Chapter 59, Therapy for the Broken Man

Chapter 59, Therapy for the Broken Man

...They seem nice, Kreig said somewhat off-handedly. Darius scribbled something in his notebook, glanced up at Kreig, and nodded for him to continue. Maybe if Kreig had known them better he could have had more to say. As it was, he barely knew what they did for work, if they had any friends or even what they thought of him in turn. George is a bit fussy. Sam seems childish.

Is that a bad thing?

Kreig thought for a second, his eyes wandering up above Darius head, into the grassy green outside. Not in everyone, no. Children should be childish. Soldiers shouldnt.

Who told you that?The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

My old lord. A raven-haired man with little regard for any life apart from his own. Perfectly content to remain in his own castle, looking down at his guards and soldiers like pawns in one of his games. Even then, he was not a bad man, so much as he was a selfish man. Somehow, somewhere, it felt alright, just speaking like this. Neither forced nor unwanted. And Darius seemed genuinely interested. Not afraid, not unhappy, just there. A listening ear.

Isnt it bad to be selfish?

Kreig gave a quick scoff. Youd think that. I did at first. He only saved me from the execution block to use as his own personal guard, to curry favour with the Emperor. But he did it for a good reason. He had a son, see. Cute kid. Wanted to be a soldier like anybody. That kid was my Lords everything. Had nobody else. Hed kill anyone for that kid.

Darius wrote something down. Did you know the child yourself?

Kreig paused a moment. The reality of the kids short little life flashed before his eyes, and for a moment, it felt like he was in his arms again. That golden-haired little kid that only wanted to become like him. His smile that had the same scent as the flowering lichens crowning his Lords mansion. Young. Tender. Go-,

So, Darius watched carefully as Wiedemann thought the situation over and finally nodded, accepting it.

Im glad, Darius said. The next time we meet well talk more about a thorough plan. Thank you for being truthful today. Ill see you next week.

Wiedemann seemed a bit taken aback by the abrupt end, but as usual, he didnt question Darius orders in the least. He stood up, gave an appreciative look, and wandered away. The height of simplicity. Very alike the man, and not something that Darius expected to change anytime soon. And that was fine. This would not go quickly, and even then, it would leave scars. Wiedemann would never return to being the Kreig he used to be, but he can grow into becoming a better Wiedemann.

That was what Darius hoped for. If he was allowed to work in peace and if Wiedemann remained placid and passive, he could surely get there.

While waiting for his next client, Darius quickly took out his phone and wrote a short mail to George Wiedemann, speaking in warm tones about how Wiedemann had left a mere minute ago and that he had opened up rather easily, though that this in Georges case might be more of a danger to look out for than anything good. Darius had not missed the look on Kreigs face when he thought about that child. If Darius could get him to such a point with minimal probing, having his own brother ask the simplest questions could likely get Kreig to a similar point or even beyond. If the latter happened, it might cause something terrible to occur.

Darius wrote openly about his worries without great detail and then placed his phone back in the inner pocket of his jacket.

There was a knock at the door, signifying that Darius next client had already arrived. Early just as Wiedemann had been. Darius stood up and confidently strode through his apartment until he reached the door, where he gave no thought to hesitation, merely pushing it open to greet someone he knew better than Kreig in some regards.

Hello, Doctor. Am I long? Gerald asked, standing in the doorway, dressed from top to toe in what he clearly considered to be very uncomfortable clothes.

Not at all. Come on in, Darius invited, stepping aside to let the boy enter.