TTRIA 8

“Of course, Jeff. There are quite a lot.”

He continued speaking with an attitude as if asking something obvious.

“But I narrow it down to about five types and give instructions. It is the butler’s job to choose the scent according to the guest.”

“…So it was the butler who chose the scent.”

“He has a good nose for scents. He has worked here his whole life, so it is only natural. But why do you ask that? Is there perhaps some problem with the scent?”

“Ah….”

After a short silence, Jeff answered in a low voice.

“Actually, it seems I started having sleepwalking symptoms after smelling the scent in the box.”

“Is that true?”

Wayne’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Can you tell me what kind of scent it was?”

Jeff carefully retraced his memories.

“Um… it was refreshing like being in a forest, yet subtly sweet like cinnamon. It was cool like peppermint but strangely bitter, and like warm earth… with a somewhat musty feeling, I suppose. Anyway, it was very unique, but it is difficult to express in words.”

“No, Jeff. That is excellent. Because I think I know which scent you are talking about.”

Wayne, who had pressed the buzzer to call a servant, gave some instructions. Not long after, a well-maintained silver tray was placed on the table. On the shiny silver tray, there was a white handkerchief of a familiar material and a glass container holding oil.

Wayne dropped a drop of oil onto the handkerchief with a fluid motion. He lightly brushed the handkerchief against the tip of his nose and then slowly looked at Jeff. Soon, the area under his eyes curved up.

“As I thought.”

A small laugh formed.

“It was this scent.”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

Jeff looked at the handkerchief in Wayne’s hand. Even without having to take it, the lingering scent that spread told him. That this was the same as the scent that came every night. But it was strange. Why is it okay now? Far from losing consciousness, it was actually providing a strange sense of stability.

As Jeff, now confused, focused his attention on the scent, Wayne opened his mouth.

“It is a scent that combines valerian, melissa, and hops.”

Jeff raised his gaze and stared at Wayne.

“Valerian has a calming effect that helps with sleep and helps to relax a tense state. However, the scent is quite strong to be used alone, so it is usually used after being neutralized, and melissa has good compatibility.”

Wayne placed the handkerchief on the table and continued speaking gently.

“Scents are very interesting, Jeff. Depending on how you fit the pieces together, they create completely different results. By the way, I had expected it because I heard beforehand, but… Jeff, you are the type to smell the ‘parts’ rather than the ‘whole’ of a scent.”

Jeff silently met Wayne’s gaze.

“You have good qualities. Are you perhaps interested in learning perfumery?”

“No. I have no interest.”

“Is that so? That’s a shame. It is a blessed talent.”

The master of the mansion spoke with a gentle attitude as if placating an offended guest.

“If I may add as the master of this place, the reason the butler chose this scent was probably because he wanted Jeff to live comfortably at the mansion. From what I see, there seems to be no problem with the scent itself, but I will investigate it separately. If Jeff has encountered difficulties because of a scent I made, it is also my role to correct it.”

Jeff swallowed a short sigh and adjusted his glasses that had slipped down.

“Honestly, I’m a little confused. …Why it’s okay now.”

He recalled the fragments of consciousness that had disappeared in an instant.

“I would fall asleep as if I had fainted just by smelling the scent.”

“I will have to investigate to know for sure, but I think the sleep-inducing component acted strongly on Jeff.”

Wayne lightly tapped the table with his fingertips.

“It’s a type of side effect, in a way.”

A side effect? Jeff’s brow furrowed slightly. Wayne’s gaze slowly swept over Jeff.

“Besides, the effect of a scent often changes depending on the body’s condition. When Jeff’s biological rhythm is preparing for sleep, the scent might be accepted more comfortably, but in an awakened state like now where biological activity is active, the reaction to the scent might not be fully accepted.”

“Then, will it be different again if I smell it at night?”

“Well, Jeff. We’ll know when we check.”

Wayne, shrugging his shoulders, gestured lightly. The servant who was waiting by his side immediately cleared the table and left the drawing-room.

