Three days before the mascherata festival, Yuki and Jacek had new costumes made for themselves. This was however done in secret as they had convinced their mother that they were not going to attend the festival on numerous grounds.
Mrs. Adlerian had tried to persuade the siblings to attend the event because they never did anything but work all year long. Also, she disliked the fact that the two had no friends at all, thus, the festival, in her view, was a good place for them to mingle with their peers. Jacek, as cynical as he was, had brushed off her intentions with a bombast reasoning that Yuki needed no one but him. That boy! She was convinced he was the reason Yuki could not find a lover.
A day to the festival, Yuki went to her godfather's; Jacek was with her. She was beyond pleased when she realized her godfather was out of the house.
He may not have looked it, but Old Cecil was very perceptive. The reason she was able to hide the things she did in his laboratory was not because she was astute, but because she definitely did not look the things she did. Sometimes, even she was amazed at how innocent she looked, how more that trusting old man.
Treyton, who had been in the house on their arrival was glad to see the siblings in what seemed like forever. He was also pleased to find the duo in better moods than when he parted with them previously.
While Jacek stayed behind to converse with Treyton, Yuki went down to Old Cecil's basement which served as his laboratory.
Immediately after entering, Yuki put on an apron, gloves and a mask for precaution. She proceeded towards the table that stood at the center of the room, upon the table, she set all the substances she brought along. She then prepared all the equipment she needed before immersing herself in her tests.
First, she put some of the opium she received from her client along with three different substances into a mortar. Then, she added some partially grinded leaves into the mortar as well before mixing everything with a pestle. When the concoction was fine enough, she fetched a small amount of it with a long metal spoon and lit it. As soon as the substance began fuming, Yuki pricked her index finger with a pin. The oozing blood of her finger immediately darkened when she bought it close to the smoke.
Receiving the feedback that she looked forward to, Yuki put out the burning narcotic. Subsequently, she put some of the narcotic in her smoking pipe and the rest in a container.
After attaining her purpose for coming into the lab, she set things as she had met them and erased all traces of the drug she had made before leaving the room.
"You are done?" Treyton asked as soon as Yuki entered the living room where he and Jacek were sitting.
"I am," Yuki answered briefly without meeting Treyton's eyes.
"Walter speaks highly of your apothecary skill. You must be very impressive," Treyton commented with an impressed expression.
"Walter?" Jacek asked with a confused look.
"He is godfather's son," Yuki cleared his doubt.
"Ahh, yes. You said he lives in Gouna, I remember now. Is he an apothecary as well?"
"He is more of a doctor than an apothecary. He is our town's best doctor and a man I greatly respect," Treyton replied with a seldom look on his face.
"He must really be exceptional. Godfather tells me he was the one that aided my mother to deliver me. It is a pity I have never met him; I would like to meet him one day," said Yuki.
"I didn't know that story," Jacek pouted.
"I don't either. Godfather rarely speaks about my birth. He says he has seen so many births that the only reason he remembers mine is because his precious son was in the picture."
Jacek snorted. Yuki gave him a piercing glare. "I never knew he was so scathing," Jacek laughed.
"You have no idea. He isn't as nice as he looks," Yuki ignored Jacek's laughter.
"You don't say…I understand how he is your godfather now," Jacek remarked with a laugh. Treyton tried to hide his own laughter but failed. Yuki glowered at the two, especially her brother.
⸙⸙⸙
The night of the mascherata festival…
It was a quarter pass ten, yet, the town square of Echt was bustling with people. People who were all faceless; hiding behind assorted masks.
Considerable effort was put into decorating the entire town square. It was garlanded and embellished with lights of different colors, shapes and sizes. The animation that marked the evening was a fascinating sight.
Beside the fountain that sat in the middle of the town square stood a figure more intriguing than anything the onlookers in the vicinage had witnessed that night. The people scrutinized the attractive figure in awe behind their masks.
She had her silky ebony hair wrapped in a refined manner without any adornments. Her neck, shoulders and an ample amount of her bosom which were bare of neither clothes or a shawl glimmered under the brilliance of the night. Above all else, what made her stand out most, was not her porcelain white skin, nor the imposing aura that oozed from every part of her being, but instead her guise.
On a night where color was cherished most, this elegant figure chose to defy the norm. She wore a black lace gown, black lace gloves, a black mask, carried a black purse and by heaven, they knew her heel was black as well under the long gown she wore. How a color that symbolized death, agony and grief in Echt appeared so pleasing to their sight was a mystery they would figure out some other time. In that moment, all the onlookers cared about was the mystic beauty that stood alone beside the fountain.
"Don't you look your name this evening…except I am yet to see a raven so stunning" an intrusive voice evaded Yuki's thought. She looked indifferently at the newcomer, by his voice, Yuki knew it was the governor. "How did you know I was here?" she asked bluntly.
"I had my men keep watch and inform me when you arrived." The governor took Yuki's hand and kissed it, "I have good news, mistress," he sounded excited.
Yuki finally looked at him with a little interest. "I am listening," she tried not to sound thrilled. Finally. Did he find something? Yuki restrained her agitation.
"The Duke asked me to bring you to him," said the governor with zest.
Yuki gaped at him behind her mask. She was completely dumbfounded. "What?" she muttered without much thought.
"You heard right, mistress, the Duke of Echt whose face no one has ever seen has found interest in you and would like to meet you." The governor who assumed his lover was as excited about the news as he, found himself twittering.
Who the fuck cared about some obscure grandfather who never stayed in his duchy anyway? Yuki almost snapped. She did not know what or even how to converse with the man in that moment.
Despite her irritation, Yuki did not fail to realize how odd the governor was acting that day. He had always been possessive of her and always tried to keep her to himself all the time, thus, it was weird that he was suddenly so excited to have her meet another man. Upon a closer observation, she pondered over the fact that the governor's behavior seemed different as well, he seemed inebriate in a way. Was he drunk?
"Mistress, think of all benefits you could obtain from winning the duke over. The paramount authority of Echt at your beck and call," the governor tried to convince the woman when he realized she was reluctant.
Yuki thought the governor's point was valid. All the men she had chosen so far to escort were people from whom she could obtain information. But since the Beichans that went outside of Beicheden were few, her options were bounded. The governor was by far the strongest pawn she had in her arsenal and though he had given her a lot of information in the two years of their relationship, she had yet to gain a single information about her mother's past that seemed to have been linked to Beicheden.
It was not a pleasant thought, but if she did manage to seduce the Duke of Echt, it wouldn't be long before she uncovered not only the truth of her mother's disappearance but also the past she dismissed whenever Yuki brought it up in the past. And then, if it came down to the fact that her mother was tied to some powerful figure in Beicheden who could cause her harm, would the Duke not easily take care of such a person for her?
She would do it. She would seduce the duke and have the old man fall head over heels for her no matter the cost. And when she had obtained all her goals, she would throw away her spiteful past and façade, then she would assume a normal life with her stepmother and brother.
Yuki looked over the crowd and at the vendor who was selling masks not too far from where she stood. In spite of their masks, the vendor who was actually Jacek locked eyes with Yuki. You must forgive me this time around, Jacek. Just this once, I will thread this path without you. And when all this is over, I hope you tell me you are proud of the courage I gathered at the thought of you and mother.
Yuki gazed back at the governor, "Take me to the duke," Yuki said firmly.