n before she raised

lle

with disturbing intensity. Large, the massive build under

y here, he said

hugged the handl

are

omething barely perceptible,

ath

tion. No details

crossed t

sk another question, ste

her

ssion. Mathias Recula and Camille crossed the threshold,

ch piece of furniture, each detail seemed to have bee

gaze on her, awai

big, she sa

be with you

There was not only authority, but als

ant to see

no

g the steps, she felt Mathias always posted in

ront of a door, Bastie

's h

tered and

g elegant but impersonal. What s

to have been thought of for her. A dress she di

rned t

Ho

that my guests

lds he

more th

nce se

me, Ba

slowly, so far as to reduce the distance

ouldn't choos

t missed

in the room, as if to emph

took a s

'm going to

s this nascent tension between them. Bu

when you

d closed the d

ng a hand on her belly as

was play

the polished wood of the large staircase making no noise under his steps. The heavy atmosphere of the h

r arms crossed. He seemed to observe the outside with a silent int

ars her

m ins

nce. Then, finally, he pivoted sli

GO

t. Nothi

mething to break this deaf tension bet

o me why I'm here? she

lready t

me rules. It'

a nuisance he would have

t ready to h

ou too loos

s gaze. A shadow of anger

't know m

e, refusing to let he

can recognize a man

ugh escaped

you think you

y to reply, but he didn't

th you? That I hold you at

pace between them, and she felt some

eason, Camille. Because

se, as if he was fighti

trange weight wei

e enter, what?

aze d

uldn't u

not fear. It was something else. So

, she wh

a more moment, then h

s not an

e in the middle of the living ro

understand what

thing wa

entered the dining room. The candlesticks shone with a cold light, and the immense dark wooden table seemed to be infinitely ext

t me? she asked

ining gaze fixed on the dark red in his

t ex

of this dinner, which was supposed to be a simple exchange bet

e to greet her other than by a stealthy look

gesture, nothing. Camille began to eat, but each bite seemed s

were not here to eat, says Basti

e did not give wa

she replied, her voice harder than she would have l

a bitter smile p

vited yourself to this world

almost unbearablely. But she abstained, choosing to le

e. I did not ask that my l

expected, carried by a frustra

s glass, his remote look. But she could feel the t

position? He asked, his voice becoming more serious, as if ea

r chair, a shiver of chal

but I know what it is to be take

a dry laugh

do you think you k

ing darker, almost threatening. She felt an icy c

ou built to protect yourself, but also to pr

gaze dar

mille? What a

own, the question striking her like a punch. She did not want to think about what s

talk about this, she re

nly, the chair creaking on the ground. He heade

th the cold and sharp voice. But you have no idea wh

to her, and his g

on't know what it is to live with

n turn, her

yourself as if yo

lips before she c

ad, as if his own suffering prevented him from responding.

a step clo

at simple. But you are

ing and closing at the same time, like an

ut each gesture seemed to be perceived as a challenge. He got

ed, his softer tone, but always tinged with t

do anything to break this silence between

ow. But I'm

, his gaze being ha

you know. But there is nothing s

eling alone in the middle of

ack, heading to

ner, Camille. It

eaving the room, throwin

not ready t

thoughts. She hadn't understood what was going on here, nor why everything

fter all he ha