Tribute to the Rose

Ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

The story I am about to tell tonight takes place in Londinium, a city famed for its fog.

Back in @1, a country girl arrived here by carriage and turned this place into a capital of blooming roses.

Beautiful blossoms thrive in every corner of the city, providing the perfect soil for stories to grow.

Love. Desire. Hatred. And of course... our favorite...

Ah! Wh-who are you? This is Lady Sorel's private box!

Karen orders you to leave now! Don't you dare ruin the lady's evening... Ow!

...

Done admiring the view, %player%? We've got less than half an hour left.

Huh? Oh!

Good evening, Lady Sorel. %player% from the @2 Investigation Division of the Londinium Police.

@2 Investigation Division...?

Don't try those tired parlor tricks on me. Everyone in the circle knows the @2 Division is nothing but a convenient front for Mythag~

But you look pretty new around here... Mythag's latest little recruit?

Mythag again! You lot never show up without bad news! It's either a corpse, a disaster, or a loan...

Karen, this is not a place where just anyone can stroll in. How {Male=he,Female=she} got in, does it have anything to do with you?

Wh-what? My lady, what are you saying! Karen's loyalty is as pure as the Cameo ruby on your tiara!

Of course, please don't misunderstand, Karen isn't coveting it or anything...

Anyway, my lady, Karen can rip it out and show you right now, a heart of absolute loyalty!

Shh... Karen. One more word, and I will fine you a Leonian Florin.

What?! A... Mmph!

My favorite piece is about to start, and I don't want to miss it. So...

I'll give you one minute. Tell me, what do you want?

It's 8:40. Twenty minutes left.

Understood. Lady Sorel, please come with me.

Someone is trying to assassinate you.

?!

Mmph...

<Change>Awoooo!!

It's not safe here, Lady Sorel. Please come with me.

!!

How dare you lay a finger on my Lady, let alone hold her so tightly!

Hey, you said you were just here to watch the show. You liar!

...I'll explain later.

Pardon the interruption, ladies and gentlemen. Now, please enjoy...

...

What... what is this...

Ahhh!! My lady, your chest...

Blood? So dirty... Karen, clean it up for me, quickly...

Don't step back, Lady Sorel! You'll fall off!

Lady Sorel!!

Ahhh, someone's fallen!!

Th-that looks like Lady Sorel...

Help... help me...

You're awake?

Ugh... my head... it hurts...

Heart rate and blood pressure are normal. Mental energy fluctuations are slightly elevated, but still within acceptable range.

Not bad. Looks like you're finally getting the hang of it after your little trip to Ramona's Artificial Domain last time.

And that's mostly thanks to my constant refinements; now we can even set both the start and end times, plus the locations.

Though I suppose the research funding Miss Czort's secured for us deserves... maybe 1% of the credit.

Really? Only 1%?

Where's Ramona? We went in together...

Resting in the next room. Don't worry, she's perfectly fine, just like you.

Did you catch the culprit in Lady Sorel's Domain?

I only managed to catch a scent from the killer. It smells like... rotting roses.

Ahem... Is the camera set? Exposure good? Hurry up! You're all thumbs today!

Can we start? Good... 3, 2, 1, action!

Good morning, friends of Mythag! This is Hannah, your school newspaper reporter, bringing you an EX-CLU-SIVE report!

The funeral of Lady Sorel, the legendary socialite and darling of all Londinium, is taking place at Woodlawn Cemetery, mere steps away from where I stand!

Oh, how time flies! It's already been a full week since her bizarre and mysterious death at the opera house!

Hannah has yet to pry more secrets from the police... but no matter! Reporter Hannah never gives up! And now I am back with fresh intel!

Intel 1: Word is, today the cemetery is adorned with thousands of "Crimson Revel" roses shipped all the way from Constante, at a whopping cost of 10,000 Florins!

Intel 2: Guess who I spotted outside just now?

The Cavendish family, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and the ones everyone cares about most...

The esteemed Duke Harold and his only son, Nicholas Harold!

Remember when the father and son challenged each other to a duel over Lady Sorel? That caused quite a stir in town...

We are gathered here today to remember and celebrate the life of Sorel @1.

She was the most devout daughter of the All-father, a woman of noble grace and exemplary virtue...

Achoo... Achoo!

Did you catch a cold, Your Grace? You keep sneezing.

The stench of these tacky flowers is sickening... To think at least thousands of Florins were wasted just to haul them here!

Sorel clung to her nouveau riche flair right up to her death. You almost have to admire that dedication... Achoo!

It truly is admirable.

Such theatrics provide plenty of fodder for the gossip press and the public alike. No wonder she became the darling of Londinium.

Hmph. Cheap gimmicks.

...

Looks like this lady wasn't very well-liked after all.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Lady Sorel's soul has entered eternal paradise, returning to the All-father's embrace...

Lord Dexter, you don't seem to quite share our opinion on Lady Sorel?

Don't tell me you're one of her admirers too. Or perhaps... you once were? Or soon will be?

I wasn't particularly close to Lady Sorel in life, nor do I have any interest in whatever grudges you may have had with her.

However, common sense tells me that gossiping about the deceased at a funeral is hardly the conduct of a gentleman.

Mind you don't get a knock at your door in the dead of night.

...May the All-father bless you, my child.

Bloody gutter press everywhere you turn.

Rumors are flying that Nicholas and I came to blows over Sorel, absolute rubbish!

How could the common folk possibly understand Your Grace's true intentions? They'd rather believe those trite, absurd little romances.

Love, hmph. Nicholas calls it "love" too.

I could turn a blind eye to whatever games they played, but that woman actually dared to set her sights on the Shoreditch hunting grounds?

