Bab 23: 22: When I Cross-dressed Once
Beta'd by SnowyEgrett
"Timestone Auction House?" Lin FenXiang blurted in surprise, why did this name sound so familiar?
Bai XiNian raised an eyebrow. "Yeah," he said, at ease. "Timestone Auction House. It's offer was the best. Wait a minute, I'll show you."
"No," Lin FenXiang said, pointing the back of his beige pencil at him. "I mean, the one in Yorkshire right?"
"Obviously. I know it has branches but Yorkshire is the place where it operates. Why?"
"Ah, no nothing," the mention of Yorkshire still brought bad taste in his mouth. Adrastus died just like that.
In a single fucking fire.
Lin FenXiang stubbornly pressed down the nausea coursing through him and remembered that Timestone Auction House was one of the many places he had invested in.
"So, how it's business?"
"Booming. One of the best Auction Houses in England. The first choice for collectors of antiquity."
"Good," Lin FenXiang nodded in satisfaction. This meant the investment he had poured in did not go down the drain in the future.
"So, you want to auction your painting at Timestone?"
"Yeah," he nodded absently as he tore the page he was working on and handed it to his best friend. "There you go. I'll be back."
"Hey," Bai XiNian received the page gingerly as Lin FenXiang got up from his chair and walked out of the room. "Where are you going?"
Lin FenXiang looked back over his shoulder and answered. "Church of Temperance."
"Come back soon, we have to attend the concert, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Bai XiNian sighed the perfunctory reply and looked at the colour sketch in his hands.
It was a painting of Bai XiNian himself as pouring tea for Lin FenXiang. It was vivid and moving, unlike the stillness of still-life the said sketch had perfectly captured the essence of moving, of life, of living.
The sketch had a spirit of vitality in it.
Bai XiNian in the sketch seemed to smile slightly as the tea poured into the cup.
But the real Bai XiNian hadn't seen Lin FenXiang give him more than a single glance at that time.
This meant that he'd just seen him for a moment and the scene had been perfectly captured in his mind and then downed onto the paper.
Bai XiNian sucked in a deep breath.
To have such an artistic memory.
Lin FenXiang twisted his neck lazily as he strolled his way into the Church of Temperance as though he has free pass.
"You are back," Father William remarked faintly.
"And you are still very much idle," Lin FenXiang retorted automatically.
"Ah, your tongue needs reigning."
"The one who reigned my tongue knew it's magic."
"I did not need to know that."
"Oh, believe me," Lin FenXiang stated dryly. "My magical tongue did a lot of other things that drove him nu—"
"Enough, Sir Drystan Meyer," Father William interrupted firmly. "It's better to keep the bedroom matters out of this place."
"Oh, my apologies," Lin FenXiang nodded slightly. "I won't bring it up as often."
"As often?"
"Father, you should have know better than to let me mention it the first time around."
"Humans make mistakes."
"That they do," Lin FenXiang agreed glumly. Kneeling on the marble floor, he joined his hands together as he spoke. "I just found out two days ago that he died in a fire."
"Not exactly a fire but close enough. After all, the fire was the cause."
"I assume the severe burns and excessive smoke entering his system did the job." Lin FenXiang muttered slowly. "And what do you not know?"
"I know just as much as The Revealer reveals to me."
"Don't Archangels have concept of privacy?"
"Don't you have the decency to keep bedroom matters away from the church?"
"Touché."
Silence befell upon them as no one rushed to speak.
"Some things are about to change are they not?" Drawled Lin FenXiang in a low voice.
Father William nodded slowly. "They are."
"And you are forbidden from telling me."
"Indeed," said Father William with a nod as he pulled at the sleeves of his cassock. "There is limit to what even I, blessed by The Revealer, can reveal."
"Your help is appreciated," Lin FenXiang nodded gratefully. "My time here has calmed me greatly."
"This is the purpose of Temperance."
"So I believe."
Another silence.
"Will the changes affect me greatly?"
"To an extent, yes. They are likely to shake you. But as long as you brave through this storm, things will take a turn for better."
"I am glad."
As the silence stretched longer, Lin FenXiang got up from the floor, rubbing his knees as he did so.
"I'll make a donation to the church soon," he drawled and walked out of the hall without giving Father William a chance to answer.
Most of his memories from his previous life related to this church were pleasant. From praying here, holding conversations with Father Altair to helping Eleni and Martin to their wedding being officiated by Father Altair, they were all pleasant memories.
He remembered it as vividly as if it was yesterday.
Adrastus anxiously paced outside the closed door of the room. With his hands crossed behind his back, he glanced at the pocket watch in his hand.
