After ringing the doorbell, Midiya stepped aside and stood shoulder to shoulder with Lex.
About a minute later, the door of the mansion opened, and a lady walked out.
She was around thirty years old, with an ordinary appearance, deep brown hair secured with a pearl hairpin, and was wearing a common island dress, walking out barefoot.
"Good afternoon."
The lady had a reserved and friendly smile on her face: "May I ask who you are?"
"I am Midiya from the White Windmill Inn, and this is Mr. Rayleigh, a wine merchant who just arrived at Windmill Island yesterday.
I unintentionally mentioned Madam Hilda, and Mr. Rayleigh, out of respect, asked me to bring him to pay a visit."
Midiya introduced herself and stated their purpose, though this explanation was taught to her by Lex.
So, this wasn't Madam Hilda.
Lex had thought this lady was the High Priest of the island, but now it seemed she was more likely a maid for Madam Hilda.
"Oh, what a coincidence."
The lady with deep brown hair looked apologetic, "In a few days, it will be the day of the ceremony.
Madam Hilda will be very busy recently; she'll have to go to the 'Sacred Mountain' soon and won't return until the ceremony is over."
"So, I don't think she'll have time to receive esteemed guests."
She glanced apologetically at Lex.
But at this moment, a very clear voice echoed from inside the mansion: "Leanna, who is it?"
The lady called 'Leanna' turned back and raised her voice: "Two visitors, Madam.
The daughter of the White Windmill Inn's owner, and a wine merchant."
"Is that so? Please invite them in; no matter how busy we are, we cannot neglect our guests."
It sounded like Madam Hilda was quite hospitable.
Lex quickly straightened his clothes, and after Leanna opened the door, he handed over the last bottle of wine.
"This is for Madam, a small token of my regard."
Leanna smiled and nodded: "Then I'll thank you on Madam's behalf.
Please come this way.
Would you like coffee or honey flower tea?"
"Coffee."
"Flower tea."
Lex and Midiya gave different answers.
The living room of the mansion was a bit dim and filled with many items featuring witchcraft elements.
Lex saw glass jars full of various eyeball specimens, a golden skull-shaped candelabra, bottles filled with powders of different colors, and many other strange objects.
Because too many things were placed, the living room appeared somewhat crowded.
Stepping on the thick carpeted floor, Lex and Midiya carefully avoided these items and took their seats on the sofa.
"Please wait a moment; I'll go prepare the tea and coffee.
Madam should be here soon, as soon as she finishes her work."
Leanna smiled slightly and went to the kitchen.
Lex couldn't sit still and stood up to look around.
Midiya, on the other hand, seemed a bit nervous, especially with the unknown bones hanging around and the glass jars containing eyeballs; they made the young girl uneasy.
Lex walked near a wall where a display shelf was placed, filled with many strange and curious trinkets.
There were bizarrely styled pieces of jewelry, very ordinary crafts, yellowed photographs, and quill pens that could no longer be used.
They looked like souvenirs.
Among them, Lex saw a red headscarf, very similar to the one Quincy wore.
He also saw a necklace, its pendant a silver skull with horns.
It felt like he had seen it somewhere before.
Lex didn't stay at the display shelf for too long and moved to another side of the wall, which was a photo wall with various-sized frames hanging on it.
The frames all contained portraits of people, men and women, old and young.
These photos all had one thing in common: regardless of whether the people in the photos were lying, sitting, or standing, they all had their eyes closed, with a coin placed over each eye.
"Those are photographs of the deceased."
The sudden voice made Lex quicken his pace slightly.
He and Midiya turned around together and saw a middle-aged lady in her fifties.
This lady had short hair that reached her ears, with seven or eight braids woven into it, each braid's end adorned with decorations of varying styles.
Some were gems, some were teeth, and some were bone fragments.
She leaned against the doorframe, one hand wrapped around her waist, the other holding a slender pipe with golden vines entwined around it, from which blue smoke was rising.
"Madam Hilda, hello."
Midiya quickly stood up, looking flustered.
Lex remained calm internally, but a smile, used to mask his surprise, appeared on his face.
He pressed a hand to his stomach and bowed slightly: "Good afternoon, Madam."
"Hello to you both."
Madam Hilda smiled, first looking at Midiya, "I remember you; you were so small the last time I saw you.
Now, you've grown into a young lady."
She came to Lex's side and looked at the photos on the wall: "This is a tradition passed down by our ancestors; after someone dies, at least one coin must be placed in their eyes or mouth."
"This is the fare for the Ferryman of the Underworld; if the fare is not given, one cannot cross the River Styx and cannot enter the 'Afterlife'."
Lex made the sign of the cross four times on his chest and naturally said, 'Goddess above,' before awkwardly adding: "I apologize, Madam, I hope you don't mind."
"It's alright; foreign faiths cannot take root here, so you don't need to be too constrained.
The great Astucca will not mind hearing the revered names of other deities here."
Footsteps sounded, and Leanna returned from the kitchen, serving coffee and flower tea to Lex and Midiya.
"Please come and sit here."
Madam Hilda walked towards the sofa, "I rarely have visitors here, so things are placed quite casually; you'll have to be careful."
She sat down and smiled at Lex: "Are you a wine merchant?"
"Yes, Madam."
Lex sat opposite her.
Madam Hilda took a puff from her pipe: "I like wine, but unfortunately, our Sea Island is not on a main shipping route, so few merchants come to the island usually.
Where are you from, and where do you usually sell your wine?"
Is she trying to probe me?
Lex answered fluently: "I am from Intis; our region is rich in wine, and every year I depart from my homeland, crossing the sea to Bayam.
Our wine sells very well there, and when I return, I bring back spices from Bayam, which are very popular in Loen."
"I can see you are a shrewd merchant.
I have been to the Loen Kingdom before; Backlund, in particular, left a deep impression."
Madam Hilda showed a nostalgic expression.
Midiya, next to them, appeared somewhat excited, because Hilda's words undoubtedly confirmed that even residents of Windmill Island could leave the Sea Island without incurring divine punishment!
Just then.
Thump thump thump.
A knocking sound suddenly came from beneath the living room floor.
Hilda shook her head and said: "It seems there are more rats lately, Leanna; perhaps we should consider getting a cat."