...
Inside the mansion, rows of porticoes come into view, dimly lit by ornate chandeliers and scattered pendant lights. Tapestries adorned with various animal fur patterns hang on the walls, beneath which wallpaper printed with leaf patterns covers the walls. The air is filled with the rich scent of eucalyptus.
“Oh dear… they say the Byronburn family is fond of dissolute lifestyles, and that’s absolutely true…” Diamond said as he carefully examined the tapestry.
I pulled her arm behind the table and pointed to a maid carrying a basket walking by, saying,"Keep a low profile. We're not out of danger yet."
"Look! It seems even you've been tainted by the wildness!" Diamond suppressed a laugh, revealing a smug smile.
"I—" I covered my face, unable to speak,"...Let's go with that maid."
Diamond shrugged and walked ahead, close to the shadows of the corridor. We both tiptoed on the velvet carpet, trying not to make a sound. We heard the maid open a door and go into a room.
Diamond leaned against the wall to the left of the door, while I walked to the right. The light came on, and I peeked through the crack in the door.
Inside was a beautifully designed kitchen. Several marble benches were neatly arranged, each piled high with sacks of flour and rolling pins. It seemed they were preparing bread dough for the next morning. In the distance, a clay stove stood in the center of the wall, and a maid stood in front of it.
She put down the basket and turned the knob on the oven control panel. Then she took a step back and picked up the basket.
A series of platforms descended with a clanging sound that echoed all around. Diamond asked on the radio,"Bismu... is that a secret passage in the kitchen?"
A brief silence.
Bismu replied, “Yes, it seems so. This part isn’t on the floor plan of Byronburn Manor. At least not in the one in our database. Von Byron must have added it privately later.”
"Do you think this is his personal space, Z?" Diamond pondered.
“Diamonds,” I said sternly.
"Oh, you're so boring." She frowned at me."Relax!"
"Now is not the right time or place to say such things," I muttered to
