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墨書 Inktalez
The black sedan drove towards the outskirts of Warsaw. Twenty minutes later, the car had already left the bustling city streets and was heading towards the forest on the outskirts.
A wide tree-lined avenue led to the mountain peak, winding and twisting along the way. Towering trees stood on both sides of the avenue, their dense canopies creating a lush cover. There were few shrubs in the forest, only ancient trees reaching high into the clouds.
The treetops intertwined, their flourishing branches and leaves spread out like green clouds, completely blocking the blue sky. A gentle breeze passed through, causing the leaves to rustle softly, akin to a person's sigh.
Morning sunlight slanted through the overlapping branches, casting dappled patches of light on the road. The tree-lined avenue was rarely frequented by people, and only the crisp sound of birdsong could be heard.
After driving for about twenty minutes along the avenue, a manor enveloped by the forest appeared at the end of the road.
This must be Blycheno Manor, Qiluo Ling thought.
The manor was secluded, resembling a tranquil palace in the woods. It sparkled like a beautiful diamond in the morning sunlight, radiating a soft glow that was dazzling.
The large gate of the manor slowly opened as the sedan entered.
Upon entering the manor, there was a large oval artificial lake. The lake shimmered with ripples, reflecting various colors; under the warm sunlight, it sparkled with silver glints as if sprinkled with pearls, extraordinarily beautiful.
The sedan drove along the road beside the artificial lake and stopped in front of the yellow steps leading to the main building. The villa had two stories; both the main building and the adjacent annex were golden in color, designed in Baroque style, resplendent and filled with a sense of strength. The roofs were triangular, and the oval windows appeared particularly spacious.
Dressed in a blue long gown, Madam Carolina stood at the bottom of the steps, holding a vibrant bouquet of flowers.
Qiluo Ling got out of the car as Madam Carolina approached her.
"Welcome to Blycheno Manor," Madam Carolina said with a smile.
Madam Carolina's amiable expression seemed to indicate a change in her attitude towards her.
Madam Carolina stepped forward and handed her the bouquet, saying, "These flowers were just picked from the garden by the gardener this morning. Miss Qi, now Blycheno Manor belongs entirely to you, and everyone here will follow your instructions and orders."
Qiluo Ling accepted the bouquet and said, "Thank you; I really like these flowers. Madam Carolina, you are too kind. Since I am new to the manor, I will need your guidance in many areas. So I should thank you."
"Did you only bring this little luggage?" Madam Carolina asked as she glanced at her backpack.
"Yes."
"It's okay. If you need anything, I can prepare it for you. No need to be polite."
"Thank you."
The two walked up the stairs and soon arrived at the main living room on the first floor.
Standing straight at the entrance of the living room was a man in his fifties, dressed in a well-fitted suit. He had a warm smile and appeared very approachable.
"Miss Qi, this is my husband, Locke," Madam Carolina introduced her.
"Hello, Miss Qi. It's a pleasure to see you here," Mr. Locke said.
Qiluo Ling smiled and nodded, extending her hand to shake his.
Once inside the main living room, she couldn't help but admire the interior decoration.
The overall decor of the hall was in a classical style. A huge, dazzling chandelier hung from the ceiling, and there was a fireplace with railings beside the sofa. The walls were adorned with beautifully shaped panels.
As for the furniture, it consisted mainly of Renaissance Period style sofas, armchairs, regency sofa tables, and so on. From furniture to decorations, every detail reflected a complex and luxurious aesthetic.
Qiluo Ling casually placed her backpack on the sofa but did not sit down immediately.
"Miss Qi, do you need to rest? Or would you like something to drink?" Madam Carolina asked with concern.
"Thank you, I don't need anything for now."
"Then may I take you to tour the estate?"
"Sure. That’s exactly what I was hoping for."
Madam Carolina took Qiluo Ling on a tour of Blycheno Manor.
Blycheno Manor is vast, covering several dozen hectares. Outside the manor lies an expansive forest. The estate features woodlands, lawns, and an artificial lake. The well-maintained lawn is trimmed into various aesthetically pleasing shapes, and the shimmering artificial lake sparkles under the sunlight. There are also exquisite plaster sculptures by the lakeside.
Madam Carolina introduced her to the history of the manor.
"Blycheno Manor was built in the eleventh century and was once a summer palace for the king. In the thirteenth century, Poland and Lithuania formed a dynastic union, and the king's power was increasingly restricted by the nobility, forcing him to continue granting freedoms and privileges to them. In 1374, Louis of the Anjou Dynasty from Hungary, elected as King of Poland, gifted this manor to the prominent noble family, the Saxon Family, in order to gain their support and stabilize his rule. After World War I, due to financial difficulties faced by the Saxon Family, they sold it to the wealthy Duke Berland. Thus, Durand has owned this estate until now."
The Saxon Family? Qiluo Ling found that name familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before. Soon she recalled that it was mentioned in the Yuna Demon Music materials. According to those materials, the Saxon noble family should be her great-grandfather's family.
It seemed she understood a bit more about why Mr. Mice wanted to gift Blycheno Manor to her.
As they spoke, they walked toward the outer side of the manor. After walking for more than ten minutes across the wide lawn, they arrived at the artificial lake. The sunlight danced on the surface of the water, which was clear enough to see the bottom. A few colorful fish flicked their tails on the surface, leaving behind rippling waves.
Madam Carolina pointed to the dense forest beyond the manor's fence and said, "Outside the manor is an endless forest that spans several thousand hectares. Much of it is untouched wilderness where no one has ventured. So I hope you won't recklessly enter the forest without a guide because there are demons within."
"Are there really demons in the forest?"
Madam Carolina smiled and replied, "That's just a legend passed down from medieval times. I've been at this manor for over twenty years and have never encountered any. However, you should be cautious if you decide to stroll through the forest; its terrain is complex and it's easy to get lost if you're unfamiliar with it. There have been cases of tourists going missing before, and deep within the forest there are magnetic fields that can cause compasses to malfunction. So please be especially careful."
Qiluo Ling gazed at the towering trees of the forest beyond the wall. Even in broad daylight, that expanse of dense green appeared somewhat eerie and mysterious.
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