It's not the first time I met the kid, but thinking back at our first meeting and how she left suddenly... I thought that she felt uncomfortable with me and would try to avoid me. I can't tell what she is thinking. At first she looked scared, but after hearing that I was only a guest of Mr. Kingwood and not his friend she even took me to the kitchen, besides her slightly frightened look she had at the begining, she did not show many expressions afterwards. I was even doubting she was actually scared, but... looking at her slightly tilting her head and asking that, well, she may just be an airhead, this kind of people go at their own pace so it's hard to get what they think.
Despite her cute looks, she may bring me headaches. I really wonder the relationship of this kid and the people of this house. When talking to the maids she seemed comfortable with them, so she should have some time living here not just a few days.
Hiding my guilt for suspecting such a young child, I decide to continue talking to her.
"That was a wonderful greeting, young lady"
There was a slightly smile after I praised her. She then focus on the book in my hands and she looked slightly scared... again. Great, I managed to scare her once again. I do wonder why.
"That book... Did you... Did you read that book?"
I did not read the book completely but I wonder what could be here that would scare her. It looks like a normal book to me.
No use at lying, she already saw me with the book open.
"I was only taking a small look at it, so you could say I read it. I am sorry, Should I have not read it?"
She seemed to be getting uncomfortable now. Her face was a open book, no pun intended. Although I am not sure which one is her normal self, the composed and slight stoic self she played when she showed when she is calm or the emotional and easy to read self she she shows when things do not go how she expects them. Either way she currently seems to have trouble conceiling her panic at my question.
I can see she does not know what to say, I can't help but feel I am bullying the kid. Let's do this.
Talking to eye level is important when talking to children, so I do just that. I also take care of keeping my voice not to loud. When getting close I walk at a steady pace, not to fast, then I kneel. This is kinda the second time just today I did that, hopefully it does not become a custom.
"Hey, calm down. I am sorry for taking a look. It was not my intention to make you feel uncomfortable. If there is something you want me to do to make it up to you, I will do my best to do it"
I am not sure if my words had an effect on her or she got a hold of herself on her own. But she calmed down and looked at me in the eyes. We stared at each other for a moment until she broke contact to look down.
Recalling my meetings with her and how she acted so far, there seems to be something off here, there is wrong on her surroundings.
".... ... ... ... ..."
While I was distracted I hear a whisper, it took me a while to notice that the girl was saying something at whispering levels, so I did not hear what she said.
"Sorry, I did not hear what you said. Would you mind repeating it?"
She was keeping her head lowered to hide her face, she also was clenching her small fists. I guess it took a lot of her courage to say that. Am I that scary? I wonder.
"Would you stop looking for it?"
Look, look for what. This is an old story. I doubt that it could contain updated information, that would help me find whatever she asks me. But her reactions so far make me think that there is more to what I read before than what it meets the eye. Anyways, it is not my problem, I am curious about it, but it is not the main reason I came here so there is no need to antagonize the girl. Besides, my curiosity is more part of my hobby, learning about anything that seems interesting or slightly mysterious.
"Although I am not sure what you are talking about. I can see you are troubled by it"
"So you are also going to..."
She raised her face that looked a little sad as she said that. Seriously, kids should not make that kind of face.
"Hey, I think you need to let me finish"
This time a tinge of doubt was reflected on her face.
"As I was saying, I am not sure what you are talking about. I can see you are troubled by it. But I am just curious. I have no interest in looking for something that would trouble a small kid in anyway. If you want, I will stop"
This time I could only see a blank look on her face, I guess she did not expect my answer.
"Will you... really stop?"
"Sure, if that's what you want"
At long last I could see relief in her expression. I could also see a small smile for a moment before she reverted to her calm and slight stoic look as she says.
"...Thank you"
I turn to put the book in place, while I reply. I don't want her to think I was lying to her.
"You don't need to say that, it is nothing worth mentioning, I will put the book where it was, by the way..."
As I turn again to ask something else, I notice that I am left alone in the library.
"I feel like this happened before"
Indeed this has happened before, wild little girl appear from behind me while I am focused in something and I don't notice when she gets close, then she also leaves when I don't pay attention to her. I am not even sure if I should get angry at her for being rude and leaving me talking alone, and when she sneaks near me, after all, I was distracted and did not notice her due to my carelessness.
