Lady Dahlia.
The Professor, Luke and Zinira entered the village.
"Yes! We've finally arrived in St Mystere! I'm so excited! I wonder what mysteries await us here." Luke said with joy.
"Ha ha ha ha! Well, Luke, we'll find out soon enough. Just be careful not to let your excitement cloud your ability to analyse tour surroundings." He said sternly. The Professor then addressed Zinira. "Since we are heading to Lady Dahlia, I would be delighted to accompany you."
"Thank you, *
As they set off a man with a rather round nose and moustache stepped in the way.
"Hey now, don't run off yet! I've got something you should hear first." He said as he stepped in their path. "Keh heh heh! What a dandy set of visitors you are. Must be new to St Mystere, eh? The name's Stachenscarfen, and I've got some advice for you. Go and look at that barrel back there. Don't ask questions! Just do it!"
The professor and Luke headed to the barrel and returned with a coin.
"Keh heh heh! Felt good didn't it! 'Round these parts, that's what we call a hint cion. When you find yourself up against a really tough puzzle, you'll want a hint. Trust me on this one, fellows and lady. And it's just those times when you'll want to use a hint coin to purchase a hint. I bet you think puzzles will be a breeze now, eh? Think again! There are a limited number of hint coins in this village! So don't go wasting coins on any old riddles. Because if you do, when you come across a real stumper, you'll be sorry! REEEALLY sorry! Mind you, hint coins won't always be hidden inside barrels. Check any object that seems suspicious. Got all that? Good. Be seeing you 'round." With that he left.
"What an unsual man." Zinira commented.
"Quite." Layton agreed. Luke on the other hand went and poked his nose about and found more hint coins.
"Thank you, Luke, would you keep them in your bag?" The Professor asked.
"Of course, Professor!"
Thanks to a map Lady Dahlia disclosed in both of their letters, they made their way over to Reinhold Manor. They made it to the village square when Luke looked curiously over to a smart looking boy that was peering at the group and said,
"Professor, why don't we see what that person over there has to say?"
"Right you are my boy." They headed over to the boy with the white scarf.
"Oh, hello. I'm Percy St Mystere's unofficial 'writer in residence'. If you're looking for Reinhold manor you just head up that road to the right. It's immense, so you'll know it when you see it. But before you go, why not try your hand at this puzzle I thought up? See if you can work out which house is mine from the instructions I give you. I'll even sweeten the deal for you! If you manage to solve this puzzle, I'll tell you about this village. So, how about it? You will try, won't you? After all, a writer is nothing without an audience!" Percy then explained the puzzle to the Professor. After a minute of pondering he pointed out Percy's house and said,
"Critical thinking is the key to success!"
"Impressive! I thought I'd set out quite a puzzle, but you made short work of it. Now for that gossip I promised you. The Reinhold family owns all of the land this village is built upon. I hear they own all the buildings too. I suppose you could say this village belongs to the Reinhold's. Well, that's all from me for now, But rest assured that next time I'll have a harder puzzle for you!" With that they parted and set off again towards the Reinhold manor.
"Professor, look at that man standing in the street." Luke indicated to a man in dark clothes and a long nose. "He's blocking the path up to Reinhold Manor. How terribly rude!"
"Perhaps he'll move for us, but I have a feeling he has no intention of doing anything of the sort." Said the Professor. They headed over to the man.
"Hold up! I've never seen any of you here before. What are all you new faces like yourselves doing here?" Said the man suspiciously.
"We are all here by invitation of the Reinhold's. Now if you'll excuse us, we have business through the gate."
"Business with the Reinholds, Izzat so? Something's strange here. Yeah, you're a fishy lot, mmm. I don't trust you, that's for sure, but I'll let you pass if you can solve this riddle, see? Just to warn you, it's a tough one. Isn't going to be easy, is it? No way, definitely not gonna be easy…"
"We shall see shall we." Said Zinira as she looked at the small weights and the puzzle. After using the two turns she chose one of the small weights.