...Greed invites ruin. She can't blame us for being ruthless...

Agh!! My back...

Your driving's gone from bad to worse, Fred. Have you forgotten how to use the brakes?

No, sir... I-It's... there's... something... up ahead...

Good evening, Mr. Harold.

The victim is Baron @1 Cavendish, 32 years old. He left a party alone at midnight and was found lying here at 4 AM.

Seven nobles have died from unnatural causes now. The first one was...

Duke Harold. I remember that one vividly. It was a Porsche, hardly any of those in the whole Kingdom!

A shame it was smashed to scrap metal... Duke Harold, his butler, and his driver were all inside. All three died.

Aside from their status, the only link is that every victim attended Lady Sorel's funeral three weeks ago.

Could the tabloids actually be right? Lady Sorel's ghost is really after them...

Chief... I found this under a wheel!

A rose again? Heh, bold move. Looks like this killer is sending us a challenge.

Go check which nobles from the funeral are still alive.

They are in grave danger now.

...

You look like hell. Don't tell me a ghost actually scared you too much to sleep.

Pretty much. Everyone in our set is on edge, and writing all those condolence letters nearly killed me.

Not to mention dealing with those pestering detectives and tabloid hacks...

Stay on campus for a while. You're one of the survivors, and our top priority is to keep you safe.

Don't worry, I will keep an eye on him. I might even fix his habit of drinking and fooling around while I'm at it.

Fooling around? That's "socializing," Ramona. You make it sound so scandalous.

Ahem, let's settle down, you two...

I heard Lady Sorel turned into Silver upon death. It's now being extracted at the Awakener Department, awaiting a second Awakening?

You are quite well-informed. But a second Awakening rarely succeeds. Don't get your hopes up.

Understood. I just didn't expect that an Awakener could still yield Silver after death. So how is the new Awakener different from the original?

They retain the memories and personality, but their abilities are far diminished. So I always warn our Awakeners: don't throw your lives away so easily.

As an Awakener, did Lady Sorel have any special skills? Someone of her high standing must be exceptionally powerful.

Her file is top-secret at Mythag. Even I do not have clearance to read it. But I heard her abilities were... well, rather frivolous.

Maybe that's why, despite being an Awakener, she was still stabbed to death in the opera house in plain sight.

Frivolous? Like charming men or staying young forever?

Perhaps. I have no interest in idle speculations.

Top-secret... why?

Because of her high status. Sorel maintained close, long-standing ties to Mythag and top officials, though her origins remain a mystery.

What about the other victims? Their family ties, finances, political stances... I need it all. I need to know who stands to gain the most from these murders.

We're working on it, but it'll take time. These nobles' social webs are more tangled than the Aethis River's tributaries.

The socialites at that funeral are dying one by one.

The way things are going, Dexter could very well be next...

Don't worry. That is exactly why I brought you all here.

Since conventional investigation is hitting a wall, we might as well use the Artificial Domain.

I see! We can return to the crime scene through Lady Sorel's Domain and investigate properly!

Lady Sorel's Domain alone won't be enough. We also need to dig up more intel on her maid Karen and other associates to find new leads.

Maid Karen?

She's devastated by Sorel's death. She's sworn to do anything to help us find the true killer.

Stay on campus, and don't wander off. Just wait for us to return.

There's that tone again, like you're talking to a child. You do remember I'm your father, and a respected elder at that, right?

...

Fine, fine, you win... I won't go anywhere, and certainly won't cause anyone any trouble.

Off you go, kids. My life is in your hands now.

Munch munch... Mmm, this tastes exactly like the ones back in the real world! Ramona, want a bite?

Mm... Not bad.

Ahem, back to business. Aren't we here for those invitations?

Relax, the invitations are in the bag. Hannah taught me this trick, most people would never think of it.

Look, over there.

Hehe, these nylon stockings were a Lady's Guide exclusive! I heard Lady Sorel bought up the entire stock, so they're nowhere to be found on the market...

Ah, this delicate fragrance! I can hardly breathe...

That's nothing. This fan of mine is also a limited edition that Lady Sorel brought back from Remouahe!

Look, it's even inlaid with the eye of the Pharaoh!

Oh really? You've seen a Pharaoh's eye? Careful you don't get cursed~

Wh-what do you mean?! Are you questioning Lady Sorel's taste?

...?

What are these people doing?

Ahem... Quiet down, everyone! An exciting moment is about to unfold!

And now, our star item! None other than...

Lady Sorel's bathwater from just last week!

Just so you know, this is no ordinary bathwater!

Karen added rare sea bath salts from Thira Island, plus eighteen different botanicals including lavender, citrus, clove...

The whole mixture was then steam-infused with rose petals shipped from southern Constante for a full day and night, and it still smells heavenly!

Lady Sorel's secret to eternal youth lies right here, in this very bucket of fragrant bathwater...

Whoaaa!!

That's amazing! Can it fade the scars on my face?

Hey, no pushing... Line up, everyone! Listen up, five Florins per scoop!

Gimme a scoop! I was here first...!!

Outta my way, I'll take three scoops! I've got daughters at home...

How could a little grifter have an invitation to Nomen Rosae?

She's not just a little grifter, she's also Lady Sorel's genuine maid.

Londinium Police Department. Everyone needs to clear the area, please.

Police?!

The transaction, no, the event ends here! Karen just remembered she has urgent business to attend to...

Everyone except you, Miss Karen. The rest of you may leave.

As you wish, Officer. Karen isn't going anywhere.

B-but Karen is just a humble maid. What could Karen possibly help you with?

Relax. We're not interested in your little business. We only need you to...

...

...

