Veronika walked with the ribbon tight around her neck, carrying a suitcase from one wing to another. Two maids turned the corner: one was holding the other by the elbow, pale, staggering. Veronika didn't slow her pace; she registered the scene and kept going.
—Veronika! —a voice called behind her, followed by an embrace that broke her stride.
She turned, bewildered.
—Eva…?
The blonde nodded, her smile radiant.
—I'm so happy. I hadn't seen you in three days. Where have you been?
—Busy —Veronika replied, discreetly undoing the hug.
Eva took her hands, examining her with genuine concern.
—You look tired. Have you been eating properly? Sleeping?
—I'm functional —she cut her off—. And on schedule.
—We have an hour free —Eva pressed—. Let's go eat something?
—How do you know my schedule?
—Anna came to see me. They moved me to Internal Affairs.
Veronika raised an eyebrow.
—That explains why you're here.
—And I've been looking for you for… two hours. Well… maybe it was three days.
Veronika let out a short laugh.
—Why were you looking for me?
—I never got to thank you. You risked too much for me the other night.
—It wasn't charity —Veronika said, resuming her walk—. You owe me.
Eva smiled, unoffended. They walked together toward the main gallery. Red ribbons moved up and down in an orderly rhythm.
A dull thud broke the murmur. The same pale maid from before collapsed to her knees and then to the floor, stiff for an instant. Two companions rushed over; from her pocket rolled an amber vial, which another maid quickly snatched up and hid nervously.
—Bring Karina —the nearby guard ordered without raising her voice.
—Karina? —Veronika asked.
—Medical kit. And open the windows.
Karina was already kneeling, measuring the pulse with firm fingers.
—Fast but irregular —she whispered.
Standing, Veronika let her eyes follow the shape of the vial that had flashed for a second in the apron: partially scraped label, internal pharmacy format. NE-47, almost certainly. The girls exchanged looks filled with a fear that needed no name.
—She's not the first —one murmured—. Since the last Red Night…
—Shh —another silenced her, glancing around.
Karina opened a medical case with practiced movements. She checked pupils, prescribed water, rest, ventilation. She noted something on a rigid card and left with the girl, aided by the guards.
—What was that? —Eva asked quietly.
—Looks like someone had too much fun last night —Veronika replied, uninterested.
Hours later, two guards pulled Veronika out of her work routine. They intercepted her halfway down the corridor and, without roughness but without choice, escorted her to Anna's office. The air there smelled of paper and cold keys.
—Damn gorillas, let go of me —she snapped.
The guards released her upon arrival. Anna was standing behind a simple desk; a closed folder and neatly aligned papers lay with obsessive precision.
—Good afternoon, Kensington —Anna greeted.
—And now what am I supposed to have done? I literally haven't done a single thing.
—Believe me, it's not easy for me either. If I brought you here it's because I've run out of options —Anna tilted her head just enough.
—What a coincidence! I don't like seeing your face either.
Anna let the venom pass with a short exhale.
—Let's be direct —she ordered the guards, who came in with two boxes and set them on the desk—: we found all this in your room, behind a false panel.
Veronika stood up and opened the boxes. The amber glass vials gleamed with thick contents; on the labels was the internal code. NE-47.
—So NE-47…? —she said, coldly.
—It's a sedative prescribed to the maids by the doctor —Anna picked up a vial—. It's highly addictive if consumed in large amounts.
The air thickened.
—I'm not stupid enough to stash contraband in my own room. —Veronika lifted her chin—. Besides, I haven't even been in that room a week.
—I believe that too. —Anna didn't blink—. But the Master isn't very pleased with you, so if the evidence shows up where it shouldn't, you'll have a lot of problems.
Veronika smiled without humor.
—And how do I know you didn't plant it? What a coincidence it all turns up exactly where I sleep.
—Because we were already investigating since before today's fainting. —Anna pointed to a sheet—. For months fainting spells have been reported as isolated cases. The internal hospital recorded them as simple dietary disorders. But it has increased in recent days: there are five red-ribbon maids in the infirmary. I imagine it's because of this. —Anna shook the vial in her hand.
—So what am I doing here? You already have all the vials. —Veronika leaned toward Anna—. What else are you going to pin on me?
—We're going to put them back in your room. —Anna held her gaze—. I'll need you to work on this too.
—Help you? —The word tasted of rust—. Since when do I owe you favors?
—Since you walk around with a red ribbon on your neck and think that makes you untouchable. —Anna shut the box with a click—. While you're under my watch, who you are doesn't matter. If we don't solve this, you don't want to see the Master more agitated than he already is.
Silence cut through the room. The clock seemed to tick slower. Veronika crossed her arms.
—Define "agitated."
—I think you understand how people end up when they get too clever. —The mention was a blade without a name—. Some… are removed from the roster. Others are no longer in the mansion. —Pause—. I won't repeat the case of Lucille.
The redhead clenched her jaw at that name.
—I still haven't heard a "please." So, I'm just supposed to act normal with that stuff in my room?
—That's only part of it. You like to play detective; I'm sure you'll find your own way to solve this —Anna returned to her seat—. Find a way to get the documents you need.
—Wait! You control all of that. Why don't you just give them to me?
—Every one of my movements I must report to the Master. Giving you those documents would inform him of the situation. And I'd rather not add another problem.
—But you already pulled these boxes out of my room. Won't you report that?
—That's why I'm putting them back. In theory, I haven't done anything.
—What hypocrisy —Veronika said, glaring at her.
—In any case, you're on your own in this.
—For the record, I'm not doing it to help your madhouse. —Veronika dug a nail into the edge of the desk—. The credit will be all mine. And give me two weeks free of work.
—That will be the deal. —Anna gave a slight nod to the guards: out—. I can only delay it a few days; after that the Master will find out. That's all the time you have.
—A few days…
—If you were anyone else, I'd wish you good luck.
Veronika gathered herself with a sharp gesture, turned on her heels, and headed for the door.
—Shit… —she whispered, and left.