The garden was colder than I remembered, which was strange because I was pretty sure near-death experiences were supposed to warm you up with adrenaline. Apparently not.
Clara, Sylvia, and I arrived just in time to see Orion being escorted toward the open garden area by a group of very serious-looking elvian guards. You'd think he was some sort of royal hostage. But then again, given recent events… maybe we all were.
The moment Orion saw us, he looked like someone just told him tea time had been extended indefinitely.
"Thank the gods," he muttered with relief, rushing toward us. "I've been asking these guards to bring you three here, but they kept saying they were 'on it.' Whatever that means." He shook his head, rubbing his temple. "They've caught someone tampering with the mansion's ventilation system. We've been asked to stay out here until further notice."
"Yeah," I said, offering a smile that didn't reach my eyes. "We found a Viperine Core in the pipe leading to the artifact that ventilates my room."
He stopped walking. Literally just froze, one foot off the ground like he glitched out mid-stride. "What…?"
"It was an assassination attempt," I added, lightly. You know. Like one does.
Sylvia stepped in beside me, her voice calm but sharp. "If we were even a little late, the other rooms might've been poisoned too. We stopped it just in time."
Orion turned pale. No poetic exaggeration, he genuinely looked like someone had drained him dry. And for once, he didn't sound like a polished noble. "Wait....what?" he asked, more to himself than anyone.
A second later, he snapped out of it. "No. No waiting. I'm done with this cursed mansion. We need to speak to Eldrin and leave immediately. I'm not risking anyone's life here, not anymore."
It was… strange seeing Orion like this. Less like the son of a Duke, and more like a regular guy who just realized this trip was booked on the Assassination Express. For once, he sounded less like a noble and more like a worried father.
He stormed off toward the edge of the garden, completely ignoring the guards who were supposed to keep us corralled in this open-air safety pen.
Right then, his three ministers were being led into the garden by their own guard escorts. The moment they greeted Orion, he didn't even wait.
"We're putting pressure on sir Eldrin. We'll force our way in if we have to. We leave this place tonight. This mansion is no longer safe."
The ministers blinked, clearly not expecting that, but gave quick nods anyway. One of them looked like he was about to faint. Fair. Same, buddy.
But just as Orion took another step, two elvian guards in full armor, decorated, pristine, and way too smug for my taste, blocked his path. These guys looked important. Like "we-don't-care-who-you-are" levels of important.
"Esteemed guests," one of them said with a bow that somehow felt like an insult. "We apologize for the inconvenience. But we cannot allow anyone to return to the mansion. Everyone is being escorted here, including the staff and head of the mansion Lord Eldrin himself. We ask for your patience."
Polite words. Very impolite tone. You know that voice people use when they're clearly not giving you a choice? Yeah, that one.
I didn't say anything. Neither did Clara or Sylvia. Which was probably for the best. Orion looked like he was one breath away from flipping a table, if only one had been nearby.
He kept pacing by the garden entrance like a lion in a cage. Tension rolled off him like steam.
Finally, Lord Eldrin appeared, escorted by another set of guards from the left wing of the mansion. A very composed entrance. Too composed.
Clara leaned in from behind me, her voice a whisper only I could hear. "There were no lights near the left wing earlier. How did the guards keep watch in complete darkness?"
An excellent question.
I frowned but didn't answer. Mostly because I didn't know. The whole mansion was starting to feel less like a safehouse and more like a trap.
Orion didn't wait for polite greetings.
"Sir Eldrin," he barked, "the 'inconvenience' your guards mention is an assassination attempt. Whether you believe it or not, we need to evacuate. Either you let us into the kingdom now, or we leave to our land on our own. We're not staying here another night."
Eldrin stroked his beard. A calm motion. Too calm. It was like we weren't all almost murdered in our sleep.
"I understand," he said finally. "I will arrange your departure. Let us head into the kingdom. The permit for your entry has already been sent, bearing my signature. Lord Hugo and I finalized the deal earlier."
Eldrin raised his hand in that all-too-serene way of his, eyes glowing faintly gold.
"But before the traveling escort performs its duty," he said, his voice smooth as chilled wine, "let us first attempt to locate the perpetrator."
His irises flickered, gold brightening...then… nothing. Literally nothing happened. I glanced at Clara, then Sylvia. Even Orion blinked as if expecting some dramatic magical fireworks. But nope.
"I have surrounded the entire mansion with compressed air," Eldrin continued, not seeming at all embarrassed about the whole no-light-show situation. "While it does not stop the culprit from escaping, it will delay them enough for my guards to intervene."
Right. Magic tripwire, invisible edition.
I narrowed my eyes and tapped the inside of my palm.
