A ticking time bomb.
The only one who knows about it is Reed.
It feels like a scene from a spy thriller, with tension building up for him alone.
The first song ended and he exchanged greetings with his partner.
They dispersed again until the next song, using small talk as an excuse to sip champagne.
The Tower Master of Greenwood, who danced with Reed, looked quite satisfied and walked together towards where the other Tower Lords were.
Seeing this, other women who had been eyeing an opportunity approached Reed's side.
"Hello, Master of the Silence Tower. I am Mandy, the eldest daughter of the Enzier family. Would you be able to dance with me in the next song?"
"With me..."
"No, please dance with me."
Requests to dance flooded Reed.
Tower Masters of Monolith and Radiant Tower, who had failed to find partners, enviously watched Reed.
However, Reed didn't come here just to dance and sway the hearts of women.
Such kindness and attention were rather troublesome for him.
"I'm sorry, ladies. I already have an appointment."
"Oh my, is that so? Then, please promise me the next one."
"I don't mind being after that, please!"
The women dispersed again with uncertain promises.
"Oh, it seems you've already decided on your next partner?"
The Tower Master of Jade raised an eyebrow and smirked victoriously.
However, the next person Reed had in mind was not the Tower Master of Jade.
"Master of the Jade Tower, I'm sorry, but may I ask you to dance with me next?"
"What? I'm the one after next? I'll be upset if that's the case."
The Tower Master of Jade squinted and glared at Reed.
"I'm sorry, Tower Master. Please forgive me."
"Alright. In return, you have to tell me what you talked to the owner of the Greenwood Tower about."
"...."
'So she was watching that...….'
Before the next song began, Reed headed towards the group where Adonis Hupperwas.
Adonis was surrounded by men.
Far from laughter, Adonis simply nodded to their stories with an emotionless face.
With a glass of champagne at her lips, she seemed determined not to open his mouth at all.
Then, the music started again.
As if they had been waiting, the men extended their hands to Adonis, inviting her to dance.
Adonis, with a troubled expression, looked down at their hands, wondering who to choose.
'James Bren is... not here.'
Rather, he seemed uninterested in Adonis.
Or, maybe he needs to distance himself before committing the crime.
'The only way to know that is to approach Adonis.'
It's a problem that needs to be discovered by approaching.
It's a problem that needs to be figured out by approaching.
"Ms. Adonis Hupper, would you like to dance?"
As Reed extended his hand, the hesitation on Adonis's face disappeared.
Adonis grabbed Reed's hand in an instant.
The reason Adonis chose Reed wasn't because Reed was handsome.
It was because she had talked with Reed before, and most importantly, he was the person who had gifted the dress she was wearing.
As the song began, Reed and Adonis held each other's hands, and Reed's other hand moved towards Adonis's waist.
"Thank you sincerely for the gift, Tower Master."
"Not at all, Ms. Adonis. I was worried that my narrow taste might bother you... but you look absolutely beautiful."
In truth, it was Phoebe's taste.
Thinking that he would have to thank Phoebe later, Reed expressed his gratitude to Adonis.
"Thank you for choosing me among the handsome men."
"Not at all. Rather, I survived thanks to your arrival, Tower Master. Actually, dancing with other men is..."
"Do you have any problems?"
Adonis bowed her head shyly and replied.
"Well, I... I was afraid my fantasy might be shattered."
"Fantasy?"
"How do you find my voice?"
A strangely androgynous tone.
As a knight who valued discipline and order, it was a great voice, but if you thought of it as a princess's voice, it was enough to shatter the fantasy.
"It's been 8 years since I returned to social life. I've developed many unprincess-like traits due to my rough knight life. I have scars on my body, and my voice has become hoarse..."
"So you were worried."
"Yes, since I am now a 'princess'."
To be concerned as a princess means to care about Morgan.
If she were a princess and not a knight, everything would eventually have an impact on Morgan.
That's why she couldn't easily engage in small talk and kept her mouth shut.
'It's for my father... which is no different than for the country.'