She wasn't lying though. There really is a hint of rose in it.

Hah! You liars, trying to sweet-talk me into marching myself to jail, are you?

Catch me if you can, slowcoaches!!

Hey! Get back here! You'll be sorry when I catch you!

Mmph!!

Stay back, stay back... Ahhhhh!

I haven't even done anything yet.

Relax, we're not here to haul you in. We just need a little favor.

We need two invitations to Nomen Rosae. I'm guessing Miss Karen still has some in stock?

Nomen Rosae...?

Ohhh, so the officers want invitations! You could have just said so! Chasing me down like that... you nearly gave me a heart attack!

Take a good look, we're soaked to the bone! Did you even give us a chance to explain?

Ahem... Let's just put that little misunderstanding behind us, shall we? Since we're all here to do business, Karen should present her most professional attitude out of respect.

One invitation, ten Florins. Two, twenty. No haggling now~

The show is about to start, and you wouldn't want to miss it, would you... Of-fi-cers?

Ramona, I'm all out of patience. How about we just rough her up a bit first?

...Hold on.

Miss Karen, it's no big deal if we skip the show.

But I wonder... how would Lady Sorel react if she discovered her most trusted maid had been peddling her used bathwater behind her back?

K-Karen's not scared! Nobodies like you would never get within a mile of Lady Sorel. You're just bluffing!

So what? I can just stand at the entrance of the opera house and broadcast your lucrative little business to everyone...

WAIT!

Fine, take them. Take them all, you bullies! You'll get what's coming to you, just you watch!

Thanks for the warning, Miss Karen. We'll be sure to watch our backs.

You'd better just be going to watch the show. Don't get any funny ideas.

If anything happens to Lady Sorel, Karen won't let you off so easily.

And neither will He.

He...?

Oops! Looks like Karen let something slip. Silly me!

Anyway, mind your own business and don't ask questions you shouldn't. Until next time, my dear officers~

You got the invitations from the maid. And then?

Like I told you, we made it into the theater without a hitch and found Lady Sorel on the second floor.

But we still couldn't stop the killer...

Help... help me...

Help me...

I watched her fall from the balcony, flowers, champagne, and all... That's everything that happened in the first Domain.

A beauty meeting such an end, a pity, truly. You look like you're on the verge of tears.

It's alright. The whole point of entering the Domain is to reconstruct the crime scene, so the investigation that follows has a thread to pull.

Still, managing to wring those invitations from that light-fingered maid... Not bad. You're learning.

And then? In the opera house, besides that masked shadow, did you find any other leads?

During our patrol of the first floor, the Silver Core Meter picked up a brief spike in its readings, but it disappeared quickly.

So the killer was very likely one of the guests from the first floor.

After Lady Sorel's fall, the scene was cordoned off for a long time, and everyone present gave a statement.

But most of the first-floor guests were middle-class folk with no ties to Lady Sorel whatsoever.

It seems we've hit a brick wall.

Very few of the nobles who attended the funeral are still breathing. Dexter is in grave danger right now.

Ramona...

Perhaps we can enter the Domain once more? I will guard Lady Sorel upstairs, and Ramona will keep watch downstairs.

An Artificial Domain is not some holiday resort you can visit on a whim. What you two need most right now is rest.

That said, breaking this deadlock will require certain... unconventional measures...

I thought entering the Artificial Domain was already radical enough.

I have an even more reckless plan, the only question is whether you two have the nerve to play with fire.

Hahahaha! A glorious night, and an even more glorious vintage!

Mr. Nicholas, this aged reserve of yours is the true hero that sprang me from prison!

Comparing Mythag to a prison, does that make your adopted daughter the warden? Hahaha...

Shh... I snuck out this time. For heaven's sake, don't let Ramona catch wind of this.

...

I truly envy you, Mr. Dexter. You have family who genuinely cares about you.

And me? Not long ago, the love of my life was taken from me. She wasn't even cold in her grave before my father passed away as well!

Sorel... once I catch the bastard who did this, I swear I'll make them pay!

The love of his life? Interesting. At least three friends have told me the exact same thing...

Lady Sorel is... truly admirable.

Hm hm hm~ Her song, so rich with true devotion, stirs my very soul~

I live for pleasure!

So many tears tonight, such an unforgettable sight.

Let our fair blood drench the rose window, casting its glow upon the revelry below.

Good evening, Lord Dexter.

Um... you got the lyrics wrong, sir. The next line should be "Her eyes, so brimming with tears, drew me down and held me near."

How dreadful. I wanted to stage a splendid show before killing you, only to botch the very lyrics.

Kill me...?

With all due respect, you strike me as a reasonable sort of gentleman. Why, then, must you claim the life of an innocent bachelor in the dead of night?

Alas, I am but a humble servant. Everything I do is to fulfill my master's wishes.

...Eh?

Watch your back, Mr. Dexter.

Rest assured, I bear you no ill will. One might even say I quite admire you.

Which is why I'll try to make your death as painless as possible...

Oh no you don't!!

Hmm? What's this?

A rose again? I heard roses were also left at the previous crime scenes...

GYAAAH!!

It's crawling with eggs.

...Yes.

That is important evidence. Go pick it up.

I'm not touching that.

Very well. Since neither of us wants to go...

?

I believe someone is calling me "the warden" behind my back. Well, the warden now orders you to go pick up that flower.

For the record, I never said that. It was Nicholas, that kid was utterly plastered...

And yet you didn't deny it, did you?

...

Fine, fine, fine. I will go pick it up.

What a chilling smile... Note to self: never, ever get on her bad side.

Miss Doll says Lady Sorel's Artificial Domain is now recalibrated. We're clear to enter again.

