n

n

n75 Meeting Madame Pualis Again

nOutside the administrator’s residence, a building transformed from an old castle.

nLumian strolled through the gardens and approached the front door. He said to the valet standing guard, “I need a word with Madame Pualis.”

nThe valet—clad in a crimson shirt and ivory pants—sized him up warily and asked, “What’s this about?”

nIs this brat here to make trouble?

nLumian scoffed. “That’s not for you to know.”

nWhy would some servant care so much? Who do you think you are? How many kids have you popped out?

nThe valet hesitated before deciding to pass the message to Madame Pualis and let her decide if she wanted to entertain this cheeky young man.

nLumian loitered by the entrance for a few minutes. When the valet returned, Lumian said, “Madame will see you in the small parlor.”

nThe small parlor was familiar to Lumian. The few times he had accompanied his sister here, he had been entertained in that very room. Without needing directions, Lumian made his way to the correct room. The valet trailed behind like an obedient dog.

nLumian sprawled on the sofa in the parlor and helped himself to the black tea. Then Madame Pualis glided through the doorway.

nThe lady was dressed to kill in an exquisite black corset dress, a matching shawl draped over her shoulders. She wore a slightly askew lady’s round hat and a diamond necklace laced in gold.

nThe outfit struck Lumian as familiar. He realized that Madame Pualis had worn this very ensemble when she came to seduce him.

nShe did that on purpose, didn’t she? Lumian thought with an icy smile.

n“Good morning, Madame Pualis.”

nJust as the greeting left his lips, Lumian suddenly noticed the figure beside Madame Pualis. It wasn’t Cathy, the lady’s maid, but the ‘midwife’ who had met her demise at Ryan’s hands just yesterday.

nThe ‘midwife’ wore a grayish white dress. Her eyes were blank, her face expressionless. Her skin had a bluish tinge, identical to when Lumian had seen her corpse in the garden the previous evening. However, she wasn’t carrying any gardening tools this time.

nBringing the ‘midwife’ instead of her maid? She did that on purpose too, didn’t she? Lumian couldn’t help the cynical thought.

nMadame Pualis smiled. “It should be noon by now.”

nShe settled into the armchair that signified the host, while the ‘midwife’ stood to one side like an accessory.

n“If you haven’t eaten lunch, it’s not noon yet,” Lumian quipped.

nHis heart raced underneath the retort. He suspected Madame Pualis had brought the ‘midwife’ here to interrogate him about yesterday’s events.

nIf he didn’t handle this well and Leah’s group didn’t restart the cycle in time, Lumian suspected he might have to play ‘daddy’ for a few minutes. Or longer.

nMadame Pualis glanced at him, her bright eyes sparkling with an inscrutable smile.

nCasually, she asked, “What seems to be the trouble?”

nLumian decided to cut to the chase. Solemnly, he said, “Madame, you must have realized we’re stuck in a time loop.”

nAs he spoke, he watched Madame Pualis’s face closely, alert for any reaction.

nIf she revealed surprise, shock or confusion, he would quickly add, “Just kidding!” Then, he would start with something odd and see how she responded. Only then would he consider telling her about the time loop.

nOf course, if Madame Pualis looked like she already knew and her ‘secret’ was out, escape would be his top priority.

nThe odds of escape were slim in that scenario, but how would he know if there was any hope without trying?

nMadame Pualis sized Lumian up for a few seconds, then smiled.

n“Looks like you’ve found a boss too.”

nShe didn’t seem surprised by the time loop concept, nor did she look puzzled. That was as good as admitting she knew what was going on.

nBoss? That was a favorite word in Aurore’s books. Did she mean some higher power that granted boons? Lumian interpreted Madame Pualis’s words.

nHe believed she could retain memories across loops only because she had a ‘boss’—some kind of protection.

nLumian smiled and pretended to sigh in relief. “Seems I won’t need to explain much.”

n“What are you getting at?” Pualis asked, still smiling.

nThe ‘midwife’ stood motionless beside her like a mannequin.

nLumian had an excuse prepared and launched into it with enough charm to convince anyone.

n“People outside already know about Cordu’s abnormality. If we don’t end this loop soon, this place will be wiped out. Everyone dies.

n“We’re in the same boat. Only by uniting can we avoid sinking. Only then do we have a chance of finding the key to escape this loop and return to normal life.

n“Madame, time is running out. Let’s work together.”

nMadame Pualis listened with a faint smile, not interrupting Lumian’s story.

nAt this, she chuckled. “Who said we’re in this together?”

nWhat? Could she be the one wanting to sink the boat? Lumian grew alarmed.

nMadame Pualis maintained her smile. “Why should I cooperate with you? I can leave here at a specific time.”

