Chéri nodded, twice. The level of freedom was surprising, but the situation was starting to feel odd enough that he was starting to accept he had merely come at a very odd time and the lady of the house had still not decided how to move yet. Chéri raised their shoulder “In that case, I will proceed by experimenting.” he concluded, smiling the same artificial way, like a mirror.

Sonia proceed with the story of her unfortunate situation, which Chéri hesitated to call a marriage. Close as he physically was to her now, even though he preferred keeping his facial expression neutral, one could clearly see in them a deeply understanding of her pain. And as she finished, he looked at her belly and, less charitably than he could, he said “It will be a hard thing.” He pressed his lips together. “But you are not left alone and you do have some means. And most importantly, you are alive, that is what matters the most, don’t you think?” he seem to realise what a merger comfort that was, judging from his expression.