Edited by Cherry
Castle instance world
The sound of multiple people’s steps was getting closer, and the anger in the old Ban’s voice could be heard even more distinctively than before, ‘So if you can’t find him, you just come back and report that to me?! What am I supposed to do with that? If you can’t find him, search until you can!’
The group of roughly a dozen men turned the corner, walking towards the corridor the two were standing in. Tian Xihua and Shen Qiu bowed deferentially towards the man leading the group, but the Ban didn’t even look towards them.
He was still scolding the subordinate who stood next to him, not stopping even for a moment. ‘You don’t know if he has a hiding place or if he’s already fled the country, don’t try to tell me that my knights aren’t enough to find a single person! Even if you look for a year, don’t come back here again without him alive!’
Shen Qiu leant over to whisper, ‘It’s about the little Lord. Apparently he left this morning, and it seems that there’s still no news about him.’
Tian Xihua nodded as he watched the group disappear in the direction the two of them came from. ‘He’s gone because of the murder?’
‘Probably.’ Shen Qiu shrugged, ‘After all, he gave the knife, which is a fact that the Ban should also be clear on. He seemed to have connected the whole thing with him pretty quickly.’
‘I see.’ He nodded before suddenly asking, ‘Does he live in the castle?’
‘He? Lord Janos?’ Shen Qiu thought about it for a moment. ‘I don’t know. I don’t think he does. He has no living quarters here and there is no bedroom other than the Lady’s he could stay in.’
‘They’re not married though, right? So they probably don’t sleep in the same bed either.’ Tian Xihua was thinking aloud, ‘So then, why did he run over here in the middle of night the day the Lady was poisoned?’
Before Shen Qiu could say anything, he corrected himself, ‘No, it is how did he run over here, instead. Logically, he shouldn’t have known about the poisoning beforehand, shouldn’t have come to me personally to ask what happened during the day, and especially shouldn’t have known that something was up the first time he heard the screaming.’
‘In this case, there are two possible scenarios. He either was the one who poisoned the Lady, or..’
‘Or he was expecting it to happen.’ Shen Qiu nodded.
‘Right. Now, it doesn’t make much sense to say he would rush over after having poisoned her by himself. Based on his current behavioral patterns, it is very likely that he wouldn’t want to come back at all in that case. This means that he must have expected earlier that something would happen to his fiancée, that something bad would happen to her, and that was why he rushed over in such a hurry.’
Shen Qiu thought that his words made perfect sense, agreeing, ‘Today we can rule out the possibility of anyone else being behind the Lady’s murder..’ Her words halted for a moment before continuing, ‘Um, it can only be him. But after he gave out the order, he simply ran away, it just doesn’t make any sense for him to come back after he did the same the day before. Therefore, he might not even be the only killer.’
‘There might be more of them, maybe two, three, or maybe it’s a different person every day. So what now?’ Tian Xihua shook his head, ‘It can’t be that we wait until we find the pattern, we don’t have that kind of time.’
Shen Qiu frowned. She thought for a while before saying, ‘I’m not sure, it really is difficult to say. Obviously the simplest way is to just wait it out, but what you said is also very reasonable, we don’t know how long that will take, and we don’t have much time anyway.’
‘We can only focus on the other details.’ Tian Xihua started listing the matters, ‘One is the background of the world, the question of why Lady Amelia is stuck in this cycle, and what that has to do with the way to solve this instance. Another one is, who was the one behind the poisoning, while the matter of the hidden riches that may or may not even exist can also count as one.’
‘In the end though, our main issue is getting through that door in the first tower. Since it’s the Ban’s room, the key should naturally be on his person, which makes it too difficult to get. We might have to look for another way.’
‘You mean her.’ Shen Qiu didn’t have to specify her meaning, they both understood who she was talking about.
Tian Xihua nodded lightly, ‘Yes, I mean her.’
The two of them didn’t speak anymore, even after they reached the kitchen again. They waited for Lan Kejia and Chu Anzhi to return until late at night.
There were three candles placed onto the table in the middle of the chamber. Their lights flickered, pulling the imagery of strange shadows onto the furniture inside.
