She is not an investigator.

She's rich now.

Let's go.

"My carriage is here."

……

During the tedious journey, Igris finally understood why horse-drawn carriages were still used here.

The muddy and debris-covered ground, the uneven paths, and the winding corners make it impossible for any advanced means of transportation to travel freely here.

At least Igris was almost nauseous from being shaken so much.

On land, she unexpectedly felt like she was on a boat, to the point that she even got a little seasick.

Although she was simply carsick.

"We've arrived."

In Igris's dazed state, the carriage finally came to a slow stop on a secluded and dilapidated path.

But there are no manors here, not even any buildings to be seen.

"I didn't see Theos Manor."

"Haven't you been here before? Go through this road, and you'll find the manor you're looking for."

Igris glanced at the end of the road (where a thin layer of white mist obscured the view), and beyond that, at East Nine West Seven. Lu? Wine Umbrella Shrimp,

But Igris was somewhat dissatisfied with this.

"I'll pay you, why don't you move forward a little more?"

"Our rules dictate that we cannot easily approach Theos Manor."

The driver leaned against the carriage and said indifferently.

"Everyone who gets close to that place will eventually be tormented by an endless curse."

"One silver dollar, are you going or not? If not, I'll just go down and walk by myself."

"I'm not going. Rules are rules."

Igris was somewhat surprised. He could earn a lot more money from just a few steps, yet he resolutely refused her.

Perhaps there really is some kind of curse on the Theos Manor? After all, both the letter and her cousin herself are a bit strange.

"You won, this is your reward."

Igris handed the copper coin to the coachman, and then saw him drive away without looking back, as if there really was some terrible terror here.

Igris suddenly felt a pang of regret; perhaps she shouldn't have come here at all.

But just as she was considering whether to turn and leave, an old figure slowly emerged from the white mist at the end of the road and looked at Igris.

"You are…?"

"…Hello?"

Igris waved at him somewhat awkwardly, but at least she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

After all, there are indeed people living here, so the so-called curse is probably just some unrealistic legend.

"You're Igris, right?"

The old man slowly walked over, sizing her up as he went.

Igris was also sizing up the old man in front of her. His hair was gray, his face was full of wrinkles, and he was wearing a tattered robe with some mud on it. He walked unsteadily, relying entirely on his cane for balance.

Igris nodded, and then saw a faint smile appear on his face.

"You've changed so much, I almost didn't recognize you."

"..."

Did this guy know her before?

"Don't just stand there, Miss has been waiting for you for a long time. Come on, I'll take you to her."

The old man slowly turned around and walked towards the end of the road on his own.

Igris hesitated for a moment, then, after checking her pistol at her waist to make sure everything was alright, followed her.

"Oh right... I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Silas, the butler here."

"Oh…"

"Also... a tomb keeper."

The Gods' Fools - The Gravedigger and the Violet: Chapter Two, Family and Legends

"Excuse me... what did you just say?"

Igris thought she might have misheard, after all, guarding a grave in such a manor?

"You'll find out when you come with me."

Silas smiled and slowly made his way towards the manor.

Iglesias silently followed, all the way to the end of the road, to the dilapidated gate of the manor.

The passage of time has left deep marks on this once magnificent building. The towering spires and carved window frames now appear dilapidated, and the walls covered with ivy seem to tell a story of past glory and present decay.

The lawns surrounding the manor were covered with weeds, and the wildflowers growing haphazardly swayed in the wind, exuding a tenacious vitality.

The manor gates were ajar, the rusty iron railings creaking as if reminding the occasional passerby that the former glory was gone. The fountain in the courtyard was no longer flowing, and only a few fallen leaves could be seen floating silently in the dried-up pond.

This was quite different from what Igris had imagined; at least she hadn't expected the place to be in such a dilapidated state.

But she soon noticed the strange little wooden house standing in the corner of the manor.

Silas noticed Igris's gaze and explained with a light laugh.

“That’s my home. I usually live there. Unless there’s something important, I won’t bother you.”

"What's that nearby...?"

