Chapter 179: Traveler
In the cold winter month, snow was flying everywhere. The traveler, carrying his luggage, trudged through knee-deep snow, barely able to move an inch.
The traveler’s head was covered by a thick cotton hat, and heavy frost and snow added a natural mask to his face. His heavy clothes and tense canvas backpack made it nearly impossible to discern his exact appearance from the outside. To those seeing him from afar, he looked like a clumsy bear carrying a shell, disheveled and fat.
The traveler looked up at the cliff ahead, where a majestic black castle stood atop it.
That castle was his only chance to survive and endure this fury of winter.
Even though the traveler knew that the eerie black old castle exuded signs of unease everywhere, and even this cold and harsh blizzard could only serve as a backdrop, unable to cover its own bizarre and dangerous atmosphere, he also knew that unimaginable death murders must have occurred there. He might go there and never return, but he still had to go.
Freeze to death in this blizzard, or die a bit later in the danger existing in that old castle… he clearly had no choice and was forced to choose.
Soon, the traveler arrived at a suspension bridge between him and the old castle. Just glancing down at the extremely cold and blue misty depths of the cliff below, his heart was already about to drop to freezing point ahead of his life.
With difficult steps, he carefully crossed the fragile suspension bridge that appeared stiff from being frozen, and finally reached the door of the black old castle.
The traveler took a deep breath, mustered courage, and knocked on the door of the old castle. Afraid the people inside wouldn’t hear, he rubbed his hands and continuously pounded on the door while shouting loudly: “Is anyone there!? Is anyone there!?”
The door was tightly closed, black and heavy, with snow piled up at the entrance. The poor man outside was shivering, his voice growing faint.
Just as the traveler was about to despair, the snow on the door trembled. The black door slowly and heavily opened inward, and a beam of dim yellow warm light shone on the traveler’s stiff face. Though the light wasn’t bright, it made the traveler feel as pleasant and captivating as the warm sun under a sunny Christmas.
But appearing along with the warm light was also a black shadow, looming high over his face.
A tall, straight figure stood in the open door crack, his chest held high. He held a lit candlestick, gradually raising it to his chest. The firelight illuminated his pale, gaunt long face, with white hair slicked back and shiny, dressed in a fine tailcoat. He stood there with narrow eyes open, coldly facing the traveler.
He was elegant and proper; from his attire, he seemed to be the butler of this old castle.
The traveler’s heart jumped again under the gaze of those cold eyes, but it beat cautiously, as if afraid of being heard by the other, even though the fierce wind sound of the blizzard now drowned out everything.
“Sorry to disturb you, respected gentleman. My name is Clark. I’m a traveler who happened to come here and got caught in the blizzard. There’s really nowhere else nearby. Could you please let me stay here for a while? Once the blizzard passes, I’ll leave.” Clark swallowed, his throat sore from the cold air, enduring the pain. To make sure the other could hear clearly in the university, he shouted loudly to him.
The butler calmly looked him up and down, then unhurriedly stepped back, making way for him to enter. “Please come in, Mr. Clark.”
“Thank you, thank you…” Clark expressed repeated gratitude as he quickly shuffled into the warm castle.
Though the indoor temperature might not be truly warm, compared to outside, the environment here obviously allowed one to survive better. He stood at the entrance and, following the butler’s guidance, shook off the frost and snow covering his body, suddenly feeling much lighter.
“Thank you again, kind sir.” Clark thanked the butler once more.
The butler was like a puppet, always maintaining his poise, upright and elegant, with an indescribable sense of distance. He said lightly: “Hello, Mr. Clark. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Valente, the butler here. Welcome to the castle of my master, Bluebeard the Count.”
“Bluebeard… Count…” The sound of Clark swallowing saliva echoed in the dull, desolate old castle. His frozen red face made him look somewhat comical and ridiculous.
“Yes, please thank my master. He has always been kind-hearted, hospitable, and happy to help guests like you who seek his aid. I’ll take you to see my master. I’m sure he’ll welcome your arrival once he knows.” Butler Valente said calmly and mechanically.
With that, he held the candlestick and walked ahead, leading the way for Clark.
Along the way, Clark discovered that the old castle was complicated, with countless stairs, steps, and corridors. Different areas had different lighting; the old castle was like a maze.
Gradually, Clark noticed the old castle’s abnormality. He couldn’t help asking the Butler Valente leading the way ahead: “Excuse me, why are there no other servants visible in such a large castle?”
Butler Valente responded faintly: “That’s because tonight is Christmas Eve. My merciful master let the servants working in the castle go home early to reunite with their families, leaving only a few servants, along with me, to maintain the castle’s normal operation.”
“…I hope they can safely return home.” Clark slowly lifted the corners of his mouth, his gaze looking out the window at the massive blizzard.
This blizzard had lasted nearly a whole day.
Led by Valente, Clark passed through several corridors and a few corners, arriving at the restaurant in the castle.
A fat noble with white balding hair and a strange blue beard was sitting at the dining table, with a set of exquisite tableware placed before him. He protruded his big belly, with two huge hands on the tabletop, exuding a luxurious air, quietly waiting for tonight’s dinner to be served.
This man was Bluebeard the Count, whom Valente had mentioned, the master of this old castle.
After Butler Valente’s mutual introductions, Clark and Bluebeard the Count got to know each other preliminarily. Unlike Bluebeard the Count’s terrifying, rugged face, when he heard that Clark wanted to stay here temporarily, his eyes lit up, and he was so happy he couldn’t close his mouth. True to what Butler Valente said, he was hospitable and charitable, immediately stating: “Mr. Clark, welcome to my castle. Your arrival is a miracle to me in this winter! Please stay here for several days!”
Clark had just dryly thanked Bluebeard the Count when Bluebeard the Count instructed Valente to take Clark to change into some better, clean clothes from the castle, then join him for dinner once changed. He also asked Valente to inform Hera working in the kitchen to prepare an extra set of tableware for Clark.
Faced with such enthusiasm, Clark felt somewhat at a loss. Until he arrived at the room that Bluebeard the Count had Valente prepare for him, he stood there stunned for several minutes. Only when someone knocked on the room’s door did he hurriedly set down his luggage and turn to open it.
The one knocking was a cute twin-tailed blonde maid who had come to deliver clothes. “Hello, Mr. Clark. I’m Mireille. These are the clothes you need, several sets. Oh, please wear this one first. I think it will suit you very well.”
“…Oh, thank you, Miss Mireille.” Clark thanked the sweet-smiling maid miss, then bid her temporary farewell, closed the door, and tossed the clothes onto the bed.
Clark stood there, took several deep breaths, then rummaged through his backpack that he had taken off, finally pulling out a pocket watch. He opened it to check the time, glanced at the night view outside the window. “It’s now eight thirty-two in the morning…”
Volume Six Begins~~~
