Chapter 4
Their footsteps echoed into the spiral staircase, made of wood and steel bended to the will of man; and each of the steps were filled with doubt, as though waiting for the other foot to follow each other into uncertainty, and in this regard, it seems like Albertina herself was feeling the fleeting sense of awkward unbalance? even when she has been here all her life and she knew exactly which of these places lead to where.
Evia followed behind, her steps less uncertain, but also the same as her mind filled with questions.
Soon, their footsteps led them to a great wooden door, oak made and heavy. The door was carved into, and painted with shellac over and over again until it has a greasy shine. Normally, such doors were made to keep things out, but in this one, it was meant to lock away secrets not meant for things to go in and snoop around or mess about. The ancient but beautiful texts which were left behind from generations which were transcribed into Braille so that Albertina may learn even with a handicap of her vision.
Each one of these texts and books took days, weeks to months and years, and each one by a single master who worked here when her parents were alive. That master was? Arthur, his name, and was one of the many loyalists privy to the family?s deepest secrets and financial prowess gained. Aside from being the main accountant, he also had a healthy passion in books, and his librarian duties which he took up when he retired from accounting for their grandfather was his prime concern. When he heard that Albertina has lost her sight, it was as heartbreaking as it were sad to him, for he wished for a son, and in Albertina, although raised as a girl ? he saw a son he never had a chance to have all these years serving the household of LaDecian.
The trouble he went through to transcribe each of the books that were deemed important to him and the family was countless days and nights where he would be sleepless, working tirelessly until each word was its precise meaning in Braille. Arthur would sometimes be found by the other servants lying on the table, snoring away after an entire night doing what he did. Some of them are impressed by his dedication, others say he is a fool; but to Albertina, she saw a fatherly person in him, and in this, she begged their mother to reward him, but alas? it was that one day when they left the household that she never did see Arthur again. She often wondered if the letters she wrote home would reach the intended people they were addressed to, especially the ones with the name ?Arthur? and ?Rudolf? written on the envelopes.
The heavy oak door slid, slowly at first and then followed by a loud creak as it gave way to Albertina?s push. The floor was dirty, and this was clear indication that this place sacred to her only has been neglected. The thought passed her mind that she needs to order one of the servants to clean this place up, perhaps she was too hasty in relieving them all?earlier.
Nonetheless, she quickly found the light switch, and flicked it on. Slowly, the light flickered and fizzled, and came to life, flooding the room with a yellow glow that reached the far corners of the visible room. Indeed, far corners they are: four corners that reach as far as three thousand square feet, dark and foreboding into the tons of books that lay in shelves each over a hundred feet tall, so tall the volumes that lay at the top required the patience of someone like Arthur to reach it by the portable stairs that lay next to each section of the shelves with much precarious care. The volumes all greeted Albertina?s return with a musk of old hide and bounded rot.
Albertina thought she smell the scent of rot, not books, but flesh, but her sense of smell was obscured by so many of these volumes around her. She treaded her way in, and with a glance, Evia behind her closed and locked the door. No one comes in here except them, and even Evia was more than reluctant to come into this place unless necessary. In all her time here as a member of the family, this is probably the 3rd time since then that she has ever set foot in here. Her eyes darted about the room, looking for another human presence to fill this space of loneliness.
Albertina sat down on one of the grand mahogany tables, dirtying her elegant dress with dust gathered from neglect. With her bare hands, she wiped away the top of the table, and sighed a bit, it was clear she was a bit saddened by the state of this room. She looked at Evia?s direction and opened her lips as if to speak, but pursed again to pause for thoughts; then finally, with some deliberation perhaps, she called out her name.
?Evia?I?no, big sister? come closer?? She beckoned, using her old address this time as he normally would.
Evia moved closer without question. Suddenly, without any warning, as if Albertina could no longer withstand the slow pace of things, she lugged forward; two arms flying to each side of Evia?s body and met behind her to form a hug. Albertina?s head and face buried between her breasts, and her hair danced for a while behind her as all her movement paused with Evia?s gasp of surprise.
?Big sister, I am?so?so very afraid? All this? all this power, all of a sudden? I don?t know what to do anymore? at first Mother sent me away because I thought she hated me, and wanted me to be away from her as she wanted to drive Father away? and now? she passed on telling me that she loved me, and gave me all this? this ring? THIS CURSED RING?!? Her voice echoed into the Philosopher?s Room. It was trembling, filled with anguish and anger and pain but most notable of it all was the loneliness of her voice now echoing the walls of books and shelves.
