The Distinguished Mr. Rose Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Goodbye, My Beautiful Friend

Read chapter 21 of The Distinguished Mr. Rose by QuiteTheSlacker on NovelPedia.

Chapter 21: Goodbye, My Beautiful Friend Jack’s last moments were not of fear, nor pain or hate. Instead, he graced the world with a parting smile and drifted away, onward to wherever his next life took him. The man who had always been filled with shame was now at peace. Lucius knelt down, closed Jack’s eyes, and began to tidy the body to the best of his abilities: he combed his hair, brushed his clothes, and even dabbed a bit of makeup on his cheeks - something to make him look more vibrant and less, well, dead. A gentleman was always well equipped for these types of scenarios. You never knew when someone needed to be spruced up. “Your story was a ravishing one, Mister Thames,” Lucius said. “It is because of beautiful souls like you that I am reminded of why I love humanity. Bravo, I mean it with all my heart.” It was a story with many twists and turns, emotional highs and solemn farewells, but through it all the young Jack carved his place firmly in Lucius’s memory. The gentleman had seen to the conclusions of many people before, but this one was unique even compared to them. Jack faced the murky dregs of his true nature, yet rather than be consumed by it, he accepted himself and atoned for a life spent in lethargy. A sprout once unnoticed amongst the masses—now bloomed into a man truly special. “You remind me of the humble Dandelion: a flower common as there are stars in the sky. Some treat the buds as pests, yet they are resilient all the same. Even when the winds of change blow away your seeds, somewhere, someday, you shall take root and blossom anew - free from the past.” It was a shame Lucius could not bury him. The flowers sprouted from his corpse would have been such a lovely sight to see, but alas this mysterious game had to continue. At least here, Jack could remain undisturbed along with his treasures. Lucius could have taken his ring, it was admittedly very pleasing to the eye, but stealing from the dead was not a pastime he fancied much. Certainly not. How unmannerly! Lucius wasn’t a scoundrel; a man’s code was more important than any material gain could ever be. That was what it meant to be a gentleman, both inside and out. But where one chapter ended, another began. Lucius felt a thrill swell inside him; his adventures had scarcely just started, yet already he came across a masterpiece. What other beautiful souls would he encounter? What exciting realms would he journey through? Time waited for no man, and Lucius couldn’t wait to discover where next his two feet would lead. Firstly, he had a charming little duo to find. While Marco and Mili didn’t need any pruning, their company was quite pleasant. And besides… the gentleman needed actors for his drama troupe, and whether willing or not, the pair made for a lovely ensemble he could manipulate—pardon— ‘encourage’ to help with the next main character he wished to bloom. Thus with a hearty bounce in his step and a final farewell to his beautiful friend, Lucius sauntered away and stepped out into the dark halls of the maze once more. After a few minutes, he heard his fellows wandering around the corner. Suffice to say: the two of them were on their last legs. Hunger was a terrifying thing. “Just where… the heck… is the damn exit?” Mili groaned. She looked more like a corpse than Mister Thames. The past day had not been kind to her, and it was the same for Mister Bernardi. His once rotund, yet brawny, stomach was now practically skin and bone. “We must be goin’ in circles…” Marco said. “I never was good with directions.” Milo’s belly rumbled, and she stared at Marco with a new, deranged light in her eyes. “Hey, big guy, you think I could nibble on your arm a bit? It looks real lean and juicy. I could just… chomp down on it.” “Sorry to let you down, but I still need that arm.” Mili gnashed her teeth and tackled the old mobster. He didn’t budge an inch. “This is unfair! You’ve got enough fat stored in there to last you weeks.” Marco chuckled and pushed her away. “This