act29side

Now, let's get away from here before more assassins come calling.

Who were they?

People here to meet you, like me.

Will Herr Müller and Henk be in danger?

Our old gentleman's in the back garden—he avoided this attack. My colleague will get him to safety shortly.

As for Herr Assistent... he's the one who called them. He should've known that dealing in shady business like this would earn him more than a handful of Originium ingots.

I... honestly don't see how I'm any sort of worthwhile target.

I'll explain in a moment. For the time being, Viviana...

Could you let me take a proper 'look' at you?

You mean...

The woman's beautiful face may be unfamiliar to her, but her voice and expression are anything but. Viviana finds herself unable to decline.

Cora lifts her hands, and feels about for Viviana's cheeks, her fingers tracing a few soft strokes once they alight. Her movements are infinitely tender, the sort one would use for handling the most precious instrument.

And as if in response, tears well up in her lusterless eyes.

You resemble your mother so much.

If only Werner could see you now, how joyous he would've been. So close, too... He spent so long struggling in his sickbed, just to see you one last time.

Werner... My father?

Did he...

I'm so sorry, Viviana.

Not long ago, your father... Sturmland-Kurfürst Werner... passed away in his spire.

And that was how it transpired, meine Herr. We were all in our places keeping watch. Nobody expected the assassin to infiltrate the Kurfürst's room.

The assassin. You mean to say, the Kurfürst's personal attendant?

Ja, meine Herr.

She had been employed in this spire for more than half her life.

The Kurfürst trusted her implicitly, as did we all. Yet without a doubt, she was the last to see him alive.

Did anyone else enter the room after the incident?

Only the personal bodyguard and the doctor.

Did anyone at all step outside?

Nein, not one of us set foot outside the parlor spire this evening.

We still haven't identified who among us is to blame, so we've locked all the servants in the basement cells for now. Shall I show you the way?

No need. I've already met with them.

Did you question the assassin?

Having been under the effects of psychological Arts, she has no recollection of her whereabouts.

We should try torturing her. Otherwise, it's near-impossible to determine if she's lying.

Well then. Are <i>you</i> lying?

Me? Nein, meine Herr, how could I? I've been loyal to the Hochberg family for over a decade! Everything I have I owe to Kurfürst Werner!

Then... would you swear that upon the Güldenesgesatz?

Güldenesgesatz... The Golden Movement...

H-How would I dare deceive a Gesatzswächter!

You left the spire after what happened in there.

You have the smell of rainwater on you. The hem of your clothes has brushed against the moss in the cracks of the steps outside.

Ten years is nothing. You don't yet know House Hochberg's spire well enough, just as you didn't know Kurfürst Werner well enough.

The Kurfürst... He summoned you here...

The Kurfürst picked up on your disloyalty. You began stirring into action once he fell ill.

I only regret that Frau Löwenstein and I were ultimately one step behind.

Send notice to the Concertmaster that the Gesatzswächter's found that—

Earrgh—!

It is futile to resist the melody's fetters. Much like your wisdom, your Arts are ugly and brittle.

Where did you send that thing?

Gakhakha—ggh!

Answer me, remnant.

Z... Zwillingstü...

Is your 'Concertmaster' the one who used psychological Arts to influence the attendant? Are they also in Zwillingstürme?

The Concert... master...

No, my head... MY HEAD!

The Golden Melody now resounds in the deepest parts of your soul.

Any intent to disobey, and your mind will collapse beneath its weight.

Gesatzswächter...

With such absolute power, why must you serve as a thrall to the Twin Puppets?!

It is not <i>my</i> melody that restrains you, nor the decree of the Kaiserinnen.

What you are failing to resist is the will of Leithanien herself.

The will of... Leithanien?

Hah... hahah! Since when did the present-day Leithanien... have even a fraction of the will she should?

The Genesis Horn... The might of the great Herkunftshorn will come to enshroud this land anew!

GKHAAAAAAAAGHH!

The feeble sound that death plays. A caster that can seize such cries over such a long distance is no ordinary remnant.

...The Concertmaster.

Frau, the ride for Zwillingstürme is here. Are we leaving right now?

Yes. Let's go.

The friend who invited me here has just taken the curtain call. I've played every piece I needed to.

There's no reason to linger here any longer.

Somehow, without realizing... I'd been staying here all this time...

Martha, my dear Martha... Oh, it's like I'm dreaming. How long would I have to wait to hear such a remarkable performance again?

I've told you people, you are not to disturb me whenever I'm attending a con—

What? Wait, what did you say?

I'll be back posthaste. Get my ride ready. I need to see a few friends.

And one more thing—I want the wood carving I bought in Kreis Lupukarn, as well as the Victorian porcelain I keep in the study. Bring them both.

<i>Why such haste? Was the Kurfürst not alive and well this morning?</i>

The days to come will be arduous once more. Oh, Arturia... Only your music and your beauty can deliver me from this nightmare.

The sheer effort I went to just to arrive at her interim abode, only to find she'd already...

Please continue.

C-Continue? Who are you? And what's that you're holding? A wand or a—

You mentioned an intent to visit Arturia. I assume you have some relation to her.

I am currently searching for her. Therefore, I require any and all pertinent leads.

You're looking for Frau Giallo too? Are you some fanatic follower of hers?

Follower? That is a highly inaccurate description.

Per the tenets of the law, and on special assignment by the Curia, I must apprehend the fugitive and repatriate her to Laterano.

F-Fugitive? Frau Giallo is a guest of the Kurfürst, and no matter the rumors from outside... No, I find <i>you</i> far more suspicious!

Herr Erich! Are you still well?

They put the alley under lockdown out there; Gendarmerie all over. I hear even a Gesatzswächter went over to the Kurfürst's parlor spire.

Danke, I'm well enough. I was just about to visit a few Grafen and see what word I could pick off the grapevine. *sigh* How uncanny can one night get? Damn my indolent chauffeur—where is he?!

At least one small stroke of fortune is that Frau Giallo has already safely departed for Zwillingstürme.

Wait, where did that eerie Sankta get off to?

...The fugitive Arturia is no longer here.

Executor Federico, continuing pursuit of target.

Destination: Zwillingstürme, capital of Leithanien.

It's time we got going too, Viviana.

They'll announce that the Kurfürst passed from illness. It's understandable. A white lie to keep the domain in order.

I won't be able to attend the funeral, will I?

I'm so sorry. You never even got to see him one last time after you rushed back from Kazimierz and everything. And now you can't even go to...

...Mourn him.