RP Log ~ Hugo
In which Cecile accompanies Hugo to shop for festival yukata, poor Hugo gets anxiety shopping at the tailors, fashion mishappes occur, and Hugo finally says outloud what's been on his mind.
With a few extra potch clinking together in the pocket of her skirt, Cecile stands by the front gates, waiting for Hugo.
Walking fast, Hugo heads towards the front gates. He lost track of the time, reading the book on pregnancy that Mathiu gave him, and he worried that Cecile had left without him.
The sound of footsteps against the stone walkway brought Cecile to attention. "Sir Hugo! I had a feeling that was you."
"I'm sorry I'm late, Cecile. I didn't mean to keep you waiting." Hugo comes to a stop in front of Cecile. He's having second thoughts about going shopping for robes (he's pretty sure his normal clothes would be just fine).*
"Oh, it's no problem," she smiles. "In fact, it has given me some time to relax. Today, I decided, I would not patrol at all, and I like looking out at the plains without keeping watch for bandits all the time."
Smiling, Hugo checks his pockets to make sure he's brought some potch with him. "I'm glad you were able to relax, Cecile. Everyone needs to take some time to themselves every now and then."
She takes his hand and starts to lead him across the plains to Iksay, her pace light and cheerful. "Of course! Sometimes though, it is easier than other times."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Hugo is quiet for a moment, before continuing. "Cecile, I've never been to a tailor before."
She pauses momentarily, then continues walking, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Oh, it's nothing to be afraid of! In fact, it's fun! It's nothing like a visit to the doctors."
Hugo squeezes Cecile's hand back, and smiles nervously. "If you say so ..."
"I do," she answers in an authoritive tone. "Of course, you will have to stand still when they measure you."
"I can do that!" Hugo chuckles. "Afterwards, I have to see if I can get something for Fubar."
"Fubar is not going to try wearing robes, is he?" The thought makes her giggle.
Hugo laughs at that. "No! If I tell you what I'm buying, you can't tell anyone else though."
A secret! It was too tempting. "Of course I will not tell! You keep my secrets, Sir Hugo."
Barely able to conceal his laughter, Hugo turned to Cecile. "I'm buying Fubar a doll! When we were little, he used to steal Aila's doll to sleep with."
"A doll?" She gave a rare mischievous grin. "He is fortunate Lady Aila returned to Caleria for a while."
"Actually, I think Aila's the fortunate one!" Hugo grinned devilishly. "She never did figure out why her doll would get chewed up!"
Cecile shakes her head, but is unable to supress her grin. "How unfortunate. I think Fubar will love that gift."
As the two walk into Iksay, Hugo begins to tense up. He's knows it is silly, he's just going to the tailor's, afterall. Nonetheless, he goes quiet.
At first his silence goes unnoticed, as seeing the village upon arrival always gives Cecile an excited feeling. Even though it is close to Budehuc, any trip away from her home feels like an adventure. "I know just where to go, so follow me!"
Hugo slows down, so to any NPCS, it would seem that Cecile was dragging him to the tailor's shop. He gives Cecile a weak smile. "O-okay."
The tailor's shop comes into view and Cecile stops in front of it, looking at Hugo. "Are you all right?"
Hugo nods his head, more to convince himself than anything else. "Yeah - let's do this."
Making sure to release his hand, mostly because she does not want to embarrass him, Cecile opens the door and allows Hugo to step in first.
Hugo steps into the tailor's shop, and looks around. He can't recall seeing so much fabric in one place! He looks to Cecile, since he has no idea what he's supposed to do now.
Before the girl can open her mouth to respond, a large man with broad shoulders and a fearsome beard steps forward, introducing himself as "Dylan, the head tailor."
Hugo nods his head politely at the head tailor. "I'd like to buy a robe to wear to a festival," he explains.
The head tailor makes a muffled grunting reply into his beard and lumbers away, only to return moments later with a thick roll of measuring tape. Cecile gives Hugo a shrug and steps back to ensure his privacy.
