The Manor resided on a hill just above Paris. From its large bay windows one could see almost the whole of the great city; it stretched for miles in every direction, all color and bright lights.
No one had been in the Manor for over twenty years, since its previous owner had died. It had, over those years, fallen into disrepair, but no one would know it for looking at it now. The lawn had been miraculously redone, with lush green grass covering every corner, and large oak trees providing ample shade and privacy to the house. The walls of the Manor had been repainted, the walk repaved and the windows replaced. Judging by the glorious outside one would expect that the inside would be just as beautiful, just as refined- which, of course, it was.
The bright eyes of a young servant were just visible as he watched out the window, hiding the rest of his body and face with the curtain. He looked on as a horse drawn carriage made its way up to the gate. The footman got out and opened it, and the carriage proceeded on until it had reached the pillared entrance of the manor. The servant pulled himself away from the window and ran downstairs to meet his master at the door.
The Count stepped down from his carriage and, with a whimsical smile crossing his lips, looked up at his most magnificent new home. "It's perfect," he said, throwing a glance behind himself at the carriage, "don't you think?"
There was a grunt as another man alighted from the carriage. He was taller than the Count, just as finely dressed, but no one would ever mistake one for the other. This man looked upon the Manor with a frown and said indignantly, "Its big."
"Yes it is. It was the most beautiful house available in this city. Cost me an ungodly amount to have it fixed up, but no matter." The Count, still smiling, began making his way up the steps to the doorway, "If I'm going to live in this city of squalor I must have some place that doesn't remind me of filth."
The other man ran a hand through his short, black hair. He hadn't moved, hardly able to take his eyes off the Manor, "How long are we going to be here?" he asked distractedly.
The Count approached the door, which immediately opened without him touching it. A servant bowed to him and bade him come inside. Before entering the Count looked back at his friend and grinned, "As long as it takes to do what I have come to do, Kurogane, and no longer."
The Count and his friend spent the next few hours looking about the house and getting their affairs in order. The servants gave the Count a tour of his new house, which they had painstakingly furnished with things they believed would please him. To their delight he found the place perfectly to his taste. Monsieur Kurogane found some of the decorations less to his liking but said nothing. After all, it was not he who bought the house.
The two of them were just about to sit down to dinner when a servant appeared to tell the Count that he had a message from one Viscount of Edonis and his young friend the Baron of Shara. The young Viscount, it seemed, had heard of the Count's arrival in Paris and would consider it an honor to wait on him as soon as possible.
"How soon?" asked the Count.
"Sir, the young men are waiting for your answer in the parlor."
Kurogane put down his fork, disbelieving, "What? They didn't send a message? They just showed up?"
"Yes. I tried to keep them out of the house, Monsieur, but the Viscount insisted on being let in. He was very forceful."
"Some people have no damn respect." Kurogane stood up from the table, his hands clenched into fists, "I'll go turn them out."
"No no dear Kuro." Said the Count, getting to his feet himself, "We can't have people disliking me on my first day in the city. Besides, this saves me the trouble of having to go meet the Viscount myself."
Kurogane, though visibly frustrated by this, asked no questions, and simply followed his Master to the parlor. He did, however, make a point of asking the Count just what his interest was in the Viscount at a later date.
In the parlor they found two handsome young men in fine clothing. Both had dark hair and pale, pointed faces, but in one man's eyes there was a look of constant suspicion and deep anger, where in the other's there was naught but a quiet kindness.
When the Count entered, the young men stopped the spirited conversation they had been having and rushed to introduce themselves.
"Monsieur," said the kinder looking of the two, "Thank you for seeing us on such short notice. We realize that we have most likely just interrupted your dinner. We would have come earlier except that we had trouble finding this place."
"That's quite alright," said the Count bowing back to the young man. He then turned away from him and addressed the other, "You are the Viscount of Edonis?"
The suspicious man nodded slowly, his eyes shifting uncertainly over the Count and Kurogane, "My name is Kamui, Monsieur," he replied, "I am the Viscount."
"And that would make me the Baron," said the other young man with a gentle smile, "You may call me Subaru."
The Count grinned at the two of them, and was just about to speak when the Kurogane stepped forward and cut him off.
"And what is it that you two have come here for at this time of the evening?"
Kamui looked Kurogane up and down, his eyes narrowed.
Subaru brought his eyes to the ground. "We are sorry for that, Messieurs. As I said we had trouble finding you."
Kurogane growled, "It's an enormous house on top of a hill. How difficult-?"
The Count put a hand up, not only to stop Kurogane's unfriendly remarks, but also the rebuke he saw forming on the Viscount's lips. "Please. Pay no attention to Monsieur de Nihon. It hardly matters what time it is. What I wish to know is why you two fine young gentlemen have come here. Surely you have more exciting things to do in the evenings than visit wealthy old men like myself."
Subaru couldn't help but laugh a little at the Count. In truth, while he did appear to be very wealthy, he looked anything but old. His blond hair still had its sheen; his slender frame still carried him with the grace and agility of youth. Perhaps the only thing that gave away his greater age were the subtle lines around his right eye- the one that wasn't hidden by the ornate black eye-patch he had tied around his head.
"My mother prides herself on knowing all of the most important news in Paris," said Kamui over his friend's laughter. "She informed me that a very important, wealthy man would be moving into this manor. She expressed great interest in seeing you, so I thought it pertinent to wait upon you as soon as possible."
"That much is obvious," mumbled Kurogane.
"Wonderful," cried the Count, grasping both men's hands in his own and grinning. "Honestly I feel fortunate that I didn't have to seek you out. It is difficult to bring oneself into Paris society; I was in need of someone to introduce me into it."
Subaru and Kamui were quiet for a moment. They looked at each other in confusion.
"We came here on behalf of Kamui's mother…" began Subaru.
"We honestly had no plan for introducing you anywhere," finished Kamui decisively.
The Count laughed through these remarks as if they were the kindest of compliments, "But in introducing me to your mother you will have already started the process. I expect she knows all the important people of Paris."
"Well, yes," Kamui shrugged, "I suppose if you are looking for an introduction into the Paris aristocracy then my mother is the one to ask. She knows everyone."
"Very good! Then will you ask her if she will give me the pleasure of waiting on her tomorrow?"
"Certainly," replied the Baron, checking his watch. "Now, I believe that we have kept you away from your dinner long enough. Allow us to send up a servant tomorrow morning with the Countess's answer?"
"Wonderful. Thank you gentlemen; you are most kind. I'll come when she asks me to."
Later, the Count and Kurogane sat together in the parlor. The latter sat near the hearth, taking long drags from a beautiful pipe and reading that day's post. The former sat across from him, staring into the fire with one amber eye.
At length, Kurogane grew tired of his master's pensive silence, and sighing said, "Well, are you going to tell me what that was all about or are you not?"
The Count stirred, "What?"
"You knew who the Viscount was before you met him. You seemed eager to meet his mother. What does that mean?"
"I did know the Viscount. He serves my purpose. I've made it a point to know everyone who serves my purpose."
"His mother? Does she 'serve your purpose?"
The Count nodded, "Yes. Though, if she knows I'm here, she may already realize that," he shrugged, "If she doesn't she will soon enough."
Kurogane sighed. He could never get a simple answer. After a few moments silence, in which he watched the Count sink deeper and deeper into his own thoughts, he put his paper and pipe down and asked, "Are you thirsty?"
The Count smiled appreciatively.