The windows had been shut, and the fragrance of the drying herbs and smoke filled the room slowly.
After hours of sitting around, Tian Xihua stood up suddenly.
Shen Qiu glanced at him questioningly, but he didn’t say anything, only stepping closer to the well in the corner of the room.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
He circled it a couple times, even pushing the lid and looking down into the darkness in the depths of the hole.
Vtfc Hle vlvc’a qjs jaafcalbc ab tlw jcswbgf. Vtf gfrafv tfg mtffx bc tfg jgwr, kjamtlcu atf rtjvbkr wbnf bc atf kjiir ecali tfg fsfilvr ugfk tfjns.
Vevvfcis, Kljc Wltej rqbxf, ‘Ktf kfii lr atf kjs bea.’
‘Ct?’ Vtfc Hle aegcfv tfg tfjv bnfg lc j kjs atja rtf kjr ralii islcu bc atf ajyif ktlif ojmlcu tlw.
Tian Xihua repeated his words, ‘The well is an exit. There’s probably a secret passage at the bottom of it.’
‘Probably?’ Shen Qiu wasn’t convinced. ‘How would you know that?’
‘It’s actually very common with castles like this one.’ Tian Xihua explained as he pushed at the cover again, his words echoing down the well. ‘It was probably built during wartime, which is why there are many such passages leading to who-knows-where.’
‘Yeah.’ Shen Qiu let out a yawn, ‘It’s not like we could actually use it for anything. Or..’ Her expression turned somewhat more solemn, as if she had just thought of a possibility. ’You’re not actually thinking of what I think you’re thinking of, are you now?’
Tian Xihua laughed, ‘Tut, how could I know what you’re thinking about?’
‘Then what are you talking about, if not going down there?’
‘Oh.’ Tian Xihua looked up at her. ‘You actually guessed it?’
‘It seems.’ Shen Qiu pulled the corner of her lips as she stood up, walking over to the well. ‘It’s a very stupid idea. The stupidest one I could think of, even. So, you might want to think this through.’
‘But..’ She pulled the words like sticky gum, and her expression became inexplicable, ‘It might really be best if we check it. After all, it could be very important regarding the instance..’
She nodded as if she had managed to convince herself too with her own words.
In truth, Shen Qiu still felt somewhat resentful because such a task – to choose between life and death – was left to her because the others didn’t dare decide.
She felt it was extremely unfair, and that the person to complete the task should have either been the one who got it, or their ranking officer. She thought that her circumstances didn’t differ enough from the others’ for the task to be passed to her so carelessly; didn’t anyone want to think of what she might be feeling at all?
Therefore, she decided that even if she didn’t want to directly harm this bunch who shepherded her onto the path to murder, she could still..
‘You’re right. As I said, it might be the best way out. Do you have something hard?’ In the meantime, Tian Xihua had also convinced himself, and was planning on conducting an in-depth investigation.
‘Excuse me?’ His words dragged the girl out of her inner world, leaving her to stare at the other rather strangely.
Tian Xihua explained, ‘Since the kitchen is swept regularly, there are no pebbles or such we could use. Did you think that I’d just jump down like this, or what?’
Shen Qiu, ‘………..’ She hadn’t dared to think, but she’d hoped. Her expression became even more subtle as she helped him look for something to check the depth of the well with.
She tried to reason, ‘If it was a real secret passage, wouldn’t it have a proper way down? Don’t tell me that you’re anxious about spiders..’ Seeing the other’s smile stiffen, she glanced away as she kept going. ‘..Or bugs, maybe insects, frogs or rats even.. Of course, those wouldn’t matter to you, would they?’
‘Of course not.’ Tian Xihua denied as he smiled again, although seemingly somewhat uncomfortably. ‘But it isn’t safe to go down without taking precautions. I do think you understand that?’
Shen Qiu nodded with a solemn face, ‘Naturally, naturally.’ She handed something over, advising, ‘Try this.’
‘What is it?’ He took the thing from her, unfolding the cloth wrapped around it. ’..Oh.’
‘It’s bread.’
‘Yeah.’ Tian Xihua held the piece of azyme in his hand, turning it over a couple times before stating expressionlessly, ‘It’s very dry.’