?There?there?? Evia acted as she would, and held Albertina close, patting her hair while she sobbed quietly between her breasts. For a while, it felt like the warmth of tears dirtied the white frills that covered the front of her elegant dress, and she was feeling the trembling body vibrating into her all of Albertina?s emotions within. However, Evia knows, those are not tears as her brother cannot cry, but something just as woeful - Albertina?s saliva, as her screams goes in between them uncontrolled, yet trying so very hard to muffle them.
Then, after about five minutes of muffled sobs and screams, Albertina calmed down, and took some steps back, quietly taking a seat. She rested, taking short breaths and long ones, facing at nowhere in particular, hands touching the mahogany table of dust and dirtied them as well as her long frilly sleeves.
Albertina spoke slowly, ?Big sis, it is going to get harder isn?t it? This life? all this?? She paused, grabbing a dust covered book and touching the Braille etchings on the thick bound skin, reading the title and what the content may be. For a short moment, her features seemed to brighten a little, perhaps she has discovered a book that was her favorite? She continued after a while, ?I am no longer the outsider, and I been given so much all of a sudden I don?t know what to do with it??
Evia almost felt guilty for following up those words, ?Yes, indeed, My Lady, the LaDecian clan owns more than twenty plots of land here alone, and several more across the globe. We also are the shadow investors of several rather large pharmaceutical companies, oil companies and even the weapons trade our grandfather had still owe much of its influence to us. It seems, almost premature for our Mother to leave it like this, not that she could help it??
?That?s why I decide to pull out, the LaDecians are over? we can?I can?not do this alone, even with??
Just then, there was a knock on the door, quite unlikely should any of the servants would choose this time to visit the inner sanctum; so Albertina knew who to expect beyond the heavy oak doors. ?Come in, Declan.?
?My sincere apologies, am I interrupting?? Declan asked as he casually walked in between the oak doors, which slid open with ease by his strong push.
?No, not really?? There was still a mild choke in Albertina?s voice, and Evia sensed that Declan knew she had been crying? or was trying to. However, Declan indicated to Evia by placing his finger on his lips, and showing a ?shhh? sign. Are they accustomed to keeping secrets for each other now? Evia could only wonder, she pondered for a second, before following the cue and remained silent while Declan did his thing, whatever it was he intended to do when he dropped in here.
Declan moved to Albertina?s side, holding a tray in one hand and the other gently lifting the contents out of it. On it was a teapot, steaming hot tea inside as the steam escaped from in between the porcelain gaps; and on it as well was two European inspired tea cups, beautiful in gold and various pictures of flowers etched along its elegant exterior. They were set quickly, and Declan began pouring the tea into both cups.
?Rosehip??? Albertina asked, her nose twitched.
?Indeed, quite the observation, My Lady. I figured it would be a good selection for days like these, solemn moods should never be for long, even with The Late Lady Evita?s passing, a person who holds the reins to the LaDecian should not be found sulking, if at all you were.? Declan said, indicating finally that he knew the mood here before he came in so casually.
?I wasn?t, Declan.? Albertina retorted. She lifted her tea cup, and sipped from it the aromatic tea. For a while, she savored the flavor, allowing it to flow inside her mouth and forgetting the mood here. Rosehip has been her favorite tea to relieve bad moods, and Declan knew it well.
For a while, an awkward silence consisting of Albertina sipping tea slowly ensued, and then Declan opened his mouth to speak, ?Tomorrow I believe it is time you return and engage the investors, there is a turbulent round of debates and uncertainty sparkling within the ranks, and people are beginning to question if this means something bad is coming on with the passing of Lady Evita. She was rather strong when it comes to asset management, and given ages of experience in handling the worries of others, there was always no doubt that the LaDecian family prospered and could only be prospering in her presence.?
?Declan, I really don?t have the heart nor the skill as my mother had, in fact, I have no idea why such power was dropped into my lap like this. My uncles and even cousin William had a lot more experience in this, and such matters should be referred to them shouldn?t they?? Albertina looked up and said.
