Opening

"Click." Li Yue gently locked the door. Holding a set of clean clothes and some underwear, she cast a minor spell to thoroughly eliminate the scent of blood lingering near the entrance. Her lips curled into a slight frown, a hint of weariness showing in her expression. The thought of the cliché plot developments that were likely to follow left her feeling restless and annoyed.

"Ah, Miss Li Yue, good morning." Helen happened to step out of her room at that moment. She appeared to have already changed into her attire for the celebration. Compared to her usual dark-colored palette, this outfit—dominated by warm orange-red tones—clashed quite noticeably with her typical temperament.

In truth, it was simply that Li Yue wasn't used to seeing her this way. She gave a casual wave as a morning greeting.

"Is Miss Clo not up yet? It seems she truly has been quite exhausted these past two days." Helen glanced at the room behind Li Yue. It was silent, yet she felt as though a terrifying aura was radiating from within, like countless tentacles reaching out to bind her. It was a visceral instinct of danger that made the hairs on her neck stand on end.

"Mhm, she was indeed forced to endure some... 'strenuous exercise' last night..." Li Yue's lip twitched slightly. She couldn't help but glance back at the room herself. Every detail of the scene she had just witnessed was etched into her memory, ready to be scrutinized whenever she wished.

"I was just about to remind her to change into today's celebration attire. The Royal Court has always placed great importance on autumn. It is the precursor to the deathly silence of winter and the moment when the fruit of life shines brightest. Everyone takes it very seriously, so..." Helen explained softly. She knew this deity of death would likely be dismissive, but she still felt compelled to explain as best she could.

"I understand. It's an important festival, but there's no need," Li Yue interrupted with a wave of her hand.

"You may dress as you please, of course, but Miss Clo..."

"She's sleeping in my room."

"Eh?"

"Don't go into Clo's room. Skip that step and move on to other things for now," Li Yue said as she started walking. She wanted to head to the dining hall for breakfast; the scene from earlier had actually made her a bit hungry. While most food couldn't truly satisfy her appetite, the feeling of fullness after eating could at least dull the symptoms of Hematomania triggered by the smell of blood.

"For example... have breakfast, enjoy the scenery, go chat with Mordred. In short, just stay away from Clo's room for now. Don't get yourself involved in trouble."

"Did... something happen in there?" Helen frowned slightly. The shadows in that room seemed to have deepened. She could feel a faint sense of suffocation growing heavier. This sensation forced her to become aware of her own breathing, shifting from unconscious autonomic respiration to conscious, shallow breaths.

"It's nothing major, really. Dmitry just died inside," Li Yue said casually, letting out a small yawn. "If it's discovered now, we'll probably be stuck in an endless, annoying interrogation. I'd rather finish my meal before that happens."

"It's not like we were the ones who killed him. Someone else is bound to be anxious about it," Li Yue added, stretching her limbs. She handed the clothes to Helen. "Leave these by the head of my bed. I'm going to eat."

...

A fork twirled through the spaghetti, thoroughly mixing the noodles with the sauce. The chefs here had prepared a wide variety of breakfast options, including some spicy dishes not typically suited for the morning and even some addictive herbs that were technically banned within the Royal Court. Li Yue had grown accustomed to such things.

She took a large bite, a slightly sweet flavor spreading through her mouth. She glanced at the various influential figures in the center of the dining hall. Among them, she spotted the young prince. At this moment, he likely had no idea that his elder brother had met a violent end; his relaxed expression suggested he was entirely oblivious.

And yet... Heh. Things were becoming interesting. If this was the case, perhaps he truly did have the qualifications to ascend the throne? No... still not enough. He was still lacking.

Li Yue signaled a servant, who silently took away her finished meal. After a moment's thought, she asked for a glass of the Royal Court's special brew. It was rumored to be infused with fresh deer blood, but the taste was honestly mediocre, making it unpleasant even for someone like Li Yue who didn't mind the scent of blood.

Were there really vampires with such bizarre tastes? Like those from old films... vampires who liked drinking garlic juice? That would be far too surreal.

Li Yue couldn't help but mock the thought inwardly. Bathed in the warm morning sunlight, she wandered through the gardens surrounding the castle. She looked toward the distant forest; no animals were visible even at the edges. It seemed they were truly terrified of the humans frequenting the area lately.

Li Yue lightly bit her nail. Through the layers of flower beds, she spotted Helen also wandering through the garden. Helen was avoiding something, just as she was. Li Yue decided to walk over; having two people together usually drew less suspicion.

"Is Clo still not awake?" Li Yue asked casually. Her gaze flickered toward the windows of the castle from time to time as if waiting for something. She let out a bored yawn. She felt nothing but weariness toward the events to come, like a viewer who had already been spoiled or a passerby who didn't care about the plot at all. Having flipped straight to the end at the very beginning, everything in the middle felt utterly tedious.

"She seemed to be sleeping... a bit too deeply," Helen recalled, remembering how faint the other woman's breathing had seemed. She wondered what had happened. Had Clo taken the full brunt of the poison's effects alone?

That guess felt a bit far-fetched, but then there were Miss Li Yue's words... Prince Dmitry, the one most likely to stage a coup, most likely to incite a riot and seize the throne—how could he possibly have died so easily?

"Aaaaaahhh!" A sharp scream shattered the morning silence. Li Yue let out a soft sigh.

"A trashy play begins," she said indifferently.