Shadows of London: 1-10 Lilacs

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Caroline visits the Eastern District again, to investigate the cause of her parents' death. She encounters a bizarre person in the workhouse in Saint George.

Info

Style: Event Logs: Workhouse Master Required: Edward Goodwill Lv. 3 Recommended: Pure White, Thorough Care, Plain Steps Perfect Score: ~3,630 Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 3 , 1 , 1 , Blueprint: Wishing Hat

Wishing Hat

Dialogue Choices

Note: Changing choices when replaying will cost 5

This makes me feel-

• Sad
• Glad
  • Edward's Goodwill will rise

Transcript

Expand for script.

• The constant rain has created an unrelenting fog. Visibility has been reduced to a few yards.
• Aunt Petit suspends all etiquette lessons for her students' safety, but keeps going out herself, to attend to matters regarding her new column.
• You: I remember Aunt Petit telling Anna not to prepare her afternoon tea.

• You: Guess she's visiting the publisher again today! This will be a good chance for me to sneak into the Eastern District.

• You: I must wear something simple this time.

• After changing, I attempt to sneak out the side door, but bump into Jack the coachman.
• Jack: Oh, hello Miss Rayes! Why are you dressed like this today?

• Jack: I thought you were Anna when I saw you from afar!

• You: Oh, I just don't want to stand out where I'm going.

• Jack: I've got nothing to do now that I've sent Madam to Mr. Erskine's.

• Jack: Where are you going? Let me give you a ride.

• You: Oh, no need to bother yourself. I'll hire a carriage.

• Jack: It's not safe for you to go out alone in this fog.

• You: Don't worry, I'm meeting a friend. She'll join me at our destination.

• Jack: But Madam said...

• You: I won't be out long. If my aunt asks, please cover for me.

• I rush off without further delay, leaving a confused Jack behind.

• Once again, I'm standing on a street in Saint George. I look warily into a dark and narrow alley.
• You: The coachman said that the workhouse is at the end of this alley.

• You: It's not a place that's open to visitors. What reason do I use to get in?

• Edward Grey: Miss Rayes?

• You: Doctor Grey... Why are you here?

• Edward Grey: I'm going to the workhouse to provide free consultation. It's Saint George for this month.

• You: (Oh, right... Doctor Grey did mentioned he visits the slums weekly to provide medical services.)

• You: (Perhaps I can follow him into the workhouse, but how do I convince him?)

• Edward Grey: Miss Rayes, if my guess is correct, you must be headed for the workhouse too.

• You: I...

• Not expecting him to guess my intentions, I'm momentarily stunned into silence.
• Edward Grey: Mr. Johnson mentioned this particular workhouse when we were at Ruby Opera House.

• Edward Grey: You're dressed down, so I suppose you're here to find out more about your parents?

• Doctor Grey's gaze is gentle, but he also looks certain he's right.
• After some hesitation, I decide to be upfront about it.
• You: Yes, I'm here to ask around, and hopefully find out something about them.

• You: For years, I've been told my parents died of tuberculosis. And no one wants to talk to me about them.

• You: I've been thinking there may be more to it.

• Edward Grey: What makes you think so?

• You: London seems to have triggered my childhood memories.

• You: In my fragmented dreams, my mother always behaved strangely.

• You: My parents' conversation was like a riddle, and I think solving the riddle will lead me to the source of their misfortune.

• Edward Grey: Pardon me, but what you see in your dreams may well be a simple reflection of your emotions. They don't prove anything.

• You: What exactly did my parents go through, and why did they die...

• You: Other than the rumors from the ton, I have no clues whatsoever.

• You: This may sound ridiculous but I feel like something's pushing me to unveil this secret...

• Edward Grey: Your feelings are understandable, but it's still reckless for you to come to such a place alone.

• I hang my head in silence, knowing my words have no chance of convincing him.
• After a few moments, Doctor Grey sighs. His tone becomes even gentler than before.
• Edward Grey: All right, Miss Rayes.

