, and Tori stepped out. There was no one waiting to take their carriage or lead them to a place to park, as there had been before.

"My lady, I will park across the street. Please call when you are ready to leave, and I will bring the carriage around," Mr. Novak told her. Tori nodded.

"Perfect. Thank you, Mr. Novak." The two Piers-assigned knights helped take down a box she'd packed from the back luggage rack of her carriage and followed up steps behind her carrying it. Tori lifted her hand and knocked on the door, half expecting for a sickly woman to answer. She had already notified Madam Guthry that she'd pay a visit today. The door opened and a gray-haired maid answered politely. Her eyes were downturned, and she carried an air of sadness around her.

The feeling permeated the house as Tori stepped into the foyer and looked around.

"Countess Tori." A woman's voice caught her attention and she found Madam Guthry waiting for her at a doorway to another room. She bowed her head.

"Thank you for coming." She was thinner and appeared older than Tori remembered her. The perkiness in her voice was also absent.

"Madam Guthry, how are you doing?" Tori walked across the foyer and held out her hands. Madam Guthry grabbed them as soon as she could and squeezed them hard. She gritted her teeth and seemed to hold back.

"I am well." No, you're obviously not.

"Please, have a seat in the parlor." Madam Guthry gave her a little tug and Tori followed. She looked over her shoulder.

"Please bring the box here and then wait for me outside," she told the two knights. Madam Guthry seemed to notice them for the first time.

"Guards?"

"I've apparently done a lot of eye-catching things recently, and my family is worried for my safety," Tori said with a wry smile. The two knights were in plain clothes and appeared just like any other civilian. Madam Guthry nodded and led Tori to a plush, tan sofa.

"Lucille, please bring us some coffee and pastries," Madam Guthry said as she took a seat. The gray-haired maid nodded and stepped back to let the two knights out before seeing them out the door and going to the kitchen. When they were alone in the room, Madam Guthry, who hadn't let go of one of Tori's hands, choked back a cry.

"You have been through much since the last time we met," Tori said in a soft voice. Madam Guthry's eyes shut tight, and she nodded.

"What did I do wrong? I tried to raise him to be a conscientious young man and to always be cautious with his actions because he would be scrutinized if he made a mistake, yet...." She trailed off and shook her head, her gaze looking out into the empty space ahead of her.

"No parent can guarantee that their child will be what they want them to be. You can only try and hope for the best," Tori told her. In her original world, her parents wanted her to be a doctor and that didn't happen.

"Your letter...."

"Yes, I apologize for the sudden contact. I know that after everything that has happened since last summer, I have not reached out to you. And then my son wronged you...." It's not the first time.

"That has little, if anything, to do with you, Madam. It is between myself and your son."

"Regardless, you must be confused as to why I sent you a letter without warning." Madam Guthry let out a small bitter laugh.

"I almost expected you not to answer, let alone pay a visit." Tori shook her head, dismissing the thought.

"Even I have limits with my rudeness." She squinted.

"Why didn't you call me?"

"A few months ago, Dimitri had violent rage and threw my comcry. I lost my contacts." That was a weak point in the comcry system. The comcry themselves were built to be sturdy, but they were still just crystal and whatever other material encased it. Crystals broke and there was no way around that fact.

"I see. I was surprised to receive it from you. I read the letter thoroughly and I'm sorry that you've been going through this. It is not your fault or Mr. Guthry's. You must understand that there were consequences to your son's actions. Or in this case, inaction." Madam Guthry nodded and lowered her head.

"I know he brought this on, but as his mother, how can I stand to see him wasting away? When he was in a rage, at least he was on his feet, but now it seems as if he's given up." Tori had thought about telling Madam Guthry about Alessa's charm and its possible withdrawal when pulled away from it, but decided against it. If she told Madam Guthry and all the blame was put on Montan, who gave Alessa the charm not realizing how problematic it could be, then Montan would be drawn into a very troublesome situation.

Montan was ignorant of what harm his charm could do outside of the user. Tori had gotten the text on laws pertaining to charms from Kasen and from what she looked up, Montan's negligence would be punished depending on the severity. From what she estimated, he'd be fined and maybe have to do some public service work for two weeks to a month. However, Dimitri, the son of a high-profile man, was the victim of the charm. It could be argued that Montan's charm influenced the Guthry family's fall from grace.

If that were the case, Mr. Guthry could push for a heavier sentence. Of course, Axton would not sit still if his brother were in trouble, even if Montan accepted his punishment. Axton's godmother was the Empress and no matter how neutral the parties should and tried to be, there would be some bias whether they liked it or not. In the end, Tori decided to go with the 'let's not make this any more complicated than it needs to be' route.