Hugo looks back at Cecile, his eyes almost pleading with her not to leave him alone. He stands awkwardly in front of the tailor, waiting for instructions of some kind.
The tailor makes a handful of brusque measurements, scans Hugo's physique over with a trained eye, tromps away, and returns moments later with a handful of multicolored robes. "Festival season. You're a common size."
Hugo accepts the robes, and stands in the middle of the floor, looking about as out of place as Milich Oppenheimer would look in the middle of a dwarf city. "Erm..."
The tailor scuffles away again, and Cecile steps forward, placing what she hopes will be a reassuring hand on Hugo's shoulder. "The difficult part is done. Now you just need to try them on and pick your favorite!"
"Oh, okay. But ... where do I change?"
Cecile points to a modest changing room, the same one Flik and Cray used. "Right there, if that's okay."
Hugo follows Cecile's finger, and heads over to the changeroom, regarding the pile of robes as if they are tricksy creatures out to get him. Without looking, he grabs the first one from the pile and starts changing. "Has Martha finished fixing up your mom's robes yet?"
"Yes! She finished just yesterday, actually. The hem at the bottom needed to be adjusted. I guess my mother was a bit taller than me," she responds, sitting patiently outside the changing room on a simple wooden chair.
Fiddling with the robe, Hugo sticks his head out of the dressing room. "I don't know about this one, Cecile..."
"Why? Does it not fit right?" She stands up as if to help, but holds back, remembering her place.
"It looks funny..." Hugo wrinkles his nose.
The girl grinned. "It does? Maybe you're not used to them. Do you...ah, do you want me to look?"
Heaving a sigh, Hugo steps out of the dressing room. "I don't think it's supposed to look like this."
"Oh my gosh, no, it's not in the least!" Cecile rushes forward, tweaking at the enormous sleeves Hugo's arms drown in. "I think this is a tad too fancy for you."
"I'm like a wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tubeman or something!" Hugo laughs as he flails his arms around in the enormous sleeves.
She laughs and steers him back in the direction of the dressing room. "Try on another one. Even Sir Stallion will have trouble identifying you in that silly mess!"
Hugo grabs the next robe from the pile, and starts changing. He laughs - trying on robes isn't that bad. "Maybe for Halloween, then."
"That would be a sight to see," she responds, still trying to stifle the giggles from earlier.
Hugo steps out of the changeroom finally, a frown on his face. "I don't think this is it, either."
Where the last robe had been too extravagant in the sleeves, this one was almost spartan in appearance and stitching. It was too fitted for Hugo's figure, giving him an awkward, gangly appearance. "No, you're right, it's not," Cecile sighs.
Hugo trudged back into the fitting room, and awkwardly started taking off the robe. "Uh ... Cecile? I think I'm stuck."
There was an awkward silence. "...Do you need my help?"
With his head stuck inside the robe, Hugo couldn't tell which way to get out of the fitting room. His arms were trapped at the side of his head, to boot. "...Yes please. I can't get it off my head!"
Cecile's tendency to over-panic welled up. "Can you breathe?! Hold on, I'll help!" All former embarrassment gone, she rushed into the dressing room, halting momentarily at the bizarre scene.
"I can't put my arms down, Cecile. Do you think you could ... tug it off or something?"
"Tug it where?" Suddenly she felt hopelessly lost.
"I don't know - just tug? I'm stuck." Hugo stood awkwardly in the middle of the fitting room. Now, he wasn't so sure about trying on robes.
Floundering uselessly was not going to get them anywhere, Cecile decided. With surprising force, not enough to tear the fabric though, she gave the robe a strong tug on the back, the cloth loosened slightly.
Working his arms back and forth, Hugo managed to loosen the robe enough with Cecile's help to pull it off over his head. His hair stood on end, and he grinned. "Definitely not taking that robe!"
