D’Arc Estate, Copper Town.
Just a few candles dimly illuminated the bedroom while it was pitch black outside.
Vincent yawned as he lay on the soft bed.
At long last, he could have a proper sleep.
However...
A blonde lady sat with her back against the bed rest, staring at Vincent.
On the right, a silver-haired young lady held a parchment in her hand, studying it carefully despite the dim lighting.
Her shoulder touched Vincent’s.
He turned to Anastasia first.
Noticing his gaze, she turned to her side and picked a tray from the bedside table.
"Chamomile tea, young master."
Vincent blinked.
He didn’t say anything and took the cup and saucers slowly sipping tea.
Leona grabbed a cup as well, and the remaining was taken by Anastasia.
The maid, the master, and the fiancée quietly sipped tea while in their night attire, not speaking a word more.
’She said the servant rooms were occupied. There’s also no guest rooms in the manor. No, not just this manor but any of our manors. We don’t entertain guests apparently.’
The floor plan of this manor and every other in D’Arc County was the same.
The design and interior might be different but the floor plan was the same.
’Good for me, I guess.’
Vincent ceased unnecessary thoughts and focused on his tea.
Knock. Knock.
Just as he was about to finish his tea, there was a knock on his door.
"I’ll get it."
Anastasia got out of bed and walked toward the door.
Opening it, there was a maid who handed her a letter.
She brought it to Vincent.
He read through it and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
"More trouble?" Leona asked from the side.
Getting a letter at this hour meant it was urgent. She was just wondering whether it was related to something collapsing or someone dying.
Vincent didn’t open his eyes and said, "No. Just pack your stuff, we have to leave for the Capital."
"Now?"
"Yes."
Anastasia nodded and went inside the toilet, changing into her maid outfit and returning.
She immediately got to work and began packing for everyone.
Leona went to the toilet after her, and since there was some time before she came out, he went to Vanessa’s bedroom opposite to his.
Knock. Knock.
"Vanessa, it’s me."
The door opened and Vincent was met with the sight of Felicia in her nightgown.
It was dark and she was barely visible.
"Come in."
Vincent walked inside.
The room was cold and quite dark.
Vanessa only had a single candle lit up by her bedside.
He walked toward her and found her sitting by the edge of the bed, in a nightgown as well.
Just her face and neckline was visible under the candlelight.
Vincent stopped before her and made eye contact.
"I’ve been called to the Capital urgently. Can you do me a favor please?"
Vanessa stared at him for a second and then tapped the side of her bed.
"Sit down first."
The sudden gesture made him raise his eyebrows.
He sat down and turned to her.
"What’s the favor?"
"We came to Copper Town because rats have infested grain storages. It has happened for the second time. The first time..."
Vincent explained what the Railguard had said about the first time and mentioned the plague scare too.
Vanessa listened and didn’t interrupt.
"These commoners might get scared of the plague and burn everything down. We can’t afford it. No other house is supporting us with grains. I wish to save this but there’s an urgent summon and—"
"Stop."
Vanessa placed a finger on Vincent’s lips.
Vincent’s eyebrows quivered as he felt the softness and the scent of cedar and pine.
’Seriously, how can one smell like winter?’
"This is not favor. It’s duty."
She did not pull her finger away yet.
"And in case you’ve forgotten, mom and I have been managing the County so far. We know the problems."
She locked eyes with Vincent.
"It’s good that you’re taking responsibilities and changing, but don’t think you alone have to bear the entire County’s burdens."
She removed her finger now.
"You can’t even kill a chicken. How are you going to manage those rats? And let me inform you, they aren’t your ordinary rats."
"What?"
Vanessa turned to the side table and took out a paper from the drawer.
She handed it to Vincent.
"There’s an influx of monsters from the Highlands northeast of this region. These rats are believed to have come from there."
Vincent brought the paper close to his eyes. He had trouble reading it.
The next second, the light brightened.
He glanced up.
Vanessa was holding a candle close to him.
Suddenly, everything below her neckline was visible too.
The nightgown was thin and clung close to her bare skin.
Two things poked at the fabric from inside.
Vincent immediately looked back at the paper.
’Shit. A second longer and I wouldn’t have been able to explain myself.’
A drop of sweat trickled down Vincent’s back despite the cool breeze flowing through the window.
He read the paper with complete attention this time.
It was a report and stated exactly what Vanessa had said.
Vincent put the paper down and looked at her.
Into her eyes, specifically and not an inch lower.
"How did I miss this information?"
"You’ve just taken command. The servants are only relaying you reports regarding your decisions and questions. Anything extra or dangerous is sent to me or the Capital."
Vanessa said and put the candle back to the bedside table.
"Oh."
Vincent didn’t dwell on it for longer.
He nodded.
"Okay."
He stood up and grabbed Vanessa’s hands.
"Please save the grains. I’ll come back as soon as possible and take it over from you, completing the responsibility I initially took."
"Hm." Vanessa nodded lightly. "Don’t run away from the axe lessons either."
"I won’t."
Vanessa nodded again.
Vincent left her hand and turned around.
He took a step ahead, then stopped.
He just remembered his Entanglement with his sister had not gone up despite the many interactions and even talking to her now.
’She probably still resents me.’
Vincent took a deep breath.
If he didn’t make an effort to change, nothing would change.
He turned around and...
A soft thud resounded in the room as Vincent hugged Vanessa.
From the side, Felicia slightly raised her eyebrows.
Vanessa’s eyes somewhat widened as she felt warmth on her frontside and a firm hold around her shoulders.
There was a faint, odd scent of ink, paper, magnolias, and soap too.
"I’m sorry for what I said or did to you before, sis. And I’m sorry for dumping responsibilities on you and leaving."
Vincent loosened his hold.
His leg muscles tensed up as his foot slightly turned toward the door.
"Don’t take a lot of stress though. Sleep well, have a good night. Love you. Ba-bye!"
Vincent broke the hug and quickly walked toward the door. Just fast enough to not be caught and slow enough to pretend he wasn’t running.
The door snapped shut.
Vanessa blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"Love you."
The words echoed in her head.
"Love you."
The words echoed in her head again.
"..."
Vanessa looked down. Her hands were extended and in a position that were about to wrap.
She didn’t actively do it.
"..."
Vanessa continued to stare silently.
...
Vincent took the first step outside Vanessa’s bedroom.
Second.
Third.
Fourth.
[Ding!]
[Major Entanglement upgrade!]
[Friction Link(stable) → Resonant Link Link(stable)]
[Subject: Vanessa D’Arc]
Vincent stopped right before his bedroom’s door.
’The fuck? She skipped a stage?’
[Indeed, Host. The Active Link stage was skipped. Congratulations.]
’Wow. Does a heartfelt apology have such an effect?’
[The system is not human and cannot speak about human emotions.]
’Useless.’
Vincent did not bicker with this thing and opened the door, walking inside.
Anastasia had prepared everything by now and he just had to change and leave.
In the next twenty minutes, he was at the train station.
In five minutes, the train left.
Eight hours later.
It rained.
The fog was thick.
The station was brightly illuminated by gas lamps.
Freight trains came and went every few minutes.
Workers loaded and unloaded cargoes.
It was one hour before dawn but the station was as busy as ever.
A polished boot stepped onto the marble platform.
The young man adjusted his top hat and the orange light shone upon his determined face.
Vincent was back at the Capital.
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