The Arcana - Valerius
As I wander into the parlor all tired and in desperate need of a cup of tea, I catch a glimpse of Consul Valerius sitting comfortably in one of the armchairs with a half-empty glass of wine in his hand. When I enter the room, he slowly glances up at me.
"Eliana." he says, swirling a glass in his hand "How strange to see you here."
I mutter that I'm sorry if I disturbed him and that I can leave if he wants me to. He just waves his hand dismissively, then gestures for me to take a seat.
"What a curious little creature you are." he says, studying my face with interest
"You've only been here for a few days and yet the Countess already seems to trust you more than she trusts her Court."
I avoid his gaze, not knowing what to say.
"I'm here to investigate the Count's murder." I finally reply, my voice trembling a little
He looks at me for a long moment before saying:
" I know that."
Then he offers me some wine which I gladly accept. After taking a sip of delicious red wine, I glance up to see him staring at me with… curiosity? Admiration? I can't really say.
We sit in an awkward silence for a few moments. Neither of us says anything. But when I get up, ready to thank him for the wine and leave, he grabs my hand, looking me in the eyes almost pleadingly.
"Eliana… Would you mind keeping me company a little longer?"