"I should hope not," she responded, giving into the urge and brushing down his hair in a motherly fashion.
"Thanks for your help, Cecile." Hugo gave Cecile a silly grin, and started rummaging around in the pile, looking for a robe that wouldn't be too big or too small on him.
Cecile nodded a curt response and hastily exited the dressing room, allowing Hugo his privacy again. "Perhaps next time you should hold the robe up to you and glance in the mirror first."
"I..I think this is the one, Cecile!" Hugo finished pulling the robe on. "Are you ready?"
"Of course!"
Hugo stepped out of the dressing room, wearing a brown robe, with detailing somewhat similar to the clothing that he wore everyday. "What do you think?
(In case my description fails, he's wearing this)
"It's lovely!" Standing up to get a better look, Cecile walked in a circle around him, noting not only the good fit but the light fabric as well. "And you are comfortable? No funny sleeves?"
Waving his arms around, Hugo shook his head. "Nope. And I can take it off without it getting stuck on my head too!" Hugo beamed happily.
"The colors are nice. Personally, I think you would have looked silly in one of those bright robes."
"I'm going to go change back into my clothes. Do you want to get some lunch before we go back to Budehuc?"
Cecile shakes her head. "No, I'm fine. I stopped by the cafe earlier to make sandwiches for myself and brought one to Luca as well. I don't have anything left over though," she tilted her head apologetically.
Hugo came out of the dressing room, the robe draped over his cast. "That's okay, I can get some cheesy bread back at the castle." The Karayan began walking over to the counter to pay for his robe, when he saw a pile of ribbons. "What colour are your mom's robes, Cecile?"
Following behind Hugo, Cecile waves her arms excitedly. "They're orange, of course. With small white flowers. Father once said she liked Lily of the Valley, so I assume that's what they are."
Hugo handed his robe over to the tailor, along with enough potch for it, and a white ribbon.
Using brown paper, the tailor wrapped up Hugo's new robe with surprising care, considering his huge hands, and placed the ribbons on the top. "150 potch payment."
Hugo slid the potch across the counter, and picked up his robe and the ribbons. "Thank you."
Dylan the NPC talior gave a sharp wave, then headed back into the storeroom. "I suppose he is a better tailor than a conversationalist," Cecile remarked as they left the shop.
"Maybe he's just a man of few words?" Hugo shrugged. He was pleased with his robes and he was spending time with Cecile. It was a good day.
"Now, just remember to take good care of them so you can wear them each spring," Cecile said, then halfway across the plains she paused and bowed in apology. "Ah! I'm so rude!! Did you need my help carrying that?"
"Well, you can carry the ribbons, if you like," Hugo replied. He was looking forward to getting back to the castle and having some cheesy bread.
Taking the ribbons in her hand with care, Cecile nodded and continued walking. "This was a lovely day. Father will be glad to hear about it."
"Thank you for coming with me, Cecile. I appreciate it." Hugo smiled at Cecile.
"I am glad you were more cooperative than Sir Cray and Sir Flik," she replied with a grin. "And see? It paid off. Now you will look handsome. I am sure that will make Sir Stallion's ears perk."
Hugo blushed slightly. "You really think so?"
"Of course!!! I mean, I don't know much about elves myself, but he always seems far more cheerful when talking about you." She paused. "Well...you, and food, of course."
Hugo laughed. "That sounds like Stallion, alright!" As they got closer to the castle, Hugo stopped walking and looked at Cecile.
She had not expected him to stop so suddenly. "Is something wrong?"
Hugo shook his head. "No, actually ... Cecile ... I haven't told anyone this, well, except Fubar, but ..." Hugo bit his lip nervously. "I think ... I think I'm in love with Stallion."
"Did you really need to tell anyone?" Cecile took both his hands in hers, her expression bright. "I can tell just from how you speak about him, and how he speaks about you. I guessed a long time ago."
"You mean ... he always talks about how he's glad we're friends and .... " Hugo looks at Cecile, his face slightly pink.
