As I sat up, I sighed of relief. I could finally start my plan, I quietly got out of my bed, quietening my steps with sound barrier that covered my body.
Drip.
I felt a wet-like substance touch my shoulder. I turned instantly, nothing was there? Touching my shoulder, It was sticky, and gooey almost.. Where did it-
I realised that the one place I didn't check, was the ceiling. If it came from the ceiling, that meant looking up was not the greatest idea. I presumed it was something and if it wasn't attacking yet, that meant I had time. And looking up would only mean that it'd attack upon being spotted.
It was only a matter of when it'd attack. Would it attack in the first place? Maybe only if I spotted it, though I removed that thought. I needed a precautionary to when it would, I wasn't going to die to some stalker.
I walked through the door, my hearing was still enhanced by the sound Aether in my ears, and within a moment's notice, steps from above, crawling quietly. My proficiency in controlling my affinities wasn't great, however, it was enough for me to at least create a very small wind sphere, allowing me to detect any movement that comes into my barrier.
Because of how slow it was going, wind had no visual indication of manifestation, and so I was able to create a precaution without alarming whoever was above me. Now it was time to set my plan into action.
It was hard to determine where the maid's rooms would be, but given a rough idea of the layout through my time being here, I eventually found it. A large room that contained every maid's beds, and the hallway to the left of the room was where it contained clothes for both maids and butlers, mops, and dusters for non-Aetherians and other essentials.
The door silenced through my magic, all the maids were asleep, some curtains weren't fully closed, especially one particular window that was actually open. For unknown reasons, only within rooms, large casement windows were used whereas hallway windows were regular arched windows.
It appeared that the thing above me hadn't come in which I couldn't particularly hear it so I presumed so. My barrier turned off just in case I made the maids wake up, . Searching through each drawers that each maid had, I looked at the names of each maid.
Priscilla..
Priscilla..
Priscilla..
I found it! On the bed was indeed Priscilla, sound asleep. The seventh bed in front away from the door. Now that I thought about it, I never really 'explored'. I had the time, so perhaps I could've checked it out. Everyone was asleep, it was the perfect time for an adventure!
I speedily left, Priscilla didn't seem suspicious, though it may have been because I was too late. I wandered the halls, looking through each room, most were guest rooms though. A kitchen, living room, bathrooms, Claudia's bedroom, and Lione's study room was blatantly stated by the gold-plated name sign stuck to the door.
It didn't hurt to go in right? Peeking in, large piles of papers stood near the desk in the middle. A lamp that was still turned on, stationery fit perfectly in a wooden-like pen box, a shelf curved inwards on both sides, and a bow window in between shining its light onto the desk.
From my peripheral, I could see a piece of paper that seemed as if it was hidden under the desk.
The writing it had didn't seem all too unusual, mostly being business and discussions about what happened with the royal family-
The royal family? It was signed weeks before by Lione and the name 'Dale Vance'.
'Agreement to start project Agnerona'? The details on the paper were brief but it talked about the abolishment and impending execution of a few noble families. Going down the list, my family wasn't on there fortunately. The set date that it was planned to start was within 2 and a half years from now.
I pounced up, hitting my head on the desk. I could hear it, the sounds of footsteps closing in. Where could I hide? There was no where, the closet in the corner conveniently was angled, to where there was space behind it. Using wind to propel myself over quickly and as quietly as possible, I was able to fit in with little to no trouble.
The only problem was that it soon became rather stuffy and uncomfortable.
"I'm telling you Priscilla, you should stop talking to Ophelia's father, it may raise suspicion. I know you're trying to get out information that the Rhin family has, but I guarantee you that man does not know anything." Serious and stern, it was definitely Lione.
"Apologies sir. From this moment on, I will refrain from doing so."
"Right, how about Ophelia?"
"It seems like she has no idea." She paused, "That I've drugged her with my-"
"Whose there?" It was too claustrophobic, and by some accident, I hit the closet, making it thud.
Sh*t, was I going to get caught? Did I have an excuse? Was I going to be executed right here and then? Was there a way to hide myself even more? No, this was going to be the place I get caught, and sent to prison for snooping around. Or even worse, execution of me and my family..
That paper.. Lione was suspicious, and I had no way of telling everyone. What the hell was I going to do?
The sounds of footsteps came closer, I closed my eyes shut and-
thud.
"Who the hell are you?" Lione interrogated, "Priscilla capture this man."
"F*ck! You won't get anything out of me! I've already sent everything I needed to them!" A random man's voice, it was high pitched and I had never heard of any man who lived here have that tone and sound before.
"Well sh*t, he bit his own tongue. Find out who this is Priscilla, report to me by tomorrow."
"Yes sir."
By a stroke of luck, I had been saved. I had to tell my dad, but wait, Priscilla had mentioned that I had been drugged. Dad may have been drugged too, if the effects were to forget everything about a certain someone and maybe even something else.. Could it get worse?
Perhaps only if I consumed or got affected by it even more. Priscilla was someone I had to avoid from now on.