So, this time, are you confident we'll catch the culprit?

I caught a very peculiar scent... I think I know how to track him down now.

"Nomen Rosae is the first opera to be staged after Lady Sorel bought into Covent Theater."

"Nowadays, the mark of high society is neither wearing silks from the East, nor owning an antique ceramic urn from Remouahe..."

"It is, rather, securing an invitation to Nomen Rosae."

Spare me the morning bulletin. I'm a Londinium citizen too, and I know just as much gossip as you do.

Ahem, I almost forgot that a certain someone gets up at the crack of dawn to sip her tea and read the paper, living like a retired pensioner despite her tender age.

Staying informed on world affairs and the latest news is a great help to investigative work.

Since it's all for work... then let's get back to business.

The show doesn't premiere until tomorrow. Why do we have to come a day early? My frail spiritual energy is already teetering on the edge...

Dexter told me that Sorel is a woman of extravagant tastes. She often books the entire second floor of the theater for herself and her friends to enjoy.

So she never sits in the same private box twice, partly out of security concerns, of course.

I see. But the killer seems very certain of her position... Could someone in her inner circle have leaked the information?

That big-mouthed maid is looking highly suspicious...

Hey, I noticed you've been standing in front of Lady Sorel's playbill for ages. You must be one of her admirers too, right?

Listen, I'm selling Lady Sorel's box number for tonight, plus the passage she'll take when she leaves... all for a bargain price!

Want to see the goddess up close? Tonight is your golden chance, don't miss out!

...?

I knew Sorel was popular, but I never imagined it had reached this point...

I only have one question: is all this really necessary?

Tch, so you are not here for that after all. Move it, then! This is the regular meeting spot for us Sorel admirers...

Hold on, who's feeding you this information about Sorel? Tell me, and I'll pay you double.

That's Ramona for you, sharp as ever.

Uh...? What's it to you anyway! Wait, you're not the coppers, are you?

Cough, cough... I'll buy your information, little girl.

Whoa! Th-this much Scrip? It's... all for me?

Here is your information, my lord! Thank you, most noble and generous sir! May you recover soon and live to a ripe old age!

This elderly gentleman hardly looks like one of Sorel's admirers. Let's go after him.

Ggh... The exact same smell as that masked shadow.

There is nothing here... Looks like it's been abandoned for ages.

Hm? There's a portrait hanging here.

Tempera? Hardly anyone uses this technique anymore.

How odd, there isn't a speck of dust on this painting, as if someone's been keeping it up.

Let's call it a day. I've noted the address, we can look into its property records once we're back.

Mm. Tomorrow's plan stays the same, then.

We get the invitation from Karen first, then I'll cover the second floor to protect Lady Sorel while you keep watch over the first.

With any luck, we might even run into that old gentleman from the carriage.

Great, this time we came prepared. We successfully dodged Karen's bathwater and even wrestled two invitations right out of her hands.

Now that was satisfying!

I must say, your nimble footwork left quite an impression on me.

Ahem, back to business. Any unusual activity on the first floor?

All clear for now. During our last run, a faint Silver Core fluctuation was detected at our ten o'clock. I will keep a closer eye on it this time.

Copy that. All clear on the second floor so far.

Still twenty minutes to curtain... With time to kill, I will go check on Lady Sorel first.

Mm, stay sharp. May the Silver Key light your path.

You're finally here... I have been waiting ages...

W-Waiting for me?

Mm-hm. Our little business meeting, remember? Hm? You're not Madam Bernard.

Ahem. %player%, with the Londinium Police Department, @2 Investigation Division.

Don't try those tired parlor tricks on me. Everyone in the circle knows the @2 Division is nothing but a convenient front for Mythag~

Oh my, did I just let slip your little secret? Sorry, I seem to have had a touch too much champagne.

Why is she drinking...? She was perfectly sober last time.

It's YOU! My lady, this scoundrel snatched Karen's invitation!

Weren't all the invitations already sent out? How do you still have some left?

!!

Uh, well... actually... the thing is...

Please forgive the outburst, {Male=Mr.,Female=Miss} %player%. My maid means no harm; she is just a bit silly.

Today is a day worth celebrating. The theater I backed is staging my favorite play.

Sending someone over at a time like this, are those old fossils at Mythag doing it on purpose?

Sorry to disturb you, Lady Sorel. We have received intelligence that an assassin is targeting you tonight.

It's not safe here. Please come with me.

I refuse.

...?

You are the one they sent to protect me, aren't you? And if I already have my own little knight, why should I leave?

I'm afraid reality is seldom as neat as a fairy tale. A lone knight cannot save the princess, only carry her off to safety.

Carry me off... to where? Some place the wicked can't find us?

You could put it that way, yes...

Pfft. There's a place in this world where the wicked can't reach? I've yet to see it.

Your ten-thirty, a man is sneaking upstairs. Get to the right exit, we'll corner him together.

?!

Sorry, Lady Sorel. I need to step out for a moment, and I'll be right back.

You're finally back, my knight.

Thank goodness you're alright.

Weren't you supposed to be protecting me? I've been waiting quite a while~

My apologies, Lady Sorel...

...Have You woken?

?

Lady Sorel?

We've known each other less than half an hour, and you've already apologized three times.

If you truly mean to make amends, this would be far more convincing.

The person I was waiting for didn't come. Why don't you play a little game with me instead? I'll ask you three questions, and if you can't answer...

...then you take a drink.

D-Drink?!

Miss Doll said I'm not old enough to drink, and drinking while on duty is off-limits...

I must decline, Lady Sorel.

What if I told you that I've always known who's trying to kill me?

?!

