Chapter 130 - Preparations
Sitting in her office, Scarlett looked over an assortment of maps spread out across her desk. Roughly half of them were recent purchases, most of which were completely irrelevant to her current aim, but she’d had them all procured just in case, so it wasn’t clear which area in particular she was interested in. The extra caution probably wasn’t even necessary, but it didn’t hurt to err on the side of caution.
Gaven was slated to return with the [Memory of the Covenant] this evening, and that meant she had to go over a lot of details related to her plans for the item. It all connected directly to what they would be doing regarding the Countess and her sister.
A knock sounded out from the door, and soon, Garside entered the room. The man was dressed in his usual black suit, neat and well-cared for, with his dark grey hair combed back. His left arm rested next to his side. If Scarlett hadn’t already been aware of his condition, she might have thought him to be perfectly recovered. There was perhaps a slight paleness to his skin that hadn’t been there before, but it wasn’t overly noticeable.
The butler’s injuries had healed well these past weeks. Even though he still couldn’t use his arm, he had already returned to most of his duties. She would prefer not to have him take part in fights or any of her other ventures for the time being, though. Despite that, she might need his help relatively soon.
“My lady.” The man spoke in a firm voice as he bowed. “You expressed a desire to see me after I had finished my dealings in the city for the day?”
Scarlett nodded her head. “That is correct. It heartens me to see that you are well enough to move around in this fashion again.”
“This old man is thankful for your concern, my Lady, and for allowing my presumptuous request of re-donning my responsibilities.” He glanced down at the desk filled with maps before her. “If I might ask, what is it you wished to see me regarding?”
She gathered the maps up and placed them to the side. “As I am sure you must have noticed, there has been something different about the mansion lately, yes?”
“That has indeed come to my attention. Members of the staff have quietly been discussing it these past few days, but I do not believe anyone is yet certain of the details. I have instructed them not to pay it too much mind for the time being, and to refrain from venturing out into the garden at the back until further directions are given from you, my Lady.”
Scarlett eyed him for a moment. She had stayed silent about it for now while she was getting used to the Loci’s new presence, but as usual, Garside was pretty sharp. She didn’t actually mind if people went out and saw the Loci—they wouldn’t be able to steal it, anyway—but it was nice to know that he was cautious.
“It appears you have already surmised much of what I wanted to tell you. The origin behind this unfamiliar phenomenon is indeed located in the garden behind the mansion.” She tapped her finger on her desk. “I have already informed Evelyne of this, and have promised to provide her a more detailed report in the future, but suffice it to say that I have adopted the use of a certain artifact on the grounds. Its purpose is to ensure the safety and management of this estate from now on. You can simply refer to it as the ‘Loci’.”
Garside stayed silent for a couple of seconds, a neutral expression on his face as he seemed to consider her words. “If I may be so bold, my Lady,” he said, “are you certain this artifact will not pose a threat to the mansion or the people in it?”