Now that she'd actually had a conversation with Renard, Kyrie felt a whole lot more comfortable in the house. She had been thoroughly refreshed after the last night spent in the garden with Renard, and as a result, she wasn't speeding through every single thing in an attempt to keep her mind occupied. She'd even been out to the garden to sit with Renard every night since their talk! Things felt a lot better now, though even with her mind calm Kyrie's working speed was relatively quick; the lady likely wouldn't have snatched her away from her old house if it wasn't. Due to a combination of her good mood and her natural speed, she was soon going up the final stairs of the manor to clean the master bedroom.
Upon opening the door, her eyes widened a little when she stumbled across Dessi looking through the lady's perfume. Honestly, Kyrie hadn't ever been in Lady Dandridge's room long enough to have the time to study it, so to see just how many vials and jars she had behind the mirror of her vanity was mind boggling. Especially because Kyrie couldn't say that she'd noticed that much of a difference in the way Mae tended to smell: the woman did always smell nice, but Kyrie wasn't sure she was much for distinguishing the nuances of the different scents if the lady had this many that were squirreled away.
Dessi flinched in surprise from the opening of the door, looking almost a little sheepish as she put the vial that she was holding away.
"Oops... Looks like I've been caught."
Kyrie brow furrowed in inquiry, moving a little closer to get a better look at the perfumes before Dessi fully shut the door.
"What do you mean? Are we not supposed to touch the lady's perfumes?"
"Well... She's never said it in so many words but I know that she always applies them herself. I don't even think she's ever asked one of us to go into her vanity and find a specific bottle."
The two of them turned their gaze towards the full vanity then, silent for a moment before Dessi smiled.
"I wanted to see if there was something special with how guarded she was of them. But this certainly looks like it's just perfume to me."
Now that Dessi said that though, Kyrie's own mind got to thinking. She knew that Mae made the draughts that she gave them every week, and then there were those rumors... The ones that said she had poisoned her own husband.
As Dessi closed up the vanity, Kyrie fidgeted a little from the question that was bubbling up in her mind. Either Kyrie was incredibly easy to read, or Dessi had already been thinking about it, because her next statement touched on her thoughts.
"I've always wondered about those rumors of what Lady Dandridge did to her husband and... Even though things look pretty normal in here, I don't think the rumors about her are wrong. Or at least, those old rumors of what she did to her husband, not the ones being thrown around nowadays."
There was a scowl on Dessi's face as she crossed her arms to think about the rumors of today, and Kyrie couldn't help her own expression from furrowing in concern. The talk around town was getting worse lately, according to Isaac and Dessi. Mostly it was stuff about the royal family that still lived in the castle, but they'd heard blatant falsehoods about their lady circulating the market as well: things like how poorly Mae treated her slaves in the mines or how she'd undercut the people that lived under her. In all actuality though, the people who lived under her would never say something like that! Kyrie knew that Mae took great pains to make sure her mines were working both humanely and well, and she was meticulous in her paperwork to make sure those people living under her jurisdiction had relatively good lives. The only people who had a particularly poor opinion of Mae were her fellow nobles, so it must be some sort of terrible propaganda scheme that was going on right now.
It wasn't just the news around town that had Kyrie furrowing her brow though, it was also just the thought that Mae had killed her own husband. Kyrie knew next to nothing about the late Lord Dandridge, and to imagine Mae killing someone was... Well it didn't seem to mesh in her mind. Someone who treated her people so well also willingly murdering someone else? The conversation she'd heard between Renard and Isaac in the garden all those years ago flit through her mind, and even though all the evidence was potentially there, it still didn't seem like something Mae would do. Perhaps if provoked, but Kyrie didn't think the lady would ever do it solely for personal gain or profit.
"Do you really think she killed her own husband?"
"Do I think--of course I do! That man was an absolute monster, if it wasn't her then someone was bound to soon."
When Dessi saw just how taken aback Kyrie was from this reaction, her expression softened.
"Ah that's right... None of you really knew Lord Dandridge. Boy does that make me feel old."
Chuckling softly, Dessi's expression was rather quick to sober up as she stared at the lady's bed.
"You have no idea what he was like to other people. What he was like to her."
There was a dull venom to Dessi's voice as she said this, one that left Kyrie more than a little surprised. The older slave's face was usually fully of amiability and comfort, but there was a sharpness to her expression as she practically glared at the bed.
"He would force slaves to do whatever he pleased, regardless of whether we wanted to do it or not, and he didn't treat his wife much better. He marked her, took advantage of her, and abused her when she seemed incapable of giving him a son. Any comment she made that was halfway intelligent he would laugh away or ignore; his pride would never allow him to admit that this girl half his age knew more about the world than he did. The amount of money he spent on frivolities was atrocious and he... he didn't care even remotely for the people living under him. He was the epitome of everything that gives the Terra nobility a bad name."
The more that Dessi spoke, the more heated she seemed to get. It was fascinating seeing the woman before her swell with rage, and Kyrie of course itched to draw it. Kyrie didn't know what memories Dessi had of this time specificially, but she knew that scenes were playing through Dessi's head as she said all this, as if she was reliving the moments all over again.
With a jolt though, Dessi came back to herself, blinking a little before giving Kyrie an apologetic smile.
"I guess all I can say is that the lady had more reason than most to want that man dead, and considering what he was like that's really saying something."
Kyrie slowly nodded her head, trying to imagine just what Lord Dandridge might've looked like. If he was really as bad as Dessi seemed to imply, then she had to say that she was immensely relieved to have been hired years after his death.
"Well look at what I've done now, I've thrown a black shroud all over this room!"
