The room with the fireplace was always kept in pristine condition so they could entertain guests at any time.
Walls colorfully decorated with tapestries and stained-glass windows gave testament to their great fortune.
The servants' first assignment every morning was to clean this room.
Pitchers, silver plates, and silverware were polished to a shine so they could be probably put to use at a moment's notice.
And for events like their daughter's birthday, the room served an even more important role.
The tables' tops were removable, so they had ordered new tabletops with designs made especially for this occasion.
And once the banquet had drawn to a close, tables speckled with half-empty wine glasses and leftover candied fruits were moved off to the side to make room for—of course—the festivities.
—Good evening, Lady Nellie!
—You're looking particularly lovely today.
—Nellie, I had these cut just for you.
—You'll let me have this dance, won't you?
—...Haaaaaaaahh…—Only reaction to all these Nellie could express.
—What's the matter, Nellie?—Mell asked.—You look exhausted. These are pretty good. Want one?—He tried to reassure his sister.—I know you like sweets. They're apples candied in rock sugar, I think.
—You disappoint me, dearest Mell.—She was clearly not amused.
—Er?—Mell opened his eyes but couldn't say a thing.
—What do you think is the matter?! They just keep coming. It never ends. It's driving me up the wall. Everyone's just repeating the same lines they've been taught. They all think pretty jewels and requests to dance are enough to make a girl swoon.
"But I think that is true for you, Nellie."—Mell thought about his sister's words. "Though… why is she disappointed with me?"
—Uggggh,—She groaned.—I think I'm done with birthday parties after this year.
—They'll probably throw an even bigger one next year.—Mell smiled a little.
—Huh? Why?!—Her eyes widened.
—Well, you know.—His eyes darted to the side.—You're… about that age, Nellie. We are a reasonably distinguished family, so there are a number of different houses that would like to have connections with us. So…
—So what you're saying is "do it for the family"?—She didn't seem reassured by her brother's words.
—No, that's not—
—I don't date or marry anyone! I have no interest in being used as a pawn in their inter-family politics!
—"Pawn"? I wouldn't go that far… A-And I'm sure Father wants to let you choose yourself.—He closed his eyes with a smile.—You know, uh, someone you actually love.
—Love?—She was surprised by her brother's accusation.—I-I never thought I would hear you talking about "love," dearest Mell.
—Er…—His words stuck again.
—You don't even understand what makes Shakespeare's plays so beautiful, and you're talking about love!
—I, uh…
—You fell asleep during Romeo and Juliet, and you're talking about love?! We went all the way out to the Globe Theatre too!
—Well, pardon me for being ignorant when it comes to romance and the arts.—Mell said with a small unease, but then smile.—But you're not, Nellie. Shakespeare's make-believe story made you cry like a baby.
—Anyone would cry at that! You'd have to be crazy to sleep through it!
—That's not what I'm saying.—Mell muttered.—Someone as emotionally vibrant as you, Nellie, would have no problem finding love—
—Ah, dearest Mell!—She suddenly smiled.—We should dance! Let's dance, dearest Mell!
—Wh-Whaaaat? Me?!—He genuinely seemed confused.
—Come on!—She pulled Mell.—I really like this song!
—Q-Quit pulling on me, Nellie! What's the point of us dancing? We're siblings!
"Ahhh… Mother and Father are staring daggers at us…"—Mell's eyes darted to the side.
—No matter. What day is it today, dearest Mell?
—Your birthday…—Mell muttered.
—Exactly. So I can do what I want! Now, attend to your princess—as a proper prince should!
—Oh, jeez, how did I get myself into this?
Nellie's skirt fluttered along with her as she stepped in time to the music. She was not only a skilled singer, but a skilled dancer as well.
Mell, on the other hand, fumbled over his own feet trying to keep up. One would be hard-pressed to describe his dance abilities as "good," even as flattery.
Though boys of his pedigree were taught to dance as part of their etiquette lessons, he found himself more being dragged around by his sister. He could hardly be said to be "attending" to her.
"Th-This is humiliating!"—Mell continued to fumble all over.
Because his parents had been hands-off in raising him, largely giving him free rein to study and learn what he pleased, Mell looked like a tangled-up marionette.
From throughout the hall, he could hear giggling, uncomfortable chuckling, and people coughing to disguise their laughter.
—Come now, dearest Mell.—Nellie was full of excitement.—If this is the best you can manage, what are you going to do when you find a girl that catches your eye?
—I won't, so it doesn't matter!
—Hehe. Follow my lead, Mell. One, two, three… One, two, three…
—Nnnh…
Nellie alone enjoyed her time dancing with her brother—and quite thoroughly, at that.
It did not matter to her that he moved awkwardly or that the guests were giving them cold stares.
It was their parents who first cracked under the pressure. Just as their father was about to give an exaggerated cough and stop the music, a ruckus suddenly swelled up near the entrance.
—What could that be?
—Who knows…
"Whatever's going on, I've been spared."—Mell seemed easier.
The music came to a stop, and the party guests began bustling. The siblings' father spoke up sternly above the noise in order to quell the spreading commotion.
He ordered the servants to investigate, had the music restarted, gave a short apology for the interruption, and set the party back on course.
I went to go check on the entrance with the other servants, as I recall.
Oh my. Why are you looking at me like that?
Hehe… There are not my memories, but those which dwell within the mansion.
Do you think we should be following what happens next from my perspective, then?
