Lex adjusted the last strand of his hair in the mirror, gave a nod to Merkel, and strode out of the room.
Following behind him, Merkel said, "Young master, before the banquet officially starts, you can wait here or in your bedroom. When it's time for you to be introduced, I'll come and get you."
"I'd rather take a walk around the manor," Lex replied, looking back. "But I want you to follow me and stop me if there are places I should not visit."
"I believe that should be acceptable, but it would be best not to go into the garden. If you get your clothes or shoes dirty again, we might not have time to change."
"Alright, I won't go outside then, I'll just wander around inside the building."
Merkel didn't comment further, and Lex started his leisurely walk around Rodriguez Manor.
In Lex's eyes, the former Viscount Manor was not luxurious; its decorations lacked refinement. The only interesting part was that once Shiller moved in, he made some modifications to the places he frequently used, giving the manor a mix of two distinct styles.
Although the furniture chosen by Shiller was not more luxurious than that once in the Viscount Manor, it was clear that unlike the former Viscount, he did not chase the trends of that era. Instead, he sought comfort over aesthetic demands.
Lex knew that a person's taste in home decor could reflect intimate parts of their personality. If he were to contend with Professor Shiller in a protracted battle, understanding this aspect would certainly assist his actions.
Lex was different from Bruce and Constantine. The only time he had ever passively accepted something in his life was when Shiller had saved him. Apart from that, he always planned ahead, took the initiative, and strove for every possible advantage.
However, he didn't see this as simply a confrontation. He understood it was a process of adjustment. If successful, he would have a kin who truly recognized his greatness.
So, caution was paramount. He couldn't use the means he employed against his enemies on Shiller because the intriguing part of this game was the semblance of a close relationship they had. Just like honey on a knife, all actions must not exceed the scope of this relationship; anything more would be an unforced defeat.
Unfortunately, Shiller was the one who initially held a superior position. Lex had to do more within the limited scope and gather more information to potentially gain the upper hand.
Lex found himself at the front door of the master bedroom, but he chose not to linger. Invading such a private space was not acceptable. Perhaps, there would be a chance in the future, but they were not yet that close.
Unlocking the mystery of Shiller was a long-term task, and patience, Lex believed, was something he had in abundance.
He headed to the guest bedroom nearest to the master bedroom. Merkel didn't try to stop him, so Lex gently pushed the door open.
The moment the door opened, Lex was surprised. Outside the big French windows of the guest room was a dense and lush green that filled his eyes.
The window overlooked plants so dense and green that they would typically only be found in a tropical rainforest, but here they were, on the balcony of Rodriguez Manor's guest room.
Lex felt curious. He knew that the manor's butler was not particularly adept at gardening. Could it be that Shiller was an expert gardener?
"This is a gift left by Miss Pamela," explained Merkel from the door. "She had some trouble earlier, and Mr. Shiller helped her. So, she turned the balcony into a haven for plants."
"Magnificent," Lex sincerely praised. Then he thought, why the guest room?
He almost instantly imagined the scene at the time. Pamela was probably injured or ill, and Shiller had arranged for her to stay in the guest room. There, they had a conversation, just like the one Lex had once had with Shiller.
The outcome, of course, was positive. Pamela recovered and seemed even more radiant than before. As a result, she manipulated the plants to give this room a unique window view.
After leaving the guest room, Lex descended to the ground floor and arrived at the kitchen.
Although the kitchen was spotless and impeccably maintained, Lex still noticed signs of use.
He was not a detective like Bruce, capable of deducing a large amount of information from minuscule traces. Lex was simply surprised that Shiller cooked for himself.
Next were the living room and study room. The changes to the furnishings here were not many, still maintaining the lavish vintage decoration. But it was noticeable that Shiller added some stuff to make the hosting process as comfortable as possible.
This gave Lex a more three-dimensional idea of Shiller Rodriguez. He could easily imagine the stern Professor Shiller from school, wearing pyjamas at home, sitting on the sofa next to the door while reading a newspaper, or taking a nap in the armchair.
He didn't seem as sharp then, appearing more peaceful and stable --almost like an ordinary person.
Maybe all madmen have a side like this, thought Lex. Madness, such extreme emotion, also required energy to sustain.
The mad needed rest, to gather themselves. Until the next burst of craziness came, they lived ordinary and repetitive lives, far from legendary.
This led Lex to add more "human" elements to his perception of Shiller, and partly abandon the notions of divine and evil powers resulting from his greatness.
If he wanted more to be an ordinary person, maybe he also appreciated ordinary people more, and hoped more people would see him as one.