"O-oh no, you didn't--"
Trying to say something in Dessi's defense, Dessi shook her head and interrupted Kyrie.
"I did, no need to deny it. I'll finish up here, could you head downstairs and do a little tidying before pulling the things that we need for dinner out? I haven't gotten a chance to sweep yet today."
Effectively swept up by Dessi as she was ushered out, Kyrie ended up mumbling out an agreement to the older woman's request. Before she left though, she did turn back to Dessi for a moment.
"I'm sorry that I asked about something so awful, but thank you... For telling me a little about it."
With an almost shy smile towards Dessi, Kyrie then headed down towards the kitchen.
Grabbing the broom on her way into the kitchen, she was expecting to find it empty as usual but much to her surprise, there was someone rooting around in the pantry; she could hear them from the hall. Trembling a little as she quietly crept up to the slightly open door, relief flooded through her when she realized this person was humming and it was a voice quite familiar to her. No longer worried about who this was, she entered into the kitchen.
"Renard! You know that Dessi doesn't like it when the pantry is messed with! You should wait until she gets back before taking some food."
Renard practically jumped at the sound of Kyrie's voice, because he certainly hadn't heard her coming, but now that he knew it was Kyrie his expression turned to a grin.
"My my, what's this? You're sneaking up on me again?"
Just as he wanted, a flush promptly lit up her features and he couldn't help thinking how cute she was. Before she could protest any, he just chuckled and continued on.
"You'll help me keep this a secret, won't you? I've been working out in the garden all day and I'm starving."
Kyrie let out a soft sigh at that, mumbling something about how Dessi was definitely going to notice. She turned to her sweeping now, thinking that Renard was going to head out. He didn't though, instead he took the bread he'd been looking for and started munching as he leaned against the counter, admiring Kyrie as she went about her chores.
"What are you even doing down here anyway? It doesn't look like Dessi has started dinner yet."
"She asked me to come down to sweep and start pulling things out while she finishes up with Lady Dandridge's room."
"Hmm... I bet you'll be done much faster than she'll be done with that room."
Kyrie didn't really say anything, but she certainly suspected that would be the case. Her mind set to wandering then, thinking about Dessi's expression when she'd spoken of Lord Dandridge again. Was his name Deren? Kyrie couldn't quite remember since he'd never been a presence in this household for her.
Renard could see this change of expression on Kyrie's face, and he could even read it for what it really meant. Another smirk rose to his features.
"It's times like these that you wish you had your notebook on you, huh?"
"Mm--"
Kyrie was about to agree with him, because for a moment it was almost as if she'd be agreeing with her own thoughts. When she realized this was being said out loud and not in her own voice, she promptly bit at her own lip to get herself to stop agreeing with him. Her eyes widened a bit though when Renard suddenly came into her view.
He gently moved a hand up to her face, his fingers teasing at the edges of her lips, as if trying to coax her into speaking. She did not give in to him though, turning her face away even though she felt like she was trembling slightly. He wouldn't be able to feel that... Would he?
"Don't stifle your words, Kyrie... If you agree with me then just say so!"
He turned her eyes back to him by taking hold of her face, and the way she was looking at him... The way that her eyes were drawn to him... It made him want more. It made him want to lean in for another taste. That night out in the garden with her still lingered on his senses, but he said he wouldn't force her and he was going to stick to that. Still... There was no harm in temptation, right? He let his fingers continue their sensual exploring now that she was looking at him before continuing on.
"You really don't have to keep your drawing so much of a secret, you know. Imagine if while you were waiting during the day you could just pull your notebook out of your apron pocket and start sketching?"
Kyrie couldn't keep meeting his eyes anymore, she turned her gaze down and tantalizingly bit at her lip again.
"I don't exactly have that much free time."
She wasn't saying what she really meant again, and not only that but she lost her nerve and was no longer looking at him! Lightly pinching at her cheek, she let out a soft squeak as Renard then lifted her chin up to get her to look him in the eyes once more.
"Ah ah! Eyes up, Kyrie, there's nothing at all to be ashamed of when speaking your piece. But you do actually need to speak your piece, I know that you're deflecting again."
There was silence between them then, just a heated gaze that started out slightly sulky on Kyrie's part but was slowly drawing them closer and closer together. It would've continued too if footsteps didn't resound in the hallway outside. Kyrie let out a soft gasp then, pushing Renard away with enough force for him to take a step back. He couldn't help a slight scowl towards the door: great fucking timing, Dessi. Just great.
Still, when the older woman opened up the door and raised an eyebrow to see Renard there, he just smiled at her. Picking up the bread he'd set down on the counter when he approached Kyrie, he lifted it up to Dessi.
"Dessi! I'm taking a bit of bread with me, I hope you don't mind; just enough to tide me over until you finish with whatever delicious thing you're cooking for tonight."
Putting her hand on her hips, Dessi gave Renard a playful scoff.
"Trying to pilfer from my kitchen?! Get out of here you street urchin!"
Aggressively waving him off, she couldn't keep the serious face up for the entire time as Renard reluctantly made his way out. When her face cracked to a smile, Renard let out a laugh of his own.
"Alright alright! But I'll be back, you can count on it!"
As he walked out of the room, he had a bit more of a bounce to his step. Even though Dessi had interrupted him, he had to admit that his encounter with Kyrie was extremely promising. Perhaps... Perhaps he'd even be able to convince her to have sex with him again tonight.
Kyrie, on the other hand still had a bit of pink dusting her cheeks, and was busily setting about sweeping once more now that Renard was gone. Dessi gave her a long look for a moment, but thankfully she didn't say anything about Renard and just joined Kyrie in the dinner preparations.