Play this game with me to the end, and I'll tell you the answer.

...Do you really want me to play this game with you?

Two glasses of champagne should be fine...

I accept your offer. Let's make this quick. What's the first question?

Hmm...

First question. How did Mythag know someone would come for me tonight?

If you can't answer that, would it be reasonable for me to suspect that you're all involved to some degree?

That's not a question I can answer lightly...

Hmm... this is actually pretty good.

Sip it slowly, Keeper. That bottle alone could buy you a flat in central Londinium.

Cough cough... What?!

Now for the second question. I am asking this on behalf of the ladies and madams of Londinium...

Who exactly is the birth mother of Lord Dexter's daughter?

Pfft!!

Tsk, even that little sip costs a fortune! Enough for a new necklace at Harold's...

Huh, I'd never have guessed you'd be into all this gossip, Lady Sorel... heh heh.

Let me tell you a secret: "socialites" like us spend at least half our waking hours swimming in gossip.

What else did you think keeps Lady Sorel's salon running?

...I can imagine.

Nobody's buying that doting-adoptive-father act, you know. Rumor has it that the girl's birth mother is supposedly some lord's mistress...

D-Don't talk nonsense. Lord Dexter is an upright and self-respecting man. He's nothing like what people imagine...

%player%, the communicator has been on this entire time. I heard everything.

Don't waste your breath, not even I know who my mother is.

...

Nothing like what people imagine? Then what is he like?

Is this question important to you?

Not really, just trying to round out the three questions.

No more drinking for you, little one. Let's say you owe me this drink. Now, what I really want to ask is...

Good evening, {Male=sir,Female=miss}. Pray forgive me for borrowing another's voice to convey my greetings.

In ten minutes, you will forget every word of this conversation, so please don't be afraid to answer any of my questions.

My question is a simple one...

The name you once bore... was it @2?

%player%? It's gone completely silent on your end. What happened?

<Change>I don't know...

...?

Stay put, %player%. I'm coming up now...

O Prisoner of Fate.

You masquerade as an apostle of light to deceive mortal minds; you trespass into the forbidden grounds of the unknown to beg for the truth.

Your lost memories grow and spill from the hollow eyes; your wretched future dies within the sound of the flute.

Now, I command you,

AAAAAH!!!

Adrenaline's not working either. Blood's still pouring from the eyes and nose... the ears too...

Cardiac arrest. Maybe we should try what Winkle suggested... defibrillation...

No, it's too risky.

Let's do it. Prepare the first shock.

...

Am I... dead...?

Good, we've got a response. Prepare the second shock.

...

Haah... We finally brought {Male=him,Female=her} back.

Welcome home, %player%.

Miss Sylvia, why are you here too...

I heard someone entered the Artificial Domain twice in a row. As Mythag's resident counselor, naturally I had to come check on everyone's mental well-being.

I'm sorry, Miss Sylvia. I've put everyone through so much trouble...

Don't worry, this time I came prepared.

I've brought my latest concoction, lamprey oolong. It's wonderfully refreshing~

Lamprey? Oolong tea? How did those two ever end up in the same cup...?

Well? You're its very first taster, you know~

Ramona turned it down flat, wouldn't even spare it a glance. How heartless...

It's... n-not bad... I have to say, the flavor is truly unforgettable. It certainly... wakes you up.

What exactly happened inside the Domain?

Ramona said you were sharing drinks and trading jokes about Dexter with Lady Sorel... right before your comms went completely dead.

...I was discovered.

?!

Lady Sorel's consciousness, or something else entirely, sensed my infiltration.

That dark figure on the stage... it was something immensely powerful.

It discovered me, then threw me out.

I see. It seems we underestimated Lady Sorel. The figure may be a fragment of her own consciousness...

Acting on a protective instinct, it purges any intruders.

Perhaps... and there's a gap in my memory. I have a feeling that the figure said something very important...

Lady Sorel's Silver Core refinement process is going smoothly. These questions will have to wait until we can ask her in person after her second Awakening.

Then do we still need to enter the Domain to investigate?

...There's no hurry. Get some rest first.

Thank goodness you're finally awake. Ramona was in tears, throwing a fit to come visit you, she nearly clawed my waistcoat to ribbons.

Care to try this cup of oolong tea? Works wonders for clearing the head, and curing delusions.

Oh, I couldn't. A special brew Miss Sylvia so thoughtfully prepared just for you? I wouldn't dream of it.

...

My, looking a bit green about the gills, are we? Let's move on to something cheerful, then.

You all made a major breakthrough in the Artificial Domain this time.

I was intrigued about that nobleman you ran into, so I bought a few rounds for my associates down at the precinct.

...You just wanted an excuse to drink, didn't you?

Ahem. Long story short, apparently, the day Lady Sorel died, there was one guest who slipped out without giving a statement.

?!

I thought everyone had given their statements?

The police were holding back. This particular guest is a man of considerable standing, hardly someone they could afford to cross.

Take a look, is this Mr. Lambert the gent you encountered inside the Domain?

Back then, all we saw was a hand. Gaunt, as though wasted by some grave illness, and heavy with rings...

The same gaudy taste, the same wasted frame, even the liver spots fall in exactly the same places... It's definitely him.

We also found a mansion in the Domain, completely overgrown with roses. I suspect it has something to do with Lady Sorel...

I had a friend look into it. That mansion is currently registered to Sorel's father, Mr. Lambert.

In the Domain, someone holding a knife was pacing outside Lady Sorel's box. Judging by his build, it was most likely Mr. Lambert.

Good. That ties it all together, then. Mr. Lambert is now our prime suspect.

What about that masked figure? We saw him kill Sorel with our own eyes.

