She turned her body so that she could look at him, seeing him pull out the logs of the woods and making s.p.a.ce in the fireplace before he lit it up for the woods to start burning. The room that was dark earlier started to brighten just enough to drive out the shadows in the room and bring warmth to the cold walls and floors.
She pulled the blanket closer to her to ask him in a soft voice, "Do you feel cold?" and saw him walk towards her.
"All the reapers are cold but then you don't know he is a reaper," Barron muttered under his breath as no matter how much he spoke, the only person who could hear him was this butler who he was not interested to speak to.
"There's a blanket in the cupboard if you want to make use of," Belle said to Lucas.
Barron wondered if the girl liked Lucas and that was why she was being nice or if she was nice in general. The day she had washed and twisted him all around before getting some wind out in the patio, she had brought the stuffed toy in to place it in front of the fireplace to get some heat. He rolled his eyes. Objects didn't need heat.
"I am fine," answered Lucas who came back to sit in the chair but this time to hold a book in his hand, "I didn't know you were interested in this," he said reading the name of it.
Belle softly smiled, a smile that didn't reach her eyes. It was a book that was on the council duties, "You said I had to be financially well to be able to afford you. And I heard that the council gives you lands with good pay."
"You're doing it for my sake?" he asked the girl, his eyes looking sharply at her, his expression calm and easy, yet a little unnerving.
Belle nodded her head, "I thought it would also be easier to not let anyone take away the roof that is above us. I didn't know if there would be another Mr. Wellington who would try to frame and embarra.s.s my family," she replied not meeting his eyes.
Lucas didn't reply to this and instead sat there quietly without opening the book.
"There are some who have attended the council and who work there, maybe I could get some pointers from them," she added.
"Is that what you truly wish?" On his question, Belle's eyes moved to look up at him, "I heard the exams are never easy," it wasn't that Lucas had heard but he had been there once or twice walking by or to pick up a soul to take it to the gates, "In the name of money, lands, and power, creatures will murder each other. Tear them apart to get to their goal."
"Will it be bad to get into the circle?"
"Never said it isn't, Miss Belle. The question is if you are willing to get into the dirt. As beautiful it looks to know that a person is from the council. It is a corrupt place of manipulation but then every place is corrupt," Lucas had never heard about her wanting to take part in it, not that he was opposed to it.
"There's brother Damien and Uncle Carsovane in there," Belle mentioned the names she knew, "Even Lord Nicholas appears to be a kind man."
Lucas' lips twitched. All the names mentioned, they were into things of their own manipulation and it made him wonder if he should burst that bubble of the image she had of them, "You can always give the exam and see if you can pa.s.s. There's no one stopping you," he stated.
"What do you think?" Belle asked, wanting his opinion as it mattered to her.
"I don't think what I say should matter, milady," he offered her a polite smile.
Barron who was there listening to them speak, said, "What a good butler you are," he could tell that this butler was scheming something under that calm demeanor of his.
"What if I said it does?" she asked him.
"Do what you feel like. If you feel it is what you want for your own needs, then go ahead with it. I will continue to be your butler and serve you," he bowed his head to show her his respect but that was not what Belle wanted and today was not the day to speak about it.
"Thank you," she continued to look into s.p.a.ce at nothing in particular, the night pa.s.sing through seconds and minutes to have her finally fall asleep.
When the next morning arrived, the councils had arrived with the bodies and the confirmation to the Adams' residence to give them the report of what was found.
"We brought everyone but one who will continue to remain in the laboratory of the council," spoke the councilman named Mathias, "I don't think you are familiar with the word switcher, are you?" he asked Belle who stood in front of her.
"What is that?"
"A switcher is a new creature that has been walking on our lands. There have been many reports of them. They have the ability to change and morph to anyone," Belle frowned listening to this, "We believe that one of your maids was killed by the switcher and later took her form so that she could poison your family with the spitgra.s.s which was the cause of the sudden corruption. Another team of the council will be looking for the girl's actual body. You and the rest of the staff's names are clear for now."
Lucas who stood behind Belle noticed how the other colleague of the councilman who was speaking to Belle kept giving him a suspicious look. When their eyes met, he offered the councilman a polite smile and a bow.
