The blue panel expanded above the entrance hall, large enough that everyone could see it.

[Mansion Truth Revealed]

[The Rose Room cannot be opened by force.]

[To enter, the Lady must first receive her proper tea.]

Nobody said anything for a second before the entire hall erupted into chatter, like sparks catching on dry grass.

"The Rose Room..."

"The Lady?"

"Proper tea?"

"What does that mean?"

"It’s a clue," someone whispered.

"No shit, it’s a clue," another snapped. "But to what?"

Deon read the lines again, narrowing his eyes. His hand moved unconsciously toward his pocket, where the rose-handled key still rested cold against his fingers.

Seems like this next part is about Rosaline...but tea? What could that mean? And is the jewelry box hidden in the Rose Room, then?

Regardless, at least they had a hint on the path forward. But before he could think further, the woman near the entrance suddenly sucked in a breath.

"Wait," she pointed toward the left corridor with a trembling hand. "There was a hallway sign earlier. I saw it when we were searching. It said Garden Wing."

Several people turned toward where she was pointing. People who had been staring at the corpse now looked toward the left corridor.

"The Garden Wing..." someone muttered.

"The Lady...proper tea...maybe it’s a tea garden?"

"Or a greenhouse."

"Roses grow in gardens, right?"

"The Rose Room must be there."

A few contestants took one step toward the corridor before stopping themselves, as if embarrassed by how obvious their greed had become.

Everyone had noticed the hypocrisy within themselves. Just a second ago, they were yelling about bloody murder. Now they had forgotten all about it, clinging to the words Deon said.

Because it was simply just "spoiled milk."

Joshua looked around the hall, trying to catch the room before it slipped out of his hands again. "Everyone, let’s go together. If you rush blindly, someone else could die."

But before anyone could act on their impulse, the woman near the entrance started sprinting in that direction. "Screw you! I’m not waiting around!"

And just like that, the hall broke again. Contestants scattered toward the left corridor. A woman shoved past Martin, nearly making him fall again, while two men whispered to each other while gripping their Cards.

Deon watched them go. "Idiots."

Mina looked up at him. "Shouldn’t we hurry too?"

"We will."

"But they’re getting ahead."

"They don’t know about the mansion like we do. Even if they got ahead, they won’t be able to progress."

"Right..."

Even Joshua and Martin were now sprinting toward the rest of the group, one eager to calm the others while the other was just on his coattail.

And once that happened, all that was left was Deon’s group...and the stench of the corpse that had started to rot in the middle of the hall.

Deon turned to look at Vivian, yet she only met his expression with her red eyes without hesitation.

"What?" she asked.

"Did you do it?"

As soon as the question came out, it was like time had slowed. Hana’s breath caught as the others froze. But all Vivian did...was grin from ear to ear, like she was amused he had finally asked.

"If I told you I didn’t, would you believe me?"

"No?" Deon asked, unsure of the answer.

"No," Vivian nodded casually. "I didn’t kill him."

But Deon knew how Vivian functioned. Words were just as powerful as physical force if used correctly...and Vivian Queen was a master of words.

Not "I had nothing to do with it" or "I don’t know what happened..."

He clicked his tongue. "Then let me ask it another way."

"You know who did it, don’t you?"

...

For once, she didn’t answer immediately. And that was enough for Deon to confirm his suspicion.

So that’s how it is...Damn it, she hasn’t changed one bit. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Hana looked between them, her face slowly losing color. "Vivian...?"

"You didn’t kill him," he said slowly. "But you know who did. Tch, who am I kidding? You probably had a hand in this, didn’t you?"

Vivian finally replied, tilting her head. "That’s a pretty serious accusation, Little Day—"

But before she could finish her sentence, Deon stepped in. "Don’t do it again."

"What?"

"You heard me. Unless the situation is extremely desperate. Whatever you did, don’t do it again unless I say so."

Vivian’s smile faded. "Tch...who the hell are you to tell me what to do?"

"Your party leader," Deon said. "And if you don’t like that, leave. Solve this mansion on your own."

Mina and Nami both went quiet while Jin looked like he wanted to disappear. But before either of them could exchange another word, Hana stepped in and raised both hands between them.

"Stop!!!"

"Please," she said. "Don’t argue right now. Don’t make it worse than it already is..."

They both stared at Hana, surprised at the sudden courage, but also that she chose to step in.

Finally, Vivian lifted both hands in surrender, though the gesture looked far too theatrical to be sincere. "Fine, fine. It’s not that serious, anyway."

Yet her eyes met his one more time before the smile returned in full. "I’ll let you keep playing Captain if you so wish."

Hana stood between them, visibly unsure whether the argument had actually ended or just been folded away for later. But when Vivian turned and started for the left corridor, she finally slouched and let out a soft sigh.

"Hey, Deon..." she started. "I haven’t questioned it until now...but is she actually trustworthy...?"

Hana looked guilty for asking, but not enough to take it back. Even if Vivian was connected to Deon somehow, Hana knew that couldn’t be allowed to distort the group dynamic.

"Trustworthy?" he repeated.

Hana nodded slowly. "I mean...I know she helped us. And she’s strong. But..."

Vivian tilted her head, still not turning around. "You know I can hear you, right?"

Hana flinched. "I-I know."

"Then how rude," Vivian said lightly. "At least whisper if you wanna talk behind my back!"

But Deon ignored the comment, thinking hard on Hana’s question before finally deciding.

"No."

"W–what? Really?"

"She’s not trustworthy, not even a little bit."

He stared at the purple hair swaying behind her back. The hair that he always used to see when he got into trouble, the same one that would always show up without fail.

Even as he gave the answer, something inside him didn’t agree. Maybe it was nostalgia or a sense of debt, but Deon couldn’t bring himself to fully say it.

Hana swallowed. "Then why..."

"...Never mind," he muttered.

"Let’s go."