Adonis admired what her father had built and wished to become a queen as great as him in the future.
Reed felt sorry for that fact.
That she had worked so hard yet was destined to be removed by her father without understanding why.
"In my eyes, Miss Adonis is a charming woman."
"Excuse me?"
"Did you not give up your princess status to protect the country and rise to the rank of Knight Commander? Your sacrificial demeanor has been an inspiration to all, showing that the Hupper Kingdom is strong. It was a pure sacrifice that princesses who simply grow beautifully like flowers in a greenhouse cannot make."
"Do you think so?"
"If there's a man who is ashamed of Miss Hupper's voice and scars, please tell me. I will step up instead."
Upon hearing this, Adonis's eyes widened, and her green pupils sparkled.
"Thank you... even just for your words."
Adonis's heart rate quickened.
She was not in love, but his words had stirred Adonis.
Adonis lowered her head and avoided Reed's eyes.
As her heartbeat quickened, the perfume she had sprayed on her wrist and neck stimulated Reed's nose.
The sharp scent of cinnamon mixed with the soft aroma of roses.
It was a striking smell.
'Unique.'
And familiar.
This overwhelming fragrance was not something Adonis would use.
"Um, Tower Master... you're... too close."
"Ah, I apologize."
Adonis quietly spoke with a troubled face, and Reed lifted his bowed head again.
He had inadvertently gotten too close.
"It seems to be a scent you like, Tower Master? In fact, I didn't expect you to send perfume as well as clothes and accessories."
"What do you mean?"
"Hehe, you're playing dumb. After sending these clothes, accessories, and even perfume."
Reed had indeed sent the clothes and accessories.
But not the perfume.
'Perfume...'
If someone else had sent a gift, they would have revealed who they were.
But they didn't reveal themselves and mixed it with Reed's gift to make it look like Reed had sent it.
Then, could the problem be this perfume?
Could they have naturally mixed it with the gift he sent and handed her a bomb?
'It's worth suspecting.'
If the situation is set up well.
Make it so that only Bren and Adonis are there, then make him smell the perfume.
Bren, who reacts to the smell of perfume, will probably commit suicide in front of Adonis.
'Then what I have to do is...'
Cheerful music and steps.
While leading Adonis as smoothly as water with the movements imprinted on his body, he searched for a solution.
"Miss Hupper."
Reed opened his mouth.
"Yes."
"Actually... that perfume was a gift intended for my vice tower lord. I couldn't find it no matter how much I looked..."
"Oh... it seems to have gotten mixed in."
"I'm sorry."
And he naturally led the situation.
"A different perfume suits Miss Hupper. Unlike other women, Miss Hupper's heart beats strongly. We should bring out Miss Hupper's charm with a scent that is soft and subtly emanates, not such a strong scent."
"...You're not shy about flattering."
Somehow it turned out that way.
"I will give Miss Hupper a different perfume as a gift. So, could you please return that perfume to me?"
"Understood. Can I give it to you after the party?"
"I would prefer it if you could give it to me immediately. I know it's a hassle but please."
A face sincerely sorry and golden eyes.
No one could refuse seeing this face.
Of course, the same goes for Adonis.
She nodded her head.
Soon the song ended and they greeted each other.
The second dance also came to an end.
Following Reed's request, Adonis went outside the banquet hall, and Reed returned to where the tower masters were gathered.
"I have a favor to ask all of you gathered here."
The fourth song flowed from the banquet hall.
James Bren was standing still, drinking champagne, watching others dance.
"Sir James Bren?"
When a servant called his name, James turned his head.
"A lady has sent you a message."
The servant showed the napkin placed on the silver tray, and James unfolded the napkin.
-Come secretly to the flower garden. I will follow you.
-Adonis Hupper
***
Adonis Hupper.
James turned his head to find her.
Adonis was taking a break, not dancing to the fourth song.
"..."
James didn't say anything.
He just picked up the napkin and looked around.
What caught his eye was a well-sharpened steak knife.
