Chapter 101: An Attempt

She took a step back, turned on the tap, and smiled faintly. 

"You…are a man—and one who knows who I am."

"…"

Edward feigned confusion. "I'm sorry, madam, I'm not sure what you mean."

She nodded, dipping her slender fingers—adorned with a sapphire ring—into the water and stirring it absentmindedly, like a melancholic girl from the house next door. 

"Then just treat it as me talking to myself."

"I know you recognise me. Maybe you're from some secret Beyonder organisation, maybe you have certain unique channels, or maybe…you've just seen my wanted poster somewhere."

Trissy strolled closer, her expression calm, yet with an inexplicable seductive edge.

"You have two choices now. First—report me to the Nighthawks, the Mandated Punishers, or the Machinery Hivemind. Have them come and arrest me. If you do, you'll probably get a rather generous bounty."

So now…I've taken over the role originally meant for Klein?

She moved closer still, raising two slender fingers.

"Second, I'll give you something. Take it with you and burn it. Very soon, someone will find you. Just tell her my situation, and not only will you receive a hefty reward, but also a mystical item."

Edward paused. 

—That wasn't in the original plot. Trissy never gave Klein a second option!

"What do you think? Either choice is easy for you. Say a few words, make a few moves, and you'll be rewarded. Isn't this…a profitable deal?"

Edward was silent for a moment, doing his best to keep his voice calm and neutral. 

"What is it?"

"Smart man. I knew you'd pick the second option."

She slowly turned her hand over, revealing a small lock of black hair, no longer than a finger. 

"This is my hair. Once you burn it, my companion will sense it and come to find you. Tell her my situation, and she'll find a way to rescue me."

Naturally, Edward didn't take it. Instead, he raised a brow and asked, "You seem to be favoured quite a bit by Prince Edessak. Why are you so desperate to escape? Even at the risk of being caught by the Nighthawks or the Mandated Punishers?"

Trissy froze for a second. Then her eyes widened, gaze dazed and unfocused as she murmured, "When you realize someone's been manipulating your life—arranging your every move through coincidences, quietly changing everything about you…your personality, your preferences, your behavior, heh…even your orientation—you'd make the same choice I did."

"Every morning when I wake up in that prince's arms, I feel like I'm less and less myself."

Her lips curved slightly. 

"Can you imagine it? Me—the one who used to adore sweet and shy maid girls—actually…getting used to spending every night tangled up with a man. No, not just getting used to it…even starting to enjoy it. Heh…Can you even imagine that kind of torment?"

Edward remained silent. 

Trissy's situation now was indeed…pitiable. But remembering the things she'd done to advance through the Sequence ladder, he couldn't help but feel that maybe this was karma.

Trissy continued, her tone laced with self-mockery, "I thought that if I just advanced to Pleasure, I could break free from this bizarre state. So I had someone gather the corresponding materials for the ritual—but it only made things worse."

"There are times when I forget so many things…but they really happened. I've tried asking for help—maids, guards, servants—but it's no use. In that manor, that prison disguised as a palace, every single thing I do is under surveillance."

"That's why I decided to change my approach. I started trying to shift how I treated Edessak—win his trust slowly. Only then…would I have a chance."

Edward's heart stirred slightly. 

"So those people who went missing in the manor—was it because they all came in contact with you?"

"Oh? So that's what you're here for?" Trissy blinked. "Then you'll be disappointed. Only a few."

Her smile turned strange, her expression soft like flowing water. 

"The majority were taken away by someone else. And then…conveniently blamed on me. I think there's a terrifying secret behind it all."

Tch…Backlund, a royal manor, people disappearing...combine that with "George III," "human trafficking," and "excavating the Tudor ruins for advancement to Black Emperor"…it's not hard to guess what's going on.

Still, no one should stir up trouble in the prince's own manor—even George III should avoid drawing attention to home turf. Unless Edessak is…destined to be discarded?

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock came from outside.

Trissy quickly dressed, gathered up the two layers she had removed, and opened the door, stepping out with the bashful poise of a little white rabbit. She looked up at Prince Edessak with timid eyes. 

"Sorry…my clothes were too complicated."

Prince Edessak nodded slightly, cast a faint glance at Edward, then wrapped an arm around Trissy and walked off.

Damn. I've been marked, haven't I?

Edward stared at the lock of hair Trissy had slipped him before leaving, his heart cursing every profanity he knew.

—Everyone who's interacted with her has gone missing. Then what about me? No—more accurately, what about Annie?

He had no doubt that the people behind this had countless ways to make Annie 'disappear' without anyone noticing.

To her, it would be a disaster she never saw coming.

No. He had to do something.

Edward narrowed his eyes and suddenly quickened his pace, striding toward Prince Edessak and Triss.

"Flaviate!"

A rope shot out and instantly bound Prince Edessak's legs. He turned around in shock and fury, only to see Edward darting forward—clearly just a petite maid, yet she easily knocked him aside. Grabbing Triss by the wrist, she bolted toward the villa's exit.

