POTC - Chapter 24

The mansion was not only splendid on the outside.

The interior was just as luxurious as the exterior.

Moreover, it was so spotless that it seemed like not a single speck of dust would come off even if you licked the bare floor with your tongue.

According to Fenrir, just as he had hired many gardeners, he had also brought a considerable number of maids. So, he said, there would be absolutely no inconvenience in daily life.

However, even if Presepe were ordered to clean this vast mansion all by herself, it was clear that it would be much better than the miserable life she had spent in the tower.

Well, anyway.

Presepe's room, which Fenrir guided her to, was located in the deepest part of the mansion, at the very back.

Fenrir left, saying that since he had hastily sent someone to pack this as soon as Dietrich gave his permission, it might be insufficient, and asking her to feel free to let him know if anything was needed.

"wow..."

Presepe entered the room alone, his mouth dropping open.

"It's incredibly spacious..."

It's very pretty.

Presepe muttered to herself.

It was exactly as described. The room was spacious, beautiful, and luxurious. It was enough to make even the most distinguished royal or noble lady marvel.

"I don't think anything else is needed here."

Although she had gone through countless things since possessing the game, Presepe still hadn't completely abandoned her conscience. "I've done all this for you; what more could I ask for? Ask you to buy me jewels? That's a bit much."

“Uhm..."

As she looked around the room, Presepe suddenly glanced around. Not long after, with a satisfied expression, she grasped the vase she had been holding tightly in her arms.

"This place would be the best, right?"

The empty vase's new place was on the bedside table.

Although it felt like it stood out a bit too much in the otherwise extravagant interior, it didn't really matter.

Presepe carefully set the vase down and slowly raised her head. She then gazed at the scenery visible beyond the vast balcony.

"... He said I didn't necessarily need to go to the garden, and it turns out he wasn't kidding."

From the balcony, all kinds of flowering trees were visible at a glance.

Furthermore, there was an unnamed flowering tree and a flower bed right in front of the window.

It couldn't even be compared to the desolate landscape she had seen from the tower.

Curtains fluttering in the wind, swirling flower petals. Warm sunlight shining down.

Everything was good.

Moreover, whether it was out of Fenrir's consideration or not, what Presepe liked most, having always been confined to the towering high tower, was that this room was on the first floor.

Perhaps that is why dje even felt a surprisingly deep sense of relief.

"Lady Presepe."

And with a polite knock, Fenrir's voice was heard from beyond the closed door.

"May I come in for a moment?"

"Ah. Yes! Of course."

No sooner had the answer been given than Fenrir opened the door and stepped into the room.

However, in his hand was something she hadn't seen before.

It was a flower.

With Presepe wearing a puzzled expression, Fenrir strode toward the vase. Then, bending slightly at the waist, he placed the flower he was holding into the vase.

"Did you go to get the flowers?"

"Yes."

At Fenrir's concise answer, Presepe involuntarily let out a small laugh.

"But you said earlier, Grand Duke. That I could see flowers in my room even without going to the garden."

"..."

"And as you said, it looks really good."

"The person who gave this gift would hope that this vase is always full. No matter where you are, Lady Presepe"

I see.

Yeah. Maybe that really is the case.

"Anyway, since you have arrived safely, how about having a meal?"

"It's fine. Maybe it's because I was so busy, but I'm not hungry."

"Then please get some rest. You were summoned by His Majesty at the crack of dawn, so you haven't been able to get even a little sleep, have you?"

Fenrir was right. Moreover, perhaps because of the relief, her tense body felt as if it were sagging. As the tension released, she became extremely tired, and as she got tired, her eyes felt dry and stiff.

"Yes, I think I should get some sleep. Thank you so much for your consideration".

“Nothing much to say.”

Fenrir answered, shrugging his shoulders slightly.

"Please make yourself at ease. You may sleep when you want to sleep and rest when you want to rest. That is exactly why I brought you here."

"..."

"In this mansion, no one dares to bother Lady Presepe."

"...Grand Duke Fenrir?"

"So get a good night's sleep. Don't worry about anything."

With those words, Fenrir grinned. Then, he slowly left Presepe's room.

Presepe, left alone, wore a slightly puzzled expression.

"No one can bother me...?"

Presepe ruminated on Fenrir's words for a long time, then shook her head as if trying to come to her senses.

"Considering what happened with Ella, and knowing that Dietrich was treating me like a dog... it’s not exactly unreasonable to say."

Yes, I guess so.

Presepe sat on the edge of the bed muttering to herself, and not long after, she lay down as if collapsing without realizing it.

As she buried herself in the fragrant and soft bedding, jer fatigue intensified, and drowsiness quickly set in.

She didn't intend to let her guard down completely just because she was here. She never knew when or where something might happen, and after all, Fenrir was Dietrich's man.

However, it was such a long day, and a day filled with so much. Perhaps that is why Presepe found herself nodding off without realizing it, and then slowly closed her eyes.

And then, she dozed off. Surprisingly, just as Fenrir had said, very deeply.

***

Presepe did not wake up even after the sun had set, and twilight had come; night had come, and the round full moon had completely filled the dark sky.

It was inevitable, after all. Having escaped that hellish imperial palace for the first time, one can only imagine how relieved she must have been.

To be honest, he was worried. He was afraid that Presepe would continue to tremble with anxiety even after coming here.

Fenrir was confident that he could understand why Presepe was so anxious, given that she must have endured such terrible incidents, feeling sick and frustrated while trembling with rage.

However, seeing her resting so well was nothing short of a relief for Fenrir.

[The mansion is truly beautiful! It is so pretty... The Grand Duke said it was shabby, but it is not at all.]

It seemed as though she liked everything that had been specially prepared. The interior of the mansion, the flowers in the garden, and even the room.

...The claim that he hired a gardener to time it with the blooming season since flowers do not bloom all year round, and the claim that he hurriedly furnished the room as soon as Dietrich's permission was given, were all outright lies.

Since Fenrir has spent a very long time and put great effort into preparing for today.

And Fenrir was not the only one who knew that fact.

"It’s completely different from when I visited last time. It’s as if the mansion was built from scratch."

"..."

"But the scent of flowers is so strong it makes me nauseous."

Fenrir did not answer.

Instead, he faced the man sitting on the opposite sofa, smiling at him.

"You used your head well."

A smile continued to spread across the handsome face of the man as he continued speaking.

"Where did that griffin come from? It wouldn't have been easy to get."

"There is nothing I cannot have in this empire."

"..."

“Whatever it is.”

Fenrir answered dryly, and the man asked another question.

“Like Presepe?”

Fenrir's face, which had been staring at the man, stiffened subtly.

"Anyway, it was really fun. But a nuisance has already swarmed in."

"I'm talking about Archmage Ivan."

The man chuckled and said.

"I heard he started an investigation at Noah DeVern's mansion. You know, right? That Ivan's abilities shouldn't be underestimated."

"..."

"Besides, if Noah DeVern's sign is related to magic, that would be even more likely."

"Even if that is the case, what does it matter?"

"What?"

"They are all going to meet the same end as Attar Hanan and Noah DeVern anyway."

I see.

Well, okay.

The man laughed like a madman.

"That's not what's important right now."

Fenrir parted his lips in a low, sinister voice.

"Why did you go to church?"

"..."

"Answer me, Vidar."

Vidar didn't say a word for a moment.

Instead, bathed in the moonlight pouring through the wide-open window... he gazed at Fenrir with eerily gleaming blue eyes and wore a subtle smile.

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