Kapitel 133: [Chapter 133] Diane's Crisis
Neris woke up with a chilling sensation.
At first, she couldn't tell what had caused the sudden awakening. But as her eyes blinked in the darkness, a sudden realization struck her.
It was too quiet outside.
It was a place where important figures were being entertained. Naturally, the guards continued to patrol outside, and the servants were busy checking if there was anything needed by the higher-ups throughout the night.
As Neris tried to get up, someone whispered right beside her.
"Stay still."
It was Dora's voice. Neris, who had been breathing lightly, felt the frozen air as she tensed up.
"If you reach to your right, you'll find a dagger. There shouldn't be any trouble, but in case of emergency, protect yourself."
Following the instructions, she reached out and felt something cold. Neris tightly gripped the handle of the dagger. Dora held her breath.
A moment later.
The window opened quietly, and three shadowy figures flowed in like darkness.
'Three of them.'
Neris seemed to realize that they weren't alone in the room, despite her terrifying attempt to count their numbers. Swish! Three daggers flew simultaneously with a bone-chilling sound.
Clang!
Dora swung the bronze candlestick she was holding to parry the dagger. However, in that moment, one of the assassins had already leaped over Dora and charged towards Neris. It was a dizzying moment where she thought she might have to yield a few parts of her body.
The assassin crumbled before her eyes. Thud. Hot liquid poured over her clothes, hair, and face as the fallen assassin's back was impaled by a dagger shaped like a spike. Observing this, Neris stood up.
"Oh, surprise. Are you unharmed, Advisor?"
The person who threw the dagger was Talfryn, who had just entered the room. His disguise as a servant was already stained with blood, as if he had been through a battle on his way here.
Meanwhile, Dora, who had dealt with the two attackers, protested to her former superior.
"Why are you so late?"
"There were troublemakers on the way. Advisor, Lady Joyce McKinnon is nowhere to be seen. It's suspicious."
"Lady Joyce?"
If the person who attempted the assassination had already set up a plan outside with three people, the scale of the attackers was considerable. Neris's eyes grew cold.
"What about Diane?"
"We are currently checking on that side as well."
"We should check that side first."
"My apologies."
Talfryn felt a bit unjust. He had prioritized checking Joyce first, considering her importance in the McKinnon hierarchy. But since she was not there, they had to divert resources to search for her.
However, Neris's point was valid. If the McKinnons were involved in this incident, they needed to secure Diane. If not, that would be another issue to address.
At that moment, Dora furrowed her brow.
"There's a strange smell."
Neris felt dizzy. There was only one reason for a strange smell after a night attack.
Arson.
"Darn it, let's get out of here, Advisor. It's better to gather in one place."
Talfryn also reached the same conclusion. Dora quickly found a coat and helped Neris put it on, then she and Talfryn escorted her front and back.
As they stepped outside the room, they saw bloodstains on the corridor. The sound of clashing weapons could be heard from somewhere. Talfryn clicked his tongue.
"What's going on all of a sudden."
"It's quite grand."
Dora spoke with suspicion. Since Cledwyn captured the last elder, there had never been such a sudden attack on Maindlandt's key figures.
An attack of this scale required a significant amount of resources. If Talfryn had to rush over after the attack, it meant the opponents were highly skilled assassins.
However, the benefits the enemies gained from the attack were unclear. No matter how formidable the opponents were, there was a limit to the number of skilled assassins they could sneak into someone else's territory. Therefore, it was evident that Neris, who faced three assassins alone, was their main target.
But who stood to gain from Neris's death?
Both Dora and Neris were pondering similar deductions. However, unlike Dora, Neris intuitively speculated about the mastermind.
There was only one person in the Empire capable of handling assassins to the extent that it would surprise Yayen - Kemil Visto.
The enemy who brought death to Neris by ordering her past life's sister and Valentine.
Diane must have heard and come looking for her, and by now, the news of this place must have reached Kemil's ears as well. The Elendria family heir had hidden his appearance after graduation and was working in Maindlandt.
They probably had spies infiltrated in advance, ready to act on this day.
"But why?"
There wasn't much about Neris that would bother Kemil at the moment. While the owner of the Jewel Anima might not like joining forces with Maindlandt, there was no need for such a grand operation.
"Kemil doesn't even know the abilities of the Amethyst Anima."
Until Neris unlocked the Jewel Anima and revealed its abilities in her past life, no one truly understood the Amethyst Anima. Kemil, like Nelushion, might have had some suspicions, but there was no reason to be so cautious as to send assassins on such a large scale. If anything, he would have tried to persuade.
A disguised assassin from Maindlandt rushed to Talfryn and reported.
"There's a fire in the underground! We found Joyce McKinnon at the entrance to the basement holding a torch, so we moved her outside for now."
"Good job. What about the head of the guard?"
"He's directing the evacuation."
"Understood. You should go out as well."
A distinctly acrid smell began to emanate. Neris, who had been lost in thought while listening to the conversation between the two, suddenly opened her eyes.
"Let's go to Diane's room."
"What? They've sent people there, so let them escape first. In a fire, those who can escape should go out first."
"Joyce McKinnon is a deception. How did you know that Joyce McKinnon disappeared at this hour? Did you go into the room?"
