Chapter 28: The Dinner
It was finally Saturday. At around 6 o'clock in the evening, the Hakushaku and his servants began to receive guests. Upon their arrival, the guests noticed the building's exterior lacked the grandeur the count is usually associated with–that is to say the country house retained its austere appearance. However, this was according to his (Monte Cristo) wishes.
No sooner did the villa's doors open, that the guests found themselves instantly awestruck. While the outside was bleak and ominous, the inside was the complete opposite. Everything from the ceilings to the floors was decorated magnificently. In the kitchens, many top-ranked chefs were already at work; for the count's dinner that was to take place.
One of the Count of Monte Cristo's favorite rooms, the library, literally had shelved tens of thousands of books (A/N: Think of the library in Walt Disney's Beauty and the Beast). The weapons room, which was nearby the library, contained a collection of hundreds of both modern and past types of weaponry. They ranged from swords of the Far East, to European sabers, and of course modern-day guns.
There was also something interesting in the count's country house's interior–it was that each room seemed to be more impressive than the one previous.
The reason for this remarkable interior was quite simple. Days prior to the dinner party, the count had ordered several of the world's finest interior designers and decorators to give his country house a makeover that complimented his eccentricity. In order to fit the foreigner's tastes, the professionals utilized a variety of unique and ingenious methods to accomplish their objective(s).
If there was anything else other than the villa's exterior that retained its original properties, it was the garden and a certain bedroom... Naturally, this was much to Rafael's dismay, as his master had strictly made it clear that nothing should be changed regarding these (the exterior, the garden, and the bedroom) things.
As for the guests, Duke Devlin was the first to show up. Devlin conversed with the refined gentleman, albeit for a brief moment, for the Wheelers made their entrance. The family was accompanied by none other than Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki himself. Shortly after, the count's valet, Valon, announced the 'Italian-Americans', the Colombos.
Two men joined the other guests in the parlor. One, a middle-aged, clean-shaven man, dressed in typical business suit. The second, a bishonen in his early twenties, wore a fashionable tuxedo.
"The Colombos?" inquired Joseph, "I thought that they were wiped off the face of the Earth years ago."
Monte Cristo responded, "They are old friends of mine, whom I saved from ruin."
"I see. And... how rich are these guys?"
"Their fortune amounts to roughly ¥1,175,000,000,000 (around $10 billion)."
"Oh, really? And their Japanese seems to be fluent."
"It is only natural. After all, they did learn to speak your language from the best tutors in the world. Moreover, the son had an ulterior motive to learn how to speak Japanese..." said the count.
"Which was?"
"To find himself a Japanese wife."
"Now, that is interesting," said an intrigued Wheeler, "I'd say that the youth has 'Yellow Fever'."
Mai immediately shot her husband with a certain look in her eye. Realizing this, Joseph cringed. Meanwhile, the count secretly overheard a conversation, in which the topic was the fiscal losses that had occurred in two prominent families.
A few moments later, Kaibas and the Pegasuses were the last to arrive at Monte Cristo's country abode. For once, Seto was wearing something other than his Battle City outfit; he was dressed in a black tuxedo. As for Téa's apparel, it was the same white dress the count saw on the day of his debut in Domino.
As usual, Pegasus wore his flamboyant red attire. His wife, however, was wearing the latest fashion of the season.
Once he greeted Mr. & Mrs. Kaiba, and Mokuba, the count then shook hands with Pegasus. He couldn't help but notice that the American suddenly lost his dandified appearance– it was replaced by a dreadful expression.
As the clock struck at half-past six, Monte Cristo led his company to the dining room. For some reason, the count had Maximillion arm-and-arm with Mai upon the visitors' entering the dining room. The count merely had to observe the subtle reaction(s) between the judge and a banker's wife in order to reconfirm his suspicions.
Several of the count's servants were already placing the appetizers on top of the circular dinner tables.
When the main course began, exotic and rare delicacies were laid upon the dining tables. However, some of the guests received certain dishes. Set before Téa was a freshly cooked bowl of ramen; Kaiba, France beef; Joseph, curry and rice; and Pegasus, Gorgonzola cheese with red wine.
Shiozaki said, "I must admit, Count... you truly have outdone yourself here. I mean, to transform a withering place such as this to an upper-class housing... it's like that one show in America."
