[h2]Janika Edelfelt, Matou Mansion[/h2]

She had not ripped into Emmerich the moment he had come back.

She liked to think that that showed her restraint as it was, really. The man had already seemed so stricken by the death of his own Servant that there was little a verbal lashing would do at this point. He understood the humiliation and the grave situation it had left them in, all to come back with so little, and she really could not fathom why he had not just ordered Rider back with that Command Seal he had used, or why that fool of a Servant had not urged something similar, but in the end, she guessed that was just how they were.
So now, with both Emmerich and Brauer indisposed and her sister working on her own little projects, it fell to her to scout this manor. She dearly hoped it would go over better than the last one, but one never knew what the representative or whatever Servant he had summoned hid under their sleeve, although she liked to think her little desire was not a particularly high bar to clear.

The house itself was Western in style, but what caught her attention the most was the heavy atmosphere around it, as though the moment she stepped within, it would be like stepping in a different world. A small part of her, a part she tended to ignore, thought that perhaps coming here was not such a bright idea.

She merely tempered the trepidation with trust in Saber and Archer to pull through. So it was that she strode cautiously, but decisively, into the old manor and the darkness that laid within.

There is probably a saying about lambs that walk willingly into the slaughterhouse.

The oppressive atmosphere redoubled in potency now that she was within alongside Saber, almost like a physical thing, a weight bearing down on her shoulders. Her eyes darted around, looking for something she could not see, trying futilely to pierce through the darkness.
As the voice spoke, Saber's figure was one of the few things that gave her a measure of comfort at this point in time.

Striding forward, however, she had her own part to act out, and refusal of it was never an option to begin with. Moving to stand just a step in front and to the left of Saber, her eyes narrowed yet again, unable to perceive anything.

In the end, she could only weigh in the words and answer as well she could.
"Excuse our intrusion, though, to be frank," She started to speak, keeping her voice level and her cane resting peacefully at her side. "I did not quite expect someone not Matou Youzai to greet us, if there was to even be a greeting to begin with, no. I would have thought most, if not all the other family members, whoever they might be, would have already left until the war was over. . .not a particularly unwise move, I would say."

She spoke with a firmness that perhaps surprised even herself in spite of the shivers that ran down her back as whoever it was that had decided to play host spoke. She was an Edelfelt, and she could not show anything but this to any outsider.

"I do not fault you for the lack of any display, however. I admit, this was a rather rushed meeting," Keeping her ears peeled for even an inkling of any other surprises, she continued her speech unimpeded, surprisingly enough. "It would be terribly gauche of me to ask for tea in this situation, I believe. Speaking of, my manners must have been failing me. . .Janika Edelfelt, at your service. Would the host do us the honors of a proper introduction? It is only polite."

He smile, sweet like honey, was as much of a façade as any airs she put on, but the belief in proper manners was indeed genuine. After all, for all that had happened, she had still been raised an aristocrat. At the very least, this much was the norm.

"Worry not for entertainment however. If I am to be honest, we did not come here seeking any particular trouble as our primary goal. Of course, had Matou Youzai been here, we would have attempted to kill him and would have expected the same in turn, but I cannot say you, whoever you might be, gracious host, figured in any plans. With you, I have no particular quarrel," She paused for a second, her smile stretching just a touch. "Though I can understand the principle of defending one's home, so if we must do this, I would not begrudge you for it. . .although it would be a shame. I do enjoy conversations more."