Chapter 5 - First Tale V

So as it stands, the old man had suspected my persona before I told him my name. That... is hard to believe. Not because I am such a great actor. But he hardly talked with me before.

Taking my time to think things through, it feels like a lie. Certainly, it surprised me at the begining, but the more I think, the more I doubt it is true.

"You don't need to tell me anything, your face alone expressed your thoughts"

He says that while he smiles wryly.

"And that is?"

Ignoring my comment he says.

"To be honest, I did suspect by the way you were acting. Although not exactly about you being 'Sid'. That did surprise me indeed. I only knew that when you introduced yourself for certain"

I raised an eyebrow at that. He is leaving some details out. He suspected my acting, I could've made a mistake that he paid attention to. That much is possible. But, something does not add up. He was already alert?.

It almost looks like he was expectin-

"Why don't you work with me?"

"With you? Not for you?"

"You came here for a reason, related to my friend no less. I doubt he would send someone here without a good reason. If that is the case, I would rather work together. I don't think our goals will make us interfere with each other, at least for now. Since I know the guy, as a friend we could help each other"

Friends huh. He suddenly went from knowing him to being friends. He is also asking for an rather equal partnership. It sounds good and all, but rather than I working for him and he being the one that has to take responsability over me, he and I share the guilt... not like as a 'subordinate' I would not do it, but I can at least pin most of the blame on him by claiming he is the master mind.

He is not leaving me many choices. There is no proof of what he would do if I reject him. His 'friendship' with Sid Grayworth is something I only heard from his mouth, not sure if that would be enough for him to leave alone.

"That does not matter right now, I think you have not many choices this time Kiddo. But, I assure you that this could prove to be a better option, you may even get some beneficts"

"You say better option, but I only see one"

"Details, details. Kids these days..."

"What exactly do you want from me?"

"Although I am not expecting a legal agreement with a signed paper, I at least wish to hear a verbal one. I would rather not to say a thing until you say yes. Of course, Silence would be taken as a no, and leaving this place before me too will be taken as a no"

So much for stalling time... and for his so called friendship, no mercy here. The old man is at least level headed at this.

No choice for now.

I shrugged my shoulders and put my hands in the air.

"Ok ok, you got me there, 'yes'. With that said, you can tell me now right?"

"I feel not honesty in that answer though. Well, not like I was expecting it"

With a big sigh he started explaining a bit his circumstances.

"I take that you have hardly talked with other people, right?"

Can't say I have.

"Well, yeah... I certainly have not"

"You are lucky"

"What do you mean with 'lucky'?"

"The Kingwood family currently have certain circumstances, I am not sure how much you know about the family itself"

"I thought you were going to explain though?"

"I just want to make sure what you already know so I don't explain what you already knew you see?"

What a sly old man, he acts like he wants to explain it to me but then he asks me to tell him what I know. Maybe he thinks that I was told some kind special information to aid my job?. Not like it happened. But I can at least use this opportunity to learn more.

"Let's see. They have different business and companies, mainly real states and construction, those are their most well known dealings, Is that correct?"

"Well, that is a good summary, What else?"

I guess he meant everything huh.

"These are mostly rumors between people, it's being spoken on internet. Certainly properties were acquired with 'less' legal methods, like using violent coercion or extortion to get people to leave. Buying previously non-buyable properties, or just getting them cheaper"

"You seem to know a lot of things"

"Hardly, they are just rumors and speculations. On the web you always find this kind of stuff, no matter if a big business is honest or not. There will be people with conspiracy complex or jealous about their success. It's difficult for anyone to believe whether they are lying or not"

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"From what you said so far you have not told me what you think about it? Is it true or a lie?"

"I honestly don't know. These rumors gained weight after that construction accident. Many people blame you guys"

When I mentioned the accident there was a sudden change of expression on his face. He looked somber. That is an obvious give away that what happened has something to do with this family. Maybe he could be faking it in front of me too I should keep it in mind. No matter what, knowing more things is never bad. Probably.

Let's try to push for some kind of response from him.

"I guess they do..."

"Anyways, the situation was resolved quite quickly so there is no much information about what exactly happened so..."

"That's enough"

"Well, I did not have that much knowledge to begining with, I only said whatever was on the news and some internet forums mentioned. Sadly the witnes-"

"I said enough. There is no need to continue with the topic"

Bingo. A sensitive topic it is.

"You were the one that asked for what I knew though?. Anyways, I said my part. Now it's your turn"

Now then, What is he going to say?.

