Chương 35: XXXV. Ophelia Hawthorne

Spring 18th, 1380 ASSETS MINTED: 2G 4S (-27G (Manure), -30G (30x Potato Seeds), -12G (15x Potato Seeds), -2 Silver (Nana) + 20G, 5S (Potatoes), +25G (10: 1 conversion, unminted)) UNMINTED: 691g 5s (-250g (10: 1 conversion, minted), + 405g (Carrots) + 112g 5s (Potatoes)) DEBTS NO CHANGE TASKS No Change STOCK 0 [Common] [Carrot Seeds] (30x planted, 15 and 15) (15 purchased) 01 [Common] [Lettuce Seeds] 0 [Common] [Potato Seeds] (30x Planted, 15 and 15) (30 Purchased) 270 [Common] [Blood Carrot] @ 1g * 3 = 810g (For Hawthornes) IN FIELD 135 CARROTS (COMMON - 0, 135) - Spring 17 - Used Manure on Harvest 135 CARROTS (Common 0, 135) - Spring 18 - Harvested 135 Potatoes (Common 0, 135) - Spring 22 - Planted on Spring 17, Used Manure on Growth 135 Potatoes (Likely Poor 0, 135) Spring 22 - Planted on Spring 17, Must use Manure before Harvest 135 CARROTS (Common 135, 0) Spring 20 - Planted on Spring 17 160 GREEN CLOVER (Common, Fixing Soil) The collectors barely acknowledged me when I handed them 250 unminted gold coins.

They took it into their tills and pushed 25 minted coins back. I was a few coins short of my plans for the next few days, and I needed a small amount more to sustain myself as the crops grew. I purchased 30 bags of [Common] [Potato Seeds] and 15 bags of [Common] [Carrot Seeds] at Gramps, then stopped by Auntie Laura's to purchase 270 bags of manure. That left me with 2 Gold and 6 silver… and I had to use one of those silvers right away to go eat at the Gryphon before Nana yelled at me.

By the time I had returned, Cynthia had already collapsed into a bone pile… but at least it was at my doorstep. It wasn't inherently good that Mirchie left her there, since Addy could have popped by at any moment. Of course, he hadn't. Not in the last seventeen days, actually. I went over to his place not too long ago, but he used to come over every day. The road to town was dark, and Amaril was already setting. It was too late to plant new seeds.

Cynthia at least cleared out most of the fields, and Mirchie even had her remove the rocks and weeds near my backrow. Guess she wasn't a worthless rabbit after all. Just a menace. The next morning, I told Mirchie I was going to take Cynthia myself. She reminded me in her smug, obnoxious voice that it was Rattlejack, and I told her rabbits can't talk. So she bit me. While Rattlejack planted the potatoes, I had time to read more of the Almanac.

Since poor seeds weren't a commodity and poor crops couldn't go into a [Seed Maker], the only way to actually grow them was planting common seeds on barely fertile soil. So much for being infertile, that'd happen if I ever got good enough to make better crops. Friday was more of the same, but I had taken all of the [Common] [Blood Carrots] and placed them in a basket. Lady Hawthorne, apparently, had sent a carriage to come collect me.

"We have Black Currant Tea, Orange Tea, Spiced Tea, Martivian Leaf Tea, or Mortia Blend. I have asked the [Chefs] to prepare some finger food – egg salad, seafood, and puff pastries. Your acquaintance, my ex-maid, Mrs. Carnwich had informed me that you were rather fond of peaches, and I have seen to it that they would make you a peach parfait, Lady Hart." Ophelia didn't stutter or break in her sentence once as she talked, her cadence and tone equally measured.

She was shorter than me, but she stepped quickly with a hurried pace. Her white hair flowed like a waterfall, and she had the cutest half-crown braid. My hair could possibly do that, and it would definitely show Missy up. I slammed into her back; she stopped abruptly. She was firm in posture and didn't bounce – feeling like an unmoving wall. Her body was cold, but she didn't push me off. I stepped away, and Ophelia immediately spoke.

"Apologies, Lady Hart. I should have informed you we were here. I see that you do not have the vestments fitting someone of your caliber, and this bedroom would allow us some privacy while I see your form." The bedroom was massive; even bigger than the one she had hosted Maddy and I in last time. The sheets were black and tinged with red, and the windows had red stained glass. Everything was made of [Mortian Wood], which had its signature black bark with red cracks.

