I stood at a crossroads of choice.

Should I return to the mansion as Ascan had urged, or remain at the party and observe the situation? I had to choose one of the two.

I was deep in thought, pondering what the right course of action truly was,

when a palace servant passing by extended a tray holding fruit wine and addressed me.

“Would you like a glass?”

I shook my head, clearly indicating my refusal.

I deliberately avoided consuming anything, fearing Seruna and the Manoko family might have slipped something into my food.

Yet, as more and more people kept approaching me, persistently offering various foods, my suspicion was gradually hardening into certainty.

That wasn’t all.

“Waaaaah!”

Turning toward the sound of a child crying, I saw a little girl, doll-like in appearance, crouching and sobbing—likely lost.

Under normal circumstances, I might have approached her out of concern. But knowing Seruna and the Manoko family were targeting me, I deliberately stayed still and observed.

Soon, numerous adults flocked around the girl. Yet, ignoring all of them, she deliberately came right in front of me and burst into tears.

“I-I lost my way. Sniff. Please help me.”

She was so adorable I nearly wanted to scoop her up immediately—but instinct warned me this might be another trap.

‘They’re really pulling out all the stops.’

I called over a nearby servant and pointed at the little girl.

“She says she’s lost. Please help her.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

The servant kindly approached the girl and asked various questions, but the child merely looked flustered, rolling her eyes nervously.

It was evident they had gone to great lengths to lure me out of the party hall.

‘With this much effort, how can I possibly feel safe returning to the mansion?’

Seruna and the Manoko family were no ordinary adversaries. Had I not known in advance they excelled in hypnosis, I might have fallen right into their trap.

Something was very likely to happen tonight—whatever it was. I couldn’t bring myself to leave, worried that Ascan might somehow be involved and get hurt.

‘If I knew what was happening, I’d help him.’

I had planted informants throughout the Karua Empire, but their reach had limits.

Moreover, the original plot had diverged significantly by now, making it impossible to predict what incident might occur.

I was cautiously lingering around crowded areas, hoping to glean even a scrap of information,

when I spotted Bill. I’d assumed he’d be with Ascan, yet for some reason, he was alone.

“Captain?”

When I approached and called out, Bill turned to look at me.

“My Lady, you’re still at the party? I thought you’d returned to the mansion.”

“Oh, it just turned out that way. Where is Count Atreus?”

At my question, Bill frowned slightly, shaking his head.

“I’m not sure either.”

“If you happen to see the Count, please tell him I’ll wait for him so we can return to the mansion together.”

“That might… be rather difficult. After tonight’s party, the Royal Guard has urgent matters to discuss among ourselves.”

I had deliberately tested Bill’s reaction, uneasy about leaving Ascan behind.

But hearing his reply now only strengthened my conviction—Ascan was undoubtedly involved in whatever was happening tonight.

At that moment, one of the Royal Guards approached where we stood. I recognized him—he’d accompanied us all the way to the Karua Empire.

His name was Carlton—a tall, burly man.

“Captain, as ordered, I’ve located Marquis Manoko.”

At Carlton’s words, Bill glanced briefly at me. But judging I couldn’t deduce much from that alone, he simply nodded.

“Understood.”

Marquis Manoko?

I didn’t know what was happening, but was it connected to the Manoko family?

My mind raced. I clearly couldn’t afford to sit idle any longer.

I needed to uncover what was going on and help Ascan.

Seeing Bill clearly had no intention of lingering beside me, he offered a farewell.

“Well then, I’ll be─”

“Wait.”

When I stopped him, Bill subtly furrowed his brow.

From the novel, I knew Bill’s personality well—he was loyal only to Ascan and held not even a shred of interest in anyone else.

Should I call him “gentleman, Ascan-exclusive edition”?

The only reason Bill was even tolerating me this much was undoubtedly because of Ascan.

“Is there something else you wish to say?”

Bill showed no emotion outwardly, but inwardly, he was probably finding me extremely bothersome.

Still, I couldn’t let him go. If it concerned Ascan, no one knew more than Bill.

