Chapter 46 - You Are My Home

He already knows what this ambitious captain with a swagger is going to say. That he needs someone to fund his little project of going to the Farthest North, and that he needs someone to give him a recommendation to the Queen herself so the travel would receive traction and be acknowledged blah blah blah. Promising that credits for the discovery and any subsequent benefits will be split blah blah blah.

The whole time, Zhe Chouhen is only focused on sizing up this second male lead that he will be rooting for.

Why is he rooting for the second male lead, you ask?

He is sure that from the start of the story, Stein already has a 100% Love Meter for him. The more he learns about his past ways, the higher the Scum Meter will become, just like in Daniele's. Perhaps, the Love Meter will lower too when that happens, but that's no problem.

Because the Satisfaction Meter still exists.

And the Satisfaction Meter doesn't rely on any of the character's emotions at all, it is up to the readers and what they will think about the outcome of the story.

Captain Clerval serves an important role besides being the third wheel, the other option. He will serve as the catalyst for Stein to find out the truth about his very own creator.

It's obvious. A man who collected skeletons to make his own giant doll lover got to have metaphorical skeletons in the closet as well, right?

This book really has much difference from the first two as it relies on figuring out the past a lot. Stein will almost become like a Sherlock detective character, but also, the victim of the crime would be himself. He will search for the truth of his body's origins.

So this way, the male lead isn't really set in stone. It can go into the scum Franklin's way, where he succeeds with his evil plans and keeping Stein under his artificial love spell. Or....

Captain Clerval can save him, becoming the new male lead to replace the Scum. And the readers could still be satisfied with it.

"What do you say, doctor?" The captain gave him a large, toothy smile, holding out his hand. "Do we have a deal?"

"Hmmm, we do have other important matters to attend to before investing in something as major as this."

Captain Clerval looked a bit disappointed from the rejection, yet held up his businessman smile. "Well, you can always think about it after a good night's sleep. No need to make any decisions for now—"

"You didn't let me finish, captain." The clever doctor chuckled. "Yes, we do have other matters, but we could always follow on with your deal afterward. What say you let us finish it, then begin planning for the expedition?"

"Oh....." The captain's eyes sparkled. "Oh! Is that so? When will your business be settled then?"

"After our visit in Berlin. We are looking for something, so we do not know exactly how long we will stay in my home country." 'Franklin' adjusted his glasses. "Perhaps you can wait for us, and then we will be on our way."

"What are you looking for? I could be able to help, I have earned a few connections all around Europe from my travels. Is it treasure? Some valuable artifact or some kind of special animal or plant?"

This time, it was the servant who spoke. "There's no need for help, Mr. Clerval."

Captain Clerval turned to him. "Truly?"

"Yes." Stein almost looked wary of him. "We can handle ourselves."

The Captain smiled. "This servant of yours is a prickly one. He reminds me of the story I've read when I was a wee boy. Do you know what the Snedronningen means, doctor?"

To his surprise, it was the servant who responded again. "The Snow Queen. From Hans Christian Andersen's children's story."

The captain's intrigue heightened. A servant who knows literature, and much more, is allowed to speak out of turn without his master's permission.

"You have a smart and bold servant, doctor. I have never met one quite like him." Captain Clerval said. "Most of whom I talk to isn't even allowed to sit on a table with his master and the guests. And now, he even read Andersen's!"

"Stein and I have a deep connection. We are like..... family." 'Franklin' answered vaguely.

Captain Clerval nodded. "Ah, so you two must have grown up together for so long that it is like brothers, ey? I have heard of it before. It is good to know of such things, that the upper folks and the lower folks can treat each other as brothers."

(More like father and son, actually.) Zhe Chouhen said in his head, but said as 'Franklin': "You could say that. Anyway, we will consider your proposal once our own endeavors are dealt with."

"I see." Captain Clerval nodded. "Then do you know any cheap place where me and me boys can stay at while we wait? Berlin is a sort of new territory for me, it keeps changing every time I leave. And one could easily lose track of time traveling the busy streets and seeing the..... lovely yet truly distracting sights on the way."

Stein cocked his head at this, not knowing what he meant, when 'Franklin' just gave a nod. "I know what you mean. Berlin has a lot of beauties, and it always satisfies its visitors. If you like such services, you and your crew can stay at Friedrichstadt."

"And where shall you and your servant be staying? Just so we know where to look for you in the city and contact you." Captain Clerval asked.

"Potsdamer Platz." 'Franklin' supplied, without giving the whole detail of his residence.

"Ah, that is nearby, but I hear it is filled with carriages and mobiles to the brim." Captain Clerval noticed this reluctance to give the exact address, and so he did not push it.

"If you know your way on foot, it is alright." 'Dr. Storitz' stood up, and his servant did the same. "Or are you afraid that we will escape your clutches, captain?"

"Afraid? You have not agreed to my deal yet. There is nothing for me to lose if you ever did decide to play der Geist on me and disappear into the wind." The captain said. "I will just look for a new benefactor."