With those iddle thoughts in mind I prepare to leave, but before I can do it I hear someone grumbling in the hallways getting closer, if I am not wrong that voices is from...
************************************************
I focus a bit more to hear what that person is saying and what I hear is...
"Those bastards"
Quite the tongue he got there, I have not met many people here, but I think I know who he meant.
A few seconds later someone stops at the door of the library to peer inside, he was the old man I met earlier when I went out o the manor, although I don't recall ever asking for his name. I can only tell he is a troublesome person to talk going by the way he talks.
"You... are the one from before. What are you doing here?"
I am beginning to question if this place is not open to other people. But I was not told anything about not coming here. What that girl said comes to mind. Looking for something huh, no doubt it's valuable if there are other people interested, about what kind of value... I am not to sure.
I should greet the old man at least, I was rude during the last meeting. I really suck at acting, I am suppose to not to attract much attention while I figure out who may trouble my client. This is really an awkward way to do it.
"Well hello there, we meet again"
Rising his left eyebrown in what it looks a expression of doubt, and a bit of anger going by his grip on his cane. He answers.
"Indeed, we meet again. You are the rude one from before. Have you never been taught manners?"
As expected the old man is a piece of art. Doing my absolutely best to not change my expression, I lightly smile and ignore what he said and...
"We have not introduced ourselves yet, right?"
Try to to change the subject.
"My name is Sid Grayworth. I just got here last night, Mr. Kingwood sent me an invitation to spend a few days here as his guest"
He did not even try to hide when he clicked his tongue in displeasure at my lack of reaction at his earlier words. But he at least tries to give me his name since I gave mine, and he introduced himself while riding his cane a little and...
"I am Leonard Kingwood"
He tapped the floor with it just as he finished saying his name. I wonder if he does that every time he introduced himself. He also literally said his name only, now things got more awkward.
Going by his name he is part of the family of this house, but I am not sure if he lives in this Manor or was invited here.
"I see, It is a pleasure meeting you Sir. But I have a prior appointment to attend, so if you excuse me..."
"Wait, before that, answer me something"
I try to end the conversation with the first thing that came to my mind as an excuse but it did not go that well because he did not want to let me go without answering his questions first.
"What are you doing here? The doors are usually locked, How did you get inside?"
That answers my earlier questions, it is not easy to get in the library. So just being here alone is suspicious enough. But this place was open and there were no people nearby. Going by his reaction he was not the one who opened this place. Did the person went out to see what happened due the accident? I saw no one else on my way here. The library although close to the entrance, you still need to pass a hallway to get in or out, and I saw no one nearby when I came in. That just leaves me with more questions. But I will have to look for the answer later.
"I am afraid I did not know that, I apologize for coming here without permission. But the door was open when I was passing by the hallway. I happen to be an avid reader myself, so I could not help but want to take a look"
In what it looks like a scowl that the old man did not try to hide at all, he took what I said and was judging if I was telling the true. Well, I did not lie at all, but since I can not judge what his true thought may be behind that scowl... I can't be certain he will just leave me alone with that.
"That is hard to prove with anyone else as witness"
So he still doubts me, trying to explain myself was not good huh.
"I am afraid that proving otherwise will not be possible either Sir. I can only say I had the bad luck to pass at a bad timing and just saw the door open with no one inside"
He still carried his scowl, but it began to disminish little by little as he heard my words.
"Very well, fair point Kiddo"
Now I gained a nickname from the old man, I am not sure if he is calling me like that because he forgot my name.
"Did you happen to read any book then?"
The correct answer to this question and is a big NO. Talking to the little girl, gave me the clue that I should not talk about the contents it the book itself.
"No Sir, I came in a minute ago, I was slightly a lost because I was looking at a few titles that happen to be books which I had been searching for years. Said books are really rare, and not many were made"
I did my best to change into expressions that matched my words, a mix of amazement and excitement. Hopelly he will not look more into it.
"Rare books huh"
He just stares at me and...
"I understand, I will not pursue further your actions, even if you were rude I am magnanimous man and forgive your mistakes. Just leave and don't get close to this place without permission. You are lucky that you found such an understanding person if you were found by that vixen..."
