When wandering aimlessly about Lakeside Manor, it was easy to fully appreciate just how large it was. With its many hallways and seemingly endless number of doors that lead off to Celestia only knows where. One's time can quickly slip away.
Rarity found that with Constance, that wasn't the case. While she and Applejack had only a faint notion of where they were in relation to the rest of the estate, Constance knew exactly where they were at any moment.
That wasn't to say that his extensive knowledge of his own home made their trip any shorter, far from it. Without needing to worry about getting lost and with the entire day ahead of them, he took his time leading her through the halls. He talked about whatever came to mind, barely stopping long enough to take a breath before setting off on another thought.
Rarity didn't mind small talk in fact she rather enjoyed it thanks to her time in Canterlot. To be able to talk about absolutely nothing for extended periods of time without coming across as dull or boring was an ability all High Society ponies possessed if not excelled at.
But as she listened to Constance talk she found that unlike the other High Society ponies she had met and conversed with, ones who had nothing truly interesting to say but continued to speak regardless, Constance always had a story.
Whether it was a story from his childhood involving her father or one of his many adventures prior to and after finding his fortune, she found herself hanging on every word he spoke, sometimes not even listening to the words just the sound of his voice as he recounted his tales.
"A more interesting pony I have never met." She silently mused to herself. She allowed her eyes to wander to his face, the joyful glint in his eye and his wide smile setting her heart fluttering, as she simply watched him. As such she barely noticed when he looked down to her and appeared to be asking a question.
Rarity blinked dumbly as she came back to the present just in time to hear his last few words.
"...and Scyphos just shot her." He shook his head with a strange smile. "It was weird."
Rarity assumed that had she heard the full story those last few words would have made sense, but out of context they only disturbed her. "Quite." she said simply.
He smiled down at her again before looking ahead. "Ah here we are."
Rarity glanced around, seeing as they were indeed in the library. While smaller than both Canterlot's and The Crystal Empire's royal libraries, Lakesides was no less impressive. Wall to wall book shelves stretched from the ground floor to the third floor. Each floor sported a landing with a small table and several cushioned arm chairs, while a ornate spiral staircase ran up the center of the room, leading to each landing.
Coming to the railing they both looked down to the first floor where they could see Twilight seated amidst a pile of books and Rainbow Dash excitedly checking every nook and cranny.
"C'mon Twi, help me out." Rainbow Dash said with a pleading look to Twilight, who only ignored it.
"I told you Rainbow." Twilight said, not even bothering to look up from the book floating in front of her. "I've been on every floor and didn't see anything Wonderbolts related."
"So Constance lied to me?!" Rainbow said in shock.
"Come now, Miss Dash." Constance said as he unfurled his wings and flew down to land beside her. "While I love to tell stories I would never lie, especially to a guest." Rarity listened intently as she took the stairs and followed after him.
"Then where's the displays?"
Constance's' eye sparkled with excitement while his voice mirrored it. "I'll show you." He casually walked over to one of the bookshelves and pulled on a specific book just at eye level. There was a loud sound of gears turning and a low rumble as the bookshelf slid back several feet before sinking into the floor, revealing a somewhat spacious hidden room.
"Wow." Rainbow said in a breathless tone as she walked into the room. Five mannequins lined each wall while three glass cases occupied the rooms center.
“Feel free to read through the manuals. I particularly enjoyed Commander Easygliders personal notes.”
"That's really fascinating." said Twilight with quick glance from behind her book as Rainbow Dash entered the room. "Are there other hidden rooms?"
Constance nodded. "The house is riddled with them though I myself only know of a hoofful." He offered a chair to Rarity across from Twilight who graciously accepted it with a smile. "At one time, Scyphos made it a goal to discover every hidden room." Constance pulled up another chair beside Rarity's and likewise sat down.
"Did he manage to find them all?" asked Rarity.
