Shortly after, Bernard arrived at the aristocratic district.
He told the person who was driving the carriage that there was an emergency and asked how to go to Blondel mansion.
When man explained how to reach the house, Bernard got down that carriage and caught a two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage, according to the man’s words, it heads to the mansion.
The Blondel mansion is surrounded by high fences and the outside is closely guarded by guards.
(I’m glad I didn’t try to sneak in as I did on the prison.)
Gibril once belonged to the Communication Unit, and he told Bernard that Blondel has many enemies even inside the Order, so to prevent the attack from someone who has a grudge against him is that level of security in his house is too high.
(I’m too nervous but I’ll use it on my favor, to make them believe on the importance of the emergency. If they think we’re going to war, that will do.)
The carriage stops in front of the main gate.
Bernard seems to be in a hurry, pays the bill to the person, and nervous asks the gatekeeper to guide him inside, to talk with Vice-Captain Blondel.
With the same hurry he shows the identity’s card of a knight and is leaded inside.
Nearly after entering by the door, a servant appeared and asked him to hand over the documents, he’ll give them to the Vice-Captain.
Bernard refused saying those are confidential documents that can only be delivered to Mr. Blondel.
“If so, I will guide you to the Master’s waiting room, please sign here.”
“Thank you”
He said that the waiting room for Blondel’s guests is on the third floor of the mansion and that he will lead Bernard there.
Bernard follows the man with tension, since he doesn’t know if it’s a trap.
Several employees were working hard on the first floor.
“It seems they’re very busy preparing dinner”
The second floor is a section where the servant’s families live, the butlers, maids, etc.
The same that are now walking in and out of each room at a fast pace.
Finally, they reach the third floor, there are just few servants.
(My guide told me that Blondel likes quiet spaces, so he pays the people to work while he is not in the mansion. It was very convenient information.)
Bernard taps on his guide’s shoulder, who turned around just in time to be struck in the jaw by Bernard fist.
After he lost consciousness and collapsed, Bernard carried the body to a nearby room, to change his clothes by those of the man.
The place he chose to hide the body was the bathroom.
(In the bathroom, with a sign at the door “in use”, that is enough for nobody to check here. I couldn’t help but laugh at the man, no one will approach him for a while after this embarrassing episode.)
To make sure he doesn’t wake up and alert the others, Bernard tied his hands and feet, then laid him on the empty bathtub and covered the scene with the bathroom’s curtain.
Making it two times harder that someone peeps inside and finds him.
(Ok, now put on the clothes you took him off and disguise yourself.)
Their height was about the same, but the Bernard and the servant had different body types, so the jacket felt tight and his pants were a little short.
But Bernard discovered that the pants of the uniform and that of the servant were of the same color.
In the shelves of the servants changing room, there was a gel for the hair, so Bernard tamed his natural curly hairstyle to properly match with that of the servants.
(With this, I really look like a servant.)
Bernard returns to the corridor in a hurry and goes down to the first floor.
How will he find Agnes in such a large mansion?
Bernard decided that he will take some bold actions from now on.
He called out to one of the maids who seemed to be busy.
“–Hey”
“Yes!”
She turned around to look at Bernard, checked his clothes to confirm his rank inside the house, and immediately straightened her back.
Employees of the mansion also have a hierarchical relationship, the senior employees are those who directly serve the masters of the house.
On the other hand, common maids work at the same mansion but are called lower-class employees, because they are not directly involved in serving the members of the Blondel family, and their salaries are lower.
The maid, who was suddenly called by her senior, was very tense, because it is rare that people from two different ranks interact.
Furthermore, since men and women have different jurisdictions.
They only know the faces of those working on the same area, are of same gender and rank, that is good because she didn’t notice that Bernard’s face was new.
Therefore, as long as he acts imposing, his true identity would never be revealed.
“I heard that a woman was brought to this house a while ago.”
“Eh, uh, I’m sorry, I don’t know.”
“I see. Sorry.”
The first try was a failure.
There is a possibility that the maids of the lower-class may not have been informed.