"There are different kinds of friends, Sir Hugo," Cecile replied and closed her eyes. "I love Master Thomas with all my heart, but there is a special spot set aside where he will always remain my friend, regardless."
"I know, but when he says it ... I don't know ... " Hugo turned his eyes to the ground.
"Maybe," she began, holding up a hand, "it is Sir Stallion who does not know. It sounds as though you are rather sure, but he might still be confused."
"Maybe ..." Hugo shakes his head and smiles. "It feels good ... to say it out loud."
The girl rubbed her nose shyly. "I'm afraid I really have no advice to give you, since I'm usually lost myself about how to act. But carry that feeling with you everywhere you go! Then nothing will make you feel bad."
Smiling, Hugo gave Cecile an awkward hug, on account of his cast and his robe. "Thank you Cecile ... for today."
Taking care not to irritate his arm and new purchase, Cecile returned the hug warmly. "You don't have to thank me all the time. I know you'd have done the same for me."
Hugo steps back from the hug and looks at Cecile. "Why do people always say that? Louis said that too when I thanked him before."
"Father told me actions speak louder than words, and he's not the only one I've heard say that. I knew you were grateful already, before you thanked me." Cecile paused. "But you can tell me next time anyways if it makes you feel better."
Hugo smiles, and starts walking back towards the castle. "What are you going to do for the rest of the day?"
"Well, I've already visited Luca with lunch, and Sir Sid was asleep. So I think for the rest of the day I will walk with the dogs."
Arriving back at the castle gate, Hugo tucked his package under his arm securely. "I should get back to the infirmary and check on Luca. But if you need some company later, come and find me, ok?"
Cecile saluted out of reflex. "Of course! You take care of yourself, and don't try on your robes until the festival! We can surprise everyone!"
"You bet! I'm going to put them in a safe place in the infirmary when I get back up there." Hugo chuckled at Cecile's salute.
"Well then, I will see you later," Cecile paused. "And check to see that Luca ate all his sandwich. He promised."
Hugo nods and heads towards the main part of the castle, smiling to himself.
With a few extra potch clinking together in the pocket of her skirt, Cecile stands by the front gates, waiting for Hugo.
Walking fast, Hugo heads towards the front gates. He lost track of the time, reading the book on pregnancy that Mathiu gave him, and he worried that Cecile had left without him.
The sound of footsteps against the stone walkway brought Cecile to attention. "Sir Hugo! I had a feeling that was you."
"I'm sorry I'm late, Cecile. I didn't mean to keep you waiting." Hugo comes to a stop in front of Cecile. He's having second thoughts about going shopping for robes (he's pretty sure his normal clothes would be just fine).*
"Oh, it's no problem," she smiles. "In fact, it has given me some time to relax. Today, I decided, I would not patrol at all, and I like looking out at the plains without keeping watch for bandits all the time."
Smiling, Hugo checks his pockets to make sure he's brought some potch with him. "I'm glad you were able to relax, Cecile. Everyone needs to take some time to themselves every now and then."
She takes his hand and starts to lead him across the plains to Iksay, her pace light and cheerful. "Of course! Sometimes though, it is easier than other times."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Hugo is quiet for a moment, before continuing. "Cecile, I've never been to a tailor before."
She pauses momentarily, then continues walking, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Oh, it's nothing to be afraid of! In fact, it's fun! It's nothing like a visit to the doctors."
Hugo squeezes Cecile's hand back, and smiles nervously. "If you say so ..."
"I do," she answers in an authoritive tone. "Of course, you will have to stand still when they measure you."
"I can do that!" Hugo chuckles. "Afterwards, I have to see if I can get something for Fubar."
"Fubar is not going to try wearing robes, is he?" The thought makes her giggle.
Hugo laughs at that. "No! If I tell you what I'm buying, you can't tell anyone else though."
A secret! It was too tempting. "Of course I will not tell! You keep my secrets, Sir Hugo."