"I apologise for my over reaction. Even though I know you were trying to get a read on me, I let myself get riddled by a kid"

Well, he knew. I really don't have any luck with this guy.

"For now, I want you to talk with more people. Your lack of understanding of the people in this Manor is rather troublesome"

"That's it? I would've done that without you telling me"

"I know, but I think that you should focus in a particular group of people"

"That sounds easier. Who are they? Is there something else you want me to do besides 'talking'?"

"You will know what I mean as you 'socialize'... as for who they are, you will not be surprised. Raymond K., the current 'head' of the family, my nephew. Eric K., you met him before when he crashed his car, he is also my nephew, you may need extra patience to talk to him, I also must mention that he is technically a possible 'head' of the family. Edward K., he was adopted into the family when he was young, he is a good kid. Alice K., my niece, she is a crafty one so be on your guard otherwise she will get a read on you easily, although not common she could also aim for the 'head' position"

"Wait wait wait.... you are skipping some info, a very important one I believe"

"What am I missing? I think I am giving a well explained summary here..."

"Yes and no, you just started saying a bunch of things but... there are some points that require a more in deep explanation?"

"Hmmm... no, nothing comes to mind"

"For example, What is that 'aiming for the head position's or 'possible head'?

"Do you want me to explain that too?"

"I think that is important that you do..."

Is he playing around?

"Kiddo, there is actually a very profound reason why I am not giving details about that"

"I don't believe you, What reason could it be?"

"Knowing too much would be bad if by accident you let something slip besides..."

That sounds like an awfully good reason actually, but I feel like he...

"...It will be a pain to explain?"

"It will be a pain to explain... Wait, no, don't put words on my mouth"

Judging people is bad, but this old man has to be nuts. What is he even trying to do here.

"Never mind that, if you don't want to to explain for now then we will leave at that"

"*cough* *cough* You are such a rude kid. Anyways, Will you let me continue or you have more questions?"

"I have plenty, but I doubt you will answer them. Continue"

"*cough* Very well, this last person is someone you need to be extremely wary, if I could tell you were suspicious... she will most likely do the same thing. She is the mother of Eric, you could say she is my sister-in-law or rather... was, my brother married her years later after his first wife died, so her only child is Eric. Sadly she is a blood-sucking vixen and wanted to inherit all his money... to bad for her that my brother did not give her much power to use his money... hehe"

That's a really a vicious smirk he got there, they must not get along that much is obvious.

"Then, I doubt that avoiding meeting her is an option?"

"You would only make yourself more suspicious"

Wonderful, I really want to go home right now.

"Is that all?"

"They are the people you should pay more attention to, they have more or least some sort of influence in the manor, if you want to last long enough to do whatever you came to do... you should be careful with your words"

"I will be careful..."

"Well then, that is for now"

"By the way, you sure that is a good idea to spend this much time here? Wouldn't they start suspecting something?"

"You don't need to worry about it, no one here eats breakfast together. They eat in their rooms alone"

"If you say so..."

"Anyways, I will take my leave first you should wait for a moment before taking your leave"

"No, wait... I..."

Without waiting for anything else he just left.

"This guy..."

I don't remember the way out.

***********************************************

No one will will mind that we were not there, we won't appear suspicious for talking that long together... I was naive believing that.

Because I trusted those words, I let my guard down and now I am sitting with this lady here.

"Now, Mr. Grayworth... Why don't you and I have a little chat?"

"Can I not do it Ms. Kingwood? I still have not eaten breakfast, I would like to eat first"

"No, That won't do. You see, I have a few questions I wish to ask you"

"Is that so? What could that be?"

"I happened to hear that you were talking with a certain someone. I really would like to know what that was about you see"

"I see, I wonder who might you be talking about. I have barely talked with anyone here"

"Oh, but there were a few people that happened to see you with her. Noir, you spoke with her, right?"

Damn you old man, I hope your cane breaks right now.

Wait, What?

I thought this was because of the old man. But it actually was because of that little girl.

I am still worried, but now for a different reason. I made her cry twice. That's no good.

How did it come to this?

************************************************

After that weird and nuts old man left me in the garden, I had to rack my brain for the way out. Action that I must say was useless because I got lost when I tried following the 'path' I remembered.

I tried going through the bushes.... did not work because there walls hidden. I had to be a good kid and not cheat my way out.

Walking in circles is not funny, not to mention I was hungry so my focus was lesser than it normally is.... which it is not that high either.

