TTRIA 3

“That is correct. The current head of the family is also carrying on the wishes of his predecessor. However, while we give the children their freedom, the teacher must remain at the mansion. It would be good if you could show your face at the event, even for a moment. You understand, don’t you?”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Good.”

The agent added as he organized the documents.

“If I may add, the event continues until the evening, but as long as you fulfill the minimum courtesy, you are free to spend your time as you wish afterward. Going out will be difficult, but you may take a personal rest as much as you like within the mansion.”

“I understand.”

“Well then, all that’s left is….”

It was decided that the actual classes would begin the day after tomorrow. However, because he needed to grasp the children’s levels, they decided to conduct a simple test tomorrow.

It would be his first meeting with the children.

When he came out of the reception room, the servant was nowhere to be seen. It would have been burdensome if he had been followed closely, so it was a relief that he was not. Inwardly relieved, Jeff walked leisurely, looking at the wall full of picture frames.

‘This is incredible….’

The third floor of this beautiful mansion was both a gallery rich in history and a splendid banquet hall. It was a perfect match for the attire in the countless unknown portraits that filled the walls. A space where it felt like their spirits could flow out and start dancing at any moment. He felt he wouldn’t be surprised even if ghosts appeared at night. Since most of the portraits were likely of the deceased, it wasn’t entirely wrong. It was at that moment, as he was having these pointless thoughts and passing by each portrait one by one.

His feet came to a stop.

It was a strange thing. Because he felt the illusion that something had caught his steps. As if it were telling him to stop in this very spot. As if it were forcing him to see what was here, to meet eyes with the portrait.

Jeff slowly raised his head. There was a frame there. A dark background, jet-black hair painted with elegant brushstrokes.

And,

blue eyes.

As deep as a swamp, and somehow cool. A color that bloomed a strange emotion the longer one’s gaze lingered. If one were to melt mysterious emptiness and melancholy and make it into a jewel, it would probably have that kind of light. Jeff, without realizing it, held his breath.

Just as he was reaching out his hand, as if being pulled into the swamp.

“It is beautiful, isn’t it?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Jeff quickly turned his head. The butler, who had arrived without him even noticing, was gazing at the person in the frame.

“How can the color black be so beautiful.”

“……”

“Don’t you think so?”

The added words were not seeking agreement. It was a statement of conviction. Jeff, frowning slightly, asked.

“How long have you been watching?”

“Not for long. You seemed so focused…. I apologize if I startled you.”

The butler offered an apology with a bow. When he shook his head lightly, the old man with a benevolent face met his gaze and added.

“Do you remember what I said a moment ago?”

“I remember you saying it was beautiful.”

Jeff added, glancing at the portrait.

“And even that it was beautiful despite being black.”

“Precisely. You have a good memory.”

“Has a torrential amount of time passed without my knowledge?”

He didn’t think it was enough to be praised for having a good memory. To the words tinged with a smile, the old butler replied.

“I was a little surprised that you heard me correctly even in a situation where you were startled by me.”

“I appreciate the generous compliment. Though, to be honest, I think anyone would remember that much. But more than that, I’m curious as to what it is you wish to say.”

“Ah, it is nothing grand. As you can see, I am a conventional old man, so my standard of beauty was also narrow-minded. I used to think that blond hair and blue eyes were the most beautiful colors a person could have and the ideal harmony. Until I saw the young master, no. The head of the family, that is.”

The old butler’s head turned towards the frame. To be precise, towards the portrait of the one with jet-black hair and aquamarine blue eyes. Jeff uttered the name of the one in the portrait in a whisper.

“…Wayne Gray.”

The young master of this grand mansion and the perfumer of <Vebreuk> who creates enchanting scents.

“So the person in the painting was the current head of the family.”

The owner of the beautiful portrait that had forcibly held Jeff’s steps was none other than Wayne Gray.

“He is a beautiful person.”

“Indeed, isn’t he?”

“Yes. To be honest, to a slightly surprising degree.”