An accomplice, perhaps. Let's bring Lambert in first.

...

I heard Sorel and Mr. Lambert were terribly close. They were frequently seen together at all sorts of social events. To think there was a story like this buried underneath it all.

A father murdering his own daughter? Truly unheard of.

The closer you get to power and money, the further you stray from your own humanity. If there's one thing the people of this circle excel at, it's acting.

What about you, Lord Dexter? Are you good at acting, too?

My answer would be entirely biased, my child. Better to trust your own judgment.

...Let's get back to business. Where is Ramona?

She recovered a little faster and went with the police to apprehend Mr. Lambert.

That old fox is extremely cunning, we can't give him the slightest chance to escape.

Now that it's just the two of us, let's talk plainly, shall we?

%player% and Ramona may not grasp the full picture, but I'm not so easily taken in.

Sorel's been an Awakener for centuries. Where on earth would she get a father?

...

Best not to ask about her, it'll get you nowhere. I don't have the final say on this investigation.

Well, well. Seems we've landed ourselves in quite the mess.

It may be graver than you think. Those higher-ups sent word today, they want me to speak with %player% alone. There's a new task for {Male=him,Female=her}.

To think it's drawn the gaze of the higher-ups...

Sorel is no ordinary Awakener. The powers behind her and the resources at her command, none of them could be taken lightly. They even eclipse your family's.

In matters concerning her, those higher-ups will never leave Mythag to its own devices.

I don't care what those old fogeys are plotting. But there's one thing I won't budge on...

The safety of those two children.

Believe it or not... neither will I.

Sorel, my beautiful Sorel. I've bought you a new dress. White, your favorite.

It's beautiful, thank you, Father. But it looks far too dear...

Yes, quite dear. It cost me a full 200 sterling.

200 sterling?! But Father, that's more than a whole year's... No, we need to return it right away.

You deserve only the finest, Sorel.

Mr. Binder is calling on us in three days' time. You will wear this dress, and you will make yourself agreeable to him.

...That arrogant old man? I don't like him.

You're a clever girl, Sorel. Mr. Binder is the best match our family could ever hope for. Do you understand?

It doesn't matter if you don't like him. Once his fortune is yours, you may do as you please, and see whomever you wish.

...

I don't like this, Father.

People of our station don't get to do as they please. Look at your poor mother, could you truly bear to stand by and watch her suffer?

Cough, cough... Don't worry about me, Sorel. I won't be around much longer anyway...

Mother...

Sorel, your mother and I are old now. You are our only hope.

We didn't pour all that money into you out of charity. We did it expecting a return, in time. Do you understand?

Don't do anything you'll come to regret.

Don't be afraid, Sorel. You'll find a way.

What a pity... Is this the price of such beauty?

Even the most pristine moon, once fallen to the mortal world, cannot help but be sullied by the common dust.

?!

Who's there? I'll call for help...

Shh... I am but a wandering shade, drifting through this mortal world. Every name I give is invented; every face I wear, a mask.

A pleasure to meet you. You may call me "N".

For amusements I could not put into words, I collect stories, and I rewrite them. When I come across humans who interest me, I don't mind lending them a hand, within reason, of course.

So. Why don't you tell me what troubles you?

My father isn't clever enough, and Mr. Binder is no match at all. He's greedy, and a gambler, give him three years and he'll gamble away every last coin.

But I'm too powerless to defy them.

As for my mother... she is always crying. She can't help me.

I'm so tired of it all. Tired of living in dread over money, day in and day out. Tired of my fate resting in someone else's hands.

You say you can help me, can you give me a great deal of money?

I'm afraid not, my child.

Then kill someone for me?

Hahaha... Hardly words befitting a lady of thirteen. But that's precisely why I chose you.

Alas, I cannot kill anyone for you. But you have my word, should we enter into a contract, you'll receive certain... "necessary assistance."

Indirect means, to be sure, yet lethal all the same.

They carry you to heights you've never reached, and show you sights you've never seen, and never again will you have to wed some balding old gambler.

I've been a pretty, popular child since I was small. People always came to me, wanting to be my friend.

They watched me like jackals, every one hoping to get their money's worth out of me, just as my father always said.

So I learned early on that miracles would never come to me.

I'm no fool, Mr. N. You've dangled so many tempting terms before me. So...

What's the price?

Mr. Lambert, you stand accused of the murder of Lady Sorel. Please come with us.

Cough, cough... You're finally here... I've been waiting a long while for you...

If I told you it wasn't me who killed her, would you believe me?

Sole beneficiary of Sorel's will, and a man lately buried in gambling debts, the motive writes itself.

What's more...

We found this at the crime scene. A precious piece, imported from the Far East.

We tracked down its seller. The antique merchant confirmed that you, Mr. Lambert, bought it two months ago.

Perhaps you'd care to explain why you carried it to the opera house that night?

The reason? Hehehe...

Because she deserved it. I was the one who elevated her to those glittering heights. The wealth, the status, the fame... every bit of it was my doing, behind the curtain.

And how did she repay me, once she'd climbed to the top? Not a penny came back to me, no, she couldn't wait to be rid of me.

Look at this house... I've already pawned everything I could. All that remains is this roomful of roses.

These roses were my wife's favorite, when she was still alive. After she passed, the last bond between Sorel and me was gone, too.

So I decided to kill her...

...Just as I've decided to kill you all.

UUGHH!!

Mr. Lambert, there's nowhere left to go. Don't make this difficult.

What's so funny?

Don't be afraid, young lady... I'm laughing at myself.

Late-stage Dissolution symptoms... If I'm right, your organs have long since turned to Dissolution fluid.

