Pocketville Lost Diamonds: VOLUME 2

Chapter 30: the Mansion

Meanwhile, long miles away in the WaterCrystal countryside, Ava and the rest of the group were entering the huge, majestic gate that opened the way to the garden around the mansion.

Steel Wool and William stared at the large and pointed metallic bars covered with ivy mowing toward, impressed.

Sky began clouding, closing the last view on the late afternoon sun and taking the last light away from the landscape they were looking at: a vaste, perfectly cured garden was dotted with green trees that created a minuscule wood on the west side.
Flat rocks stuck on the ground signalled an irregular path, sided by bushes of hydrangeas and roses.

Ava moved toward, as decisively as she used to be while walking down from her throne.
She overpassed William, without looking at him.
He just followed her feline movements with curious eyes, calm.

- It’s been a very long time since I came here. - commented the princess - I was two years old when my family and I had a vacation in the countryside. I can barely remember how the inside is.

- Why hadn’t you come here more often, if I may ask? - questioned Kayl.

- This is not the most rich or magnificent residence of mine and I rarely happen to come in the countryside. My family always organized holidays in farther and more precious places, according to what I remember. Despite this, I feel like the one I spent here has been one of my best weeks.

Kayl tilted his head, seeing the tall building standing out in the centre of the garden: it wasn’t exactly a “not rich residence”, according to his experience.

The mansion was divided on two levels, which together were taller than the trees all around: the lower had a long porch closed with a fence, on the one several vases of pink flowers were put, and in the centre a huge wood door was topped by the Royal Family coat of arms.
The architrave found its correspondence on the balcony right above, where a colorful window-door was closed in a tympanum-like shape of the roof.
Each level had two couples of tall windows, which resembled the ones at the Castle.
Behind, two tower-like buildings jutted out from the square structure of the house and, on the left side, a smaller balcone was barely visible.
Decorative ivy covered some walls and in the nearby grass were perfectly set colorful flowers and herbs.

- What a beautiful place… - commented Steel Wool. thoughtful.
- Thanks. Now, shall we enter?

- This place doesn’t look abandoned at all! - noticed William.
- There is a guardian, of course. Royal Residences aren’t left on their own while the owner is missing, there usually is someone who takes care of the building.

Almost as an answer, a voice behind their back made them turn:
- Who is there?!

A small shadow sneaked out from a tree and fastly approached them, keeping tail raised up.
William jumped toward, ready to attack, but he realized to have one a pretty exaggerate action when he noticed how small it really was.

Ava moved on a side, approaching the small animal with a calm but cold expression:
- Mister Sebastian, I presume.

The gray raccoon respectfully bowed, then sat back on the hind paws and studied William and the other animals, suspectful.
- It’s an honor, Your Majesty. I didn’t expect such an important visit.

Ava glanced at the group:
- He is the Guardian I was telling you about.
- My family has taken care of the Mansion for a very long time. - the raccoon spoke with a kind and gentle voice - I wish I could have sat everything better, if I knew you were coming…

- We’re here just for a fast investigation. May you help us, Sebastian?
- Whatever you want, my princess. - the guardian bowed again.

- Has my father or my grandmother ever come here, seventeen years ago?
Sebastian’s smile disappeared, replaced by a surprised face. He nervously rubbed his front paws for a few seconds before answering with a very low voice:
- So… you know about the pact?
- The pact ? - Ava raised one ear, concerned - Which pact?