Emlyn
As Arthur observed the scene before him, he took note of the vampire's appearance. Emlyn had striking black hair that framed a handsome face, though his build was not particularly muscular. There was an air of elegance about him, his features sharp and refined, contrasting with the raw strength one might expect from a creature of his kind.
Arthur turned his attention to the priest standing nearby and asked, "Sir, who is this?"
"This is the vampire we caught," the priest replied with a hint of amusement in his voice. "One day, he got lost and stumbled into this cathedral."
Emlyn, visibly annoyed, interjected, "It was all because of that stupid key! And I'm not a vampire! I'm a Sanguine. S-A-N-G-U-I-N-E. Attach that to your stupid mind!"
Arthur couldn't help but smile at the vampire's exasperation. Emlyn, catching Arthur's amused expression, bristled with irritation. "And who are you, looking at me with that condescending smirk? Do you think you're more handsome than me?" Emlyn's voice carried a surprising hint of rivalry.
Arthur chuckled softly, finding the vampire's reaction unexpectedly entertaining. "I am Arthur. Nice to meet you," he said with a teasing grin.
"Huh, do you expect me to say 'nice to meet you' back while I'm stuck in this cell? I don't care about you humans!" Emlyn shouted, his frustration palpable.
Arthur continued to smile, clearly enjoying the banter. "Oh, come on, Don't be like that. We're practically friends now," he quipped, glancing around the basement with exaggerated interest. "I might even bring you a cup of tea next time."
Emlyn's eyes narrowed as he glared at Arthur. "I'd rather drink blood, thank you very much," he snapped, though a small, reluctant smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Arthur, would you like to join us upstairs for a cup of tea instead?" the priest interjected, trying to defuse the tension with a touch of humor.
Arthur nodded, still smiling at Emlyn. "Sure, that sounds great. Maybe I'll save him some cookies for later."
As he turned to head back upstairs, Emlyn suddenly shouted after him, "Remember that my name is Emlyn White. Remember, my name is Emlyn White!"
Arthur paused at the bottom of the stairs and glanced back with a calm smile. "I know, Emlyn. I won't forget," he replied, his tone soothing.
As he ascended the stairs, he could hear Emlyn muttering indignantly behind him. "Stupid humans... always so smug."
The priest chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You two make quite the pair. Maybe next time, Arthur, you can bring a chessboard and give Emlyn a real challenge."
Arthur chuckled as he reached the top of the stairs. "I'll keep that in mind. Nice to meet you both" he called back, leaving the basement with a lighter heart and a newfound appreciation for the unlikely characters he had encountered in the cathedral.
As Arthur reached the top of the stairs, he heard his mother's voice calling out to him. "Where are you going, Arthur?" she asked, her tone curious as she and Father Urasky emerged from their meeting.
"I just went to see someone I know," Arthur replied casually, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
His mother, clearly puzzled, raised an eyebrow. "You know someone at the church?" she questioned, her curiosity piqued by her son's cryptic response.
Arthur nodded, his smile widening. "Yes," he said simply, leaving his mother more intrigued.
Before she could press further, Arthur gestured towards the exit. "Shall we go, Mother? I'm sure we have a lot to discuss on our way back."
Emilia exchanged a knowing look with Father Urasky, who chuckled softly. "Indeed, it seems Arthur has had quite the adventure today," the priest remarked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
As they made their way to the carriage, Arthur's thoughts lingered on the basement encounter. He couldn't help but smile as he recalled Emlyn's indignant shouts and the priest's bemused expressions.
Once inside the carriage, Emilia couldn't resist asking again. "Arthur, who did you meet down there?"
Arthur leaned back, his expression thoughtful yet playful. "Just a rather... interesting individual with a penchant for dramatic outbursts," he said, his tone teasing.
Emilia shook her head, laughing softly. "You always manage to find the most unusual people, Arthur."
The carriage jolted into motion, and Arthur gazed out of the window, his mind replaying the day's events. As they journeyed back to their residence, he felt a sense of anticipation for the stories he would share and the plans they would make.
"Well, I'm glad you had an interesting day," Emilia said, breaking the comfortable silence. "I think our visit to the church was fruitful in more ways than one."
Arthur nodded, his smile lingering. "Indeed, Mother. It was quite enlightening."
West Borough, 2 King's Avenue, Royal Museum.
Despite it being a weekday, Klein found a long line stretching out from the entrance when he arrived. This bustling crowd reflected the limited entertainment options available to the world's middle class, as described in newspapers and magazines. Besides indulging in newspapers and novels, attending opera concerts, playing tennis and squash, enjoying theatrical plays, and participating in or hosting banquets, their leisure activities were rather restricted. The remaining popular pastimes included visiting parks, attending exhibitions, and going on vacations—an influence of Emperor Roselle, who popularized the concept of annual vacations.
At precisely nine o'clock, Klein, dressed in a silk top hat, carrying a black cane, and wearing a long double-breasted frock coat, followed the line of people into the museum.
Inside, the crowd split into different groups, each led by a guide who directed visitors down various corridors, showcasing the diverse exhibits and treasures housed within the museum.
Klein ignored the guide and instead casually examined the other items around him. His attention was drawn to a bookmark protruding from a hardcover book on the desk. The exposed part of the bookmark featured a childishly drawn illustration.
Emperor Roselle wasn't known for his drawing skills... Just as Klein was inwardly mocking this fact, a thought struck him. Roselle had once disguised a Card of Blasphemy as a bookmark and placed it inside a particular book!
Could it be this one? Klein carefully scrutinized the bookmark for a few seconds but found nothing unusual.
That makes sense. Roselle had mentioned that the Cards of Blasphemy have anti-divination and anti-prophecy properties. Under normal circumstances, their uniqueness can't be detected... If it were so easily recognizable, the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery would have taken it long ago... Klein shifted his gaze to the other books. He noticed that many of them contained bookmarks, all of varying shapes and sizes.
After pondering for a moment, Klein used his Clown ability to control his facial expressions and curiously asked, "Are these all books that Emperor Roselle read before? Sorry, I mean, are these the original books?"
The female guide nodded firmly. "Yes, these are all items from Emperor Roselle's study. They include books, manuscripts, bookmarks, lampstands, ink bottles... Unfortunately, many were destroyed during various conflicts. However, one of the books here has been repaired by our artisan."
Klein nodded slightly and studied the bookmarks again. Roselle had mentioned in his diary that he planned to hide the Card of Blasphemy in a very valuable book so that no one would suspect that the most valuable thing in the book was an obscure bookmark. Which of these books are valuable? Klein began eliminating possibilities, recalling the details from Roselle's diary.
"By the way, why was that book repaired?" Klein asked as he continued browsing through the books.
"One of the bookmarks was replaced with a Golden Crest logo a month ago," the female guide said regretfully.
Suddenly, Klein's hand froze, and he stared incredulously at the guide. "What did you say?"
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