He lowered his voice at the last bits, I only heard until the part he mentioned a vixen, I wonder who he meant. But, understanding? hah. Yeah, right.
"Yes, I am quite lucky. Now if you excuse..."
"Wait, don't be in such a hurry"
"Is there something else you need?"
Leaving was not allowed yet huh. What does he want?
"Just a little talk with this old man, I happen to be bored you see"
This guy... is saying it because I said I had other things to do?
"That probably can wait if you had time to wander around here"
I have no words for that. For now I will have to do as he said.
"I think my business can wait for a few minutes"
"Good, follow me"
Without waiting for me he turned around and exited the library, he took around the hallway and then started walking away.
I guess, it would be bad idea to escape. I can not say I did not want to, but if I do it again he will look for trouble later.
************************************************
He took me outside the manor, at the right side of it. I could see a huge garden, there were a great number of flowers and plants in what it looks an attempt of making figures and shapes. They go from animals like lions and elephants, to certain objects like the arc that marks the entry to garden and chess pieces. I must say that it's a beautiful sight but I could not stay to sight see because the old man continues walking without stopping.
We get close to some tall bushes that are y'all enough to reach my eyes level, that gives the impression of walls and enter from an opening that I imagine was made to be the entry. I find myself walking between two wall of bushes, and taking care to follow the old man I notice how he takes turn at some particular points, sometimes it looks like we are going in circles. I heard about these things, but it's the first time I have been in one, a maze. Although it's made of bushes and someone could just walk through it if they are forceful enough, it's still an impressive sight.
We finally came upon an small open space at some part of the maze, it's a wide circle with a small pond in the middle, and at the center you can see a statue of a knight with a shield on his left hand and a sword on his right hand pointing at the manor. The amount of details can say a lot about it's quality, and the level of the person who created this piece. Getting closer to the pond I see bellow the water a pathway that it's connected to the base of the statue, maybe with that it's how they take care of it. Right a the border of the pond I can see some kind of stone that goes Bellow, I am not sure how deep it goes since I only see a black patch down there. It may surprisingly be really deep. The material points that it's man made, but I don't know why would someone want a pond that deep. I can not see any kind of fish in there either.
The biggest question I have in mind right now is why did the old man bring me here, this is quite far for a simple chat.
"Did you finish taking a look around?"
After hearing that I turn around and stare at the old man. Right now, I have two options, I could ask what he wants... or wait that he tells me what he wants.
"Yes, this is quite the impressive sight"
"Indeed, I come here every day. This place was build generations ago. I recall that some famous person built it, but I can not remember who"
"Is that so? He surely had amazing skills"
Why are we chatting like we get along? He is acting different from before, he even has a pleasant smile on his face. I am getting chills.
Anyways I need to know why he brought me here and he does not look like he wants to get to the point on his own.
"So... You brought me this far just for a simple chat about who built this statue?"
"You don't need to be in such a hurry Kiddo. Just take your time. We are the only ones here, there are not prying eyes"
".."
"Don't give me that look, I am not crazy. Hahaha. I think"
Ok, I have to add something new to the description of the old man. He is nuts.
Was he faking his act before? No matter what, he is nuts in my book.
Why the change? Why now?
Argh, I need breakfast. Right now.
"I don't know what you are trying to say"
"Hahaha. You are too stiff, I was not trying to say anything meanful. Not everything people say has a deep meaning"
"..."
"Not a social person I see"
"..."
"Ok ok, I know you are confused. You also don't trust me"
"That's true indeed"
"Yeah well, I don't trust you neither. But I believe that we at least could talk since we both have secrets that we don't want the people in that Manor to find out. Let's say that you and could use some help"
"Secrets? What kind of secret do you have?"
"Tsk tsk, Do you think I would tell you just like that?"
"Then? What is this about?"
"You are getting restless Kiddo. Your act is failing"
"Your meaning?"
"Kid, drop the act. I have met Sid before and you are obviously not him"
I swear that I will never take this kind of jobs ever again. I was told that no one here would know about him. I hate to work without making proper preparation. This was way too sudden.
I had to blow my cover just by introducing myself.
"Well, you were already quite a suspicious individual way before you told me your name though"
Great.