TTRIA 26

Then what was Allen’s purpose as a tutor, not a talent, in the Gray family’s employ? Being an ‘insect’ like Jeff, he wouldn’t have been used as a sacrifice.

Was his role simply to educate as a tutor? Then why did he return to his mother in such a broken state? That condition would have been of no use to the Gray family. And why did the Grays leave him be instead of eliminating him?

“…No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t make sense. It’s not beneficial at all.”

His head throbbed. Pressing his temples, Jeff lifted his tired gaze. The third floor, where the banquet was in full swing. The hidden passages and spaces there. If he could search that place again…

“…….”

Swallowing hard, Jeff climbed the stairs. The melody of the music grew closer. Reaching the final step, he saw elegantly dressed ladies. Everyone in the banquet hall, sipping pale golden champagne and blood-red wine, wore leisurely, gentle expressions, enjoying the moment. Their night seemed more vibrant and splendid than the day.

His empty stomach churned with nausea. His gut, having swallowed nothing, twisted. Jeff turned into the corridor before a bustling servant’s gaze could reach him. Nearing the drawing room, he spotted Cecil in a portrait adorning the wall. Seeing him eased his breathing slightly, but staring into the duller-than-real blue eyes tightened his chest heavily.

“…….”

Where are you now? Wayne is still here.

If your pained state every full moon is truly Wayne’s fault, I’d rather he be engrossed in the banquet and not come looking for you. Whispering silently to the portrait, Jeff stepped forward again.

Unlike during the day, the study was unlocked. Confirming no one was inside, Jeff descended to the underground space. Perhaps due to the storm of emotions that had swept through him, he felt an odd detachment from reality. He didn’t know where this confidence came from, but he even thought it wouldn’t matter if he got caught. Fear didn’t grip him. With the anxiety and worry that once constrained his actions gone, he had nothing to hold him back.

Jeff reached the two doors again. One he knew, the other a mystery. Just as he found clues about Allen beyond the red door that evoked flames, could he meet Cecil beyond the blue door that reminded him of her? Could he face the hidden ‘insects’ and ‘sacrifices’?

“…….”

He needed to search for information about the talents and Allen in the room beyond the red door. That’s why he came, yet he couldn’t easily step forward. Jeff stared at the two doors for a while. Finally, he decided to follow his heart. With a faint smile, Jeff opened the blue door without hesitation.

The corridor, like the one beyond the red door, was adorned with ornate wallpaper and lights. The difference, perhaps, was that it seemed to lead deeper. The chilly air and its density were distinctly different. Walking along the seemingly endless path, Jeff suddenly sensed particles of scent. It was the familiar ‘insect’ fragrance.

At that moment, it felt like someone pushed his back. His steps gradually quickened. Forgetting the pain in his left foot, Jeff was soon running. When the scent’s intensity peaked, the end of the seemingly endless path appeared.

A venomously vivid, chillingly blue door stood there. A cold shiver ran down his spine. An indescribable, eerie unease mixed with intense exhilaration gripped his heart. He had a premonition that opening this door would reveal the ‘truth.’

His pounding heartbeat echoed in his ears. Pressing his chest and swallowing, Jeff reached out. Enduring the metal’s coldness, he pushed, and with a creak—resembling a scream—the door opened.

“…….”

It was the mansion’s hidden perfumery workshop.

The first thing that caught his eye was an antique-colored wooden piece dominating the room’s center. Resembling an organ table, the tiered perfumery station held dozens of fragrance materials. Beakers, graduated cylinders, scales, funnels, droppers, and test strips were arranged on it. Over countless years, this was where ’s fragrances were born.

Stepping forward, scents flooded in, as if speaking to him. The chalkboard filled with perfume formulas, notes, and raw material photos carried a scent, as did the softly glowing lights.

Jeff approached the most intense scent. An elegant cabinet lined one wall, filled with ’s historical perfume bottles. Early designs were plain, evolving subtly over generations.

At one point, a noticeable change appeared. The bottle’s decorations took the form of insects.

It began with a ‘bee.’ Delicate silverwork encasing the glass depicted a bee. Following were bottles shaped like a praying mantis, ant, and moth—artworks exuding a craftsman’s essence, yet overly ornate. Thus, the second change stood out starkly.