"When did he start to become like this?" Tori asked.

"A month and a half ago. He began to eat less and less. Sometimes, he'd refuse meals. His refusal to eat has become more of an occurrence. When he had the breakdown, I thought it was terrifying. His screaming, his flailing arms, him grabbing his head and shouting that his mind was ripping apart... the loudness hurt, but the silence hurt more." Tori pursed her lips. She often saw Dimitri rubbing his head. Perhaps that was the after effect of the charm?

"Does his head still hurt? And has he given a reason?" Madam Guthry took a deep breath and shook her head.

"He no longer complains about headaches. He hasn't said anything about why he's like this, but it's quite clear: his project, the suspension, the family...." Tori narrowed her eyes a bit, but didn't respond to that. The maid returned with a small tray of coffee and pastries. She placed them on the low table in front of them, but no one reached for a snack. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Tori took a deep breath.

"Madam Guthry, you asked for my help in your letter. There is little I can do. I'm a sixteen-year-old student and while competent with crystals, I'm not considered a master. I'm afraid the knowledge I have won't suffice." Madam Guthry's eyes reddened.

"Since the investigations started, many of our acquaintances and connections have distanced themselves. We didn't ask for any financial assistance or for others to speak up for us, but we hoped for some trust. Now, we're like pariahs. It didn't help that Dimitri had fits of rage and terrified those who came to visit. Our relatives are hesitant to see us... no one visited us in the last few months in our hometown! And his father... his father keeps working and doesn't pay attention to him.

I know he blames Dimitri, but Charles is still his father!"

"All right, all right...." Tori pulled her hand back and then reached forward to embrace the sobbing mother.

"We don't know what Mr. Guthry is thinking in this unforeseen situation. Everyone is upset and uncertain of what lies ahead. That makes people more anxious and irritable. People panic more and lose their rationality." She patted Madam Guthry's shoulder as she sat beside her. After a few moments, the older woman collected herself and took a deep breath. She exhaled slowly and looked back at Tori.

"Countess, I reached out to you not knowing if you'd respond. I only hope that you could perhaps talk to my son." Tori tried not to cringe.

"Madam... your son hates me. They told me he tried to put the blame for the abbey ceiling collapse on me."

"I'm sorry-""It's not your fault. I'm only saying that there is no precedence for your son wanting to talk to me. Why would he listen to what I have to say?"

"The Countess transformed a vacant marshland with refugees into a thriving town in a few years," Madam Guthry said with a hint of awe.

"I have been around politics most of my life, my lady. I know what kind of opposition you would be up against. You would not be able to do so much if you didn't have the ability."

"I also have a name and money behind me," Tori replied. She didn't want unreasonable expectations placed on her because she got lucky and was competent.

"Even with those, I can't always do what I want, and everything is finite. Right now, I'm trying to earn money."

"All I ask is that you try to talk to him," Madam Guthry said, gripping Tori's hand once more.

"He won't speak to myself or anyone.... I don't know what else to do." Part of Tori thought it was ridiculous that Madam Guthry would reach out to her of all people for help, but if nothing else was working, she supposed the mother was desperate. After all, Dimitri was her only child. Tori let out a low breath and gave her a nod.

"All right. I've come this far. I can at least greet him." For the first time since last summer, Tori saw a glint of joy in the woman's eyes. Tori rose to her feet and Madam Guthry eagerly led her to the stairs and up to the second floor. Madam Guthry knocked on the first wooden door on the right and waited for a response. Tori craned her neck, but didn't hear anything. Madam Guthry knocked once more, and this time spoke.

"Dimitri, you have a visitor." She grasped the door handle and gave it a slight push. The wooden door creaked open, and Tori could smell a musty scent. She tried not to make a face as Madam Guthry walked into the dim room. The curtains were closed over the windows, except for the one closest to the simple bed pushed into the corner. Dimitri was in what looked like a white night shirt, sitting up against some pillows and the headboard as he slowly turned his head towards Tori.

She knew it was a serious situation, but couldn't help but think he looked like a patient in a World War One hospital, wondering how his life turned out that way. Then again, maybe that was what he was thinking. Tori took a deep breath and readied herself for any extreme response from him. She stepped into the room.

"Guthry." His dull green eyes settled on her for just a moment before he turned his head back towards the window. Tori looked back at Madam Guthry and gave her a small nod. The other woman was hesitant, but stepped back into the hall, only closing the door part way. Tori's eyes scanned the room. A chair was in one corner and on the simple wooden nightstand was a jug of water and a glass. Without a word, she made her way towards it and moved the water and glass to an empty desk out of arms reach.

