Today, it was four years since Albina’s papa had passed away. Four whole years Albina had managed without her father, she had enjoyed those years even. One thing however, that she had been pondering over, was how he died. She had been told time after time it was “an accident”, but Albina was not sure if she quite believed that. The story simply did not make sense to her, in any way. In honour of her father, she was determent to find the truth. Where was she ought to start however? Asking her mom might seem like a logical step, but she knew there was no more she would be getting out of her mom, she had tried before but it was always the same answers. She had tried asking directly, she had tried so . She started doodling as she thought things through, the image took shape of an image representing her father. This was something she needed to do, for herself, to find closure in the truth.
At that moment the postman arrived with the weekly newspaper, and at that moment Albina got an idea. She needed to spit through everything that had been printed around that time, the time her father passed away. Maybe there had been something in one of the papers that might be of use, something that could give her a clue as to what happened. However, however, however, her mom had not wanted to save anything in relation to her father, so after his death, she had emptied the archives within their estate. She doubted she would find anything of use in their archive now. She needed another place to search. Maybe she could ask Adeline, but she did not wish to include her friend. She felt like this was something she was supposed to do on her own, without a friend holding her hand. Plus, in general Albina was independent, she did not like to feel as if she needed someone’s help, she didn’t like asking for someone’s help.
All she needed was an archive, an extensive archive where she could search in peace. A plan started piecing itself together. Word of mouth had enlightened her that the Füller estate had a significant library and archive. Tonight happened to be a night of a remembrance for her father, and let faith be that she had seen Lord Füller’s name on the guest list for tonight. While she did not like missing her father’s remembrance, it might be now or never, tonight she was more or less guaranteed to find the estate empty, she was not sure when again she would get such an opportunity.
She used some rice powered to give the impression she was paler than usual, and walked down the stairs, slowly and coughing every few seconds. “Mama” she said with yet another cough “I fear I may be ailing. Would it be permissible for me to retire to my chamber for the evening? It pains me to absent myself from the commemoration of our dear father, yet I harbor concerns that my ailment may be contagious, and I would not wish to afflict our esteemed gathering with such malaise.” her voice sounding most innocent and genuine.
Her mother had sent her back to her room before she could utter another word. And with that, her plan was off to a successful start. She placed some pillows underneath her blanket, making it seem she was merely asleep if someone would be checking in on her. Next thing she did, was change out of her dress, into trousers and a coat “borrowed” from her brother. A top head that used to be her father’s and had been in her room as a memory to him finished the look. Here in the light is was clearly visible she was not a man, but she would surely pass as one for] the day was turning into the night.
Albina opened her window, and climbed out of it. Luckily her room was on the first floor, so she had not a long way down. Step by step she found her way down without injuring herself. She hailed a cab, and with her deepest voice she said: “Füller estate, please.”
It was not a long drive before she arrived. She wished she had been here before, so she could have made a plan how to approach this. She needed to think on the spot. Luckily, Albina was good at that. She quietly walked around the estate. Quickly, she found a cellar door. A quick test showed how it not had been locked. She took one look around, to see if she was not watched, before opening the door with certainty in her movement.
For a few minutes, she walked around the maze that the cellar was. Looking carefully around each corned. Until she found stairs leading into the main estate. She took a deep breath, and step by step walked up the stairs, she was careful with making any sounds. While the Lord of the house might not be present currently, there was a chance staff of his might be. It was not long before she found the door to what must be the library and archives. Locked. She took out one of her hairpins and fiddled a little with the lock, promptly it opened. She locked the door from the inside, before closing the curtains and turning on the light. A sense of relief overcame her, she had done it. She had made it, she was here and now she was in here, no one was going to find her, or so she thought. The archives seemed to be on the other end of the room, she however, was too distracted by all the books on the shelves. If anything could derail Albina from her plans, it were books. I have the whole night, it can’t hurt to have a look, she thought to herself. So she stood at the shelves, looking through the books, taking a few out she was particularly interested in, when she could hear someone turning a key.
@Ouijaloveletters - Edgar