Chapter 193Previous
Lils smiling face Ed eventually got to see on the deck of the Bell Rock, quickly turned into one that rebuked him. Back then and due to his own efforts, Lil finally trusted him.
It wasnt always easy and there were tis when I got angry at her for not allowing herself to trust
so confidently, but its all in the past. Now I so desperately miss the smile she gave under the blazing southern sun
simultaneously, another mory ca to mind.
{ Lock him up. Well throw him on a suitable uninhabited island soon, lets discuss the timing later.* }
Ed couldnt get the image of her turning away from him out of his head. She was so cold that he couldnt believe she was the sa woman he had drawn while she was sleeping in his bed until dawn. When Ed rembered those monts, the sensation of his flesh being ripped and torn from all over his body returned. It wasnt easy, even for him, to get over the trauma of being plunged into the dreadful night sea. Compared to all that had happened to him, that part was the absolute worst, because it left a wound that didnt heal and left a pain that didnt go away.
Ed extracted a bottle of wine from the barrel. Because the ice that had filled the barrel had almost completely lted, he decided to just take the whole bottle with him. He then slid a glass between his free fingers and walked out of the room. As soon as he descended the stairs his unfastened gown began to fly wildly and servants on their way to and from the second level casually greeted the master of the residence as they walked by.
Without Ed noticing, one of his personal servants had caught up and outpaced him. Ed walked into the room, where the devoted servant had quickly opened the door. The servant then bowed the mont his master walked in before leaving and closing the door.
Several stringed instrunts, including a harp and a cembalo, were arranged like exhibit pieces in the inner room*. The organ, which occupied a wall corner, was wrapped in white cloth. Ed stood in silence, staring at the only window with its curtains drawn. He eventually lowered his gaze to match the angle of the sunlight, its gentle slope crumbled against one of the instrunts legs. Ed went over to the cembalo and set his round glass down on the fra of the instrunt. He greedily poured the wine and took a seat.
When Ed opened the lid, dust sleeping on the black keys greeted him.
***
The place where the knight statue was located resembled an art gallery. Marble sculptures and figures were arranged ticulously, and gloomy war paintings were hung on the walls at appropriate intervals for viewing. Retiros ancestors were collectors during the monarchy, so their collections had grown enormously over the years. As a result, Lil had the luxury to choose between a mace and a spear from a massive bronze equestrian statue. Those weapons had the most destructive power, but she needed her weapons to be portable as well. Naturally, they were much longer than her skirt or too heavy to carry under it, so Lil had to put them back despite feeling greedy. In the end, she had to be satisfied with just the couple of extra daggers she had already hidden on her body.
Upon hearing an unfamiliar voice, Lil quickly thrust the mace, she was still holding, into the saddle.
Is there anything I may help you with?
A middle-aged maid, seen between the statues arms and head, drew her neck towards Lil. Looking further ahead, there were several other employees gathered at the entrance. Lil smiled sloppily, knowing well how suspicious she must be looking.
Who are you?
I am Elodie, a maid.
I was looking for the library. Where is it?
Lil told Levi she was going to see Ed, but she had planned on going to the library from the beginning. Finding a map had her highest priority and most of all, she didnt want to face Ed just yet.
Not only are my thoughts in disarray, but Im also afraid of what Ill say if I ran into him right now.
Lil reasoned that it was for the best to find a map and leave the house as soon as possible.
Please, follow .
When Elodie took the lead without showing any signs of vigilance, Lil brushed off her hands and followed the maid, but not before she glanced back. The mont she did, she saw that the people gathered beyond the entrance were all looking at each other with curious expressions. But as soon as Lils eyes t theirs, they scattered in all directions while nervously rubbing their aprons.
Elodie and Lil passed the billiard room and turned around the stairwell. Every ti Lil passed through a door, it was the sa scene. Two dressed-up servants would greet her. They also occasionally passed by maids carrying out their work, but that was about it. In other words, except for Lil, the only people walking around there were servants.
As its a residence belonging to a Marquess, shouldnt it be crowded with vassals and people doing administrative work? Why is it so quiet?
Why arent there more people here? Isnt there a lot of governance work to do?
Its because Sir Linhardt uses the southern building, all business transactions take place there.
Then this is
Sir Edgar is using this building.
Is the library here too?
Yes.
The seasoned maid was reserved. She could have gone into greater detail about how each section of the house was used, but she remained silent after her initial response.
At first glance, it appears to be an old mansion in a complex style that has been extended and repaired over ti. The art displayed in each room alone must be priceless, but the mansion itself is a cultural treasure whose worth cant even be asured. Normally, with a mansion this size, maids would proudly recite epic poems about every corner of the mansion to strangers This can only an that Elodie is deliberately keeping her mouth shut.
