Sera wasn't sure whether to take Rowan's words as a compliment or not. It made him really suspicious in her eyes. Obviously, it was she he was describing, not Anna. She couldn't help but think he was aware of her identity, but asking him could potentially make the system see him as an enemy.
Sera would rather not fight with Rowan. Since she wasn't sure who Rowan was before her, it was better to keep her guard up. Since he was trying to protect her, perhaps she can keep him as an ally for disposal.
Rowan gazed at her for a long moment before deliberately turning his back to her, walking toward a far-off shelf.
"Find your warding book." He said, his tone sounded flat and neutral. "You know where to find me if you need anything."
It was a deliberate and clear choice on his part. He was giving her a window. He was choosing to look the other way, Sera knew this. He knew something, but he was willing to overlook her schemes for some reasons he wasn't willing to divulge. He was acknowledging that he cannot stop her, and choosing not to try for reasons Sera can't fathom.
Sera didn't bother to probe any longer and took a seat, pretending to read a book as she considered her plans. However, the peaceful afternoon she shared with Rowan was suddenly interrupted.
A magic tower messenger appeared before Rowan in haste. He looked flustered and urgent as he spoke to Rowan.
"Young Master, Archmage Meridan summons you immediately. The investigation... there's been a development with the recording orbs from the banquet. Your presence is required to verify the authenticity of the magical signatures."
Rowan was visibly conflicted. He was needed back at the magic tower, but it was apparent he didn't want to leave Sera on her own. He glanced in her direction, knowing she overheard the messenger.
Sera waved a hand at him.
"Why are you still here, Sir Ashgrave? The magic tower needs you. I'll go nowhere. I shall remain here when you return."
Rowan glared at her, knowing she wasn't being honest.
Almost on cue, Charlotte arrived and approached Sera, her face pale.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Charlotte? Calm down, will you?" Sera regarded her maid.
"Miss... there's a development on your case. The city guard has apprehended the maid who served you and the saintess wine. They say she's confessed to acting alone, but..."
Charlotte stopped when she noticed Sera wasn't alone. She shrieked and lowered her head in fear.
"You worry too much, Charlotte. Let the authorities deal with her. I'm sure they'll be able to know where she was lying or not." Sera replied as she glanced at Rowan.
After a moment of silence, Rowan walked towards her and looked at her.
"I'll be leaving for the magic tower. Make sure not to cause any trouble." He said sternly.
Sera grinned and chuckled.
"What do you take me for, Sir Rowan? With these mana cuffs on me, do you really think I can pull something?"
Rowan's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a low, almost inaudible tone meant only for her.
"I know exactly what I take you for, de Lys. These cuffs are a formality, and we both know it. Do not mistake the leash for a lack of teeth."
He held her gaze for a moment, then turned and strode out with the messenger, his cloak snapping behind him.
Sera laughed amusedly. If he knew, did he really think she would obey his words without question?
The moment the door closes and his aura fades from her senses, Sera's façade drops. The playful grin vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating expression.
"Miss, are you alright?" Charlotte asked, noticing the sudden change in her mood.
"Thank you, Charlotte. That will be all." She feigned distress, but the gears on her mind had been running..
Rowan was being summoned away, and her target had been delivered. The window was open to take.
As for the maid that was apprehended, Sera had no doubt this was a classic Church or Argenthal move. They found a patsy to take the fall and close the investigation neatly, preventing it from leading back to them. The maid was a loose end to be silenced once and for all.
But how could Sera allow that to happen? She had yet to get even with the Argenthals, and she had a perfect plan in mind. Since they were so desperate to cut their losses, Sera would ensure they would lose more.
Sera waited patiently for Rowan to leave. Rowan waited for the duke to return to the estate, as if Duke Lysander could thwart Sera's plans while he was away. He gave Sera a disapproving look before vanishing through the portal leading to the magic tower.
Sera returned to her study, locked the door, and immediately went to the bookcase. She didn't need to search; the system's coordinates guided her. She pricked her finger with a pin from her hair and smeared a drop of blood on a stone in the wall. It glowed crimson, and a section of the bookcase swung inward silently.
Sera smiled, pleased with her temporary freedom. With Rowan not around, she didn't need to be wary of someone being after her.
As the bookshelf swung open, a hidden stairwell leading down was revealed. The system interface flashed before Sera.
[MANA SPRING CONFLUENCE DETECTED. TEMPORARY CUFF BYPASS INITIATED. MANA RESTORATION: 45%... 72%...]