nWh… Lumian was stunned, but a glimmer of hope flickered.

n“Are you saying you have a way out of the time loop? You only need to do something at a precise time?”

nMadame Pualis nodded and sipped her tea from fine porcelain. She said nothing else.

nThe perks of a higher power’s protection… Wait, this isn’t the first cycle. Why is she still here? Could other cycles have restarted before that specific time? Hmm… That explains why she didn’t pursue us infiltrating the castle and killing the ‘midwife’. She fears the three Beyonders causing trouble and forcibly restarting the cycle… Lumian grasped things that had puzzled him.

nHe suspected Madame Pualis was also waiting for the twelfth night.

nAmid his thoughts, Lumian smiled. “I wonder if you can take Aurore and me out of this cycle?”

nWhat official investigators? I’ve never heard of them!

nMadame Pualis appraised him with amusement.

n“Why should I help you?”

n“Didn’t you say that love…” Lumian stopped, unable to continue.

nHe meant to mention Madame Pualis’s words about love, hoping she might save him and Aurore out of kindness. But since Madame Pualis likely desired his sister, he couldn’t say it.

nIf Madame Pualis loved him, a shameless man like Lumian would have played the love card and offered to bear her child to get them out of this loop.

nWell, he would grit his teeth and give birth himself if it meant Madame Pualis evacuating him and Aurore from this cycle.

nMadame Pualis’s expression shifted slightly. After a few seconds of silence, she said, “Are you suggesting love is unfathomable? Saving her despite clearly wanting her dead for her mistake?”

nLumian didn’t answer. He could tell Madame Pualis referred to a ‘she’.

nMadame Pualis didn’t expect a response. She sighed, “But what if it’s irredeemable?”

nIrredeemable… Lumian’s heart sank like plunging into an icy lake in early spring.

nRegaining his breath, he asked for confirmation,

n“You mean, at that time, you can only take a few people, but that doesn’t include me or Aurore?”

nMadame Pualis nodded.

n“You can see it that way.”

nLooks like I still have to rely on myself… Lumian sighed, forcing calm.

nThe rise and crash of hope was unpleasant indeed.

nHe thought for a moment, then smiled.

n“Madame, the three foreigners and I will explore the cathedral’s underground later. If anything happens, the cycle might restart ahead of time. We won’t even make it to Lent.”

nLet alone the twelfth night.

nMadame Pualis narrowed her eyes, chin raised. “Are you threatening me?”

n“No, just a reminder.” Lumian smiled sincerely, the picture of relaxed.

nOutwardly, he feared angering Madame Pualis and being confined here to give birth. The three investigators would restart the cycle if he didn’t emerge fifteen minutes later.

nMadame Pualis gazed into Lumian’s eyes for a few seconds. Seeing no flinch or evasion, she suddenly smiled.

n“You’re truly interesting. It would be lovely if you and your sister became my lovers.”

nWithout waiting for a response, she turned to the ‘midwife’.

n“You destroyed a Heretic Spellmaster, yet I didn’t blame you. I’m merciful enough, but you still expect my help?”

nHeretic Spellmaster? Lumian filed away the term and said earnestly, “This isn’t about help. It’s about doing what benefits everyone.”

nMadame Pualis fell silent for a few seconds before smiling again.

n“I won’t explore the cathedral’s underground with you, but for Aurore’s sake and your courage, I’ll provide some help if anything happens.”

nLumian was satisfied to negotiate this much. He stood and mimicked the gentlemanly posture from his sister’s books. Pressing a hand to his chest, he bowed. “I thank you, my lady.”

nMadame Pualis chuckled. “Shouldn’t it be ‘my sunshine’?”

nShe referred to what Lumian had said in a previous loop: “Madame, you are my sunshine.”

nLumian felt embarrassed but had always been shameless. Pretending not to hear, he left the small parlor.

n……

nAfter descending the hill from the castle and entering Cordu, Lumian spotted Leah, Ryan and Valentine waiting to greet him.

n“How did it go?” Leah asked with a smile.

nLumian recounted his conversation with Madame Pualis, concluding, “This is the best outcome we could hope for.”

n“That’s right. We can still count on someone to help in our direst moment.” Ryan nodded.

nLumian asked, “Did you get a reply?”

nBefore visiting the castle, Ryan had reported Madame Pualis wasn’t truly of the Roquefort family and Pulitt’s photo was in her room. Leah exhaled, answering for Ryan, “Our superiors remind us to consider the possibility of Pulitt becoming a woman through potion or power.”

n“As expected,” Lumian tersely acknowledged. “When do we explore the cathedral’s underground?”

nRyan had already decided. In a deep voice, he said, “Now.”

n