Leroy walked through the long hallways of the Herald manor, his footsteps quiet on the polished marble floors. Paintings of past family members stared down at him from golden frames, their eyes seeming to follow him as he passed.
The garden was at the back of the house, through a set of glass doors that sparkled in the morning sunlight. As he pushed them open, fresh air filled his lungs. The smell of roses and jasmine mixed together, sweet and calming.
The garden was huge, with perfectly trimmed hedges forming maze-like paths. Fountains bubbled peacefully, and colorful flowers bloomed everywhere. It was like stepping into a fairy tale.
But the peaceful feeling didn't last long.
"Well, well. Look who finally decided to show up."
A cold voice cut through the morning air like a knife. Leroy turned toward the sound and saw a young woman sitting on a white stone bench under a large oak tree.
Lady Freya Herald had long black hair that shone like silk in the sunlight. Her green eyes were beautiful but sharp, like emeralds that could cut glass. She wore a light blue dress that probably cost more than most people made in a year. Everything about her screamed wealth and power.
But there was something else in her smile. Something dangerous.
"Good morning, sister," Leroy said carefully. He didn't remember much about Freya from the game, but he could tell she wasn't happy to see him.
Freya laughed, but it wasn't a nice sound. "Sister? How sweet. You almost sound like you actually care about family."
She stood up from the bench and walked toward him. Her movements were graceful, like a dancer, but there was something predatory about the way she moved. Like a cat stalking a mouse.
"I heard about your little engagement party today," she said, circling around him slowly. "Lisa Von Duncan, right? The elf girl with the pretty blonde hair?"
Leroy nodded, keeping his face blank. Something about Freya's tone made his skin crawl. She was too interested in his engagement, and not in a good way.
"It's funny," Freya continued, stopping right in front of him. "Father and Mother are so excited about this marriage. They think it will bring honor to our family name. But I wonder..."
She leaned closer, her green eyes studying his face like she was looking for something hidden.
"What if something went wrong during the meeting? What if there was an... accident?"
Leroy's blood ran cold. The way she said 'accident' made it clear she wasn't talking about spilling tea or dropping food. She was talking about something much worse.
"What do you mean?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Freya's smile got wider, showing her perfect white teeth. "Oh, you know how these noble gatherings can be. So many people, so much confusion. Someone might slip poison into a drink. Or maybe a chandelier could fall at just the wrong moment. Accidents happen all the time."
She walked over to a rose bush and picked a bright red flower. As she held it up to her nose, she continued talking in that same sweet, dangerous voice.
"Of course, if something happened to you during the engagement ceremony, it would be such a tragedy. Poor Leroy, dying on what should have been the happiest day of his life."
Leroy felt anger building in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. Getting mad wouldn't help him right now. He needed to be smart.
"And what would you gain from that?" he asked quietly.
Freya's laugh was like breaking glass. "What would I gain? Oh, dear brother, you really don't understand, do you?"
She crushed the rose in her hand, letting the red petals fall to the ground like drops of blood.
"With you gone, there would be one less person to share the inheritance with. One less reminder of Father's soft heart and foolish kindness. This family would finally be pure again, without any... unwanted additions."
The hatred in her voice was so strong it made Leroy take a step back. This wasn't just sibling rivalry or jealousy. This was pure, cold malice.
"You've never belonged here," Freya continued, her green eyes blazing. "You're not really our brother. You're just some orphan that Father felt sorry for. A stray dog that we took in out of pity."
"Mother and Father love me," Leroy said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
"Love?" Freya laughed again. "They feel guilty about you. There's a difference. But that guilt won't save you today."
She turned away from him and started walking back toward the house. But just before she reached the door, she stopped and looked over her shoulder.
"Enjoy your engagement party, dear brother. Try to stay... safe."
Then she was gone, leaving Leroy alone in the garden with his racing thoughts.
He knew now that the original Leroy's death hadn't been an accident or suicide. Freya had been planning to kill him for who knows how long. And she was still planning to do it today, during his meeting with Lisa and her father.
But now he had a warning. He could be ready for whatever she had planned.
Leroy spent the next few hours thinking and preparing. He studied the layout of the house, looking for escape routes and dangerous spots where an 'accident' might happen. He also tried to remember everything he could about poison detection and basic self-defense.
When afternoon came, Rebecca knocked on his door again.
"Master Leroy? The Von Duncan family has arrived. Lord Herald is waiting for you in the main hall."
"Thank you, Rebecca," Leroy said, adjusting his formal jacket. "Stay close today, alright? I might need your help with something."
Rebecca looked surprised but nodded. "Of course, young master."
The main hall was enormous, with a ceiling so high it made people look tiny. A huge crystal chandelier hung in the center - the same kind Freya had mentioned as a possible 'accident' waiting to happen.
Lord Herald stood near the fireplace, talking with an older man who had pointed ears and silver hair. That had to be Harry Von Duncan, Lisa's father.
But it was Lisa herself who took Leroy's breath away.
She stood by one of the tall windows, sunlight making her blonde hair glow like spun gold. Her blue eyes were the color of clear summer skies, and her pointed ears marked her as an elf. She wore a simple white dress that somehow made her look more beautiful than any fancy gown could.
But there was something sad in her expression. Her shoulders were tense, and she kept glancing toward the door like she wanted to run away.
"Ah, Leroy!" Lord Herald called out when he spotted him. "Come meet Harry Von Duncan and his daughter Lisa."
As Leroy walked across the room, he noticed Freya standing in a corner, watching everything with those sharp green eyes. She had changed into a dark purple dress and was holding a small glass of wine. Her smile looked innocent, but Leroy could see the malice hiding underneath.
"Lord Harry," Leroy said with a polite bow. "It's an honor to meet you."
Harry Von Duncan was a tall, dignified man with kind eyes. He returned the bow and smiled warmly. "The pleasure is mine, young Leroy. I've heard many good things about you."
Then Leroy turned to Lisa. Up close, she was even more beautiful, but he could see the fear hiding behind her polite smile. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her, and she kept glancing at her father like she was asking for help.
"Lady Lisa," Leroy said gently, offering her a small bow. "You look lovely today."
Lisa's cheeks turned pink, but she managed a curtsy. "Thank you, Lord Leroy. You're... very kind."
Her voice was soft and musical, like wind chimes in a gentle breeze. But Leroy could hear the nervousness underneath.
As the adults began talking about marriage contracts and family alliances, Leroy found himself watching Lisa carefully. In the game, she had been portrayed as just another girl who fell for Leon's fake charm. But seeing her in person, he realized there was much more to her story.
She wasn't here because she wanted to be. This was an arranged marriage, probably set up by her father for political reasons. She was scared and trying to be brave, just like any normal person would be in her situation.
And somewhere in this room, Freya was planning to kill him before the day was over.
"Perhaps the young people would like to take a walk in the garden?" Lord Herald suggested with a knowing smile. "Get to know each other better?"
"That sounds wonderful," Harry agreed, looking pleased.
Lisa nodded quietly, though Leroy could see she was still nervous.
As they prepared to leave for the garden, Leroy caught sight of Freya raising her wine glass in a mock toast. Her green eyes met his across the room, and her smile was full of deadly promise.
The real game was just beginning.