Daphne's in a hurry? What could she possibly want? Is she here to pick another fight with me? I don't have time for this.
That woman - cold-faced and even colder-hearted - has been causing trouble ever since I refused to marry her. But now that Antonio's back, I'm not afraid of her anymore.
I got dressed and followed Stein downstairs. The shop wasn't just occupied by Daphne - another woman stood there, Nova, the matriarch of the Nova family.
The Novas used to be netherworld merchants, dealing in the belongings of the dead. Later they went legitimate, starting a jewelry business that made them one of Vervecity's most powerful families. But strange things began happening in recent years - the Nova men kept dying violent, unexplained deaths. Now only one male heir remains: a young boy named Zephyr.
It's not just the men either. The Nova women have developed problems too - growing increasingly cold toward both men and women, refusing to marry. Those who do marry never have children.
To put it bluntly, the Nova family is facing extinction at this rate!
Nova told us about a cursed artifact - a seemingly normal jade pendant her grandfather gave her before dying. When her grandmother saw it, the old woman went completely mad.
After hearing this, we visited the Nova estate where even stranger things occurred. First, Grandma Nova disappeared. Then the power went out. Finally, we saw Grandma Nova push Zephyr down the stairs.
The horror deepened when we found Grandma Nova dead on the rooftop, having slit open her own stomach in terror.
There was also a suspicious woman in a bizarre red dress who kept appearing around the mansion. Neither human nor ghost, she eluded all searches. Yet Stein, Zephyr and I all saw her. The apparition terrified Zephyr.
Before dying, Grandma Nova claimed the red-dressed woman came for her life - that only by playing dumb could she survive. Ultimately, she sacrificed herself to save Zephyr, the family's last male heir.
With her final breath, Grandma Nova implicated the jade pendant as the source of all these horrors.
Now we must return on the seventh day after her death - it's bad luck otherwise. And honestly... we're scared. What if she comes back for us?
Generally speaking, when spirits return, they don't harm their own family members. Since Stein and I aren't part of the Nova family, we might be at risk if something goes wrong.
But here's the thing - today is actually the eighth day since Grandma Nova's death. The crucial seventh day has already passed. We can still investigate the Nova family's situation, but here's my question: this is the Novas' business. What does Daphne have to do with it? Why is she in such a hurry?
"Finally decided to come down? Thought you'd abandoned Nova?" Daphne said coldly, her accusatory stare piercing through me.
Technically, since it's already the eighth day, I should have gone to the Nova estate first thing in the morning. But it's noon now - not entirely my fault though. I've been swamped, exhausted really. After a night of nightmares and poor sleep, I probably would have slept all day if Stein hadn't woken me.
"Wow, since when is this any of the Dai family's business? Mind your own damn business," I retorted. She had no right to interfere.
"You... you..." Daphne sputtered angrily, crossing her arms in that haughty way of hers as if to say "just you wait."
"Stop arguing, you two," Nova interjected, wrapping an arm around Daphne. "Daphne's concern for my family might be secondary - her real reason is wanting to see you. Look at her - usually cold as ancient jade, yet you're the only one who can make her lose her composure like this."
"Don't be ridiculous, sister! I have no desire to see him. If he weren't useful to you, I'd have skinned him alive by now," Daphne hissed.
"Really? Given up on him then?"
"Given up what? That's absurd!"
Watching these two banter back and forth like some comedy duo was exhausting. I had actual business to attend to.
"Enough chitchat. Let's handle the Nova family matter today. Save your comedy routine for later," I interrupted.
"Such a blunt man. No wonder even the Dai family's prized daughter can't handle you," Nova teased while Daphne just glared silently.
"In that case, we should get going. No time to waste!" Nova gestured toward the door.
"Wait," I said. "I have something to take care of first. Stein and Antonio can entertain you while I finish up." I headed straight upstairs.
There were three rooms upstairs - two occupied by Harper and Stella, though I wasn't sure who was where. In my haste, I pushed open the first door without knocking.
"Ah!" Harper screamed, pulling the blankets over herself. "W-what are you doing?"
"Sorry, wrong room," I apologized quickly before shutting the door and trying the next one.
Good lord, Stella actually slept in later than me. And her sleeping posture was truly something else - splayed out like a starfish with all four limbs akimbo. The blanket had fallen to the floor while her pillow was wedged under her feet. Her head lolled precariously off the bed's edge as if she might roll off any second. Drool had pooled at the corners of her mouth, soaking a wet patch into the sheets.
What kind of feast were you dreaming about to drool this much?
"Hey, wake up!" I nudged Stella, trying to rouse her. She'd promised earlier that if I found Harper, she'd help me buy some defensive spells. This Nova family business wouldn't be easy - I couldn't go unprepared again.
"Get lost... stop blocking my pork knuckle..." Stella nearly slapped me across the face before rolling over and enthusiastically gnawing on her own hand.
Thankfully I dodged in time - that swipe could've knocked me out.
I tried calling her several more times, but she remained dead to the world, sleeping deeper than a hibernating bear.
Fine. Want pork knuckles? I'll give you pork knuckles.
I removed my shoes and socks, then carefully slipped my foot into her embrace. Sure enough, after a few experimental hugs, she started nibbling on it.
About ten seconds later, her eyes flew open. She lunged over the bedside, gagging violently while I nearly cried from laughter.
"Disgusting! Disgusting!" Stella shrieked between dry heaves as I doubled over laughing beside her.
......
Ten minutes later, Stella came downstairs freshly changed while I sported five layers of gauze wrapped around my head.
Antonio immediately drew his blade, startling everyone present. "Mr. Roger! Where's the enemy?" he bellowed, seeing my bandaged head and assuming I'd been ambushed.
Stella's hand shot out, slapping Antonio's weapon back into its sheath.
"If I don't beat him every three days, he gets cocky. Today I'm letting him keep his head. Next time I'll pound him into paste," Stella growled.
The room fell silent. Even Antonio gulped and shot me a look that clearly said: shut your mouth.
"Hurry up, don't waste my time. I need to visit the dentist later - this is utterly revolting."
"Coming, coming!" I scrambled after Stella like a eunuch scurrying after the empress dowager.
Someone once said: whoever has the biggest... assets... calls the shots!