Eldrin's mana control is at 133% on the human scale. Yeah, I know. Sounds like someone cheating on a test where the pass mark is already absurd. I remember seeing the figures back in the castle's library. Inspect showed me many details related to the theories I studied in the books. (Which it usually does.)
On the elvian scale, his mana control is around 54%.
Now, for context, the minimum required control for an elf to actually manipulate nature or do fancy elemental magic is 45%. So, yeah, of course he can use magic. Nature's favorite children and all that.
{ Please check the "History I Didnot Create" Chapter for better understanding of the details}
But seriously—54%? Elves are so overpowered it makes me want to file a complaint with the gods.
Before I could finish mentally writing a letter to the universe's balance department, a couple of guards came running in from the outer yard. One of them was visibly out of breath, the other one practically glowing with self-importance.
"The Viperine Core has been successfully detoxified," the lead one said, standing upright. "We attempted to detect lingering mana frequency, but the resonance failed. It refused to respond to elvian frequency. It's unlikely the perpetrator is elvian."
There was a pause.
A long one.
Eldrin turned to Orion, slowly. Like someone who already knew the unpleasantness he was about to say and still decided to say it with a smile.
"Lord Orion," Eldrin began, polite as ever. "We elves are capable of resonating our mana when we match the frequencies. The inability to connect with the residual traces on the Viperine Core suggests one of two things. Either the culprit is of a different race, or they are exceptionally capable at cloaking their mana."
I could already see where this was heading. And from the twitch in Orion's brow, so could he.
"However," Eldrin continued smoothly, "such cloaking, on this level, has a low probability. I am afraid, therefore, the culprit is likely to be… human. And as far as I recall, the only humans in this mansion are from your entourage."
Boom. Diplomatic stab, right to the ribcage.
Orion opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
When he finally spoke, it was the verbal equivalent of grasping at straws. "W-Wait. But if the cloaking was too perfect, doesn't that mean it must be an elf? Elves are… you know, good at mana control and all—"
Eldrin's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"I just said," he replied patiently, "the mana frequencies did not resonate. It is not a matter of skill. It is a matter of race. The frequency is foreign. It is not elvian."
Right. Orion missed the key detail. Happens.
To his credit, Orion recovered fast.
"We'll figure it out after we leave this cursed place. Let's focus on the preparations. We should depart now."
That's when Eldrin gave the real kicker.
"With a potential culprit among your carriages?" he asked, tone still calm but layered in that unmistakable 'no' that nobles love to dress up in ribbons. "I cannot, in good faith, permit your group entry into our kingdom."
My fingers curled at that. I didn't like where this was going. At all.
"We must first identify the perpetrator and subject them to the necessary… inquiries," Eldrin said. "If that cannot be done, I'm afraid you will need to return to your own lands, settle your disputes among yourselves and come back only when the danger has been dealt with."
Well.
This day just kept getting better and better.
I turned to Sylvia, lowering my voice just a notch.
"Lady Sylvia, can you do me a favor?"
She tilted her head ever so slightly, silver hair catching a faint gleam of light. "Yes? What is it, Lord Hugo?"
"If we manage to convince your father to temporarily keep our entourage here at the mansion," I said, "there's a chance sir Eldrin might agree to only taking House Orion and Falcon into Elvian land."
That was the bare minimum of what I wanted to say. But Sylvia wasn't just Grade S- for flair. She caught on immediately.
"I will do my best," she replied, already adjusting her tone and posture like a seasoned diplomat.
I gave a short nod and then stepped forward toward the two figures still standing stiffly apart, one cloaked in years of political experience, the other in barely restrained anxiety.
"Sir Eldrin, Lord Orion," I said, offering a courteous bow of my head, "I'd like to have a word with you both."
Eldrin's gaze shifted, always calmly evaluative. "Of course, Lord Hugo. What is it?"
I glanced toward the left wing of the mansion, then back at him. "Sir Eldrin, perhaps you didn't notice while you were in your chambers, but there was no light in the left wing tonight. Meaning… the security in that section was rather lacking."
Eldrin's golden eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you implying the security lapse was intentional?"
"Not at all," I said quickly, raising a palm. "I merely point out that the sudden disappearance of staff from the main guest hall, whatever the cause may be, coupled with a Viperine Core somehow getting through all the guard checks, strongly suggests the assassination attempt was premeditated."
I let that hang in the air for a beat before continuing.
"And considering our entourage was the only target, while no abnormality was reported in that vulnerable left wing, I believe this wasn't just a random attempt... it was orchestrated."
Eldrin stroked his beard thoughtfully, the elf version of a dramatic sigh.
"So, to simplify," he said, "you are asking that we share responsibility… rather than pinning the blame on your human group, despite the fact that no elf is involved in this unfortunate event?"