Stein had a sense of recollection from the word, but he could not recall why. Benefactor...

"Heh, there is no need. I propose a solution for this, actually, if you are feeling antsy about your ambitious project and want a guarantee that it will happen."

"And what would that be, doctor?" The captain asked in slight confusion. They seem quite generous despite the atmosphere this meeting had at the start. He suddenly felt being very patronized.

The doctor smiled, taking the hand of the servant right in front of the bewildered captain, seeming to hint at something.

"Stay with us. You seem to be much interested in my Stein, yes?"

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There is no electrocution in his heart. Of course. Zhe Chouhen already expected so.

He is actually following 'Franklin's' script in inviting the captain to his abode.

"Welcome to Haus Storitz, Captain Clerval." He gestured mysteriously to the front door.

The captain was quite used to all kinds of houses, actually. Big, small, he has seen it all. He is a man who frolicked with all parts of society and saw the many sides of its face. Thus, he is not really impressed by the sheer size and beauty of Haus Storitz.

But Stein, on the other hand, observed every single detail of it, the same way he did when he first saw his creator. Because this is home to him now. Franklin's home is his home.

It is much larger and opulent compared to their house in London. There were a lot of animal skins.... Serbian tigers patterns on the floor, leopard chairs, bearskin couches, and some of the draperies were made of animals too. There is a saloon with a collection of animal heads on the wall. Lions, deer, and fox. More taxidermied animals serve as the decoration, giving the air a certain smell to it.

"You sure have a liking for animals, doctor." Captain Clerval remarked as the touched a doorknob made of a cobra's skull.

"No. My father does. I am more interested in human anatomy." 'Franklin' admitted. "He developed much of the better hunting equipment and traps we have nowadays used his knowledge in biology. And he liked having the fruits of his labor right beside him, so here we are."

"Where is Mr. and Mrs. Storitz, if I may ask?" Captain Clerval sat and looked at the funny possum, patting its head.

Deep inside, he is really unnerved. He hates this place, it is proof of how much humans had turned nature into a commodity, and how they see animals as mere objects to own, not living beings. Yet he had to pretend to like it to fit his role as the 'happy-go-lucky' sailor.

"Dead."

The captain blinked, not expecting him to be so upfront, and so did Stein who didn't know this. He never really asked, but has always wanted to. And now he knows....

Stein observed his expressions before asking further. "How did they pass away?"

'Franklin' smiled at him. "Natural causes. All humans lose their life eventually."

Stein is not dense. He knows there's something more hidden in Franklin's words, but he'd rather ask it in private than in front of a stranger.

He turned to Captain Clerval, who is just nodding and saying "Ah, I see." like an insensitive brute. The manservant made out of other men truly does not appreciate this individual's demeanor. He thinks his existence only spells trouble for him and his creator. And he's not wrong.

He wants to get rid of him as soon as possible and talk to Franklin about the heart, and so he offered. "May I escort you to your room, Mr. Clerval? It is getting late. My master also needs his rest, and so I better carry your belongings and our belongings into our rooms."

'Franklin' nodded, picking up a German newspaper to read with his legs crossed by the fireplace, sitting in the elephant skin sofa. "Thank you, Stein dear. His room is on the left side of the staircase, ours is on the right. Here are the keys."

He handed out two separate keys, one for Stein and one for Captain Clerval. The head of the captain's key was heart-shaped while Stein's was spade-shaped. Reverse of one another, opposites.

He reluctantly led the captain upstairs, not saying anything and only carrying the luggage with his gloved hands. Meanwhile, Captain Clerval seems to have a different idea, and took it as his chance to ask Stein about bothersome questions.

"So when had you served the Haus Storitz and the doctor? You seem unaware of his parents, so I reckon you are new?"

"Yet the doctor said you were like family. Care to elaborate?"

"What about your own family? Are yours from Berlin, London, or somewhere else?"

Stein closed his eyes and exhaled deeply, trying to act as civil as he can.

He answered the questions as briefly as he can in order, not being too specific or vague. "I have only worked with Master Storitz lately, but we have developed a strong connection despite me not being aware of his background. I do not have a family, nor any roots, for I am orphaned. I am happy to serve someone like Master Storitz, and that is enough for me."

"Now, here is your room, Mr. Clerval." Stein let go of the luggage with a slam by the doorstep. "Good night."

"Er..... Good night." Captain Clerval smiled sheepishly, but once he was gone out of earshot, he muttered. "..... Heh, Snow Queen."

Then, he open the door with his heart key and brought his things inside, and closed it after making a warding sign. He made quick hand gestures, and that was the last to be seen of him for the night.

Stein then dropped off their personal belongings in Franklin's room. After that, he went downstairs to speak with his creator about the latest developments in their life.

"Frank." He sat by his side on the floor, so his height would be lower than his lover.

"Yes, dear?" 'Franklin' stopped reading his newspaper and patted his head.

"I want you to send off Mr. Clerval tomorrow.. I cannot bear with him any longer."