• Edward Grey: It must be fate that let us meet, so I'll take you inside the workhouse.

• You: You'll help me?!

• Edward Grey: Yes, but with a few conditions.

• Edward Grey: You must follow me closely, and you must leave before nightfall, whether you've found any information or not.

• You: Yes, I promise!

• The workhouse is more crowded and noisier than I imagined.
• Outside the simple consultation room, the workhouse master keeps everyone in an orderly line. The sound of coughing fills the corridor every so often.
• Doctor Grey sits at the table, listening patiently to each person, while I pass him medical equipment from the side.
• Male Resident: I followed your instructions and I've been massaging my leg every day. The swelling has gone down quite a bit.

• Edward Grey: There are still some blood clots in your leg, so you should take things easy for a while.

• Edward Grey: As for the headaches and convulsions, I will prescribe some tranquilizers so you can sleep better at night.

• Male Resident: Thank you so much, Doctor Grey.

• Male Resident: Without your dedication, we would have died of sickness and gotten tossed out on the street!

• Edward Grey: You exaggerate, Mr. Blake.

• Edward Grey: Workhouse conditions have been improving over the past few years, thanks to the passing of various laws, and the hard work of charity organizations.

• Edward Grey: What happened in the past shouldn't happen again.

• Doctor Grey's smile is somewhat bitter.
• Mr. Blake appears to have realized something. His expression turns apologetic.
• Male Resident: Yes, yes... You're right.

• You: Did something bad happen in the past?

• My question seems to make Mr. Blake uncomfortable. He shoots me a nervous look before averting his gaze.
• Edward Grey: Miss Rayes has no idea.

• Edward Grey: I'm an orphan. I used to live in this workhouse with my younger brother when I was a child.

• Edward Grey: Conditions were terrible. My brother had a fever when he was seven, but he was not treated in time, and passed away.

• You: Oh... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up.

• Edward Grey: No need to be sorry. I put it behind me a long time ago.

• Edward Grey: Now that I can return here as a doctor, I suppose it's a form of compensation for the past.

• Though he is talking about his own misfortune, there is not one bit of gloom in his voice and expression.
• This makes me feel-

Sad

• You: You must have been devastated to lose the only family you had left.

• Edward Grey: My brother's death is the most painful blow I've taken, but it's also what made me practice medicine.

• Edward Grey: I can't bring him back...

• Edward Grey: But I can stop the same tragedy from happening to other helpless children.

• Edward Grey: Maybe my brother would be comforted if he knew what I'm doing.

• You: I'm sure he'd be proud of you.

Glad

• You: You must have gone through so much pain as a child, but I'm glad for you.

• Doctor Grey is dumbfounded for a moment. When he finally speaks, his eyes betray none of his feelings.
• Edward Grey: That was a dark period of my life that I don't even want to think about. Why are you glad for me?

• You: You overcame your troubles, and do not harbor resentment for the world.

• You: And you remain kind, turning your misfortune into motivation for helping others.

• You: That is such a precious and rare trait to have!

• Edward Grey: I'm not as strong and noble as you say, Miss Rayes.

• Edward Grey: I am merely using my abilities to prevent further tragedy.

• You: But your drive is admirable.

• You: If your brother could see you now, he'd be very proud of you!

• Edward Grey: Thank you, Miss Rayes.

• The consultation room returns to its busy state again. A young lady comes in, holding a baby in her arms and looking worried.
• Female Resident: He's pale in the face, and his skin is flushed... He doesn't have the "strange sickness", does he?

• Doctor Grey moves slowly and gently, examining the baby carefully.
• He coaxes the baby softly, and the baby responds by looking around, wide-eyed and curious.
• Edward Grey: The child is doing well. He's just caught a cold, and has a mild fever.

• Female Resident: But he's been coughing so much at night. It's worrying...

• Edward Grey: It's due to the temperature at night, and his sleeping position.

• Edward Grey: I'll prescribe you some light medicine. Let him take it with his dinner, and he'll be fine after three to five days.

