The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch-Chapter 90 - Collapsing Body and Inspecting the Blood Array (2/2)

She took the small letter opener Nia handed her, cut the wax seal, and unfolded the letter inside.

This... was just an ordinary invitation.

Besides Deton Manor rotating in some new games, there was also an event...

From noon on the 22nd until 10 PM on the 24th, the fee for exchanging chips at Deton Manor would be reduced to 5%, and the commission for reclaiming items would also drop to 10%.

This meant that exchanging chips now, 100 su pounds would get 95 chips, and items originally valued at 100 and reclaimed for 80 would now be reclaimed for 90 Pounds.

This event was... quite significant, but such events happened for a few days every quarter, so it was still normal.

Usually, when such events occurred, Avena would choose to visit and see if there was anything she wanted to buy, as Deton Manor always managed to acquire some interesting items during these times.

But why start the event specifically at this time?

Wasn’t the 23rd the day that Divine Advent Church Bishop arrived?

And Ciel... seemed to know all this in advance. Before the event even started, Ciel said an invitation would be sent.

It was almost as if she had watched someone write the invitation.

Avena looked towards Ciel, her eyes holding a complex emotion.

She reached into her pocket, took out a delicate small leather wallet, opened the golden clasp, revealing a golden pocket watch inside.

Avena took out the watch and glanced at the time, her brow furrowing slightly.

This... it was already noon on the 22nd.

How did Ciel sleep for so long?

“Nia, help me turn on the light.” Avena climbed up. The book resting on her chest slid down her silk nightgown and fell onto the floor.

She slipped on her velvet slippers and walked towards the bed.

As Avena reached the bedside, the kerosene lamp was lit. Looking at Ciel lying on the bed, Avena’s heart clenched slightly.

Ciel’s face was pale, her forehead covered in beads of sweat, as if having a terrible nightmare. She was curled into a ball, even her lips devoid of color.

Avena already regretted not sleeping beside Ciel.

If Ciel had held her while sleeping like before, she probably wouldn’t have had such a terrifying nightmare...

“Ciel...” Avena took out her handkerchief, reaching out to wipe the sweat from Ciel’s forehead. But just as her handkerchief touched Ciel’s forehead, Ciel snapped her eyes open like a startled rabbit, swiftly grabbing Avena’s wrist.

Ciel’s grip was strong. Avena’s handkerchief slipped from her grasp. She pressed her lips together, saying nothing, just watching the bloodshot-eyed Ciel breathing heavily, then slowly calming down.

“Sorry... Is it night already? How many hours did I sleep...” Ciel, having calmed down, released Avena’s wrist, her tongue involuntarily licking her dry lips.

The pressure on Ciel recently had indeed been excessive.

The almost non-stop simulations and continuous events had exhausted her body and mind.

And last night’s bloodletting nearly became the last straw that broke Ciel’s spirit.

She had a nightmare.

In the dream, she was lying in a hospital morgue, watching a red-haired figure wearing a hat, mask, and glasses, whose face couldn’t be seen clearly, repeatedly dissecting her body.

Dissect, suture, then dissect and suture again, seemingly endlessly. Even the mild excitement from adrenaline triggered by blood loss and the pain of being cut felt so real.

“It’s twelve o’clock now, noon.” Avena looked at Ciel and replied, “You slept for a whole day, Ciel... Nia, help me get a glass of water. Are you feeling hungry now, Ciel?”

“The invitation, did it arrive?” Ciel looked at Avena, not answering her previous question.

“It arrived.” Avena nodded with some worry.

“Thanks.”

With Deton Manor holding its own event, the number of attendees would definitely be high. Blending in wouldn’t be strange. Even if all those cultists were summoned, no one would notice anything unusual.

Even her own appearance there wouldn’t raise any suspicions.

I must... go check the arrangement of the blood array... prepare for the ritual...

Ciel threw off the covers and slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed. But the moment her feet touched the carpet, she felt a wave of exhaustion and collapsed weakly.

Avena reacted quickly, swiftly reaching out to support Ciel under her arms, helping her back onto the bed.

Why... hasn’t my spirit recovered much? Instead, my body feels even weaker...

She felt as if her body and spirit had reached some threshold. After that terrifying, endless dream, they instantly collapsed.

“Just sit tight for a moment, Ciel. I’ll go wake Adele right now.”

Ciel looked up and saw Avena quickly walk over to the curled-up, soundly sleeping Adele and shake her vigorously awake.