As I entered the room, I could sense the difference in the scent of air here compared to the rest of the mansion. It smelt very metallic in some sense, and a tiny bit of a bloody atmosphere. Even if it were something I was used to, this mutation of a smell was bothersome to me. However, we were only here for a swift investigation.
"Here. Use this to cover your nose." Cedric told me from my side while handing me a handkerchief.
"Thanks." I smiled at him while taking it from his hands. It had been heavy drowned in perfume, so it was bothering me even more. What really tipped me off, was that it smelled like Nada.
While it was also distracting, it had actually kept me wary about any environmental changes around us. Like a swift movement in the air or a sudden shadow disappearing. Thanks to this, I was able to make clear that no one was going to spy on us as we went through the servants' chambers secretly.
Elanor had made it a clear mission to have all servants called out for an 'important' announcement. And while she kept them out, we had free will of searching every corner of each maid's rooms in particular. Finally, now that we had pinpointed one of the rooms with this metallic scent, I could tell that there must be dimenthyl mercury hidden somewhere around here.
"Check for the farthest corners of the beds or at the top corners of the drawers. That is where we are expected to least search. However, if they are extremely smart, then you can expect to find hidden latches somewhere around the drawers or any oblivious places where our eyes don't go to." I reminded Cedric while walking towards the closet myself.
But then, I remembered something. Since I was a bit of a worn-out person and also lazy at the same time, I thought that it won't hurt to have my little pets to do the work for me. So I stepped back and summoned Puppet and Cindy. Cedric on the other hand, seemed to be shocked with the suddenly brightness in the room, and it caused his attention to divert towards where Puppet and Cindy floated.
"What in the–"
"I know. But we have to build up our paces if we want to get out of this place before the servants are dismissed. So we can have my little beasts to search this place first, while we check for the scent in other rooms." I pointed out my finger, while pushing open the door to step out. He followed after me a short while later, and I removed the handkerchief to take a deep breathe.
After about ten or fifteen rooms, we found two more chambers filled with the metallic scent, and marked them with a piece of paper right on top of the door knob.
This way, even if we ran out of time, we had a chance of catching the people who were into this 'poisoning' business. Because once they came complaining about someone going to rob them or having gone through their stuff while they were away—just because of a piece of paper—we can instantly tell why they are anxious and at the same time, their rooms smelt of metal.
Finally, Puppet rushed to my side and started to panic.
"We found the vile containing a second dose of dimenthyl mercury. However, if you were to retrieve it in time, you would be caught by the servants who are already on their way."
I gritted my teeth and rushed back to that room, where Cindy was trying to pull open a latch, that was hanging directly below, and upside-down from underneath the bed. I pulled the drawer and found a tiny vile of the chemical. However, I couldn't touch it. Because I wasn't sure how long yet it would take to create the cure and how long itself it would take me to retrieve the specific ingredient for the cure.
"Well this is... Troublesome." I muttered while standing up again. "You know what? Let's just leave it for now, and head back upstairs."
"Why?" Cedric asked while looking at me confusingly.
"Because we need to catch them when they are most anxious and feels trapped. Unless we want to kill ourselves alongside with Elanor and the entire Empire." I answered while putting back the things to their original places and closed the door.
That was that, and we didn't hesitate another second to glance back or do anything extra, except for leaving another piece of paper on top of the door knob.
***
"Did you find it?" Elanor asked while looking at me with an anxious face. She had been pacing back and forth ever since I had told her about the possibilities of her having been poisoned with dimenthylmercury. It was only an easy thought to think that since the Mides family had such a well-known family under their control, once it broke out fo the matrix, it would instantly be targeted.
"We did. But we didn't have the sample along with us." I answered while standing at the centre of the room with my hands clasped behind me. I stayed serious and counting the time in my fingers to watch out for the next second the servants were going to burst in with complains.
Instantly after Elanor had finished her speech, we had made it out and walked towards her room with urgent news. Because I intended to make it a sudden news to her, I didn't quiet bother trying to tell her about it yet.
"Why?!"
"Why not see it for yourself? They will come bursting in if you just keep an eye at the situation with more concern the very next second." I smiled at her while tilting my face.
"And you?!" Elanor asked with desperation at Cedric.
"I can't say anything if Aefia isn't willing to say it yet." He declared while standing a bit further next to me.
"Then what–?!"
Thud!
Her speech was cut-off by the sudden outburst of servants who scrambled inside her room, then dropping to their knees with paranoid faces. They all were worried, as I had planned for them to be as. I silently laughed while leaning my face onto my palm.
"Look at these arrogant bastards. Don't even know how to knock."I spoke while watching as Elanor step to the side from behind her desk and walk towards the servants with curious eyes.
"What do you think you are doing?! Do you not have any manners?!"
"Countess! We have an intruder at the servants' chambers! They have marked our rooms!" One of them shouted while standing on their knees and practically begging for help and at least an ounce of attention.
"What?"
Elanor looked at me like she was demanding and explanation. I could tell that she had been worried up until this point, and I knew that she would understand my plans whether I said it or not. So I looked at Cedric in return.
"Can you keep an eye out for 'group discussions'? Bring them in here without even telling them a thing. Tie them with a rope if you need." I commanded as I watched him nod and leave the room, while closing the door.
"Now, may I ask? Why do you have to be so anxious about your rooms being marked? Exactly how many were in that state?" I asked, feigning concern in front of the dumb-folded servants.
"Just ours! Three only! However, we have valuables in our rooms that costed more then our lives! If it dissapears... So will we!"
Elanor squinted one of her eyes and looked back at the servants. "What costs more then your lives?!" She folded her arms.
"What else Elanor? Gold? Silver?" I shrugged while standing directly in front of a servant. "Don't worry! If you get robbed in this estate, we will repay you with however much you got robbed of."
"No! It's not gold or silver! No one can repay it! And if it is robbed a lot of people will die if used incorrectly!"
"Oh! So it is a sacred relic! Then let them die! I will get you your relic back after I track their dead body after their death."
"No no! It is not anything that can be returned even!" They pleaded while smacking their forehead onto the floor and sobbing onto the ground.
I smiled while crouching down to the servant's place, then grabbing her chin to face me.
"Like what? Like dimenthylmercury?"
She stopped all movement, her eyes widening enough to reflect my bright crimson eyes in them. Her breathing stopped instantly and she went rigid.
"So it is... Isn't it?" I answered while pushing away her face and standing up. "You and your little group of spies... You were all sent from the Mides family. Am I correct?"
"Liar! How dare you make up such a thing?!" One of them shouted while grabbing onto Elanor's leg in forgiveness. "Countess... You believe us... Don't you?!" Her eyes turned watery.
I looked at Elanor beside me, who was giving them the same death stare and kicked her away. She had been acting alongside me, and only let out her guard when I mentioned the chemical's name.
"Don't. Even. Dare."
I smirked at the remark that came out of a sick Elanor's mouth.
"She is my close ally. Not the Mides family. You think I would let you live like this? I am even certain that you know her exact identity. Don't even think about lying."
"Huh?" I looked at Elanor's face in confusion.
"She is... Princess Aefia." The kicked servant answered while looking down at the floor in dissapointment.
I frowned at the third word that came out from the mouth. However, I didn't express my desperate need to split their brain from their remaining body. And just waited patiently.
"So how many of you are left that are not here?" Elanor continued her conversation as I folded my arms and stood a little bit further.
"Not any more." She answered while clasping her hands as if trying to prove her innocence.
I smiled as I watched the door flung open one more time, and about five more entered and fell onto the floor.
"These are the remaining spies." Cedric spoke while dusting his hands and then closing the door. "So did they confess?"
"Had to make them confess. I can't believe I had them being paid for the long. Now I am only regretting my decisions." Elanor answered while shutting her eyes with her right hands. "Actually... You two do whatever you want with them. I need to rest. I am extremely tired."
"Countess we know the cure!"
"Shut up. Even this girl here knows the cure." Elanor patted my shoulder while passing me.
"Well how do you know that she isn't lying about being a spy herself?!"
"It would be the same as saying she is a witch without prove. So you live in your own imaginations for the time being. I know her too well to know whether she is your enemy or your colleague."
"Alright Aefia. Aren't you going to silence them anymore?!" Elanor finally looked at me while staring with a sort of expression that told me to 'use my powers'. And I knew exactly what sort of a power she was speaking of.
So I rolled up my left sleeve and held out my palm flat on front of me. A bright red light appeared, and a few drops of blood turned my white bandage a beautiful piece of art. Then, my fingers were tied to strings that had a it's ends tied to the limps and neck do the servants. As I pulled it towards me, the servants all fell to the ground in a deep sleep. This was the most I could afford before I felt like an irony taste took over my tongue and at the back of my throat.
"They are sleeping like the dead. So I would have them moved to the dungeons and guarded from a distance." I muttered under my breathe as I folded my sleeve back down, hiding the small butterfly symbol imprinted to my skin.
"Why?" Elanor asked while slumping down at the edge of her bed.
"If we kill them, the Mides family might somedays take advantage of it and lable your house as a traitor or even a criminal." I answered while feeling a bit dizzy, and leaning against her table. "And if they are still alive, we can have them questioned later."
Cedric looked at me and tapped his toes while folding his arms. "Are you serious? We could have thrown them out of the window. I mean... It would be fun you know. Especially since they are unconscious."
I and Elanor exchanged a single glance before turning back to him.
"I am tired. Simply exhausted. I haven't gotten a control over my powers yet. So... I am out of this idea. Although, sure, it does sound fun. Maybe plan it for a later time?" I explained while looking down.
"Same here. Another time. After the interrogation." Elanor replied after me. "For now, have the guards out them in the dungoen and supervised from a distance. Just so they can't escape or get help from any more of their allies. Just have them heavily guarded."
Cedric let out a sigh before getting back to work, and within the next minute, a group of guards had the unconscious bodies dragged away. As I watched the scene, I let out a deep breathe. At least I knew now that Nada would be in a safe zone for real this time.
Just as I was about to head out alongside Cedric, Elanor stood up and stopped me right before I left through the door.
"Aefia, one thing that I forgot to tell you, is that the person you will be have to meet tomorrow, will be Merissa's brother."
"Wait... What?"
"Yeah. So are you sure you want to join the millitary division?"
I thought for a while, and then blurted out.
"It's not like I plan on staying for years. So I think I can manage to stay hidden in the mean time. And I just need to join them for one simple reason. I am not even focused into it."
"Are you sure? He has a sharp eye even if you wear a disguise."