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They stopped right in front of the living room. There was a woman with gray-black hair, practically ponytails and younger than fifty years. Wearing a dark dress, sitting in a rocking chair near a burning fireplace, sewing.
"Excuse me, Lady De Polcester, I have brought some guests," said the elderly woman politely, bowing.
Everyone, one by one, introduced themselves to the owner, as if in a job interview situation.
The woman was just silent, with the same blank face as the young woman named Agnes earlier. But Ren's eyes were black with large pupils, her head turned slightly, glancing one by one at the people she had just met. Worry rose up in Ren's mind, as her eyes glared only at Lady De Polcester. She was reminded of horror movies, as if those bulging eyes turned a bottomless black dark and then strangled her mercilessly.
But Ren's strange thoughts, did not happen. The woman's eyeballs then shrank back to their original position, then resumed heractivities.
Not giving a clear reason other than hier aura which tends to be gloomy. However, somehow that was understandable enough for the old lady who was dressed in Victorian maid clothes. Perhaps, his master not giving a rebuttal was taken as a sign, that he didn't mind at all.
"Thank you, milady." The elderly woman led a group of four up the stairs on the left. However, of course it left a few questions in their minds.
For a moment Ren turned her head, the woman named Agnes was at the very back accompanying them without showing her presence. They walked down the hall which contained several rooms. The elderly woman handed out four keys.
“Thank you, madame. But it seems that Lady De Polcester is not pleased with our presence?" the dapper man asked representing Ren, Sistine and Grunt's questions.
"Not at all! She is just like that. If – if she refuses, the response will be different,” she answered simply. Her hand clapped slowly. "Ah, if you ask for help you can call Agnes or me, Mildsven,"
The old lady, Aunt Mildsven, explained that they could only use the bathroom on the first floor, the dining area was downstairs and smoking was permitted only outdoors, including the terrace.
"Fine, we'll excuse ourselves." Mildsven and Agnes bowed like a maid of honor and left.
The four of them examined the lock. The key was engraved with a number that matched the door's number. After getting the key, Grunt didn't hesitate to put down the two bags that weighed heavily on his shoulders and arms.
"I don't know, I don't really understand. What is clear, I want to take a shower before going to bed!” said Grunt excitedly, as if a lamp had gone out and then given out a dim glow. He is the most relaxed person and does not bother. Grunt's enthusiasm had apparently rubbed off on Sistine.
The dapper man returned a smile at Grunt. Before sticking the key in the lock of his bedroom door, he lifted his black bowler hat in a curt greeting.
“Erm, sir…?” asked Ren who stopped the dapper man. "Don't you find it strange?"
They huddled together for a while. Ren's question made her two friends wonder.
The dapper man was reluctant to reply, but his expression was calm as if Ren had just misunderstood.
"Something like that, but I guess your friends also feel that way? So I don't think it's a big deal,” His face turned alternately to Ren, Grunt, and Sistine.
“Yeah, that woman, Agnes? She looks like a zombie,” commented Sistine very honestly. “Lady De Polcester is also not much different. Do you think she is sad?” Sistine put on an unfaithful worried expression.
"Then what's the problem, anyway?" Grunt snorted, as if infected with worry. “Don't tell me you want to fuss like Sistine, Ren?” he protested accusingly.
“Hey! Man don't say things like that!” An annoyed Sistine with an insolent mouth of Grunt, her hands grabbed Grunt's waist and pinched him.
“Arggh! My bad, my bad!” his screams were held back, he felt that as a guest he should not be too crowded. Luckily before long, Sistine removed her hand that was threatening Grunt's waist.
This time Ren didn't defend Grunt at all.
“Okay, okay, what the heck is this about?” asked the man still holding his waist, slightly squealing.
“Birdnest, you're a veteran of sleepovers, aren't you? According to your foolish experience, isn't this place strange?” Sistine demanded.
The man with afro hair like a bird's nest thought for a moment. Just as Sistine said, Grunt loved to wander about. Because he often travels, he certainly knows many types of lodging, especially friendly to students' pockets and the facilities can be pitted. Unfortunately, sometimes some of these places have historical events. Of course, no one wants to know that fact.
Grunt actually felt worried first. However, because he was in a cornered position, the worry was undone. He just tried to think positively and didn't want to discuss things that no one wanted to know. Including rumors, strange rumors.
The three people seemed to be waiting for Grunt's statement.
"Why! Tch, you guys are always like this!” he objected heavily, scratching his head. “That's it, a villa this big looks like an inn no matter what! Bnb is still reasonable. But why was it made into just ordinary home?”
"Perhaps Lady De Polcester is a billionaire and wants the palace all to herself?" the dapper man tried to argue.
“But if you look at the size of the yard, the size of the building, and the construction of the interior and exterior… I think it makes sense to commercialize it. One more weird thing, this lock has a number, right?” Grunt said, holding his chin. His eyes were serious like a detective.