“But for now, your body is in a state of shock, so it would be better to refrain. We cannot rule out the possibility that a trauma to the scent has developed. Let’s try again after you have stabilized first. And for the time being, I will have someone stay with you at dawn. Because there is a risk of getting hurt.”

“……”

Damn it, this has become a nuisance. Jeff, clicking his tongue inwardly, shook his head.

“No. There is no need to go that far. Yesterday was a special situation, and I don’t usually leave my room.”

“There is no law that a special situation will not happen again, Jeff. As you know, there are many stairs in the mansion. There are sharp decorations everywhere, and there are even children. Please understand that this is to prepare for any potential danger. You are my precious guest before you are an employee.”

“Ah….”

In fact, Jeff had no right to refuse Wayne’s words. He could not yet be sure that the scent was what caused the sleepwalking, and regardless of the facts, the very fact that an employee suffers from sleepwalking provides grounds for dismissal.

If it had been another family, they would have probably cut him off without mercy, finding it impudent. It was no different from repaying goodwill with a disgraceful act. Wayne’s handling of the situation was rather generous.

Even if it is a bit of a nuisance, this is not bad. I had expected that he would not easily fire me since he emphasized treating me as Hugo’s guest, but I had always kept the worst-case scenario in mind.

“Yes, I understand. I am grateful for your kindness.”

“Don’t mention it. Then shall we talk about the children now?”

“Ah… may I ask just one more thing before that, if you don’t mind?”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

Wayne’s gaze scanned Jeff narrowly. Jeff, who had been moving his lips for a moment to organize the sentences in his head, opened his mouth.

“I have something I would like to ask about the scent that comes from Hugo.”

“Hugo’s scent?”

A look of interest flickered across his blue eyes.

“When I first met Hugo at the university, I smelled a familiar scent.”

Jeff slowly continued, observing Wayne’s reaction.

“It was a scent I had smelled from someone in my childhood. He was not wealthy enough to own a <Vebreuk> scent. But it was definitely the same <Vebreuk> scent as Hugo’s. That is, if my memory is not faulty.”

Wayne took a sip of his tea and listened quietly.

“I understand that <Vebreuk> perfumes are not something anyone can easily obtain. Therefore, the conclusion I reached was only one.”

Jeff, who had caught his breath slightly, added his words.

“That he had stolen a <Vebreuk> perfume.”

The light clinking sound of a teacup echoed in the quiet drawing-room. Wayne, who had put down his cup and fixed his gaze on Jeff, opened his mouth.

“Continue.”

“Of course, I do not know how he stole it. But in the end, he got his hands on the perfume, and he was implicitly spraying it. And I smelled it.”

Yes, perhaps he had hidden it in the crevices of his massive flesh and sprayed it frequently. To hide his own foul smell.

Wayne, who was meeting his gaze fixedly, asked.

“When did you smell the scent?”

“It was 15 years ago, when I was seven.”

“15 years ago…. That’s longer ago than I thought. Seven is a very young age.”

Jeff nodded his head calmly.

“That’s right. It was a long time ago. It’s possible that I am confusing the scents because I was young. Until I met Hugo, I myself had forgotten about scents like that.”

Because I had been blinded only by other forms, the scent was like a trace buried in a long-lost memory.

“But the moment I smelled that scent from Hugo, the forgotten past came back to life.”

Swallowing dryly, he continued.

“It may sound ridiculous, but it felt as if I had returned to that moment. I met that person in that memory, and once again, I smelled that scent.”

“It’s okay, Jeff. I understand completely. I sometimes have that experience too. Moments when memories are brought back by a scent. In fact, I sometimes create a scent solely to preserve a certain moment.”

Wayne whispered in a very gentle manner. It was as if he were offering comfort. As if to say, I will not take it strangely, so speak comfortably. Jeff felt a little embarrassed.

“…At that time, I asked Hugo about the scent.”

He lowered his gaze for a moment and then looked at Wayne again.

“He replied that it was a new perfume his hyung had sent him. But as time passed, and when I received the offer to be a tutor at the mansion from him, I learned. That the perfume was ultimately not released. Because of my impression that it felt familiar.”

“Ah, that’s right. There was such a time. Haha, but that was something like my own greed, so it’s not something Jeff should feel sorry about.”

