Chapter 96: Chapter 96

"Are you okay, Mister Hugo? Here, take my handkerchief." Sarah said while she gave him a white linen small cloth.

The stage is over and almost everyone already left from that theater.

Hugo, took the handkerchief and wiping his tears. He can smell the rose's fragrance from it." I'm sorry… F-for troubling you, Miss Bo,Bones."

"No, not at all. I'm glad you like this stage play."

The man breathing slowly before answered, "I didn't see it coming. How could… how could Jeff--," and Hugo start sobbing again.

"Yes." She smiled faintly

In order to reassure his fiancé's safety from the ghost threat, Jeff choose to sacrifice himself by burnt the house along with him who holding the ghost.

Meanwhile, his fiancé just crying and staring at the burning house. Never crossed in her mind that her short visit to Jeff's mansion will be a source of calamity that can separate them.

For Hugo, it is the saddest story he ever saw, "That man... deserve a medal."

Sarah laughs while nodding her head, "It's still better than the original one. Jeff called the holy priest to exorcise the ghost, sold the house and marrying his fiancé. But, sometime, the ghost still haunted his mind and in the end, Jeff lost his sanity."

"Why did they make a tragedy like this?" Hugo pull his hair with frustration feeling.

"I hate to say this. But, we should go. They will close the theater." Sarah said while she pointed several men who cleaning the stage.

Hugo wipes the tears before blow his nose. Sarah blinked twice and stunned.

This make him realized that he already made a terrible mistake. To blowing the nose in very loud voice. Not to mention, he was using her perfumed handkerchief...

"Ah! Miss Bones, I'm sorry--,"

"It-it's o-okay, Mister Hugo. I'm just surprised. But, it's okay. Don't worry. Anyway, let's go."

"I will wash your handkerchief!"

The young woman raised from her chair. Before she starts walking, the brown-eyed woman said, "No need! You can keep it, Mister Hugo."

Hugo watch her back and have a feeling that he's already ruining the date.

With a weak step, he's walking behind her. Now, all he wants to do is going back to his office, drown himself in the pile of unfinished documents and forgetting this embarrasing event.

"Mister Hugo, do you want to wash your hand?" She asked when both of them already in the front lobby.

"Ah? Umm, yeah. I'll go to the bathroom for a second." Hugo answered with low voiced.

"Mister Hugo."

"Yes?"

"I'll wait at that bench. Don't forget, you owed me a dinner." She smiled happilly and Hugo feel like he still has another chance.

"Yes! I'll be back! Please, wait for me!" He dashed out to the nearest bathroom.

When reached the bathroom's door, Hugo noticed a glimpse of Nicholas Ergo, the man who played as Jeff, enter a door in the corridor's corner.

After battling with his pride, Hugo choose to follow that man and asking for an autograph.

When he touches the door's handle, he heard some conversation. Curious, that man put his ears on the door.

"....is ready. But, sorry, the price is getting higher. One gold coin for each bottle." Said someone who has a rough voice.

Then, Nicholas said in his trembling voice. It was weird and Hugo almost recognize it, "H-how could... it be? You kn, know I can't li-life without it."

The rough voices answer, "It is your problem. Not mine."

"B-but…"

"Yes or no?"

"Y-yyes!!"

Then not long after that, Hugo smell something unbelievable. It's Datura Metel's powder and the purest one. It can be sold at a hundred silver coins for every spoon in dark market. That powder can cause confusion and hallucinations, in addition to altering mood and emotional expression.

If a person takes too much Datura but not enough to overdose, the consumer may still experience something similar to a hangover, as the other drugs or booze can do.

But, it is still dangerous without doctor's supervision.

Hugo feel disappointed after knowing it and choose to walk back to his true destination.

But, Hugo's leg stopped when he heard another voice, "Why did you consume it, Nicholas? You have everything."

"I'm not." Nicholas voice became calmer than before. His intonation getting better, "I want to deliver the best performance to the audiences. This powder can help me to achieve that. The perfection they want, I'll try my best to do it."

The man with harsh voice said after he let out a heavy sigh, "You should stop depend on into that thing. It can kill you. When you died, people will forget about you. Another person will take over your position. It just silly to see you working hard like that."

Nicholas laugh, "There is nothing more important than see the audience giving me the applause because of my acting skill. I'll do everything, even it's kill me."

Hugo's ears suddenly became deaf because of that words. He walks to the bathroom and washing his hand.

But Nicholas word still lingering in his mind.

Sarah politely smiling when she saw him, "Mister Hugo, are you done?"

"Um, yeah. Anyway, Miss Bones, I want to tell you something."

Seeing his serious expression make Sarah become nervous, "What happened, Mister Hugo? Did you sick?"

"I think you were right. I mean Nicholas Ergo is one of the best actors in this Empire."

Sarah's eyes sparkling with joy, "Ah, I'm glad that you said that."

"Miss Bones, thank you. Because of you, I'm learning something new today."

Sarah tilted her head. Failed to understand his words, "What do you mean?"

"Nothing." Hugo smiled and offered his right arm to her, "Then, shall we go, now?"