Stripped of silver, the glass bottles revealed graceful curves. Their seemingly simple form felt extraordinary due to the cap’s shape.

“…Butterfly.”

The intricately crafted butterfly seemed alive. Light reflected off the smoothly carved wing edges, mimicking the layered structure of butterfly wings.

“It’s similar to what I saw earlier.”

Jeff recalled something he glimpsed before leaving the red door’s room. On the table where he hid, a small glass bottle shaped like a butterfly had rested. Thinking it was merely a craft, he realized it was a perfume bottle. Though a fleeting memory, the one in the red room was undoubtedly more beautiful. Likely for next month’s perfume testing.

“Something…”

A sudden déjà vu hit. Staring at the bottle, Jeff frowned. The butterfly’s form resembled something in a paperweight—a ‘Cercis Blue’ from a young man.

The beautiful blue butterfly. Simultaneously, the perfume’s name under the cabinet caught Jeff’s eye.

“…Cecil.”

The butterfly-inspired perfume was named ‘Cecil.’ It marked the change Wayne introduced as ’s perfumer and family head. His first creation was ‘Cecil,’ and numerous ‘Cecil’ series had since emerged.

“…He’s not an ordinary servant. He’s someone I deeply cherish, like my muse.”

Cecil was ’s muse and fragrance source. His essence likely took a butterfly’s form. The Gray family used insect shapes to expand ’s collection. And Wayne Gray created only ‘Cecil.’

“That crazy bastard…”

Wayne Gray was unhinged. His attitude toward his twin brother went beyond normal sibling affection, verging on bizarre.

If he were a sane human, he’d have corrected the family’s injustice of concealing Cecil’s existence. He should have ensured Cecil’s rights and freedom, allowed him to live in the mansion, not confined to an annex, and let Cecil choose his residence.

Wayne caged his brother under the guise of a muse, exploiting his uniqueness. He used this cherished inspiration to deceive outsiders.

Obsessing over his brother’s name and scent in perfumes, yet recklessly endangering Cecil—Jeff couldn’t comprehend Wayne’s actions. Hiding Cecil from outsiders during ‘Eden’ events, yet tolerating Jeff’s closeness to him—what was this contradiction?

Why does he go to such lengths? What is he thinking? Confusion and rage muddled Jeff’s mind. Biting his cheek, he clutched his throbbing forehead, unable to look away from ‘Cecil.’

“…….”

He had to find Cecil. Glaring at the bottle with bloodshot eyes, Jeff stepped back. Amid the flood of scents, the strongest came from the cabinet. But the displayed bottles were empty, meaning the scent came from beyond.

Jeff examined the cabinet’s surface. As expected, a small button was hidden in the wood’s grain. Pressing it, the massive cabinet slid smoothly, revealing it was a sliding door. As the hidden space opened, a scent hit him.

“Ugh…!”

The dizzyingly dense fragrance choked him. Covering his nose and mouth, Jeff staggered. Regaining his breath, he looked up at the scene beyond.

“What is this….”

There were ‘insects.’ Not the human-masked ‘insects’ Jeff knew, but real insects displayed in glass jars. Their uniqueness was evident only through their ‘scent,’ identical to the ‘insect’ fragrance of Allen Walker, Cecil, Hugo, and the children.

He thought people with ‘insect’ scents and shadows were hidden here. Why were actual insect forms present? Why did they carry their ‘scent’?

“Why…”

Did beings with insects’ true forms exist, not just in ‘human’ guise? Or was this their real form, able to exist without human shells? How?

A hollow laugh escaped Jeff’s confused lips. Staring at the insects, he approached slowly. Reaching out cautiously, the insects sensed him and began thrashing. Winged ones flew, hitting the jar walls; others crawled frantically, as if wanting to reach Jeff. Perhaps they reacted to his wound’s scent.

The sound of countless legs and flapping wings, combined with an explosive scent, sent chills through him. Covering his nose and backing away, Jeff’s back hit a wall. Feeling something press, a wall panel rotated like a revolving door. The hidden space didn’t end here.

No hollow laugh came now. Staring wearily at the wall, Jeff turned. Feeling the panel, he found a recessed part. Pressing it, the wall rotated again.

Pushing the wall, it didn’t budge, likely locked from his earlier press. Returning to the panel, Jeff pressed it and pushed the wall, which moved smoothly.

