Episode 2
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains, and Renee woke to find the room bright and peaceful. She sat up, stretching as the sleepiness left her body, but her thoughts remained heavy.
The sound of a curtain rustling caught her attention. She turned to find a man standing by the window, dressed in a butler's uniform. His hair was a messy black, and his eyes—his eyes were gold, striking and beautiful, almost like they could see right through her.
"Did I wake you, my lady? " he asked kindly, his voice warm but respectful.
Renee, still dazed from sleep, stared at him. She felt a strange pull in her chest as she met his gaze. His eyes were captivating—deep, rich, and golden. It was almost as though they held a story all their own.
"Umm…my lady? " the butler repeated, concerned. "Is everything alright? "
Snapping back to reality, Renee blushed, embarrassed by her trance-like state. She quickly grabbed the notebook, writing as fast as her hands would allow.
'I'm sorry for staring! It's just... your eyes are really pretty...' she wrote, feeling her face turn red.
The butler was momentarily startled but let out a soft chuckle. "No need to apologize, my lady, " he said with a smile. "It's not every day I get complimented on my eyes. "
He bowed before her with a flourish. "I am Isaac, the butler assigned to take care of you during your stay here. It's a pleasure to meet you. "
Renee smiled awkwardly, feeling slightly more at ease now. 'I'm Renee. Please take care of me. '
Isaac's smile widened as he stood upright again. "Of course, my lady. Always at your service. "
As she took in her surroundings, she noticed the room felt different, more welcoming than it had the night before. The walls were adorned with elegant tapestries, and the sunlight streaming through the windows made everything glow with warmth.
Isaac watched her as she walked to the window. "Do you like it? " he asked softly.
Renee nodded, mesmerized by the view before her. The garden outside was sprawling, filled with an array of vibrant flowers in full bloom. It was breathtaking.
Isaac seemed to read her thoughts. "That's the young master's favorite place in the mansion, " he said with a slight smile. "Would you like to visit it? "
Renee nodded again, a sense of excitement and curiosity stirring within her.
Isaac gave a respectful bow. "Then I shall accompany you. "
The butler, Isaac, gave Renee a polite bow before stepping out of the room, leaving her in peace. She was grateful for the privacy, especially after the strange events of the day. Renee walked to the bathroom, her bare feet soft on the plush carpet beneath her. She turned the water handle, and with a rush, the tub began to fill. The soft sound of the water was soothing, but her thoughts were elsewhere.
She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, examining herself for the first time properly since she had woken up in this unfamiliar mansion. Her light caramel brown hair cascaded down her back, honey highlights catching the light. Her curtain-cut bangs framed her face perfectly, and her hazel eyes, flecked with grey, stared back at her. She had always wondered what she looked like, but now, seeing herself in this moment, she felt a strange sense of familiarity, even though nothing else about this situation was familiar.
Renee absentmindedly ran a hand through her hair, lost in thought, when she suddenly realized the bath had nearly overflowed. She quickly turned off the water, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks at the mistake. She sank into the warm bath, the hot water enveloping her, and closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a deep sigh.
Her thoughts drifted back to the question that had been on her mind ever since she had woken up in this mansion. Is it okay for me to be here? Was this some kind of mistake? The odd sense of safety she felt here didn't erase the uncertainty lingering in her mind.
After a few minutes of reflection, she reluctantly climbed out of the tub, her skin soft and warm from the soak. Wrapping herself in a towel, she walked back to the bedroom. Renee quickly changed into a loose, comfortable shirt and a long skirt. She styled her hair into a half-up twist, the ends curling gently to form a heart shape, a soft touch that made her feel more like herself.
She gazed at her reflection one more time, satisfied with her appearance, and left the room, her thoughts still swirling with questions. As she descended the stairs, Isaac was waiting for her near the front door.
"Are your clothes to your liking? " Isaac asked with a polite smile, making her stop in her tracks.
Renee smiled back, her lips curling upward. 'Yes, I like them. Thank you for your hospitality. '
Isaac nodded, his posture rigid. "I'm just doing my job, my lady. I'm glad you like them. I'll inform the young master of your change. "
Renee's curiosity piqued. 'Where did he go? '
"He is working on his works," Isaac replied cheerfully. "We probably won't see him again until dinner. To pass the time, would you like a tour of the mansion? I can show you the sights inside. "
Renee felt a flicker of excitement at the idea. 'Yes, I would love that, ' she said, her voice light with interest.
Isaac led her through the grand halls of the mansion, explaining the layout as they walked. They passed the dining room, the kitchen, and a variety of other rooms. However, what caught Renee's attention the most was a door at the end of a long corridor. Isaac paused before it, unlocking it with a soft click.
"This is the Observatory Room, " he explained. "The young master spends a lot of time here conducting research. "
Renee glanced inside, her eyes wide at the sight of countless telescopes, charts, and star maps that filled the room. But what stood out most was the feeling of intense quiet that seemed to hang in the air.
