The city's steam pipe network was also undergoing an upgrade. On a weekend visit ho, Mary Williams had complained nonstop about their old house in the Aediran District, which had been demolished because it was obstructing the work of the Good Luck Steam Plumbing company.
Mary and Robert had lived there ever since they were married, only moving away after Robert found success. As a result, they were deeply attached to the old house.
"Is it ti to pay this month's steam bill?"
The great future deity contemplated the mundane matter of his livelihood and let out a sigh for his wallet.
"You don't look very happy. Is it because you have to see again?"
Hathaway Hersha approached from a distance. She was dressed in hunting gear, complete with long, black boots, making it impossible to guess where she had just returned from.
"No, I was simply considering how to free myself from your persistent company."
He removed his hat, offering a slight bow, but his tone was anything but courteous.
Huh. Level three?
"Mr. Williams—no, Jenkins. I am willing to guide you on the path of an Enchanter. You should consider it an honor."
The red-haired girl retorted, her eyes sweeping over his attire.
"Are you deliberately dressing so maturely to hide that baby face of yours? Well, well, look at the big boy trying to beco a man."
Gone was the timid girl who stood before Briny Mikhail; Hathaway Hersha's personality was now almost aggressively assertive.
"That's why I say the woman's under too much stress," he thought to himself. "She's not in her right mind."
Jenkins grumbled inwardly, but his face wore a shy, bashful expression.
"What are we doing tonight?"
He hadn't forgotten to ask the reason for the invitation; he'd originally planned on wrestling with Chocolate before forcing the cat into a bath.
"I'm going to show you that this world is not nearly as innocent as you think. Of course, there might also be so 'rewards'..."
"I'm not going to help you steal anything again."
Jenkins declared warily.
"When it cos to the affairs of Enchanters, can you really call it stealing?"
She found herself having to explain once more.
A carriage, hired in advance by Hathaway, was already waiting at the end of the alley.
They rode the carriage out of the city and across a vast expanse of farmland, apparently the private estate of so noble, before finally stopping in front of a manor.
"Tonight, I'm simply Hathaway Hersha, and you are simply Jenkins Williams. I heard from a friend that sothing interesting is set to happen here, so I accepted the invitation and brought my companion—the great author, Mr. Williams. Any questions?"
"You have friends here? Aren't you worried they'll tell Miss Mikhail they saw with you?"
"Relax. What's about to happen here is sothing Briny must never find out about. Therefore, absolutely no one is going to tell her we were here."
Jenkins nodded, deciding not to untangle their complex relationships. Instead, he took the silver mask she handed him, large enough to cover only the top half of his face.
These were common at masquerade balls.
"What's this for?"
"Atmosphere."
The girl replied, her voice laced with aning.
Jenkins hopped down from the carriage first, leaning on his cane as he gazed at the large manor in the distance. The sky was growing dim, but the light spilling from the house's windows kept the area quite bright.
"Ahem."
The girl in the carriage gave a deliberate cough. Jenkins raised an eyebrow, turned, and offered a hand like a perfect gentleman. He took her outstretched right hand and helped her alight from the carriage.
Servants holding lamps lined the path outside the manor, but once inside the warmth of the house, there were only other young people dressed in strange attire and wearing masks, just like Jenkins and Hathaway.
The scene resembled a ball. Two long tables, draped in immaculate tablecloths, flanked the spacious hall. Silver platters atop them were laden with food and wine, and beneath a grand crystal chandelier, the masked guests chatted and laughed casually to the strange music drifting from a phonograph.
"Are these all from noble families?"
Jenkins whispered, having recognized a few young people from the last reading salon. It was no small feat, as the masks obscured most of their faces.
She nodded and replied softly, "Yes. This gathering is only for reliable, adventurous friends within our circle. Most of them do co from noble families... Now, no more talking. Hold and dance."
"Thrill-seeking nobles?"
Jenkins was instantly on guard. This felt like the classic opening to a certain kind of story.
"Sorry, but I have to ask... there's not going to be so sort of cult sacrifice, is there? Or one of those... you know... very... ssy... parties?"
"What are you talking about?"
She asked, half-annoyed and half-amused, "What kind of impression do you have of nobles? Briny and I are both very proper, and we don't have any friends who enjoy that sort of thing. Just wait, you'll see in a mont."
She laughed and pulled Jenkins by the hand, but an awkward expression crossed his face. The Enchanter lessons Papa Oliver had ntioned were scheduled for next month, so...
"I don't know how to dance."
"Are you even from this world?"
she retorted. Jenkins's heart skipped a beat, but then she continued, "A twenty-one-year-old bachelor who can't dance? Do you not plan on ever getting married?"
"No, there is no logical connection between dancing and marriage."
He retorted imdiately, but she had already taken his hand.
"Leave your cane and take off that cumberso coat. Follow . I'll teach you, little brother."
"I'm a bit older than you... thank you."
He left his cane and coat on a wooden rack by the door. They drew slightly closer and stepped into the laughing, dancing crowd, beginning to sway slowly to the music.
This wasn't a formal masquerade that required precise steps, so to start, Jenkins just had to focus on not letting his hands wander into any inappropriate places.
"You know, I've always wanted a younger brother."
Hathaway whispered.
"Then you should go tell the Earl or the Countess."
Jenkins only dared to think it, responding aloud with an awkward, "Is that so?"
"Ever since becoming an Enchanter, I've had to keep my secrets to myself. I can't even fully trust my own maids... I've always wished I had a trustworthy friend I could talk to."
"Is that so?"
he replied again, inwardly vowing that he would absolutely never be anyone's "little brother."
Seeing that Jenkins hadn't understood her aning, Hathaway dropped the subject. Instead, she simply danced slowly to the music, just like everyone else.
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