After signing the contract, Angel counted out 21 pounds for Mrs. Vallis, receiving her copy of the agreement and 15 soli in change.
"Anna, show Miss Watson to the property."
The maid called Anna nodded, took a set of keys, and led Angel from the three-story building. They walked along the Tussock riverside for approximately five minutes to 47 Red Rose Street.
This row of five two-story houses shared nearly identical exteriors—the same raised stone steps, the same street-facing bay windows, the same second-floor balconies. Clearly they'd been designed and built together.
Whether they all belonged to Mrs. Vallis remained unclear.
Anna unlocked the door and turned on the gas lamps, filling the dark, cold parlor with warmth before inviting Angel inside.
Following Anna's tour, Angel explored this residence she'd rented for 20 pounds. The ground floor featured a spacious parlor occupying nearly half the space, a semi-open kitchen and dining area, a washroom with bathtub, a well-ventilated basement, plus an empty guest room and study.
The second floor contained three bedrooms, a sunroom, and a master bedroom with private washroom and separate balcony.
The house's layout was simpler than her Tingen residence, but compensated with ample space and complete furnishings.
Even the study's bookshelves held numerous volumes.
Anna mentioned that some furniture belonged to the previous tenant—the "rude Feysac man" Mrs. Vallis had mentioned—who hadn't appeared in over a month and still owed several weeks' rent. According to the contract, this furniture now belonged to Mrs. Vallis and could be freely used by Angel.
"Do you know why that tenant left?"
After inspecting the furniture and water and gas meters, Angel asked curiously back in the parlor.
Brown-haired Anna shook her head. "I'm not certain either. That gentleman was frequently absent during his tenancy, so we didn't notice initially. Only after a week without seeing him did Mrs. Vallis have me unlock the door. We found spoiled food in the kitchen and realized he hadn't returned in quite some time."
Probably died in some corner, or fled Backlund pursued by enemies... In Tingen, various bloody Backlund tales had become common tea-time gossip...
Angel thought cynically, scanning the spacious parlor. Seeing Anna preparing to leave, she called out.
"Where might I hire a part-time maid for cleaning and laundry—someone who comes at fixed times each week?"
In Tingen, she'd become so spoiled by Tromie's care that she couldn't even wash her own clothes.
"If it's only cleaning and laundry, I can recommend someone," Anna replied after consideration. "But why not hire a full-time maid? A house this size needs dedicated management. She could receive visitors when you're away."
Hearing such polished sales language from a maid surprised Angel somewhat, though given her employer ran a general store, learning such persuasive speech through osmosis wasn't strange.
However, Angel had no intention of hiring full-time help. As a Beyonder, she'd frequently handle mystical matters—possibly even attract enemies. Having a full-time maid would endanger them both.
"I've just arrived in Backlund and am still unfamiliar with the area. Perhaps I'll hire someone full-time later," she replied with a difficult expression. "For now, a part-time maid will solve my immediate needs."
After arranging for a part-time maid to come the next morning for a trial, Anna handed Angel the keys and departed from 47 Red Rose Street.
Once she'd left, Angel locked the door, opened her luggage, placed her change of clothes in the wardrobe, concealed her weapons in the desk, and set the empty suitcase by the door—essentially unpacked.
She'd come straight to Backlund from the cathedral with only this one case—similar to her "business trip" to Port Enmat.
"Tomorrow I'll need to purchase tools and materials... I just don't know where Backlund's underground markets are located. Ms. Daly would know, but I can't ask her..."
Moving the single-seater sofa beside the bay window, Angel settled comfortably into it, caressing the Evernight Goddess holy emblem on her wrist as she murmured.
This "Secret Holy Symbol" that Miss Arianna had given her possessed powerful anti-divination properties. Rather than receiving "divination failed" results, anyone attempting divination would receive pre-programmed answers.
Miss Arianna had confidently stated that any observation below demigod level would be blocked by this emblem—the observers wouldn't even realize their divination had been interfered with.
Using this holy symbol, Angel would accomplish the lady's assigned task.
Become a "Witch" who'd advanced successfully in Tingen but, due to her superior's death, had drifted to Backlund, then somehow infiltrate the "Witch Sect."
The next morning, drowsy Angel was awakened by knocking. Opening the door, she found a woman around twenty wearing a linen dress, carrying a wooden bucket and cleaning supplies—momentarily making Angel think she'd returned to Tingen, facing her familiar maid Tromie.
After a dazed moment, she remembered today's scheduled trial by the part-time maid.
Since Anna, the landlady's maid, had recommended her, Angel felt comfortable letting this maid called Beth clean alone while she went out to purchase necessary items and familiarize herself with the neighborhood.
She needed not only alchemical tools to recreate the magic mirror lost fighting Megose and replenish special ammunition, but also materials for various ritual magic and divination. In unfamiliar Backlund, acquiring everything would likely take time.
After a street-side breakfast of croissants, fried eggs, and coffee, Angel walked slowly along Red Rose Street, memorizing small paths to other streets and buildings whose rooftops could be traversed.
She then circled to the adjacent Rose Avenue and Jeffrey Boulevard leading directly to Backlund Bridge, thoroughly familiarizing herself with the area before returning to Red Rose Street.
Exiting a shop selling alchemical equipment with a heavy wooden box, she found the sun overhead—though with today's smog, even at noon, the sun appeared merely as a faint outline.
Surrounding pedestrians had grown accustomed to this. Aside from occasional coughing, everyone calmly inhaled the harmful haze, pretending it didn't exist.
Returning to 47 Red Rose Street with packed lunch, Angel discovered that the trial maid Beth had completed a thorough cleaning of the entire house and washed her changed clothes.
Very efficient...
Angel carefully inspected several areas, finding the maid hadn't slacked off during her absence, which pleased her greatly.
After negotiating employment at 1 soli 5 pence per week for three visits, Angel saw the diligent maid off.
"Next, I'll arrange my new alchemical equipment, purchase necessary materials tomorrow, and recreate my own magic mirror..."
Placing the measuring cups, mortar, crucible, and various empty glass bottles on basement shelves, Angel finished her lunch and reclined on the single-seater sofa by the street-facing bay window.
Maybe if I close my eyes, I'll return to Daffodil Street in Tingen...
With this thought, Angel slowly drifted to sleep.
Wait, what time is it?
Suddenly opening her eyes, Angel found the light outside had turned dusky yellow. Checking her pocket watch, she discovered it was already 5 PM.
Today was Monday—the Tarot Club's regular 3 PM gathering. Last week's meeting had been canceled because Justice and The Hanged Man requested leave, but this week had no such excuse...
Being asleep shouldn't prevent attendance, so I wouldn't miss it due to sleeping...
Had the Tarot Club convened without including her?
Looking at her right palm, which had hidden a teardrop mark since the first Tarot meeting, Angel's mind filled with questions.