"This is the one." She stated.
"Hey, not half bad. Pretty sharp bunch, aren't ya? Group of good, sharp apples, you lot are." Said the man impressed.
"So, have we satisfied you? May we pass now?" the Professor asked.
"'Course you can pass! Move along! And you better make sure you give my regards to Lady Dahlia." The man said. When the man had left, the Professor said,
"Well done Zinira!"
"Thank you, it was the least I could do." They entered through the gates into the Reinhold Manor garden where they saw their path prohibited by a river. The only way across was on a boat which seemed to belong to a man who was very skinny and had purple lips.
"And just who might you be?" he asked.
"My name is Layton, and this is my assistant, Luke. This is Zinira." The Professor introduced them. "We received an invitation to visit Reinhold Manor."
"Ah, yes, yes. Ahoo hoo hoo! We've all been expecting you, Professor Layton." He then fixed his beady eyes on Zinira. "We expected you quite some time ago."
"I do apologies, I have been preoccupied." Zinira said sincerely.
"Hmm. But, ahoo hoo, you'll have to excuse my scepticism. Can't trust anyone these days, you know. For all I know, you could be just another hoo-hoo-hooligan in a top hat. Ahoo hoo hoo! So how do I know you're the real Layton?"
"Did you hear that, Professor? The nerve of this fellow!" said Luke outraged. "Surely you aren't going to go through with this after an insult like that!"
"Now, now, Luke, settle down." Layton calmed Luke. "Sir, are you saying that you'd like to test me to see if I am the real Professor Layton?"
"Precisely, Professor 'Layton'. Now, if you don't mind, would you please solve this puzzle for me?" Said the purple lipped man. He then presented the professor with an old puzzle of chicks and wolves. The professor solved the puzzle with the chicks and wolves safely on the other side.
"Ahoo hoo hoo! Do excuse my earlier rudeness! Let me show you to the manor. Everyone's waiting for you."
"Everyone? I was under the impression that Lady Dahlia was the only person expecting me." Stated Layton.
"Right this way, please." Was all the purple lipped man said. Zinira tied her horse to a nearby tree and took a black bag off the saddle that slung over her solder. The horse seemed content with grazing on the grass. She then joined back to the Professor, Luke and the purple lipped man. The Professor offered to help Zinira into the boat but she politely declined. They crossed over the river in a rather cramped boat. On the way over, Luke admired the garden,
"Wow, look at those flowers! They sure are pretty!"
"Indeed they are. I'm sure someone put a lot of work into them. Oh, that reminds me… Would you like to hear a puzzle about growing flowers?" asked the Professor.
"You bet, Professor! Let's hear it!" Luke said enthusiastically. Zinira had heard this puzzle a long time ago and just zoned out. They were just on the other side when Luke figured out the answer for how much Roland should be paid. Once Luke realised where they were he looked around and said,
"Is THIS the manor, Professor?" he indicated to the large, beautiful building. "It's positively gigantic! Just look at the size of it!"
"It certainly seems like we've come to the right place. Let's head on shall we?"
"Yes, sir!" Luke said eagerly. They headed towards the Manor and were greeted by an elderly, short man in a blue uniform after knocking on the door.
"Welcome to Reinhold Manor. Thank you for coming. I am Matthew, butler and servant to the Reinhold family. Everyone is waiting upstairs for you. Ah, but before you go, I have a message from Lady Dahlia. She has requested that you take a look at this puzzle. Please do not be taken aback. My Lady has the strangest sense of propriety sometimes." Matthew led them to a puzzle set on the table. Zinira remembered this puzzle from the first time she was here. It was relaxing not to have to go through the whole procedure the Professor was undertaking. Most of the village members remembered her face. She looked over at the life sized portraits whilst the Professor was solving the puzzle.
