Three days later, Lassander reappeared in front of Glocara. Not only Tusha, but many tenants and patients also witnessed their conversation, which was precisely the effect Lassander wanted.
"The meeting with Mr. Silversnap was truly a surprise," Lassander said. "He's a kind gentleman, but to seek justice for my beloved daughter, I had to request a terrible judgment from him. Can you guess what he said?"
Glocara remained silent, arms crossed, staring at Lassander.
"Lord Silversnap said: 'She's a good woman, and over the years, she's done a lot for maintaining Booty Bay. But I have plenty of people eager to take over her job. So, don't worry.' He left the handling of your matter entirely up to me."
"I'm not surprised he'd say that."
"I'm not planning on punishing you personally, don't worry. After all, whether you dispute this or not, my daughter isn't coming back, and the wedding has been called off. I'm a constructive man, which is why I managed to climb from the lower levels to the top. So, you might find the so-called punishment is actually a reward you can't refuse. First, I'll be taking over this house, along with all its equipment—"
The tenants and patients stirred. "What about us?" "Where will I stay at night?" Me, I, we—they spoke like this. Lasander's men shouted, "Quiet!" and immediately, the crowd fell silent, not even daring to let their clothes brush against the floor. Glocara faced all of this expressionlessly. Behind her, Tusha looked at the dead-eyed onlookers, recalling memories he'd rather forget.
"—Sorry, everyone, I was once one of you, so I understand how you feel," Lassander continued. "But people need to know how to progress. This house will continue to serve its original function, but it won't house any disgusting corpses, and it will be renovated with better equipment. Of course, staying here or seeking treatment will no longer be free. Everything has its price, and you must learn that, or you'll never understand the value of effort. And as for you, my lady…"
Lassander approached Glocara, placing his hand on her cheek and neck. The ruby ring on his middle finger scratched her painfully.
"You can still stay here and manage the place, but in a different capacity. No one will call you 'Lady of the Dead' anymore. Glocara, I've told you before, you are beautiful… Despite all the unpleasantness between us, I've always wanted to explore your unique beauty more deeply. Perhaps, by achieving these two things, I might finally recover from the pain of losing my daughter…"
Glocara violently slapped his hand away, causing it to hit his face. The sharp edge of the ruby cut his lip, and blood dripped out.
"Everything has a price? Is that the value you placed on Mareni?" Glocara's voice trembled. "Listen to me, Lassander. She was worth far more. Far more."
Lassander raised a hand to stop his men from advancing. "Do you not take me seriously? A lady like her deserves to be surrounded by velvet and petals, not blood and filth. Glocara, I sometimes enjoy a woman being strong, but you should know your limits… Especially you, who are so close to madness. Over the next few days, wait patiently. I'll be sending someone soon. And as for the rest of you—" He glanced at the onlookers. "Leave before I start renovating this place. It seems I brought only good news today, didn't I?"
He left. Within half an hour, the tenants and patients also departed, leaving only Glocara, Tusha, Mareni, and a few unfinished corpses in the house.
Glocara stood in place for a long time, then leaned back against the wall, showing no intention of sitting down.
Tusha stood up.
"Are you leaving too?" Glocara asked.
"Well, that depends on whether Lassander is willing to keep me employed."
"He might. You're a good assistant, and you don't ask for much."
"Oh, thank you. That's the first compliment you've ever given me, Miss Glocara."
"But I always feel like I owe you. I want to pay you."
"Pay me? You don't have to force yourself, Miss Goloka…"
"Follow me."
Her voice was quiet, but her tone firm. "Come," she said, as if dropping a small stone into a shallow lake.
Glocara gave Tusha a new right tooth.
Before starting the procedure, she said to Tusha, "I don't know if you'll like this, but it's a very healthy tooth. How do you trolls feel about accepting someone else's tooth? Wouldn't it be seen as an insult?"
"No, I don't know, Miss Glocara. I've never considered these things before. But what kind of worker would refuse their wages?" Tusha chuckled awkwardly.
Halfway through the procedure, Glocara began talking to herself. Tusha couldn't speak, so he let her continue.
"I once thought letting Lassander take Mareni was for her own good. A better life, wasn't it?… Now I'm facing the same situation. Lassander will give me a… better life. But I don't want it. Not at all."
"I want to stay here." She paused, pressing the back of her hand to her eyes. No tears came. "But I locked her outside. I let her face that…"
Tusha thought of his own people again. It made him restless and confused, but he forced himself to confront these uncomfortable thoughts. Why was he so certain, back then, that taking the formula for the elixir and spreading it around would give his people a better life?
Miss Glocara, you're human, but I can hear the voice of your soul. That voice is awakening a part of my own soul that was slowly dying. We are alike, and yet different. We have no path left to turn back to.
After the procedure, Glocara returned silently to Mareni's room. Tusha sat up from the operating table, glanced at himself in the mirror, and moved his jaw. There was some pain, but as a troll, it wouldn't take long for the new tooth to fully merge with his jaw.
He stepped into the hallway and paused outside Mareni's room, but he didn't look through the door crack. As he stepped out of the white house, he touched his new right tooth and thought it was time to get back to work.