• Female Resident: Thank goodness it's not that strange sickness...

• Edward Grey: There's no need to be overly worried about the strange sickness you're talking about. It hasn't spread much in the Eastern District.

• Doctor Grey comforts the mother patiently, but the mention of the epidemic has drawn the attention of other patients.
• Young Resident: This strange sickness appeared more than a decade ago too, right? I was still a child then, but I remember the whole of Saint George panicking...

• Young Resident: People would topple over without warning in the alleys. Rotting corpses piled up under the bridge!

• Old Resident: What nonsense! I remember it clearly. It happened in the autumn, 13 years ago.

• Old Resident: My fellow workers were gossiping about a "bloodthirsty demon" that roamed the streets at night.

• You: Bloodthirsty demon?!

• Old Resident: Scary, isn't it? But the evildoers got what they deserved.

• Old Resident: They sold drugs with shady origins, but got what they deserved when they were poisoned to death by those drugs!

• Young Resident: Papa, you must be getting old! Did you forget that the old and weak in the workhouse were infected as well?

• Young Resident: Their eyes turned red, and their skin festered, and they'd die within three days of showing the symptoms.

• Young Resident: That's why there were rumors of vampires!

• Old Resident: Why are you spreading this ridiculous tale again?

• Young Resident: It's not ridiculous. How many times have I told you that I've seen it with my own eyes as a child!

• Young Resident: In the alley next to the workhouse! I saw a man biting a woman's neck!

• You: Goodness, is that true?

• Old Resident: Don't listen to him, Miss. He's been spinning tales since he was a boy.

• Old Resident: Doctor Grey said the sickness hasn't spread, so let's not scare ourselves.

• Old Resident: Dear me, if only my son were half as capable as Doctor Grey!

• I don't believe in vampires, but others do. They surround the young man, discussing the sickness enthusiastically.
• There's no way to discern the source of the sickness from all the befuddling descriptions. There's no mention of my parents at all.

• Night has already fallen when the session finally ends. Thunder booms overhead.
• Edward Grey: There were more patients than I expected. I apologize for delaying you.

• You: Please don't say that. Free consultation is harder work than I imagined. It's not easy on you.

• You: I hope I wasn't a bother.

• Edward Grey: You've helped me quite a bit, thank you.

• Edward Grey: I never thought a noble lady like you would help out in a workhouse without grumbling about the dirt and the tough work.

• Edward Grey: I saw you having a good chat with everyone. Did you find out anything about your parents?

• You: Nothing at all. It's not as simple as I imagined.

• You: An unknown actress and a nobleman who went into hiding...

• You: I don't think anyone would notice them, especially when there's widespread panic about vampires.

• Edward Grey: Pay no heed to the rumors about vampires.

• Edward Grey: When people live under such circumstances, they lack a sense of security, which leads to these appalling rumors.

• You: I understand. They don't mean any harm.

• Edward Grey: The workhouse is a place where lots of people come and go every day.

• Edward Grey: There aren't many who know what happened here more than a decade ago.

• Edward Grey: Don't give up, there must be other ways to search for clues.

• You: I hope so.

• Edward Grey: It's late. Let me send you back to the Western District.

• Edward Grey: Before we go, I have a gift for you.

• You: A gift?

• Doctor Grey smiles mysteriously, and reveals a pale purple bouquet from behind him with a dramatic flourish.
• You: These are... lilacs?

• Edward Grey: Besides taking care of the orphans' physical health, I like to do something for their mental health as well.

• Edward Grey: So I always prepare some surprises for them each time I visit. Sometimes I bring sweets, and sometimes flowers.

• Edward Grey: I have a few stalks of lilac left over today, so I'd like to thank you with them. I hope you don't mind.

• You: I like them very much, thank you.

• I run my fingers over the tiny petals affectionately, trying to catch a whiff of their light fragrance.
• Edward Grey: You smell flowers the same way as my brother. Lilacs were his favorite.

• Edward Grey: I used to tell him that if he could find the fifth petal of a lilac, he'd find his "lucky love".

