Ostpreussenthal

Yohana was struck by how quiet and empty Ostpreussenthal seemed. The only true thing the plump lady had said about Ostpreussenthal was that it was rural.

Yohana certainly wouldn't feel refreshed in this town, no matter how short her trip was. There were few people on the streets, and the few trees lining the unpaved and dusty roads looked wilted and sickly.

As she walked further into town, Yohana saw the small, cramped houses that the townspeople called home. They were built close together, with little space between them, and many of them were in disrepair. The roofs were patched with scraps of tin and wood, and the walls were stained with dirt and soot.

She kept walking and reached the center of the town, where a few vendors sold their wares. A makeshift stage had been set up, but there was no one around to perform. A few chickens pecked at the dirt, and a stray dog sniffed around the edges of the square.

"Excuse me, do you know where the nearest inn is?" Yohana asked the middle-aged woman selling vegetables.

The woman seemed bored and stared off into the distance while flies buzzed around her withered produce.

Most of the vendors seemed disinterested in promoting their goods, despite Yohana being the only potential customer around.

After calling out to the woman a few times to get her attention, Yohana received an ambiguous response, as the woman only pointed in a general direction with her chin.

Yohana turned around and found only one path behind her. She thanked the vendor and left the square, carrying her small luggage.

Eventually, Yohana found a small house nestled beside a huge tree. The courtyard was filled with unkempt grass, dirt, and cobblestones.

A ramshackle sign hanging on the wall read 'Daheim', though nothing about the place looked remotely homey. The chain on the right side of the sign was almost broken, but it appeared to be the only lodging place in town.

"This must be it," Yohana said to herself. A humble accommodation like this could be the best option if one wanted to hide their shady activities.

Five rowdy men were gathered in the front, guzzling down glasses of ale. "Hey there, missus! Fetch me another flagon of ale, will ya?" one of them slammed his glass on the table, a sure way to get the attention of the inn worker. A young man rushed out with a filled glass in his hand.

Yohana pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and made her way into the inn, unnoticed as all the attention was directed at the young worker.

As she entered the inn, Yohana was hit by the musty smell that pervaded the air. The wooden floors creaked under her feet, and the walls were peeling. She approached the front desk, where an elderly woman with a kind face greeted her.

"Good day, m'lady. Welcome to Daheim. What can I do for ye?" the woman asked.

"I am looking for a room to stay for a few nights," Yohana replied.

The innkeeper nodded and led Yohana to a small but tidy room with a comfortable bed, a table, and a chair. Yohana thanked him and paid for her stay.

After dropping off her luggage, she went back out and inquired of the innkeeper, "Would you be so kind as to recommend some places of interest in this town?"

The woman smiled politely and said, "You can pay a visit to the grand manor down south, m'lady. It's perched right by the cliff." She looked around, leaned in, and whispered, "It's where the banished prince resides."

"Good gracious! The former prince? Pray tell, isn't it perilous to venture there? What if the guards were to intercept me for wandering in a prohibited zone?"

She waved her hand at Yohana. "Oh, I beg your pardon, m'lady. The guards ain't too concerned about the likes of you and me wandering around. Many a tourist has come to catch a glimpse of the former prince, and they've all left unscathed. Truth be told, he's the only attraction this place has to offer. But if you don't trust my words, perhaps it's best to stay indoors and rest. There's not much else to see around these parts."

"Are you sure about that? Won't there be many guards around?"

The innkeeper shook her head. "No, m'lady. Last week, there were four of 'em. But this week, it's down to three. And mind you, it's a huuuuge mansion I'm talking about here, m'lady." She stretched her hands to show how big it was in her mind.

After gathering enough information, Yohana set out to explore the area. She walked south from the inn and soon came across a grand estate, the largest building she had ever seen in Ostpreussenthal. The exterior walls were covered in vines.

The manor house itself was a large and imposing structure, with three stories and a high, sloping roof. The grounds were extensive, with a long driveway leading up to the house, lined with tall trees and overgrown bushes.

As she had been told by the innkeeper, there were many sightseers around the manor, including a few nobles with their entourages and several humble travelers with just an umbrella and a cane.

However, the majority of visitors were low-class people who resented the societal disparity that allowed even a criminal to live a better life just because of their royal status.