He put it in his pocket along with the napkin and went out of the banquet hall towards the flower garden.
When the red sunset was being dyed in darkness, James arrived at the flower garden, which was ambiguously bright and dark.
And after a moment, someone walked towards him.
James turned his head to confirm the owner of those footsteps.
It wasn't Adonis.
A man was leading with six men and women watching them from behind.
The man who stepped forward greeted him politely.
"Hello, Mr. James Bren?"
"Who are you...?"
"Don't you know me?"
"Yes, but where is Ms. Adonis?"
Despite the appearance of the mysterious man, James continuously looked around for Adonis.
"My name is Reed Adeleheights Roton."
Reed sprayed something into Bren's face.
Bren was taken aback.
"What is this act... ugh!"
That surprise was short-lived, and soon James stiffened.
His face contorted, seemingly in pain.
"Gruh... grugh..."
In the end, his throat muscles tensed, growling like a beast.
He reached into his pocket.
The Master of the Monolith Tower, who was standing behind, snapped his fingers at this sudden action. Despite his sluggish-looking body, it was a swift response.
Thud!
A part of the garden floor rose like slime, wrapping around James' arm, and then hardened.
James, with his eyes bloodshot red, tried to move forcefully, but he wasn't strong enough to resist the magic of the tower lord.
"Huh, bringing a steak knife! Such a poorly behaved friend indeed."
"Ugh..."
"Master of the Jade Tower, now's the time."
"Got it."
The Masterof the Jade Tower, proficient in poison and curses, moved her hand swiftly.
The Masterof the Jade Tower gripped James's head with both hands, and her pupils began to glow purple.
"Ah, ahhh...."
James's head glowed with a blue light, then the light faded out with a moan.
Once all the light had dissipated into thin air, the Masterof the Jade Tower removed her hands from his head.
"Is the curse broken?"
"Yes, fortunately, it wasn't a terribly difficult spell to break. It's "Trigger Hypnosis"."
Trigger Hypnosis.
A spell that puts the target into a hypnotic state when certain conditions are met.
"Usually, to use this spell, one has to inject mana into the target, but if the target can sense mana, just leaving a hint is enough."
"A scary spell indeed."
"Well, it's a trick that only novice magicians would fall for. If he had put up a resistance spell, he could have easily resisted the hypnosis."
At this, the Masterof the Greenwood Tower exclaimed as if realizing something and asked Reed,
"Red Tower Master, did you request a detection spell from me because of this?"
"You're sharp. How did you find out?"
The tower masters asked Reed with curious eyes.
He knew the future, so he knew this would happen.
If he said so, he might appear even more suspicious.
"I organized this party, so of course I expected there would be troublemakers."
It was a rather narcissistic statement.
Just as the tower masters were about to say something, James, who had been hypnotized into attempting suicide, woke up.
Reed looked down at the groaning James and asked,
"Mr. Bren, are you okay?"
"Ugh... What happened?"
"You tried to stab yourself in the throat, Mr. Bren. You attempted to commit suicide right in front of us. Do you remember?"
"Me? That... I'm not sure. My memory... it feels like it's been cut off... I don't even know why I'm here."
The Masterof the Jade Tower shook her head as she looked at Bren.
"It seems the caster wasn't just an ordinary one. It appears that various spells, including a defense mechanism, have been added. Digging further won't do any good for this man."
"Mr. Bren, don't think about anything right now. Resting should be your priority."
Bren sat on the bench and held his blank head, trying to regain his composure.
"What's happening?"
A moment later, palace magicians who had sensed the unusual flow of magic came running into the garden.
The Masterof the Greenwood Tower summarized the situation.
"There was a victim of "Trigger Hypnosis". Silence Tower Master quickly noticed and handled it, so you can rest assured now."
""Trigger Hypnosis"... you say?"
The court mages blinked their eyes as if it was the first time they had heard of it.
"That's why you can't rely solely on textbooks..."
"It's all in the textbooks these days, and you're saying you don't know."
The Tower Masters clicked their tongues as if it was an opportunity.