𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐀𝐍 - ★彡[ɪʟ ᴅᴏᴛᴛᴏʀᴇ] 彡★

// 006 //

When you were younger, you frequently observed butterflies. You watched wide wide and awestruck eyes as the creature flapped its paper-thin wings, the vibrant colors practically flowing into the air around it. Its tiny and otherwise uninteresting body was the least important aspect of its biological structure. When gazing at a butterfly, you would always look first to its wings.

You had not been offered many luxuries in life so the leisure of just standing, watching the butterfly go from flower to flower, filled you with serenity.

Gazing at the dull gray walls of the mansion, you were feeling the furthest possible thing from serenity. There was no warmth or beauty in Il Dottore's manse, only the sickening stench of death. You were still slightly shaken from what happened to the maid, the image of her splattered intestines haunting your conscious thoughts mercilessly.

After returning to your room from Il Dottore's quarters, you found that your body was shaking. It seemed that being in such close quarters with a despicable person like Dottore had taken a physical toll as well as mental.

You rummaged through your small amount of belongings and pulled out a journal. In this were detailed descriptions of the mansion written exclusively in code words so that no one could possibly decipher what they meant. You had been taught what each sentence meant prior so just looking at them would jog your memory to remind you of its true meaning.

The mansion was a multi-floor maze that had a deep underground system, a small part of which was the room you were residing in. Dottore's living quarters were located on the west wing of the second floor, with his main laboratory residing in the underground segment.

It comprised five floors including the two underground ones and excluding the attic—the first floor had the dining hall and other typical rooms, the second floor had Dottore's room and other fancier guest rooms, and the third floor's contents were completely unknown. There was allegedly an attic as well, but due to the strict security preventing anyone from going to the third floor, no one knew.

The underground section of the mansion would likely be the best place to start extracting information. Although the conditions of your room were too poor to even be called shabby, you were grateful that you were placed in an area that would be helpful to explore.

But the most difficult part will definitely be capturing Dottore's interest enough so he won't kill me.

There had been one small moment–that one twitch of his finger–which showed that you had occupied a small part of his brain for a brief moment. If you could expand on that and manage to capture enough of his brain so that he would see you as more than a tool, you would be successful.

If you could reach the third floor...

"Lady Estelle," a gruff male voice echoed from the other side of the door, "there is news for you."
Rising gracefully to your feet, you padded over to the door and swung it open. The man was dressed in clothing that suggested he was a prestigious servant, with a sleek black blazer and a golden monocle.