[Cross-Border Quarterly House Call initiated. You are about to travel to "The Collapsed Hanover Manor." This is a solo mission.]
[Treatment Target: The manor's master, "Ferdinand Hanover."]
[Patient File: Count Ferdinand has found himself trapped in a nightmare that never ends. Whenever night falls, the entity lurking within his mind is awakened. He often wakes in convulsions and confusion, only to find he has not left that fear-saturated deep dream. Only when dawn arrives does all this recede like a tide... Cycling endlessly, without respite.]
[Symptoms: Delusional Disorder (Severe).]
[Note: Ferdinand has sought out doctors and also priests. But aside from worsening, the situation has shown no change.]
[Initiating treatment procedure.]
---
Empty, vast, the air filled with the scent of banquet delicacies and burning candles, and besides that... a faint, elusive, profound aura. Like the smell of something decaying and rotting, lingering at the tip of the nose, refusing to disperse.
"The Collapsed Hanover Manor... This format seems related to 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' But judging by the file description, the situation doesn't seem similar."
Fran's lips moved slightly, uttering a barely audible whisper.
She raised her eyes slightly, surveying her surroundings.
It was an ornately decorated banquet hall. A heavy wooden square table stood in the center, flanked by numerous silver candlesticks. The flickering, dim yellow light of the candles floated eerily, completely unable to dispel the ominous gloom that seemed to envelop the entire manor.
"Ahem..."
The man seated at the head of the table appeared to be in his forties, dressed in complex yet proper attire. He was gaunt, his gaze filled with deep exhaustion, dark circles under his eyes even tinged bluish-gray. His mental state had hit rock bottom, seeming as if he might collapse at any moment.
Ferdinand propped his cheek with one hand, his tired gaze sweeping over the guests seated at the table.
"I am pleased you all have come to the manor for the sake of my condition. But whether you can resolve the anomaly afflicting me remains to be seen. Please, enjoy the banquet first."
"As for those requests to further understand the specifics of my situation..."
Here, his tone paused, his eyes drifting into the distance. As if staring through the darkness in the corner of the room at something.
"After tonight passes, you will naturally know."
With that, Ferdinand shakily stood up. The old steward standing nearby immediately stepped forward to support him. The two then stepped into the gloom of the manor corridor, their figures no longer visible.
After the two departed, a straight-backed male servant approached the group, a look of apology on his face as he explained.
"His Lordship is unwell. He instructed beforehand that whether you wish to examine him or speak with him must wait until tomorrow. Guest rooms in the side wing are prepared. Please stay in the manor for tonight."
After saying this, without waiting for responses from the others, the servant deftly retreated into the shadows of the banquet hall.
The atmosphere at the banquet table was gloomy and oppressive. Scattered sounds of hurried or confused breathing arose. Only the sounds of knives and forks cutting meat and chewing continued methodically and eerily...
Wait, in such an environment, is someone really able to eat normally as if nothing is wrong?
Davis cautiously looked toward the source of the sound and saw a lady in a doctor's coat sitting upright, elegantly holding her knife and fork. She was slender, her skin pale like paper, her demeanor composed and self-possessed.
The perfectly grilled lamb chop on Fran's plate showed an appetizing, caramel-brown hue from the Maillard reaction. The cut surface revealed a juicy, bright red cross-section, exuding the scent of rosemary and some kind of peppery spice.
She ate unhurriedly, her amber eyes glimmering like the candlelight, seemingly unconcerned with the manor's eerie atmosphere.
Fran's quarterly house calls usually took place around midnight, about five hours after dinner. Now, coinciding with a late-night supper, how could she bear to miss it?
The preparation standard for Hanover Manor's banquet was high. Though the culinary skill was slightly inferior to Fran's own, it still suited her taste quite well.
Davis cautiously observed Fran, feeling a sudden pang of hunger. He then picked up a piece of buttered bread, dipped it in the lamb chop sauce, and put it in his mouth.
Judging by her attire, she seemed to be a doctor?
But many renowned doctors have already examined Count Ferdinand, most results ending inconclusively. One famous psychiatrist even ended up in a mental institution himself afterward...
The banquet hall remained silent. Seemingly influenced by Fran, the others began eating with tacit understanding.
