“…Mother…Tell my mother, if I don’t make it…sniffle…that I…I…I didn’t make the strawberry streusels I sent her every week! Elli did! …mine…wasn’t even made of strawberry…it was apple…and broke…and…Wah-”

With each word, the tears welled up in Felly’s eyes, threatening to overflow. At last, the tears escaped like a waterfall, and her words were muffled in sobs.

“Don’t worry! Your streusel tasted fine too.”

Angie rubbed her arm comfortingly. However, even though she wanted to look concerned, the long nails from Felly’s trembling clutching hand dug dangerously into her skin, making her expression waver into a flinch from time to time.

“Fine?! It tasted fine?! It was so burned, it looked like a dragon had eaten and thrown it up! I’m even failing the lovely pastry class!”

As Felly started, nails digging in deeper, tears streaming down like a flood, Angie’s expression looked even more torn. Facial muscles labored greatly, her lips pulling up painfully as she tried to smile, her free hand robotically patting the now sobbing Felly.

“What’s this? A touching scene from a Barbodian tragedy play? Like anything will even happen here…I totally wasted my time.”

In the back, Felyn snorted haughtily. When she finished speaking, she threw a glare my way, adding, “How are you going to make up for this? It’s not even scary! And the only man here is that dog who is drooling as he follows you around with his tail-”

As if she had suddenly noticed something unspeakable, Felyn shivered unconsciously.

“How dare you talk that way to Elli, you-”

With a sudden transformation, Ezekiel turned with eyes fierce and ablaze. His back was no longer slouched, his lean muscles from arduous hours of work-out stretching. As if even the wind had sensed the need to intervene in this scene, the horribly stiff, stale air suddenly became a fresh, cold evening breeze flowing from the broken window. The golden brown locks glowed slightly as they stirred softly.

The words that had overflowed from his mouth were so harsh, the anger he felt too intense to express, that he couldn’t even seem able to finish his sentence. Instead of his face contorting into an ugly and hateful expression, it turned hard and cold, contrasting with the fierceness of his eyes.

Felyn couldn’t even become angry. Her eyes had become so wide, her mouth agape. After a few seconds of entrancement, she slowly turned my way, face still stiff, “You…really have a talent for making men become ugly.”

“…”

I felt no need to answer, and just smiled.

You think I don’t know?! You think I didn’t notice that even that damn tail disappeared?! I cursed silently in my heart. And her eyes even have to look so vacant and mesmerized…tch!

“Kyaaaaaaaa!”

Felly suddenly screamed as she heard a noise.

That must hurt…No one can beat Felly’s nails when it comes to sharpness, after all! She is always filing them…Haha… I sympathized silently in my heart as I saw Angie’s painful expression. There was no possibility of escape. I was just glad it hadn’t been me today.

“What’s all that noise for?! I already told you! There is nothing to be scared of! Nothing will happen, alright?! Nothing!”

Felyn suddenly snapped angrily at Felly, finally out of her daze. She bit her lip and her eyes turned to fire. Felly tried to defend herself amidst her sobs, however was soon interrupted, screaming even louder.

“Kyaaaaaaa!”

A huge shadow passed by, a creepy scratching sound following it.

“I already told- Kyaaaaa!”

Just as Felyn was about to argue, the huge shadow suddenly pushed her aside with tremendous force. It looked like it had just been running incredibly fast, only to stop abruptly and run into her. Felyn collided into the wall, her eyes turning in her head as Felly’s deafening scream filled the dark corridor.

Not even a second was given to spare. What looked like an arm was thrust from the shadow, reaching for me. However, it no longer looked like a hand. From close up, I could see the long nails, more like claws, glinting in the little light from the broken window, a low growl curling from where the mouth should be.

“Elliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!”

From over his shoulder, Ezekiel turned to look at me. His smile looked painful and forced, a drop of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. With sparkling eyes, he spoke with a voice filled with courage and gallantry, “Don’t worry. As long as I am here, I will protect you.”