"Last he said anything he was still looking." Constanced replied, leaning back in his chair. "Personally I don't think he'll ever find them all." He idly gazed upward as his eye slowly narrowed. "Perhaps its best some things go unfound"
“Why do you say that?” Rarity asked, slightly confused by his words.
“No pony knows exactly when Lakeside Manor was built but the earliest records of it date back to just after the Princesses revolution.” Twilight said suddenly, lowering her book and looking at both Rarity and Constance. "Settlers found the mansion shortly after Discord was defeated. According to what I read, the house appeared old even then."
“Twilight.” Rarity said with a quizzical glance towards her friend. “Just how much do you know about the manor?”
Twilight shrugged. “Not much. I found a book written by a Professor Keaton of the Canterlot University that detailed much of the manor and surrounding lands history.”
Constance chuckled. “I remember him.” He said with a smile. “Nice fellow.” He winked at Rarity. “Couldn't hold his liquor.” A thought seemed to strike him and he leaned forward in his chair and looked at Twilight with a suspicious look. “And if I recall, Professor Keaton wrote a rather lengthy manuscript. When exactly did you read this?”
Twilight looked back at him in confusion. “This morning, why?”
Constance let out a low whistle as he fell back in his chair. “Colour me impressed.”
Rarity tittered at Constance's reaction. “Twilight here holds the Equestrian record for most books read in a twenty-four hour period.” She informed him. “As well as the record for fastest time reading a book with complete comprehension.”
Rarity giggled again when Constance's jaw dropped and he looked at Twilight, utterly dumbfounded. “Seriously?”
Twilight nodded. “Yeah though I wasn't trying for the record. Princess Celestia had planned to give me an exam by the end of the week so I spent the entire week leading up to it getting ready.” She smiled proudly. “I aced it.”
Constance managed to close his mouth before responding. “Exactly...what are these records?”
“Eighty-eight books of 100,000 words or more in twenty-four hours and ten minutes for a book consisting of 50,000 words or more.” said Twilight, returning to the book in front of her.
With Twilight lost once more in her book, Constance turned towards Rarity in the hopes of further explanation but Rarity could only laugh at Constance's expression.
“I had the same look when the Record Ponies showed up in town looking for Twilight.” Rarity said with another giggle. “I'm told I appeared to have fallen into a comatose state.” She looked away and waved a hoof dismissively. “The memories are a little foggy, I'm afraid.” She looked back at Constance suddenly. “Oh which reminds me. Didn't you have a question for Twilight?”
Constance gave a start. “Huh? Oh right I did didn't I?” He cleared his throat. “Twilight I have a question If you would care to provide an answer.”
Twilight raised a hoof in a ‘just one second’ motion before marking her place in the book and placing it on a side table beside her chair. “Sure."
“Since you've read Professor Keaton's manuscript is it safe to say you've also read Doctor Oros’s study on Occult Magic?”
Twilight seemed to think for a moment. “Yes I remember that book, I found it in my dad's study when I was about five or six.”
Constance seemed to struggle to keep himself composed. “I'll gloss over that. Anyhow, do you recall the chapter discussing residual Daemon aura’s?”
Twilight's eyes lit up with interest. “I do! Oros proposal that demonic energies not only exist in our plane but can maintain a presence even after the source vanishes by tainting a planar matter form was extremely fascinating.”
Rarity could have swore that some of those words were made up.
“Ah then you hold the theories of extraplanar demonic beings crossing over as truth then?” asked Constance, leaning forward.
“Well while I specialize in magical sciences, I did look into planar physics as well as spiritual summoning during my first year of school. My findings on both subjects point to the aspect of daemons crossing the planes feasible if not true.”
Rarity could feel her head beginning to hurt as she tried to make sense of what Twilight had just said.
“What are your thoughts on so called demonic possessions of a living entity?”
“Well if we hold to the theory that deamons are indeed the opposite of spirits then we can also propose that based on the habits and abilities of spirits, that deamons would also posses the same abilities to a greater or lesser extent.”
“I agree though I have no experience in summoning.” He fluttered his wings in emphasis. “For obvious reasons.”
Twilight nodded in agreement. “Do be honest you have more knowledge of spiritualism and ritualism than anypony else I've talked to.” She paused for a moment. “Well not including the Princesses.”
“Call it a hobby of mine.” Constance said with a grin. “Otherworldly beings have always fascinated me ever since I was young.”
“Um...Twilight?” Interrupted Rarity. “Wheres Fluttershy?” She looked around the library hoping to find the shy Pegasus.
“Oh I was taking too long so she went up to the garden without me.” Said Twilight. “I told her I'd meet up with her later.”
“I see.” Rarity said simply.
“Getting back on topic, have you read about the recent findings on spiritual artifacts appearing at random locations on specific day?”
Constance shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Recently I have had little time for in depth reading. Who conducted the study?"
A group of Unicorns from Manehatton. They spent three years traveling Equestria, following the various shifts in magical energies. It's quite fascinating.
“I shall certainly have to look into this.” Constance said, getting to his hooves. “Thank you for answering my question, I won't bother you further.” He said with a slight bow.
“Wasn't a bother at all, I always enjoy having an conversation on obscure topics.” Twilight said with a smile before losing herself in her book.
“Now.” Constance said as he turned to Rarity and offered her a hoof. “Would you like to accompany me to the alchemical garden?”
Rarity blinked three times before she realized that Constance was addressing her. “Sorry but was there even a question in that discussion?”
Constance smiled. “Not the most glamorous topic I know but I promise you'll enjoy the gardens.” He winked slyly at Rarity. “Shall we?”
Rarity looked to him then to his outstretched hoof before smiling. “Yes, let's.” She took his hoof as he helped her from her chair. “Rainbow Dash!” Called out Constance. “Rarity and I are going to the gardens, would you like to accompany us?”
A second passed before the faint voice of Rainbow Dash came from the exhibit room. “Not a chance!”
“OK then, enjoy yourself.” He said happily before leading Rarity back to the stairs she had taken earlier. They took the staircase up to the fourth floor where Constance indicated which hallway would take them to the garden before leading the way.
“I had no idea you had an interest in magical sciences.” Rarity said once they were a few steps into the hall.
“My mother was a Unicorn so I was always around magic when I was growing up.” Constance said. “If you can believe it I wanted to attend Magic Summer Camp instead of Summer Flight School.” He sighed sadly. “It broke my heart when mom sat me down one day and told me that my dreams of being a wizard would never come true.”
Rarity gave him a saddened look. ”That's dreadful.”
He began to chuckle to himself. “It wasn't all bad.” He looked down at her with a large smile on his face. “I got a wizard hat for my birthday that year.”
Rarity also began to chuckle. “I would have liked to see that.”
Constance's smile only grew larger. “Well you're in luck, I just so happen to still have that same hat.” He looked away sheepishly. “Granted it's a little small for my big head but that's beside the point.”
“Well you're in luck.” Replied Rarity. She lengthened her strides so that she was slightly ahead of Constance, allowing her to glance back at him. “Resizing a hat is a simple matter for a Unicorn with fabric and sewing knowledge.”
Constance’s entire face seemed to brighten as he came to a stop. “That honestly never occurred to me.” He looked back down the hall in the direction of the library. “Do you think Twilight would be willing to resize it?”
Rarity frowned. “I was actually referring to...” She trailed off when Constance looked back at her with a playful grin on his face. “Oh.” She said simply upon seeing the look on his face.
Constance began to laugh. “I'm sorry.” He said once his laughter had abated. “Couldn't resist.”
Rarity shook her head as they resumed walking. “I assume Scyphos doesn't have the same reaction?”
“That's an understatement.” Constance said with another laugh. “I've seen rocks with a better sense of humor than him.” He grinned mischievously when a thought struck him. “In fact there was this one time when...”
Constance set off into a another story, this one of a Griffon banquet he had attended. She merely smiled in contentment, enjoying his presence as well as the sound of his voice as they walked through the winding halls of his magnificent home.