The mansion stood there as if the surrounding nature embraced it, the flora flowed within it as much as around it, for it to be loved by the trees so much, and such a great house had been built. It was all concrete and tall glass windows, giving a view of the wild landscape for a chance to take in the changing of the seasons.
I followed Gilbert, not quite knowing what to expect. His shoes made a rhythmical noise against the tiles, solid and regular like he had memorized every part of the manor as we walked throughout the hallway. The air was as silent as any normal night, and the moon was barely seen by the ashen clouds.
Gilbert's face was stern, yet much more than calm as he swung the key from his pocket. Smooth metal glimmered, ingenious fingers wiped its surface, feeling the cold, and a clucking sound was heard.
"This is your bedroom," Gilbert told me after he had unlocked the door.
The room contained a single bed, clearly made for one adult. A small desk was leaning against the wall with a table lamp and a straight-backed wooden chair appearing as its pair. A cupboard to store clothes with a rectangle mirror and a drawer were standing next to each other. There was another door leading to the bathroom just beside them. On the wall, curtained with a square of white fabric was a window, large enough to welcome any ray of sun, calling into existence to allow its heat to build from the sky into the inhaled air.
My hazel eyes scanned about the room in amazement. The ancient ambience might be felt in every element of the whole house, but everything was undeniably well-treated. Even the air still carried the scent of threads from the unused bedsheets.
It was a quite humble room for an unofficial worker to sleep, far more proper than what I got when I was working for Fillan.
"I'll be the one keeping your bedroom key. Do you have any complaints?"
When I turned my head to the man whose voice stopped my adventure in the room, he was already smiling at me. While purposely showing the real shape of the key on his hand; a sly attempt for if I would ever steal it, he stood there and smiled. The smile that just wasn't sincere, to the point it was loathsome.
"No," I shortly replied, smiling back softly, just as repulsive.
After all, we both knew it wasn't the time to build a real emotion here.
Gilbert appeared to be a young man who acted as proper as how he dressed. From all sides, he showed a higher position than any workers here; it was seen from his gesture of how long he had spent time with the head of this household as a right-hand man. Even so, unlike his boss, he seemed much friendlier. I was lying if I said he wasn't, considering the place I was in.
He was handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expression of his voice. Even though he had an eternity-like youthful feature on his face that belied the eyes for even five to ten years, as someone who had been living to observe, I could tell he was older than Marvel.
"Do you know who he is?" Gilbert asked, finally, breaking the lukewarm silence between us.
From the way he asked; by not mentioning a name, I knew he was a straightforward type who could become savage by making others feel awful for giving an insincere reaction, without directly showing it. At this rate, me feigning not to know who he meant was already out of question.
"Marvel... Yerevan," I carefully answered in a hesitant tone. "I just learned his name this morning."
"Correct. For the time being, that's enough for you to know that much," he sounded uneager to explain by making himself busy to put the key into his pocket. "You don't need to be reluctant, because what you think is true; I haven't trusted you yet," he smiled again as he shifted his focus back to me.
It seemed like he had accustomed to making that kind of smile in any situation, he looked natural as he did it, or rather, his system was automatically doing it when he faced a stranger. Not merely a stranger, though, as I could sense he was being suspicious over me since I was brought here. Moreover, he had clearly stated that he didn't trust me. At least, not for now.
"Until I have confirmed you pass the three months probation, for a safety reason, you're not allowed to meet him. Not until you become the official member of this household," he told me more detailedly this time to make sure I got it, his words neat like they were composed.
"I understand," I responded without argument.
When he strictly told me to do as he said, I had no choice but to accept the conditions, whatever they were, or I wouldn't be able to pass the trial.
"By the way, you're not the recruit Fillan promised about, right?"
This time, Gilbert didn't smile as he was talking, or when he was done with his words. I watched his expression for a quick guess and it was unreadable, although he didn't look particularly menacing.
Was that a question for me to answer, or an assertion for me to confess?
It wasn't like what Gilbert thought of me mattered all the time. As long as I could gain Marvel's trust and infiltrate his territory, I believed I would be able to complete this mission. But, first of all, I indeed had no choice but to prove I was qualified to work here by completely erasing Gilbert's suspicion of me.
"That's right," I answered with a rather wistful tone, unexpectedly honest. "I've been his secretary for almost four years, but until two hours ago."
I was going to fabricate the story, but since Gilbert might have known the fact, I decided to tell him the truth. Well, undercover wasn't all about lies.
"I know Fillan has deceived you and your boss, but I'm in no different position," I continued, trying to sympathize with their situation.
"Then, why did you agree with such a one-sided, disadvantageous decision?" Gilbert was eager to hear out my reason, as I knew he would.
"It's not like I did it out of my own free will," I humbly denied. "I need this job because it's the only thing I can do best that also pays me well."
The silence hung in the air instead of a reaction. I locked my gaze with Gilbert and he was expressionless, not seeming to have anything left to say. As expected, finance had always been an efficient pattern for a worker.
"I'll do my best," I promised to give my all during the probation and maybe after. Gilbert, though, didn't seem completely convinced as he might prepare something I wouldn't expect.
"Good," he smiled, brushing the heavy atmosphere away. "You should rest now and prepare for tomorrow."
Without looking back, Gilbert left my bedroom and voluntarily closed the door. I supposed he was going to talk with Marvel as he had promised before. Should I follow him and eavesdrop by the wall? No, I shouldn't do something as stupid, not after I knew Gilbert had taken a great amount of suspicion of me.
Gilbert chose the farthest possible place from Marvel's personal space for my bedroom; a clear statement to make me stay away. I couldn't unreasonably ask to change room, unless there was someone authoritative enough to command Gilbert to do so, someone with a manner that induced respect and obedience, someone whose words were followed by everyone in this mansion without objection.
I knew someone.
But, how?