Sacrifice at the Tea Room

While Rhine Green was single-handedly battling the sorcerers downstairs, Audrey’s situation was far from optimistic. It was much like the stark difference between playing a horror game with a weapon and playing it unarmed.

“Significant commotion seems to be coming from downstairs,” Audrey murmured. “The imposters’ attention has been diverted, but I wonder how many of them have arrived this time…”

Audrey, having found a random room to hide in, waited until the hurried footsteps outside had passed. Only then did she peer through the crack in the door before finally pushing it open and slipping out.

‘To my recollection, the most valuable things our family possesses are art pieces. For a mere robbery or kidnapping, there would be no need for such elaborate measures, no reason to specifically disguise themselves as servants. Moreover, the commotion surrounding the recent assassination attempt on Daniel hasn’t yet subsided…’

‘Therefore, their objective must be a decapitation strike, targeting a descendant of the Cavendish family.’

With her astute mind, Audrey quickly pieced together the full scope of the situation.

‘Undoubtedly, they are in league with the mastermind behind a series of recent events, even having direct ties to King Duran. Knowing they are after us, they must intend to use Cavendish blood as a sacrifice to appease King Duran. Only then can King Duran unleash the beast tide, overcoming the obstacles of our family’s seal to its fullest extent.’

At just sixteen years old, the young woman possessed a maturity and rationality far beyond her age.

The immediate priority was to relay news of the situation. Leaving through the main gate was clearly unrealistic. Scaling a wall? What if enemy scouts were waiting outside? Sounding an alarm? The entire mansion had already been overrun.

Yet, the safety of her siblings weighed heavily on her heart, burning with anxiety. After careful consideration, she decided to seek out Colette first.

‘Daniel and Chris are currently on the third floor, with a good number of guards nearby, so their danger isn’t too great. Colette, however, is still in the tea room, accompanied by only a single maid. That is truly too perilous.’

‘I must reach her and warn her before the enemies find her.’

She jogged continuously through the corridors, arriving at the tea room door. After glancing left and right to ensure she hadn’t been noticed, Audrey pulled the door open.

Stepping inside, her foot landed on something viscous. Her heart lurched, and she slowly looked down to find a fresh, crimson pool of blood.

Instantly, a wave of dread surged within her, peaking as a scarlet magical projectile hurtled directly towards her face. Just then, a hand abruptly yanked her aside, allowing her to narrowly evade the attack.

“My lady, you shouldn’t have come.”

The green-haired maid, clutching a metal handgun, fired a shot at the sorcerer, who lay gasping his last breath in the room. “My lady, you shouldn’t have come,” she wheezed.

Her long green hair was disheveled, and her maid’s uniform was irregularly torn in several places. A shocking wound on her left arm still bled profusely, and her face was a picture of weak pallor.

“Lora, what happened here? Where is Colette?”

“Sister, I’m fine, it’s just Lora…” Colette, kneeling on the floor, covered her mouth, appearing on the verge of tears. “She took the sorcerer’s attack for me, Sister, quickly, call a doctor! Do you know where the doctor is?”

Seeing Audrey’s hesitant expression, Lora immediately understood. She swayed as she stood, then extended her right arm to pull the door shut.

“The mansion is no longer safe,” Audrey stated calmly. “They are here for us.”

“I understand, My Lady,” Lora replied. “I no longer have the strength to fight. They will discover this place soon. Please, take good care of the Young Miss.”

“Wait, Lora, what are you saying? What do you mean? You’re bleeding, you should first…” Colette’s voice trembled, filled with disbelief.

“Colette, you must go with My Lady. The gunshot was too loud; they will be here in about three minutes. I can buy you some time by staying here.”

“No, you have to come with us! Why must you stay behind?!”

“Because you are my Young Miss, and I am your maid. From the day our contract was signed, I was prepared for this.”

Lora’s tone was gentle yet resolute.

“No… that’s no reason at all… I don’t understand! Aren’t you only twenty-four? Didn’t you say you still wanted to travel?”

Colette’s mental state was highly unstable, teetering on the edge of hysteria at any moment. This was utterly unlike her usual elegant and virtuous demeanor.

“Those are matters for another time, My Lady Colette.”

Lora offered a gentle smile, her expression betraying no trace of pain or fear.

“Audrey, I entrust My Lady to you. Take her far away.”

“…Thank you. She is my sister, too.”

Without further delay, Audrey accepted Lora’s plea. She then firmly pulled Colette by the shoulders, away from the door and towards the window.

“Behave, Colette, come with me!”

“No, Sister, you don’t understand anything! Why must I be protected by you? Why would even my maid betray me?!”

“Sister… I don’t know what you’re talking about, but there’s no time left.”

Faintly, more than one set of footsteps could be heard from beyond the door. They drew closer, their approach a grim tolling, like the bells of death itself.

[Hypnotic Mind]

Audrey cupped Colette’s agitated, contorted face, meeting her gaze directly. A wave of azure magical energy emanated from Audrey’s eyes, shimmering as if starlight stirred within them.

Before long, Colette’s resistance weakened, and she drifted into a hazy, semi-conscious state.

[Listen to me, Sister, come with me. Your maid will be fine.]

After the psychological suggestion, Colette quickly ceased her resistance, nodding slightly in submission.

Poor Audrey. In her desperation, she had resorted to a method she detested, using hypnosis and deception on her beloved sister.

She glanced back at Lora, who was gritting her teeth against the tearing pain in her left arm as she meticulously loaded rounds into her handgun. Lora’s expression remained impassive, as if she were simply performing her duty, nothing more.

Estimating the height of the second floor outside the window, Audrey realized that leaping from over four meters would not be a wise choice. While it might not be life-threatening, she certainly wouldn’t be able to escape far.

Gritting her teeth, she snatched the expensive vase from the windowsill and smashed it, sending sharp fragments scattering across the floor. She picked up a piece, then stood on tiptoe to cut through the broad curtain fabric. Quickly, she tied a knot at the window, giving it a tug to ensure it wouldn’t come loose.

Audrey pulled Colette to the window, roughly binding her securely with the curtain fabric. Then, with a forceful shove, she pushed her out the window.

The semi-conscious Colette tumbled violently in the curtain for several turns before landing with a soft thud in the garden’s bushes. Aside from an indistinct “Owooh,” she appeared unharmed.

Audrey’s lips pressed into a thin line. She cast one last, lingering glance at Lora, feeling a profound sense of guilt. She was powerless to change the situation, forced to leave Lora in peril to protect her sister. Or perhaps, she simply didn’t know what to say, her words failing to convey the depth of her emotions.

Lora, however, merely watched them go, accepting her chosen fate with composure. She gently shook her head, not uttering a single superfluous word.

Finally, Audrey grasped the curtain and leapt from the windowsill herself.

She hastily took her sister’s hand and fled through the garden. From the windowsill, three gunshots rang out, then silence, and no further sound was heard.