My heart bit only a tiny bit faster, since it knew better this time. At least he seems cool now…I thought as I looked down to examine his wound.

But, no matter how much I tried to concentrate on the blood gushing out from the grotesque claws groping into the left of his stomach, that wagging tail kept entering my field of vision.

“…”

When another low growl sounded, he turned back to the shadow, speaking bravely with great intonation, “No matter what! This is nothing to me. See, Elli- Elli? Where are you?! Elli?! Elliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!”

As I followed the small shadow stealthily, I could only sigh in answer to their screams. What’s with them? I didn’t even leave them with the ghost! Would a ghost known to creep up so silently, making you only realize your money is gone after you leave, really grab for the money so obviously like just now? And make such a showy display?

“Kyaaaaaa! Mommy! I will make streusels properly, so save me! Ellie, where are youuuuuuuu?”

I sighed as I paused. Glancing back, I bit my lip thinking hard. But since I didn’t have time to waste, as the small shadow turned the corner, I decided quickly. Pulling out the small package from my pocket, I quickly undid the blue silk handkerchief, a small bejeweled box facing me.

I didn’t plan on using this just yet, but… oh well.

Closing my eyes, I blew softly over the box. Satisfied, I placed it on the ground with a slight smile and ran as quietly as possible in the small shadow’s direction.

It was quite entertaining to watch the little creature’s movements. It had no idea I was following, and even calmly stopped from now and then, its little pointy ears twitching in harmony with the lizard-like shaped tail. Even though it was too dark to see it clearly, the shadow was enough to make me fall in love with it.

Ah…those cute little paws…that cute little nuzzle…just how much money have they grabbed?

Just as I was sighing contently at my fantasies, a sudden light caught my attention. It glittered over the tip of the creature’s tail as it turned into the room, and in that split second I could see the glossy, smooth shine of its golden skin.

My heart leaped in my chest as I flew with one sudden movement. Tumbling into the room, I clutched the struggling body in my arms. It soon calmed down as I began rubbing my face on its smooth skin. Ah, so smooth! It’s a scale as soft as silk!

The little creature struggled even more excitedly in my arms then when it tried to escape, making me giggle uncontrollably as it turned to lick my face.

Aw, so cute…hehe…Now give me the money!

Grabbing the two hind legs of the creature, I laughed happily as I stood up and shook it in the air. However, my ears were not met with the angelic sound of metal hitting the floor. Brows knitting in concentration, I shook the creature even harder.

“That’s strange…where did the money…?”

It can’t be…that it’s the wrong shadow…? No! I’m never wrong. Never.

I shook even harder.

“Oh, please…Spare me the sight of that thing’s exposed front! It’s all…jiggling! Ew! Can’t a gentleman get some elegant peace and quiet?”

My eyes quickly scanned the room. It was very different from the rest of the 13th building. It wasn’t falling to pieces, for one. However, it was covered in dust. Elegant candle-sticks of excellent craftsmanship glowed a soft yellow light from the walls, and the whole room had a gothic, eerie feel. Dark elaborate wallpaper, heavy-set curtains of velvet; it looked like the best the richest of the richest, the noblest of the noblest, would have. Only, it had no furnishing. Save for that one lonely painting on the wall, that is.

The man had a disgusted look on his face. However, his features were so sophisticated and delicate; it couldn’t make him look bad. With hair darker that black flowing smoothly just over his deeply furrowed eyebrows, black eyes as glossy as could be sparkled, looking right at me.

Just as the room would have it, he was dressed in the fine clothes only the noblest gentleman would have. The only difference was that it was all in black, lacking the usual flamboyance of color present in the attire of nobles. In fact, his whole face lacked color…

“What?”

He asked defiantly, his tone not that of a noble, but of an annoyed king. A noble king portrayed in a painting, a noble king talking from a portrait.