I gently carried Ilse to her room which wasn’t too far away from ours, just a couple of turns away. Viktor was waiting for us to open the door, from the looks of it he had kept it closed for the time being to keep the room nice and warm. While the hallway wasn’t cold per se, it was generally quite a bit warmer inside.

  He opened the door just before I was about to ask him and then let me pass him by. “I floofed up the cushions a little bit.” Viktor mentioned.

  “Thank you.” Ilse smiled at him.

  “Do you want me to get something else?”

  “I think it will be fine for now, Viktor. Thank you.” I thanked our German vampire friend as I slowly lowered Ilse on the bed.

  “Alright, then I’ll leave you be for now.” Viktor nodded politely.

  “Oh, you don’t need to go.” Ilse replied. “Don’t feel forced to leave.”

  Viktor halted and then smiled at Ilse before bowing to her. “Don’t worry my lady, I am leaving out of my own volition. Rest well so we can have interesting conversations later on today.”

  Em’s mom giggled softly. “I will, thank you once more.”

  Viktor bowed again and then left the room.

  After he had done so, Em rushed to her mother’s side to hold her mom’s hand. Ilse reciprocated with a little squeeze. “I’ll be fine, Em.” She smiled. “Could you get my tablet out of luggage?”

  “Hmm?” Em looked around the room.

  “I think they put the luggage in the rack behind that door, Em.” I pointed towards the cabinet space that was right next to the entrance.

  As Em investigated the closet I pointed out, Ria and I stood still next to Em’s mom. We both could have followed Ilse’s instruction but Em needed something to focus on besides her mom’s condition at the time being so we both let her.

  It didn’t take long for Em to find the tablet her mom had asked for.

  “And could you get my little bluetooth speaker as well?” Ilse asked.

  On that request I did decide to answer though. “If you want a bluetooth speaker, you can use the built in ones around the room.”

  “There’s speakers in these rooms?” Ria asked.

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “Alessia decided to add them recently because she thought some more ‘youngsters’ would come visit because of us.”

  Ilse chuckled. “Not only ‘youngsters’ use these bluetooth speakers, you know?”

  “I know, in the matter of fact, I probably use them less than you do.” I smiled back.

  “What do you want to have your tablet for, mom?” Em asked as she handed the tablet over to her.

  “I wanted to listen to an audiobook. They are good when I feel a bit too tired to read.” She replied. “I just found a great adventure book and the voice actors that perform it are incredible. Especially the main character, his voice is so soothing.”

  “Does dad need to worry?” Em’s smile finally returned.

  “Oh, gosh no, he’s way out of my league.” Ilse joked.

  “What’s the book called?” I asked.

  “Unmapped. I think you would like it a lot too, Aurora.” She replied. “There’s lot’s of history in it.”

  “Real history or history with a twist?”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Does it matter?” Em asked in return. “I know you like your Federal Fortune movies.”

  I pouted. “It doesn’t really matter but I like to know what I’m getting myself into.”

  “It is with a bit of a twist, yes.” Ilse replied. “Why don’t you listen along for a while? I might need some rest but I wouldn’t mind some company while I do so.”

  I looked over at Em, she still looked quite concerned by her mom’s condition, it would probably be best to keep Em at her mom’s side so she wouldn’t walk around worried sick. “Sure.” I nodded.

  “I’m fine with it too.” Ria replied with a smile. “I’ll draw a bit while we are listening, let me go and grab some paper and pencils.”

  “Want me to come with you to get your drawing stuff?” I asked as Ria walked to the door.

  “No, I’ll be right back anyway.”

  “Alright.” Ria left the room as I replied.

  “Aurora?” Em’s mom pulled my attention again.

  “Yeah?”

  “Could you quickly help me with the bluetooth while Corelia is gone?”

  “Right, give me a sec.” I smiled and ran over to help with the connection.

  The tablet was linked easily enough as Ilse browsed through her Sonicle application to set up the audio book so we could all listen to it. Right as she got to it, the door opened.

  Where I expected a Ria, Alessia instead came walking in, followed by a cart of goodies she was pulling along. “I might have brought just a tad more than just jam and honey. My bad for that.”

  “Didn’t you say you were going to get the staff to bring it along?” I asked with a slight smile on my face. My mom had brought quite a bit of foodstuff with her aside from the promised sweet things.

  “Well, they all seemed so busy.” Alessia scratched the back of her head. “So I decided to just do it myself.”

  “Busy with preparing dinner?” Ilse asked, setting herself upright a bit more at the sight of all the sweets.

  “Amongst other things.” Alessia nodded and looked at me. “Aurora, could you pour lady Ilse some tea, please?”

  “Of course?” I semi-hurriedly made my way over and began pouring Ilse a cup.

  “Could you bring a dish of jam and honey to me too, together with the cup of tea and a spoon?” This time it was Ilse asking the question.

  “I’ll get it for you, mom.” Em commented and came to my help.

  “Are you going to put it in your tea?” I asked as I carefully brought the tea over.

  “Not exactly.” Ilse replied. “You’ll see.”

  I handed the tea over to Em’s mom and Em soon put the jam and honey on the small bedside table.

  Ilse then took a sip of tea swiftly followed by her putting a spoon of strawberry jam in her mouth too as she hummed in delight. “It’s so much better than I had imagined.” She rubs her cheek with glee. “So so so much better.”

  “Really?” I tilted my head, curious at the combination.

  “I read this in a book and I wanted to try it, you should try it too.”

  “Uh…” I looked back at Alessia, she had already prepared a cup for me and a spoon so I could try myself. “Thanks…” How did she even know I was going to say yes?

  Ilse took my spoon, spun it around in the strawberry jam and then handed it back over to me. “Just put it in your mouth and then drink some tea, or the other way around.

  I nodded and did as instructed. The sweetness of the strawberry jam did elevate the flavor of the tea quite a bit although I wasn’t terribly sure if I liked it enough to get this by myself though. Needless to say, I did very much prefer the jam over milk though.

  “What do you think?” Ilse asked.

  “It’s okay.” I decided not to lie. “I can definitely tell why anyone would like it though. It’s very different from just adding sugar.” I looked at Ria who had only just entered the room with her drawing materials. “Ria might like it quite a bit more, the little sweet tooth.”

  “Can I try?” Ria tilted her head.

  “Of course.” I then handed the cup to her as Ilse put jam on the spoon yet again.

  Ria tasted the tea in a similar manner and her eyes lit up as a result of it. “Yummy!” She mummed pleasantly as she held her hand to her cheek in a similar matter Ilse had done earlier.

  “See, I told you she would like it more.” I smiled and took the cup away from Ria after which Ilse grabbed Ria by the stomach and pulled her on the bed into a hug.

  “She is a little munchkin after all.”

  Ria giggled as she returned Ilse’s hug.

  “Mom, you were supposed to rest, not play it rough with my girlfriend.” Em commented gently although she did have her arms crossed.

  “I know.” Ilse released Ria and then lay flat on the bed again. With her cup of tea next to her on the bedside table.

  “Sorry Em.” Ria apologized.

  “It’s not your fault, Ria. Not at all.” She uncrossed her arms and sat on the bed next to her mom. Taking the tablet that she had put down. “You still want to listen to your book, right?”

  “Mhmm.” Ilse nodded.

  “Alright, I’ll put it on then.”

  Alessia stood by and slowly raised her hands. “Then I will dip out and catch up with a little bit of paperwork.”

  “Paperwork makes the world go around.” Ilse smiled.

  “Sadly enough that’s very much true.” Alessia chuckled softly. “If you need anything…”

  “I’ll take care of it, don’t worry.” I stated.