Upon arriving at the manor, the place Ana and Xavier called home, they sat down at the table in the dining room while waiting for their lunch to be served.
While waiting, both tried to kill time their own way; Xavier settled on reading a book, while Ana was lost in thought.
"Do you think that rumor is true?" She asked Xavier after a while.
"What rumor?"
"He was the one responsible for the deaths of these commoners in the common district."
"You’re still stuck on that?"
Ana didn’t comment on that part.
"To be honest with you, Ana. I'm not sure, but I've heard rumors from some of my friends that it was connected with La Rose Blanche?"
"La Rose Blanche."
Ana knew of only one establishment by that name on the entire continent.
If one were to ask the academy's young scholars what they think of the Rose Blanche as an establishment, a small, inoncent, almost non-existent, but still present minority would probably think of their smithing business, while the vast majority would think of the establishment's involvement and monopoly in brothelry activities.
The Rose Blanche was a brothel establishment whose primary clients were young nobles who came to attend the Aurora Academy.
"Yes, and we already both know that he had some connection to that place." Putting down his book, Xavier asked, "Why don’t you just ask him? Aren’t you the one saying that she prefers collecting information directly from its source? Why not just ask him the truth? I believe there is a chance he will agree to answer your question."
"I can’t, I don’t want to, and I won’t do that. And you know that."
Sighing, Xavier shook his head and went back to his book, only to comment, "If that's so, then why don’t you ask him?"
"Him?"
"Arte, I’m sure he knows something."
"What makes you think that?"
"He’s working with the Rose Blanche, isn’t he? Besides, didn’t you notice how weird he was starting three months ago? This is just a thrown-around assessment, but I feel like he could know something."
"Weird? He was acting weird?"
"Come on, don’t tell me you didn’t notice how different he was these last three months?"
"Of course, I noticed... but wasn’t it because of his master’s death?"
Nearly three months ago, strange rumors started to wander around—a rumor about the death of one of the fourteen. That fourteen was no one else but Arte’s master, the Holy Paladin Gunther Freshet. Soon after, the rumor was proven to be not just a rumor, but the truth. Most of the paladins present in the fortress guarded by the holy paladin attested to having encountered those responsible for his death.
Though there were before this incident, strange rumours going around, it was the first time ever in human history that a fourteen was lost in such a way, and the news of his death be spread the way it was.
"Nah, it was before that. The news of his master's death came a few weeks later, which is roughly around the time "Mael’s incident" occurred."
"I… didn’t notice that." Ana mumbled.
Martha, the manor's governess, came in and placed on the table what would be their lunches in a few minutes before returning silently to the kitchen.
Along with Martha, there are five residents in the manor, the first two being Ana and Xavier, and the other two remaining being Arte, a fellow academy student, and Uriel, Arte's younger brother, who, having turned 15 not long ago, only recently began attending the academy.
"You’re aware of his current relationship with both La Rose Blanche and Mael, don’t you?"
Aside from its domain of activities, the Rose Blanche was well-known for having good relations with Mael and the Ascending Nobility. Something that could be said he had in common with his cousin since in the recent few months Arte has, through his late master, become an official patron of the Rose Blanche establishment.
"If there is someone who most likely knows what truly happened, it would be him."
And just as the duo were mentioning his name, they heard from the entrance door the noise of the door being opened, pointing out a certain someone’s arrival. A tall young man with midnight blue hair and green eyes entered the dining room soon after.
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"Hello, you two," the young man greeted.
"Hi, Arte, we were just thinking about you; wanna join us for lunch?"
Shaking his head, Arte answered, "I think I’ll pass this time; I am exhausted, Bon appetit to you two. I’ll be in my room." before leaving them for, as he had announced, his room.
"Well, seeing his face now, I guess I can’t blame you for not noticing the change. But there was a time when his gloomy face wasn't as gloomy as it is now."
This was a truth that even Ana agreed on: she had known Arte for only nine months, but she always remembered him being this sad, if not straight-up depressed-looking; the only exception to this was the few days after his return from his three-month long deployment as an apprentice Paladin.
When Ana first met him, he was already looking that way. Having heard of the brothers' situation and the loss of their father, she found a reason for the boy’s always depressive complexion, prompting her and Xavier to do their best to lighten the mood whenever he and his brother were around. Maybe they could’ve done better than that, but that’s how it was, and there was no denying that.
