As his thoughts reached no conclusion, a faint sound brushed against his senses.
Footsteps. Distant, but clear enough for his heightened hearing to catch.
His gaze sharpened. Without hesitation, he activated Void Sense, his presence fading once more into near nothingness as he moved silently toward the source.
Soon, he spotted him, A servant. Holding a dimly lit lantern, the man walked through the hallway, the very one where both his and Allen's rooms were located.
Something felt off. A quiet suspicion stirred within Rio, his instincts sharpened by his innate ability.
He followed. His steps made no sound, as if he wasn't touching the ground at all.
Then he stopped. The servant had halted… right in front of his door. Rio's eyes narrowed. Instinctively, he slipped behind a nearby pillar.
For a brief moment, an uneasy feeling crept over him as if the man was scanning his surroundings. Then came the faint sound.
click.
The doorknob turned. Slowly, Rio peeked out. The servant opened the door slightly, peeking inside before stepping in. His movements were deliberate, careful, minimizing even the slightest noise. To a normal person, his steps would have been silent. But to Rio they were loud enough.
Who is he…?
Then, a realization struck.
…Appraisal. I almost forgot about it.
The blessing he had nearly forgotten surged back into his mind. Taking a quiet breath, Rio steadied himself. His focus sharpened further. He slowly closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. His gaze locked onto the man.
At the same time, he used Void Sense to conceal everything unnecessary from his perception, isolating only the target.
Then, a faint blue, holographic screen materialized before him. Information began to form.
**Name: Berlin Mathew
Age: 28
Sex: Male
Items: Black steel lantern, poison bottle (filled with poison)
Attire: Common woven vest, white shirt, black trousers, black mule leather boots.**
The level of detail was overwhelming but only one thing truly mattered.
Poison.
Rio's expression hardened. At the same time, the strain hit him. Using his innate ability like this began to drain his stamina rapidly. Without hesitation, he shut his eyes, withdrawing his focus. The concealment shrank back to covering only himself, and he deactivated Appraisal. The warm circulation within him slowed.
He let out a silent breath. Then his eyes snapped open as a realization formed within him. The servant had noticed that the bed was empty.
A flicker of panic crossed the man's face. Rio reacted instantly, slipping behind a nearby chair.
Thanks to Void Sense, the man failed to notice him and quickly exited the room,
heading straight toward Allen's.
Oh no… he's going to Allen.
A sharp tension gripped Rio's chest. Panic surfaced, but it didn't spiral.His thoughts remained sharp, albeit urgent.
Think… think…
His mind raced through possibilities, searching for a way to create a distraction,
anything to stop him.
Then, he heard it. Heavy footsteps,Metallic clank,Close. It was the Guard Knights, patrolling the hallway. A plan formed instantly.
If I can draw their attention…
...
How do I draw their attention…? Break something?
His thoughts raced. Then he remembered, The vase. The large one placed along the hallway near Allen's room.
Without wasting another second, Rio slipped out of the room, still concealed by Void Sense. His movements were silent but his body was beginning to feel heavy. His stamina was nearly drained.
Ignoring the strain, he hurried toward the vase. It stood just ahead, closer to the servant who was now nearing Allen's room.
Now…
With his small body, Rio pushed against it.
For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then...
Crack!
The vase toppled and shattered against the floor, the sharp sound echoing through the silent hallway.
The servant froze. Panic flickered across his face. Before he could react, Rio had already moved, darting silently toward a pillar and hiding behind it, his presence erased.
The man turned back. His eyes fell on the broken vase, Confusion, Panic, Uncertainty all over his face.
Had it fallen on its own or had he caused it? He couldn't tell. Then the sound of armored footsteps rang out.
Clank. Clank. Clank.
Knights, they were coming fast. The servant's hesitation vanished. He turned and ran in the opposite direction but even at full speed, his escape felt desperate, unrefined.
Moments later, the knights rushed past, chasing after him. Only then Rio moved. He hurried back toward his room, his breathing growing heavier with each step.
The moment he crossed the doorway, his body began to give in. He deactivated Void Sense. The effect was immediate.
A wave of exhaustion crashed over him, his limbs turning numb as if all strength had been drained at once. He nearly collapsed but forced himself forward. Step by step, until he reached the bed.
He fell onto the soft mattress, pulling the blanket over himself with what little strength remained.
His eyes shut on their own. His mind, once tense and alert, finally began to calm. The chaos of the night faded. And before long, Rio drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
...
A faint presence brushed against his skin, gently tugging him back from the depths of slumber.
Warm light streamed in through the window, settling softly upon him. Still weighed down by exhaustion, Rio stirred.
His body felt heavy, unwilling to move.
Slowly, very slowly, his eyelids parted. The world came into view in a hazy blur, his vision still clouded by lingering sleep and fatigue.
"Young Master, it is morning now," Cecilia said softly, reminding him, her voice gentle as she watched him stir.
Rio shifted slightly, still weighed down by sleep, before forcing himself to wake. With Cecilia's quiet assistance, he slowly sat up.
She brought a basin of cool water closer, and Rio splashed it onto his face. The chill seeped in instantly, washing away the remnants of drowsiness and clearing his tired mind.
He went through his usual routine within the elegant mansion, bathing in a lavish bath before changing into finely tailored clothes. Though modern in design, they still carried the refined essence of nobility.
Soon after, he made his way through the hallway. As he approached a certain spot,
his steps slowed. The place where the vase had shattered last night, was spotless.
Not a single fragment remained. No cracks, no traces, nothing to suggest anything had ever happened there. It was as if the incident itself had been cleaned up. Rio's gaze lingered for a moment before he spoke.
"…Wasn't there an azure-blue vase here? The one with white wave-like patterns?"
Cecilia blinked, slightly startled by the sudden question. She followed his gaze to the spot he indicated. Then realization dawned on her.
"Yes, there was," she replied calmly. "You have quite a keen observation, Young Master. Apparently someone broke it last night."
Her tone remained composed, professional, as expected of a well-trained maid yet there was a faint note of admiration in her voice at his precise description.
Rio, however, remained silent.
Deciding not to dwell on it, Rio set the matter aside.
The guards must have dealt with the suspicious man.
With that thought, he continued down the hallway, guided by Cecilia toward the dining room.
Along the way, he spotted Allen ahead, walking beside his maid, Julianne, wearing the bright, carefree smile expected of a child.
Relief flickered within Rio. He quickened his pace and caught up.
"Allen!" he called out, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Oh, Rio! You're late today!" Allen exclaimed, letting out a cheeky laugh.
"Well, you're always late anyway," Rio shot back, feigning a small pout.
The maids walking behind them exchanged glances before letting out soft chuckles at the brothers' interaction.
Before long, we arrived at the dining hall. As expected, Allen hurried ahead and took his seat beside Father without hesitation.
I followed at a calmer pace, taking my seat opposite Mother and next to Allen.
Moments later, several trolleys were brought in, carrying our meal. The maids moved with practiced precision, serving each dish before quietly retreating with the empty carts. Cecilia, julianne and the head maid Martha remained standing behind us, maintaining their attentive presence.
We began eating. The soft clinking of cutlery filled the room until Father spoke.
"Rio," he said calmly.
My hand paused, just for a fraction of a second, looking towards my father.
"Did you leave your room last night?"