The clinking of cutlery, the sound of meat being cut, the sizzle of burning candles intertwined.
After a while, the banquet reached its end in silence.
A servant standing in the shadows nearby respectfully stepped forward, approaching the banquet table.
"Please, everyone, come to the drawing room. The master hopes the guests can get to know each other a bit better. After all, the night is long..."
As he said this, his voice carried a hint of a hidden smile, barely detectable.
Fran nodded slightly, then placed the silver knife and fork crosswise on her plate, picking up a napkin to gently dab the corners of her mouth.
Under the servant's guidance, the guests entered the drawing room.
This room's décor maintained a style nearly identical to the banquet hall: splendid and magnificent. Lamps, picture frames, and most decorative items were made of silver, inlaid with gems like jadeite.
"There is one hour left until midnight. During this time, you may converse freely here. In one hour, I will lead you to the guest rooms in the side wing."
After saying this, the servant left the drawing room, closing the door with polite courtesy.
This door was thick and heavy, decorated inside and out with tapestry-like fabric, presumably offering good sound insulation.
"Haa..."
Davis suppressed his somewhat ragged breathing, trying hard not to appear so nervous.
The silence didn't last long. After a moment, a firm male voice broke the stalemate.
"We're all here for Count Ferdinand's secret. This endeavor might require assistance from others. Why don't we all introduce ourselves, get somewhat acquainted?"
The speaker was a tall man with a beard, wearing a thick, solid black wool overcoat, his demeanor gloomy.
"That's fine."
A tall woman next to him nodded in agreement. Under her winter coat was a neat, proper burgundy professional suit with meticulous stitching. A delicate iris brooch adorned her collar, giving a scholarly air.
Judging by her attire, she likely had a very respectable profession. Clerk, official, or legal professional...
Looking at this lady's face, Fran couldn't help but narrow her eyes slightly.
This girl felt very familiar.
Seeing no one voiced disagreement, the man who spoke first began introducing himself.
"I am Krul. After retiring from the Royal Navy, I served as a navigator on the 'Fenrir.' I came here mainly out of curiosity... about what exactly happened in this manor."
"Although the Count's manor said anyone could visit by submitting a letter, I didn't expect it to be this easy..."
Krul didn't present documents or the like to prove his identity. But his tall stature, residual sun-tanned skin, and faintly visible scars on his neck were very convincing.
Even if he wasn't a "navigator," he certainly engaged in some rather unsafe occupation...
After speaking, he looked toward the lady who had voiced agreement earlier. She immediately understood and spoke up.
"My name is Tamesis. I am a practicing lawyer."
Tamesis pushed her slender silver-rimmed glasses up with some reserve, her words concise and clear.
"Count Ferdinand is one of my clients. I came to the manor at his invitation to help him sign a few agreements and record some observations for his future biography."
Her tone was gentle and steady, yet a hint of pride could still be faintly heard, like a peacock displaying its splendid tail feathers.
Of course, just an analogy. As is known, female peacocks' tail feathers aren't splendid...
Following the seating order, the next person was Davis. The young man's Adam's apple bobbed. He glanced around uneasily at the others before slowly beginning to speak.
"My name is Davis. I'm a folklorist. Graduated from the History Department of Gulinse University. I came here upon invitation from my former mentor. This manor is very ancient, possessing great research value..."
After speaking, Davis's expression visibly relaxed.
The next person to introduce himself was a man wearing a white priest's cap. He wore an expensive silk black robe, a silver pendant around his neck appearing to be some religious cipher symbol.
"My name is Gorn. As you can see, I am a priest, from that church within Gulinse."
Gorn's face was peaceful, wearing a highly affable smile. His body was saturated with the scent of some cologne, rather strong.
"I suspect this manor is haunted by an evil spirit. Happening to be invited, I came to attempt to purify the spirits here."
Fran's seat was at the end, so she only began introducing herself after everyone else had spoken. But she wasn't in a hurry, methodically straightening her collar, appearing very patient.
"My name is Fran. I'm a doctor."
"I heard the Count is ill, so I came to attempt diagnosing his specific condition."
Her reply was light and concise, devoid of any emotion.
"...Dr. Fran! It's really you? I've been thinking you looked familiar since earlier... I just didn't expect you to appear here."
