Aboard the fastest arcane train in the entire Prism Kingdom, a young woman in blue sat pale-faced in her compartment. Crimson eyes were sharp beneath the brim of her hat. Decorated white hair tucked away beneath it.

Raine. The only daughter of the St. Claire family. Beside her stood her maid, Ren, who was dressed in shorts, braces, and a tie over brown sleeves, clinging to all the luggage with boundless enthusiasm as she sat opposite.

"Why do you look so gloomy, Raine? Are you already taking a dislike to your fiancé? You haven’t even met him yet."

Ren leaned in, trying to pull Raine’s attention. The young woman didn’t so much as blink, staring through the window with such intensity it looked as though she wanted to jump off the train.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

She exhaled deeply.

"There’s nothing to see, Ren. I’ve already heard so much about him. But there are no take-backs now... the family’s future depends on this."

Raine’s eyes still never found Ren’s. She appreciated the effort, Ren trying her best to coax a smile out of her, but her mind was elsewhere. Something about this journey felt terribly wrong, and no matter what she did, she couldn’t shake it. Every inch of it made her uneasy.

Her mind was elsewhere when the knock came. Both heads turned toward the cabin door. A catering staff member stepped in with a service trolley, their gentleness and calmness were so pronounced that they looked almost like a saint.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

With a warm smile, the young staff member placed their tea on the table between them.

"Green tea is available, ma’am. Don’t worry, it’s on the house."

Ren frowned.

"But we didn’t ask for it... don’t you think you should have asked first?"

The irritation in Ren’s tone was unmistakable. She looked nothing like the same person who’d been making jokes and trying to shift Raine’s mood moments before.

Something horrific took over the staff member’s expression, and it went far beyond being scolded. As though he’d just been confronted with the most traumatising scene of his life.

"I—I’m sorry... I can take it back if you want."

Taking in the staff member’s expression, Raine quietly ordered Ren to let him leave the tea. She wasn’t entirely sure about his intentions, serving without being asked went beyond strange, but causing a scene wasn’t on her agenda.

As soon as he left, Ren spoke:

"You are not going to drink that, are you? If you wish, I can check it for poison."

Raine never got the chance to speak. A collapsing sound rang out from outside the cabin. Both of them were on their feet in an instant, defensive, but what they saw next sent chills straight down their spines.

Fresh, thick blood seeped beneath the door, trickling slowly in their direction. Raine gritted her teeth and weighed their options.

"I had a feeling... but I didn’t think it would involve death."

The soft panic in Raine’s eyes didn’t escape Ren. She stepped forward, placing herself between Raine and the door.

"Do not worry, ma’am. I am here to protect you."

Ren produced a revolver and a dagger from seemingly nowhere and fell into her stance. Raine trembled, and not lightly. She knew how to handle herself in a fight, but a situation that could genuinely get her killed was something else entirely.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The atmosphere shifted entirely. The door handle turned, a small push followed. Raine acted on instinct, revolver pulled from the side of her boot before she’d even thought it through.

"Who the heck are you? Show yourself."

Then a bald man stepped through the door, scar across his forehead, hands raised in complete submission.

"Don’t shoot, ma’am. I’m here to help you."

Raine blinked repeatedly. Did this man truly take her for a fool? Bloodstains marked his shirt and clothes plain as day. But before she could speak, he hurried to beat her to it.

"I know you do not trust me, but for safety reasons, please allow me to take the tea away."

He moved forward anyway, permission be damned.

That was a mistake.

Just one step, and Ren put a bullet in his shoulder. He dropped to his knee instantly, hand clenching the wound as blood ran down, and yet, not a single sign of pain crossed his face.

"Who told you to move? Move again, and you will be dead." Ren warned.

The man clenched his teeth in irritation.

"Just check the cup of tea first, and you will understand what I mean."

Ren and Raine both hesitated. Then Ren stepped forward and dragged the cup. The moment her eyes caught what lay beneath, her body moved before her mind could. "It’s a bomb!"

She shattered the window and threw the cup out without a second’s hesitation. Luck was on their side, it exploded mere seconds after clearing the train.

Raine’s heart hammered. Situations like these were ones she’d have to grow accustomed to, death would be no stranger at the academy. Truthfully, though, she wasn’t prepared for it yet.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Ren’s attention shifted toward the bald man.

"Who are you? And who wants Lady Raine dead?"

The man relaxed on the floor.

"Who I am does not matter. You must know that I am here to help."

A slight narrowing of the eyes, suspicion sitting behind them, as Raine tucked her revolver back into her boot.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

"Just be honest. Leomaris sent you, didn’t he? The people he has wronged want me dead, don’t they?"

A soft smile tugged on the man’s lips.

"I suppose the fiancée has done her research," he muttered as he rose to his feet. "You are correct. I am the young master’s butler, Aaron. I am here to make sure you arrive safely."

Clutching his shoulder tightly, Aaron rested on the seat. "I’m afraid we are not done yet. We have not even reached the mountains yet. There will be more to come."

With a nod of understanding, Ren apologised for shooting him and passed him bandages for his shoulder.

Meanwhile, up at the mountains. Leomaris had positioned the two guards and Sebastian there, and right now, both guards were staring at a man in pure horror. Their eyes flickered as they weighed their options, glancing toward the cliff’s edge more than once to see if jumping was the better call.

Whatever it was they faced justified their reasoning entirely. If that thing before them was going to kill them, they’d rather be dashed against the rocks by their own weight.

Before them was a grey-haired man with a grey mustache, everything he wore soaked through with blood. A butchering knife held firmly in hand. These men had realised who he truly was. Sebastian, Rosemary’s sole butler. Called the Butcher by those unfortunate enough to know him as an enemy.

They’d crossed paths with Sebastian countless times and never once put it together. Now they didn’t need to be told twice.

They never got the chance to jump. Sebastian closed in and took their heads clean off in one swing. Everyone assigned to this mission was dead, everyone except Aaron and Hazel, who were stationed at San Paulette. Done with a smile, all of it. Now he awaited the train’s arrival in the mountains.