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Heir of the White Lotus (Web Novel) - Chapter 1917: Wonderful Guest
Chapter 1917: Wonderful Guest
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
"What is your favorite food?""Water."
"What do you do for fun?"
"Laugh."
"Have you ever loved someone?"
"Red wine."
Isabella continued to ask away, seemingly oblivious to the sudden opening of the door.
Someone had clearly set foot into her room, yet she didn’t even bat an eye. Without a care in the world, she continued to chat away.
But Adam wasn’t as relaxed as she was.
The moment the door opened, once again intense warning bells started ringing inside his mind. His back was drenched in cold sweat. Even without the Sphere of Resonance, he could clearly sense someone standing right behind him.
It was someone big and ominous. The figure simply stood behind him. It didn’t say anything, didn’t do anything, just stood.
Adam could clearly feel hot breath brushing against his hair. He couldn’t help but gulp.
"You look nervous," Isabella said with a smirk. "Is everything all right?"
Adam nodded silently.
A gesture was also a form of answer, so he wasn’t technically breaking any rules.
The floorboard creaked again, and the figure behind Adam, whoever or whatever it was, silently turned around and walked away.
With another eerie creak, the door shut behind him.
Adam subconsciously breathed out a sigh of relief. That was utterly nerve-wracking for him.
Soon, the third hour began.
Adam began hearing the sound of laughter somewhere deep inside the house, somewhere beyond the door. It wasn’t the laughter of one child. There were several of them. Running, playing, and occasionally, crying.
Isabella calmly poured herself some more tea. She glanced at Adam’s teacup and commented, "You haven’t touched it."
"Yes."
"You don’t like tea?"
"Who knows?"
SLAM!
The door slammed open violently, and it sounded like dozens of feet scrambled inside.
Isabella asked, "Do you like children?"
"Maybe."
"Is that so?"
"I suppose."
The sound of laughter filled the room. It was pleasant to hear. Strangely enough, Isabella paid no attention. Her gaze constantly shifted between her teacup and Adam, as though the people entering and exiting her bedroom did not exist.
Adam continued to respond with random words.
Suddenly, he shuddered.
His head almost snapped around when he felt a tiny hand clasp the hems of his clothes.
Isabella’s eyes blazed with excitement. "Is something the matter?"
"No... nothing."
It was no longer his clothes that were being tugged at. Soon, he felt small hands clasp onto his fingers, his legs, his boots, his collar, his leather armor. The sound of children’s laughter transformed into wails.
But Adam did not look back.
The fourth hour began.
The portraits on the wall, ones that had trapped the adventurers from the past, began moving.
Adam suddenly felt the urge to turn toward the portraits. But he didn’t know the extent to which the third rule applied.
If he turned to his side, wouldn’t the area directly behind him fall under his peripheral vision?
How insidious!
Adam kept his head straight forward.
"Look!" Isabella pointed to the portraits to the side. "They’re calling out to you."
Adam smiled nervously. "No, thanks."
Isabella pouted.
The fifth hour began.
Adam suddenly heard the sound of breathing again. Strange. The door behind him hadn’t opened, yet someone or something had already stepped inside the bedroom.
It was very close. Right behind him. Something was standing directly behind his chair. He could hear the clothes rustling, its breathing, its heartbeat.
Meanwhile, Isabella started talking about gardening, and Adam responded to her despite the fear racking his nerves. The fear of the unknown was truly the worst.
The sixth hour arrived.
The door opened. A chair scraped across the wooden floor. Someone sat down directly behind Adam. He heard the fabric settle and the steady rhythm of breathing.
Isabella continued to ask questions. The figure behind Adam sat silently.
And then, the figure heaved a long sigh. It rose from the chair and left the bedroom, dragging the chair away.
Silence returned.
But not for long. The grandfather clock continued to remind Adam of the hours that passed by.
As the sands of time flowed, Isabella began asking questions that required thought. It was clear that she wanted Adam distracted. Sometimes she fell silent for a long time, simply staring at him.
At one point, the silence became unbearable.
The thing behind him started speaking again. It used voices Adam recognised.
Valerian. Anna. His mother. His father. Sometimes even his own voice.
He desperately wanted to turn around when he heard his parents’ voices.
"Adam..." the voice of his mother called out.
"Help me, son..." his father pleaded.
"Please..." his sister called out.
"Brother, look!" The little fellow gasped.
Meanwhile, Isabella continued to sip tea. The liquid in the teapot was seemingly endless.
Dark circles framed Adam’s eyes.
His eyes had turned bloodshot.
It had been almost a day. He shouldn’t have gotten this tired. Yet he was.
Ding! Dong!
Ding! Dong!
He flinched in fright when the grandfather clock began chiming.
Now, only one final hour remained.
The door behind Adam slammed open yet again. He heard several figures barge in. The breathing behind him turned frantic. The creatures whispered constantly. Claws scraped across his chair. Warm fingers touched his neck.
The urge to turn around became nearly irresistible.
Then, someone... something whispered into his ear.
"She lied. There’s nothing behind you. The rules don’t matter. You are forever trapped here."
Adam’s eyes trembled. But he didn’t turn around. He remained seated.
As the first rays of the sun filtered into the room, Isabella gently smiled.
The breathing stopped. The whispers faded. The footsteps ceased.
Isabella gracefully rose to her feet. "You have excellent manners," she said.
"I know..." Adam replied, exhaustion evident in his voice.
The footsteps behind him completely receded. With another long, drawn-out creak, the door to the bedroom closed once again. Silence returned.
The sun was about to fully rise. The twenty-four-hour mark was moments away from being completed. Finally, he could leave this damned painting.
The ordeal was utterly horrifying. He spent the entire night wondering what was behind him. But he never once saw it. The unseen became more terrifying than any monster he could describe.
"You have been a wonderful guest," Isabella said with a beaming smile.
"And you... a wonderful host," Adam said in a raspy voice.
The sun had risen. Morning had arrived. It was finally time for Adam to leave.
"You may go now," she said happily.
Adam responded with a slow nod.
She stepped aside, allowing Adam to walk toward the portrait through which he had entered this world.
As he prepared to rise from his chair, Isabella’s warm smile slowly twisted into a predatory grin.