“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease.”

Jeff, who had smiled awkwardly, gave a light bow. And then he cautiously added.

“I didn’t realize it at the time, but after coming to the mansion, a question arose. If it’s a perfume that wasn’t released, what was the scent I had been smelling all this time? Because Hugo always smelled the same as when I first saw him.”

His light amber eyes, receiving the light of Coley, shone even more brightly yellow.

“And one more thing, I heard that you, Mr. Wayne, do not produce the scents of your predecessors. And yet, why do I perceive the scent of the past, which is clearly from a predecessor, as identical to Hugo’s? The two should be distinctly different perfumes.”

“Hmm, that would probably be….”

Wayne, leaning loosely back in his chair, said with his chin in his hand.

“Because the same raw materials were used. I just don’t produce the perfumes of my predecessors, not that I don’t use the raw materials they used.”

Wayne added in a low tone.

“And that raw material is also an ingredient that is never missing from <Vebreuk>.”

An ingredient that is never missing from <Vebreuk>? Jeff’s expression wavered slightly. Wayne continued speaking, loosely interlocking his fingers.

“Jeff, you sensed the component of a specific raw material. As I said earlier, you have a talent for smelling the pieces of a scent.”

“……”

So it was that the same raw materials were used. One question was resolved. Now it was the turn for the rest. Jeff, who had nodded his head, opened his mouth again.

“I see. Is it possible that the raw materials you used can also be used as food ingredients?”

“Why are you curious about that?”

Jeff answered without hesitation.

“Because the children have the same scent. But it was strange that children who do not use perfume had the same scent. Now that I’ve heard what you said, Mr. Wayne, I wonder if the reason is that they have ingested the raw materials of the scent. Body odor is also related to eating habits.”

If it is an edible ingredient, doesn’t that explain why the dog also had the same scent? But contrary to his expectations, Wayne’s answer was firm.

“I’m sorry, but that is not an edible ingredient.”

“…It’s not.”

“No, Jeff. That is something that can never be eaten.”

After giving a firm answer, Wayne narrowed his eyes as if thinking for a moment.

“And regarding the children, I will look into it separately. I’m curious too. How the scent of the raw materials is coming from the children.”

Jeff, who was watching his face carefully, hastily added.

“In addition, I also smelled the scent from that dog, Ego. The scent of the raw materials.”

“…My, my, unexpected words are coming out one after another. Alright. I’ll look into that too.”

Jeff, who was ignorant of the chemical principles for analyzing scents, had nothing more to add. As Wayne said, he had no choice but to wait for him to investigate it himself. Jeff, feeling a corner of his heart uneasy, sighed resignedly and accepted the situation.

“Yes, I understand. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Wayne, who had smiled faintly, added.

“By the way, that scent, or should I call it a raw material here? It seems there was some story related to it. May I ask what happened?”

“Ah….”

It was a topic he did not particularly want to talk about, but the words of refusal did not come out easily. It was because Wayne had faithfully answered all his questions so far. Jeff suppressed a groan and opened his mouth.

“My uncle had that scent on him.”

“Uncle?”

“Yes. We lived together right before he passed away in an accident, and whenever I passed by him, the scent would waft over. Actually, my uncle had so much flesh that it was difficult for him to move, so he couldn’t wash well. He inevitably had a foul smell, and I felt the scent of <Vebreuk> within it. I mean… the scent of that raw material.”

“You mean you smelled a scent within a foul smell?”

“Yes.”

Jeff nodded his head calmly.

“So the person who you said stole the <Vebreuk> perfume was Jeff’s uncle.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Tap, tap. Wayne, who was moving the fingers that propped up his chin, had a thoughtful look on his face. Soon, he met his lowered gaze and said.

“May I ask for your uncle’s name?”

“Ah….”

Jeff, who had hesitated for a moment, added in a low voice.

“Alan. Alan Walker.”

“Alan Walker, Alan Walker, you say…. I know similar names, but they are people unrelated to Jeff. I wonder if perhaps your father was acquainted with Mr. Walker. We can’t just conclude that he stole it, can we? There’s also the possibility that he received it as a gift. My father enjoyed sharing the scents he made.”