However, it is also dangerous to talk with the high-class maids in the house since those who serve the important women of the family are also nobleman’s daughters.
They may have recognized Agnes, so they can alert someone about him.
While wondering what to do next, he was at the hallway, when he saw a maid very nervous coming out of the kitchen.
She had a blue face and was carrying a tray with an expensive white ceramic jug and a cup.
It’s suspicious, she was in a hurry, nearly in panic and also the expensive ceramic jug is something only noblemen can use.
However, she was coming from the kitchen, not from the third floor were the noblemen of this family lives.
Although it’s possible that she was ordered to serve the guest, she wasn’t going in direction to the guest’s room.
Bernard decided to be discreet and follow the maid.
The maid walks down the stairs leading to the basement at the end of the corridor, while paying too much attention to the surroundings.
It was no mistake, she is acting more suspiciously with each step.
Bernard was convinced that there… Agnes was there!
After following the maid, he saw her went down to the basement in a hurry.
Bernard decided to keep a secure distance to not be seen.
On each step of the stairs, there is a candle to illuminate the way, but they aren’t shining too much, probably because they bought the cheapest candles.
In the basement there is a wine storage, and he can feel the musty odor of it.
He heard that such a moldy state is the perfect environment for aging wine, however, Bernard thinks it is really unbearable.
In the basement, there is another room, but the entrance is blocked by iron bars and a watchman, the maid is no longer visible.
Bernard doesn’t know where she went but if she disappeared like that, it means there can be more people hiding.
After thinking for a moment, Bernard walked to the watchman and stood in front of him, as if it was something usual.
“Oh, thank you.”
“!”
He looked at Bernard for a moment, he can see that Bernard is a man too strong for a simple servant and the servant’s uniform looks awkward on him.
Luckily Bernard acted like he didn’t notice and picked up a bottle from the wine cellar, when the watchman tried to stop him, Bernard said that those were the orders of the Master of the house.
“Oh, today–“
“Oh, don’t worry he already informed me about that.”
“But I can’t let anyone in!”
“Master’s orders. Open it already! Or I’ll report that I couldn’t give the bottle of wine to that person because of you.”
“… Okey, I see!”
Saying that, the watchman unlocked the door.
Bernard was glad that the candles weren’t bright enough to illuminate well, or else the watchman could have noticed all the sweat in his forehead.
After he entered the complete dark place, he looked around but couldn’t see anything at all.
Until he heard a female voice begging.
“–Sir,-sir, please— please!”
Bernard approached the place he heard the voice coming from.
He walked straight to the place and in the middle of the dark, he saw a person near a body lying on the floor.
Bernard was breathless.
――Agnes is here.
However, she is lying on the floor.
Then, when he looked around carefully, he smelled it… Blood.
The maid was trying to make Agnes react, shaking her body as hard as she could.
She is unconscious, and Bernard understanding the situation, caught the maid’s hands.
“–Stop! Don’t shake her body!”
Bernard breaks in between the maid and Agnes to control the situation.
Agnes’ forehead is bleeding.
(First, change your posture and secure the airway. Then, check her pulse. If there is no danger of her spine being hurt, move the body and check the wound in her forehead)
The wound was still wet.
It doesn’t seem that much time has passed since it occurred.
Bernard told the maid to bring a handkerchief while he took off his jacket and shirt.
Using the clean handkerchief to clean the wound and breaking the shirt to obtain bandage for wrapping her forehead, Bernard held Agnes’ unconscious body in his arms.
The maid protested, she is not allowed to take Agnes out of there.
“It’s dangerous to leave her like this! She has to see a doctor immediately!”
“But– Master said she can’t get out of here— ne– never”
“What is more important to you? A human life or your master’s orders!”
“Yes, but–“
Bernard pushed the maid away and lifted Agnes, but at that moment he heard footsteps coming from behind him.
Slow and dingier pass, a metallic sound that Bernard is accustomed to hearing, a knight’s armor.
His bad feeling was right.
Involuntarily, he firmly embraced Agnes.
Make a decision and don’t look back! There is only one chance.
Beyond him, there is Blondel in person.
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