Chapter 134
Sophia had only been to the west corridor once before, during her last visit under the pretext of delivering well wishes to Killian’s bedroom.
However, she had to go deeper inside to reach the actual bedroom.
‘Could this be Killian’s private study?’
She had heard rumours of Killian having a study here, and it seemed that few others, if any, ventured into this area.
Therefore, Sophia speculated that Killian might handle matters related to the illegitimate child here.
Garfield silently took out a key and unlocked the door as Sophia scanned her surroundings, lost in thought.
The door swung open easily with a soft click.
“This place is supposed to be off-limits,” Sophia questioned Garfield, thinking it strange how easily he had opened it, considering it was an unauthorized area.
“If it’s you, Miss, it should be fine,” Garfield smiled at her and nodded reassuringly.
Reluctantly, Sophia decided to follow Garfield into the study. She hesitated at the entrance but couldn’t let Garfield go in alone.
The unlit study felt chilly.
It seemed untouched for a long time, void of any human presence.
Garfield skillfully lit a lantern inside the study, unveiling its contents from beneath the darkness.
Sophia quickly scanned the study, searching for any traces of the Black Moon with her eyes.
However, the study appeared utterly ordinary.
One wall was lined with books and documents he frequently perused, and there was a large wooden desk and chair for his paperwork, a fireplace, and a portrait hanging above the fireplace.
There was no sofa or small table fit for receiving guests, indicating it was purely a private space for Killian.
Leading to a bedroom, there was a door at the back of the desk, but it appeared to be locked.
“His Excellency has strictly forbidden anyone from entering this room,” Garfield finished lighting the fireplace as he remarked.
“He even managed the cleaning and errands himself to ensure no one else came in.”
“His Excellency himself?” Sophia asked, intrigued.
He must have dealt with matters related to the Black Moon here, If he went to such lengths to restrict access.
“Why did you come into this room, Garfield?” Sophia realized Garfield was handling the space very naturally as if he had been there many times before.
She scrutinized him suspiciously, wondering if he might have some hidden agenda.
Garfield stood silently in front of the fireplace, gazing contemplatively at the portrait hanging on the wall.
“Along with Young Master Killian, this is His Excellency, the former Grand Duke, and Lady Rivelon,” Garfield explained.
Sophia’s gaze shifted to the portrait at his words.
The portrait depicted three figures.
A woman in an elegant cobalt dress was seated on a sofa, a tall man standing gently beside her with his hand resting on her shoulder, and a young child who looked to be about six years old.
“Killian…” Sophia murmured to herself.
He appeared small and adorable compared to his current self. However, his black hair and red eyes were unmistakably his.
The man standing behind the woman bore a striking resemblance to Killian. Anyone could tell he was Killian’s father.
But he exuded a more dignified and solemn aura than Killian, perhaps due to his thick fur cloak and beard.
In contrast, Killian’s mother had the distinctive fair skin and silver hair typical of northern people, radiating a charming yet warm atmosphere.
They looked genuinely happy in the painting.
“Although no paintings are hanging inside the house, this one seems to have found a permanent place here,” Garfield remarked.
Come to think of it, no paintings were adorning Killian’s mansion interiors. The walls were always kept neat, with decorations difficult to come by.
“This painting was probably completed just a few months before the accident. His Excellency appears to be about the right age for it,” Sophia speculated.
“… But how do you know this, Garfield?” Sophia turned to Garfield, who was gazing at Killian’s past depicted in the painting.
Garfield met her eyes as he shifted his gaze away from the painting. Sophia scrutinized his eyes closely, but couldn’t decipher their meaning.
Without answering, Garfield quietly watched her for a moment before moving on. He stopped in front of a bookshelf that covered the entire wall.
“I’ve been in His Excellency’s service for nearly a decade now,” Garfield said, scanning through the shelves of books.
“Though it feels like it passed in the blink of an eye, much has happened over these ten years.”
Then, Garfield touched a red book nestled under the bottom of the shelf. There was a click as the lock mechanism released from within the bookshelf.
“And the butler must know every nook and cranny of the mansion,” Garfield smiled, pushing the bookshelf. Simultaneously, the large shelf began to slide open like a secret door.
A new space emerged.
Sophia gasped in surprise, struck by the appearance of a secret room straight out of a movie.
“His Excellency probably doesn’t know that I’m aware of this place,” Garfield chuckled, amused by Sophia’s astonished reaction.
He gestured for Sophia to follow him into the hidden space.
Momentarily stunned by the surprise, Sophia worried Garfield might lock her out once he entered the secret room. Quickly, she followed him inside.
“It’s not very spacious. It’s designed not to draw attention from the outside,” Garfield explained as Sophia entered.
True to his words, the space was about the size of a small room, filled almost to capacity with notes and documents pinned to the walls. Scattered among them were familiar names occasionally written here and there.
Sophia exclaimed, unable to find words upon seeing the layout of the secret space.
“Howard Viprons Rivelon, Mischa Roldis Rivelon, Beatrice, Mikhail, Fideut, Percel, Estelle, and Fraus. There were also names of various high-ranking officials and close nobles associated with the Empress whom he had tried to contact.”
Killian had pursued this matter longer than Sophia had realized.
“These traces encompass His Excellency’s entire life. He has lived for this alone since long ago,” Garfield remarked, placing the lamp on the table.
Killian’s accumulated records from the past left Sophia’s mind in a whirl of complexity.
But what caught her eye most was a white mask hanging on one wall.
“That’s…!”
It was the mask of Fideut to conceal his face, and proof of his affiliation also with the Black Moon.
Sophia’s spine chilled momentarily.
“Garfield, then…!”
As Sophia hurriedly turned to him, Garfield quietly met her gaze.
“It seems you knew everything,” she murmured.
“…!”
“I thought there must be a reason His Excellency keeps you close,” Garfield nodded as if he had foreseen everything.
“But… then…!”
“Do not worry. I didn’t call you to report this. It’s the opposite.”
Garfield said, glancing over Killian’s gathered records.
“Her Majesty wishes to find direct evidence that His Excellency is the Black Moon. Perhaps in the morning, Orhel will start searching for the mansion.”
“…!”
Sophia swallowed hard at Garfield’s revelation of knowing more than she had anticipated.
She still couldn’t accurately gauge his intentions.
Friend or foe, observer, or helper?
“Orhel will surely seek hidden spaces. They’re just like the Empress’s hands,” Garfield continued.
“They are convinced that Killian is the Black Moon and will thoroughly search the mansion.”
“If they decide to search the mansion, it won’t be difficult for them to find this space.”
“So… I was thinking it might be best to tidy up this space before it’s discovered. But it’s too much for me to do alone before morning.”
Garfield chuckled before bowing politely.
“It’s not a task I would normally ask of you, but I have no one else to turn to. Would you help organize this place?”
Sophia’s heart tingled unexpectedly at his unexpected proposal.
She had always been wary of Garfield. Since Nicholas betrayed Killian, she couldn’t be sure Garfield wouldn’t do the same.
But Garfield was sincerely working for Killian.
“Why…? Aren’t you supposed to follow Her Majesty, the Empress?” she asked.
Garfield smiled lightly and nodded.
“Yes, I followed Her Majesty the Empress. However… I have also served His Excellency, Grand Duke Killian, for a long time.”
Garfield looked down at his weathered hands.
He recalled the long years spent with Killian.
(T/L: I don’t know whether he is on their side or not.)
