What would happen to him if anyone discovered that he was a soul inhabiting a dead man's body?
Would they treat him as a devil and burn him alive?
Bruce shuddered. The thought made his scalp crawl. He hardly dared imagine such a scene.
Jessica stood beside Danvers, watching Bruce with a slightly puzzled, peculiar look. Then she lowered her head without saying anything, merely tightening her grip on the doll in her arms.
Did I just sense something strange? Was it coming from him? A flicker of suspicion crossed Jessica's mind.
Bruce simply assumed that the little girl was nervous around a stranger.
"So this is little Jessica. She's adorable."
Bruce offered the compliment casually. She really was an adorable little girl, dressed in a very Lolita style.
"These are my identification papers. They can verify who I am." Bruce took a sheet of paper from inside his clothes and handed it to Danvers.
The identification papers had been issued by Akin Village. He would need them to inherit Flaikent's estate.
Danvers held the paper and checked its authenticity repeatedly. It was indeed genuine. She badly wanted to tear it up, but that would accomplish nothing. Even without Bruce, the property here would not belong to her. It would revert to the kingdom, leaving her and Jessica with even less.
"Come in, Cousin Bruce." Forcing a smile, Danvers opened the iron gate and led Bruce into the manor. So far, this cousin seemed quite amiable, nothing like the crude, unpleasant man she had imagined. He seemed more like a well-educated gentleman.
His way of speaking is a little unusual. Perhaps he traveled elsewhere to study.
He's very composed when he looks at me, too. His gaze is gentle.
Danvers silently speculated about her cousin's character and what might happen next.
"Thank you," Bruce said politely.
As he walked, Bruce looked around Wayne Manor.
Once he was inside, the manor that had initially seemed rather eerie and frightening looked much softer and more inviting. It even seemed to have a comfortable, homelike feel.
It was a strange feeling.
Meanwhile, Danvers introduced Wayne Manor to Bruce. She described all its current assets in detail, including the land and farms it owned. Naturally, she said nothing about what she had in the bank.
Bruce listened, nodding frequently. He had no idea how much Wayne Manor was actually worth. All he knew was that the manor was enormous and the Wayne family was rich enough to spend freely. As for managing it, that was rather outside his area of expertise.
Jessica did not follow them, instead returning to her room alone. Danvers kept observing Bruce, becoming increasingly convinced that her cousin was truly very polite. He was always courteous, gentlemanly, and even a little reserved.
He was willing to listen as she explained the manor's layout, the care taken in arranging its furnishings, and the origins of various keepsakes, rather than impatiently asking how much money the manor had.
That made Danvers feel even more hopeful that she and her sister could remain at the manor.
He might give us a little more for our upkeep when he divides the estate, but I have to try to stay here, Danvers thought hopefully.
She could not bear to give up her current life.
Danvers had lived in this manor since childhood, growing up with servants attending to her. She was sensible, educated, and well-mannered, but she was also a very delicate young woman. It was difficult to imagine how she would survive once she left Wayne Manor.
She naturally wanted to maintain her current standard of living so that the change would not be too devastating. As far as she knew, she had only two options: marry a well-off man, or go to a big city and become a courtesan.
Danvers had some confidence in her beauty, but she wanted neither of those paths.
Courtesans were all beautiful and bold,
moving through high society and wielding influence in its world of wealth and prestige. They were different from the common women who readily slept with anyone to earn Rune Coins. Though their lives were just as depraved and decadent, most courtesans were free. They sought out their prey rather than being treated as objects, and they had the right to choose.
Yet merely hearing about such a life made Danvers blush furiously, so there was no chance she could take that path.
The second option was to marry a well-off man.
That was no simple matter either.
First of all, her parents were dead, so her dowry could only consist of the two hundred silver Rune Coins left in the bank. Her parents could no longer provide anything extra, and Bruce, who would be throwing her out, certainly would not pay for it. That meant no one would be willing to accept a woman whose dowry amounted to only two hundred silver Rune Coins. That was the harsh reality.
It might not even be two hundred silver Rune Coins.
Part of that money belonged to Jessica.
Many men admired her, and countless young, wealthy men were among them. Rhode Town alone had plenty. So many men had fawned over her at the balls there, but things were different now. Without Wayne Manor's wealth, she was merely a pretty ornament.
There would certainly be men who wanted a taste of her charms, but no one would marry her for her beauty alone. Even if someone did, the families behind those wealthy young gentlemen would never agree.
The number of men willing to marry her had dwindled considerably. Unless it was someone of modest means or a divorced old rich man-but neither was the sort of man she would choose.
She herself could not resign herself to marrying so soon, either. Just thinking about it felt utterly dreadful.
The Rune Kingdom's laws were not kind to women at all.
This Bruce seemed to be a good person, at least judging by their interactions so far.
As Danvers introduced the manor, she continued observing Bruce.
So Danvers did everything she could to praise Bruce, from every angle and in every respect. In her view, a woman's praise could make a man feel good, especially when that woman was beautiful.
Danvers was still very confident in her looks.
After spending just a short time with Bruce, Danvers even began to entertain an idea.
If it was possible, she could marry Bruce and secure a chance to remain at the manor.
Marriage between close relatives was not forbidden in the Rune Kingdom. Some noble families even championed blood purity, believing pure blood to be supreme.
That way, she would remain the mistress of Wayne Manor and enjoy the same life. Bruce was not so bad, either. At least his looks were acceptable, and his conduct was reasonably gentlemanly.
Although she did not want to marry, the idea grew increasingly compelling in Danvers's mind.
She did not even mind making a small sacrifice, lightly brushing her upper body against Bruce. Each touch sent a tingling sensation through her as well.
Danvers could hardly believe that she, who had always prided herself on being a lady, would do something so embarrassing today. Yet she seemed unable to help herself.
Her body seemed to be growing a little strange.
Bruce could also feel Danvers's seemingly accidental touches. The softness brushing against his arm stirred something in him, and he could not help letting his gaze drift toward her.
Danvers truly was a beauty.
He had heard her name before. In his predecessor's memories, Danvers had been hailed as the most beautiful woman in Lane Village. Many people in Rhode Town had heard of her as well, and no shortage of men lusted after her. Her skin was as fair as milk, her face exquisite, and her figure slender and graceful.
A beauty like her might very well become his woman.
Bruce forcibly suppressed the restlessness inside him.
Such behavior is disgraceful. She's your cousin. You've already taken her family's property, and now you want to possess her too?
That's utterly depraved!
The two stopped outside a room. Its door stood open, the lights were on, and rows of shelves held an extensive collection of books.
"Is this Uncle's study?"
Bruce walked into the study. The scent of ink inside lifted his spirits a little. It had been so long since he had smelled anything like it, and it made him feel utterly at ease.
"Yes. Father used to read here often."
At the thought of her father, tears welled in the corners of Danvers's eyes again.
Bruce patted Danvers on the shoulder, offering silent comfort.