Barely able to conceal his laughter, Hugo turned to Cecile. "I'm buying Fubar a doll! When we were little, he used to steal Aila's doll to sleep with."
"A doll?" She gave a rare mischievous grin. "He is fortunate Lady Aila returned to Caleria for a while."
"Actually, I think Aila's the fortunate one!" Hugo grinned devilishly. "She never did figure out why her doll would get chewed up!"
Cecile shakes her head, but is unable to supress her grin. "How unfortunate. I think Fubar will love that gift."
As the two walk into Iksay, Hugo begins to tense up. He's knows it is silly, he's just going to the tailor's, afterall. Nonetheless, he goes quiet.
At first his silence goes unnoticed, as seeing the village upon arrival always gives Cecile an excited feeling. Even though it is close to Budehuc, any trip away from her home feels like an adventure. "I know just where to go, so follow me!"
Hugo slows down, so to any NPCS, it would seem that Cecile was dragging him to the tailor's shop. He gives Cecile a weak smile. "O-okay."
The tailor's shop comes into view and Cecile stops in front of it, looking at Hugo. "Are you all right?"
Hugo nods his head, more to convince himself than anything else. "Yeah - let's do this."
Making sure to release his hand, mostly because she does not want to embarrass him, Cecile opens the door and allows Hugo to step in first.
Hugo steps into the tailor's shop, and looks around. He can't recall seeing so much fabric in one place! He looks to Cecile, since he has no idea what he's supposed to do now.
Before the girl can open her mouth to respond, a large man with broad shoulders and a fearsome beard steps forward, introducing himself as "Dylan, the head tailor."
Hugo nods his head politely at the head tailor. "I'd like to buy a robe to wear to a festival," he explains.
The head tailor makes a muffled grunting reply into his beard and lumbers away, only to return moments later with a thick roll of measuring tape. Cecile gives Hugo a shrug and steps back to ensure his privacy.
Hugo looks back at Cecile, his eyes almost pleading with her not to leave him alone. He stands awkwardly in front of the tailor, waiting for instructions of some kind.
The tailor makes a handful of brusque measurements, scans Hugo's physique over with a trained eye, tromps away, and returns moments later with a handful of multicolored robes. "Festival season. You're a common size."
Hugo accepts the robes, and stands in the middle of the floor, looking about as out of place as Milich Oppenheimer would look in the middle of a dwarf city. "Erm..."
The tailor scuffles away again, and Cecile steps forward, placing what she hopes will be a reassuring hand on Hugo's shoulder. "The difficult part is done. Now you just need to try them on and pick your favorite!"
"Oh, okay. But ... where do I change?"
Cecile points to a modest changing room, the same one Flik and Cray used. "Right there, if that's okay."
Hugo follows Cecile's finger, and heads over to the changeroom, regarding the pile of robes as if they are tricksy creatures out to get him. Without looking, he grabs the first one from the pile and starts changing. "Has Martha finished fixing up your mom's robes yet?"
"Yes! She finished just yesterday, actually. The hem at the bottom needed to be adjusted. I guess my mother was a bit taller than me," she responds, sitting patiently outside the changing room on a simple wooden chair.
Fiddling with the robe, Hugo sticks his head out of the dressing room. "I don't know about this one, Cecile..."
"Why? Does it not fit right?" She stands up as if to help, but holds back, remembering her place.
"It looks funny..." Hugo wrinkles his nose.
The girl grinned. "It does? Maybe you're not used to them. Do you...ah, do you want me to look?"
Heaving a sigh, Hugo steps out of the dressing room. "I don't think it's supposed to look like this."
"Oh my gosh, no, it's not in the least!" Cecile rushes forward, tweaking at the enormous sleeves Hugo's arms drown in. "I think this is a tad too fancy for you."
"I'm like a wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tubeman or something!" Hugo laughs as he flails his arms around in the enormous sleeves.
