Chapter 68: The First Step III
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"I am glad you are alright," she said. "Earlier I ordered you to bathe. If you were offended, then I am sorry. I know you are not a child anymore."
Sekhmet’s throat tightened slightly at the sincerity. In Null, apologies were not common. Power made people lazy, and pride made them cruel. Elena was neither lazy nor cruel.
Sekhmet stood and bowed his head slightly, not as a noble to a servant, but as a person to family.
"Do not say that, Auntie Elena," he said. "You raised me. Father always said to treat you as family. You have been with him since he was young. You raised me from a baby. You are like a mother to me. You are the headmaid of the house. I respect you."
Elena’s eyes glistened for a fraction, but she blinked it away with practiced control, like a soldier swallowing emotion.
"I am glad to hear it," she said, voice steady again. "Because if you ever start acting like those arrogant young masters from the other houses of the city, I will beat you with a broom and call it discipline."
Bat Bat, perched on the shelf again, burst into laughter.
BatBatBatBatBat!
Sekhmet looked at the bat.
"That is not laughter," he said.
Bat Bat nodded confidently.
"It is laughter," it insisted. "I laugh bat style."
Elena’s gaze flicked to Bat Bat.
"So this is the creature causing panic in my kitchen," she said.
Bat Bat puffed up.
"I not panic," it said. "I inspire."
Elena snorted.
"You inspire my servants to forget how to work," she replied, then looked back at Sekhmet. "And you, young master, inspire them to trip over their own feet like newborn deer."
Sekhmet sighed.
"I noticed," he said.
Elena’s sternness softened again, turning into teasing.
"You used to be quieter," she said. "When you were little, you would hide behind your father’s coat whenever guests came."
Sekhmet’s face tightened.
"That is not true," he said quickly.
Elena smiled like a blade.
"Oh it is true," she said. "You would peek out just enough to see if the guest had sweets. If they did not, you would vanish again like a disappointed spirit."
Bat Bat flapped excitedly.
"Sweets," it said. "I want sweets."
Sekhmet glared.
"No," he said. "You are not eating sweets. You will explode."
Bat Bat blinked.
"Explode," it repeated as if considering it as a hobby.
Elena continued, clearly enjoying herself now.
"And do you remember when you were eight," she said, "and you tried to practice chaos reinforcement by punching a training dummy."
Sekhmet’s eyes narrowed.
"I was training," he said.
Elena nodded.
"Yes. Training. You punched it and screamed because you hurt your own hand, then you accused the dummy of cheating."
Bat Bat fell into louder bat laughter.
BatBatBatBatBat!
Sekhmet’s ears warmed.
"That dummy was unfair," he said stubbornly.
Elena’s smile widened.
"You also tried to bribe me to punish the dummy," she said. "You offered me three chaos stones you stole from your father’s desk."
Sekhmet’s face went red.
"I did not steal," he said. "I borrowed."
Elena’s eyes glittered.
"You borrowed permanently," she replied. "And your father laughed so hard he nearly choked on tea."
Bat Bat hopped down onto the bed, eyes shining.
"Master small," it teased.
Sekhmet pointed at it.
"You were not even alive," he said. "I was bigger than you."
Bat Bat nodded.
"I still know," it said confidently. "I am smart."
Sekhmet opened his mouth to argue, then closed it, because arguing with a bat was a new low he refused to accept.
Elena finally waved a hand as if ending the humiliation session.
"Enough," she said, though she looked pleased. "It is good to see your face again, young master. Even if you still look like you want to fight the furniture."
Sekhmet exhaled slowly.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Elena’s expression shifted. The warmth remained, but duty returned, firm and clear.
"Oh, I almost forgot why I came," she said. "Your father is away. Which I told you earlier. And your uncle Ben, the head butler, has gone to help him."
Sekhmet’s jaw tightened slightly.
Elena continued.
"They knew you would arrive soon. They may return after a month or two, depending on business." She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a sealed letter. "They left this with me."
Sekhmet took it, fingers steady.
Elena did not leave. She stood beside him, like she always had, present and protective. She was not prying. She was supportive. If the letter carried bad news, she would rather he not face it alone.
Sekhmet broke the seal.
The paper smelled faintly of ink and spice, his father’s signature scent, like business and stubbornness.
He unfolded it.
Elena leaned in slightly, reading with him, not because she lacked manners, but because in this house, she had earned the right.
The letter was written in his father’s neat, firm hand.
{Sekhmet,
If you are reading this, then you returned alive. That is good. Do not let it make you arrogant. Surviving is only proof that you have not yet failed.
I am away on business that cannot be delayed. Your Uncle Ben will be with me. Do not waste time looking for us. We will return when we return.
Until then, you will handle the Dawn House trade routes, shop and accounts. The vice general manager will assist you, but the final decisions will be yours. You are twenty now. This is not punishment. This is your responsibility. It’s also training for you.
You must not go outside the city until we come back. Also, do not sit inside the house and rot in comfort. Learn how the world moves, how money moves, how power moves. A merchant who stays in one room becomes prey for better merchants.
Rest if you must. Heal if you must. But then move.
When I return, we will speak.
Your father. }
Sekhmet stared at the letter for a long moment.
There was no tenderness in it.
No "I missed you."
No. "I am glad you survived and finished your training. No mention of my mother."