“Captain, there’s something important I’d like to discuss…”

I trailed off meaningfully and glanced at Carlton. Bill instantly understood I wanted to speak with him alone.

With a resigned sigh, Bill turned to Carlton.

“Go ahead. I’ll catch up shortly.”

“Understood.”

Carlton gave a light salute and disappeared elsewhere.

Now alone with Bill as I’d wished, I lowered my voice cautiously, scanning our surroundings.

“What’s going to happen at tonight’s party?”

I didn’t bother beating around the bush. No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t uncover Ascan’s secrets through my own efforts alone.

Thus, I decided to seek help from the most suitable person—Bill.

Bill’s expression hardened. For a fleeting moment, murderous intent flickered in his ash-gray eyes.

Somehow, I felt he might kill me on the spot—I kept my nerves taut.

“I’m not sure what you’re suddenly talking about.”

Bill deflected skillfully. But he didn’t know I’d read the original novel.

“I’ve already figured it out. Just tell me what you’re hiding.”

“Even if there were a secret, the idea that I’d confide it to Lady Brellof is laughable.”

It was the reaction I’d expected.

The reason I was speaking to none other than Bill was simple.

“I want to help Count Atreus. You don’t need to explain what’s happening. Just tell me how I can help.”

Bill was utterly loyal to Ascan.

Plainly put, if I proved useful to Ascan, he wouldn’t hesitate to exploit me ruthlessly, regardless of my safety.

Bill studied me with sharp eyes, as if internally weighing whether I’d be of any use.

Oddly enough, I felt like I was sitting before a job interviewer—and found myself clearing my throat unconsciously.

“Ahem. I hate to say it myself, but I’m the continent’s top arms dealer. Countless people want my help.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but I doubt there’s anything Lady Brellof can assist with. If we ever need help, I’ll let you know then.”

“You don’t have to tell me everything. Just tell me how I can help.”

“Really, it’s fine─”

“Isn’t this about Marquis Manoko?”

My guess must have hit the mark. Bill abruptly stopped speaking and stared at me.

Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, he spoke.

“Lady Brellof, I truly know nothing. But… it would certainly be helpful if Marquis Manoko’s attention could be diverted elsewhere.”

I’d made the suggestion first, yet Bill cleverly revealed only the necessary information without explaining anything.

Though I had no idea what would happen tonight, I understood that diverting Luphilmo’s attention would aid Ascan.

Satisfied, I nodded.

“I understand what you mean.”

I wanted to ask more, but I knew Bill wouldn’t tell me anything further.

At least I’d learned a way to help Ascan—my objective was accomplished.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

Bill bid farewell immediately, as if he had nothing to lose. He practically radiated the vibe of “worst case, I break even.”

I nodded and let him go willingly. I’d obtained the information I wanted—no reason to detain him further.

‘Divert Marquis Manoko’s attention elsewhere…’

Ordinary methods wouldn’t suffice. That’s precisely why Bill had turned to me for help.

I subtly rotated the ring on my finger. It looked like an ordinary ring, but its inner side was fitted with a sharp spike.

If I didn’t periodically rotate the ring, the spike would pierce my palm.

I’d designed this ring for one reason only:

In case I ever fell into a hypnotic trance and my mind grew hazy, I’d inflict physical pain to prevent losing consciousness.

‘…No choice.’

I’d have to become the bait myself.

I’d anticipated that Seruna and Luphilmo would target me at tonight’s party.

If I fell into their prepared trap and succumbed to hypnosis, naturally, their attention would focus entirely on me.

From what I’d sensed so far, they’d prepared quite a few traps specifically for me.

Until now, I’d avoided them—but now, I had to willingly step into their snare.

‘Bill… probably calculated even this, didn’t he?’

The reason Bill, who’d refused me all along, finally leaked information at the end must have been because he judged me suitable as bait.

Click-clack. I deliberately walked toward an unoccupied area.

From now on, the key was to fall into the trap naturally.

The method I chose was to call a maid and ask to be escorted to the powder room.