She laughs and steers him back in the direction of the dressing room. "Try on another one. Even Sir Stallion will have trouble identifying you in that silly mess!"
Hugo grabs the next robe from the pile, and starts changing. He laughs - trying on robes isn't that bad. "Maybe for Halloween, then."
"That would be a sight to see," she responds, still trying to stifle the giggles from earlier.
Hugo steps out of the changeroom finally, a frown on his face. "I don't think this is it, either."
Where the last robe had been too extravagant in the sleeves, this one was almost spartan in appearance and stitching. It was too fitted for Hugo's figure, giving him an awkward, gangly appearance. "No, you're right, it's not," Cecile sighs.
Hugo trudged back into the fitting room, and awkwardly started taking off the robe. "Uh ... Cecile? I think I'm stuck."
There was an awkward silence. "...Do you need my help?"
With his head stuck inside the robe, Hugo couldn't tell which way to get out of the fitting room. His arms were trapped at the side of his head, to boot. "...Yes please. I can't get it off my head!"
Cecile's tendency to over-panic welled up. "Can you breathe?! Hold on, I'll help!" All former embarrassment gone, she rushed into the dressing room, halting momentarily at the bizarre scene.
"I can't put my arms down, Cecile. Do you think you could ... tug it off or something?"
"Tug it where?" Suddenly she felt hopelessly lost.
"I don't know - just tug? I'm stuck." Hugo stood awkwardly in the middle of the fitting room. Now, he wasn't so sure about trying on robes.
Floundering uselessly was not going to get them anywhere, Cecile decided. With surprising force, not enough to tear the fabric though, she gave the robe a strong tug on the back, the cloth loosened slightly.
Working his arms back and forth, Hugo managed to loosen the robe enough with Cecile's help to pull it off over his head. His hair stood on end, and he grinned. "Definitely not taking that robe!"
"I should hope not," she responded, giving into the urge and brushing down his hair in a motherly fashion.
"Thanks for your help, Cecile." Hugo gave Cecile a silly grin, and started rummaging around in the pile, looking for a robe that wouldn't be too big or too small on him.
Cecile nodded a curt response and hastily exited the dressing room, allowing Hugo his privacy again. "Perhaps next time you should hold the robe up to you and glance in the mirror first."
"I..I think this is the one, Cecile!" Hugo finished pulling the robe on. "Are you ready?"
"Of course!"
Hugo stepped out of the dressing room, wearing a brown robe, with detailing somewhat similar to the clothing that he wore everyday. "What do you think?
(In case my description fails, he's wearing this)
"It's lovely!" Standing up to get a better look, Cecile walked in a circle around him, noting not only the good fit but the light fabric as well. "And you are comfortable? No funny sleeves?"
Waving his arms around, Hugo shook his head. "Nope. And I can take it off without it getting stuck on my head too!" Hugo beamed happily.
"The colors are nice. Personally, I think you would have looked silly in one of those bright robes."
"I'm going to go change back into my clothes. Do you want to get some lunch before we go back to Budehuc?"
Cecile shakes her head. "No, I'm fine. I stopped by the cafe earlier to make sandwiches for myself and brought one to Luca as well. I don't have anything left over though," she tilted her head apologetically.
Hugo came out of the dressing room, the robe draped over his cast. "That's okay, I can get some cheesy bread back at the castle." The Karayan began walking over to the counter to pay for his robe, when he saw a pile of ribbons. "What colour are your mom's robes, Cecile?"
Following behind Hugo, Cecile waves her arms excitedly. "They're orange, of course. With small white flowers. Father once said she liked Lily of the Valley, so I assume that's what they are."
Hugo handed his robe over to the tailor, along with enough potch for it, and a white ribbon.
Using brown paper, the tailor wrapped up Hugo's new robe with surprising care, considering his huge hands, and placed the ribbons on the top. "150 potch payment."
Hugo slid the potch across the counter, and picked up his robe and the ribbons. "Thank you."