Beyond was a staircase descending into thick darkness. Staring at it, Jeff felt breathless. How far down did this go? How far did it extend? He wouldn’t be surprised if a catacomb lay beneath.

Too much information hit at once. Jeff pressed his throbbing temples. His gaze was on the stairs, but his nerves were still caught by the ‘insects’ in the jars.

“Ha… I don’t know anymore.”

Returning to the cabinet, Jeff stared at the jars. After a long look, he picked an inconspicuous one from the edge. Inside was a small, less active white butterfly. The jar’s size was perfect for hiding in his clothes. Watching its quivering wings, Jeff wrapped it in a handkerchief and tucked it into his pants.

The other insects stirred loudly, as if upset at not being chosen—or was that his imagination?

With a complex gaze, Jeff descended the stairs beyond the wall. A dank, red-brick underground prison unfolded. The space stretched deep and long, its end indiscernible. Arched sections lined with black iron bars seemed inescapable.

The oil lamps on the walls cast weak light. The barred sections were shrouded in darkness, obscuring their interiors. Were ‘insects’ and ‘sacrifices’ caged there? Stiffly, Jeff took a cautious step.

Walking the long corridor, he checked the barred sections but found no one. They seemed unused, but he couldn’t be sure. Scanning warily, Jeff reached the corridor’s end and clicked his tongue. Unseen from afar, it was a T-shaped space. The endless paths felt like an anthill.

How far must he go? Where was Cecil? Could he even find her? Checking his watch with frustration, Jeff bit his lip. It was nearing 10 PM. He wanted to find Cecil before it got later, but the end was out of sight. Like a maze…

“…Maze?”

A sudden realization hit like a blow to the head.

Yes, a maze! This might be beneath the maze, not the mansion. Tracing his path, it seemed plausible. Sierra and Cecil had escaped from the maze, and though no ‘sacrifices’ were visible, this was clearly a place for imprisoning people.

“If this is really under the maze, there must be a way up.”

Clutching the jar in his pocket, Jeff stepped forward. The left path was a dead end, but the right corridor’s end had a staircase, as expected. It was long and steep. Ascending, the air felt different from the prison below.

“Too dark…”

The wall-mounted lamps made it hard to see. Jeff descended to find something to light the way. Luckily, he found a lantern. Its weak light was better than nothing.

Climbing again, Jeff illuminated his surroundings. The scenery was starkly different. A vibrant mural mimicking a forest made him forget he was underground. The floor’s intricate tiles and arched columns evoked a luxurious palace or majestic temple.

“What is this place…”

Raising the lantern, Jeff walked slowly. Despite the grandeur, it felt desolate. Was no one here? Where was the entrance? There must be another passage, but the dim lantern light revealed none.

How long had he walked? As he moved mechanically, a scent suddenly flooded in. Jeff knew instantly.

“…Cecil.”

Yes, this was Cecil’s scent.

Focusing on the dreamy fragrance, Jeff’s steps quickened. Soon, he was running. As the scent’s intensity peaked, he faced a door. Its grand form heightened his tension. Wiping sweaty hands on his pants, Jeff swallowed nervously.

Beyond the slowly opening door, a scent flooded from the darkness. Breathing deeply, Jeff raised the lantern. The room, with nature-mimicking murals like the corridor, held only a massive canopy bed. A man’s silhouette showed through the blue chiffon curtains.

“…….”

The full moon. The day when an ‘insect’s’ essence and ‘fragrance’ intensify. As if proving it, a dreamy scent wafted from the figure. The intoxicating fragrance made his heart pound. Jeff approached the motionless figure lying on the bed.

“…Cecil?”

During those painful dawns when she suffered, he had smelled this scent. It was incomparably captivating yet felt piercingly potent. But now, it was an indescribable beauty.

Her sleeping breaths echoed in the dark, unnoticed by his presence. The lantern’s light, hanging below her sprawled hand, didn’t reveal her silhouette. Raising his arm would show her form fully—her full-moon self, her shadow.

An uncontrollable impulse surged. Forgetting to breathe, Jeff cautiously extended his left hand. The cool, soft curtain slid aside. A man lay as if dead in Wayne’s hidden nest. Raising the lantern with trembling hands, the figure in the darkness, eyes closed, was vividly revealed by the light.