What's so good about being ordinary?
Lex had trouble understanding. But in his mind, a rough plan was already forming.
The challenge Lex had to face was Shiller's superiority and his prevailing position in the father-son relationship. But if Shiller were just an ordinary man, such problems would cease to exist.
All of Shiller's students were almost geniuses. Even though many of them were only skilled in specific areas, their abilities were beyond those of ordinary people. This included Lex, of course.
But if he could position himself from the perspective of an ordinary person, and treat and deal with Shiller in a more ordinary way, they may be able to balance their relationship.
As Lex thought about this, he moved forward. Yet as he rounded a corner, Merkel stepped forward to stop him.
"I apologize, young master, but the drawing room is currently in use. Out of courtesy, it's best for you not to approach."
Lex raised an eyebrow and asked, "Can you disclose who the guest is?"
"Alberto Falcone."
"I didn't expect you to come early." Shiller took an ice cube out of the ice bucket and put it in a whisky glass. A bottle of Scotch Highland malt whisky was laid on his table. The pure golden liquid shimmered under the light, as beautiful as a piece of pure gold.
"Would you like any mixers?" Shiller asked again.
"No, thanks."
"Are you sure you want to drink such strong liquor before the feast?"
"We still have some time, maybe we can wait for the ice to melt."
Shiller didn't say anything more, he poured two glasses of whiskey, each only with an ice sphere and liquor. The golden liquor flowed down the ice sphere, spreading in golden veins like a delta under the sunset.
Alberto took his glass and gave it a slight shake, looking at the one in Shiller's hand. Shiller chuckled and said, "Well, as you say, we still have some time. How have you been recently?"
"Not too bad." Alberto was always the taciturn sort.
"I heard that Evans is organizing a rehearsal for the Gotham Theatre's performance next week. Is he doing alright?"
"Becoming a singer was not a wise decision." Alberto said, "It's too dangerous to stand under the spotlight, so he chose to be an opera director."
"For you."
"For me."
Alberto shook his glass again, gently licked his lips and said, "He has conceded too much to me."
"It seems you are quite concerned."
"I never know how long this situation can last." Alberto's thumb rubbed against the rim of the glass, his gaze falling on the center of the coffee table as he said: "I'm uncertain."
"Uncertain about what?"
"Can we keep going like this?"
"Why not?"
"I have looked up some information." Alberto held the glass above his palm, shaking it slightly as though he wanted to speed up the melting of the ice, "Dissociative identity disorder is often temporary, not all personalities can persist."
Shiller paused for a moment, looking at Alberto and said: "Have you been feeling unwell recently?"
"When Evans uses the body, my sensations become clearer. Sometimes I can even distinctly feel my influence over his thoughts. Evans would never speak in that tone to actors who refuse to follow his directions."
Shiller knew what Alberto was referring to. He and his brother were completely different individuals. Evans was the kind of person who would almost never force others. In the early days, when Evans was the only heir to the Godfather, he would avoid such behavior as much as possible. Now that Alberto is here, Evans is even more free to express his nature.
Shiller actually often saw Evans. Although he hadn't gone to graduate school, he often frequented the art department building of Gotham University, which wasn't far from the General Education building where Shiller was based. They often bumped into each other outside.
Evans was very happy after getting married. His wife shared the same hobbies with him, and they often practiced vocal performances together.
Since becoming the Godfather, Alberto has kept a low profile, rarely appearing in public. Therefore, despite having heard of Falcone's big name, the later batch of students didn't know what he looked like and only knew Evan as their senior. Their relationship was quite harmonious.
"This body originally belongs to you." Shiller said, "You are the real Falcone."
"I know, does this have anything to do with our discussion?"
Shiller sighed and said: "I cannot reach a conclusion without a proper examination and treatment, but if you want me to guess, I believe it does."
"Most people with dissociative identity disorder develop the condition because their main personality cannot handle a shock, so they create another identity to take over. Essentially, it's a way to share the pressure."
"In such cases, once the environment changes, depending on the mentality and recovery status of the main personality, the other personality is likely to be affected. If the main personality recovers completely, the alternate personality may disappear."
Alberto furrowed his brows deeply, his expression heavier than ever, but it was clearly not the first time he had considered this issue over these past few days. Judging from his expression, Shiller had only confirmed his suspicions.
"Is there a way to stabilize him?"
"That depends on you." Shiller looked at Alberto and said, "Both of you need to undergo a series of treatments to potentially stabilize and balance your relationship."
"Is there no other way?"
Shiller shook his head.