Had Chéri understood, he probably would have personally tried to push for the creation of a barmaid position just for him, but he lacked the skills for it, entirely. And his face, this time, wasn’t enough.

Maybe he could even see that Tristan was not feeling good about the situation and in other circumstances he could have chosen to act differently, but right now, it was about his stomach and sleeping with a roof over his head, both things he was considerably more interested in than anyone’s feelings.

He was ready to push, but, seeing as Tristan “spontaneously” offered him a drink, he took there was not need for it. Chéri smiled wildly at him. His smile was warm and open, it made his eyes shine and his face look calmer, as if HE was not making a favour to Tristan by offering him his company.

At the following question, Chéri shrugged “I can’t read English, monsieur.” Or at all, but this was additional information Chéri wasn’t going to disclose so quickly.