Jérémy Chapi:
Having finished getting ready for the evening, and with my daughter gone to meet Séraphina, I was still making a few final adjustments to the design of the future body for the child yet to be born.
Suddenly, the warehouse doors slid open, revealing the silhouette of a woman I had never met before.
"Good evening. My name is Amarante. I will be your escort from now on."
She gave me a respectful bow.
She wore a short pixie haircut, her black hair framing a pair of sharp hazel-brown eyes set slightly deep beneath her brow. Every movement she made was perfectly controlled, as though she were studying my reactions with almost surgical precision.
"Hello..." I replied, slightly surprised. "Didn't Natali even come to say goodbye herself? I thought she'd at least introduce me to her replacement."
"Natali was unable to come today due to an unforeseen matter," Amarante answered calmly. "I'm sure you'll run into her again somewhere around the base."
Like many people in this country, she spoke my language remarkably well. Only a faint accent betrayed her origins, though I paid little attention to it at the time.
"That's a shame. I'll speak with her the next time we meet."
I gave her a curious look.
"So you'll be my chaperone for tonight's dinner?"
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"If you would, please follow me."
I stood up, slipped on the jacket draped over the back of my chair, and followed her.
We made our way through a long maze of immaculate corridors before arriving at an elevator guarded by two soldiers.
One of them raised a hand to stop us and exchanged a few words with Amarante in their native language. She presented a badge I couldn't quite make out. After a brief moment, the guard stepped aside and allowed us through.
The elevator carried us high into the mountain.
As the doors slid open, I was greeted by a modern lounge of breathtaking elegance.
At the center of the room stood a spectacular table, shaped like two glass waves crashing together to form a single seamless surface. Large enough to seat around ten guests, it appeared to have been carved from a single piece of glass, its flowing curves catching the ambient light in a mesmerizing display of shifting colors.
The rest of the room embraced a refined minimalist style.
The walls were adorned with vibrant contemporary paintings that contrasted beautifully with the understated furnishings, dominated by pearly white tones. Despite the warm lighting, an unmistakable sense of solemnity lingered throughout the room.
It was a place designed to impress...
...and to intimidate.
President Atlas had not yet arrived.
Amarante stepped forward and, with a graceful gesture, invited me to follow.
"Please, have a seat. The President should be here shortly."
She remained standing, discreetly observing me.
Instead of sitting down immediately, I slowly walked around the room, admiring the craftsmanship of the glass table.
"Have you been working for the President for a long time?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"Long enough that I'm now responsible for looking after you," she replied without hesitation, standing perfectly straight.
I turned toward her.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" I asked, genuinely intrigued.
At that moment, the elevator doors opened once more, revealing President Atlas.
He was dressed in an immaculate black suit whose dark elegance contrasted sharply with the room's bright interior. Two bodyguards in formal ceremonial uniforms accompanied him.
"Good evening. How have you been since we last met?"
I stepped forward, caught off guard by the warmth in his voice.
"So far... everything is going according to plan," I replied.
He extended his hand, which I gladly shook, before gesturing for me to take the seat at his right.
I sat down, still feeling slightly intimidated. Yet there was something about his presence—an air of quiet confidence—that was strangely reassuring.
A serving cart rolled in through a side door, pushed by a waiter dressed in an immaculate uniform with a perfectly tied bow tie.
He carefully arranged an assortment of spirits, wines, and glasses of various shapes on the table.
Among them, one bottle immediately caught my eye.
Muscat.
A wine I had always been particularly fond of.
Atlas poured himself a glass of cognac before looking at me with an amused smile.
"So... you're a wine lover?"
"Without falling into the stereotype of the Frenchman..." I replied with a grin, "...I do have a weakness for good wine. And you? Do you prefer stronger spirits?"
The waiter then presented me with a bottle whose wine was almost as dark as the night itself, with only deep crimson reflections shimmering along its edges.
Its old-fashioned label depicted an elegant wine glass framed by clusters of grapes.
Meursault – Côte de Beaune – Coche-Dury.
I nodded politely, having absolutely no idea how exceptional that choice truly was, and allowed him to pour me a glass.
"Let's just say I appreciate their character," Atlas replied. "With age, they reveal unexpected flavors... though some younger ones can be just as surprising."
We raised our glasses.
The moment the wine touched my palate, rich notes of red berries and toasted hazelnuts unfolded across my tongue, lingering long after each sip. As I quietly savored the discovery, Atlas suddenly fixed me with a more serious expression.
"But enough about wine... how are you, really?"
I lowered my gaze.
"Let's just say I've been better." I hesitated for a moment. "I suppose Natali told you what happened?"
Beneath the table, I discreetly hid the tremor running through my injured arm.
Atlas gave a slow nod.
"Not just her."
"I watched the recording of your presentation."
"Even though Séléné had already told me about it, I wasn't prepared for what I saw."
He paused before continuing.
"Now I understand why she places so much hope in you."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"And so do I."
"I'm willing to place my bet on you as well."
I looked back up at him, genuinely surprised.