A simple wooden cabin wasn't enough to make Igris so concerned; what truly caught her attention was the group of stone tablets located near the cabin.

Clearly, it wasn't the kind of decorative building one would expect in a manor, and unlike the dilapidated and overgrown areas elsewhere in the courtyard, it was clean and tidy.

“Do you remember what I said? I am also the guardian of this graveyard. The former owners of this manor are buried there, and my greatest duty now is to protect this place and this cemetery until my life comes to an end.”

He was actually quite optimistic about it, and always spoke with a smile. He was a very kind old man, which made Igris feel a little sorry for him for some reason.

“Mirabell mentioned you to me in her letter. She said you were the one who told her about me, including the address in that letter… I don’t understand, how did you do that?”

"You never tried to hide it, did you?"

Silas coughed lightly, paused for a moment, and then slowly spoke.

"Your fame is much greater than you think. Everyone knows that Miss Olivia has a new assistant, and they also know that this assistant's name is Igris, a descendant of that ancient family that has fallen into decline. You are more famous than you imagine."

Igris nodded silently. She had never imagined that her status would be so...noble?

However, she was not inclined to accept the idea of ​​an ancient family, whether rationally or emotionally.

The results from Southern Science University have already shown a lot, and Igris doesn't want to repeat the same mistakes.

Her purpose in coming this time was very simple: she just wanted to see her sister and ask her why she had written a letter to find her.

Mirabelle had no recollection of Igris, as they had never met, nor had Igris.

They are perhaps the closest strangers in the world right now, and also the only blood relatives.

"Mirabelle...where is she?"

"Haha... I knew you couldn't wait. Go ahead, push open that door, she'll be waiting for you there."

Silas chuckled for a moment, then coughed lightly, making it hard not to worry about his health.

But he simply waved his hand and walked towards the cottage with a smile.

Igris could only turn her gaze to the main hall door in front of her and slowly walk forward.

Just like everything I felt here, this door was exceptionally heavy.

This applies to both its weight and the history it carries.

The carvings on the upper surface have become blurred and indistinct over time, and the wooden structure, neglected for a long time, has also developed some cracks.

Igris tried to push the door, and surprisingly, the heavy door was pushed open with ease.

The view inside the hall was then presented to Igris.

It was daytime, but the place was rather dark until Igris pushed open the door, and light entered the hall.

Under the light, this once magnificent hall also presented an unprecedented sense of decay.

The red carpet spread on the ground had turned a dark red, the paintings hanging on the walls were covered with a layer of dust, the candlesticks were full of burnt-out candles, and the corners were even piled with cobwebs and debris. It was hard to imagine that anyone lived here.

Igris thought for a moment, then closed the door, plunging the place back into darkness.

Igris finds it easier to walk in the dark, which is a small protective measure she takes to avoid any unexpected situations.

Igris walked deeper into the area and finally stopped in front of a tightly closed door.

She didn't know where she was, but after wandering around for a bit, she realized that this was indeed the only place that was currently closed.

Igris tried to push the door, but it wasn't locked and she pushed it open very easily.

A ray of sunlight suddenly shone on her face, making her squint involuntarily. At the same time, a faint floral fragrance lingered in her nostrils, instantly dispelling the musty smell of time.

Is this a garden? But it looks like just an ordinary room.

Igris's eyes slowly adjusted to everything in front of her, and finally focused on the bed where the girl was sleeping peacefully.

She has very beautiful blonde hair, just like Igris's, but it's clear she takes good care of it, making it look even smoother and more manageable.

Even though it was already quite cold, she was still only wearing a plain beige dress, perhaps because the room was indeed quite warm.

Not wanting to disturb others' rest, Igris focused her attention on the flowers that were growing there.

There was a small flowerbed in the room, filled with many beautiful flowers whose names Igris didn't know. But outside the flowerbed, on the edge of the table next to Mirabell's bed where the sunlight couldn't reach, a few pink flowers growing in pots stood out.

Igris didn't know their names either, but she liked the flowers.

No one could dislike these beautiful plants, provided they don't require Igris to care for them.