Check on Doreen

I'll go help Doreen. Then again, I don't know if she has any preparations to help with.

What exactly is her role in this plan, anyway?

I try to imagine one but come up short.

Maybe she's like me, and hasn't been given a role. She'd be looking around for something do as well, then.

I walk around the mansion for a while. I find Doreen elegantly dipping tea in her room, completely naked.

"Sorry. Didn't know you were naked." I say.

"Ah, don't be. I am not ashamed of my nudity. Mr. Caleb. How is your evening? Not well, I see." Doreen says.

"Is it noticeable? I'm having trouble." I say.

"Ahah, I take it that you are nervous. We do have a big mission coming up."

I can't help but smile.

Sometimes, it seems like Doreen knows my thoughts better than I do.

"Yes, it think that's it." I say.

"Oh? You're so quick to admit it." Doreen says.

"It seems pointless to try to hide my true feelings from you."

"You're overestimating me. But, admitting your weakness to me is a sign of trust. That makes me happy." Doreen says. "How about some tea? It will help calm you down."

"Maybe just a little."

Doreen gets up and walks over to a table, giving me a good view of her bare bottom. She bends over and pours a cup. She then stands up straight and picks the tea set up, turning round, giving me a view of her large breasts. She gently offers it to me the tea.

The aroma and rising steam do seem to help me unwind.

"Please." Doreen says.

I follow her invitation and take a sip. "It does calm me down. Thank you."

"Ahah, you're welcome."

"I heard you were taking part in the plan, too. Aren't you nervous?"

"Nervous? Well, let's see..." Doreen says. "I don't think we'll get into any serious trouble even in the event that we do fail, so I'm not that worried."

"We won't get into serious trouble?! Even though they might try to kill us?"

"Ahah, I probably feel so confident because I have such faith in you all. Lupin doesn't fail, and Van Helsing is a gifted warrior." Doreen says. "Also, we have Victoria's extraordinary knowledge and cautiousness, as well as Nemo's excellent technical abilities. With this sort of team, I'd say that it's quite difficult for us to fail. And if worst comes to worst, there's always me."

"You're so confident." Compared to her, I'm...

"What about you, Mr. Caleb?" She asks me kindly, and I respond honestly.

"I'm still worried."

"Don't worry. Trust in the people that trained you." Doreen says. "Even if you can't trust in yourself, can't you bring yourself to trust everyone else?"

"Yes, I can."

"That's the spirit, Mr. Caleb."

"Thank you, Doreen. I do feel better now."

"It's nothing. I simply stated what was on my mind."

"You're mysterious, but being near you puts me at ease."

"Ahah. I will take that as a compliment."

"Of course it was. Gray, how can I stay calm like you?"

"Let's see. I'm sure it will come to you with experience."

"Experience?"

"Yes. As you get older, things tend to surprise you less and less, and you become more centred."

"You don't look that old, Gray. I'm also familiar with a story about you in my world. According to it, you have a portrait of yourself that ages instead."

Doreen spits out her tea in shock. "Sorry. That came as a bit of a shock." Doreen laughs to herself and takes another sip of her tea.

Doreen and I talk to her for a while.

By the time the sun has completely set, I feel that my anxiety has gone away.