Even the bedframe was made of it – and the mattress was a real mattress, not some stacked hay!

"I don't want you to see me naked," I said.

"I can change on my own." Ophelia's eyes twitched. Her nose scrunched and her smile dipped. She shook it off before looking at the floor, speaking rather quickly.

"Lady Hart, just get in the room." I had forgotten to change, of course. Of all the things I could have – I forgot to bathe as well. In fact, I still had dirt on my hands, but the basket was nice and clean. I stepped inside and placed the delivery on the nearest table. Ophelia had entered a moment later, and pulled out an entire wooden bath tub from her inventory. That thing was massive, and the weight alone would prevent it from entering mine – or even my backpack!

Yet, she lifted it and carried it like it was nothing. … Was Addy that strong as well? Nah, he had to be stronger.

"Strip, Lady Hart. I'll get my staff to bring in hot water, and play some music so prying ears will not listen in."

"... For a crop shipment?" I said, beckoning towards the basket. Ophelia's golden eyes barely glanced at it, yet she turned around and grabbed the first [Maid] that walked by. Mary Marlowe's eyes met mine, and she immediately looked down. I stepped back, yet Ophelia gestured towards the basket.

"Our dear guest has brought in Master Elias' shipment. You will be paid a gold to do a count of the goods," Ophelia said. Mary kept her head bowed, staring into the floor. I swallowed again; Nana really didn't need to know what I was doing.

"Yes, Mistress Hawthorne," Mary said.

"And Ms. Marlowe, I can tell you and our Dear Guest are acquainted. You will be given another gold for your silence and a wage increase of a silver per day. Unless you'd rather your family receive 50 gold in the mail. Am I making myself clear?" Mary squeaked.

"Wouldn' even dream of it, Mistress Hawthorne. Beggin' your pardon. Beggin your pardon, Ash–""What did I just say?" Ophelia cut her off.

"Ms. Marlowe, you will be fine. Just remember that House Hawthorne prefers to keep its business private. Now go, return back with a count and the money. If you are too stressed afterwards, you have my permission to tell Elizabeth you may leave early." Mary bowed to Ophelia, before turning towards me. She began to bow, stopped in place, and quickly turned around to run out the door. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

"Alright, that pointless business has been dealt with, Lady Hart. Now, will you please strip so I can attend to you and we can discuss business?"

"Are ya gonna send Addy 50 gold if I don'?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Who's Addy?" Ophelia said, again without pause.

"And no, I believe your life is worth far more than that. I did not call you here for Father's Shipment, that is his business. This is between you and I, Lady Hart."

"Thank ya kindly," I said.

"I ain' strippin', Lady Hawthorne. What is it ya want?" Ophelia tilted her head and stared at the bath tub. She chewed on her cheek, and her eyes closed. She held that pose for exactly fifteen seconds – I counted.

"Very well, if you would prefer to discuss business right away. You are the only [Acolyte] in The Flowers Lowland, and among Flowers Mainland, you are accelerating quite quickly."

"The only [Acolyte]?" I said. Her necklace – her collar – glistened in the candlelight. She followed my eyes and glanced downwards.

"This was created by a [Necromancer]," Ophelia said. Her pale hands touched the black metal. A green bolt sparked against her fingers and she quickly removed it.

"I am seeking allies to overthrow my father, to complete the Sin of the Traveler, before he commits the Sin of the Sky. I know you are not too strong just yet, but – ""Is that collar preventing you?" I said. Ophelia's smile cracked, and she rubbed her face.

"Lady Hart, you really must stop interrupting people. I was hoping that you and I could join forces to remove this [Binding Collar]. I have on good Authority it would need –" Ophelia kept talking and explaining at me. I tuned her out, and inspected the collar once again. BINDING COLLAR (COMMON) [ILLEGAL] A collar bound with a soul. These devices are common among [Slavers], [Night-Things], and [Indebted Labourers].

Many nations have banned these devices on fundamental grounds, though it may still be used on [NPCs] and [Monsters]. VENDOR PRICE: 100 Gold Pieces [ANIMA ANALYSIS] [Animus] TYPE: [Commoner] DEFILE CHANCE: 100% Nothing changed? Ophelia mentioned something about needing [Holy Water]. Addy had access to that, but I don't think I needed it. Ashley casts [Defile Magic]! | Behold the Mandate of The Witch-Queen; Arbiter of what is fair and foul. Marcellus was an [Engineer], and loved working with gears and machinery.

