Hollywood Zenith

" Why did you wake up so early? Are you hungry?" Samuel grabbed and lifted her onto his lap. Her hair was messy and he could also see her puffy eyes probably because she cried last night.

"No.." She simply shook her head denying but her stomach made a loud growl which made her embarrassed. He knew that she fell asleep without having dinner so he urged Henri to prepare something for her first.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

" There is no need to be shy about it. We will have your favorite french toast but before that why don't you wash your face and brush your teeth first? I will accompany you after you freshen up?" He wanted to check on the intruder first but Elise firmly held his t shirt refusing to let go. Feeling her nudge herself onto his neck, he knew he couldn't leave her.

" Young master?" Henri was waiting alongside few maids who were there to take Elise but in the end he told them that he would take care of it.

" We will go on a little walk first."

" Should I-"

" No need. I know my way around this place, you guys just focus on other things. I will be back soon." After saying it he carried Elise out the door.

It was a chilly morning so he wrapped her in a thick blanket and also put on a soft fur jacket for extra measure.

The sun was barely up giving the whole place a mysterious feeling with a lot of fog and white smoke. Surrounded by lush trees and green hills, the place was serene and peaceful.

He could see thin layer of frost, knowing that it was mid January, there was a large chnace that he would capture first snow of Paris before he leave this place.

" Look, isn't it beautiful?" He whispered softly which made Elise pull her head out of the blanket.

She saw the familiar scene that she began accustomed to in the Estate especially where Samuel's mansion was, it too was surrounded with forest which was much more dense than what they had around this castle but it's garden was more impressive spanning hundreds of meters at the entrace giving a feeling that they were standing in a valley of colourful flowers!

" Un!" She nodded her head vigorously but then she realised that she was still sulking at the moment. She gave him a look which was full of dilemma but more than that she felt like he cheated her!

" Bad Sami!" She exclaimed threatening to take revenge by grabbing his ear. Seeing her playfulness, he went along with her and begged for forgiveness.

" I know I was wrong. I know that Elise is a good girl always worry about others." He patted her head lovingly.

" No... because of me big sister got hurt." She said meekly.

" It's alright. No one blames you. It's that horse that was bad, should we go and punish him?"

" punish?"

" Yes, Elise also didn't follow others advice and did something bad but everyone knows that yiu didn't mean to do it right?"

" Yes! I didn't know that it would happen."

" But now you know to follow others advice and not be a naughty girl. If you promise me that then I will help you punish that bad horse!"

" I.... don't know." Unfortunately, Elise was still feeling guilty about it. Since she and Helga couldn't converse, she didn't know that Helga had already forgiven her. She did hug Elise when shebwas crying but the little girl was not perceptive about it. She felt like she would be hated by her in the end.

" Don't you trust your Sami? Me and your big sister talked last night and she said that she is happy that you weren't hurt. Everyone was worried when you started crying and apologizing because they never blamed you.

I told you that there are different variety of animals, some of them are more understanding and wouldn't hurt you but some of them would attack because they are still unsure about their surroundings." He tried to elaborate but it was something that even adults would find it hard to believe Samuel could only use some flowery words for the little girl.

" Are they magical?" Elise asked staring at him to affirm her ridiculous theory. How else would one explain seeing baby deer, horses and wolves running around the place in harmony?

" That....I think so. That's why I warned you to stay away from other animals, they don't have powers to understand you. If you want to do something, ask other people first and always be careful so that you wouldn't get yourself or others hurt in the process." He ended up going along with it. At least in this way, she wouldn't run to wild animals or dogs in the future.

As long as she didn't get herself in a dangerous situation, Samuel was fine with it.

" Okay, I promise." Hearing her say it, he breathed a sigh of relief.

In the end, they first went to the stables to find that mischievous horse. The grey horses was being tended to by some staff who immediately straighten their back seeing him visit them.

They were let off this time because he was merciful but Henri warned them not to let it happen again under any circumstances which was why when Samuel asked to let the horse out of it's pen again they were hesitant.

Elise being hurt and the master of the house being hurt were two different things. Even if such a though was reprehensible, Samuel did had higher standing in their eyes.

They didn't know whether to laugh or cry hearing his order. On one hand if they followed his order and something went wrong, they would definitely be fired this time along with several other severe punishments on top of it but on the other hand of they defied his orders, wouldn't it be blantant disrespect tp the new owner of the house?

Seeing their expression, Samuel knew what they were thinking. He didn't wait for them, just walked forward and unlocked the pen himself while still holding on to Elise in his arms.

The grey horse seeing the freedom before it's eyes again, didn't wait for anyone to react. It leapt forward much like last time and started sprinting toward the first person he saw which happened to be Samuel and Elise!