Sera was surprised that the mana spring was able to override the mana cuffs with its mere presence alone. She descended the stairs with a lamp in one hand. The system mapped out the place, giving her the right direction to take.
It didn't take long before Sera saw a light in the pool. It emitted light, illuminating the entire place. Sera knew that she needed to hurry. There was no way her father was not aware of this place within their estate.
"Analyze how much time I have before Rowan's return." She asked the system.
[ANALYZING WARDEN'S MANA SIGNATURE... SIGNATURE LOST AT MAGIC TOWER ENTRANCE.]
[ESTIMATED RETURN WINDOW: 97 MINUTES, 12 SECONDS. TRANSPORTATION VIA AUTHORIZED PORTAL NETWORK.]
[RECOMMENDATION: MISSION DURATION MUST NOT EXCEED 70 MINUTES TO ALLOW FOR RETURN AND DECONTAMINATION.]
[TIME CONSTRAINT ACTIVE: -5 VP/MINUTE FOR EXCEEDING DEADLINE.]
Sera sighed inwardly. She knew the system wouldn't make it easy for her.
Without hesitation, she waded to the glowing pool of mana and plunged her wrists with the cuffs beneath the surface. Her wrist grew hot. Sera flinched in pain, but she was willing to endure temporary discomfort.
The mana cuffs shook as they resisted the effects of the mana pool. It was supposed to stop Sera from utilizing her mana, but it cannot stop her from absorbing mana from another source. Black veins started to creep from her wrist up to her arms, showing that her bloodfire magic was back.
[MANA RESTORATION: 100%. TEMPORARY OVERCHARGE ACHIEVED.]
[BLOODFIRE MAGIC: ACTIVATED. SCARLET SYMPHONY: ONLINE.]
[WARNING: MANA CUFFS WILL RE-ASSERT ITS EFFECTS IN 68 MINUTES.]
Sera got some of her mana back, but only at the level Anna had at her best. It was much lower than the amount of mana Sera had in her previous life, but she thought it was better than having none at all.
Ninety-seven minutes was a tight window. First, she needed the right tool for the job.
"System," she commanded. "Access the shop. Filter for items related to forgery and implicating the Argenthals. Also, suggest an item I can use for a decoy."
The shop interface showed the item she requested. The system seemed to know what she had in mind.
[ITEM FOUND: "CROW'S FEATHERED QUILL." ORIGINAL COST: 400 VP.]
[APPLYING "FIRE SALE" TOKEN... NEW COST: 200 VP.]
[EFFECT: PERFECT HANDWRITING FORGERY VIA BLOOD LINK. RISK: BLOODMARKED.]
"Perfect," Sera grinned. With the fire sale token, she was able to purchase the item at half the price. "Purchase it."
[CONFIRMED. -200 VP. "FIRE SALE" TOKEN CONSUMED.]
[REMAINING VP: 1,350.]
[ITEM "CROW'S FEATHERED QUILL" ADDED TO INVENTORY.]
Now for her alibi, she thought. She needed a decoy to trick everyone within the estate. Sera wasn't sure, though, if Rowan would be able to see past her tricks.
"How about the decoy I asked."
The system immediately gave her an answer.
[ITEM FOUND: "HOLLOW ECHO." COST: 150 VP.]
[DESCRIPTION: CREATES A STATIONARY AUDITORY AND ILLUSION OF THE USER. [DURATION: 180 MINUTES. ]
[WARNING: ITEM IS BLOODMARKED. IF DISPELLED BY HOLY MAGIC, A TRACE OF HERETICAL ENERGY WILL REMAIN.]
"Three hundred and fifty points is a considerable sum, especially since it is hard to earn points," Sera muttered with a wry smile. "I suppose that's a reasonable price rather than face the consequences of being caught."
She hummed as she considered the punishment she might face if Rowan found out she escaped during her absence. Testing his patience wasn't on her plan.
"Please proceed with the purchase and have it deployed to my quarters. Program it to be seated in my armchair, engrossed in a book. Let the decoy fall asleep so no one would dare to interrupt it."
[CONFIRMED. -150 VP.]
[REMAINING VP: 1,200 VP.]
[DEPLOYING "HOLLOW ECHO" TO TARGET LOCATION...]
[PROGRAMMING: READING LOOP. MANA SIGNATURE SYNCHRONIZATION: 100%.]
[DECOY ACTIVE. ESTIMATED DURATION: 03:00:00.]
With the decoy in place, it was time for Sera to ruin the Argenthals' plan completely.