Mathilde's ultimate decision about what to do with that cabinet has been left in the ephemeral realm of the unstated, where headcanons and imaginations can flourish for the readers that are so inclined.
Hi.
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"Oh, Mathilde! You're back! So soon, and uninjured! I heard Johann was a mite singed, I'm so glad to see you well! But what is this? I thought you went looking for books!"
"Panoramia, my darling, you know that's only ever the cover story if everyone *thinks* they know why I am doing something! Here, let me just get these... chests... In, and there we go, door closed, and [privacy assured].
"So there I was, deep in the bowels of the wreck I made of Castle Drakenhof the last time we tangled. Covered in bits of bowel from a brisk little ambush where I added a second stirogi skull to the collection and kindly provided a way for the celestial magisters to get in on the giant skull-chair game. And as I strode-"
"Strutted, more like, it sounds."
"Shush you! I'm telling a story! And I'm clean now so you sit down and let me sit.... Ah. Where was I? Oh yes- as I slunk about the tunnels shoving books into my bag I got to thinking. 'Mathilde,' I said to myself, 'you've got a really nice girl waiting for you back in your nice mountain tower, and you haven't gotten her a gift for when you come home! So what would my little Panpan- ouch, hey!- what would that shameless hussy from the college of- ow! Ow! Ow! Ok!"
"You going to play nice now?"
"No promises. So, what can one get in a dank ruin that really says passion and powerful ghyran? Behold!"
"Mathilde, what did you bring me? And before you answer, consider that sitting on me has some already demonstrated vulnerabilities."
"No, I actually do think you'll like this. See, of all the vampire stories and all the horror, there's the classic love story where von Carstin first married into the empire's nobility, leading one to consider: one of the most famous sex-nests ever built was in that castle. And I found it."
"You mean!?! Ok, up! Now I absolutely must look. Let's see... Silk? Raw silk?"
"Bedsheets. Giant silk bedsheets with a history, freshly cleansed."
"Oh how naughty!"
"That's the least of the three surprises. Look underneath."
"Three? ...oh. Oh! OH. Oh goodness, thats generously proportioned for a small horse! And this harness would just go on like this... So many options! Whips and paddles and... Is that a set of Knight's spurs? It is! Looks brettonian, do you see how there's spiked wheels that turn at the ends? I wonder what they used them for! Surely not simply playing knight and dragon, there's such better gear for evoking that! Here, even.
"But I seem to recall you saying you had three surprises for me. And believe me, I'm very much looking forward to enjoying the first two. So, what's the third?"
"Well, there were the sheets, the cabinet full of toys... And some very lacy bits of nothing, the best example of which I've got on under my robes right now. Would you like to see?"
