But despite this noticeable "improvement", Orrin found it hard to overlook his lord's unstable state. After all, it's not as if the memory of a giant over two meters tall playing with dolls could be easily erased from the old man's mind. What's worse, Orrin knew that scenes like these were the most "normal" ones.

The significant difference between the skeletal Apolo and the giant was that the skeletal one had occasional paranoid outbursts, which he quickly regretted and actively sought to hide. These, all things considered, were normal for a young man so weak and fragile, thrust into a new life far from his family and everything he knew. On the other hand, the giant Apolo lived in a state of little sanity, which at times became dangerous for others. However, Apolo wasn't aware of others' gazes and didn't try to conceal these issues. And that's where Orrin realized the great difference between a sane man and a mad one: the sane one is aware he's mad, while the mad one doesn't doubt his sanity.

—Is something the matter, Orrin?—Apolo asked, not stopping the arrangement of the dolls on the table; they all had to be perfectly placed.

—Yes, other carriages with "goods" have arrived—Orrin replied, looking at Apolo with concern.

—What splendid news! Have you paid them and they're arranging the goods?—Apolo asked, pausing the doll arrangement and standing up to inspect these new acquisitions.

—No, my lord, this time I recommend that we don't accept these pieces of furniture...—Orrin responded, imploring the young noble to regain some sanity and listen to him. This time, the "merchants" who had come to their mansion had gone too far.

—Oh, Orrin, always so concerned about aesthetics and noble manners...—Apolo exclaimed with a certain sadness as he left the room and headed to the mansion's entrance—You should let yourself go a bit by your human instincts: let others say what they want; my ancestors will curse them, and they'll die mysteriously. Just like that guard who wouldn't accept our bribe, remember how he mysteriously appeared inside a closet in our mansion?

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

—The smell reminds me of it every day, sir—Orrin responded with distaste as he followed his lord's back toward the entrance—I urge you once again to bury that body.

—Of course, we won't do that: that cadaver is part of the grand story these room's furniture seek to narrate!—Apolo exclaimed with a rather cheerful smile. In his mind, this was one of the mansion's best rooms.

—But that cadaver is attracting rats and vermin from beyond the walls—Orrin quickly retorted.

—More story! More mysterious secrets and more life!—Apolo exclaimed, even happier.

—If they were pets, it would be fine, but there's been a blue plague epidemic afflicting the Ring City for over a decade...—Orrin said with concern. The only thing missing from this mansion was becoming a rat's nest.

—Well, a little bit of plague. I feel sorry for you, Orrin—Apolo murmured, not caring about the topic at all—If you get sick, we'll give you a proper funeral in the cemetery, as befits the great steward of this mansion.

—Yes, I only ask that you don't store me in one of the pieces of furniture—Orrin commented seriously, realizing the problem: there were only a few diseases that could kill Apolo, but for him and his son, the story was entirely different—At the very least, we could hire more servants to attend to the "dangerous" furniture, don't you think? If you keep accepting all sorts of furniture, I fear that sooner or later your poor servants will suffer the consequences.

—Sure, hire as many people as you need and replace those who kick the bucket. You're the steward of this mansion; don't ask me those things: Just do them!—Apolo responded, not giving a damn about the health of his servants, looking at the mansion's entrance door with joy, full of anticipation for the new shipment of furniture.

Now the two were in the grand main hall, also the most perfect room in the mansion since it was the first to be furnished. If one didn't go to the farthest corridors, it would seem like a beautiful house due to this grand hall. All the decorations were wooden, and the furniture was finer than the others. Two large symmetrical statues guarded the stairs' ascent, and a large blue carpet descended from the stairs to the main door.

—Let's see what wonderful things our new friends brought us—Apolo commented, opening the door with some haste due to the pleasant anticipation.