While exploring the mansion's surroundings, Yohana noticed the wet soil beneath her feet, which would easily leave footprints.

She had to find another path to enter the mansion or find a way to mask her footprints. She spotted a few small rocks that could serve as stepping stones, but they were not enough.

As the sky darkened, visitors began to retire, and the mansion was swallowed by shadow, with only a few sparks of light visible from behind the gate.

***

For several days now, Yohana had been frequenting the mansion, noting the times of the first and last visitors, as well as the busiest hour when the sun was at its peak because they could also enjoy the sun while sightseeing.

Yohana had found a way to enter the mansion without leaving a trace, which was to sneak in during the busy traffic. That way, her footprints would get mixed up with others' footprints.

The guards and a few servants would also come and go during the day to fetch food, drinks, or snacks, providing her with the opportunity to strike when they were away.

Before noon, Yohana had left the inn. She chose to keep the dress on, along with the neat hair to avoid suspicions. She also brought a folding fan that had been modified as a weapon. The spokes could be disassembled and reassembled, making it a perfect tool for her plan.

People had not yet crowded the area when Yohana arrived. She strolled around, inspecting the high walls of the manor and the trees around the building.

The western part of the building had lower walls due to the uneven ground surface, but the trees were rather short and frail.

The eastern part of the building had the highest wall because the ground underneath had subsided significantly, and there were no trees around.

The southern part of the building was a cliff.

The most suitable entrance for Yohana was the north, which was also where the gate and the guards were.

She approached the gate, unfolded her fan, and stood before it with the mansion's main door directly in sight. The three wardens were playing chess at the front gate or exactly the two of them playing and the other one watching while waiting for his turn.

As the sun reached its zenith, sightseers flocked to the area. Yohana trailed behind two ladies who were walking close to the northern wall of the mansion. She maintained a slow pace and quickly picked the lock of the gate. After the lock was opened, she kept walking with the two strangers in front of her.

A warden cast a glance at the swarm of people, but when he saw nothing out of the ordinary, he returned to the game at hand.

With no one walking close to the gate to obscure her movements, Yohana had to take the initiative. She approached a young lady who was walking with a group of servants.

"What a lovely day it is, is it not?" Yohana struck up a conversation with her.

The young lady smiled widely, showing off her perfect teeth. "Indeed, it is, Madam." She looked around at Yohana's surroundings. "Please forgive me, Madam, but it appears you have misplaced your attendants."

Yohana returned the smile. This young woman seemed naive, knowing only the small world she had been confined in. "No, Miss, I have not lost them. I am here as a delegation of the church, unaccompanied by any attendants."

The young lady gasped and put her hands in front of her chest, a true believer of Sanctus it seems. "Madam, would you be so kind as to bless me with a prayer for guidance from the Saints?"

Yohana placed her palm on top of the young lady's head, as she bent down. "May the Saints guide you and your path."

"Thank you, Madam. I already feel refreshed."

Yohana gave a smile and offered a hand to help the young lady back up. "Would you care to join me for a walk?"

"Why, of course, Madam. Please, it would be my pleasure to accompany you. If I may, could you enlighten me about the purpose of your visit to this somber place?"

As they strolled side by side, Yohana weaved a web of lies between her teeth. Passing by the gate, she deftly snatched the padlock and stashed it in her handbag.

Once she had accomplished her mission, she smoothly transitioned out of the conversation. The young lady continued on her leisurely walk, followed by her servants, while Yohana sought out another group of people, this time seeking a larger one.

Yohana waited patiently, but no such group appeared. Then, she spotted a lovely couple taking a stroll with their chaperone walking a few steps behind them.

Yohana strategically positioned herself in the chaperone's path and exclaimed, "Isn't that Cherie's husband? I heard he bought her out of the whorehouse. How can he claim to love her after that?"

She made sure to speak loud enough for the chaperone to overhear, knowing that even if she didn't fully believe the rumors, it would still be enough to put a damper on their meeting.

Fortunately for Yohana, the chaperone took her words seriously, and the meeting came to an abrupt halt, causing quite a commotion. With the wardens' attention diverted, Yohana managed to slip into the mansion unnoticed.