‘Yeah.’
‘And it has maggots?’
‘Yeah.’
He sighed. ‘Alright.’ After weighing the bundle a couple more times, he didn’t hesitate to throw it down, but just before he could let go, a hand stopped him.
Shen Qiu stared up at him for a while before saying, ‘Don’t throw the cloth in. It would..’
‘Lighten the impact?’
‘..Mhm.’
Tian Xihua nodded, ‘Good.’ He unwrapped the piece of dry bread again, handing the cloth to the girl who folded it up meticulously before placing it on the table.
The bread fell into the well, and for some time, no sound could be heard. Shen Qiu stared at Tian Xihua, who scratched the back of his head as he looked down into the darkness stirring at the depths of the well.
‘Maybe it got stuck.’ It was clear from this voice that even he couldn’t truly believe what he was saying.
Shen Qiu left it to him, ‘Maybe.’
‘That’s probably what happened.’
‘Probably. So, what do you plan to do now?’ Shen Qiu’s smile became slightly sinister, but when Tian Xihua turned to look at her, he could only see her head turning away. ‘Maybe.. Do you want to go down anyway? It’s probably important, after all.’
‘Maybe you can even find some crucial clues. What do you say?’
Tian Xihua’s expression grew more and more complicated as he listened to her words. He had noticed that something was amiss, how could he have not, and he also had a very good guess as to what that ‘something’ might have been.
He let out a helpless chuckle, asking, ‘How do you want me to go down there? Jump down, eh? I don’t think that would work. Maybe tie something around me, or just hang something to climb down on, maybe do both and lower me slowly? I don’t trust any rope we can find here, not with my life, no.’
Shen Qiu thought about it seriously. ‘The rope’s only for safety. You can also just climb down..’
‘Easier said than done. Or, you know, since you want to go down so much.. Why don’t I..’
The girl’s expression grew darker. ‘No!’
Tian Xihua feigned surprise, ‘No? Why not? Isn’t it very crucial?’
Shen Qiu frowned. In the end, she couldn’t stand it anymore, ‘You..! All you do is wag your mouth, twist your own words until they lose meaning! Don’t think I’m that gullible! I’m not, I don’t, you.. You! Don’t you just look at me like I’m the crazy one! You’re absolutely despicable, you’re worse than, than..’
She took a big breath, partly to calm herself down, partly to save some time and refuel on words. ‘You’re so vile, you bastard, you, actually. You! Didn’t you know, don’t you always.. Why..? Why me? Of all people?’
Tian Xihua watched her quietly, waiting for her to finish. When he saw Shen Qiu sit down in silence and finally cover her face, he said solemnly, ‘I’m sorry.’
Shen Qiu struck the table with a hand, frustrated enough to forget about the snot and tears running down her face. She stared up at the other, obviously more furious than aggrieved, saying, ‘You think that’s that? That’s all you say to this?!’
Tian Xihua didn’t lift his head, his gaze fixed on the ground. ‘I.. I don’t know what else to say.’
After not getting a reply for a long time, he finally looked up again, ‘I’m sorry.’
Shen Qiu was speechless. In the end, she coughed out a throaty laugh. She spat out a single word, ‘Bullshit.’
‘What can I do with your ‘sorry’? What’s that to me? I’ll tell you; nothing. It means fucking nothing.’
‘I don’t have anything else to give.’
Shen Qiu rested her head against the table, smiling, ‘You actually don’t, of course you don’t. Of course, what could I want in this life? An explanation? Fuck that! I can also make up a hundred of them. You don’t need to wrack your brain for nothing. Isn’t it that it isn’t worth it for you! So why should it be for me?’
‘That’s what I’m asking, that’s what I don’t get. What the hell is the big difference between me and you? What do you have that I don’t, what the fuck makes you more..’
‘I don’t think there’s that much of a difference.’ Tian Xihua thought seriously. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘Oh, you don’t, oh!’ Shen Qiu closed her eyes now, shaking her head lightly. ‘No, he doesn’t. Well, I’ll tell you then, darling, what it is, what is it, what the difference is. What is the difference?’