"Stop them!!"

Prince Edessak was filled with regret. He should have known—how could a rebellious girl who had used every trick in the book to escape suddenly become so docile?

He had clearly lost his mind, letting a few sweet words from her soften his heart and foolishly bringing her to this damned salon!

"Audrey, you owe me an explanation!"

Audrey was utterly confused, unable to make sense of the situation. Suddenly being called out, she reflexively wore a look of innocent shock and a touch of fear. 

"I—I don't know. I don't know when Annie learned that kind of...magic?"

"You don't know?"

Edessak tore off the ropes and staggered to the doorway, only to see Edward and Trissy already surrounded by his guards. His fury finally subsided a little, and he snorted coldly. 

"I hope that's true."

Not far away, Princess Helena clenched her fists, quietly cheering them on with excitement. She had brought Audrey along precisely to get rid of Trissy—now that someone was helping take her away, it was a great favor to her!

"What are you doing?" 

Trissy no longer wore a smile. Her expression darkened, voice low and cold. 

"If escape were that easy, why do you think I've stayed at the manor this long?"

"Well, how would I know if I didn't try?"

"Idiot! What's really keeping me from leaving is a mid-to-high-sequence powerhouse hidden in the shadows! You think you can get me out from under a demigod's nose?"

Edward replied matter-of-factly, "Nope."

"Then you—?"

"I never planned to take you out. Bye now."

With that, Edward's figure twisted and vanished into thin air.

Trissy was left standing in the courtyard, stunned, before the guards rushed forward and subdued her.

Now she understood—he had done it on purpose!

"Bastard! You bastard!!"

Triss struggled furiously. Prince Edessak stormed forward and grabbed her chin tightly, forcing words through gritted teeth, "You have disappointed me greatly. Take her back!"

Over the next half hour, Prince Edessak's men scoured the villa thoroughly. When they finally discovered the unconscious Annie stuffed in a guest room wardrobe, the incident reached a conclusion—

Someone had knocked out Audrey's maid and disguised themselves to get close to the prince, with the aim of kidnapping his commoner companion.

Prince Edessak didn't completely believe this outcome, but he had no way of disproving it. After all, what reason would the daughter of Earl Hall—Loen's top banker and a key figure in the New Party—have to abduct a girl?

It couldn't be that someone in the royal family didn't want the prince falling for a commoner, so they asked Earl Hall to help remove her, right?

Prince Edessak rubbed his forehead, his thoughts a jumbled mess.

"Maybe...maybe Earl Hall merely allowed someone to impersonate Audrey's maid, giving them a chance to take Trissy?"

"Yes, that must be it."

"No—I need to keep a close eye on her. I can't let her have even the slightest chance to escape again!"

Prince Edessak hurried off.

Naturally, the salon, only halfway through, couldn't continue. Viscount Glaint smiled apologetically to the guests, sending each one off and promising to make up for the disrupted event next week.

Helena and Audrey walked side by side to the manor gates. The princess looked visibly disappointed.

"Sigh...if only that woman had really been taken away."

Audrey replied absentmindedly, "Y-yeah…"

"Audrey."

Helena took her hands affectionately, glancing left and right before speaking with a pleading tone, "Please help me. If we can prove that woman's problematic, my father might finally order her banishment!"

"I can't. I don't have that kind of ability."

"I can pay you! Twenty thousand—no! Thirty thousand pounds. How about that?"

"Eh?"

Audrey blinked her emerald eyes, startled, and then murmured, "I...I'll consider it."

"Thank you!"

Helena joyfully embraced her.

"Your Highness, it's time to go."

"Yes, coming!"

She stuck out her tongue, waving vigorously. 

"Bye, Audrey~ See you next time!"

The grand carriage rumbled away with the princess aboard.

The faint smile on Audrey's face faded. She watched the carriage disappear down the main road, subtly adjusting the brim of her hat to hide the truth in her eyes.

She was now impatient to return and see Edward. Something must've happened back in the washroom that led to his bold 'kidnapping' stunt.

——

Viscount Glaint had just sent off the final guest. He wiped the sweat from his brow, visibly exhausted. He still couldn't quite piece together what had just happened. He had only stepped away for a dozen minutes, and suddenly the third prince showed up, his companion got kidnapped, and the kidnapper turned out to be Audrey's maid, Annie.

Although it was later revealed Annie had been impersonated and the prince no longer pursued the matter, Glaint still felt uneasy—

Because he knew the true identity of the impersonator.

"But why did Audrey's friend suddenly try to abduct the prince's companion?"

Puzzled, he walked over to Audrey.

"Sorry, Glaint, I ruined your salon."

"N-No worries."

Grelint was surprised by how direct she was. He hesitated a moment and asked, "Why did your friend do that?"

Audrey cleared her throat awkwardly, then replied with a mysteriously profound tone:

"Hmm…an attempt."

———

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