Chapter 3: In which Mr. Sable learns more of the mysterious blonde girl in the tower and concludes their meeting.
Hearing steady steps trail away down the massive staircase and the metallic clang of the elevator, I was finally left alone with the mysterious and small blonde girl from earlier. Staring around self-consciously for a place to sit, I couldn't find anywhere to seat myself for the time being, and instead stood in front of the seated girl. Watching her cast a single glance to the metallic grates of the elevator, she huffed lightly and turned to me, "Monsieur Englishman, would you prefer to converse in English or French?"
"English, if you would oblige me, my French slows me down a touch," I replied.
Nodding, she doused her pipe and placed her hands into her lap, looking up at me curiously. "Very well then. Your methods of deduction were impressive Englishman, although not quite as refined as my own wellspring, it was impressive nonetheless. You are not as you seem, are you?" she said with a focused look upon her face.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I questioned her, "While I thank you for your compliment, I am not quite sure what you are getting at."
With a wave of her hand she retorted, "Not a compliment, merely an observation, do not take my words for kindness Englishman, I am not capable of such petty emotions." Getting more serious however, her eyes narrowed at me, "Do not play ignorant either, you already have shown your hand to me. Who do you associate with? Do you not find it odd that a foreigner such as yourself would be employed at such a niche and elite academy as this? Not to mention the no doubt lower value of the Sauvillian Franc versus your British Sterling Pound?"
Her words had caught me off guard, despite her physical appearances, her mental capabilities seemed well beyond her years. It was as if a sage was trapped within the body of a small girl. "Bold accusations without due evidence," I said in a stubborn manner.
"That does not answer my questions Englishman, I gave you my evidence, now refute it or admit the truth," she said back harshly.
"Your 'evidence' is unfounded, young Lady. Due to the newfound labor and suffrage movements in England in combination with the mass amounts of unemployed men wandering the streets after the war, job opportunity is not guaranteed as it used to be. Why would I not attempt to apply for a position here? The competition for positioning is nonexistent, and said positions will be assured for years to come. While yes, I admit that due to the extreme inflation of the German Reichsmark the British Pound is soaring in value, or so I hear, the Sauvillian Franc is just as well off. Besides, I am not doing this for the money, if I wanted wealth then I would have become a banker. Does that answer satisfy you?"
For a moment she seemed thrown off, her brows furrowing in minute confusion as if I had said something that went way over her head. Perhaps she really did not seem as knowledgeable as she seemed? A moment later though, her neutral expression returned as she held her chin lightly in thought, "I… see then… I do suppose that your reasoning does suffice and do seem genuine. I apologize for my suspicion, you cannot always be sure if what people say is the actual truth. So then, what might your name be Englishman?" Her apology seemed less than genuine, I noted, as she began to rise up.
Instinctively reaching my hand out to help her, she paused for a second with a perplexed look upon her face. Looking at my face then down to my hand, it only seemed to click for her several seconds later. Hesitantly I saw her extend her dainty hand forward, pulling it back slightly as she neared closer, but finally laying it within my own. It was tiny as it laid in my upturned palm, my own being able to completely encompass her own. Wrapping my fingers gently around her hand, I helped her gracefully onto her feet in front of me. I could see that she was definitely on the smaller side as well, the top of her head roughly coming up to my shoulder and forcing her to stare up at me in order to speak.
"Anthony Edwin Sable the third, although do not let the title fool you, I am far from royalty," I replied with a small chuckle as well as a smile.
Apparently she did not find my joke very amusing, that or her face was forever to be stuck in perpetual serious contemplation. Removing her hand from my grasp much quicker than she had originally given it to me, she spoke to me once more in that lightly accented voice of hers, "Monsieur Sable, is it then? A pleasure to meet you. In response, you may call me Victorique."
"Victorique? That boy pronounced it as-"
"Hmph, he may do as he pleases, I care not for what he says or does, nor do I care for what you say either," she quickly replied with an indignant turn of her head.
As magnificent as the school was, it seems that even a place like this had some eccentrics as well. Looking down at Victorique however, I nodded lightly in response to avoid any other issues. "I see then… well it has been a pleasure to meet you Victorique, I do hope to see you in class however, it seems like you would greatly enjoy what I have to teach," I added in a moment later, although it appeared as if my words had no effect on the girl as she turned away and moved over to set at her pile of books once more.
"You may leave now Monsieur Sable, the excitement has now passed and I fear that I am becoming bored once more. Good day, and be sure to watch the grate to the elevator," she merely replied, golden tresses of hair obscuring her face as she began to read one of the several books open before her once again.
Although a bit off-put by the noble girl's disposition towards not only myself but others as well, I didn't wish to linger much longer and decided to enter the elevator as per her instruction. Even as the metal fence clanged shut in front of me and the metal box began to descend downwards, I caught one last look at the girl named Victorique enraptured by her books.