Hearing him speak of the woman I loved always unsettled me, especially knowing that she had confided so much about me to him.
"Thank you... truly. For everything you've done for me."
Atlas dismissed my gratitude with a casual wave of his hand.
"None of that formal nonsense between us."
"When we're in private, let's drop the formalities. I'd rather we speak as equals."
I nodded.
He slowly swirled the amber liquid in his cognac before speaking again.
"There's something I'd like to ask of you."
"Of course."
"I'd like you to take Natali with you on your future projects."
I couldn't hide my surprise.
Just then, the first course arrived, accompanied by an assortment of colorful amuse-bouches served in elegant tasting glasses.
"Why?" I asked. "Besides, she handed in her resignation without even saying goodbye after what happened on the bus."
Atlas gave a slow nod.
"She told me about it."
"She believes she failed her mission by hurting you."
"She took it very hard."
I frowned.
"But it was just an accident... Is that really the only reason she stepped down?"
"So..." Atlas asked, his piercing gaze never leaving mine, "...you wouldn't object to having her join your project?"
"She would be far more useful at your side than at mine now."
I took another sip of wine, allowing myself a moment to think.
"Natali has been a tremendous help ever since I arrived," I admitted. "But can I truly trust her? Nothing guarantees that she won't betray me one day."
A faint smile appeared on Atlas's face.
"You don't have to worry about that."
He took a slow sip of his cognac before continuing.
"There's something you should know."
"Natali is my daughter."
I froze.
The revelation caught me completely off guard.
Before I could say a word, Atlas continued.
"She's the daughter of a close friend who died in combat."
"I became her guardian."
"I've raised her as my own daughter..."
"...and today, she's my right hand."
"I understand now..." I murmured, lowering my gaze to the dark wine swirling inside my glass.
"That's why she was the one assigned to look after me."
Atlas slowly rose to his feet.
Standing over me, his imposing frame suddenly reminded me just how powerful a man he truly was.
"There's one thing you need to understand, Jérémy."
His voice remained calm.
Almost too calm.
"If anything were ever to happen to her..."
He held my gaze.
"I would personally hold you responsible."
I looked him straight in the eyes.
And I understood exactly how he felt.
"From one father to another... I understand."
"I'll do everything in my power to protect her as well."
"But first, she'll have to agree to work with me again..."
"...and she'll have to prove that I can trust her."
Atlas calmly sat back down.
"Leave that to me."
"I'll speak to her personally."
"As for trust..." he continued, "all I can offer you is my word."
"After that, you're free to test her however you see fit."
"Very well." I nodded. "Then let's do it that way."
"But I'd like to ask you for something in return."
"Go ahead."
"It's about Daniel and Séraphina."
"Would you allow them to join my project as well?"
Atlas remained silent for a moment, carefully considering the request.
"Let's say..." he finally replied, "...if they're willing to join you of their own accord, and if you take good care of them, then I have no objection."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Just don't steal all my best people, would you?"
I couldn't help smiling back.
"I understand."
"I'll only take those who choose to follow me."
"Good."
He took another sip of cognac before asking,
"When are you leaving for France to officially claim your principality?"
"The day after tomorrow."
"That shouldn't be a problem."
"Several countries have already begun putting pressure on the French government."
"Unfortunately, they're passing that pressure on to their own citizens."
He paused.
"As a result..."
"your popularity has dropped slightly."
I frowned.
"I wasn't aware of that... How is it possible?"
Atlas set his glass down before answering calmly.
"Countries like China and the United States export a great deal to France."
"Many of them have deliberately slowed their trade."
"As a result, the price of several essential goods has begun to rise."
The dinner continued as we discussed, at length, the political challenges surrounding the creation of my principality.
Atlas outlined several strategies for dealing with the French government and shared a number of valuable insights, all of which I listened to with genuine gratitude.
The meal itself was a true gastronomic experience, blending refinement with tradition.
Course after course arrived, each beautifully presented and prepared with seasonal ingredients.
Whenever my glass was empty, the waiter quietly refilled it before presenting the next dish.
We finished with a delicate mousse before moving to the lounge, where we settled into comfortable armchairs, each holding a cup of hot tea.
The atmosphere had grown noticeably more relaxed, helped in no small part by the wine.
Atlas studied me for a moment before speaking again, this time in a much more personal tone.
"Have you been able to see Séléné recently, Jérémy?"
The question struck me deeply.
I wrapped both hands around my teacup, welcoming its warmth, even as my injured left hand trembled ever so slightly.
"In my current condition, I can no longer enter the Dream World."
"The last time I saw her was a month ago, while I was recovering in the hospital after returning home."
I lowered my eyes.
"I miss her..."
"I'd give anything to see her again."
Atlas slowly nodded.
"I understand."
"A week ago, she visited me in a dream."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"She kept asking about you."
He looked at me warmly.
"Believe me..."
"She thinks about you a great deal."
His words warmed my heart...
though they could not completely erase the sadness of knowing I still couldn't see her.