The Crimson Throne

Elaine sat at the beginning of a long dining table, waiting for the poison tester to finish sampling her food. She tried to ignore the dreadful feeling festering, the anticipation of someone's imminent demise. This evening, the poison tester was a young ginger man of about eighteen years old. His hand trembled with every scoop, and his expression shifted from despair to relief each time he escaped death. The young man felt his continued heartbeat between each tasting, ensuring himself he was still alive.

The Geris' administrators found these pitiful individuals in the slump, miserable and desperate enough to sell their souls to the devil. After each selection, the administrator would bring the 'chosen ones' back to the estate and provide them with nice clothes, three meals a day, and an agreement to forfeit their lives. Most of them, however, did not care. They stabbed their fingers and signed the blood contract for a few days of a full stomach and a warm roof over their head, luxuries they once thought were unattainable. Some lucky ones lasted a few months, others a few weeks. From Estella's memories, Elaine even remembered an ill-fated woman that died on the first day.

Estella's encounters with death became so common that she grew numb to other human lives. Yet, before her passing, she attempted to investigate the poisoning and even killed half the kitchen staff in anger. Unfortunately, her massacre yielded no helpful info.

More people would die unless Elaine uncovered the culprits. But who would want to poison a Duke's daughter, and how did they bypass the fortress of security embedded within the estate? In the past, when Estella resided in the main manor, the frequency of death was not as high. Only now, after she moved, that it increased. What about the Duke's other children? Did they have the same experience as her?

The deeper Elaine contemplated, the more frustrated she became. With her current limited knowledge, the mystery appeared unsolvable.

"I am done, milady. Please enjoy your meal." After he tasted the dessert, the young man dismissed himself, and Elaine could see the tension in his body evaporating, having survived another day.

"Milady, Sir Ascania is here," a maid announced Cecil's arrival.

"Let him in."

"It is an honor to be in your presence, milady." Cecil had changed into a red and navy blue guard uniform with golden embroidery. His sword hung tightly to his side. The form-fitted clothes highlighted his lean yet muscular body, acquired through years of intensive training.

"It suits him," Elaine mused.

"Everyone leaves except Sir Ascania," she ordered.

"Yes, milady." The servants slowly drifted outside until Elaine and Cecil remained the only living beings in the room.

"Come and sit next to me." She gestured at an empty chair to her left.

"I am unworthy, milady." He hesitated.

"Sir Ascania, were you so quick to forget your oath to me a few hours ago?" Elaine pressed, her face painted with an affable smile.

"I would not dare." Cecil stood still for a minute, gazing into her fox-like silver eyes, trying to decipher its intention. Then he finally gave in and came to sit next to her.

Elaine's smile widened. She pulled out a small piece of paper tucked under her sleeves and slipped it across the table.

Cecil looked down at the mysterious paper. "Milady?"

"Say nothing and just listen to me." Elaine immediately placed her finger on his lips and leaned forward, whispering in his ear. "I want you to follow the instruction on this paper. Do not tell or trust anyone, not even your closest allies. By ordering this, I placed my life in your hands. Thus, I permit you to employ any means necessary to complete this mission. Do you understand?"

She based her faith in Cecil on information she learned about him through the book. However, Elaine realized she was making a tremendous gamble by relying on him, with her life as the ultimate wager. Still, she placed the bet. Though she had no evidence, she could feel someone monitoring her, not merely one but several watchful eyes. Under these suspicious circumstances, Elaine trusted her intuition. She needed an outsider, a person without affiliation to any factions within the estate, and Cecil was the perfect candidate.

"I will complete this mission even if it costs my life." Cecil looked at Elaine with determination in his eyes.

"Good."

She slid back into her seat and casually picked up a strawberry on a dessert tray nearby. "Now, Sir Ascania, you must join me in admiring these rare delicacies. Be sure to consume them when you finish." Elaine bit down on the strawberry. Its sour flavor made her tongue tingle.

Cecil opened the piece of paper and carefully examined the information. He then crumbled it up and tossed it into his mouth. In the quiet dining room, Elaine could hear his swallowing sound.

"I am honored for your invitation, milady. But unfortunately, I still need to familiarize myself with the manor. So please allow me to excuse myself." Cecil stood up and bowed.

"Fine. If that's what you prefer, I will not keep you. Do not disappoint me," Elaine smiled. She achieved her purpose—no need to keep him here longer.

"Thank you, milady. Please enjoy your dinner." He turned around and swiftly exited.

Her smile faded as soon as Cecil's figure disappeared behind the door. She pulled apart Estella's confident facade and returned to her true self, an anxious college student.

Elaine rested her chin on the dining table, drained of energy. She neither possessed Estella's shrewdness nor her ruthless nature. Even her sole advantage, knowledge of the future, currently seemed worthless. The main storyline would start another two years, and Elaine needed to be more knowledgeable about the prevailing events. Staying passive, however, would only encourage the perpetrators. She would have to strike first before their plan succeeded, whatever it might be.

Hopefully, Cecil could complete the mission. Elaine did not fully trust him. Still, she had no other alternative. Living in Estella's body for the past three days was enough for her to identify a dilemma. If she avoided the problem, it would come to her. However, if she faced it, Elaine lacked experience dealing with such matters. No matter her unwillingness, her participation in this world was inevitable.