Rolling her eyes at No.69's sneaky behaviour of not having left as expected. Delphina chastised herself for not double-checking. Luckily, she hadn't done anything that might seem out of character. They'd only been together for a day, but consistency was key in tricking systems.
[I see you're meeting Pietro in a setting you weren't expecting! Would you like to do one of the 5% downloads whilst you still can? It may be helpful.]
[~(˘▾˘~)]
Delphina lightly nodded her head whilst keeping Jenkins in the corner of her eye.
[Please note that you said 'Please don't ever do this unless I am truly alone' previously.]
[Can you confirm that you are sure this is the best course of action?]
"Jenkins, could you pass me my brother's calendar. I'd like to take a look at something before we arrive."
As it handed her the pewter box, Jenkins slowed their walking speed a touch so she could look on with ease.
Flicking up the latch to look at the box's interior, as she hadn't even had the luxury to check her own due to getting lost. Delphina quickly scanned it before looking up and nodding at the system screen once again.
She hoped it would just seem like she was confirming something inside the calendar box to any onlookers.
[Download and sync will take at most 5 minutes for disorientation to subside. Standby for download…]
Quickly looking back down at the box, turning it this way and that. Delphina tightened her hold on Jenkins' escort, prompting it to briefly turn its head towards her to check for any issues. Not finding any, Jenkins continued to walk them closer to the back of the Main House, where it would connect with one of the Castle gardens.
Delphina knew this because this time, the download only took a minute. Accompanied by a rather minor headache.
Perhaps it was the volume of the memories themselves that had caused the issue yesterday. Or even the fact that she had just transmigrated and wasn't fully settled into the body she was now inhabiting.
[Delphina!]
[You're okay already?]
Closing the box and moving to hold it down by her side, she turned to look outside one of the windows they were moving past.
All that was visible was the side of what seemed to be a lush mountain, though Delphina now knew better that it was the wall of a volcanic caldera.
She was glad the volcano was confirmed to be extinct- one side had gotten blown out when the Castle had taken damage during attacks on Maria and Donovan, in hopes of burying them and the surrounding City in lava.
Only for nothing to happen, how embarrassing.
As they continued past the window and moved into a hallway where a grand staircase lay visible, Delphina could only think about why in the Game the de Velasques were painted as Villains.
They lived in a volcano for fucks sake, regularly killed off seemingly innocent civilians (and nobles), and in Game tried to prevent 'the dream team' from entering The Gates.
Though the reasoning behind all of this was very self-explanatory now.
Realising she still hadn't replied to No.69, she deliberately lifted her chin as they came to the top of the stairs and nodded.
[Oh great!]
[(ღ˘⌣˘ღ)]
[Anything helpful?]
"Jenkins, could you take this for me so I can hold onto the balustrade?"
Of course, my Lady
Turning to face the screen that had repositioned itself over the banister rather thoughtfully, she reached out and patted the screen before nodding and moving on downstairs.
[Glad to help! I'll hide myself away for now. Knock when you need me!]
[｡◕‿‿◕｡]
********
It didn't take long for them to reach the gardens. The Orangery that Pietro had arranged for breakfast to be served in wasn't visible just yet. But Delphina knew it was only a matter of minutes before they would arrive.
She had come to know why Pietro might have changed their meeting place to there. It was relatively secluded and had formerly been the haunting grounds of the twins. Until Delphina stopped turning up one day, that is.
From what she could tell, the rift in their relationship started as a result of this. The original Delphina may actually be the culprit responsible for their now-icy cold relationship.
"Then Pietro hating his clingy bro-con sister later on would make sense, she was responsible for the alienation of their relationship. But then she turns around and chases him like a lovesick puppy… Ah, kind of like how Medinador is around Elvira, now that I think about it?"
Physically shaking her head at the disturbing similarity, now that she had thought about it, Delphina simply sighed. Regardless, the gardens were a lovely place to be. The volcanic soil worked absolute wonders on the plant life here.
Lush hedges rimmed the bottom of the Castle's interior walls. Trees were isolated and sparsely placed around to create shade along the tiled and cobbled paths. Depending on where you entered or exited from, there were different flower types along them, creating a different colour play and scent to suit your mood.
Jenkins seemed to be walking her down a path to the Orangery that was filled with flowering Jasmine bushes, known for their calming yet intoxicating smell; the perfume lingered and clung to Delphina's skin.
This elicited a side-eyed glance from Delphina. Did Jenkins know the flower language associated with Jasmine? If so, it was an apt choice for this breakfast meeting.
Moving off the tiled path onto a tree-covered cobbled one, the moss-laden grass emitted a cool vapour at this time of morning. Making the volcanic wildflowers and long grasses bend their heads as the dew collected along their petals, sparkling only when the Sun was briefly visible through the branches and leaves overhead.
Here we are, my Lady.
Looking back at the Castle that now lay somewhat behind them, Delphina took a moment to study the design and age of its architecture. The corner she could see of it was likely her 'Heirs Wing' entrance and exit, as it had the roughest hewn stone slabs that made up its walls.
Light grey, with a mixture of dark and light marbling that gently glimmered, the ancient gables and open-air corridors visible from afar softened the Castle's stoic façade. Whilst it was a place that would weather any storm, someone had once taken great care to make sure the de Velasques Family could enjoy living there.
Turning to face the Orangery once again, Delphina appreciated the passage of time. Behind her lay a masterpiece driven by war, in front, a steampunk artist's wet-dream.
Faceted glass reflected the streaks of sunlight glimmering through the trees, turning them into small rainbows of light. This served to highlight the dark brass scrollwork and skeleton of the L-shaped Orangery, the roof of which towered into the tree tops, where a second floor could just be made out.
Brass cogs were working away on the outside, occasionally stopping and starting in their cycles, forming a pleasant background noise amongst the early morn birdsong.
As Jenkins stepped in front of Delphina, one of the bars decorating the presumed 'front' of the Orangery slid down one of the more heavily decorated glass panels. As it settled to a stop, the entire panel then slid to one side, allowing access to the interior.
Allowing the surprise to show on her face (for it was quite the spectacle), Delphina commented that she didn't remember the doors being like that previously.
Yes, my Lady. The doors were updated to the latest technology approximately two years ago.