Merrin returned with 3 other people. "They will be assigned to patrol your house to keep you safe. Introduce yourself to Mr Nachthelm"
"Hello! My name is Elias Trenholm. Pleasure to work with you Mr Nachthelm" said the tallest amongst them. Tall and broad-shouldered, Elias has a weathered, square-jawed face with deep lines etched into his face. His once-dark hair is now mostly silver, kept short beneath a worn officer's cap. A thick mustache frames his stern mouth.
Arthus just nodded to him.
Next, the only girl in the group introduced herself "My names Mara Vexley, nice to meet ya!" She has short auburn hair often tucked under her peaked cap, with a few rebellious strands escaping near her temples. Her features are angular high cheekbones and a pointed chin. She doesn't seem very professional in her demeanour.
Arthus made remarks about her in his mind but nodded nonetheless.
"What a cold hearted Prince Charming!" exclaimed Mara.
Elias immediately told her off and corrected her behaviour "Be polite and show professionalism Mara!"
" I'm sorry about her Mr Nachthelm, these are the only available ones on duty right now" said Merrin.
"It's fine" said Arthus whilst looking at the last member to introduce himself.
The last member was also a man. He was slender and impeccably dressed. His demeanour showed elegance, formality and professionalism. He had slicked-back black hair and a neatly trimmed goatee. Icy blue eyes peered out from behind small, round spectacles, giving him an owl-like intensity. Perhaps it was the glasses that made him that aura? His introduction was short and to the point "Roland Greaves, nice to meet you"
Arthus nodded approvingly.
"Alright now that the introductions are out of the way, why don't you guys escort Mr Nachthelm back to his house?" said Merrin to the group.
" " " Yes sir! " " "
"Please follow behind me Mr Nachthelm" said Elias the Tall.
And with that they began to make their way to his house.
Can I really not control my dreams? There has to be a way for me to dream of a particular thing right? What if I think of a particular subject before sleeping? Surely that would influence the content of my dream? If I think of cats would I not dream of cats? No this isn't a foolproof method. What about my perk, my golden finger, where is it!
I didn't perform no luck enhancement ritual so how the fuck did I manage to come here? All I remember is eating a weird looking mushroom when I was camping. It was probably poisonous or someshit. As soon as I ate that mushroom I started hallucinating visually and audibly. I guess I did hear some weird shit in that state but I can't remember anything.
Will I really have to gamble with my life? Calm down worrying unnecessarily won't help. What I did was the best thing I could've done. They won't find out about my past life so stop thinking about it. Yes I'll go with the first plan. I'll think of cats before sleeping and I'll have a cat dream. Whoever witnesses my dream will just think I'm a crazy cat person. Yes, that's it. You can do this!
"Hey Princess! I heard you got beaten up by your maid. Is it true?" asked Mara mischievously.
"No I didn't get beat up by my "Secretary", she had three brutes do it in her stead and don't call me a Princess or a Prince" replied Arthus not amused by her shenanigans.
"Whatever you say Princess! Hehehe" said Mara again, teasing him.
Arthus just straight up ignored her.
"You're boring" stated Mara.
Arthus just tuned her out. He had too much on his plate now to deal with her. He was more worried about what he would find when he got home. Was Sebas alright? Did Elira return back to his home after killing him? If so, did she also kill Sebas? If that were the case he would be sad. The old steward had basically raised him as a second father while his actual father went about expanding the business. He prepared himself for the worse.
Unfortunately his worries were unfounded as he saw Sebas waiting near the entrance of his mansion. He quickened his pace and asked him immediately "Did Elira come back?"
"No master, ma — master! Are you alright? I will issue summons for Mr Aberforth right this instant" Aberforth was our family's own doctor. Arthus didn't stop him from doing that.
"I'm fine Sebas, I'm starving though so tell me, what's on the menu for today?" Arthus inquired.
"Yes master, for the starter we have the Whitecap Pike en Papillote. For the main course we have the Sevrigan-Glazed Goose à la Intisienne. To cleanse the senses for the final courses we have a light sorbet of citrus and white lotus. Finally for the dessert we have Teyna Crème Flame and as for the drinks we have grape juice, pomegranate juice and if our guests will be joining us we also have Southville beer, Misty champagne and Aurmir grape wine" saying that he looked at me.
"Well that Aurmir grape wine does sound tempting and I'm not the one to say no a free meal kind sir" said Mara while looking at me with a warm smile.
So now I'm the kind sir? This greedy shameless woman. "Won't drinking affect you from fulfilling your duty? I don't want my last line of defence drunk while they leave me to my own devices to die, don't you think?" replied Arthus smugly, his face screaming "Hah! I got you now"
Mara's smile froze on her face and she answered sadly "I'm only joking, I'll just have that grape juice hahaha…"
"Sebas we are having guests over today so I expect them to have the best experience there is, they are my saviours after all. It is my duty to show them the gratitude they deserve" said Arthus in a proud full manner.