The dapper man nodded without hesitation. "Ah, that's what it means,"
“Also, isn't this palace very quiet? Well, we haven't confirmed all the administrators, but we've only seen three people since earlier, right?”
“U-uh huh. I-I saw it too…. Lady De Polcester is glaring at me!” Ren told with goosebumps.
"Oh, I saw that too, anyway. She glares at you Ren?” said Sistine.
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Their faces were now a little filled with fear and worry, especially that dapper man. But what the dapper man is worried about is the right way to free himself from endless discussions and without procedures.
"In my opinion, thinking about things that are uncertain is not a wise decision." Opening the door to his room, he smiled and then closed the door again from the inside. "Good night, everyone!"
The three people couldn't help agreeing with the dapper man's statement just now. Letting the little things bother you will only leave nightmares at night. As for tomorrow, they also have other activities, thought Ren.
They dispersed. Because of the conversation just now, Sistine was a bit afraid to sleep alone in the room. Because of that, she roomed with Ren. Meanwhile, Grunt, just a simple man and easy to destroy worry, went straight to the bathroom, cleaned up his sweat.
Dinner was delivered in each room. Aunt Mildsven apologized for only providing canned food as they had not prepared rations. Ren didn't think it was a big deal, Sistine actually felt even more pleased. Eating in the room is the custom.
At midnight, the wind blew the window blinds. Their worry is manifested in other forms. Ren and Sistine, hearing voices crying outside their door, drew nearer.
***
The wooden scaffold standing on the grass with its back to the lake, supports the canvas firmly. Looking for a shady position near a tree that sits on a green earth carpet, Ren and his friends move their brushes casually as if they are enjoying the peace around them. Their pallets have been mixed with colorful paints.
“Ah, damn it! I'm out of green paint!” Grunt grunted, then walked backwards, looking up at his half-asian friend. "You have some left, Ren?"
Unfortunately Ren's canvas, depicts a detailed picture of the cliff top, which is mostly grass.
"You should be aware that I wear too much green because of my position here," Ren added a little mockingly, "Besides, why do you need green to paint a lake?"
“I would like to include ducks on my canvas world. Needs brown and mine is still intact. I need green to mix into red,"
Ren sighed, as if running out of words to advise Grunt who was always lacking in preparation. His demeanor was too relaxed.
“Should you ask Sistine, perhaps?”
Grunt looked at Sistine with a reluctant face, his heart hesitated. Not for fear of disturbing Sistine whose world was distracted on the canvas, but her mouth like a snake ready to bite Grunt. Maybe not only the green paint that was given, but a million unnecessary scolding.
"Sis, can you give green to Birdnest!?" cried Ren howling not too loudly, asking. Ren understood the frightened look on Grunt's face, that must be the reason.
“Hey! Sssstt!” Grunt reminded Ren, but it was too late.
But contrary to her expectations, Sistine complied without comment, “Come here, I still have a lot,” her tone back howling not too loudly as Ren's, but withered.
"What is wrong with her? Period?” whispered Grunt.
“You idiot! Control your words!” Ren flicked the Affro scrawny's forehead lightly. Ren muttered to herself. Said to Grunt, "Wait here,"
Ren thought that Sistine was more lethargic than usual. When Sistine is too noisy, it's a hassle, on the other hand, when she's withered, it makes her worry.
“Sis, come here for a second,” Ren called out, calling out.
In short finish the blue, then put the brush near. Sistine stepped up the less steep cliff, approaching the two of them.
"What happened, Sis?" asked Ren a little worried, so did Grunt's face.
She handed Grunt the green paint without a word
“Ho-honestly… I couldn't sleep all night.” Sistine's right arm reached for her neck, as if it had a sore neck. "You may have fallen asleep, but I'm not that fast…,"
Grunt and Ren looked at each other, then looked back at Sistine who looked exhausted.
“What exactly do you want to say, Sis?” Ren immediately grabbed both of her shoulders.
Sistine, her best friend, even the one who was always nagging at Grunt, spoke too reluctantly. She seems doesn't want to make any more mistakes, such as because of her actions so she stays in a place that makes them uncomfortable.
“Y-y-you… didn't hear yesterday? Someone crying just outside the door?” she said with a shudder.
The two of them seemed to have no clue. Grunt and Ren glanced at each other for a moment.
“I-is it loud?” asked Grunt worriedly.
Sistine nodded slowly. Unfortunately the two friends still seemed not too sure. Suddenly the dapper man came toward them.
"Pretty loud, really. If you don't sleep, it's impossible not to hear it,” replied the man as if interrupting the conversation.
"Ah, sir!" Grunt seemed more excited.
The dapper man took out three business cards, then gave them one each. It was designed to look like a birthday party card, with a three word name on it. In each word, two letters are purposely bolded as nicknames as well as initials.
“Mon-ca-ke…?”
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