"What a pity; such a cute face ruined by those negative expressions. Maybe I should ask him to pose for me for one of tho–" before he could even finish Ana's slipper flew toward Xavier's. "Hey, I never said it would be a nude."
"With you, it’s always a nude."
"True enough."
It was at that moment that Ana, looking toward the stairs Arte went up, understood that with the incidents of these past few months, his depressive mood wasn’t getting any better. In fact, it seemed to be only worsening, to the point that it became, to Ana’s proper perception, an integral part of Arte’s personality. Faced with the grim reality of Arte's situation, Ana felt guilty for not noticing the worsening situation and felt a sudden urge to take action to improve it. She felt responsible for the two brothers, being their senior, but since what had happened couldn't be undone, she could only try to do her best from now on.
***
Knocking at Arte’s door, it took Ana several tries to receive an answer.
"Get in."
Having received permission, Ana entered Arte’s large room and saw him seated on his desk.
"I thought you would be hungry... for dessert. I hope you like apples at least." Ana joked, presenting to him a bowl full of apples.
Ana was sure he wouldn't refuse, especially with making the effort to come to him. And, indeed, he didn't. "Thanks Ana."
Grabbing an apple for herself and throwing one to Arte, Ana asked, "Would you mind if I parasite your room for a while?" since she knew that once the apple would be given she was most likely expected to immediately take her leave. Receiving a nod from Arte, she went to sit on Arte’s bed.
"So, it's been a while since we two talked, just for the sake of... talking. how are things going for you?"
"Great, I guess."
"Your face isn't really saying so."
"Really?"
"Are you really okay?"
"Yeah, I just need a little bit of rest."
"I see, I understand." Knowing where he was already taking the discussion, Ana stood up and reminded him, "You know you can tell me if you need help with anything or if you just need someone to talk with."
With a genuine yet still very gloomy smile. He responded, "I know, thank you."
"As long as you do. You know where to find me."
As Ana approached the door, her curiosity suddenly got the best of her , prompting her to turn her back and ask Arte, "Say, Arte, since I'm already here, there is something I would like to ask you."
"What is it?"
"It’s about your cousin Mael."
Ana noticed that Arte's face became serious at the mere mention of this name, but at this point, it was too late to back down.
"What of him?"
"What do you know about what truly happened three months ago? You know something, don’t you?"
Up to this point, Arte didn’t put any effort into hiding how much he was bothered with that question.
"I… don’t think it is to me to tell what happened that day."
Hearing these words from Arte, Ana was certain this time that he indeed knew something about it.
"Please, Arte, tell me. You know it, don't you? Are the rumors about him true?"
"... Sorry, I can’t. If you want to know the truth, you must ask him yourself; I only know a part of it. I’m... I'm not even sure what I should believe."
Ana, seeing how adamant Arte was on not telling her, reluctantly decided not to insist on it, knowing that it would be useless.
"I understand. Sorry for bothering you with this."
"It’s nothing."
Ana made her way to the room’s door.
"But, Ana, if I could give you some advice, please avoid him; I know he's my cousin, but there are things about him,..." Arte wanted to say something but puckering his lips, refrained himself from doing so, "Just forget about him."
"Understood." With these words Ana left Arte’s room.
***
Not too long after Ana’s visit, Arte left his room then the manor for the place he was, on his master's wish, now in charge of.
As he walked through the imposing edifice that was the Rose Blanche's headquarters, Arte took the stairs to the left instead of following the usual path for customers. On his way, he encountered several young girls who bowed respectfully and wished him a good afternoon as they saw him pass.
In no time Arte reached the stair leading to the room the person he was looking for was located, the room was guarded, but they, knowing he was, simply let Arte in.
As he entered the room, Arte was greeted by a spacious, office, open room with a glass wall that offered a breathtaking view of the entire city.
A woman was standing by the glass windows, and upon glancing down beside her, Arte noticed the person sitting in an armchair, seemingly also enjoying the view the room offered.
Arte approached her, and gently said, as to not surprise her, "Good afternoon, Matronne."
The one Arte called mother didn’t respond to Arte's greeting nor did her gaze left the faraway horizon; she simply lifted a finger, and that was enough for Arte.