“Beauty begets another beauty. That is the reason the scents of <Vebreuk> are so enchanting.”

“I heard he is a genius perfumer.”

Jeff spoke as if asking the portrait.

“That he creates all the scents of <Vebreuk> himself.”

“That is correct. Everything is born through his hands.”

“Then he must know the perfumes of his predecessors well.”

“Of course, he does. He is well-versed in the entire history of <Vebreuk>. However, since officially inheriting the family, he has not produced the scents of his predecessors. Because he is creating scents that surpass them.”

Jeff turned his head and looked at the butler as he asked.

“Does that mean the perfumes of his predecessors are not currently sold?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“What about perfumes similar to those of his predecessors?”

“Those ignorant of scents might feel they are similar, but in reality, there are no scents among those created by the current head of the family that would be reminiscent of the predecessors’.”

The old butler stroked his wrinkled chin once.

“He is creating a new <Vebreuk>. But.”

A strange question was tinged in the butler’s gaze as he looked at Jeff.

“You seem to be very interested in the predecessors’ scents. Have you perhaps used one before?”

“No. That’s not it.”

Jeff’s gaze turned back to Wayne Gray’s portrait.

“I was just curious. I’ve heard that the scents of <Vebreuk> are very enchanting, so… should I say I’m impressed by the talent of the current head of the family, who forges his own unique scents without inheriting what is already guaranteed. I’m envious, too.”

I’m only saying this because he’s not here, but he’s around the same age as me, isn’t he? When he added that, the old butler smiled. It was the face of someone looking at a childish grandchild.

“Are you not a talented individual yourself, Mr. Lowell? I heard you are an alumnus of the same school as young master Hugo and that your academic performance is also outstanding.”

“I’m insignificant, so I have to at least make that kind of effort.”

“Ha, insignificant. How can you say such a thing.”

A sigh burst from between the wrinkled lips. At the same time, eyes of unknowable depth quickly scanned Jeff’s face and returned. It happened in an instant, so quickly that he would not have noticed if he hadn’t met his gaze.

‘What was that?’

Towards Jeff, who swallowed a hollow laugh inwardly, the butler, his eyes smoothly curved, said.

“Gold and blue. And black. But as of today, red sepia and amber have been added as well.”

Jeff, smiling with narrowed eyes, retorted.

“…You’re not suddenly trying to pick out curtain colors, I hope. Are you perhaps saying you like my hair and eye color?”

“Yes. I thought they were very beautiful. It is the first time I have felt such an impression from someone other than the young master. It was to the point where a sigh escaped me at your words of being insignificant.”

The butler’s gaze gleamed subtly from behind his glasses.

“It’s a shame they’re hidden by glasses, too. Your bare eyes would be more beautiful.”

“Is that so? Thank you for looking upon them favorably.”

Jeff deliberately adjusted his glasses. He smiled lightly, but an unpleasant aftertaste lingered in his mouth.

“But you have a unique way of complimenting people, butler.”

To speak to a living person as if picking out colors for an object. Even if it was a compliment, it wasn’t particularly pleasant. If he liked it so much, he might as well change the curtain color while he was at it. It would be quite a sight if they were changed to a dull red color, like congealed blood. The aggressive words that had been lingering on the tip of his lips, following his snide thoughts, were barely filtered out.

“I should offer a prayer of thanks to my parents who passed on these colors to me.”

“Because beauty begets another beauty.”

“Begets another beauty, huh.”

Jeff muttered briefly.

“I am far from becoming a parent, and I have no talent for making scents. In that case, I suppose I must do my part and educate the children beautifully.”

The butler sent a steady gaze, then clasped his hands and said.

“Excellent.”

Unpleasant old man.

Jeff, who had changed his impression from a kind butler, smiled brightly.

It was when he was organizing the lesson plans for the gifted children after finishing his review of the educational materials.

“Ah, of all the….”