Davis let out an exclamation. The next moment, he realized his earlier lapse in composure and raised a hand to cover his mouth.
Oh?
Fran's amber eyes flickered imperceptibly.
Judging by this young man's attitude... it seems my "identity" for this house call is quite famous? The last time I was this famous seemed to be back when...
Although she often used Flamel as her second name, she only did so when disguise was necessary. Quarterly house calls required crossing worlds; generally... no one should recognize her.
"The genuine article."
A standard professional smile played on Fran's lips as she responded to Davis across the table.
However, Fran didn't yet understand the situation in this manor. Adhering to the principle that "too many words invite mistakes," after a simple introduction, she fell silent.
Judging by the words of these invitees, the threshold for entering this manor wasn't high. The methods roughly fell into three categories.
First, receiving a spontaneous invitation from Hanover Manor.
Second, actively submitting a letter; if approved by Count Ferdinand, one could come.
Third... holding a recommendation from a renowned scholar—like that young fellow Davis, who entered the manor relying on a letter of recommendation from his mentor.
Hmm~ So, the professions of these invitees are all quite unusual.
Lawyer, navigator, folklorist, and a priest. Perfect for the opening of a mystery story...
Sensing the strange, heavy atmosphere in the drawing room, Fran leaned back into the leather sofa behind her, narrowing her eyes like a feline, her expression leisurely and content.
It took Davis some time to suppress his excitement. But his voice still carried a slight tremor.
"If it's Dr. Fran... perhaps there really is hope to cure Count Ferdinand."
"If... he truly is only 'ill,' that is..."
When he said the latter part, his voice was very soft. More like a murmur to himself than a warning to Fran.
Fran's usual habit was to place herself in an inconspicuous, unnoticeable position, quietly observing developments. But judging by Davis's earlier attitude and words, she was probably quite famous.
Under this premise, this "identity" being exposed to the others was only a matter of time, as she hadn't made any disguise to her appearance or attire. Someone might have recognized her from the start, just hadn't pointed it out.
Oh, sometimes being too renowned in the industry is also a bother. This damned personal charm...
Fran let out a seemingly troubled sigh, then took out the brass pocket watch from her sleeve to check the time.
Only a few minutes left until midnight. That servant should be coming soon to end this exchange among the invitees.
In truth, Fran could use hypnosis to forcibly make the others subconsciously ignore her, removing the specialness her identity brought.
But that would be too deliberate, contrary to her usual style of operation.
"Everyone, the hour is late... Please follow me to the guest rooms in the side wing to rest."
The servant's respectful, polite voice quietly sounded.
Although the drawing room door was thick and wide, opening the latch was silent. So he seemed to appear suddenly, startling Davis.
"Thank you for your trouble."
Tamesis swept back a lock of jet-black satiny hair, leading the way to follow the servant out of the drawing room, as if already very familiar with the routine.
During this, Fran noticed Priest Gorn's expression was somewhat strange. He was positioned more toward the back of the group, his expression hidden in the candlelight's shadows, not easily noticeable.
But at such close range, this level of concealment couldn't escape Fran's observation.
This fellow's gaze... was fixed on the Hanover Manor servant's waist and hips.
That servant's body was well-proportioned and slender, his livery neat and proper, indeed good-looking. Moreover, he seemed only sixteen or seventeen. Although his words and actions were very mature, his fair cheeks still hadn't shed their boyish youth.
Perhaps Priest Gorn had some unspeakable little preference.
Oh, if Sister Haida were present, this "priest's" outcome probably wouldn't be too pleasant...
Thoughts flashed and vanished. Fran's expression remained as calm and unrippled as ever, only the faint, seemingly ever-present smile on her glossy lips.
…
The journey was silent. Following the male servant's guidance, she walked through the deep, dark corridor and entered her room.
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T/N: Hey readers~! New Translator here! Before I say anything, I'd first like to thank the original author for creating this wonderful story. Without them, I wouldn't have the chance to share this adventure with you. I hope my translation does justice to their work, and that together, we can enjoy this story.
With that said, I'm happy to let you know I'll be uploading daily chapters. And for those who wish to support my work and gain early access, I've set up a Patreon where advanced chapters will be available.
[email protected]/PeakTL