"Why, thank you, my good Cabinet Secretary... but I myself must confess something to you all."
With high expectations, Téa asked, "What do you have to confess, Count?"
Contorting with much strain, Monte Cristo turned to Mrs. Kaiba. "My confession will be revealed to all of you tonight... after dinner."
While most of the guests thoroughly enjoyed their meals, some had felt slightly unnerved by their host's strange behavior; the foreigner ate very little.
By the time most of the party finished their first dish, Wheeler was already on his sixth or seventh plate.
Mai whispered into her husband's ear, "Just pretend that you're full; you're embarrassing me!"
Joseph complied, albeit being too dramatic. The blonde woman gave out an exasperating sigh.
Once dinner was over, it was about a quarter-past seven. Rafael and several other servants then clean up after their master's acquaintances. Afterwards, the charismatic figure asked his guests for their undivided attention–for he was about to make an announcement.
"Ladies and gentlemen... Now that I have your attention, I would like to confess to you all one of the reasons for my purchase of this wonderful villa. First and foremost, I wished to escape the hustle and bustle that is the modern-day city, so that I may have time to be alone. However, once I set eyes on this lovely country house, I found myself suddenly intrigued by some unknown atmosphere that seemed to originate right in this very building."
Piqued, Joseph asked, "Like an aura of some sort?"
"Hmm... but perhaps there is a better word to describe the thing I have felt... say a years-old curse?"
The way the count said those words had sent up a chill up the spines for some of the visitors. For Pegasus and Mai, they were the ones most affected by the count's statement.
"A curse?" inquired Pegasus, "Why, the very idea is preposterous itself!"
Monte Cristo said, "My honorable judge... are you implying that you are skeptical of this 'curse'? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but... aren't you a firm believer of the supernatural? What I mean is... didn't you once claim that the card game you've invented, Duel Monsters, traces its origins to 'shadow games' that were played in Ancient Egypt?"
'Damn it! He's got me there.'
"Yes, but how did you possibly learn my beliefs?" asked a curious Pegasus.
"I have my methods, Mr. Pegasus."
With much contempt, the American replied, "I see."
"But don't let our witty banter get in the way of our friendship, Mr. Pegasus... if I have intruded against any personal barriers you may possess, I humbly ask that you forgive me."
The other guests were astonished at this scene. The DM creator hesitantly 'forgave' the foreigner for his (the count) supposed lack of insight.
Monte Cristo then continued, "In gratitude for your all coming here tonight, it would please me to show all of you to a certain room here. Unlike most of the rooms in this villa, the one I'm about to show you has been left alone completely."
"And why is that?" asked the guests.
"Because... I have come to the conclusion... it is that room which is the very source of the dreadful atmosphere. Now, that is over and done with, who's brave enough to accompany me to that 'cursed' room?"
All but two eagerly accepted the count's offer–Maximillion Pegasus and Mai Valentine.
The count then led his guests to the unspecified room. They passed by the enormous library, the impressive weapons room, the unique art gallery, and so-on-so-forth.
When the group arrived at their destination, the count gave them light-hearted warning. They then entered the bedroom.
There was barely any light inside the bedroom. The bed itself gave off the impression that something sinister had occurred many years ago.
In broken Japanese, Mrs. Pegagus said, "My... this does seem a bit scary doesn't it?"
"To most people, but not to me," said a smug Kaiba.
"Just look at that bed over there," advised the count, "Just imagine the possibilities of what may have taken place upon it!"
Mai grew pale, while Pegasus was visibly shaken with fear. This effect was naturally increased when they both discovered body imprints on the bed sheets.
Concerned, Téa asked her friend, "Mai, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, Téa. It's just..." uttered the blonde as she fainted.
"Mai!" cried both Joseph and Téa.
"See, Count!" exclaimed Pegasus, "Look what your 'tour' has done!"
"Don't worry, my friends... she will be fine with this."
The dark figure produced a vial that contained unknown substances. He then placed a small portion of the unknown substance inside the blonde woman. About a minute later, the victim got back up.
"Now, now... if I may have your undivided attention once again, I would like you all to follow me to the garden around back. For I am certainly convinced that a serious crime was committed there."
'Which, of course I know who was involved in...' thought Monte Cristo.
