Unable to make sense of it no matter how she thought about it, the housekeeper flipped through the schedule book in her hands and hesitantly said to Jiang Xia, "I don't recall the master mentioning that you would be visiting today."
Jiang Xia said, "The one who hired me was Mr. Shitara's granddaughter, Miss Shitara Renki."
"Oh, I see." The housekeeper nodded in sudden realization. That made sense. She knew she couldn't possibly have failed to note down a guest's visit, and the master, being such a stickler for etiquette, would not have overlooked it either... But if it was Miss Renki, then forgetting to mention that guests were coming was perfectly normal.
The housekeeper closed the schedule book and turned sideways, gesturing toward the gloomy Villa behind her, covered in creeping vines. "As for Miss Renki, she is currently practicing the Violin in the Villa—you can hear that beautiful music drifting over. She is the one playing it."
Mouri Ran said in surprise, "That was a live performance? I thought someone inside was playing music... As expected of a famous Musical Family."
The housekeeper adjusted her glasses. She showed no smile despite the praise for the Musical Family she served, and quickly said sternly, "Although you are guests invited by Miss Renki, please do not disturb her practice—she has a very important performance tonight."
Mouri Ran froze, then looked down at her watch. "It's already evening. If Miss Renki is still practicing at home, will she make it to the concert venue in time?"
The housekeeper shook her head. "The performance I mean is not the kind where one takes the stage—tonight is our master's seventy-second birthday, so every year on this day, we hold a grand family banquet."
As she spoke, she led them to the Villa.
After