Chapter 29
The Royal Palace of Luxen.
Seo-ah held her breath, overwhelmed by Abel’s intense presence, and stared at the two soaring pillars. The two golden eagles, each with two heads, left a striking impression.
The carriage made a half-turn around the circular plaza before veering off.
The long road was lined with broad-leafed trees, a common sight back in Pelfe. After passing through the wooded path, they drove along a riverbank for a while, eventually passing an ancient cathedral said to be a thousand years old. Then, quite suddenly, the Reinhardt Mansion revealed itself.
Tall trees with lush foliage stood behind high, wrought-iron fences.
Sshhhhhhh.
Seo-ah watched the leaves swaying violently through the window as they came to a stop.
The carriage, which had paused for a moment, slowly passed through the opening iron gates. As they entered the deep shade of the thick trees, she felt the illusion of sinking beneath the surface of the water. Even though the windows were closed, she could almost feel the chill of the shade.
On both sides of the path, the scenery was lush enough to be called a forest. Occasional patches of light broke through the dark shadows cast by the dense trees, making the green grass in those spots look vivid, as if rimmed with golden reflections. Then, as if by magic, the moment they passed the edge of the forest, Seo-ah let out a soft exclamation of wonder.
“Wow.”
At that, Abel smiled and spoke as if boasting of his own home.
“Welcome to the Reinhardt Mansion.”
As if they had never passed through the forest’s gloom, a wide-open space as vast as a great plain overwhelmed her vision.
Two buildings of magnificent size stood facing each other, and between them lay a garden characteristic of Eastern Norfolk, picturesque with flowers, lawns, and fountains.
The carriage followed a path along the edge of the garden toward the building directly ahead, eventually slowing down before coming to a complete stop. Looking out the opposite window, she saw a middle-aged woman standing at the entrance of the building.
Abel stood up first, and the door was opened from the outside. The scent of cool grass rushed in along with the chill of the shade. As she leaned out of the carriage after him, Abel, who had stepped down first, offered his hand again. Realizing now that it was meant to support her, Seo-ah whispered softly.
“I’m really fine.”
“…….”
When his repeated, subtle attempts to hold her hand ended in failure yet again, Abel chuckled, and the other wolves stifled their laughter. However, the reason they couldn’t glare at one another here was because of the middle-aged woman who had come out to greet Seo-ah.
“Welcome. Welcome to the Reinhardt Mansion.”
If cold iron were personified, it would surely look like this woman.
With silver hair that looked almost gray and eyes that appeared navy blue, she wore a black dress that felt like a woman’s formal suit. Her entire being radiated a sense of lightness and strength, as if she had fastidiously stripped away everything unnecessary and left only what was essential.
Seo-ah’s gaze met those deep navy eyes.
The look in them—emotionless, transparent, and thus stronger than anyone else’s—felt strangely familiar. Seo-ah clasped her hands together and gave a small greeting.
“Hello.”
She felt the woman’s gaze on her as she lowered her eyes.
Barbara, the veteran wolf who guarded the Reinhardt Mansion, looked at Seo-ah with emotionless eyes, while the young wolves, including Abel, held their breath.
The wind swirled between the wolves and the stranger.
It was Barbara who moved first.
“I have received word from His Excellency. Please, come inside.”
Barbara turned around, glancing briefly at the wolves. At her look, the men, who had been standing at attention like disciplined soldiers, dispersed as if returning to their respective posts.
As Barbara began to walk, Seo-ah, who had been looking at the hem of the woman’s black skirt, also moved her feet and lifted her head.
The building, which had looked magnificent from a distance, was even more overwhelming up close.
On either side of the main entrance, which was taller than two grown men, stood wolf statues carved from black stone. The statues, as large as actual wolves, were so lifelike they looked ready to leap forward at any moment.
As they passed the wolf statues and entered the mansion, the temperature surrounding them seemed to shift.
She wondered if the temple of a god who ruled the underworld would feel like this.
Unlike the exterior walls of the mansion, which were made of ivory-colored stone, the interior seemed to be constructed of stone as black and polished as a raven. The wide, long staircase visible upon entry, the banisters that looked delicate even from afar, and even the floor she stepped on were all entirely black.
A red carpet was laid over the black floors and stairs, and on the landing, there were massive arched windows with golden frames, positioned symmetrically around a chandelier. The sunlight pouring through the windows spread into every corner, making the golden chandelier sparkle even more brilliantly.
“…….”
Deep red blood upon a black foundation that looked like death, and the glorious golden light built upon it.
The impression that suddenly rose in her mind was not one she dared to speak aloud.
“This is the main building of the mansion. We call this the Main Building, and the building on the opposite side is the Annex.”
“I see.”
Barbara glanced back briefly before looking forward again.
“Your room has been prepared in the Main Building. The Annex is currently used as quarters for the servants, so there will be no reason for you to go there.”
It sounded like a warning to refrain from entering the Annex.
“I understand.”
Her footsteps were muffled by the plush red carpet. As they quietly climbed the stairs and reached the landing, she saw the garden through the clean glass windows. It was not the same garden she had seen from the carriage. While the garden between the Main Building and the Annex was decorated only with grass and flowers, the garden behind the Main Building was beautiful, with well-tended ornamental trees harmonizing with the flowers.
Turning around at the landing, she saw two staircases positioned symmetrically on either side.
“Abel will serve as your escort from now on, and I will look after your daily life. Please ensure Abel accompanies you whenever you go anywhere, and let me know if you need anything.”
“How should I address you?”
“You may call me Mrs. Barbara.”
Seo-ah committed the name to memory.
The light pouring from the window cast long shadows across the stairs.
Following Barbara up the remaining steps, she saw a long hallway stretching out to both sides. Directly opposite the banister between the two staircases, a pair of black double doors, as tall as the main entrance, stood wide open. Beyond the doors was a space large enough for many people to gather. Through the large, airy windows, she could see the Annex.
Barbara pointed to the space beyond the open doors and said, “This is the central hall of the Main Building. You are welcome to sit on the sofas in the hall or stay here for a while, but…”
Leaving her sentence unfinished, Barbara stepped into the hall. Following her inside, Seo-ah realized why this place was called the center. A massive chandelier hung low from a painted ceiling, and every corner of the walls was filled with carvings that were undoubtedly the work of master craftsmen.
On either side of the hall were doors carved with wolves. Barbara pointed to the door on the right and said, “That door leads to His Excellency’s private space, so do not open it. Even if it is open, you must not enter without permission.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Barbara guided Seo-ah to the hallway on the right side of the hall.
“Your room is this way.”
Seo-ah traced the layout of the mansion in her mind as she followed Barbara.
Go up the stairs, don’t enter the hall, and turn right immediately. After walking for a long time down a hallway lined with windows overlooking the rear garden, a door soon appeared on the left wall.
Unlike the tall doors she had seen so far, this was a modest, neat door of average height. Barbara opened the door and entered first.
The space beyond was decorated just as neatly. It was a room with three windows overlooking the Annex. However, it didn’t seem to be the final destination.
The room was filled with bookshelves packed with books, and though there was a table, chairs, and a long sofa arranged in the center for reading, there was no place to sleep. Sure enough, Barbara led Seo-ah toward another door in the room.
“This way.”
The room full of books had a total of three doors: the door they had entered through from the hallway, and two doors facing each other with the windows in between.
The door Barbara pointed to was the one on the right, relative to the direction they had entered from the hallway. Seo-ah pointed to the door on the left and asked, “Then where does this door lead?”
Barbara replied as she opened the door on the right.
“It leads to His Excellency’s bedroom.”