"Every puzzle has an answer!" Layton exclaimed when he had solved the puzzle. Zinira made her way over to them.
"That's absolutely correct. My commendations, sir. Again, I do apologise for the strangeness of the request. Now please walk this way. We mustn't keep Lady Dahlia and company waiting. Please make your way to the first floor."
They made their way up and entered the room. There were two men. One was generously portioned and the other was quite the opposite being stick thin. The thin one pushed his glasses up his nose and analysed them with a smug look on his face. Lady Dahlia entered the room with her white cat in her arms.
"Ah, Zinira, it is good to see you again. What has kept you?"
"My apologies, I have been somewhat… busy."
"Mmm, I'm quite sure you are a busy women." The Lady said thoughtfully. "However, your services are not needed at present. My husband has passed away and there is a dispute on the contents of his will."
"Augustus… I'm sorry for your loss." Zinira said sincerely. Lady Dahlia moved on to Professor Layton.
"Oh, you must be Professor Layton, I presume? It's an honour to make your aquantance."
"Oh no, the pleasure is all mine." He replied. Abruptly, there was loud bang as the chandelier shook and the floor vibrated. Zinira tensed up, ready for anything. The white cat that Lady Dahlia was holding jerked from his restful slumber and leaped out of Lady Dahlia's arms.
"Oh, no! Claudia darling! Come back, sweety!" Lady Dahlia cried as it ran past a very startled Luke. After everything had settled down, there were no more vibrations, Lady Dahlia was the first to speak,
"Honestly, why am I constantly surrounded by incompetence? This is a disaster!" she said crossly.
"Whatever is the matter?" asked Layton.
"Oh, this is simply terrible! My dear, sweet baby! My Claudia"
"Your…Claudia?" the Professor looked confused.
"Sweet, sweet Claudia! My little honeykins! My smoochie pie! My baby! Matthew! Matthew!" she wailed.
"My lady!" Matthew arrived looking flustered. "What is it? What in the world happened?"
"My little Claudia got scared and ran off! Didn't you see her dart out the room?"
"I… I must have missed her. I'm terribly sorry, my Lady." Matthew stuttered.
"Oh, you're just useless, aren't you! Professor, you didn't see which way my baby ran off to, did you?"
"Your… baby, madam? If you are referring to that white cat, I saw it running out that door a moment ago." Layton said politely.
"What?" Lady Dahlia screeched. "And you simply stood there and let her escape?"
"Well, she IS a cat. They are animals, after all, and animals must run about from time to…"then Layton was cut across by Lady Dahlia,
"You fool! She is NOT just a cat! She has a name, and that name is Claudia Reinhold. She is a delicate flower, and she is simply a mess when I'm not close by to comfort her! Matthew! I need you to find Claudia and bring her back immediately!"
"About this little inheritance problem of yours, Lady Dahlia…" Enquired the Professor. Zinira could have just slapped her forehead. He had a bit to learn about Lady Dahlia and her priorities.
"That can wait! Can't you see that we have more pressing concern on our hands at the moment? You could have stopped her and you didn't! So you have the responsibility to find Claudia and bring her back!"
"Lady Dahlia, you need to calm down." Zinira said sternly.
"Hmph! Sending the professor off to find a silly cat! The nerve! Who do you think you are?" piped in Luke.
"Ha ha! Oh, it's fine, Luke. Besides, Lady Dahlia does seem to have a point. It does seem we let Claudia run off." Layton soothed Luke. "Madam, if you'll excuse us, we have a cat to track down."
"Thank you, and please hurry up!" Lady Dahlia seemed to have calmed down. "My Claudia is such a delicate flower; even the coarse outdoor air might prove too much for her!"
"I shall assist you." Zinira offered.
"You do not need to take responsibility for my mistake." The professor said.
"Trust me, you're going to need all the help you can get to bring back that cat." Zinira said with her hands on her hips and a sparkle in her eyes.