You can't smell the roses anymore. You can't feel the sun, or taste the wine on your tongue.

Money, power, none of it means anything to a man like you now. So why are you still clinging to it?

Even to kill your own daughter for it...

Heh heh... To you lot, of course, I can no longer taste a drop of this wine.

But you know what? As it goes down, my memories, my imagination, they just keep telling me...

It's a @2 Montrachet. First, there's this hint of licorice on the nose. Two hours later, you'd sense a rich, lingering fragrance of roses...

It's just your imagination. Sooner or later you'll have to face what's real, Mr. Lambert.

Yes, imagination! A formidable force.

The imagination of wealth, of power, of desire... It can corrupt the holiest monk, and lift the lowest thief up to a prophet.

And my dearest daughter? She dared to take that last little scrap of it from me.

Now? The only thing of value left to me is this one bottle. And there is nothing, nothing crueler than that in this world...

And that's how I was driven to commit this contemptible act.

Go on, then. Take me away, and pin every last charge on me.

Unlike a certain someone, I'm just a nobody. To this world, whether I live or die doesn't matter one bit.

... What are you getting at, Mr. Lambert?

Take me away, officer.

Target's in custody. He's confessed to everything.

Well done. That's my girl.

...

And how did she repay me, once she'd climbed to the top? Not a penny came back to me, no, she couldn't wait to be rid of me.

Father, is there anything you'd like me to do for you?

Do for me? What's this, some new code you and %player% cooked up? You've lost me completely.

Um... like, helping you earn a great deal of money? Or... helping with your investigations, your research, perhaps...

Stop, stop right there! I wouldn't dare ask that of you. Just... just stay safe. That's all I ask.

Father, thank you.

You're acting so strange today, all formal, out of nowhere. Thank me for what?

For everything.

I heard things are going smoothly on Ramona's end. How about you? How are you feeling?

Good to hear. Seems all that medical tech Winkle keeps tinkering with is good for something after all.

Look... I won't beat around the bush with you. %player%, you may need to go into the Domain again.

What...?!

This wasn't my call. If it were up to me, I'd have you stay right here and rest until you're fully healed.

You have every right to refuse. Leave those higher-ups to me.

Higher-ups?

...

I'm sorry, that's not something you're ready to hear yet.

It's alright, Miss Doll.

There are still a few things that don't add up. Getting back into the Domain to check them out would be perfect, actually.

Remember the information broker you ran into in the Domain? We had someone dig into her source, and quite the surprise turned up.

We also looked into the files and connections of those dead nobles...

Here's the fresh report from the precinct. Take a look.

?!

Just as I thought...

It's simple. A negotiation.

You know... this play used to go by another name, Death of the Rose.

The heroine's a country girl trying to make it in Cité on her own. Nothing to her name but a pretty young face.

Just like me, back then.

But my lady, you're a princess from a distant land! How could some country girl ever hold a candle to you!

Heh... "foreign princess." That's just a fancy lie, darling. I'm a country girl, born and raised in Constante.

Ah... Ah?!

A secret this huge! And my lady just... blurts it right out to me!

Wait, did she find out I gave the invitation to that curly-haired one? Is she... is she gonna silence me...?

Death of the Rose was my favorite play when I was little.

Visiting friends, getting some fresh air, shopping...

I made up so many excuses, all just to steal five minutes outside the theater, listening in.

I was so busy, you see. Piano, embroidery, etiquette... I had to learn every trick to win a noble's favor.

My lady's grace would put a real princess to shame! Isn't there a saying, um, the early bird...

Ah, wait, no, fortune favors the prepared!

I'm such an idiot. Tonight is definitely the night I die... heh...

I did manage to hear the whole opera in bits and pieces. But I never liked its ending.

The country girl successfully made her way into Cité's high society, only to fall for some useless young nobleman, and die for him in the end.

That's... that's so sad... Karen doesn't like it either! Karen hates tragedies!

Mm. No one likes a tragedy.

So, the very first thing I did after buying into this theater was rewrite it, new name, new ending.

I could finally do whatever I wanted. Or rather, I thought I could.

Wealth, fame, knowledge... People flock to them because once you have them, you have freedom.

The freedom to change an opera's ending that you don't like, or the freedom to buy a cameo ruby just because it catches your eye.

That's all humans are, really. Simple creatures.

My lady, why bring all this up now? It's getting kinda heavy, haha...

You've always been a clever girl. Even without me, you'll do just fine.

M-My Lady...

Are you... are you saying you're gonna leave Karen behind...

No one's leaving you behind, Karen. You've always been free.

Hmm...?

Good evening, Lady Sorel. It seems you've lost something?

<Change>My Lady...

Took me a while to catch this thing. But after our last little run-in, I've got its moves all figured out.

You again... Why did you come back? Didn't you learn your lesson last time?

Doll was right, she knows she's in a Domain.

Just came to confirm a few things.

...

Playtime's over, Lady Sorel.

You again! Lady Sorel, leave this one to Karen...

Step back, Karen.

%player%, you barged in here just to show me this?

Lady Sorel, a woman who's always loved a bit of spectacle... yet on the day of her death, she came to the opera with no one but her maid.

Hey! What's that supposed to mean?! Is it a crime for my lady to enjoy a little music in peace?!

Easy now, Miss Karen. Remember those dealers on Lincoln High Street? The ones peddling word of Sorel's whereabouts?

We've already looked into it. You were the one feeding them those leaks.

Leaking your employer's information is a serious offense. So I'd wager you were doing it on her orders.

!!

T-That's not true!... Karen just wanted to make some extra cash on the side! It's got nothing to do with my lady!

