the Duke

June the 24th 1945

War in Europe was over, as the mission of the shadow commandos was accomplished, I was awarded and allowed to come back definitively at home.
That was a relief for my mother that I was still safe and sound. At the same time I was the only remaining member of our family, the only one heir of our house and her only child.

Then when I got home in the morning, she run to me to hug the flesh of her flesh, the last time she had the opportunity to do this was when we were on leave after the liberation of Paris one year ago. then I had the very first decent meal since I commit as a soldier, which is... Along time ago, I can't remember precisely. For the occasion, Mother made my favorite one : An "escaloppe à la crème" with rice, mushrooms and crusty bread.
After this, I decided to take a shower and take off this uniform which, although as elegant as it looks, make me remember the worst memories of my life.
But there was a problem, all of my clothes which are still in my wardrobe comes from the time when I left the Château to get protected in Great Britain, which was about six years ago, and I was only 14 at this time and I am about to turn 20 in July.
Then my mother suggested that I shall wear my father clothes until we go to tha taillor to take my new mesurements and make myself new suits.
Then when I went to my parents' bedroom and open his wardrobe I got both exited and guilty if not sad to wear his clothes now that he is not here anymore, but I always wanted to look like him as child, he was my model, my inspiration, my hero.
Surprisingly, even if all of my father's clothes were made on his mesurements to fit him prefectly, I had not much difficulties to put it on, granted I felt a bit tightened on my shoulders and arms. (at the same time I became much more muscular than he was)
Then when I saw myself in the front of the Mirror, I was amazed to see at how elegant I was looking, this was the first time that I found myself handsome.
This feeling was even more intense for my mother when she came in and saw his son wearing his father's most elegant clothes.
-"Oh, look at yourself Louis! You have become a man!... I just wish your father was here to see you..." she said as she teared up
-"I miss him too Mother..." my eyes began to get wet, but I hold my tears as much as possible, I survived to a world war, it is moment to show myself weak. But I know father would be proud of me.
-"This is incredible, you have exactly the same size!"
-"Well I do not feel much compfortable in moving my arms, but it can wait until I got my own ones"
-"This true that you are more athletic than him, but still I have the impression to see my Pascal when we met in 1910... but even more gracious..."
-"You must be flattering me Mother, I never met a man more gracious than Father."
-"Not even all those distinguished gentlemen you met in the United Kingdom?"
-"No, not even them."
-"And yet you are, even with this scar marking your face and now that your father is gone, you are the last of the de Rastignac, the heir of our house, and you now inherits from all our patrimony and become the Duke of de Rastignac"
-"I, I don't know if I can face my new responsabilities alone now."
-"You survived to a world war, you can face anything now, but for the moment, let's have a walk in the garden, I am sure you have a lot of things to tell me, we must make up for lost time, would you wear his top hat to fit with the suit?"
-"Well... Emh... Wouldn't a top hat be a bit too much... Distinguished for me? The suit already makes me look a bit pompous."
She put the hat on my head and said :
-"Nothing is too much distinguished for the Duke!"