Chương 99: Chapter 92: Unmasked Intentions

The morning sunlight spilled through the high window, fracturing into brilliant shards across the chamber floor. Noa sat in a chair near the glass, bathed in the amber glow. He wore a fitted, black long-sleeved shirt and dark trousers. Unbothered by grooming so soon after waking, his hair remained a wild mess. [Nihility Decree] Null Essence surged through his Aether Body before radiating outward, condensing into a knife forged of purple energy. With a thought, the violet light shifted.

The knife lengthened into a sleek dagger, bent outward into the elegant curve of a bow, narrowed into an arrow, and finally settled into a longsword. Mmm… it's not as good as Acheron, but it can still function as a decent weapon, Noa mused, his eyes reflecting the violet glare. Now that [Echo Reclamation] has evolved into [Nihility Decree], I can forge proper constructs instead of just shooting spheres. He released his grip.

Instead of clattering to the floor, the blade hovered in the empty air, swaying gently like a boat anchored in a calm sea. At another thought from him, the sword drifted sideways. It moves to my will, as well. Reminds me of Jain's skill. Behind him, cocooned within the sprawling expanse of a white bed, Vionette slept without a sound. Half her body was buried beneath the tangled sheets, which she clutched tightly. She wore a black satin wrap slip dress, her pale skin contrasting with the dark fabric.

Slowly, her heavy eyelids fluttered open against the morning glare. The moment awareness returned, the translucent blue windows of her system appeared in her line of sight. [Notice! The Host's actions have been acknowledged by a large number of individuals!] [A new title has been bestowed upon you: The Scarlet Mistress] Yeah, yeah, whatever. Go away, it's still too early for this shit, she thought irritably, dismissing the floating text with a mental swat.

Interlacing her fingers, she extended her arms toward the headboard and stretched her legs in the opposite direction, arching her back like a lazy cat waking from a long slumber.

"Mmm~" She made a half-hearted attempt to get up, but her heavy eyelids won the battle, forcing them shut once more. Sinking back into the plush pillows, she hugged Noa's abandoned one. As she lay there, she still felt that something was missing—a craving.... this place is cold. Giving up on sleep, she dragged herself out of the sheets. Her eyes were barely slits as she stumbled across the room, her feet tracing a clumsy yet unerring path toward Noa.

"You're up?" Noa asked, turning his head as the violet glow of [Nihility Decree] dissolved. Without offering so much as a grunt in reply, Vionette quietly climbed onto his lap. She draped her legs over his thighs, her small hands bunching the fabric of his black shirt, and buried her face into the crook of his shoulder.

"…warm," she murmured softly, a small smile pulling at her lips as she drifted back to sleep. Noa wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her from sliding off, pulling her closer against his chest. A gentle smile broke across his face. She's always so lazy in the morning…

"You might want to get up, Vio." He patted her messy hair.

"Mm-hmm… lemme sleep a little longer." She tightened her fingers around his shirt, burying herself deeper.

"But then we'll be late for the opening ceremony." She cracked one eye open, peering up at him with a drowsy pout.

"…Oh right. There was that today." Noa tilted his head, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief.

"Did you forget already?"

"I just don't think much when I'm around you," she said, her voice dripping with playful malice. As the two talked quietly to each other, a sound shattered the cozy atmosphere—two knocks on the door.

"Your Majesties, the carriage taking us to the opening ceremony has been prepared." The butler's voice drifted through the wood.

"May I enter to escort you out?" Vionette's face twisted into an irritated scowl.

"Don't enter, you fucking idiot! I haven't even gotten dressed yet!" she roared. She looked vexed, less about the lack of clothes and more about the ruined atmosphere.

"We should've brought Rose along," she grumbled in a low, resentful hiss.

"Please pardon my rudeness, My Lady. I will wait until you come out, then," the butler replied seamlessly, his voice adapting to the hostility.

"Silas, explain to me what actually happened!" Kaimon demanded, his voice furious as he stared at the black-robed man standing before him. All the guests were gathered at the center of the royal castle. Laid out in grim rows beneath the towering stone pillars were the remains of King Lockwane, the corpse of Queen Itheira, and the bodies of every royal who had perished during the previous night, all covered in white sheets.

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"How could anyone get into the room when you were on guard?" Kaimon questioned further, his jaw tight. I'm asking this, but this isn't even the main question anymore. How did the entire Rellion kingdom get annihilated overnight without leaving a single trace, along with all their allied kingdoms? Not even one survivor left behind. As the crowd waited in anticipation, casting anxious glances at the shrouded dead, the rulers of Crimvane finally arrived. Lina and Elina walked at the vanguard, playful and unbothered.

Noa and Vionette followed behind, while the butler led them through the parting sea of guests. So this is why he stalled at the door this morning. Kaimon wants to hear from us directly, Vionette deduced, her eyes scanning the tense gathering.

"There they are."

"They have to be the ones—" Another guest hissed, "Do you want to be a corpse, too?" The murmurs rippled through the crowd as the Crimvane party approached Kaimon and the investigators in the center.

"Good morning, Kaimon." Noa smiled broadly, extending a hand in a familiar greeting.

"What's the problem over here, dude?" Kaimon slowly inhaled, steadying his racing pulse before his gaze swept over Lina, Elina, and finally settled on the two rulers. I'm certain they are the ones who did this. But they don't seem bothered at all, he thought.

"Last night, a total of six kingdoms' rulers, including Rellion's, were assassinated. Every single one of them was someone who openly opposed Crimvane." Kaimon looked back down at the misshapen lump that was Lockwane's corpse.

"Furthermore, Rellion and all the kingdoms allied with them have been completely annihilated overnight." We only promised the survival of the students, not the royals, but this is still a major disaster, Kaimon calculated silently. We have around two hours before the opening ceremony. I have to resolve this quickly and quell the tension before a panic erupts.