?Yes, certainly it would be a good idea, but know this, Lady Evita passed the ring to you, as the tradition goes, all who carry the ring must carry the fate of the family.? Declan paused, then took a deep breath before continuing, ?The ring, is proof that you now have even Lord William?s fate in your hands. Should you wish, his expanding business can be bought over by your words alone, and of that uncle? Thomas I believe his name was, his family in exile can be quickly and discreetly brought back to England now if you so wish?even if it was Lady Evita who forced him to go out there.? Declan explained.
Cousin William Louis is one of Albertina?s cousins, but among the rest of those who lived quiet lives away from the fame and power and influence of the LaDecian, William was considered most enterprising. At the aspiring age of 22, he began his own company and by now owns hefty millions in stocks and assets. With his charming good looks, and cunning intellect, he dropped out of college and sought out his fortune and path of fame, becoming the first of the students in the non-graduate batch to come back and become a successful person in lieu of proper tertiary education. He returned to Japan about two years ago and offered their mother, Evita a chance to roll out again like the steamrolling days of yore when the LaDecian were truly rivaling countries in wealth and status. All he sought in return was half the fortune of the current generation, and that half, was about several oil fields worth.
William?s cunning however, ended with a single losing streak when his hard-headedness cost him a fall bad enough to almost bankrupt him last year. Despite so, his confidence was still unshaken, and moving along in poise of a bigger purpose, he approached their mother once more for confidence. If there should be a single injection from their mother to William?s seeking of investments, they would see a new light. However, Mother would recall a bad history with men and money with their Father?s gambling debts, and would deny him the chance to score too big a risk.
With his head down and confidence struck hard, cousin William would later maintain his leveled business by a string of cutbacks, and now in a stable condition, he can be said as ?a former shell of his past?. These days, Cousin William spends his time in Kyoto, far away from his own business, meddling only when necessary and when his business partners and his CEOs begged for his input. To say he lived the life of a fifty year old, would not be a surprise either, as he does in fact live like a recluse.
Albertina thought for a moment and pondered on her other uncles, the one in exile, Thomas, was a family member who is partially responsible for their Father?s gambling. They were both gamblers, but only Father was particularly addicted while his uncle was a more sentimental type who urged others to try their luck ? it was, as they say: one urge too many. Mother saw him as a cause and purged him from Japan and sent him packing to distant corners, Tibet at first, but with some leniency, she allowed him to stay in his holiday villa with his family in England.
?Can we contact both of them?? Albertina asked, eager to get this ring off her fingers.
?If we do, we risk handling over a great legacy to two very foreign persons to the LaDecian tradition.? Declan said, and just as well, Evia joined in, ?The inherent danger of losing it all, to a few outsiders?it is risky? too risky!?
?The fortune of the LaDecian is not of my concern.? Albertina retorted.
?Then you are selfish, Albertina, this is not your choice to make!? Evia stood up, her voice angered.
?I am the Master of this clan, and I alone make the choice.?
?What if? it is a terrible decision, and you will be a master of nothing? those two are vultures, both in one way or some other which we don?t really know the full story about?Mother went through thick and thin and knows a lot, but she also paid expensively to have those two investigated before making her decision??Evia paused, ?Whatever it was that she found? it was unpleasant, and our legacy, now passed to you, is the only choice she thought was right.?
?Mother died yesterday, on her death bed struggling to even breathe, she was sick? as she was desperate, a desperate woman making an equally desperate choice? such was all that it is when she passed the ring and nothing more!? Albertina again spoke, ?There is no more a strange stroke of fate that I was called back after so long away? only to have all this stuffed at me so suddenly.?
With a single push, she pushed away the mahogany table, and trotted off to the door, slamming it behind her without waiting for anyone to follow. In her wake, it left only Evia and Declan in the Philosopher?s Room, staring at each other in an awkward silence as they witnessed Albertina?s angered self trotted away from them. Eventually, the footsteps of her stilettos could no longer be heard along the marble and cobblestone hallways beyond the oak doors of the room; and Evia turned to Declan, and moved closer.
Together, they moved, and fell into embrace, both kissing the lips of one another.
?Everything is going as planned? my love?? Declan smiled and said.
?My little brother will soon be forced out, and this? this, will all be yours, and yours only, my cunning thief of thieves.? Evia responded, her face a widened smile that was hardly ever seen.
?A thief I am not, darling, I am?but the Devil?s Advocate.?
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I can't handle all these drama urges, dear god I wish I can write something funny and light hearted without all these soul crushing depressive moods.