Shard quietly discussed the day's weather with the young scholar while Professor Katja looked quite interested in the oil painting, and Lecia was fixing her hair.
They didn't have to wait too long before the sullen-faced manservant returned with another, tall maidservant, inviting the four guests to meet with Mr. Jude in the study.
The maidservant, who they were meeting for the first time, looked to be about the same age as the manservant, slightly stout, but with the same somber expression.
Shard understood them; anyone living in such an old and oppressive house would inevitably have emotional issues. For this reason, Shard paid great attention to ventilation and sunlight in his home, to prevent his often-indoor cat from developing psychological illnesses.
But at least Mr. Jude's mansion didn't have unexplained bloodstains; "Echo of Blood" couldn't see a very obvious halo of blood.