"Please don't take this as an accusation; this is merely a speculation most of us here share." Garrick, the leader of The Strayed, stepped forward.

"But I must ask: is anyone from Crimvane related to this incident?" Vionette looked at Garrick and smiled. You sly demon. Taking advantage of the situation, aren't you?

"Silas, a member of our Blackwake Consortium whom Kaimon hired, was stationed right outside the door. There is no way an intruder, a mind manipulator, or even a shapeshifter could've entered or exited," the leader of the Blackwake Consortium added.

"So, how exactly did this happen?" Vionette took a few steps forward toward the corpses. She looked down at the sheet-covered remains of Lockwane and Itheira, a mocking smile flashing across her face.

"Oh my, how could such a terrible thing happen to them?" she said cheerfully, her voice dripping with sheer mockery.

"Vionette Crimvane, did you do—""Kaimon Rimuald, the analysis is complete." The interruption came from a tall elf woman with shimmering blonde hair. She belonged to The Lantern Gravers, a faction that specialized in the echoes of death. While tracing an unknown killer across a kingdom was difficult, when the culprit was lying right next to the victim, it didn't take much effort.

"The one who slaughtered Lockwane Rellion was… his own wife, Itheira Rellion." Wow, they actually have skills like that? Noa thought.

"See? We didn't do a thing." Vionette laughed with a sweet smile on her face.

"We would never do such a horrific thing." Placing a fist over his mouth, Noa suppressed a chuckle. He said with a smirk, "Maybe his wife got bored of his dick or something." Vionette snapped her fingers toward him, her eyes sparking with unhinged delight.

"Bingo! You might've solved the mystery lol." She laughed.

"We?" Elina shook her head lazily, letting out a low, dragon-like snort.

"We would never, and I mean never, do something like that." Beside her, Lina nodded her head in silence.

"Neither Lord Noa, Lady Vionette, nor the two ladies stepped outside their private chambers after returning from the gathering last night." Butler Harn stepped forward, bowing toward Kaimon.

"As His Majesties' loyal servant, I assure you of that fact." I know it wasn't you who physically killed them; I saw how Itheira and the others butchered their husbands and killed themselves. Garrick narrowed his eyes, his gaze boring into Vionette. He knew Itheira hadn't met anyone after the banquet concluded, any hidden path would've been seen by his owl, and any erased evidence would've been revealed by the Lantern Gravers. So, only one question could remain in his head now: Just how did they do it?

"As the law enforcers of these regions, we, The Keepers, will thoroughly investigate the finer details of this incident. We thank the Lantern Gravers and the Blackwake Consortium for their assistance," a man with grayish hair announced, stepping into the clearing.

"King Kaimon, you may proceed with the opening ceremony. We will handle the management of the dead."

"Well then, if we're free to go, we'll head off to where the academy is, too." Vionette turned on her heel, offering a carefree wave over her shoulder as she walked away.

"Bye-bye~" Lina chimed. As they left, the moon elf with light blue hair stared at them. No matter who investigates this, no one will ever know who is telling the truth. All people here are hungry for opportunities, and this is one of them. Yet, making a mockery of them all, the Crimvane rulers aren't even trying to hide their intentions.

"…Yes. We'll meet again during the ceremony," Kaimon replied.

"Harn, wait a moment." The butler paused, turning back and walking toward the king. Knowing what was required of him, he leaned down, tilting his ear close to Kaimon's lips.

'Is it true that they never left their chambers?' Kaimon whispered, his voice barely a breath.

'Yes, Your Majesty. I am certain of it,' Harn replied, nodding. Kaimon exhaled a breath, the tension leaving his shoulders in a sudden rush.

'Listen: This incident will not affect the ceremony or the stability of Gergrain. But you, as one of my most trusted servants—' His brows furrowed.

'—must make sure to keep them calm next time.'

'Yes, Your Majesty. I will stake my life on ensuring it.'

"Thank you." Kaimon, a king, offered a genuine word of gratitude to the servant. They even erased the kingdoms Rellion had allied with. It's as if they ensured we could continue our event as though this tragedy had never occurred. The only thing to worry about are the kingdoms that lost their rulers, which won't be a problem at all. As the butler hurried to catch up with Vionette and the others, Kaimon stood alone, watching the retreating silhouettes of the Crimvane rulers. In a twisted way…

I'm glad they took away the geopolitical trouble from me.

<Noa darling, what did you do? > Vionette asked, her tone playful. <You didn't secretly have some hidden strength to solo entire kingdoms overnight, did you? Is this why you sneaked out alone yesterday? > <It was because of me, but it wasn't me, > Noa replied, looking at her. <Remember that dude I mentioned who was watching us? I just had a little chat with them, and surprisingly, they were cooperative. I just told them to 'erase the word Rellion.'

I didn't expect them to go all out and destroy the other kingdoms too. > <Seems they took the word 'erase' pretty literally, huh? > <Seems they've stopped looking at us, I can't feel any presence. My turn: how did you get those guys to murder each other? > <It's a surprise~> Vionette gave him a teasing, side-eyed glance. <Aha… then tell me this, Miss Mastermind: why didn't they just straight up accuse us of murdering them? Everyone knows we did it. > <Though they know, the world doesn't work on vibes alone.

Unlike people like us who just kill when we want to, righteous factions like The Keepers need actual evidence first. They have to play by their own rules so they won't make the common people lose their trust in them. > She paused, looking back one last time at the towering spires of the royal castle, amusement dancing in her eyes. <Honestly, it's much simpler: why the fuck would they even care about people they don't know? > She let out a laugh that vibrated through the telepathic link. <Makes sense, I guess? >