The most Dimitri could throw at her was a pillow, though from the look of him, it wouldn't have much force. In addition, she always felt she could kick his ass under normal circumstances, so she wasn't afraid of him. If he came at her with all his strength, she wouldn't be gentle. Still, she carried the chair towards his bed, but kept out of hitting range.

"Are you happy to see me like this?" His hoarse voice reached her ears as she took a seat. She looked up, a bit surprised that he said something, though it sounded as if he were picking a fight. That was not nearly the depressed reaction she thought she'd get. Now that she thought about it, of the love interests, Dimitri was always the one who came to her and argued the most. He was the most vocal supporter of Alessa, even when compared with Gideon and Adrien.

Was Dimitri prone to arguing with her even when he was like this?

"Why do you people always assume that I'm happy to see you suffering?" Tori asked with a frown. If he wanted to argue, they would argue.

"Just because I am doesn't mean it'll make you better or worse, so why be concerned with it?" Dimitri's thin, hollow eyes narrowed, and he looked back at her.

"Why are you here, Guevara?" There was some irritation in his voice.

"Your mother asked me to come take a look at you," Tori said in a helpless voice.

"I don't know why she came to me, but I'm guessing it's because you're in a dire situation and she didn't know where else to go. I heard you won't eat, and you've been lashing out at people."

"I don't feel like eating." He began to turn away again.

"Even if you don't feel like it, you should eat. If you don't eat, you die," Tori said as she leaned back against the chair and thought for a moment.

"Is this about Baroness Hart?" A spark flashed through his face, but it quickly disappeared. He frowned more and glared at her.

"This isn't her fault." Oh... defensive until the end, eh?

"Okay, then who's fault is it? Is it mine?" Tori asked, raising a brow.

"If it's mine, explain to me how. Where is your proof?" Dimitri scowled.

"You blame me."

"Yes, I do," Tori said.

"You weren't careful, and people almost died. I thought you knew about the problems at your craftsmen school."

"I knew and tried to fix it."

"You didn't do a good job."

"Guevera, are you here just to aggravate me?" he clenched his hands over his bed sheets and turned to look at her with a scathing glare. His face had some color from his fury and the corner of her lip curled up.

"I miss our little arguments, Guthry," she said in a light voice.

"I kind of miss beating you at them." He scoffed.

"You don't beat me."

"Just because you don't accept it doesn't mean it's not true. I'm more rational. You just spout the same nonsense over again." She chuckled to herself.

"I hope you learn to organize your arguments better when you go back." Dimitri froze for a moment.

"You think I'll go back?" Tori nodded.

"Why wouldn't you? You're more than halfway through finishing Lycée. It would be a waste to drop out at this point. Suspension is only a temporary hold and from what happened, you needed the break." His eyes crinkled up and he looked at her as if she were insane.

"What do you mean I needed the break? Do you think I can't control myself?" It was as if he was ready to fight her at every corner. Tori stared at him for a moment. My dude, you are wearing a several day old, ripe night shirt on a bed you won't get out of, refusing to eat or talk to your mom, who loves you more than anyone else. Clearly, you are unable to handle the consequences of your actions in a healthy manner.

"It's not about control, necessarily. You were overwhelmed. Maybe you can control the direction of a stream, but you can't fight an ocean. That's what I think happened. It was wave after wave of issues, slowly eroding the shore, weakening it, and then when the big wave came, it couldn't stand against it. It happens. And while I know there were ways to have managed the situation better and prevent the ceiling collapse, I also know that at the time, perhaps you did not have the capacity to handle it in those ways.

You are still responsible, but I must consider the context." Dimitri's eyes began to redden.

"I didn't want it to happen."

"I know."

"I didn't know that the construction materials would be cheated. I didn't-""You have a lot of you didn'ts, Guthry." Tori cut him off and narrowed her eyes.

"Inaction nearly led to a tragedy. Will you continue inaction? Will you do anything?" Dimitri scoffed and shook his head.

"What can I do? I've been suspended. I can't go to school - I'm a laughingstock. I can't work on my project. They won't allow me to. I can't make it up to the abbey or the children or Alessa. I can't do anything."

"You can eat." Tori leaned forward a bit and wore a tiny smile.

"Eat a little more. If you're wondering what that will do, it will keep you alive." She saw him opening his mouth and she continued.

"Keeping you alive will put your mother at ease. If your mother is at ease, your father is at ease. If your father is at ease, he can work properly. He can think straight. He can give you guidance." Dimitri sneered.