‘Of course, I don’t know either, that’s why I asked you first, but now that you said.. I’ll just tell you my guess, alright? And you’ll be a dear and verify it for me, thanks.’ She sat up as she counted on her fingers, ‘One, I’m younger, aren’t I? I’m a young girl, no? That can be two, even. You know, I don’t need to explain it to you. Do I?’
‘Of course, it means that I’m more gullible, doesn’t it. I suppose that’s true, yes, maybe that’s true even. Maybe I am indeed naïve.. Do you hate that? Should I hate that? Is that so wrong of me? Oh, it is indeed the world’s fault, not mine. ‘That’s what life is like’, you might want to say. Please don’t. I’ve already killed today; I really am much closer to doing it again than you’d think. Haha.’
She pressed down another finger, ‘Three, and you might want to ask, is there really a need for a number three? Number one and two were more than enough of a reason, weren’t they? Well, you know. That’s what life is like. Tragedies never come only one at a time. That’s what you could call ‘multiple disadvantages’, if you’d like. If not, it isn’t necessary either..’
Tian Xihua spoke, ‘I..’
Shen Qiu shook her head, interrupting him. ‘Just shut up, would you? As a favor. You owe me anyway.’
Tian Xihua took a deep breath, nodding. After a long time, silence settled in the chamber again.
The candles sizzled from time to time, and the fire cracked every so often, the sound of the two’s breathing mixed with the mellow background noise.
Long hours passed this way. Even after the sky had begun to brighten, Lan Kejia and Chu Anzhi were nowhere to be seen.
When the sun’s colors fell onto the yard outside, Tian Xihua finally couldn’t bear it anymore and stood up.
Shen Qiu didn’t react right away, only lifting her head after a while to ask, ‘Where are you going?’
‘Oh, I can talk now?’ The other sounded genuinely surprised, causing Shen Qiu’s frown to deepen. She didn’t reply, only waiting for an answer.
After who knows how long, Tian Xihua reluctantly said, ‘To find the Lady. Get into the first tower.’
‘Now?’
‘She’s probably awake already. Why not now?’
Shen Qiu let out a breath before nodding. She stood up, ‘I’ll go with you.’
‘Alright.’
It was still early, and the castle wasn’t as lively as during later hours, but it wasn’t as empty as late at night either.
It took some time for the two of them to reach Lady Amelia’s chamber. The door was already open, signalling that the Lady was already awake.
At the moment, she was being dressed, two maids smoothing her clothes down and arranging the dress’ folds to the point of absolute flawlessness. Her hair had been carefully brushed out before being tied up appropriately, clearly having mostly finished the process of readying the Lady for the day to come.
Seeing the maids step back respectfully, Tian Xihua didn’t hesitate to walk into the room and bow in front of the young woman with a smile. ‘Wishing a good morning to the Lady. If I’m not a bother, I have some mildly important matters to speak to the Lady about.’
The second sentence was clearly addressed towards the maids bustling about in the room.
Lady Amelia let out a childish smile, turning her hand to wave the maidservants out. She was just about to speak to the young man when she noticed another figure behind him.
Her expression stiffened momentarily as a strange glint flitted across her eyes. It only appeared for a moment before disappearing, but for Shen Qiu, who her gaze was directed at, felt a chill running down her spine.
It couldn’t be that.. She actually remembered?
The author has something to say:
I have decided to just advertise myself shamelessly.. Yes, this is about the kofi thing.. So yeah.. Here‘s a link to my page if you didn’t notice the gigantic button under my name before.. I do appreciate every bit of support I get. Again; by donating a small amount you too can gain access to the pdf version of the first 31 chapters of AAD.
About other things. I’ve kind of been in a rough spot recently, mainly regarding time management and inspiration. I’ve been stuck with chapter 39 for weeks. Not because it would be that difficult to write or anything.. It just, it doesn’t seem to work. I’m very tired and have such little free time to write in, but I don’t want to take a break because I feel like I wouldn’t be able to come back, and this is something I’ve wanted for a long time. Even if the statistics are really depressing and even if.. You know.
Because of these matters, I might publish chapter 40 next week, ahead of time. I hope you guys are all having a wonderful week.
Keep at it