One of the first things he had shown me was the concept of a slip knot. It looked rather fancy and it could hold a lot of weight. However, pulling on the working end made it unravel immediately. That was the Symphony around the [Binding Collar]. It was as weak as it was when I was here over a week ago. Its notes were very, very light – as if the person who created this didn't have any concern that anyone would be able to break it. Arrogance was indistinguishable from genuine stupidity, as Marcellus said.

It was better to do the job right, so others didn't realize you were an idiot. I pulled on the collars symphony, unwinding the knot. Ophelia was mid-sentence. It popped off her neck with a satisfying clack, dropping straight into my hands.

"Here ya go." I tossed the collar at her – and the [Animus] escaped from the gem. It rested right against my hand. The green flame bounced around me. Ophelia held onto the metal with her strong hand. Her other hand tapped and rubbed her neck, where her pale skin now had a deep bruise. It'd heal on its own… assuming a [Vampire] healed naturally.

"... I had this accursed thing on for a year, and you break it with that much ease?" she said. … A year? She had it for a year, it had a [Commoner's Animus], and… Cynthia died almost a year ago. I could confirm everything if I inspected the [Animus]. I could also let it go. But it was [Animus], and I didn't kill her. If it even was her. I swallowed and closed my eyes. My hands wobbled, and I had to make that decision. I reached into my pocket to pull out a glass vial, and poured the [Animus] inside.

I'd figure this one out later too. What difference did it make? She was already dead. And I had her [Animus] in my hands.

"Mistress Hart?" Ophelia said. Her voice interrupted my spiral, and her hand rubbed my shoulder.

"Are you alright? Was the act too taxing?"

"The act?" I repeated.

"Breaking that accursed collar. I had expected… more."

"I could have broken it a week ago, actually," I off-handedly said.

"Really now?" She said.

"So you had waited for me to offer myself to y–""I don't do slaves, Ophelia," I said. The words came to me before my thoughts did, and frankly, my thoughts did not disagree.

"I don' mind freein' you for whatever nonsense you have with your Father. But if you want to work with me, we are goin' to be equals."

"Equals?" Ophelia said.

"MIstress Hart – ""You can just call me Ashley. Or Ashy, if you want." She smiled at me, and shook her head.

"Mrs. Carnwich also seems to desire to call me Orphy, even though I have told her not too. You will be Mistress Hart for the organization, and Lady Hart otherwise. And, As I was saying… to be a [Vampire] is to be hierarchical. We are born from our parents as both successors and servants. Each one only has one goal to rule in the night. What you mortals call love, the closest we have is obedience and devotion, so – ""Well, good luck with that," I said.

"That doesn't sound like it's goin' to help me with the farm, and I don' want to be your 'mistress'. Ya can help me as a friend or sister, but I ain' gonna be your mistress, 'Orphy'." Ophelia stared at me.

"Then, is there any way I can ser– repay you?"

"Well, I was actually hopin' you would escort me around Lyrelle Forest. I was gonna ask Addy but he's a [Paladin] –""--I am sorry for interrupting, but Excuse me, What?" Ophelia said.

"... The Head Inquisitor of Oakheart? He's my brother, or he keeps saying he is. Anyways, he's marrying Missy, so I can't rightfully ask him. I was gonna ask Elias, but Maddy said – ""... The [Witch]? You… listen to the [Witch]?"

"... Yes? She's my sister too. So is Jazzy, come to think of it." Ophelia's smile twitched.

"The… [Maid]... is your sister." I nodded.

"Fine. I do not get what you are doing, Mistress Hart, but it does intrigue me. Now, will you please get in the tub? You are absolutely filthy, and if we are going to go to Lyrelle Forest together, I will not be seen as a 'sister' to such a filthy form."

"Hey! I'm not that dirty!" I said. Ophelia put on her glove and pushed her finger against my skin. I tensed up, beginning to jerk away – but she had already withdrawn. Her gloved hand was stained with dirt.

"Tub, Mistress Hart. I will see to that the maids get you something more useful to wear. I'll have a carriage prepared, but for now, you should be cleaned. Any good [Necromancer] must look presentable to the [Vampire Counts], and I can not have you look so…"" [Farm Girl]?" I finished for her. Ophelia sighed, and poured hot water over my hair.