"My father doesn't want to look at me. He's not going to give me guidance." Tori took a deep breath. There was such a possibility, she couldn't deny him. At the same time, she remembered Madam Guthry's pale, sunken face and the fear and sadness that filled the house. She didn't like Dimitri, but she couldn't bring herself to leave his family like this. She sighed and rubbed her forehead.

"Sack of rice...."

"What?"

"I'm looking at you," Tori said as she lifted her head and met his eyes with some defiance." I will give you guidance." He seemed to want to laugh, but she cut him off once more.

"Many people have money. Many people have a name. But how many of them can build a town in two years with refugees in a marshy wasteland?" She didn't want to have to use Madam Guthry's words, but if she could just get Dimitri to eat, to do one thing, then she could press him to do more.

"You're a very arrogant woman, do you know that, Guevera?" She held out her hands.

"You should've known that from the start, Guthry." She sighed.

"I'm not asking you for much. Just eat. If not for yourself, for your mother. If you're alive, you can do better." Dimitri narrowed his eyes and looked down at his hands on his lap.

"I don't understand why you want to help me after what I've done and what I've said. I'm sure Agafonova told you. What is your ulterior motive?" He looked at her with suspicion.

"Helping your mother," Tori replied in a droll voice.

"Believe it or not." She rose from her seat and walked to the door. She pulled it open and saw Madam Guthry standing there nervously.

"Madam, please call for the maid to bring up the small heated food box in the case I had carried in." Madam Guthry didn't ask any questions. She nodded and rushed downstairs. Tori lingered by the door and looked back at Dimitri. He looked confused.

"You brought me food?"

"It's porridge. If you haven't eaten well for a while, it's best for you to start with something like this so you don't upset your stomach," Tori said.

"It's a small bowl. If you eat it all, I'll leave you alone." Madam Guthry came back leading their maid, who held a wooden tray and a small hand-sized bowl with some light brown porridge. Tori thanked her and carried it into the room. The maid rushed in behind her and earnestly placed the tray over Dimitri's lap.

"Please enjoy, young master." The maid's eyes looked at him fondly; she must've been with the family for some time and watched Dimitri grow up. Dimitri looked down at the food as the maid left the room. Madam Guthry stood with Tori and waited for Dimitri to pick up the spoon. He simply stared at the small bowl.

"What did you put in it?" Tori blinked. She gave him a quizzical look.

"Do you think I need to put something in it to make you worse than you are now?" She saw him clench his jaw.

"I'm not eating it."

"Dimitri! The Countess-" Tori lifted her hand to silence his mother behind her.

"Madam Guthry, can I have a moment alone with him?" Madam Guthry didn't think anything of it and immediately bowed her head and scurried outside. The door closed behind her, and Tori kept her eyes on Dimitri. Perhaps it was her look that made him sink back against the pillows he was leaning on.

"What are you going to do to me?" he asked. Tori said nothing as she moved her seat closer to the side of his bed.

"You know, if you've really given up, you wouldn't put up a fight if you really think I'm poisoning you," she said in a quiet voice.

"Guthry... sometimes it is easier to tell your problems to a stranger so that no matter what their reaction is, you don't give them enough emotional weight to be hurt by their reaction. While I'm not a stranger, I am someone who has a very, very, very low opinion of you. In addition, you already hate me. Whatever you tell me and whatever my reaction will be won't hurt you. So... if you do want to talk, I will listen." He turned his head away.

"I have nothing to tell you."

"Then, I'll leave after you eat the bowl. It's not big. Perhaps not even a dozen spoonfuls," Tori said, glancing at the small bowl on a tray over his lap.

"If you do one thing today, please eat."

"Stop telling me what to do, Guevera."

"What can I do to get you to eat?"

"Leave."

"Eat first." They were at a stalemate. Tori watched him carefully. If he tried to flip the tray, she'd have to avoid the porridge. Dimitri gritted his teeth and glared at her.

"Do you not like chicken? My niece loves it. I made this for her before. I know she was only trying to flatter me, but she said that it was the best food she'd ever eaten." Dimitri snorted.

"She hasn't seen the world."

"Well, she and her brother were brought up in the abbey's orphanage." The hardness on Dimitri's face faltered. His eyes flickered towards her.

"They're orphans?" He narrowed his eyes.

"But aren't your brothers alive?"

"My second brother, Kasey, adopted Fiona and her older brother from the abbey," Tori said casually.

"He came with me when I went to re-do the blessing dance and they found each other."

