"How can this be?" I exclaimed.
I stepped closer to the mirror, ignoring the fact that water was dripping down across the floor. My skin looked so much brighter and smoother that I could hardly believe the person in the reflection was me.
My fingers pressed gently against my cheek.
"So smooth!"
Usually, my skin was left dry and tight after showering, but now it felt soft and hydrated. I glanced over at the three jars. I glanced over at the three jars. How could there be such a difference? I always buy the best products available... yet these are so much better.
After inspecting myself a bit longer, I finally focused on drying off. Most of the water had already rolled off and formed small puddles on the stone floor, making it easy.
I reached into my bag and pulled out a clean outfit— identical to the one I'd worn before. The fabric hugged my body the moment I zipped it up, wrapping around me like a glove. Once dressed, I took a few minutes to wipe the floor before stepping out.
Right on cue, the moment I stepped out of the bathroom I heard a knock on my door.
"Miss Esther! I'm Gamma Rell. I've been sent over to help you get settled in."
I dropped my bag beside the bed and went to answer the door. A kind-looking older woman stood on the other side, smiling warmly. Her shoulder-length brown hair framed a petite face that radiated gentleness.
"Hello. Please come in," I said, stepping aside to let her through.
She entered with a smile. "Oh, I see you've already had a chance to get acquainted with the bath. How did you like the soaps and shampoos? My daughter, Nessa, made them."
My eyes widened. "Your daughter? She must be a very skilled engineer. The products were some of the best I've ever used," I said sincerely.
"Engineer?" She giggled, "No, no, not at all. It's just something she enjoys doing in her spare time. I'll let her know of your high praise; she'll love the compliment."
I blinked in surprise. Not an engineer? Then how could she come up with something better than the skilled engineers back home?
I assumed that she must've just been too humble to admit it. Either way, the products were worthy of praise— even if they were made by a werewolf.
Gamma Rell looked around the room. "I'll bring some extra blankets over later. Even though it's still technically summer, the valley causes it to get a bit chilly at night."
My lips curved up into a faint smile. It was kind of her to make such a consideration, but I wasn't planning on sleeping tonight. Once the mansion grew quiet, I planned to strike.
"We still have some time before dinner. Was there anything specific you'd like to see? If not, I can show you around the lodge and the nearby grounds." She smiled softly, waiting for my answer.
I met her gaze. There was nothing but kindness in her eyes. And if I didn't know that she was a werewolf, I might've asked her to come back with me to human territory.
A shame.
"I don't have anywhere specific in mind. Thank you for taking the time," I replied, doing my best to sound friendly.
After taking such a pleasant bath, I was curious to find more hidden treasures in this land. It seemed that there was a new surprise around every corner, and though I was here on a short mission, there was a small part of me that wanted to learn more about their ways.
"Sure, I'll start with a short tour around the lodge. We won't be able to go everywhere, but I can show you some of the more interesting places," she said, clasping her hands together.
I followed her out, my eyes tracing the strange yet beautiful architecture of the hallway. At the far end stood a massive pair of double doors.
"This is our library. It's open to the public, but nothing can leave the room. If there's something you wish to read, feel free to come here during the day."
She pushed one of the doors open, revealing a vast, two-story library. There were rows upon rows of bookshelves, all filled with neatly arranged books.Back home, something like this would have been considered a waste of space, but there was something undeniably magical about it.
"Over on this side is where the desks and tables are. You're more than welcome to sit here and read for as long as you'd like," she said, leading me over to the opposite end of the library.
Lacquered wooden tables and soft chairs lined with leather filled the cozy space. It was peaceful and serene, as if time didn't exist here. The most eye-catching feature was the massive circular window that spanned both floors.
"That's what we call the Moon Window. It represents the new moon at night and the full moon during the day, though by its size, it's more like a harvest moon," she giggled.
The floor plan of the library seemed to be built around this window. It was made in such a way that no matter the time of day, any direct sunlight would stay contained within the reading area. This prevented any long-term damage to the books on the shelves.
I walked over to the closest bookshelf to take a closer look. To my surprise, I couldn't recognize any of the titles.
'My Fated Alpha', 'Luna's Revenge: He Stole my Pack!', 'Forbidden Romance: The Beta in the Alpha's Arms'...
The more of these titles I read, the more confused I became.
"...The Beta in the Alpha's Arms...?" I muttered in confusion. Though I didn't know what the Alpha looked like, I certainly couldn't picture Mr. Stone Giant in anyone's arms.
Gamma Rell's giggle snapped me out of my thoughts. "This is our adult romance section, and the novel you're holding is currently the most popular!" She covered her mouth and leaned closer, whispering, "You didn't hear it from me, but the steamy scenes in that one are simply to die for!"
I glanced at the plain cover in confusion. It was simple with just text, so I didn't really understand what it was about. Either way, steamy romance wasn't what I was here for.
"Do you have anything on history or culture?" I asked, scanning the shelves. If anything, I wanted to see whether the werewolves dared preserve records of how they'd stolen these lands from us humans.
Gamma Rell nodded, reminding me of a small squirrel. "Yes, of course! They are upstairs. Come, I'll show you."