70: The only pearl in sight

The only pearl in sight

At first, Adela thought that she was dying.  2

She was overcome by the intense gravitational forces that stretched and distorted her body. The powerful tidal forces pulled her towards the other half of the mana stone, subjecting her to extreme discomfort that felt life-threatening.

When she was certain that she wasn't dying, she suppressed the urge to scream.

"Focus on my hand," Egon's deep voice reached her ears cracked and fragmented.

"Your hand? I can't feel my own hand!"

Just as she was on the brink of pleading for respite, the relentless pull towards the singularity of their destination began to ease.

She could once again feel their hands intertwined and how his thumb gently caressed the front of her glove. The alignment of the black mana stones had shifted in tandem with their movement through space, serving as an indication of their emergence.

"Welcome home, Master," 

A man dressed in an embroidered, long white robe worn over a pressed white shirt stood with a warm smile between two guards wearing more modest jackets made of blue velvet. All three of them sported wide trousers and ankle-high boots, but what caught Adela's attention were their heads, wrapped with distinctive white turbans that concealed their hair.

Sudden, acute fear gripped her heart, causing her to take a step back and leaving her breathless in the presence of these unfamiliar men.

Egon wrapped his arm around her and turned her to face him. "Take a look around you, Adela. You have arrived in Kolhis."

Whether it was his reassuring squeeze on her hand that she still held or his unusually soft tone, Adela's breathing gradually slowed to a regular rhythm as she took in the details of the hall surrounding her.

Featuring a high ceiling supported by multiple arches and domes, the hall displayed colorful tiles and precious gold accents on the calligraphy and arabesque designs gracing the marble walls. The space was illuminated by three large crystal chandeliers and numerous sconces on the walls, casting a different yet comforting light upon Adela's eyes.

Lavishly furnished, the hall boasted intricately carved wooden chairs, sofas, and tables, all of a style distinctly different from those found in Emoria.

"Beautiful..." she murmured in wonder.

"Here, Sator, take this," Egon said, handing over the no longer shining red mana stone to the man whom Adela assumed to be the majordomo of the manor. He looked at her with curiosity.

"Welcome, My Lady,"

Suppressing the urge to curtsy as she assumed he held a lower social rank; Adela instead offered him a polite nod.

"Is Olga here?" Egon asked.

The question caught Adela off guard. Was there another woman living in his place?

"She is out hunting. I will send her a message immediately," the majordomo replied.

The mention of another woman and Egon's ease in summoning her at such an hour unsettled Adela. An unfamiliar sensation churned in her chest as if the swarm of butterflies that never settled when Egon was around had transformed into venomous wasps, fluttering with insecurity.

"You don't look well," Egon remarked, his gaze fixed on her hand resting on her chest.

"I am fine," she lied.

He looked ahead again, instructing Sator, "Lead the lady to the Pearl Wing."

Sator's eyes shimmered, while the guards' eyes briefly shone with a similar excitement.

"Of course!" Sator exclaimed, his emotions visible on his sleeves.

Adela was about to walk away when a gentle tug on her hand reminded her that Egon still held onto it. The fact that holding his hand felt so natural unsettled her.

"I will have dinner sent to your room," Egon's words were more formal than usual. "Rest well," he added, then he left the room first, breaking a century-year-old Emorian habit of always allowing the lady to exit before the man.

"This way, My Lady!" Sator's excitement radiated from all around him.

The sound of their footsteps echoed through the hallway, resonating against the gleaming, polished floors. The air carried the fragrance of incense, mingling harmoniously with the sunlight filtering through stained glass windows.

Adela couldn't help but wonder about the source of the von Conradie's wealth.

Sator cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "The lady is Emorian, am I right?"

"Yes," Adela replied.

He smiled widely, his teeth appearing exceptionally white against his sun-kissed skin. "Unlike the architecture in your kingdom, all the buildings here consist of only one level. However, one cannot discern that without seeing them from the outside."

Curiosity got the better of her, and she ventured to ask, "How long have you worked for the von Conradies?"

Sator chuckled, his amusement evident. "Master Andreas and I go a long way."

Andreas? The mention of his name piqued her interest, especially considering that Leopold von Conradie — the much older head of the family — was in the picture.

They reached a secluded section with multiple doorways, and Sator led her to the largest one in the middle. As he opened the door with a wide smile, Adela couldn't help but gasp.

A warm and inviting glow filled the room, courtesy of the two chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, the soft pastel-painted walls were decorated with ornate mirrors. The focal point was a curved canopy, its frame resembling a seashell. It was draped with brightly colored fabrics in various shades of pink, providing the only seating in the room.

Adela's gaze shifted to the two inner doors. One revealed a tub filled with steaming water and scattered rose petals, while the purpose of the other door remained a mystery.

She hesitated, feeling uneasy about staying in a room that clearly belonged to someone else whose name she feared she had heard but moments ago.

Olga.

She raised her chin and spoke firmly to Sator, "A more modest room would be preferable. I do not wish to intrude on the original owner,"

She seemed to have caught him off guard, but his eyes, briefly glancing at the bath tub, reflected the wittiness of a veteran majordomo. "The wing is meticulously maintained as it should belong to the Mistress of the house. However, My Lady, you are the only pearl in sight,"

The implication in his words rendered her speechless. Instead of correcting it, she simply fixed her gaze on the mysterious door.

Sator grinned. "That door? It connects the wing directly to the Master's room!"

The revelation deepened Adela's reservations. She couldn't fathom the idea of staying in a room connected to Egon's. Questions arose in her mind. Would there be a lock between the doors? But she quickly dismissed the thought, realizing that no door could truly keep the Beastman out if he desired to enter.

Your only choice is to trust me, echoed Egon's words in her mind.

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