"Were they... were they hurt when the ceiling fell?" Dimitri asked in a hesitant voice. Tori inhaled deeply and was quiet for a moment.

"Fiona had a few scratches, but was fine. We met Robert not at the orphanage, but at the hospital. He lost everything below his left knee." Dimitri's face paled.

"He's that boy?" he asked, his voice breathy.

"The child who lost his leg?" Tori nodded.

"Robert Benedict de Guevera de Rivere. His second name is after Instructor Ignatius. I don't know if you remember him, he quit this year to work in my delta, but he and my brother are good friends," Tori told him.

"Robi and Fifi left with my brothers for Presidio at the beginning of the week."

"Is he all right to travel? What about his leg?" Dimitri asked. Some time had passed since the ceiling collapsed, but time didn't seem to connect in Dimitri's head.

"He's all right to travel. His wound has healed well. They're riding in a carriage and doctors and medical craftsmen are waiting for him in Presidio to fit him for a prosthetic." She paused and studied Dimitri's expression.

"I'd say he's doing better than you are right now. He lost a leg, but got a doting father... an amazing aunt. Last weekend, we were in Viclya, and he and his cousins were gorging on festival snacks while playing in the water." Dimitri's eyes were red once more.

"Then... he's fine?"

"He's doing as well as he can in his situation and every day he is trying hard," Tori said.

"Our family loves him very much in the short time we've had them. When I asked if he feels uncomfortable talking about the ceiling collapse, he said no. He was scared and worried about his sister, but at least they got a dad. His words. Not mine." Dimitri seemed to nod his head, dumb.

"Good... that's good.... And... your brother likes him?"

"Kasey loves him. He even brags about him to Axton and the others," Tori said with a light laugh.

"He says that Robi is smart and talented like him. Robi is sensitive to charms, like him. Robi is a fast learner and patient with his sister. The gods brought him two children that were meant to be Gueveras; he felt it in his bones."

"This brother was the one at Marquess O'Tuagh's wedding? The one who looked like you?"

"Yes, Kasen de Guevera."

"He sounds like a good father. My father also...." Dimitri trailed off and looked down at the porridge.

"Guevera... I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Whatever it is, it's temporary." He had a breakdown, then withdrawal from the charms that likely aggravated his nerves, it made him erratic and now he felt helpless from what she observed. She was by no means a professional, but what he was going through wasn't something the medical professionals of Soleil could help with. All the ones the Guthrys had gone to said he was going crazy.

"How are you sure?"

"Gut feeling." Tori shrugged. She met his gaze firmly.

"This will pass, but how quickly it passes will also depend on you. First, you should eat and rest. Stay away from what is causing your problems, which is what you've been forced to do. Eating will keep up your energy. You won't feel as tired or weak."

"I see... and then?"

"Then, move around. Take walks. Walks help clear your mind and improve your physical health. Then, we can talk more." His eyes stayed on hers.

"You want to talk more?"

"How can I guide you if I don't talk to you?" Tori asked.

"Talking to people is good. And this process may take time. Some days, you'll feel as if you're not yourself and can do nothing. Other days, you'll feel almost like your old self. That's normal. The latter will one day overcome the former. I believe you can do it." He seemed hesitant to believe her." You believe I will get better?"

"Guthry, I didn't think you'd get this bad. I don't just believe you will get better; I think it's a matter of time until you do. I'm just trying to speed up the process for your mother," she said.

"You made mistakes, but I don't think you're the type of person who will do nothing to rectify them." At least not when Alessa is directly involved.

"I fully expect you to learn from what happened and to do better because no matter how much I personally dislike you, I think you are responsible and willing to try to make up for your mistakes. You will never be able to give Robi back his leg, but you can make it, so such a thing never happens because of your ignorance again." Dimitri looked down at the cooling bowl of porridge. His pale, thin hand rose and picked up the metal spoon. Tori didn't say a word as he brought a spoonful of porridge to his lips.

As he put the spoon in his mouth, his eyes closed. She didn't know what he was thinking. Without a word, he continued eating. The room was silent except for the light sounds of a metal spoon against a ceramic bowl every so often. Finally, the last of the porridge was eaten and Dimitri put the spoon on the tray. His eyes were still fixed on the bowl.

"I don't understand you, Guevera." Tori exhaled slowly and looked at the bowl, as well, wondering what she'd gotten herself into.

"Sometimes, I don't understand myself, either, Guthry." She shook her head.

"Your friends... will they be upset that you're willing to help me?" Tori raised her eyes and met his.

"Upset? When Ilyana finds out, she's going to punch you again."