The Valrois estate had fallen into an eerie silence by midnight, the grand halls and opulent rooms cloaked in shadows. Mina, still uneasy from the gathering earlier, sat by her window, staring at the moonlit gardens. The events of the night replayed in her mind—Adrien's warning, Lady Celeste's pointed interest, and the veiled tension among the nobles.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a flicker of movement below. Mina leaned closer to the glass, her breath fogging the pane. A shadowy figure darted across the garden, disappearing into the hedges near the east wing.
Her heart raced. Who would be sneaking around the estate at this hour?
---
An Unwelcome Visitor
Mina slipped on her cloak and crept out of her room, careful to avoid the creaky floorboards. The corridors were dimly lit, the faint glow of lanterns barely cutting through the darkness. As she made her way to the east wing, the sound of muffled footsteps reached her ears.
Peering around a corner, Mina caught a glimpse of the intruder—a tall figure dressed in black, their face obscured by a mask. They moved with precision, clearly familiar with the layout of the estate.
Mina's instincts screamed at her to retreat, to find Adrien or one of the guards, but her curiosity won out. She followed the figure at a safe distance, her bare feet making no sound on the cold marble floor.
---
A Hidden Room
The intruder stopped in front of a grand tapestry depicting the Valrois family crest. With practiced ease, they pressed a hidden mechanism behind the fabric, revealing a concealed door. Mina's eyes widened as the figure slipped inside, the door closing behind them.
Mina, this is reckless, she thought, her pulse pounding in her ears. But something about the situation felt too important to ignore.
Gathering her courage, Mina approached the tapestry. She found the hidden mechanism and pressed it, wincing as the door creaked open. Beyond it was a narrow staircase spiraling downward into darkness.
---
The Secret Archives
The staircase led Mina to a hidden chamber filled with books, scrolls, and artifacts. The air was heavy with the scent of old paper and dust. The intruder was at the far end of the room, rifling through a stack of documents.
Mina ducked behind a bookshelf, her breath shallow. She strained to hear as the figure muttered to themselves.
"…must find it before he does… the key to the ritual…"
Mina's blood ran cold. Ritual?
Before she could process the implications, her foot brushed against a loose piece of parchment. The faint rustle was enough to alert the intruder.
"Who's there?" the figure demanded, their voice low and sharp.
Mina froze, her heart hammering in her chest. She considered running but knew she wouldn't get far.
---
A Dangerous Encounter
The intruder moved quickly, their footsteps drawing closer. Mina held her breath, gripping the edge of the bookshelf for support. Just as the figure rounded the corner, a new voice echoed through the chamber.
"Step away from her."
Mina turned to see Adrien standing at the entrance, his expression cold and commanding. A sword gleamed in his hand, the blade catching the faint light of the chamber.
The intruder hesitated, their posture tense. "You shouldn't meddle in things you don't understand, Valrois."
Adrien smirked. "And you shouldn't trespass on my estate."
The intruder made a sudden move, throwing a small vial to the ground. Smoke erupted, filling the room and obscuring Mina's vision. By the time it cleared, the figure was gone, leaving only a faint echo of their retreating footsteps.
---
Unanswered Questions
Adrien sheathed his sword and turned to Mina, his expression softening. "Are you hurt?"
Mina shook her head, still shaken. "Who was that? What were they looking for?"
Adrien's jaw tightened. "Someone who doesn't belong here. As for what they wanted…" He glanced around the room, his eyes narrowing. "That's a question I intend to answer."
Mina followed his gaze, noting the chaotic state of the documents. "This room… it's part of the estate?"
Adrien nodded. "The Valrois family has many secrets, Mina. This archive holds records and artifacts that date back centuries. Some of them are harmless. Others…" He trailed off, his expression grim.
---
Trust and Tension
Back in the safety of her room, Mina couldn't sleep. The night's events had only deepened the mystery surrounding the estate and its occupants. Adrien's secrets, the curses, the masked intruder—it all felt connected, though she couldn't yet see how.
She resolved to confront Adrien in the morning, to demand answers about the archive and the intruder. But as she drifted into a restless sleep, Mina couldn't shake the feeling that she was becoming entangled in something far larger—and far more dangerous—than she had ever imagined.
The game's original storyline was unraveling, and Mina was at the center of it all.