Bab 28: Chapter 28 - An Exquisite Offer
" Sir Zio. "
The blonde maid bowed before Zio right after he stepped out of the baths. Ana is right beside him, clinging to the tip of her brother’s shirt.
" We are very pleased to see that our bath has successfully improved your health. "
" Julia, isn't it? That was bold of you to assume that. "
" I'm glad that you remember my name. But Sir Zio, the fact that you don't need the walking stick anymore means that you are gradually back in shape. "
Julia’s words struck right into Zio. He even forgot that he had brought a walking stick to the baths. He had no other choice but to admit that the rejuvenating bath really lives up to its claim.
" Ehm. Anyway, I need to ask you some questions. "
" It would be my pleasure to answer right away. Yet, unfortunately, the young lady wishes to have an audience with you as soon as possible. "
The young lady. That word keeps repeating itself through multiple intermediaries. Now it’s time for Zio to find out who they really are, and what do they want with him and his sister.
" Please follow me. I shall escort you. " Julia gives the siblings her hand, suggesting them to walk with her.
Zio decided to go along with the game and followed the maid to walk through the terrace, corridors, and stairs. Along the way, he saw a number of paintings and other luxurious goods. But what intrigues him the most is one particular big painting that is hanging on the hall of the mansion.
" So, I guess the lady is the little girl on this painting? " Zio pointed at the old painting which shows a family of three. The father, the mother, and a little girl, presumably their daughter.
" Yes. "
"Where's the other two? "
" ...The young lady lives alone in this mansion. " Julia answered after a long pause.
The siblings keep following Julia until they finally arrived on the second floor, standing before a big red double door lined with golden etching. Half of Zio’s answers lie just right behind this door.
" Pardon me, young lady. I have brought the guest. "
" ...Come in. " A soft, distinguished voice replied from the other side of the door.
But instead of opening the door, Julia reached out her hand to Ana's.
" Come, Miss Ana. Your brother has something important to do. " Judging by Julia's actions, it seems like the lady is only expecting Zio, not his sister.
" Eh? But I wanna see the Mrs. young lady too! "
" Don't worry you will meet her tonight at dinner. " She crouched down, looking Ana straight to her face while smiling and rubbing her head.
" Okay then! "
She then stood back up and took Ana's hand. Leaving Zio alone in front of the door.
“ Damn, what now? ”
Zio is now confused. He couldn’t decide whether he should just open the door. But on the other hand, he is also afraid that the young lady might consider it to be inappropriate. ‘What if I'm supposed to wait for her to open the door herself?’ Zio asked himself, thinking about consent and stuff.
In the end, Zio decided to open it anyway.
*Thud*
“ Hm...? ”
*Thud Thud*
“ The door, is it stuck or something? “
*Thud Thud Thud*
Zio pushed it times and times. But it won't even budge. Zio started to question whether he had grown so weak to the point that he can't even open a door. Furthermore, he also had just noticed that it was also Ana who opened the bathing room door back then.
*Thud Thud Thud Thud* Zio banged the door continuously.
Suddenly the door was pushed towards Zio, hitting his forehead till it bleeds. He fell down on the floor, holding on to his forehead in pain.
" Duh! You wanna break the door or something?! "
It is as if the graceful voice from a moment ago has vanished into thin air, and replaced by something much worse. Now it sounds like a little brat getting mad about her veggies to Zio.
" D-Damn you! That hurts! "
" That’s because you are so stupid! You should've pulled the door! Not banging on it like a bull! "
" What kind of idiot made such a weird door?! Inside doors are supposed to be inward-opening! "
As soon as Zio opened his eyes, He can see a girl with a braided white-bluish hair glaring at him. Her cheeks are slightly reddened and her smell is so good, as fragrant as the flowers in the garden. But what took Zio prisoner is her eyes. Her eyes have different colors, the right eye is golden-colored, while the left one is white that is slightly different in tone with its sclera.
" Well, this is my place! I'm the one who gets to decide what to do with it! Besides, an inward-opening door makes me have to pull it every time I leave the room! And that is a waste of my energy! Not to mention uncomfortable! "
Ignoring the not-so-graceful young lady’s blabbering, Zio slowly pulls himself up.
*Cough* Zio spitted blood on the carpet, as the pain starts to kick again.
" A-Ah! I-I'm sorry, I went overboard. " The lady blinked and quickly helped Zio as soon as she realizes that he was hurting on his inside.
She shouldered Zio and carried him inside the room. And news flash, the room turns out to be her bedroom. A huge, royal bedroom to be more precise. Unnecessarily big sized bed and windows, personal furnace, and lastly, truly full of cosmetics and fragrances.
The young lady put Zio on a couch, while she herself is sitting on her bed right in front of him.
" What's the point of having a couch next to your bed? Why don't you cook, eat, and take a bath inside this room also? " Zio chuckled and sneered at her.
" Not only lacking brain but also shame. You really are a troublesome guest, aren't you? " She closes her eyes in annoyance.
" Well, truth to be told, I'm being brought here without my personal consent. Therefore, it's more like I'm a victim of abduction than a guest... So? What now? Are you gonna 'do' me or something? "
She throws her pillow at Zio with a blushing face.
" E-Enough! Don't talk unless I told you to! "
The wounded young man rolled his eyes, sighing while raising his shoulder.
