Chapter 2: The Man in A Glass Coffin
The floor of the room was covered with flower petals. There was a glass coffin in the middle of the room, surrounded by candles. At first, Holly thought this fragrant scent came from the flowers in this room, but it turned out to be different. The floral scent here felt softer, but there was one strong scent that still pulled her in.
"I told you not to go upstairs!"
Holly was taken aback. Adda was already standing behind her with an annoyed face.
"I'm so sorry. I just smelled something nice, so I wanted to check it out. I think someone has entered here." Holly made up a reason, but it seemed to work.
Adda looked shocked. "What did you smell?"
Holly was hard to explain. When she got here, she was sure this scent didn't come from flowers. "It smells beautiful. I can't describe, but it's like... a flower and gentle scent," Holly said hesitantly.
Adda looked at Holly and that coffin. "You really can smell it?" She asked again. Holly nodded weakly.
"Does it smell like wood?"
"No! It's sweet powdery, but...." Holly couldn't find the right words to describe it. She had never caught a scent like this before.
"Dominance and addictive?" Adda guessed it doubtfully.
But Adda was shocked herself when Holly nodded. Holly didn't understand. A few moments ago, Adda was angry, but then she was surprised and kind of scared.
"Come. You can't be here."
Holly complied. She hurried to step away from the door, so Adda could close it. She glanced at that man for the last time before Adda closed the doors. She promised herself that she will come back.
***
Holly woke up early the second day. Adda gave her a new dress; the model looked old but clean and luxurious, reminding Holly of her grandmother's dress.
Adda took her around the castle. There were many empty rooms on the first floor, an unused basement with a pile of weapons, and a large, well-maintained garden. Almost there was no dust stuck in this castle.
[Can I really live here?]
But Holly thought there was something off about this castle. There were no other maids, only Adda and Hugo. A castle of this size was only cared for by two people.
"Was he the owner of this castle?"
Adda looked at her, confused. "Who are you talking about?"
"The deceased Lord on the third floor."
"No! He doesn't pass away. He is still alive."
"Then why is he lying there?"
"He just... resting." Adda paused for a moment. She seemed hesitant to answer.
"In a coffin?"
It was clear that Adda didn't want to talk about it. She turned her attention to the neatly arranged kitchen utensils and told Holly to rearrange them.
"You have to memorize where they are to arrange them neatly again," said Adda.
After that, Adda escorted her to the back garden. There was a large courtyard overgrown with flower plants. Hugo was there too, planting new flowers. The overcast clouds over the castle did not detract from the garden's beauty that Hugo had created.
"Is it only two of you here? Why did you not come to the village?"
"You ask too many questions," Adda replied coldly. She must still be angry with Holly's questions.
"I'm sorry." But Holly still had many questions in her head.
"I just want to be careful. I've heard a rumour that a beast is living here." Holly said again. She didn't look sorry even though she said sorry.
But the bait worked. Adda started to notice her again. "What do you mean with a beast?"
"People said the beast will destroy the kingdom if they don't send a woman every ten years," Holly explained without hesitation. She bravely looked at Adda's shocked face, searching if there anything Adda was hiding.
"Well, that's right, he will destroy this kingdom sooner or later. But I believe he's too charming to be called a beast."
"Who is he?"
Adda looked into Holly's eyes intently. Her lips move like she wanted to tell so many things, but she couldn't. She ended up silent and continued the garden tour.
"You haven't told me your last name, Miss." Adda suddenly changed the conversation.
Finally, it was Holly's turn to feel uneasy. "You don't want to know. My father was a traitor."
Adda stopped walking. Her gaze was softer as she looked at Holly. "He was a traitor of your King, not my King. So don't worry, I won't judge you."
Holly wanted to ask what her meaning was. Her King? Aren't they have the same King? But considering that Adda didn't like to be asked many questions, Holly chose to keep her curiosity.
"Reloux. It's Holly Reloux."
A shock was clearly seen on Adda's face. Hugo, who was listening to their conversation, even dropped his flower plants.
"Reloux? Is it really your real name?" Adda asked once again.
Holly already knew. There must be something with her name. People tend to leave when they heard her name. Holly thought maybe Adda would do the same.
"Yes. I know what you are thinking. It's okay, I understand. None happy when they heard a traitor's name." Holly said very quietly.
Hugo and Adda looked at each other. The air was very awkward until Hugo broke the silence. "Can you help me with these flowers? I need you to take them to the third floor."
Adda looked worried, while Hugo himself also seemed hesitant. But Hugo still gave her a bouquet of flowers he had just picked in the garden.
Holly accepted the flowers. Just putting flowers wasn't a big deal. She could also glance at the 'resting man' that she saw yesterday. Maybe today, he wasn't resting anymore, and Holly could greet him.
Adda escorted her to the third floor. A strong scent smelled again. Still the same as yesterday. Adda opened the door and then stepped aside.
"I'll be watching from here. Please change the flower with yours," Adda said.
Holly wasn't sure if it was really okay for her to come to this room, but she wanted to do it. She couldn't resist this addictive scent. Her heart burned for it.
Hesitantly Holly entered the room and approached the glass coffin. The scent got stronger as Holly got closer to the glass coffin. She was sure this beautiful scent really came from the coffin.
Holly froze in front of an open coffin. She could see a man lying there. His black hair made his skin look even paler. His eyes closed in peace. Very beautiful and handsome. Holly had never seen a man this attractive before.
"Is he dead?" Holly murmured herself.
The man's hands held a rose that had dried brown on his chest. There were lots of fresh flowers here. Maybe Holly should replace the flower with a new one.
Holly took the red rose that Hugo had given her. She thought the flowers were indeed prepared to replace this dried flower.
Holly held the man's hand. Warm. Holly hesitated for a second. There was no way this man's body would be warm if he died.
But what if this man woke up and got mad at her for changing the flower without his permission? Holly looked around. All the flowers here looked fresh. The only ones that had to be replaced were the ones the man was holding.
"I'm sorry, My Lord. But can I...." Holly wanted to ask permission from the man. She was afraid to wake this man, but Holly herself wasn't sure if he would wake up either.
Holly sighed. Finally, she took the dried flower from the man's hand. But something strange happened.
Before Holly replaced her flower with a new one, the dried flower in her hand suddenly moved on its own. Its withered petals moved up like a fresh flower. Holly widened her eyes. The flower's colour changed by itself. A white tinge appeared slowly, colouring the petals until it was completely changed. Turned out it was a white rose.
"How can-"
Holly gaped in disbelief. The once withered flower suddenly turned into a fresh white rose in her hand.
Holly looked at the man. She swore this man moved his finger. The man's eyes suddenly opened. Holly was still rooted to her spot, too shocked to hide.
"Who are you?"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone