11

                                    

                                          

As another day dawned, Neuvillette found himself once again in the courtroom, his patience wearing thin as the trial unfolded before him.
The prosecutor meticulously laid out the case, detailing how the defendants had inflicted irreparable damage upon the company through their fraudulent activities. Neuvillette listened intently, keenly aware of the need to expedite proceedings and ensure that justice was served without unnecessary delays.
In the midst of the trial, a man approached Neuvillette with a troubled expression, causing him to pause the proceedings momentarily.
"Excuse me for a moment," Neuvillette announced to the courtroom.
As the trial ground to a temporary halt, the man leaned in and whispered urgently to Neuvillette, delivering news that instantly drew his attention.
"Mr. Neuvillette, Keith Laurent has been imprisoned again," the man murmured.
Neuvillette's brow furrowed in concern, but before he could respond, the man continued with even more unsettling information.
"But that's not all," the man added, his voice tinged with apprehension.
Neuvillette's eyes widened in alarm as he awaited the next revelation.
"Duke Wriothesley has been hospitalized," the man disclosed, his words hanging heavy in the air.
Neuvillette's heart skipped a beat at the news, his mind racing with a flood of questions and worries.
Without another word, he abruptly rose from his seat, leaving the courtroom in a state of confusion as he hurried out, his thoughts consumed by Wriothesley
Neuvillette's mind raced as he hurried towards the hospital, his heart pounding with worry. Each step felt like an eternity as he desperately sought out for Wriothesley, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Finally, he reached the Hospital, as he tried to catch his breath
"Wriothesley! Which room is Wriothesley in?" Neuvillette demanded breathlessly as he approached a nurse station.
The nurse, taken aback by Neuvillette's urgency, regarded him with concern before responding, "Monsieur, are you okay?"
Ignoring the question, Neuvillette pressed on, his voice tinged with desperation, "Which room is Wriothesley in?"
Neuvillette hurried to the room, his heart pounding in his chest with each step. He reached the door marked C212 and swung it open, his eyes darting around the room until they landed on a figure lying in the hospital bed.
"Wriothesley!" Neuvillette exclaimed, relief flooding through him as he rushed to the bedside.
Wriothesley looked up in surprise at Neuvillette's sudden entrance. "Monsieur? What are you doing here?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice.
"You scared me! How did this happen?" Neuvillette exclaimed, sinking to his knees beside the bed.
Wriothesley's expression softened as he regarded Neuvillette with concern. "Monsieur, why are you here?" he repeated, his voice gentle.
"I heard you were hospitalized, and I was scared," Neuvillette admitted, still trying to catch his breath from the rush of emotions. "I came here without thinking."
A small smile tugged at Wriothesley's lips. "That means a lot," he said softly, his eyes reflecting gratitude and warmth.
"How did this happen?" Neuvillette's voice was filled with concern as he looked at Wriothesley lying in the hospital bed.
"Keith Laurent caught on to the fact that we were tracking him. He tried to attack, and I got shot during it. Don't worry, we got him," Wriothesley explained, trying to downplay the severity of the situation.
"But how is that possible? You've been through training to defend yourself from prisoners like this?" Neuvillette pressed, his brows furrowing with worry.
"It was a small mistake I made. He also had a gun," Wriothesley replied, avoiding Neuvillette's gaze as he shrugged.
Wriothesley hesitated, his mind racing with the memories he didn't want to confront. How his arms froze, betraying him in the moment of the gun shoot. How his body refused to respond, leaving him defenceless against Keith Laurent's attack. And worst of all, it was like he was paralyzed
Neuvillette sensed that there was more to the story, but he didn't want to push Wriothesley further. He could see the exhaustion and pain in the other man's eyes, and he knew that Wriothesley needed rest more than interrogation. So he sighed and nodded, deciding to let it go for now. Wriothesley needed time to recover, both physically and emotionally.
"Where did you get hurt?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.
"Just got shot in the abdomen," Wriothesley replied nonchalantly, though the pain still lingered in his eyes.
"Just shot in the abdomen? Must've hurt badly," Neuvillette remarked, his concern deepening. "I rushed here, so I wasn't able to get you anything."
"It's okay, Sigewinne came by and got me some food and my things," Wriothesley assured him.
"That's good then. She cares about you a lot," Neuvillette commented, acknowledging Sigewinne's kindness.
"Yeah, she's like a mini-me, well not really, but I see her as my little sister," Wriothesley smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"That's adorable. She probably looks up to you like an older brother," Neuvillette remarked, trying to lighten the mood.
Wriothesley nodded, the smile fading from his lips.
"Do you need anything else?" Neuvillette asked, wanting to be helpful.
"No, I think I'll be fine," Wriothesley replied, though his tone belied his true feelings.
"Let me know if you do," Neuvillette offered, genuine concern evident in his voice.
"Well, for now, I just want your company," Wriothesley admitted, his vulnerability shining through.
Neuvillette's heart softened at Wriothesley's words. "Of course, Duke. I'll stay as long as you need," he promised, offering a comforting smile.
That evening, Neuvillette stayed by Wriothesley's side. They talked about everything and nothing, sharing stories and laughter amidst the sterile hospital walls. Neuvillette helped him get up and walk around, supporting him as he regained his strength. Despite the circumstances, there was a sense of peace and comfort in each other's presence.
As they spent time together, it felt as though time slowed down just for the two of them. The worries and stresses of the outside world faded away, leaving only the quietness between Neuvillette and Wriothesley
A soft knock on the door interrupted their moment, as a man entered the hospital room, his presence breaking the tranquillity that had settled between the two.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, I need to talk to you about today's trial," the man said, stepping to the side.
Neuvillette's expression dimmed as he glanced at Wriothesley and then back at the man. "I'll talk to you outside," he said, his tone heavy with concern. He then turned to Wriothesley and added, "I'll be back," before standing up and following the man out.
The room fell silent again, and Wriothesley felt a twinge of pain in his chest. Was it from his illness or something else? He glanced out the window to see that the sun had set, and the moonlight was already pouring in. Time seemed to have slipped away quickly.
The door opened once more, and Neuvillette stepped in, with a small smile displayed on his face
"If you need to go to work, then do so. I'll be fine here," Wriothesley said, his tone gentle but firm.
"Don't worry about it. It's fine if I miss today. Nothing important," Neuvillette assured, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Wriothesley nodded, though he knew deep down that couldn't be true. Neuvillette was a dedicated man when it came to his work, and he wouldn't let anything distract him from it.
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