When I was thinking of cursing the old man for the 27th time, I had the luck of running into the gardener. He was kind enough of personally taking me out. You see this old man, this is how you should act.

Putting aside my little adventure, I thought that eating was my next step... I also wanted to change into my clothes. That is why I was making my way to the kitchen until I ran into a little trouble.

I was walking normaly until I happened to find a maid, who was apparently waiting for me. So far it sounds good right?. A cute maid was waiting for you... to have you answer the summons from someone in the manor, I also did not have the option to refuse, because along with the cute maid there a couple a muscular guards a few steps behind, in case I... well, in case I did not want to go with the cute maid.

Personally I don't mind this, but so far I have only seen maids... not even one butler, I wonder why.

Putting those thoughts aside, I was not told who called for me, they would not talk to me, so I had time for random thoughts like that.

We finally arrived at a particular room a few minutes later.

Only I entered the room, as soon as I did the door closed.

In there one person alone was waiting for my arrival standing by the window while she had her back turned to me. Waist length obsidian colored hair, ruffled black dress with a white blouse over it, along with black stockings and black heels. This feels oddly familiar. Although she seems almost as tall as me, she is wearing heels so it is hard to tell her height. She is taller than her... Are they related?

Probably hearing me walk closer to her she turn to face me. Seriously, a deja vu. She looks just like a taller and mature version of the little girl I met before, Noir. Although there are a few differences, such as her bearing, which is completely different, while the little girl was not expressive, she feel more approachable due her air headed nature and her childish looks... but in this lady's case, she is hidding her expressions by her own will behind that cold look, I have met people like her before and they looked exactly the same. The other difference she has with that little girl... well, makes her look more like me. She has Amber colored eyes, what are the odds.

I could not help to be a little surprised by the color of her eyes, and well, she is also a beautiful lady, but I will maintain my stance to the end... I was surprised by her eyes, period.

Her stoic mask broke a little as she seemed to be a little surprised, but it recovered quickly. Well, this eye color is not that common... although is not the rarest either. I guess, two people meeting with such a color and not being related can be surprising.

"I heard you called for me, Miss"

I started the conversation, better than dancing to her tune... I am somewhere in the Manor alone out of prying eyes with this lady... along with a couple of guys keeping guard just outside this room. I would rather to finish this chat rather quickly.

"Oh, yes... I am glad you could come"

Not like you left me with another choice though.

"But enough of that, Why don't you have a seat? I am find it hard to chat while we stand when there a seats we could use"

Oh, boy. This will be a long chat if she sugest such a thing.

"Before anything else, Why don't we introduce ourselves? I am afraid I have not heard your be before Miss"

"Yes, I believe we have not met before so it's normal you don't know my name. It's only polite that we both do it.... then. I am Alice, Alice Kingwood, nice to meet you"

She said such a thing with a awfully familiar bow and a nod, althought her last name was different from Noir. I wonder what is their relationship... a cousin maybe?.

"Nice to meet you Ms. Kingwood, I-"

"Please, I would prefer to be called Alice... not Miss Kingwood"

Ok? Does she not like her last name? This family appears to be a lot more complicated the more I hear about them. Whatever the case, I can not just call her Alice just like that, now that I know who she is I have to be a bit more wary. If I appear overly familiar with her and someone happens to overhear... this could bring me troubles.

"Then Ms. Alice. Nice to meet you, I am called Sid Grayworth"

She narrowed her eyes as I did not follow what she asked of me but did not pursue it.

**********************************************

That's what happened... and now I find myself here. I guess a little bit of reminense helped me to relax.

Let's see, this lady here called me under those conditions. I was expecting that this had something to do with my talk with that old man, but it was actually about that little girl.

What's next? Surely the next person I meet won't ask me to look for some crazy treasure... right?.

Anyways... I should focus on my current problems and not something that I am not sure it could even happen.

"I did talk to her... Why do you ask?"

After she hear my affirmation she smiled.

I did think that if she smiled she would look more beautiful.... but her current smile, how can I explain it. Her lips are smiling, but not her eyes.

I swear that from today onwards I will not talk to a kid ever again. I wonder if this is my punishment for making her cry.

"So you did talk to her... I wonder if you know who she is?"

That kid? So far I am getting the vibe that she is more than what she looks like.

Because I was paying attention to my thoughts, I answered without thinking.

"A little girl good at sneaking behind others..."

"Oh?"

Wow, her smile got scarier.

I will make this the last time I take this kind of jobs, I just keep courting death.