She let out a small laugh when she saw the cause of the rustling.
A frog. Just a stupid, plump frog sitting like it owned the entire estate.
"Scared the crap outta me…" Lily muttered, brushing her bangs out of her face. She snapped a photo of the white lilies anyway, whispering to herself, "Might need that for phone wallpaper or whatever."
Shaking off the unease, she adjusted the box under her arm and continued walking. Her legs were starting to ache, and this mansion was starting to feel like a haunted museum. Where was this "first cottage" again?
She rounded a corner… and gasped.
The inside of the Del Mundo mansion stood before her like something out of a dark, cinematic fantasy. Massive glass pillars, walls lined with collectible action figures in custom glass displays, each lit with its own spotlight.
In the middle of the grand living room stood a massive tower made entirely of playing cards, shaped like a damn palace.
"Is this… a hobby or a coping mechanism?" Lily whispered.
Her feet carried her toward the card structure like a moth to a dangerously rich flame. She was admiring a figurine of a sword-wielding anime character when—
CLACK.
The sound of the front door unlocking behind her echoed through the marble halls like a gunshot. She jumped and spun around, still holding the ginseng tea.
A man entered.
Black gloves. Black mask. Black trench coat. Black aura.
And a long silver baton gripped tightly in his hand.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked, voice cold and low like distant thunder.
She stammered, "I-I'm sorry—I was just—I'm an intern from the hospital! I was supposed to give—"
But it was too late.
Startled, she took a step back and her heel caught the edge of the rug.
CRASH.
The entire 15-year-old card castle crumbled in slow motion.
Cards scattered like fallen feathers.
Time froze.
Then it snapped.
"YOU." His voice cracked with rage. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU JUST DID?"
She flinched. "I didn't mean—"
He lunged.
His hand grabbed her arm—tight, furious, trembling.
And then... everything stopped.
His breathing hitched.
His pupils dilated.
His grip loosened.
"No…" he whispered, staggering back.
"No no no no—fuck—"
He clutched his chest, then his neck. His body trembled as his knees buckled. Lily stood frozen as panic surged through her.
"Oh my God—are you okay?! What's happening?!"
Raphael fumbled through his coat and pulled out a small injector. His hands were shaking too hard. He dropped it.
Lily dove forward, grabbed the injector, and popped the cap off with her teeth like a damn emergency nurse.
"Hold still!" she said, voice cracking.
She jabbed the injector into his arm. His breathing slowed. The redness that had started to creep up his neck stopped mid-spread.
He collapsed backwards onto the cold marble, panting.
A long, tense silence.
Then…
"Get. Out." His voice was quiet. Deadly.
Lily froze.
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!" he roared.
His baton cracked against the floor as he rose to his feet, trembling with fury. "You're banned from this estate. If I see you again, I'll—"
He didn't finish the sentence.
She dropped the box of ginseng tea, eyes wide with fear, and bolted out of the mansion.
The door slammed shut behind her.
And Raphael stood alone… surrounded by the ruins of his card palace.