They continued their tour, and Isaac explained more about the mansion, detailing rooms and portraits along the walls. As they reached a long corridor lined with exquisite paintings, Renee paused before one particular portrait—a painting she had seen last night in the dining room. It depicted a man with pale blue-violet eyes, standing with a woman whose face was half-shadowed.
'Isaac, ' Renee mouth softly, 'Can I ask you something about a portrait? '
Isaac stopped and turned to face her, his eyes serene. "Of course, my lady. Which portrait do you mean? "
'It's a portrait of the young master... and a woman. I saw it last night, but now... I can't seem to find it anywhere. '
Isaac's smile remained, but his eyes seemed to flicker with a hint of something unreadable. "Ah, I believe you may have misunderstood, my lady, " he said calmly. "There is no such portrait in this mansion. "
Renee raised an eyebrow, not convinced. 'But I know what I saw. It was right there, ' she said, pointing to the spot where the painting had been.
Isaac gave her a small smile, his gaze closing slightly as he turned away. "You must be mistaken, " he said, his voice light and unaffected. "Now, if you'll follow me, we have more of the mansion to explore. "
Renee felt a knot tighten in her chest. Something wasn't right. She knew what she had seen, and Isaac's dismissal of it only deepened the mystery. But she decided to keep her thoughts to herself for now. She had learned not to trust everything at face value. She would confront him later.
The two of them continued their walk through the mansion until they arrived at a massive door at the far end of a hallway. Isaac opened it with ease, revealing a room filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, stacked with countless tomes.
"This is the library, " Isaac explained. "You may come here whenever you wish. "
Renee's eyes widened in wonder as she stepped into the room, her fingers brushing along the spines of the books. She immediately felt a pull toward a thick book on the history of kingdoms. Settling into a comfortable chair, she opened it and began to read.
The kingdoms of the world fascinated her.
Kirrentho, the kingdom of riches, ruled by the young Emperor Inaros, who had taken the throne after a royal massacre.
Eudaemonia, the kingdom of wisdom, home to the prestigious Daylight Horizon College, a school for all species—though humans rarely attended.
Cybele, the kingdom of magic, where the sacred tree Eldon was fiercely protected.
Saerenth, the kingdom of the ocean, home to mermaids and mermen. And finally, the
Land of Reason, a kingdom surrounded by mystery and secrecy, where dark magic was born.
The Land of Reason stood out to her. There was so little known about it, and she couldn't help but be intrigued.
Isaac, who had been standing nearby, walked over to her. "Is something on your mind, my lady? "
Renee glanced up from the book, her curiosity piqued. 'Isaac, do you know anything about the Land of Reason? '
Isaac's expression softened, and he nodded slowly. "The Land of Reason... As far as I know, it is the birthplace of dark magic. Dark magic has been banned in most places, but that hasn't stopped people from practicing it in secret. The Land of Reason itself is off-limits to outsiders. " He paused and glanced at her with a faint smile. "Not many people speak of it openly. "
Renee's eyes widened in surprise. 'Wow, you know so much about it. '
Isaac chuckled softly, closing his eyes. "I didn't live for this long just to be ignorant, my lady. "
Renee sensed there was more to his words, but for now, she chose not to press him further. She made a mental note to revisit this conversation another time.
The soft sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts. Isaac looked toward the door. "It's time for dinner. The young master should be back by now. "
Renee's heart skipped a beat. This was the moment she had been waiting for. Isaac led her to the dining room, where the young master—Vincent—was already seated.
"I'm home, Renee~ " Vincent said in a playful tone, leaning his head against her shoulder as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Isaac cleared his throat, his expression shifting. "Ehem. Young master, I believe it's time for dinner. "
Vincent groaned, playfully pouting. "You're such a bore, Isaac, " he muttered but reluctantly took his seat.
Isaac served dinner with a practiced hand, then bowed and excused himself, leaving the two of them alone.
Renee, seizing the opportunity, turned to Vincent with the notebook she had been carrying. She had so many questions, but now was her chance to ask the one that had been gnawing at her for some time.
'Hey, what's your name? ' she asked, her handwriting neat on the page.
"Vincent, " he replied casually, without hesitation. "Why? "
'Why are you being nice to me? ' she wrote, looking at him with a quiet intensity. 'Why are you giving me a place to stay? '
Vincent set down his fork and leaned toward her, his gaze suddenly serious. "Well..." He smirked, his eyes glinting with an edge of mystery. "I've been searching for you for a long time. "
Renee felt a chill run down her spine. 'What are you? ' she asked, her voice steady but with a growing sense of unease.
Vincent smiled, a playful gleam in his eye, and his fangs flashed in the dim light. "A Vampire."
Renee froze, her breath catching in her throat. The man she had been so curious about...was a creature of the night.