?


    Although I had just heard Sandy''s ount of the mansion''s history, I didn''t stop him. I wanted to hear his perspective on the story.


    "After my great-grandpa''s business flourished, he built our family''s home, and this ce was abandoned. After grandma passed away, this ce was transferred to someone else for a time due to financial reasons.


    "Unfortunately, the buyerster fell on hard times and couldn''t sell it. The mansion on the left side of this property also belonged to grandma. It was abandoned for over a decade. After stabilizing the situation, I bought it back. However, the exterior still remained in its original style."


    I looked around, seeing a different scenery through the rain.


    "After we eat, we''ll go to the family home. It''s the rainy season in Nocturnia at this time of year. You used to hate this weather when you were young." I still disliked rainy days.


    "Is the family home far from here?" I asked As.


    "Not really. It''s on the other side of the hill," As replied.


    After finishing our meal, I went upstairs to change into the outfit I had prepared for this asion.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    It was still raining heavily outside, and it was a little gloomy and chilly. As held an umbre over us and embraced me as we walked out. Sandy watched us get into the car and waved goodbye.


    Although I maintained a calm demeanor, I was actually quite nervous.


    I was feeling someplex emotions.


    As sensed my feelings and gently held my hand, offering me an invisible source of strength.


    "I''m here, don''t worry," As reassured me softly.


    "Okay," I replied.


    After about 40 minutes of driving, we arrived at a mansion halfway up the hill. It was quite high up and offered a view of a part of the city below. The air up here was fresh too.


    As held an umbre above me as I got out of the car. He led me to the tightly closed gate and pressed the doorbell.


    As we waited for the door to open, As lowered his gaze to look at me standing beside him, giving me a warm smile filled with contentment.


    I understood what he was feeling.


    He didn''t feel lonely now that I was


    ove


    by his side. I imagined that he must have felt lonely every time he


    entered here.


    The gate opened, and an elderly man came out, respectfully greeting him. "Hello, Mr. As."


    As just snorted and held my hand as we strode in.


    I couldn''t help but steal a nce at the old man.


    He must be grandpa''s personal servant. As didn''t introduce me to him, so it was clear that he held no regard for this man.


    As we walked into the courtyard, I


    was slightly surprised. The mansion was built in the Etrian-style, which was a stark contrast to other buildings in this country.


    It looked a little old, but it exuded a grand and mysterious atmosphere.


    The old man who had greeted us hurriedly caught up and walked ahead of us, maintaining a respectful demeanor.


    After passing through several doors and crossing some courtyards and gardens, we arrived at a small. building. At the door, the man bowed slightly and said softly, "Please wait here, Mr. As."


    Then he hurried inside.


    A few secondster, he came out again and said, "Pleasee in, Mr. As."


    As led me in, walking briskly toward the interior of the house.


    At this moment, all the anxiety I had felt along the way suddenly disappeared, and my heart became exceptionally calm. I didn''t know why either.


    I just had to think of him as an elderly person.


    As led me inside with ease and familiarity.


    Inside the room, I saw a skinny old man sitting upright on a redwood armchair.