"Of course my Lord, please allow me to lead our guests to their quarters until the food is ready, I trust you'll be able to make your way to your room without my help?" asked Sebas kindly.
"Of course I can, I want to clean myself before Mr Aberforth arrives so prepare a bath for me" Arthus made his demand.
"It will be done" responded Sebas.
With that said and done, Arthus made his way to his bedroom or quarters whatever you want to call it.
My bedroom exudes the quiet opulence of late Loen aristocracy, swathed in the rich textures and muted colors of the Victorian age. A tall, carved mahogany four-poster bed dominates the space, its dark wood polished to a soft sheen and draped with heavy burgundy velvet curtains. The bedding is layered with fine lace, embroidered sheets, and plush down-filled pillows.
A crystal chandelier hangs from the high, coffered ceiling, casting refracted light across wallpaper patterned in faded damask, the gold threads glinting subtly in the gaslight's glow. One wall is lined with tall bookshelves, filled with leather-bound tomes, their spines cracked with age. The scent of aged paper mingles with that of beeswax polish and dried lavender.
Tall, arched windows are set deep into the wall, framed by thick velvet drapes in a dark green so deep it appears almost black in the dim gaslight. The curtains are partially drawn, revealing panes of slightly fogged glass that look out onto the sleeping city.
Beyond them, Backlund lies shrouded in shadow chimney stacks silhouetted against a cloudy night sky, rooftops slick with moisture, and only the occasional flicker of a distant gaslamp piercing the gloom. A faint mist clings to the glass, blurring the edges of the world outside and turning the city into a half-seen dream. He stood there for a good while before he heard someone knock the door.
"Yes?" replied Arthus lazily.
"Master, your bath is ready. I've also put a batch of new clothes for you to change into." replied Sebas from outside.
"I see" said Arthus making his way to go bathe.
The bathroom was dimly lit by a single wall-mounted gas lamp, its amber glow casting a soft, comforting light over the cream-colored tiles and marble accents. The air is warm and filled with the soothing scent of lavender oil, blending with the gentle mist rising from the bathtub at the center of the room. The deep, claw-footed tub stands proudly on a patterned rug, filled with steaming water that laps quietly at its porcelain sides.
Mounted above the washbasin is a tall, oval mirror framed in silver, its surface clear and slightly fogged at the corners from the heat. It reflects the soft flicker of the gaslight and the subtle motion of steam drifting across the room, giving the space a sense of quiet life. The mirror is spotless, well cared for, and hints at the occupant's tidy habits.
Beside a small dressing bench, a freshly prepared change of clothes waits: a crisp white shirt, dark pinstriped trousers, and a black waistcoat, all neatly folded. A pair of polished black leather boots stand ready below, and atop the clothing rests a pair of gloves and a simple pocket watch with a coiled chain. Everything is orderly, the kind of care taken by someone accustomed to routine or perhaps duty.
He took off his clothes and checked the temperature of the water. "Perfect" he said to himself as he entered the bathtub. He could not help but let out a satisfied sigh. Despite the relaxing atmosphere, he could not help but worry about the Nighthawks entering his dreams to question him. He did have another idea but it was a bit risky too. It would result in him becoming a chess pawn in a game between gods!
This option was to pray to the Evernight Goddess. Why didn't he do it already, one may ask? Because I'm scared of course. I don't know what reaction she will take after knowing about my existence. I am after all an unaccounted variable. I am not supposed to exist yet I do. Arthus knows in his heart that without becoming her blessed, it would be impossible to be lucid during the dream interrogation.
Klein became her blessed when he took oath as a Nighthawk, at least officially. I don't even know if I will succeed when I pray to her. And I'm afraid. Whatever I do I need to decide before laying in my bed tonight. I've laid in this bathtub for too long, time to get ready to entertain my guests I guess. He got out of the bathtub and started drying himself. Afterwards he made his way towards the bundle of clothes set for me by Sebas. On his way he stopped to take a look at his new appearance in the mirror.
"I guess I now know why I was mistaken as a miss" he possesses an almost ethereal beauty pale, striking, and otherworldly. His long, wavy hair falls in soft silver-white cascades, brushing against his shoulders in elegant disarray. Each lock catches the light with a faint sheen, like moonlight on fresh snow, adding to the impression of someone not entirely grounded in the mundane world. His eyes are a piercing, crystalline blue cool and distant, yet impossibly sharp. His features are finely sculpted, almost statuesque, with high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a mouth set in a quiet, thin unreadable line.
"Like a snow fairy. Heh" then he screamed.