" Huft. Alright, finally we can begin... Greetings to you, my name is Fransesca Gissella Rennesia "
Zio clicked his tongue as soon as he heard her name. He especially hates long names, because he strictly believes that people's names should only have two syllables or less, else no one will remember it.
" I'm the sole successor of the Rennes family. A high-ranking noble in the royal court. "
Zio rolled his eyes, before laying his head back on the couch, and stares at the talking lady with the corner of his eyes. It hasn’t even been a minute and he got bored of her blabbering already. After all, even a donkey knows that it takes a royal to live in such a lavish mansion.
" This is a mansion which I inherited from my late parent. What do you think? Not so bad right? "
Bragging and bragging, this is what Zio hates so much from nobles. Always showing off whenever they had the chance to. It would be much better for Zio to be with his sister than listening to seemingly unending boasts.
" Now, I assume you have questions on your mind, don't you? " The young lady continued.
"...."
"...."
Zio kept his mouth shut. Doing nothing but looking at the ceiling and the furniture of her room. 'Pretty well made, aren't they?' He thought to himself.
" W-Why are you ignoring me, you stupid?! " The slightly-bluish-haired girl gritting her teeth and clenching her fist. Glaring and jumping at Zio all cranky.
" Eh? I thought you said I shouldn't talk unless you told me to? Are you mentally unstable? " Zio smiled at his victory. He’s joyed to see the lady’s face blushes hard as she choked on her own words.
" Grr! For god's sake! Can't you just be normal?! "
After Zio had his fun with her. He decided that it’s time to get serious. He surely didn’t intend to leave this place without a single question left unanswered.
" Alright, fine... So, what do you want to do with me? There's no way you'll just take in a couple of strangers inside your home out of your kindness. "
" Of course, I don't just take anyone in. I know almost everything about you. " The lady smiled arrogantly.
" Oh? Come on then, let's hear it out. " Zio challenged her to prove what she has just said.
" Marcio Leonardo and Leana Leonardo, am I right? "
Unconsciously, Zio’s eyes widened a bit, accidentally giving the lady a hint that she was right. Zio takes his back off the couch, and put his elbows on his knees, with his chin hiding behind his fists. He needs to be careful from now.
" Heh, there's no use playing stupid. I also knew that you are that infamous 'Ironlord' of the downtown. "
Zio supposed that if the lady knew his real name, then it would be normal for her to also knew his other secrets.
" How can I know, you wonder? Well, don't underestimate noble, you peasant! Ahaha! "
Now it’s the lady who is having her way with him. Zio’s head twitches in annoyance to see their position instantly switched. He badly wanted to slap her right in the face right now.
" Are you... trying to blackmail me? "
" What? No, of course not. I'm here to offer you a contract. "
Before continuing, the lady pours two cups of tea from the teapot that lies on the table between them.
" Your craft is no doubt a first-class. No, it's even beyond that. You can make such masterpieces with those junks in the sewers, imagine if I were to financially support your talent with decent tools and materials. Oh, by the way, how much sugar would you like? "
" You mean, ‘how much poison would I like’? ”
" ...Seriously, you can stop being so 'on guard' around me, you know? " The lady let out such an impassive facial expression as if she is getting tired of Zio’s unnecessary cautiousness.
" Anyway, in exchange, I would let your sister live here in my mansion, tend to her needs, and even giving her the proper education for her age. "
" Hey, I gave her a proper education! "
" Huh? So stealing books and notes from elementary academies is considered proper these days. Oh my, how can I not know? "
Zio’s head twitches again as the lady is really starting to get on his nerves.
" But why only her that gets to live in this mansion? "
" W-Well of course that is! You're a rough and abusive man who didn't think twice to swing his hands on a woman! Who knows what would you do to me if you were to live in this mansion! " Suddenly, the young lady turns on edge. Her voice is a little bit shaky just like her eyes did.
While as for Zio, he has no idea of what she’s talking about. ‘Rough and abusive? I haven't even touched you!’ is what Zio wanted to say, even though it's true that he doesn't hesitate to harm a woman on a certain special case. Like, if they are messing with Ana, for example.
" I don't know what you mean by that. "
" What do you mean you don't know?! How can you feel no remorse after doing what you did to my eye? " The lady is starting to bursts into tears, remembering the horror she experienced during the incident in Al’Etra.
Zio instantly feels bad all of a sudden for the young lady after seeing her crying. Still, he couldn’t comprehend how can she be full of tears after being all cocky and mighty, just a little while ago.
" C-Come on don't cry. Did I do that? I'm sorry if that's the case. But I seriously don't remember any of it. " Zio stands up and trying to console her, though he didn't really know what to do as he has never been good to handle such a thing.
" Y-You really don't remember? " The lady wiped off her tears, though still sobbing a bit.
" I swear in the name of Ana, my beloved little sister. "
" Stop spouting weird things! "
" Uhm oh, yeah. Sorry... "
After the lady took her time crying and sobbing. She glared at Zio once more. Though with all the red cheeks and swollen eyes, she looks pretty cute to him rather than being scary.
" So? " She asked.
" So what? "
" Your answer, duh! "
Zio looked down at his tea, thinking about the choice she had given him. It's an extremely good offer but he is afraid that there could be something more that she didn't tell him. He isn’t quite sure what to do. Should he take the chance or leave it? But one thing for sure is that if he were to leave it, then he and his sister will go back to the nasty sewer.
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