Douglas's gaze did not linger for even a second on that aristocratic face twisted by fanaticism.
His gaze passed over Valerius and settled on the charred bodies still twitching on the ground in the center of the cavern.
"No."
He spoke softly.
"These were prepared for them."
Those few lightly spoken words were like an invisible sledgehammer, brutally shattering all the light that had just kindled in Valerius's eyes.
The expression on his face froze in that instant.
It was the wrenching sensation of plunging from the height of longing into an abyss in a single instant.
First came bewilderment, then disbelief, and finally, a pain even deeper than when he had been bound in Heaven's Net.
"To give... to give such a work of art..."
His lips trembled, each word seemingly forced through clenched teeth.
"To those... uncouth beasts that know nothing but biting and howling?!"
Lupin: ???
Marco: ???
His voice suddenly rose, shrill with offense.
"This is sacrilege! Mr. Holmes, this is a crime against beauty, against eternity, against everything noble!"
He stepped forward in agitation, flames of anguish burning in his dark red eyes.
"Mr. Holmes, this is sacrilege!"
He did not plead, instead adopting a tone of anguished remonstrance.
"To place such a sacred work of art alongside those filthy beasts is not merely an insult to your work, but a challenge to order and beauty themselves!"
"Please allow me to preserve its rightful dignity, for you and for this work of art! Please allow me to take on the task of preparing... containers befitting the station of these... former colleagues."
He straightened his chest, attempting to demonstrate his last remaining worth.
"My family's woodworking is renowned even in Transylvania! With my fingernails, I can carve the most ancient runes of repose into oak, ensuring