An Aura Farmer's Guide to Another World
Chapter 49: Castle of Light - Part 3

Chapter 49: Castle of Light - Part 3

Rosalinda, one of the twenty-three assassins, stood before me. Two meters behind us was her target, Lady Beatrice, closely guarded by Joséphine.

It wasn’t a deal—it was blackmail. She was threatening a massacre unless I allowed her to murder Lady Beatrice first.

Even more shockingly, she stated I was free to kill her right after she killed Lady Beatrice.

In an ideal scenario, this would be the perfect outcome: she does the dirty work, I get 50 million Berries from the system, and over 40 lives are spared.

What should I do?

"Would you keep your word?" I asked.

Rosalinda maintained her smile, "Of course." She answered.

"Oom-pah-pah."

The piano’s melody floated gently beneath our voices. At the same time, the rhythm of footsteps on the dance floor mingled with hushed conversations, offering just enough cover for the exchange between Rosalinda and me.

I extended my hand to her. "Join me for a dance," I said. "I’ll decide after asking you a few things."

With a faint smile, Rosalinda slipped her hand into mine. "Sure." She guided me to the dance floor, her movements deliberate, graceful, and difficult not to notice.

On the dance floor, Rosalinda rested one hand on my left shoulder and clasped my right hand with the other.

"So then," she said, her grip steady as we swayed to the music, "what is it you want to ask me?"

As we began to dance, she moved quicker than expected, her leg brushing close, nearly landing on my foot.

"Be gentle, this is my second time dancing the waltz."

Rosalinda froze for a beat, blinking twice. Her lips parted slightly as she turned her eyes from mine to my footwork.

"That’s unexpected," She lifted her chin, eyes narrowing slightly. "You mean to say Lady Beatrice was your first waltz partner?"

"Yes," I replied.

Rosalinda slowed her pace. "I don’t have much time, be direct, what do you want to know?"

"Suppose I give you the chance; distract Joséphine, let you make the kill," I said quietly. "I need to know why. Why do you want her dead, and why offer your own life in return?"

Rosalinda twisted her body, and I matched her step for step, shifting with her into a new pocket of the dance floor. Moments later, another couple slipped into the space we’d just vacated.

"Lady Beatrice is the most evil woman in this city," Rosalinda said, her gaze flicking toward the gilded statue where Beatrice stood, chatting idly with a guest.

My foot slid forward as Rosalinda stepped back in time. "Strange," I said, voice low. " I was under the impression a psychopath kidnapped your family and ordered you to kill Lady Beatrice or watch them die."

"Oom-pah-pah."

Rosalinda let out a soft chuckle, her black lips curling as she turned her gaze aside.

I raised a brow. "I never took you for a justice hero aiming to get rid of the city’s biggest evil."

Rosalinda’s grip tightened, her nails digging into my shoulder. "You think I’m insane, don’t you?" she snapped.

I broke eye contact, shifting my attention to Lady Beatrice behind us. She was holding a glass of wine, laughing softly with someone beside her.

"Convince me she is evil, and I will allow you to kill her," I said.

"Easy," Rosalinda Replied.

With a slight nod of her chin, she pointed in the direction of golden figures nearby, each one clutching perfume bags.

My eyes drifted to Lady Beatrice. Glass in hand, mid-conversation, she casually returned a bottle of perfume into one of the bags.

"Did you know?" she murmured, gaze fixed on the golden figures. "The statues were once alive. Killed, dipped in gold, and frozen like ornaments just to hold perfume bags at a party."

A subtle, pleased smirk played on her lips. "Are you convinced she is evil?"

My eyes stayed locked on the statues, tracing every detail of their frozen forms as my mind pushed itself to the brink, trying to make sense of the horror.

"Are those statues actually people? Could they have been transformed into gold statues in the same way Lord Henry tried to turn me into one?"

’Thud-thud.’

I caught the sound of footsteps behind me; too close, too sudden. Before I could turn, a hand came down on my shoulder.

"It seems someone is getting carried away?" a voice said.

I glanced over my shoulder only to find Cupcake standing next to me. Rosalinda and I came to a halt, our attention shifting to her in perfect unison.

Cupcake leaned in, her left fingers curling around my collar. Her other hand stayed raised, two fingers crossed.

"You belong only to me. Have you forgotten that, darling?" she said.

Cupcake collapsed against my chest, and her pupils dilated like ink in water. "Don’t you understand? No one else gets to touch what’s mine."

"Calm down," I said, placing a hand on her shoulder. I tried to push her back, but she wouldn’t budge; her body was heavy like a boulder.

"I’ll have to remind you, won’t I? Remind you of where your loyalties lie." Cupcake glanced at Rosalinda. "Did her scent cling to you?"

"Leave Rosalinda out of this," I said, finally pushing Cupcake away.

Cupcake stood close, the sweep of her black gown brushing the floor, twin tails framing her face. "Who is Rosalinda?" she asked.

I gestured toward Rosalinda, "her."

Cupcake turned her gaze toward Rosalinda. "You’re lying to me," she said.

"Why would I keep her name from you?" I asked

Cupcake moved past me like I wasn’t there. The black folds of her gown were swaying.

She stepped in close to Rosalinda, leaned forward, and breathed in the scent at her chest. "Are you Rosalinda?" she asked.

"Yes," Rosalinda responded, swiveling her upper body to face me, her eyes conveying a clear message: get rid of Cupcake.

Cupcake’s eyes stiffened, her cold demeanor darkening further. "I hate liars," she muttered, almost too quiet to hear.

"Tell me," she said, her voice low as she lifted her chin, eyes fixed on Rosalinda. "What’s your name?"

"I don’t know you," Rosalinda said, her tone flat. "So what exactly makes you think I’d put up with your creepy behavior?"

That’s when it hit me: Cupcake had erected a near-invisible barrier boxing the entire event hall, and she once told me she could detect lies inside her barrier.

Snap if I don’t do anything, Cupcake will figure out Rosalinda is an assassin.