Duet Night Abyss story · Side stories
The Final "Contract"
Chapter Noctoyager
1 scenes, 48 lines
1. Find the chest in which Henrik stores his documents
48 lines
Who are you...?
(The middle-aged woman is dusting the old furniture with great efficiency. She seems so familiar with the Hypnos' House, a place that is not supposed to have any other visitors.)
Excuse me. I simply did not expect others to come to this place.
I am a housekeeper employed by Mr Henrik. My job is to regularly clean and maintain his property. Today just happens to be a scheduled workday.
So, may I ask who you are?
I'm a tenant living in the old house next door. I just came by to check if the doors and windows of this house are properly locked.
I'm not sure if you've been informed, but Mr Henrik has passed away... You no longer have to do this job.
I am aware.
But Mr Henrik has already made full payment. Before the contract formally expires, I shall abide by the code of conduct of my profession.
It's four in the afternoon. I am here to provide about three hours of housekeeping services.
Should you have any needs, please do not hesitate to inform me, and I will assist you as best as I can.
(While cleaning, Lina discovers scratch marks left by Psyche during her Deterioration, and soon notices dried patches of what appears to be Henrik's blood.)
I am not one to judge the lifestyles of my employers. My focus is solely on finding solutions to clean, fix, and improve the appearance of their properties.
(Lina proceeds with her tasks, each movement carried out with meticulous professionalism, showing no sign of disturbance even while mopping the bloodstained floor.)
I've actually... seen worse, in a house far more opulent than this. I once knew a master who burned down his manor along with his entire family.
This place, by comparison, feels much more like a home. At least Mr Henrik made it look like one.
(Her composure is unwavering, but you find yourself compelled to observe this poised and efficient woman more closely. Perhaps she's not as unflappable as she seems.)
He was a renowned doctor twenty years ago, and I was merely a maid in a viscount's household. Mr Henrik was called to diagnose the viscount's wife, which was when I first met him. I never thought our paths would cross again.
I was tasked with escorting the doctor back to his hotel. On our way, a Charon girl collapsed right before us. Without a moment's hesitation, Mr Henrik saved her and asked me to look after her.
Mr Henrik was not only a skilled doctor but also a man who cherished every life, regardless of one's background.
Mr Henrik never cared for fame... My high regard for him remains unchanged.
That is precisely what made him a noble soul.
It is truly heartrending to hear the misfortunes he endured.
Yet, I feel I still haven't done enough.
Mr Henrik likely wanted to maintain a certain distance; hence, my visits were infrequent. Otherwise, you and I might have met sooner.
He probably didn't want me here too often after his passing. Thus, I believe it's time to return the key to its rightful owner. I shall place it on Mr Henrik's desk in your presence.
(You fail to recall anything. Perhaps it was a mistaken feeling.)
(The key you got from Margie closely resembles Lina's key to the Hypnos' House.)
(You remember seeing it on Henrik. It must have been lost during the turmoil of that night and inadvertently found by Margie.)
Mr Henrik has a chest for important documents. This key might open it.
He once instructed that should any misfortune befall him, the chest is to be opened and his will read.
I couldn't find the key in the house, but now it has found its way back. Thank you for taking proper care of it.
May I ask you to witness as I fulfil Mr Henrik's final wishes exactly as he intended?
(The lock clicks softly. Lina draws out Henrik's will, and, standing before you, begins to read it aloud. Every word is clear, solemn, and deliberate.)
(Henrik may have anticipated his tragic demise, but his will is thoughtful and clear. He not only expressed his profound guilt over his daughter's death but also had the following statement...)
"In the event of my passing, all properties under my name shall be transferred to Ms Lina Bell..."
" as a token of my gratitude for her years of dedicated service to the Hypnos' House and my Charon patients."
"I am deeply grateful for everything Ms Bell has done and regard her as a highly honourable lady."
...
You leave Henrik's office alone. Ms Lina, overwhelmed with emotion, appears to need some time to herself. It is best to leave her undisturbed for a while.
Now, you have a new landlady.
(With Ms Lina's intimate knowledge of every corner of Hypnos' House, you locate the chest without trouble. And beside it, you notice a small wooden box, oddly out of place.)
(You open the finely crafted wooden box first. Inside lies a letter, written in graceful, careful script. You take it out and begin to read aloud.)
By the time you read this, we'll already be gone. The Escort was alerted by what happened to Psyche that night, we could no longer stay in Icelake. Before their investigation reached Hypnos' House, I gathered everyone and left. Please do not grieve for us, nor fear that we might harm anyone should Deterioration claim us too swiftly. We are heading into the wilds, wandering towards distant, uncharted lands. We don't know what awaits us at the journey's end, perhaps death, or some unforeseen miracle. Either way, we will hold fast to hope until the very end. It's what she taught us. And... thank you, for everything you've done for us. Take care, Elisa Taylor
I see... The children made it out safely, after all.
(She falls silent for a long moment. Then, slowly, she lifts the key. Her hand trembles as she tries to insert it into the lock, but her fingers slip again and again, unable to keep steady.)
If it's too hard... we can do this together.
...Sorry. And thank you.