As a first-time attendee at the Karua Imperial Palace party, I obviously wouldn’t know the location of the powder room within the vast banquet hall. Asking for help was only natural.

If someone was targeting me, they wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

Thus, through meticulous calculation, I deliberately walked into the trap.

CRASH!

The moment I entered the dimly lit room guided by the maid, the door slammed shut behind me.

I instantly understood.

‘So this is the place they prepared for me.’

It wasn’t surprising—I’d anticipated something like this. I was only curious about how they planned to hypnotize me.

Hypnosis often uses an object as a medium—

Before attending the party, I’d researched it: whatever the object, it must be something that draws a person’s focus.

‘They must be watching me from somewhere…’

So far, no one was visible inside the room.

Naturally, I fiddled with the ring on my finger.

Since I was still fully conscious, I’d adjusted it so the needle wouldn’t pierce my palm yet.

Then—

DONG─

The large grandfather clock in the center of the room began moving on its own, stopping abruptly at twelve and ringing out.

Strangely, the moment I heard the chime, my mind felt comfortingly drowsy.

‘…What’s this?’

I sensed something was wrong—but before I could react, the next chime rang out.

DONG─

Suddenly, I remembered Ascan’s warning at the banquet hall.

─If, by any chance, you find yourself in an unavoidable situation, remember this.

─What?

─Don’t smell anything. Don’t listen to any sounds.

Smell? Sound?

Recalling those words, I instantly realized—

This chime was clouding my mind.

I quickly covered my ears with my palms.

Though I’d deliberately walked into the trap to divert Seruna and Luphilmo’s attention, I had no intention of actually succumbing to hypnosis.

But I couldn’t completely block out the loud chime.

DONG─

With each repeated chime, my body grew heavier.

Unconsciously, my hands slipped down from my ears.

Just as my mind began to haze—

“Ugh!”

The needle embedded in my ring pierced my palm.

To avoid losing consciousness, I’d deliberately chosen a long needle—once embedded, it couldn’t be easily removed.

Drip, drip. Crimson blood streamed down my palm.

Intense pain surged through me, but as planned, I maintained consciousness and resisted the hypnosis.

Though the incessant chime remained dangerous, it wasn’t enough to rob me of my reason.

‘I don’t know where they’re watching from, but if I need to stall for time, should I pretend to be suffering?’

As I pondered this, gritting my teeth against the pain,

SCREEEECH─

A faint scraping sound rang out—and what I’d assumed was a full-length mirror slid open like a door.

Emerging from within was Luphilmo. Unfortunately, Seruna wasn’t beside him.

‘If the Empress had been here too, it might’ve helped Ascan even more.’

That was the first thought that crossed my mind, despite the urgency of the situation.

After all, my entire purpose in coming here was to aid Ascan.

When our eyes met, Luphilmo’s gaze gleamed with surprise.

“Lady Brellof, your mental fortitude is more impressive than I expected.”

No matter how convincingly I pretended to lose consciousness, I couldn’t hide the focus in my eyes.

In that instant, I realized my mistake.

He merely looked at me with mild surprise, showing no sign of panic. Instead, he calmly pulled a small perfume bottle from his pocket.

Suddenly, I recalled Ascan’s warning: don’t smell anything.

Instinctively sensing he’d spray the perfume toward my face, I swiftly turned my head.

HISS!

As predicted, Luphilmo sprayed the perfume toward me.

Though I avoided the direct scent, I couldn’t completely escape its lingering traces.

As if on cue, a high-pitched ringing—PEEEEE—began echoing in my ears.

With the last thread of my consciousness, I quietly reached for my hidden magitech weapon—

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, the window shattered as a dagger flew in.

Glass shards scattered everywhere—and like an arrow aimed at its target, the dagger struck the bell hanging from the grandfather clock.

Thanks to that, the incessant chime ceased entirely.

‘Who…?’

Staring in confusion toward the broken window, I saw a dark shadow appear—slowly resolving into a human figure.

It was Ascan.