"Pinning blame was never my intent, sir Eldrin," I replied smoothly. "I just believe both of our sides should handle this with equal accountability. Let's give each other another chance."
"Another chance?" Eldrin echoed.
Sylvia stepped in, voice clear and measured. "Yes. We will request the mansion guards to continue investigating. But we cannot afford to delay our schedule."
She met her father's eyes.
"Since the target of this attempt was my father, Lord Hugo, and his maid, we believe the four of us are at least out of suspicion. We ask permission to proceed to the Merchant Guild in the Elvian Kingdom, under full scrutiny, if necessary."
Damn, she was good. That was exactly what I needed her to say.
"As for the rest of our crew," she continued, now turning to Lord Orion, "since they remain your primary suspects, Father, I suggest we allow them to stay behind in the mansion under supervision. Once cleared of suspicion, they may rejoin us in the Kingdom."
Orion didn't speak.
I expected at least a twitch of protest. Some narrowing of the eyes. A fatherly grunt.
But… nothing.
It was like he'd silently handed over the reins to his daughter. Huh. Did something happen between them?
Eldrin folded his arms. "So… your idea of shared responsibility is to entrust my guards with scrutiny while leaving your personnel in their hands?"
Sylvia didn't even flinch. "Is that not enough?"
There was a moment of silence. Then Eldrin turned his gaze toward me, his golden eyes scanning me. Then he turned to Orion.
"Your daughter speaks with clarity and reason," he said. "Shall we proceed this way, Lord Orion?"
Orion nodded after a beat. "The idea seems logical. If we work together, we can resolve this matter more efficiently."
Right on cue, a guard jogged over and gave a formal salute.
"The entourage you requested has been prepared, Lord Eldrin. We await your command to depart."
Eldrin raised a hand slightly. "Have we received any reply to the letter I sent?"
The guard shook his head. "Not yet, my lord. As always, we can expect it tomorrow."
Eldrin's lips thinned. "We cannot keep our guests in limbo that long. Let us proceed at once."
And just like that, we were being escorted toward the carriages—me, Clara, Sylvia, and Orion. The chilly night air didn't feel quite so cold anymore, though that could've been the adrenaline still lingering from the whole 'possible mass assassination' thing.
As Orion passed his ministers, he paused.
"The guards suspect the culprit may be human," he told them with quiet authority. "They've requested a scrutiny unit to verify it. Stay here until they arrive. We'll regroup in Elvian Kingdom once the suspicion is cleared."
The head minister bowed slightly. "Good luck at the Merchant Guild, my lord. We may not be with you, but our hopes are."
Orion gave a solemn nod and climbed into the carriage.
As I climbed into the carriage, my gaze instinctively turned back.
The mansion loomed behind us, all majestic and elegant, like a perfectly groomed liar.
I narrowed my eyes at it, letting the silence settle for a second.
"If one of our crew really did it," I muttered, "how the hell did the Viperine Core even get past scrutiny in the forest?"
My words weren't meant for anyone, really. Just one of those thoughts you throw into the wind.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, Sylvia was right behind me.
"That's… a good point," she said, her voice tightening.
"Maybe one of the servants hid it well… or…" Her eyes widened suddenly. "Or the Elvian guard lied."
That gave me a moment's pause. I turned to her.
She wasn't done.
"If the latter is true…" she whispered, "then wouldn't that mean we're in danger traveling with them?"
The carriage door clicked shut behind us. We settled into our seats as the wheels began to turn.
Sylvia's brows were still knitted, her usually composed expression now troubled.
I leaned back, letting my head rest against the carriage wall.
"It's less likely that the elves did it," I said aloud, more to reassure her than convince myself. "If they wanted us gone, they could've just rejected our entry and sent us home. Nice and clean."
I crossed one leg over the other, arms folded.
"But one thing's for sure," I added, glancing outside again. "Without someone from the mansion staff involved, this entire attempt would've been damn near impossible."
The trees blurred past in the moonlight as we left the estate grounds behind.
Then right before the turn that would hide the mansion from view, I looked back one last time.
And that's when it hit me.
Like an elegant slap to the face.
My lips parted slightly. My mind spun through details like a librarian chasing a drunk raccoon through the archives.
How did I miss this?
I sat back again, this time slower, more deliberate.
And smiled.
A slow, casual, almost smug smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.
Sylvia noticed first.
"Lord Hugo?" she asked.
Clara was watching too, eyes sharp as ever.
They were both staring at me like I'd just solved a puzzle they didn't even know existed.
Believing that shacking off ashen from behind my ass put me out of danger made me lose the track of bigger picture.
The events I had arbitrarily thought of while fantasizing about this story were all given meaning here... There is a sequence of events that has been planned for what will happen, and I am underestimating them.
I paid the price once, not again.