Jeff, who had held back a silent sigh, shook his head briefly.

“I don’t know. Actually, I think that possibility is very slim. As I mentioned, my uncle was a large man and was also mentally unstable. He didn’t even have any close acquaintances. It’s hard to imagine that such a person would be acquainted with someone as great as your predecessor.”

“Is that so? But Jeff, there’s something I’m a little curious about.”

Wayne’s eyes, holding a strange light, poured down as if to look directly at him.

“What exactly do you want to know? Are you curious about how Mr. Walker came to have a <Vebreuk> perfume, or are you curious about the raw materials of the perfume?”

It was a rather direct question. Jeff, who had met Wayne’s gaze for a moment, answered readily.

“May I be honest?”

“Of course. Go ahead.”

“Both.”

Wayne let out a faint laugh. Over his clear complexion, an overflowing interest in Jeff washed over.

“The uncle I know would never have had a connection with someone like your predecessor. But perhaps, when he was able to move freely, he might have come here once. And then, he might have accidentally smelled the scent of <Vebreuk>. And coveted it, mesmerized by the scent…. I have had such imaginings. Because I want to know the traces of his life.”

“What is the reason you are curious about the raw materials? Simply because it was a scent that came from your uncle? If so, isn’t it more natural to be curious about your predecessor’s work rather than the raw materials?”

“That’s right. It was like that at first.”

Nodding his head, Jeff added.

“But after meeting several people with the same scent, I became curious. What the source of that scent is. And I know that only you, Mr. Wayne, can give the answer to that.”

Pfft. A light laugh burst out. Wayne gently closed his eyes.

“So this is why you were waiting only for me to come.”

“……”

He had definitely heard it from the agent. After a short silence, Jeff shrugged his shoulders as if embarrassed.

“It wasn’t just me, everyone in the mansion was waiting for you, Mr. Wayne.”

Wayne tilted his head slightly and murmured.

“Well now. I wonder about that.”

It was a light tone, but there was a sense of melancholy steeped in it. It was a puzzling thing. Who in this mansion would not welcome Wayne Gray? Of course, if he were a wicked employer, it would be better if he were not around, but Wayne Gray was not that kind of person. It had not been a very long time, but during his time living at the mansion, Jeff could clearly feel it. How much the servants here loved their family head.

Had the puzzled feeling been revealed in his expression? Wayne suddenly burst into laughter.

“Haha, Jeff. I do get disliked by someone too.”

“It is an experience that everyone goes through as a human being. But I thought that at least in this mansion, it would not be the case.”

“Why did you think so?”

Jeff answered without hesitation.

“Because all the servants seemed to revere you, Mr. Wayne.”

“Is that so? That’s a thankful thing. I’ll have to give them a hefty bonus.”

The expression as he said that was very soft, but it felt somewhat emotionless. Jeff thought he knew a little why it felt that way. It was probably because even if he is loved by everyone, he is not loved by the person he desires.

“But my other half resents me. They try to hide it, but I can tell.”

The bitterness that brushed across his doll-like face raised a question. I do not know the detailed inner circumstances, but on the surface, Wayne Gray was an unmarried young family head. Who on earth was this other half he was talking about? The servant in the annex again? Or a new person?

Jeff could not hold back his curiosity and opened his mouth.

“What do you mean by ‘other half’?”

“…Oh dear, it seems I’ve said all sorts of things.”

Wayne, who had burst into a hollow laugh for a moment, added with an elegant attitude.

“Come to think of it, today is our first meeting. I’ve unintentionally grumbled on. I suppose it’s because I felt so comfortable with you, Jeff.”

“Could you be more so than me?”

If we were to count the information revealed, Jeff’s side was overwhelmingly ahead. When he added in a drained tone, Wayne on the other side let out a light laugh.

“Thanks to that, it was nice to get to know about you, Jeff. Don’t worry, I won’t go around gossiping.”

“Thank you. I also will not ask about your ‘other half’.”

“Haha! Thank you, Jeff.”