Jet-black hair like the night sky. A white forehead peeking through disheveled strands. A straight nose above swollen, bitten lips. Cecil, pale and sweating coldly, lay with eyes closed. Facing her doll-like, pitiful expression, Jeff’s chest tightened.

“Cecil.”

Reaching toward her pale cheek, Jeff paused. Swallowing briefly, he carefully withdrew his hand and raised the lantern higher with his right. The shadow beneath the crumpled sheets stretched with the light’s angle. The revealed form was…

“…Butterfly.”

A butterfly. Its wings shimmered on the white sheets. He’d guessed her essence was butterfly-shaped from the perfume bottle, but seeing it with his own eyes felt surreal.

“Ah…!”

Staring blankly, Jeff’s hand lost strength. Thud, the lantern fell onto the bedding. Reaching to grab it, he was too late. Cecil, who had been sleeping like the dead, opened her eyes. Spotting Jeff in the dim light, her blue eyes hardened.

“Cecil, wait…!”

Pulling the sheets and rising, Cecil left the bed. The fallen lantern shattered with a sharp sound, extinguishing the dim light instantly.

“Cecil!”

Rushing forward, Jeff grabbed the sheet’s edge. Still, Cecil didn’t stop. Tripping on his weakened left foot in the pitch darkness, Jeff collapsed. Thud! Clutching the sheet, he rose without feeling pain. Grasping the sheet still warm with Cecil’s heat, he reached into the void.

“…Cecil.”

His eyes, adjusting to the darkness, faintly caught her form. Cecil stood still, not fleeing. Noticing her body faced him, Jeff dragged his left foot, approaching cautiously. His trembling fingers touched her cold cheek. Flinching, Cecil pulled back, but—

“Sorry.”

Jeff, pulling her close by the neck, whispered.

“I’m sorry.”

Embracing her stiff body, he apologized.

“For checking without your consent, on my own.”

“…….”

Cecil’s held breath burst out tremblingly. Unable to embrace Jeff back, she spoke faintly.

“Did you see?”

Her weak voice pained him. Jeff couldn’t easily respond.

“…Everything?”

Biting his lip hard, Jeff hugged her tighter.

“Yes. I saw everything.”

At that, Cecil’s head drooped weakly. In a sunken voice, she murmured.

“Then… you won’t look at me anymore.”

Resignation. It was a deeply sorrowful resignation. Swallowing at her piercing words, Jeff pulled back. Flinching at the loss of warmth, Cecil instinctively leaned forward. But Jeff, cupping her cheeks firmly, asked in a resolute voice.

“Why say that?”

“Why?”

Her lowered eyelids trembled slightly. Her wavering blue eyes met Jeff’s, fragile like cracked glass, ready to shatter. Feeling an ominous premonition, Jeff’s breath sank. He spoke urgently.

“Cecil, you…”

“Because.”

Cecil cut him off. Unsuppressed emotions leaked through her quivering lips. Awkwardly raising the corners of her mouth, she said.

“Because I’m… the ‘insect’ you hate.”

“…I knew you were an ‘insect’ from the start. You knew that too. So why say that?”

Jeff spat out, face contorted. Cecil’s lips drooped weakly.

“But Jeff…”

She added faintly.

“That was before you saw it with your own eyes.”

She gripped Jeff’s hands on her cheeks. Tears welled in her darkened blue eyes. Her voice carried resentment.

“You said you knew, yet you checked my shadow today.”

Jeff, lips pressed, stared silently at Cecil.

“You wanted to deny I was an ‘insect.’”

Her wavering eyes sharpened.

“You didn’t believe it.”

As Jeff swallowed a trembling breath, Cecil’s voice grew rougher.

“If you truly accepted I was different, you wouldn’t have come here to check my shadow…!”

As her final words burst out, Cecil shook off Jeff’s hands forcefully. She began scratching her face roughly. Jeff’s eyes widened.

“Cecil!”

He quickly grabbed her wrists. But Cecil, rejecting his warmth, thrashed wildly. Desperate, Jeff pulled her into a tight embrace.

“That’s not it. It wasn’t about not trusting you…!”

“Then why are you here?”

Cecil breathed heavily.

“Why did you find me? Why check my shadow?”

“Because I was worried about you!”