Lil took another look around. Even though it was a building away from business, she still found it odd that it was so quiet.
Besides the 3rd floor, the 2nd floor is even less crowded This will allow
to move around discreetly But it feels like such circumstances arent without reason, so I first need to figure out whats going on.
Even so, isnt it a bit too empty?
Elodie replied with a sigh.
This is essentially a place where outsiders cant co in.
Why? I would understand if its the third floor, which has the main bedroom, but I wonder why the second floor is like this as well.
Hmm! Well, Sir Edgar is very picky
..?
Lil tilted her head after hearing that.
Ed is picky? He was indeed a bit shy and reluctant to mix with people, but well he ate the bread he picked up from the floor and the at I tore off and passed on to him. Although he was sotis obsessed with the fabric of his clothes even then, when I mistreated him, he would obediently follow my words. I truly cant reconcile it, no matter how hard I try. Who knew he would order to empty an entire mansions floor just because hes picky? Ed is soone Elodie has known for a long ti. So she knows him better than I Im the one who has been deceived all along
because he was born with a keen, sensitive and sophisticated temperant
As if she was stabbed in the side, Elodie imdiately shut up. She shook her head with a guilty expression as if she had just cursed at her master. After all, that keen, sensitive and sophisticated temperant didnt seem to be used as a complint. Lil never thought of Ed as a temperantal person or soone who wants to save face, but Elodies words made sense to Lil when she realised that his personality at that ti was all part of his act.
Elodie didnt say anything after that, it was as though she had beco wary of Lil. So Lil was back to follow Elodie in silence. Or at least she tried, but the shoes she had gotten from Levi were a size too big, so her heels rang loudly with every step she took.
It didnt help that the gallery appeared endless no matter how much she walked. It has been a long ti since she visited such a large mansion, so Lil beca impatient and was about to increase her pace. However, she had to slow down again when Elodie warned her with a stern look.
Clack Clack
The sound of her shoes echoed in the space as wide as a banquet hall. This gallery was also filled with paintings and sculptures. Within its centre, a series of masterpieces made by Chauvron, Alsene, and Tange were neatly lined up.
Whether his ancestors loved art so much, or whether these were all collected because they were enthusiastic supporters, but this entire mansion reminds
of an art museum.
Lil, examining the pieces in an alcove5 with a tired face, suddenly heard a strange sound blended with her steps.
She paused. As her clicking feet stopped, a faint lody was heard. The lody, that had been mixed like a cacophony* with the verbal noise, gradually beca clearer. Elodie, who glanced back at Lil, eventually looked up into the air to intently listen to the music as well.
Its the ordre* of Count Ior.
What makes him play the cembalo at this hour? Besides, its not a joyful song
It was a song that even Elodie knew well. Love Song No. 5 was written by Count Ior right before he took his own life. It beca one of his more famous songs due to the fact it was incomplete.
The library
..?
Lil scuttled back. As soon as she passed Elodie, the maid quickly caught up. Lil then rolled up her skirt and widened her stride.
Where is the library?
Oh, yes. Just past the gallery.
Even when Lil stumped her feet deliberately, the lody was louder than her footsteps.
Suddenly, her imagination* took over and Lightning flashed above the lancholy tune. A window blew open, and its curtains fluttered so strongly that it appeared as if they were about to tear off. This happened all the while a monotonous rainstorm raged. The sound of thunder coming from her left and right sides struck at the sa ti. Between the spaces, the fras of the high windows creaked intimidatingly.
Lil ran out of the gallery.
The death of a musician, who was a master of the Watteau II era, ca as a shock to everyone and creations depicting the end of the Count had overflowed society. Lil, too, had seen countless portrayals suggesting a hanged figure by a stormy window. Next to him were always his cembalo and scattered torn sheets of music
Footnote:
5. Alcove: Space made by hollowing walls for decoration.
Cacophony: A blend of inharmonious sounds. The word originates from Greek, actually aning bad sound. An example of a cacophony in real life would be like dishes crashing on the floor, or horns blaring and people yelling in a traffic accident. [STUDY]
Ordre: a set or suite of short pieces for harpsichord or ensemble in 18th-century France. [RRIAM-WEBSTER]
Inner room: A room that can only be accessed by walking through another room. Therefore an inner room is never adjacent to a corridor.
Imagination: just so its clear to everyone, this whole part about the raging storm happens all in Lils head. The several paintings Lil has seen about the tragic death of the musician are coming to life in her mind.
References:
{ Lock him up. Well throw him on a suitable uninhabited island soon, lets discuss the timing later. } = Chapter 132, after the pigeon incident and Courant and Cesar coming into the room, Alain and Jericho are called. Lil will give this order as soon as they step into the cabin.
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