The second half of Eluse’s sentence caught in her throat.
Outside the iron door, Eliana’s voice was kept very low because she had come in secret, yet it carried a calculated, unsettling quality.
In an instant, Eluse broke out in goosebumps. Her first thought was of the person standing right outside the door.
‘Did she kill them? Has Eliana really started acting?’
The gingerbread in Eluse’s hand fell to the floor. She didn’t bother to pick it up, instinctively backing away. If Eliana truly began killing people, her power would surely increase again. It might even…
“Mistress? Mistress?”
Seeing that Eluse had not responded for a long time, Eliana called out softly.
Thanks to her voice, Eluse snapped out of her state of terror and regained her senses.
‘Wait, wait. Calm down, Eluse. Maybe it was just an accident? It might not have been Eliana.’
Eluse took a deep breath and pressed for an answer. “Who was it that died?”
“It was the—”
“Who’s there?!”
Eliana was just about to answer when the guard seemed to have discovered her. In her haste, she could only whisper a few hurried instructions.
“Mistress, I will see you again in three days. I have to go. Please eat more; don’t let your health fail.”
With that, she got up and left. Eluse silently picked up the scattered gingerbread from the ground. ‘Damn it, I almost had the answer.’
Eluse curled up in the newly acquired woolen blanket. It was thick and carried the fluffy scent of something dried in the sun, feeling completely out of place in this cold, damp cellar. The aroma of honey gingerbread filled the cramped space, but she couldn’t swallow a single bite.
Who exactly was dead? Was it Hilda? Or someone else? If it were her mother, the possibility was slim.
There were so many servants in the Duke’s mansion that she couldn’t even recognize them all. Perhaps it was just someone she didn’t know? She tried not to overthink it.
***
The three days felt exceptionally long in the silence and darkness.
Eluse remained curled in the woolen blanket Eliana had brought. The warmth of the blanket and the sweet scent of gingerbread were the only comforts in this freezing stone room, yet they only served to deepen the suspicion in her heart.
‘Who died?’
This question haunted her mind day and night. Only by knowing the identity of the deceased could she determine if Eliana was responsible.
However, Eluse was more inclined to believe it was an accident. If Eliana had truly acted, with her abilities, she wouldn’t have let herself be discovered so easily, let alone let it become a “major incident” discussed throughout the house.
But what if? What if she was testing the waters, or preparing for something…
This was exactly what the young girl feared.
On the third morning, the iron door finally opened. The piercing light made Eluse squint. The maid acting as a guard stood at the door, expressionless.
“Time is up, Miss. Lady Vanessa wants you to go directly to the spice warehouse.”
“I understand.”
Eluse supported herself against the wall as she stood up, her legs numb from sitting for so long.
She placed the key back at the feet of the statue, wrapped the blanket tightly around herself, and slowly walked out of the Cellar. The fresh air outside refreshed her spirit, but her heart remained heavy. Today, she would finally learn the answer she had been seeking.
The spice warehouse was located in the west wing of the manor. The air there was permanently thick with a blended aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
By the time Eluse arrived, Lady Vanessa was already there, standing beside several stewards in charge of the spice trade. Deep inside the warehouse, a familiar figure stood with her back to the door, carefully sorting spice bags on the shelves.
It was Eliana.
She wore a common maid’s dress with her sleeves rolled up, her movements skillful. Furthermore, her complexion was rosy and she looked energetic, not at all like someone who had just recovered from a serious illness.
“Eluse.”
Lady Vanessa shot her a glance.
“Since you vouched for her, you will be the one to supervise her work. This shipment is headed for the Royal Capital; there can be no mistakes. Eliana, come here.”
Eliana turned around, walked over quickly, and bowed her head in a polite greeting.
“My Lady.”
“As for you, let this be the last time.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
Lady Vanessa gave a few instructions to the stewards and then turned to leave. Only Eluse and Eliana remained in the warehouse.
The opportunity had come.
Eluse approached Eliana and lowered her voice. “That night, you said someone in the manor died. Who was it?”
“It was those two maids, the tall one and the short one, who bullied me last time,” Eliana said in a light, airy tone.
“They were found at the bottom of the North Stairs with broken necks. It was quite pitiful. The maid on night watch said they might have been stealing wine in the middle of the night and slipped.”
A cold shiver crawled up Eluse’s spine, colder than any winter wind.
Lady Vanessa had mentioned those two snitching maids during the day, and they both died in an accident that same night? The coincidence was hair-raising.
“Was it… an accident?”
She heard her own voice sounding unusually dry.
“Who knows?”
Eliana’s tone was flat, as if their deaths were a matter of no consequence.
“There are always places in the manor that have fallen into disrepair, and the lighting is dim. It’s not strange for anything to happen. But Miss, don’t you think it’s a coincidence? Regardless, it’s for the best. This way, no one will report you, and no one will bully me anymore.”
The other girl’s words gave Eluse goosebumps. She instinctively took several steps back until her back pressed against the hard, cold wall.
Now, she was certain. This was absolutely the work of the demon Eliana! She… had begun to kill!
Eluse raised her hand to grasp the necklace around her neck, activating the ability that allowed her to see malice.
This time, everything had changed. There was no Red Mist in the room or anywhere else, but!
Deep red mist, approaching the color of ink, was drifting off Eliana’s body.
She was radiating malice!
Which meant she could take this chance to use the necklace’s hidden function!
KILL HER!!!
The intent to kill surged in her heart, but Eluse propped herself against the wall, gasping for breath. She… she wasn’t ready to kill someone yet.
Eliana seemed to notice Eluse’s abnormality. She stopped what she was doing and tilted her head slightly, her eyes carrying a trace of subtle concern.
“Mistress? You don’t look well. Is it because the Cellar was too cold and you haven’t recovered yet?”
That Red Mist, dark as ink, surged slowly around her as she spoke, like a living creature.
Eluse’s fingers tightly gripped the pendant of the necklace. The cold sensation pressed painfully into her palm. Murderous intent and fear fought violently in her heart, and her stomach churned.
“I… I’m fine,” Eluse managed to say, her voice trembling in a way she didn’t even notice. “I just… can’t catch my breath. The smell of the spices here is too strong.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Eliana turned back around and continued organizing the spice bags, her movements remaining steady and smooth.
“Then you should go to the door for some fresh air. I can handle the work here by myself. Her Ladyship only asked you to supervise; she didn’t ask you to do the labor.”
Her figure was completely defenseless. That thick, red-black mist representing extreme malice was now fully exposed before Eluse’s eyes.
The chance… was now.
Eluse gritted her silver teeth and yanked hard on the necklace around her neck…