Millicent
Location: Château de La Lune: Gardens -> Bedroom -> Dining Room
Skills: N/A
As Millicent set foot outside she shuddered, noticing the drop in temperature since she arrived. What was she doing out here anyway? The gardens, while beautiful, sure, wasn’t something she typically enjoyed. Especially when it was close to when dinner would be served and she could find a drink.
Then she thought about it more. She wanted to avoid the others, for now. Ever since she found that clipping her mind had been racing. Someone here knew information they shouldn’t.
Which led her to think one of the people who invited her here was involved. Hell, multiple people could.
She thought about some of the rumors she heard when she mentally snapped the names on the notice board. Two stuck out. She made a mental note to keep tabs on them.
So if she had to distract herself with flowers, then so be it.
Millicent made her way over, admiring the arches leading into what looked to be a sort of maze. What was it with sprawling mansions and having floral mazes? Did the uber wealthy enjoy the thought of people getting lost in there? As she set foot, Millicent noticed the pathways had no easily identifiable route to them. They seemed to criss-cross and converge on one another in a haphazard manner.
Millicent, not one to turn down a challenge, proceeded onward.
She remembered a trick she heard in some movie before, though she couldn’t place it specifically. If you put your hand on the wall of a maze, you would eventually find your way out. This was better than just meandering willy-nilly to Millicent put her right hand up along the floral plants and moved forward.
It seemed to take a long time and Millicent was sure she saw the same plant or shrub or stick as she passed by it multiple times. It was as if the maze itself was shifting, changing the path before her. But that couldn’t be. Even if she did perform magic as a career, real-life magic did not exist.
As she walked she noticed how well-maintained the plants were. Someone cared for them a great deal. You could tell when looking at flowers if someone had a green-thumb or just planted them because they were pretty.
Thankfully she came to what she supposed was the center of the maze. There was a sitting area set up with comfortable looking chairs surrounding a place for a bonfire. It all looked very cozy. Millicent’s eyes caught some movement on the side and she looked to see an older man pulling some weeds. This must be the gardener. She stepped closer, hoping not to startle the man like she did with the woman in the ballroom before.
”Excuse me? I am sorry to bother you, but I didn’t want you thinking I was sneaking around here. Are you the one who maintains the garden? It’s quite beautiful.”
The man looked up from his work and smiled. “Yes, mademoiselle. I am the gardner. I'm Faustus. Thank you. I put a lot of work into it. It's a large garden.”
”I struggle keeping anything alive so this is remarkable. How long have you worked here? If you don’t mind me prying. If you’re busy I can leave you alone.”
“I can work and chat,” he said, pulling weeds to demonstrate. “I've been here since ‘92.”
”I’ll admit, I haven’t heard much about the La Lune family. Their estate is beautiful though. You must enjoy working for them if you have been here that long.”
“It's a good job. Little oversight.” He grins. “Mrs. Elenore hasn't changed the layout since her father passed. I think you have to know the French wine industry to know about them, the La Lune’s. They focus heavily on that over much else. Though one of the young mademoiselles has been making a name for herself in the concert crowd.”
Millicent tried to picture who he was talking about. Surely she would have heard of them. ”Admittedly I know very little about wine apart from where to find the most decent one within my price range.” Millicent didn’t bother to say she partook in wine more than the average consumer. ”Still, if it isn’t broke and all that. They must be good to you then. I asked someone before, but is there anything on the grounds to keep an eye out for? Anything of note to look for? Obviously keeping in mind I can’t just walk around wherever I please. I am a guest, after all. But I was pointed to the gardens and here I am, so I am curious what you might enjoy outside of it.”
“Hmm, what sort of things do you enjoy?” he asked. “The garden is obviously my favorite place, but not knowing what interests you I can't say.”
”I wouldn’t mind learning more about the history of the place. More about the family as well. I am a bit of a history buff.”
“Hmm, there is a little museum of sorts you could check out. It is mostly set up for investors. So very edited, and mostly focused on the winery history. Do you have any specific questions? I might be able to answer.”
Millicent pondered. She wanted more information on the family but didn’t want to seem like she as fishing for specifics. ”I guess I am just impressed the family has maintained itself for so long. In my experience families in business usually have a few troubles, maybe a family member doesn’t want to maintain the business and it causes trouble, that sort of thing. It doesn’t seem to have impacted them though.”
“Ah, the family has been here only since the late 1800's. They got lucky and were setting up just after the flight. So they started with good roots. Then Vorace was born 1915. He hit the ground running. Honestly, the current generation running is Beatrice's husband. Elenore isn't as invested in the winery itself. I don't think the current kids will take over it. Lena would be the most likely one to try. She's actually studying food science.”
Millicent took in the information. Elenore was someone to talk to more. Millicent wondered why she wasn’t invested. It seemed like they printed money and wine never went out of style. ”Interesting. Well, I’ll be sure to check out the museum then. Thank you for humoring me.”
“Of course. The awards are always the most interesting time of the year here.” He smiled and focused on his gardening.
Millicent wanted to check out more information on the family but dinner was going to be served soon and it would not do her well to be late. If the money was real she didn't want to do anything to jeopardize her chances. She made her way back to her room and noticed her luggage had been dropped off. At least they didn't screw up a second time. Millicent also noticed the dinner card was gone. So someone else had entered her room. Normal for staff, sure, but given that someone here knew information about her, her defenses were up.
She moved her luggage on to her bed and opened it, grabbing her make-up bag and bathroom essentials. She took out the dress she planned to wear to dinner before moving to the bathroom door. She listened closely to see if her neighbor was in there, but heard nothing. She unlocked and opened it slowly, just in case. And she wish she hadn't.
Whoever had used the bathroom left it in disarray. Clothes strewn about the floor, water puddles, some burnt ash by the sink, and a used toothbrush left out. Millicent wanted to scream. She wasn't a neat freak by any stretch, but this was...outlandish. Not only was it disrespectful to her, but to the staff as well who would inevitably be cleaning up this mess, because she sure as hell wasn't about to.
Millicent put her stuff down and took a few moments to collect herself. She was paired with possibly the worst person on Earth, but it wouldn't be for long. She brushed her teeth quickly and applied her make-up. She brushed her hair and finished up before leaving and locking the bathroom door again.
She undressed and put on the dress along with a pair of white heels to match. She pinned her hair up with a silver clasp. She took off her glasses and put them safely away in the bedside table before she carefully applied contacts. She hated wearing them normally, but she wanted to look presentable and she had forgotten her other pair of glasses she wore to formal events.
Once satisfied she checked herself out in a mirror. She looked damn good, she had to admit. Satisfied, she left her room and made her way to dinner. She was about to meet up with the other guests. Which meant she had to be on her guard.
One of them, at least, was up to no good.
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