Dylan the NPC talior gave a sharp wave, then headed back into the storeroom. "I suppose he is a better tailor than a conversationalist," Cecile remarked as they left the shop.
"Maybe he's just a man of few words?" Hugo shrugged. He was pleased with his robes and he was spending time with Cecile. It was a good day.
"Now, just remember to take good care of them so you can wear them each spring," Cecile said, then halfway across the plains she paused and bowed in apology. "Ah! I'm so rude!! Did you need my help carrying that?"
"Well, you can carry the ribbons, if you like," Hugo replied. He was looking forward to getting back to the castle and having some cheesy bread.
Taking the ribbons in her hand with care, Cecile nodded and continued walking. "This was a lovely day. Father will be glad to hear about it."
"Thank you for coming with me, Cecile. I appreciate it." Hugo smiled at Cecile.
"I am glad you were more cooperative than Sir Cray and Sir Flik," she replied with a grin. "And see? It paid off. Now you will look handsome. I am sure that will make Sir Stallion's ears perk."
Hugo blushed slightly. "You really think so?"
"Of course!!! I mean, I don't know much about elves myself, but he always seems far more cheerful when talking about you." She paused. "Well...you, and food, of course."
Hugo laughed. "That sounds like Stallion, alright!" As they got closer to the castle, Hugo stopped walking and looked at Cecile.
She had not expected him to stop so suddenly. "Is something wrong?"
Hugo shook his head. "No, actually ... Cecile ... I haven't told anyone this, well, except Fubar, but ..." Hugo bit his lip nervously. "I think ... I think I'm in love with Stallion."
"Did you really need to tell anyone?" Cecile took both his hands in hers, her expression bright. "I can tell just from how you speak about him, and how he speaks about you. I guessed a long time ago."
"You mean ... he always talks about how he's glad we're friends and .... " Hugo looks at Cecile, his face slightly pink.
"There are different kinds of friends, Sir Hugo," Cecile replied and closed her eyes. "I love Master Thomas with all my heart, but there is a special spot set aside where he will always remain my friend, regardless."
"I know, but when he says it ... I don't know ... " Hugo turned his eyes to the ground.
"Maybe," she began, holding up a hand, "it is Sir Stallion who does not know. It sounds as though you are rather sure, but he might still be confused."
"Maybe ..." Hugo shakes his head and smiles. "It feels good ... to say it out loud."
The girl rubbed her nose shyly. "I'm afraid I really have no advice to give you, since I'm usually lost myself about how to act. But carry that feeling with you everywhere you go! Then nothing will make you feel bad."
Smiling, Hugo gave Cecile an awkward hug, on account of his cast and his robe. "Thank you Cecile ... for today."
Taking care not to irritate his arm and new purchase, Cecile returned the hug warmly. "You don't have to thank me all the time. I know you'd have done the same for me."
Hugo steps back from the hug and looks at Cecile. "Why do people always say that? Louis said that too when I thanked him before."
"Father told me actions speak louder than words, and he's not the only one I've heard say that. I knew you were grateful already, before you thanked me." Cecile paused. "But you can tell me next time anyways if it makes you feel better."
Hugo smiles, and starts walking back towards the castle. "What are you going to do for the rest of the day?"
"Well, I've already visited Luca with lunch, and Sir Sid was asleep. So I think for the rest of the day I will walk with the dogs."
Arriving back at the castle gate, Hugo tucked his package under his arm securely. "I should get back to the infirmary and check on Luca. But if you need some company later, come and find me, ok?"
Cecile saluted out of reflex. "Of course! You take care of yourself, and don't try on your robes until the festival! We can surprise everyone!"
"You bet! I'm going to put them in a safe place in the infirmary when I get back up there." Hugo chuckled at Cecile's salute.
"Well then, I will see you later," Cecile paused. "And check to see that Luca ate all his sandwich. He promised."
Hugo nods and heads towards the main part of the castle, smiling to himself.