A breeze that rushed in from the half-open balcony scattered the materials piled on the desk. As he was picking up the fluttering papers, Jeff was suddenly reminded of the young man’s paperweight. Belying his refusal, saying he wouldn’t use it, the dead butterfly trapped in the crystal was doing an excellent job as a paperweight. Did the young man know it would be used so soon?

Thinking of the young man, Jeff suddenly wanted to ask him.

「When the full moon rises, the shadow will be revealed, so let the one with questions chase the shadow. The truth will be revealed.」

Why did you leave me such a message. As if you had seen through the fact that I was chasing something. As if you knew I would need a paperweight.

“…Organizing is a lost cause.”

From the moment the materials were scattered, his concentration had become blurry. Jeff, pressing his brow with the palm of his hand, sighed. A wave of exhaustion washed over him belatedly.

It had been that kind of day. He had taken a train early in the morning, come to an unfamiliar area with no connections, and upon reaching a mansion steeped in long years, he had been fighting with documents until late at night. On top of that, tomorrow was his first meeting with the children. He was the first teacher these children, thirsty for learning, would encounter. Thinking of the heart that had even snuck up to leave a note, he felt a little nervous for some reason.

Jeff checked the test papers he had finished in advance again. No matter how many times he looked, there was nothing to revise.

Yes, this was enough. It would be better to rest now for the sake of tomorrow. He checked the time and organized the typewriter and documents.

—Knock, knock.

The sound of a knock on the door came just as he was getting up.

“Come in.”

“……”

There was no reply. Feeling puzzled, Jeff approached and opened the door.

“…What the.”

There was no one there.

Only the light from the wall sconces, installed at regular intervals, filled the empty hallway.

Was I tired and misheard? It was just as he was about to close the door again. Jeff’s gaze inadvertently fell to his feet. A gift box was placed on the spotless carpet. A recipient’s name was written on the surface of the box, which was tied neatly with a red ribbon.

Jeff Lowell.

The sender was Gray.

Jeff, lifting the small box, took out the card tucked between the ribbons.

「A sincere welcome to the Gray mansion.

I hope you can enjoy the delightful scents here.」

Enjoy the scents. A greeting befitting a perfumer family, indeed. Jeff, with a small laugh, closed the door and leaned his body against it. With the card in his mouth, he slowly untied the ribbon. Swish, the smoothly untied silk ribbon settled on the floor. A subtle fragrance spread from the box. It wasn’t a <Vebreuk> scent that Jeff knew. If he had to say, it was similar to the scent felt in this room. Guessing it was something like an indoor perfume, he opened the box.

“……”

However, contrary to his expectation, what was inside the box was not an indoor perfume. Only a small, ecru-colored handkerchief was lying there forlornly.

“…Scent?”

Formless, yet imbued with a rich fragrance.

—Knock, knock.

He heard a knock on the door.

Blink, he opened his eyes and saw the ceiling decoration. Jeff stared at it blankly. It was strange.

—Knock, knock.

Why was the room so bright? It had clearly been a dark night just a moment ago.

“Mr. Lowell, are you awake?”

He was definitely leaning against the door, holding the box. So why was he lying in bed?

“What is this….”

Jeff, sitting up, pressed his forehead. He then closed his eyes and roughly wiped his dry face. The scenery visible through the cracks in his fingers was completely morning. Light poured in through the slightly open balcony door, and the curtains fluttered in the breeze.

And.

“……”

The box he had been holding in his hand was on the desk.

Along with the silk ribbon that had fallen to the floor.

“Did you, by any chance, come to my room last night?”

Jeff asked the servant who was guiding him to the morning dining room. The servant, stopping in his tracks, answered with a polite attitude.

“If you are asking about the box, then it was me. Because I was the one who left the box in front of Mr. Lowell’s room.”

“Is there a reason you only left the box?”

“Because it is a secret gift from the mansion to Mr. Lowell. A kind of event, you could say.”

The smiling servant’s expression was as smooth as if it were painted. Jeff, looking down at the handsome man, asked.

