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Ray sat still. Her eyes widened in shock, and remained locked on the screen before her.
What exactly is going on? She thought. As she re-read the words that glowed from it.
She stood abruptly and began pacing back and forth. Her hands rose to her mouth, biting off the small fingers left.
An old habit she hadn't realized she carried into this world.
Not only did she have to get reengaged to Lucian, now she was given the mission to investigate the true cause of the disappearances.
"that wasn't part of the deal…" she muttered, she was already finding it difficult to seduce Lucian.
And now, she had to play detectives on a case even the authorities hadn't solved?
But why?
Her thoughts spiraled.
If I fail, what will become of me? She paused.
Her hands instinctively drifted towards her neck, as a sudden chill flowed through her spine.
Would I be beheaded? Sent back to die the same way Celestine originally did?
"No…no, calm down…" she whispered to herself, forcing her movement to a halt. Her gaze stopped at the screen again
CREATE A WORTHY ENDING.
A deep crease formed on her forehead. " A worthy ending," she repeated quietly. Slowly she tilted her head sideways. "What could a worthy ending mean for this system?"
Her heart slowly began to skip beats, as the words left her mouth. "Does it truly mean a happy ending?"
Knock knock.
The door creaked open, revealing a vibrant faced young girl. "My lady?" Gaia's voice came softly from the other side of the door.
She stepped in fully, closing the door gently behind her. "My lady… Madam Elara is quite upset," she began carefully." She didn't like that you interfered with the city guards earlier.
She's currently trying to smooth things over, but she says from now on your outings will be restricted. More escorts, stricter routes…"
Ray didn't hear a word.
Her eyes were still fixed on the translucent screen floating before her.
SUBMISSION: Discover the true cause of the disappearances.
FAILURE: to be determined.
She swallowed. The system had already placed her on a death row when it came to Lucian. What could possibly be worse than that?
….she didn't want to find out.
Now wasn't the time to question the system's strange rules of shifting decisions.The faster she solved this, the higher her chances of surviving. And survival came first.
Suddenly, Ray moved forward. She grabbed Gaia by the shoulders, startling her mid-sentence.
"My..my lady?" Gaia blinked in confusion.
"We need to go back to town," Ray said. Her voice was firm.
Gaia froze. "Town? But Madam Elara made it clear…"
"I know," Ray cut in, her grip tightening slightly. "But this is important."
Ray's eyes were sharp, glinting with determination.
"This could be a matter of life or death."
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"When was the last time you saw her?"
Lucian asked, his gaze was intense, his fingers were loosely clasped before him.
Beside him, Aziah stood with a small journal, carefully recording every word.
The viscountess inhaled shakily. She dabbed her eyes with a lace handkerchief, then spoke. "It was…that evening," she muttered. "Just before….dinner."
"Was she inside the estate at the time?" Lucian asked.
"Yes," she nodded quickly. "She was in her room. I remember because I sent a maid to call her but she said my niece had already gone out."
Lucian eyes narrowed slightly. "Gone out? At that hour?."
"She said she needed air." The viscountess replied, her voice held a tremble. "She's been restless lately."
Prince Erik's arm tightened slightly around her shoulders. "It is nothing unusual," he said, then added smoothly. "Young ladies often take walks to clear their minds."
Lucian's gaze shifted to him briefly, unreadable. "At dusk, near the first border?" He asked quietly.
There was a pause. The viscountess looked down at her lap. "I… I assumed so."
"Did she keep close company with anyone in particular?" Aziah asked, his tone measured.
A faint smile tugged at the viscountess's lips as she sniffed and wiped her nose with a handkerchief.
"My niece is a sweet girl. Loved by everyone around her. Kind hearted." Her voice softened for a moment.
"She often spent time with the young ladies from the Noble ladies' society… the Duke of Voss's daughter among them."
Then suddenly her expression tightened.
"But she was especially close to the Baron's daughter," she added, a trace of bitterness slipping into her voice.
Lucian leaned forward slightly. "You sound as though you did not approve of that friendship."
"Well…" she hesitated. "I don't hate the child, but…" her fingers twisted into.the fabric of her dress. "My niece and she had a falling out recently. I always believed it was unwise to grow close to those beneath one's standing, even among nobles, there are differences."
Aziah and Lucian exchanged a brief glance. Lucian leaned back. "Do you happen to know the cause of their disagreement?"
The viscountess answered at once, spite evident in her tone. "Jealousy, of course."
She let out a short scoff.
Lucian did not respond. Jealousy was the easiest answer, but often times the wrong ones.
"My niece is exceptionally beautiful. She had many suitors. A rumor spread that the man the Baron's daughter fancied had taken an interest in my niece instead. That is why she grew resentful."
Her lips trembled slightly. "But my niece insisted she barely knew the man."
"Oh, my poor niece!," the viscountess cried, "where on earth could she be?"
The viscountess's breathing grew even as she finished speaking. Her finger trembled in her lap, twisting the handkerchief.
Lucian caught on, and also Erik.
"I think the viscountess might need to rest." He said. Patting her hands, as she held onto him tightly.
Lucian held his gaze for a moment then nodded.
"Thank you for your cooperation," he said calmly, rising to his feet. Then slowly turned to Aziah. "We will continue at the location."
Aziah nodded, then closed his journal. The two men bowed before leaving the room. The sound of the viscountess's quiet sobs followed them out.