"The head of the guard came first, saying his master was missing... Damn it."
Talfryn, not a fool, realized before finishing his sentence. He gestured to Dora to take care of Neris and quickly ran towards Diane's room.
"Hurry and get out! Even if you stay, you won't be of any help!"
"Please, miss. It's dangerous to inhale the smoke."
Dora gently pulled Neris. Neris realized that her hands were trembling uncontrollably after Dora held her tightly.
"Diane."
Diane.
Neris knew without Talfryn pointing it out. The fact that she was not helpful in this situation. The fact that leaving immediately was the best thing for everyone.
Damn reason never allowed Neris to be comfortable. In the end, she left the building, gritting her teeth.
***
Outside was chaotic.
Diane wandered around the unfamiliar room. She remembered being suddenly attacked in her own room.
Before passing out, her nose and mouth had been blocked with something wet like a handkerchief. She couldn't muster the strength to figure out what was on it. Even the doors and windows were locked.
Thanks to checking outside, she knew this place was on the third floor, but it wasn't ideal to ask for help outside. The room was dark without a single candle, and people were running around outside. It didn't seem like anyone could see inside.
"What? Why am I the only one locked up here?"
Diane's spine tingled. As far as she knew, their group was the only one staying in this hotel, and all the accommodations were clustered downstairs. Knocking on the door would be futile as there was no one to hear.
Then she heard someone shouting from outside. Fire!
"Eek!"
Diane was startled. What? Are they trying to burn me alive? Is that it? Have I lived so wickedly?
Fortunately, she didn't see any smoke or smell anything strange yet. She didn't know where the fire had started, but it could be extinguished quickly, and even if the flames weren't contained, they might not have reached the third floor. As long as she could escape, she could survive.
Diane tried to suppress her trembling body with that thought. After a while, she still shivered a bit out of fear. Since no one was around, she let herself be a little emotional.
"It's okay, it's okay."
She reassured herself. Neris was with this group. She would surely prevent things from escalating. Neris was smart.
Even if Diane didn't feel friendship towards her, she wouldn't just let her die. Didn't she win against adults much older than her during the first-year winter break?
After calming down a bit, she grabbed whatever she could and slammed down on the door handle. Clang, thud, clang! It took some time with her feeble attempts, but eventually, the handle twisted, and the door opened.
"There we go!"
Diane dropped the item she was holding—it looked like a paperweight—and confidently walked out. She wiped away tears. She hadn't noticed the smoke when she was in the room, but now it was visible enough in the corridor.
"A handkerchief!"
There was no handkerchief. Handing over handkerchiefs to the maid was the usual practice, and the handkerchief the kind servant had given earlier seemed to have slipped away while she was unconscious. Diane, feeling awkward, tried to cover her nose with her hand. Suddenly, someone reached out from behind, almost causing her to faint.
"Eek!"
Diane's eyes widened. As she turned around, she saw a man who had stopped mid-action of tapping her shoulder upon hearing her scream.
Partially discernible in the moonlight, his attire belonged to a Maindlandt servant. The man raised both hands as if to surrender while Diane checked his attire.
"Surrender, miss. I've come to escort you, so please hurry and leave."
He held a handkerchief in his right hand. It looked damp and slightly squeezed.
Though it was dark, Diane recognized the handkerchief. It was the item the servant had handed her as she passed by while she was crying earlier.
As Diane's gaze fell on the handkerchief, the servant smiled wryly.
"It's a newly provided item, so don't worry. Cover your nose and mouth. We need to get out as soon as possible."
Despite the various confusing circumstances, if this servant was an enemy, he would have already harmed Diane and still had time left. So she complied with his instructions.
"Let's go."
Once lifted, it didn't take long to pass through the first-floor door and escape. The beautiful hotel garden was now filled with injured and exhausted people bustling around.
Where's her brother? Where's Liz? Are they all safe? After the servant set Diane down and disappeared without a word, she looked around, searching for familiar faces.
"Miss!"
Diane's temporary maid rushed over, her face covered in tears.
"Hoo, sob! What's happening, miss! The young master is worried. Let's go."
"Is my brother okay?"
"The miss was the last to come out."
Thank goodness. Diane sighed and followed the maid's lead.
To be precise, it should be said that she 'was' moved.
'...Huh?'
The shock was sudden. Diane's body was forcefully pushed to the side. And the next moment, her vision was tinted red.
The world fell silent.
After her face was covered in blood, she realized what had happened to her.
Her maid had drawn a silver dagger from her sleeve.
She swung it at Diane.
Before she could react, Neris, who had suddenly approached, pushed her away.
The maid, who had been smiling as she tried to stab Neris, crumpled in a series of events.
Someone firmly grabbed Diane's stiffened body. She tried to wipe the blood from her eyes, but her hands trembled and wouldn't cooperate. The world was just dark and silent.
"Ah... Ahh... Ah..."
Diane had never seen someone die before her eyes. Especially not someone she knew, trying to kill her, and then being struck by a blade while attempting to kill Neris.
Her body, already stiff from the day's events, felt as rigid as a log. She staggered.
Until someone firmly held her arm.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein