Chapter 13: The Consulting Detectives Arrive

Before going downstairs, Si Qingxuan adjusted his appearance in front of the full-length mirror.

The young master of this castle had fair skin, with no trace of sunburn or calluses on his hands.

It was clear he had lived a life of comfort.

The person in the mirror had slightly curled short hair, the roots fluffy and thick, every strand gleaming as though meticulously cared for.

His blue eyes burned like gemstones.

The curve from nose bridge to jaw was smooth and elegant, and when he lowered his gaze, there was a kind of careless grace.

In short, it was the kind of face that could be forgiven for foolishness, that would draw attention even when arrogant, and that would be called noble if it showed even a hint of cleverness.

For that reason alone, Si Qingxuan did not particularly mind temporarily taking this young master’s place.

As for how to play the role of castle lord properly… he would improvise.

A few seconds later, Si Qingxuan opened the door.

The black-dressed maid Lucia, standing outside, quickly lowered her head and stepped aside nervously, trying her best to make herself invisible.

“I will allow you to stay for now.”

As he brushed past her, Si Qingxuan offered a faint smile.

“But on one condition.

You will serve me as your true master.

Whatever I tell you to do, you will not object.

What I need is the most useful dog, not a brainless fool.

Do you understand?”

The maid’s back trembled.

She bent even lower.

“…Yes.”

“Very good.”

Si Qingxuan’s lips curved slightly.

“From now on, you will be responsible for my daily needs.

Other than you, I do not wish to see anyone else entering or leaving my room.”

Lucia looked up in surprise.

“Starting now, you are no longer the lowest servant in this castle.

You are my personal maid.

Your wages can naturally be raised several levels.”

Seeing hope light up her face, Si Qingxuan knew that what this girl feared most was poverty, not physical torment.

“There is only one rule you must obey.

You will only listen to me.

Even if Rudolf orders you to do something, you are not to comply without asking me first.

Understood?”

“Yes!” Lucia replied firmly.

“Good.

The golden desk clock on my table is yours.”

There were so many clocks around anyway.

After both intimidation and reward, Lucia followed him like a small tail.

They descended the stairs toward the first-floor reception hall.

It was still early morning.

The hall was dim, though the chandelier above shone brilliantly.

A burly, somewhat dull-looking bearded man was placing dishes from a cart onto the table.

The breakfast spread was abundant.

It meant little to Si Qingxuan, but to others it would appear refined and lavish.

“Good morning, young master.”

Rudolf bowed elegantly, his tone gentle and composed.

“The meal and tea for the guests have been prepared.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Si Qingxuan responded calmly.

Rudolf’s gaze then stuck to Lucia, and his smile faded slightly.

“I recall that you were dissatisfied with Lucia’s clumsiness.

If she so often angers you, why allow her to remain at your side?”

“Of course to discipline her.”

Si Qingxuan replied matter-of-factly.

“She is my personal maid now.

She cannot continue blundering about and embarrassing our family name, can she?”

Rudolf’s expression faltered for a moment.

The light reflecting off his monocle made his eyes appear colder.

“With respect, she is merely a country girl.

She does not deserve the position.”

“Whether she deserves it is not the important matter.”

Si Qingxuan feigned annoyance.

“Recently, I haven’t been sleeping well.

My dreams are filled with noisy sounds.”

“If I am unhappy, I have the right to seek some amusement.”

He winked at the old butler and lowered his voice so only they could hear.

“Besides, I have special reasons for keeping her.

Sometimes I want to loop a rope around her soft neck and watch her struggle like a goose.

Sometimes I want to slide a letter opener gently across her skin and see what color flows beneath that pale exterior…”

The boy spoke in a lyrical tone, as though reciting praise.

“To watch her writhe in pain beneath my hands, yet still strive to please me—how delightful.”

The old butler fell silent.

Rudolf looked at him with a complicated expression, as though seeing him anew.

There was faint disgust and doubt in his eyes, though he ultimately said nothing more.

“Then I can only hope you restrain yourself,” the butler said.

“Our castle has already seen one death.

Let us not have a second so soon.

Especially not under the watch of those consulting detectives.”

Si Qingxuan shrugged lazily.

Outside, the whinny of horses suddenly rang out.

Carriage wheels crunched over the gravel before the castle.

Several carriages came into view through the tall windows.

“They have arrived.”

The old butler bowed once more.

“Allow me to guide them in.”

“They are merely consulting detectives.”

Si Qingxuan pretended indifference.

“Would it not suffice to send a common servant?

The more ceremonious you are, the more suspicious we appear.

A display like today’s is unnecessary.”

…Since when had he become clever?

The butler concealed his strange look and smiled politely.

“It is proper etiquette.”

“As you wish.”

Si Qingxuan stifled a yawn.

“They can hardly stir much trouble.”

[You are mistaken, High Priest.]

The system suddenly spoke, its tone unusually grave.

Si Qingxuan paused.

[Do you know where these consulting detectives came from?

They were not part of the original story.

Their grand entrance suggests they are now the protagonists.]

“Stop speaking in riddles.”

Si Qingxuan replied.

“Who are they?

If this is merely an investigation into a peasant woman’s suicide, why send so many detectives?”

[Who knows?

All I can say is that these ‘consulting detectives,’ like you, are clearly outsiders to this illusion.

Their goal is likely the same as yours—to conquer it.]

“You said outsiders usually seal illusions.”

Si Qingxuan smiled faintly.

“And now there are so many adventurers?”

[Humans can be more unpredictable than dark gods.]

The system sounded weary.

[You shaped yourself into a hidden deviant to protect Lucia.

Need I remind you, in this environment you may well be viewed as the murderer—or even the key boss of this illusion.]

Si Qingxuan fell silent.

That possibility had not occurred to him.

Still, detectives ought to have some competence.

He seated himself at the head of the hall, resting his chin on his right hand, waiting with interest.

The first to enter was a young man with chestnut hair and suspenders.

He was clearly Eastern in appearance, his dyed hair slightly conspicuous, glancing around with low exclamations of awe.

So the consulting detectives had changed into proper attire, yet could not fully blend into the era.

Would that affect the illusion?

Si Qingxuan glanced at the butler.

Sure enough, Rudolf’s expression held a trace of disdain—so subtle it was nearly undetectable.

“It really looks just like in the history books,” the chestnut-haired youth murmured.

Impressive, yes.

But in a few hundred years this place will decay into something like a haunted house.

Maintenance costs will be enormous.

Si Qingxuan felt nothing.

After marveling enough, the youth turned and called out, “Boss.”

The doors opened fully.

A man in a black formal robe stepped inside.

His brows were narrow, his eyes pitch black.

He walked across the shadow cast by the window’s reflection like a solitary moon crossing the sea.

Si Qingxuan straightened unconsciously.

His hand, once loosely supporting his chin, curled into a fist and relaxed again.

The man lifted his gaze.

Their eyes met.

Neither spoke.

Perhaps the other did not know what to say.

As for Si Qingxuan, the intensity of his emotions left his face blank.

[High Priest, what is wrong?

I think I hear your inner world cracking.]

The system joked.

Si Qingxuan did not laugh.

Even if reduced to ashes, he would recognize that man.

Zhao Lin.

His ex-boyfriend who had vanished immediately after their breakup.

Si Qingxuan’s expression twitched, briefly revealing something feral.

He muted the system at once to prevent further commentary.

After the chestnut-haired youth and Zhao Lin entered, two Western-looking individuals and a red-necked officer in a navy uniform followed.

“Good morning, everyone.”

The somewhat heavyset officer spoke with a slight slur, as if nursing a hangover.

“Myself, along with several detectives, have been invited to investigate the suicide of Sophie Ireland.”