That is not what confused you? Well, your questions shall be answered in time. In time…
Now, let us return to our tale. Though the party had fallen still for a moment, their father's decisive actions restored the guests' festive moods in short order.
So it was not, by any means, the commotion that caused the ball to conclude earlier than planned.
—Oh dear… I hear thunder.—Nellie seemed somewhat uneasy.
—It was rather loud too.—Mell seemed serious.—Sounds like we have quite the storm brewing.
They lived in a country where the weather was nothing if not unpredictable. Rain was a frequent occurrence there.
The stretches of time with clear skies grew longer as summer approached, but the weather was still somewhat unstable on the cusp of the two seasons.
They had strong wind that night as well, which turned the raindrops into little spears on the window. Were the party to continue on any longer, no one would be able to go home.
Although their father was quite concerned that Nellie had not got on with any of the aristocrat boys, he decided to cut the festivities short.
—Thank goodness, it ended early!—Nellie's bright smile returned again.—How lucky I am. This must be a blessing for always being such a good girl.
—I'm not sure having your own birthday party cut short counts as lucky…—Mell couldn't help by teasing his sister.—
—But it was no fun! I can't help it if I'm not enjoying myself. And for heaven's sake, Arthur was here. I have no interest in dancing with that dunce.
—Arthur…?—His question was honest.—Who's that again? Someone who was here?
—Unbelievable!—She seemed a little offended.—You don't remember anything, do you, dearest Mell? He came over to play a few times when we were little. He's covered in gross freckles, and he's a huge jerk. He said my hair looked like the color of fallen leaves. Fallen leaves! Just thinking about that ugly smirk has me fuming. And yet he acts like nothing happened. He even calls me "Lady Nellie," for goodness' sake. … Are you listening, dearest Mell?
—I-I'm listening, I'm listening.—He smiled.—I wonder what the ruckus earlier was.
—Uggggh!—She groaned with a small annoyance.—You weren't listening, were you? Who cares about that?!
—S-Sorry.—His eyes darted his eyes away.—But aren't you curious? It probably wasn't another guest, at least.
—Maybe a cat sneaked in.—She tried to play it easy.
—You think so?—Mell's face lightened.
—I do.—She smiled.—But enough about that! Would you like to play cards in my room, dearest Mell?
—Seriously? I'm exhausted, though.
—It's not even that late!—Her eyes snap open in mock-offense.
—Mhn… Fine…—He finally muttered.
"Something… feels kind of off…"—Mell's thoughts start to drift.—"...A cat? I want to go check—"
—Come on, hurry up!
—H-Hold on! You don't need to drag me, Nellie!
—My birthday isn't over yet, so you're not done attending to me.
—Oh, Nellie…
.....
—The rain just won't let up.—Mell looked out of the window.—I can't sleep… I wonder what the commotion earlier was about… Oh, for goodness' sake. It's all the storm's fault. That's why I can't sleep. I'm just fretting over nothing. I'm sure Nellie was right—it was just a cat. Maybe a dog. I can't sleep! I hardly ever have this much trouble falling asleep. What could this feeling be, I wonder? It's not quite foreboding… Walking around the house at this time of night isn't going to help anything… but I'm not going to fall asleep just lying here…
The only sounds that could be heard in the dark corridors were the sharp pitter-patter of the rain, his footsteps, and his breathing.
Though he was intimately familiar with the layout of the house, that night, the hallways felt like an endless labyrinth veiled in shadows.
No moonlight shone through the windows, so he naturally found himself moving cautiously, despite being in his own residence.
Keeping the palm of his hand pressed up against the chilly wall, he put one foot in front of the other.
But to where was he supposed to head? Mell, of course, had no way of answering that question himself.
If he had anything… it was guidance from above—the path to his destination lit by flashes of lighting. Or perhaps there was something else leading him along.
Though he progressed with a fair bit of hesitation in his step, Mell was slowly but surely drawing nearer to one room in particular.
He made his way through the seemingly endless halls… past the living room, its fireplace long since cooled… into another corridor… and then stopped outside an abigail's bedchamber.
The dim glow of a lamp spilled through the cracks in the door.
A gust of wind is not necessary to make a flame flicker. A person's movements, or vibrations in the air from someone speaking—the light motions can cause the light of a fire to quiver.
Shifting subtly, as though nudged by an invisible fingertip.
"I can see light from inside… Is she still awake? A voice."—Mell looked at the door.
He seemed to be hesitating. It would not be difficult for him to approach the door and peer inside.
But he had reservations about peeping in on another's chambers, even if it was his own house.
Moreover, this room… was assigned to a woman.
There was a woman behind that door. What would you do, Master, in this situation? Would you succumb to your curiosity and gaze inside?
Or would you respect the owner's privacy?
Hehe…
"I shouldn't be doing this. But the voice… It feels like it's calling to… me? Or someone else?"—Mell gathered his thoughts.
I—yes, me—could sense someone watching me at that moment.
He had succumbed to his curiosity.
He stood on the other side of the door from me, his flaxen eyes open wide, trying to remain as invisible as possible.
The wavering in his heart seemed to create faint ripples in the air, which I pretended not to notice.
Yes, I knew he was there.
I could sense his presence, and his wavering emotions. However, I could not being to speculate as to his true feelings, or how great a surprise this was to him.
I too am discovering new facets of this tale by viewing it through the eyes of the mansion.
But is is not I who is of concern, Master. It is you.
You, and—
"I know I shouldn't be doing this. I should be ashamed of myself. But I… I can't look away."—Mell finally prepared to look through the door.