• Edward Grey: He really did believe me then. Whenever he saw a lilac, he'd count them carefully.

• Doctor Grey's smile is replaced by a forlorn look.
• You: You miss him, don't you? Even now.

• Edward Grey: Yes. I didn't take good care of him back then...

• You: No, Doctor Grey. You're a good brother.

• You: I can tell from the way you care for Jesse and the sincere advice you give him.

• Edward Grey: Jesse... I wouldn't want such a mischievous little brother.

• Edward Grey: But thank you for the words of comfort, Miss Rayes.

• You: Thank you for the flowers. I will decorate my room with them, and see if I can find a fifth petal.

• Edward Grey: May you find a "lucky love" that belongs to you.

• As the front door is closed by regulation after sunset, Doctor Grey and I have to leave by the back door.
• We wander through complicated alleyways and we're two streets away from the main street when there's a sudden downpour.

• You: I should've known it'd rain after seeing the afternoon sky.

• You: In my haste to leave the house, I forgot my umbrella...

• Edward Grey: Find shelter first.

• Edward Grey: I'll get a carriage from the main street and come back for you.

• With that, Doctor Grey disappears from the alley.
• I walk over to a house with low eaves for shelter. I watch the rain fall, and fall into a daze.
• The rain gets heavier. I start to feel anxious. Finally, I see a figure up ahead.
• You: Doctor Grey?!

• There is no response.
• As the figure approaches, I see that it's a vagrant wearing tattered clothes and a battered hat.
• You: Can I help you...

• He raises his head before I finish, staring at me with sinister eyes.
• You: W-what do you want?

• You: If you need shelter from the rain, I can give my spot to you!

• He comes even closer. Backing away, I cast about for an escape route.
• As I back under a street lamp, he opens his mouth suddenly, revealing bloodred gums.
• Mysterious Man: Blood... Blood... I need blood...

• Under the flickering light, his menacing, blood-shot eyes and festering skin become apparent.
• You: You... You're infected?!

• I scream and hurl the flowers in his face before dashing into a side alley.
• The ground is muddy. I slip and nearly fall several times. The alleyway narrows further as I run along.
• Instead of a bend, I find a stinking pile of trash blocking my way.
• You: Oh no, it's a dead end!

• Mysterious Man: Blood... Blood...

• It's a low, raspy voice. Turning around, I stare at the vagrant's pale face in terror.
• You: Let go of me!

• His grip on my elbow is vice-like. I stagger as I struggle, falling to the ground.
• You: HELP!!

• Helpless, I squeeze my eyes shut.

• A gunshot rings out loud and clear. The grip on my arm loosens.
• I open my eyes warily...

• The vagrant staggers about, clutching his arm. He shoves past the pile of junk and escapes.
• Doctor Grey is standing a few steps away, holding a smoking pistol.
• Edward Grey: Are you hurt, Miss Rayes?

• You: I-I'm fine...

• Shocked, it takes me a while to get up. My mind is blank.
• Edward Grey: This is why I warned you against visiting the Eastern District.

• Edward Grey: If I had arrived any later, the consequences would be dire.

• You: Thank goodness you got here in time. I had no idea you know how to shoot.

• Edward Grey: I frequent Eastern District, so unfortunately, this is something I had to learn.

• You: That man must be infected.

• You: He has the same symptoms as the "bloodthirsty demon" they talked about!

• Edward Grey: Calm down. The "bloodthirsty demon" does not exist.

• Edward Grey: You must be in shock. The carriage is waiting. I'll take you to it.

• Edward Grey: As for that man, I'll report this to the police as soon as I can.

• Edward Grey: Whether he's infected or a madman, we can't have him wandering around terrorizing people.

• I nod, still in a daze.
• Edward Grey: Don't be scared. Get a good rest once you're home. I promise everything will be fine.

• The rain continues to pour. The borrowed umbrella can barely shelter the two of us.
• Doctor Grey tilts the umbrella over me. His shoulder is drenched by the rain.