Previously...
Lucian realised Isabelle still harboured suspicions. Upon hearing footsteps approaching his room, he hurriedly searched for Kyle's job application letter, which he had seen two days earlier. Panicking, he couldn't find where the letter was kept. With no other choice, he slipped into the wardrobe, holding his breath.
The door to the room opened. Isabelle entered. From a small gap in the wardrobe door, Lucian could see her movements. His heart was pounding.
As he watched, his head accidentally bumped into the black cloak hanging there. Something fell, an envelope. Almost reflexively, Lucian grabbed it. The letter was there, tucked into the coat pocket.
As soon as Isabelle left, he slowly opened the wardrobe door, trying not to make a sound.
Lucian knew Isabelle suspected him. From behind the door, he heard footsteps approaching. Panicking, he searched for the job application letter that Kyle had seen two days ago. Time was running out. Isabelle could come in at any moment.
Not finding it, he quickly hid inside the wardrobe. From the crack in the door, he peeked out. Isabelle entered, her eyes scanning the room. Lucian held his breath.
While watching, his head accidentally bumped into the black cloak. An envelope fell on his head. He immediately grabbed it; the letter was in the pocket of the black coat. Only after Isabelle left did Lucian slowly open the wardrobe door, careful not to make a sound.
"Does she still suspect me?" he muttered softly, tapping his chin with his pen.
Suddenly, the window curtain moved. The wind pushed it open, followed by the sound of the window hinges. Lucian stared, surprised. He immediately put down his pen and approached. As he was about to close the window, his gaze caught sight of a shadow in the yard. He turned his head, but the yard was empty.
"Was it just my imagination?" He rubbed his forehead, feeling uneasy.
His mind was racing, so he finally decided to go to sleep. From the darkness of the courtyard below, the figure that had been watching him slowly emerged from the shadows of the building, then disappeared without a sound.
---
Saturday, October 14th.
Morning arrived. The sunlight penetrated the curtains, warming Lucian's face until he woke up. As he opened the window, a fresh breeze entered and filled his room. His stomach had been empty since the night before. He went downstairs to find something to eat.
In the living room, he paused for a moment, observing every corner of the house. From the kitchen, his mother came out wearing an apron.
"Well, you're awake. Eat first, then hand in that application letter. I hope you get accepted at that company, Kyle."
Those words made Lucian pause for a moment. His mother's smile melted his heart. He approached and sat down at the dining table filled with dishes: meat soup, egg and sausage sandwiches, fried fish, and warm bread in a basket.
Cultural differences and unfamiliar flavours did not deter him. Without hesitation, he took a sandwich and ate it, trying to follow Kyle's habits so as not to arouse suspicion.
"Where's Isabelle, Mum? Did she leave early this morning? It's only seven o'clock," he asked, trying to sound casual.
His mother was silent for a moment, her finger pressed to her lips. "I don't know either, Kyle. But today is Saturday, the company is closed. So I don't know where she went."
Lucian was stunned. He had forgotten that today was his day off. His stupid question could arouse suspicion. He just stood there silently, blaming himself in his heart.
'Why am I so careless? Kyle's memory is fragmented, but I should have been more careful.'
Suddenly, he got up and stood beside his mother. "Well then, I'll be going."
His mother smiled and said, "All right, I hope your application is accepted, Kyle." His mother clasped her hands together, praying for her son's success.
Lucian walked to his room to change his clothes. The wardrobe was open, he took a black coat and put it on immediately. Then, he opened the door on the right to take a hat and some banknotes.
He put the application letter in his coat pocket. Feeling that he had left nothing behind, he moved out and did not forget to lock his bedroom door.
As he descended the stairs, Lucian put his bowler hat on his head and continued walking. As his hand was about to pull the door knob, he glanced back, his heart reluctant to leave this house.
He sighed, having no other choice. Lucian pulled the door handle and was about to go find out information about Kyle's death. It was because of that death that he was in this body.
Lucian walked through the crowd of people going about their business. From behind, he heard the whinnying of horses and the sound of footsteps.
He reflexively turned his head and waved his hand. The horse-drawn carriage had stopped. Lucian climbed aboard and spoke to the coachman.
"To the centre of town, sir," Lucian whispered.
The coachman turned and nodded. The sound of the whip crackled, accompanied by the whinnying of the horse, and the carriage finally moved through the bustling city filled with people.
About ten minutes later, Lucian finally arrived in the city centre, got off the horse-drawn carriage and was about to pay his fare.
"Is it the usual price?" The coachman nodded, and Lucian handed him two ten-sen notes.
After that, he left. Not far from where he was walking, there was a crossroads. Lucian turned left to meet his friend Kyle, who could help with his search.
Lucian arrived and stood still, staring at his friend Kyle's house. He tried to remember if he had come to the right house. He was a little unsure, but with limited time, Lucian had no other choice but to ring the bell next to him.
The bell rang quite loudly, making his ears hurt a little. From inside, footsteps approached the door. The door opened, and standing in front of him was a man with black hair and sparkling brown eyes.
"It's unusual for you to come here. Is there something I can help you with?" After that, he gestured behind him, motioning Lucian to come in and sit on the sofa in the living room.
Lucian smiled and entered the house. They sat opposite each other, and a calm voice broke the silence between them.
"You came so suddenly, I haven't cooked anything yet this morning. Here, have a cup of tea, and I'll go to the kitchen to make you some breakfast."
"Ahh... No need to trouble yourself, Mrs. Philia. I already ate with my mother before coming here," said Lucian, awkwardly, feeling that his arrival was inconvenient.
But Lucian's words were ignored. After placing two cups of tea on the table, Philia walked towards the kitchen on the right side of the living room to cook.
Seeing this, Lucian glanced at Flove, who was sitting drinking her tea. "Do you want to help me, Flove?"
Flove put down her cup and said, "Sure, but what do you want help with?"
"Yes, just looking for strange things like before," whispered Lucian, hoping Flove would help him.
Lucian remembered the strange thing they had done before, not by coincidence. He did not know that this strange search for the supernatural was the cause of his transmigration into his new body and also the cause of Kyle's death.
"Oh, three days ago, right? Hmm, but I think we should invite someone else," said Flove, sipping her tea.
Hearing her suggestion, Lucian fell silent to think, then said, "If that's what you want to do, then do it, but who will you bring along?"
Without hesitation, Flove answered the question. "Perhaps Aurora. I'm sure she'll want to join in this strange endeavour, besides, she also likes things related to the supernatural."
Hearing that, Lucian was a bit surprised. He couldn't speak and fell silent for a moment.