"So I take you must cook", Valerion said.

"Yes, well - my mother and I take turns", he replied, spreading jam on another piece of bread.

"Nobody else to help?".

"I live alone with my mother".

"No siblings?".

He shook his head. "No, I'm an only child. And -- well -- I never met my father, so".

Valerion quickly put down the cup from which he had just taken another sip of coffee. "Oh -- I am sorry -- if you'd rather talk about something else, please --".

"No, it's alright. He left my mother before I was born, so he was obviously nobody worth meeting", Adrien said with a weak chuckle and a shrug. "So it's just me and my mother".

"I am so sorry", Valerion repeated, running his finger around the rim of the saucer. "Have you written her about your arrival?".

Adrien bit into his second slice of bread and jam. "I was writing her a letter yesterday - I need to finish it".

"You should; she must be waiting to hear from you".

"Yes - I hope she's not too worried".