In the Workshop in the Funeral Society's backyard, Mrs. Lake sat on a round stool, applying makeup to Mr. Giotto.
Mr. Giotto had been euthanized at the Church Hospital. His body had undergone preliminary preparations and had suffered little damage. His appearance in death was not tragic, either; it even held a sense of peace and release.
In the past, he would absolutely have been Mrs. Lake's favorite kind of client.
She really did not want to receive clients who had died horribly or even been torn apart, because most clients' families were unwilling to spend extra on mortuary makeup.
Now, Mrs. Lake no longer minded. Ever since Kallen had replaced her husband as the Funeral Society's actual boss, business had been so quiet that her hands sometimes itched for work.
Xili walked in just then. Looking at Mr. Giotto's current appearance, she exclaimed:
"Madam, you're so good at this. I want to learn makeup from you."
"Applying makeup to the dead is different from applying it to the living." Mrs. Lake smiled. "Besides, would you cook for the young master after doing makeup for the dead?"
"The young master wouldn't mind. I heard Mr. Alfred say they used to run a funeral society, too."
"Whether the young master minds is his business. You're a maid; you should know your place."
Xili stuck out her tongue and said, "All right, I understand."
"If you want to learn painting, you can join Dora and Doreen's lessons next time."
"All right, I'll start sitting in tomorrow. Oh, right, I nearly forgot what I came for. Madam, would you take a look at that vat of paste? I think there's mold growing on top."
"Oh no!"
Mrs. Lake immediately put down her tools, stood up, and left the Workshop with Xili. Although Kallen