“When you say a gift from the mansion, are you referring to the ‘scent’ inside the box?”

“Yes, that’s correct. It is an aromatherapy scent that helps to relax the tension in a tired body and aid in sleep. It was a consideration from the mansion for Mr. Lowell, who came a long way.”

As he just stared silently, the servant asked cautiously.

“Was the scent, perhaps, not to your liking?”

“No. That’s not it.”

Jeff, shaking his head, started walking again.

“It was so effective. I was just a little surprised.”

“It is, isn’t it? They say the scents created by the current head of the family are also effective in psychotherapy. Even renowned doctors seek him out. The predecessors’ were excellent, but the scents of <Vebreuk> that the current head of the family is creating are truly beyond words. A heavenly scent, you could say.”

“That’s true. It was a day where I experienced the fame of <Vebreuk> firsthand.”

Jeff naturally played along and added as if it were nothing.

“Ah, but may I ask one more thing.”

“Yes, please do.”

“Have you visited my room since leaving the gift?”

“Since leaving the gift, you ask?”

The servant’s head tilted slightly. He seemed to have difficulty grasping the intention of the question. He shook his head and answered.

“No. I have not.”

“Would that be the same for the other servants?”

“Yes, of course. Unless specifically summoned, a servant will never trespass in a room of the mansion without permission.”

“I see.”

Jeff slowly nodded his head.

“But why do you ask such a question. Did something happen last night, by any chance?”

For a moment, anxiety flickered across the servant’s face. He seemed afraid of being strangely misunderstood. Jeff, who had been staring at him for a moment, lightly shook his head.

“No. It’s nothing. I think I saw something in my sleep. Looking at it now, it seems I had a wild dream.”

“That often happens in an unfamiliar environment. I was the same way.”

Only then did the servant’s face regain its original color. Jeff, with a faint smile, turned his head towards the hallway window. He could see his own subtly stiffened face.

“……”

This is truly strange.

To think that no one came. He had no memory of putting the box away or of getting into bed.

What was certain was that he had been feeling tired around the time he checked the box. And that his sense of smell was more sensitive than others. If the scent in the box was the type that relieved tension, as the servant had said, he would have easily felt its effects. That’s why he had fallen asleep as if he had fainted, and the servant had helped clean up. Is what, he had definitely thought.

If that wasn’t it, then did he himself organize everything and go to bed? Intoxicated by the scent in the box? No matter how tired he was, could that be possible?

While he found it hard to understand, the thought that it could be possible collided with his doubt. In this world, there are definitely things that cannot be understood, and life is a series of contradictions. He himself last night must have been in a state similar to being drunk. If so, it was roughly understandable. Although he had never been drunk to the point of blacking out, he had a roommate who had experienced it countless times.

“……”

I’ll know for sure if I smell it again later.

Jeff turned his head as if to push the thought away. Sunlight poured in from beyond the hallway. He followed the servant, stepping on the plush carpet. For now, he was more curious about the luxurious mansion’s breakfast.

The meeting with the children took place in the first-floor reception room.

“Greet him. This is Mr. Jeff Lowell, the teacher who will be in charge of your basic education from now on.”

The agent’s voice filled the space. Three pairs of eyes turned to Jeff all at once. The children’s gazes hesitated between curiosity and nervousness. Jeff greeted them with a gentle smile.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Jeff Lowell. I’d like it if you would comfortably call me Mr. Lowell. Let’s do our best from now on.”

However, the children could not easily open their mouths. They hesitated, looking Jeff up and down as if wary of a still-unfamiliar adult. The agent, confirming this, narrowed his brow in displeasure.

“You’re tarnishing the name of Gray. Stop being rude and answer him at once, can’t you?”

As the scolding fell, the children flinched and hunched their shoulders. At the moment the two boys were hesitating and glancing at each other, the smallest girl took a step forward.

“Hello, Mr. Lowell. My name is Mila Hughes. I look forward to working with you.”