"What are you doing?" He called out impatiently in a cold voice.
"What the hell do you know?" A muffled voice answered icily. "This is so bloody hard!"
Adrastus scrunched his nose slightly as he said. "We are running late Meyer!" Rubbing his temple, he sighed. "Do it quickly. We have to get Eleni away from there."
"I know, blimey!" Drystan yelled back. "I know it's a race against time. But this corset is killing me, ugh."
"Very elegant."
"I try." Drystan breathed out forcefully. "Bloody hell, women are terrifying."
"Damn it," Adrastus swore. "Just what are you doing? I'm coming in." He said as he pushed open the door.
"You better no be dying like—"
He paused, his mouth falling ajar. He breathed out, his eyes trained on Drystan's figure.
"You look gorgeous." He whispered, awestruck as he walked closer to Drystan. "This corset, was it necessary?"
Drystan squinted, crossing his arms over his bossom which was stuffed to make it look full. Brushing the fake hair to his back, he sucked in a harsh breath.
"Which young lady doesn't wear corset these days?"
"True," Adrastus agreed looking at Drystan from head to toe.
"Are you checking me out?" Drystan asked with a smirk on his lips painted red, leaning towards him, he whispered. "And thanks, your eyes are adequate."
"I can appreciate beauty when I see one," Adrastus sounded appropriately offended. "And you," taking Drystan's hand into his hand, he kissed his knuckles as he looked at the man through his eyelashes. "Look breathtaking, My Lady."
He scoffed. "You sure are quick to get into the role."
Drystan was dressed as a woman in order to infiltrate the wedding and sneak — more like kidnap — Eleni away from the imprisonment of a marriage.
He did want to implicate Eleni in his mess anyway. As long as they managed to take her away successfully, her father would undoubtedly disown her, cutting any and every ties with her.
That way, when they take apart the Yaxley Duchy, Eleni would be safe.
Standing in front of the full body mirror in front of him, he looked at Adrastus standing by his side, both of them looking at his reflection.
Drystan was wearing a royal blue flowy dress made of silk with halter neck and puffy sheer sleeves. It was paired with a pair of black heels, sheer gloves and wide brimmed hat to cover his face from prying eyes.
The dress hung on his body in a perfect fit and the corset served to highlight his slim waist while pushing up the fake chest a little.
"This is killing me," Drystan groaned, holding Adrastus' arm for support.
The make up on his face was slight and regal, his lips were painted a gorgeous red, making them look like the blooming petals of a rose, luring people into touching it and falling to its thorns.
"You are so tall already," Adrastus grumbled. "Why are you wearing heels on top of that?"
Drystan raised his foot, balancing on the other with ease. "Excuse me, these aren't just heels, they are knives," he said showing the knives for heels. "You things it's going to be a smooth escape and not a bloody chase, you idiot?"
"Of course not," Adrastus sneered. "What other weapons do you have?" Drystan smirked.
"Thought you'd never ask," he said, drawing out a sharp blade out of his sleeve. Then, he thrusted open the fan he was holding and flipped it, showing Adrastus the other side embedded with blades. "I'm very much prepared."
"I'm not even surprised."
"You know me so well," Drystan smirked smugly. Adrastus scoffed.
"Now let's get going or else our plan goes down the drain."
On reaching the Yaxley Duchy's estate, Adrastus helped Drystan get off the carriage while covering him like a true gentleman.
Whispers broke among all the guests present as he walked with Drystan into the manor.
"Uncle," Adrastus bowed, pulling Drystan with him. "Congratulations."
Duke Yaxley smiled joyously, a flash passing through his eyes as he looked at the lady by his nephew's side.
"Who might this young lady be?"
Adrastus showed no reaction as he straightened up and answered. "My friend."
Drystan tightened his hold on Adrastus' arm in a show of faux nervousness.
"Dolores Smith, from Scotland, greets Duke Yaxley," he curtsied.
"Smith?" Duke Yaxley canted his head coldly. "Why haven't I heard of this before?"
"Uncle," Adrastus interjected acting seemingly protective. "She's a commoner after all."
"I see."
"Marquess?" Father William called for Lin FenXiang, pulling him away in midst of reminiscing.
"Yes, Father?"
"Aren't you going back?"
Realising he had been standing in one place for too long, Lin FenXiang scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
"You are right, I'll take my leave then."
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Author has something to say:
Drystan: Why do I have to wear a corset?
Adrastus (rolling his eyes with a suspicious blush on his face): Because you are going to be a corpse very soon.
Author (sweating): ...Um, chill—
Hadiah
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