Lex stood before the mirror, smoothing the last stray hair into place. He nodded to Merkel and strode out of the room.
Merkel followed behind him. "Young master, before the banquet officially begins, you may wait here or in your own bedroom. When it is time to introduce you, I will come and fetch you."
"I would rather take a look around the manor." Lex turned back and said, "But I would like you to accompany me. If there is anywhere I should not visit, stop me."
"I believe that would be permitted, but it would be best if you did not go to the garden. If you get your clothes and shoes dirty again, we may not have time to change them."
"Fine. I will not go outside. I will only look around inside the building."
Merkel offered no further opinion, while Lex strolled leisurely through Rodriguez Manor.
By his standards, the former Viscount Manor had not been luxurious enough, and its decorative taste had been unremarkable. Its only interesting feature was that after Schiller moved in, he had altered some of the places he frequented, giving the manor two utterly different styles.
Although the furniture Schiller chose was no more luxurious than what the Viscount Manor had once possessed, he clearly did not chase the fashions of that era as the former viscount had. Beyond aesthetic demands, he sought things that were more comfortable.
Lex knew very well that a person's taste in their home environment could reflect rather private aspects of their personality. If Professor Schiller was to be his primary opponent for a long time to come, understanding that aspect would certainly aid his actions.
Lex was unlike Bruce and Constantine. The only time in his life he had ever passively accepted something was when he