Madame Pualis

Biodata

Background / History

Pualis descends from nobles who lost their titles during Emperor Roselle’s era. Her family subsequently declined, and she remained subordinate to Beaost within their household. Consequently, she is addressed with the separate title “Madame,” rather than the local naming convention that adds “Na” before a woman’s name and “a” after it 5 7.

She moved to Cordou with Beaost and established a favorable reputation among the villagers. Aurora noticed something unusual about her from their arrival, but considered her restrained: apart from successive extramarital affairs, Aurora had not observed conduct she could call evil 17 35.

Appearance

• Face and hair: Sparse eyebrows, bright brown eyes, red lips, and long brown hair, worn either in a high bun or partly pinned up 18 39.
• Bearing: Elegant and graceful; her features together create an alluring appearance despite none being individually outstanding 18.
• Voice: Soft, slightly husky, with a rich timbre 17 18 40.
• Clothing: Favors waist-cinched dresses. Her evening attire includes a black dress, matching shawl, sheer long gloves, and a small tilted round hat; she also wears pale green and blue dresses 18 31 39.
• Jewelry: Wears a gold-set diamond necklace 18 39.

Personality

Pualis presents an approachable public face. She chats with village women in the sun and even helps them remove lice. With Aurora, she is hospitable and generous, lending transportation without accepting payment 17 39.

She speaks candidly about desire and refuses to treat her affair with Guillaume Béné as inherently sinful. She argues that love makes pleasure innocent, while acknowledging that using Saint Sies’s church was disrespectful. She finds the priest’s boldness attractive precisely because it contrasts with the manners of Dalege’s gentlemen 18.

Her playful manner can also unsettle others. During her confrontation with Lumian, she turns his accusation into a discussion of romance and then makes a suggestive advance that leaves him frightened. When she later intercepts him near Louis Lund’s room, her usual amusement disappears until he apologizes 18 40.

Abilities & Skills

Abnormal-Pathway Beyonder

The mysterious Tarot-card reader identifies Pualis as a Beyonder on an abnormal pathway. The supplied account does not establish her exact Sequence or show an advancement 26.

• She approaches Lumian at the castle without his enhanced Hunter senses detecting her beforehand; the mechanism is unexplained 40.
• Aurora recognizes that something is unusual about her but stops short of explaining what she has seen 35.

Reported Spirit Communication and Crafting

According to Charlie, an administrator’s manservant, Pualis is a “messenger of souls.” Ava relays his claims to Lumian and Raymond; these specific abilities are not directly demonstrated 11.

• Speaking with the souls of the dead.
• Helping departed souls return home.
• Making secret potions and charms.

Possible Connection to the Night Lady

Lumian and Aurora encounter a woman closely resembling Pualis in the Otherworld. Aurora associates the procession with accounts of the Night Lady, but neither confirms that the rider is Pualis 41 42.

• The rider wears a green dress and flower crown, traveling in a dark-red carriage pulled by two black, goat-horned creatures 41.
• A Death Knight and the surrounding undead abandon their pursuit of the siblings and follow her toward the mountains 41.
• Her features appear softer and more mature than Pualis’s, and her bearing is markedly more majestic 42.
• Unlike the reported Night Lady sightings, this encounter occurs during daytime, further complicating the identification 42.

Equipment / Items

• Pony — Lent to Aurora for rides through the surrounding mountains and highland pastures 17 42.
• Enclosed four-seater carriage — Lent to Aurora and Lumian for their attempted journey to Dalege 39 40.
• Gold-set diamond necklace — Worn with both her black evening dress and blue daytime dress 18 39.

Relationships

• Beaost — Husband and Cordou’s administrator and territorial judge. He remains unaware of her affair with Guillaume Béné after Lumian’s prank 5 7 8.
• Guillaume Béné — Lover and parish priest. Pualis openly admits their affair and describes his blunt, forceful manner as part of his appeal 2 18.
• Aurora — Friend and frequent visiting companion. Pualis lends her a pony and carriage, but repeatedly recommends relatives as marriage prospects whom Lumian finds unsuitable 17 39.
• Lumian — Distrustful acquaintance who exposes her affair to visiting outsiders. His dislike stems partly from her matchmaking for Aurora and develops into fear after the castle incident 2 17 18 40.
• Louis Lund — Butler in Beaost’s household. Pualis describes him as sick and discourages visitors; Lumian secretly witnesses him giving birth inside the castle 39 40.
• Cassie — Personal maid who accompanies Pualis on visits and during festival activities 18 31 40.
• Naroka — One of the village women with whom Pualis chats and exchanges help removing lice 17.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Notable Quotes

“Being with Guillaume Béné makes me happy and brings me joy, so the Eternal Blazing Sun shouldn't be angry about it either. It isn't a sin.” 18

“There's no need to be so formal. We're friends.” 39

Trivia

• The old tavern stocks light red wine because Pualis developed a taste for it after visiting Bigos, the provincial capital 5.
• She expresses a particular interest in Trier’s latest fashions and looks forward to gifts from Aurora’s trip 40.