Don't you dare try to frame my lady!

And those dead nobles, almost all of them had clashed with you in politics or business. So may I reasonably conclude...

You staged your own death and used it to clear away every obstacle in your path, including your own father.

Publicly naming Mr. Lambert as the sole heir to your will was just bait, to lure him into a desperate gamble. Even if he had failed, the weapon and the motive alone would have been enough to bring the police running.

And then, you would use your Second Awakening to stage a dramatic resurrection in public, clearing your name completely.

After all, who'd be mad enough to accuse a dead woman of murder?

Am I wrong, Lady Sorel?

Hehe... What a charming little theory. But what about the shadow, then?

It killed someone in plain sight. How do you plan to prove I had anything to do with it?

The scent.

I caught the scent last time you threw yourself at me. You both smell exactly the same... The smell of rotting roses.

It's just a puppet of yours, isn't it?

...

As expected of a Keeper, you've got a really good nose.

See it? The scar on the back of my hand. As long as it's here, my pact with Him will remain in effect.

I still have to stir up trouble and cause chaos at His behest... Those dead nobles were the sacrifices I offered up to Him.

But I got sick of it long ago. Humans, and most Awakeners, crave order by nature. Only a maniac enjoys endless chaos.

And the price to break this pact is simple: Death.

...So this is your real goal all along.

Yes. The so-called nobles, and my father, were merely a side order. Killing them didn't cost me my life.

He never shows Himself. In fact, He hasn't answered me in a very long time.

Night after night, I crawled on my knees, weeping and begging Him to set me free from this pact.

Yet I heard nothing. I saw nothing. Nothing but dead silence.

So I'm done waiting. This time, I will break this pact myself.

...Even if it costs me my life.

A pact... I see. He granted you certain special abilities, and in return, you carried out His bidding.

No wonder your puppet looks so much like Him, you were borrowing His power.

That's none of your concern, little investigator.

Now you've got the truth you came for. So, what are you going to do next?

Honestly, there's really not much I can do.

I'm just the messenger. They sent me to negotiate with you. Here, these are the terms drafted by the higher-ups. Please take a look, my lady.

Heh, greedy as ever, that lot. If I agreed to all of this, wouldn't all my years of effort go down the drain?

And we can't have that, can we?

But if you refuse, Mythag will invoke the supplementary clauses to immediately terminate your second Awakening, and expose everything you've done to the world.

In fact, I'm afraid you haven't much of a choice, Lady Sorel.

No choice? You don't know me very well yet, Keeper.

Expose to the world, you say? Tell me, shall I expose the existence of Dissolution to the world? Or shall I expose the existence of the Awakeners to the world?

Go on, take your pick.

My apologies, Lady Sorel. Please don't take this negotiation as a threat. It's a partnership, to the benefit of both parties, and I assure you the higher-ups are entirely sincere about this...

...Huh?

I knew it would come to this the moment you showed up again.

The worst has come to pass... You haven't the faintest idea what you've drawn here, do you, Keeper.

What I drew here... could it be...?!

Trying to use Mythag to keep me in check, your higher-ups are clever, but even they make mistakes. They didn't account for you.

...Me?

O Rebel Against Fate.

In rotting mire you blossom, young and fair; up the tall green vines you climb, even higher; and beneath your heel, you trample the masses who are just as insignificant as you.

Your desires know no bounds, your soul has long since decayed.

And there, in your blighted garden of roses, I have beheld it. That silent massacre...

...Is He gone?

I can't feel Him anymore. He's gone, I should think.

He never did have the patience for trouble.

Then what about all this black mist...?

Don't touch it. Otherwise, you might get pulled into some unexpected dimension.

The Domain's collapsing! Just hold on till the last second, and stay clear of this black mist...

No... There's nowhere left to run!

Hold on tight this time, Keeper.

...You look like a real knight right now.

A real, noble knight, forced to save a fake princess.

I'd say... you look like a real princess right now, too.

Deeply honored, %player%.

EXTRA EXTRA!!

You're not going to believe this! Lady Sorel, who fell to her death recently, has risen from the grave!

Word is, her father, @2 Lambert, tried to assassinate her, and some quack doctor mistakenly declared her dead!

And then, nearly a month after she was buried, on one dark and stormy night, the woodsman Jacob hears this... this tapping coming from inside the coffin...

Spinning the second Awakening as a resurrection from the grave, not a bad story, honestly.

Sorel's more beloved by the public than ever now. I hear West District's already got six or seven plays about her in the works.

Yeah. She's basically a living legend now.

As for her poor father? He's now the villain who tried to murder his own daughter. They've even pinned the noble murders on him.

Come to think of it, Sorel really owes you one. If you hadn't pulled her out of the Domain...

I was just a negotiation puppet sent by the higher-ups. If she'd died for good, the whole negotiation would've gone down the drain.

So... yeah. Just doing my job.

There she is! It's Lady Sorel!!

Lady Sorel! Lady Sorel!!

Oh my god, she just looked at me! She actually looked at me!

...

Huh, this is actually the first time I've seen her outside of a Domain.

You seem a little distracted. Something on your mind?

She looks so different now... I barely recognize her.

...

Maybe she doesn't remember any of it. I even suspect that using me to kick N aside was all part of her plan...

Hss! What the...

What? It's only been a few days and you already forgot about me?!

Miss Karen...

My lady is very grateful for your help in the Domain! She specifically sent Karen to deliver a very special gift to you!

Treasure it well, this bottle is super-duper expensive!

If I were you, I'd definitely sell it off. You'd be set for life!

So she remembers it all...

You still owe me a drink, Keeper.

Good afternoon, Father.

What a rare guest, Sorel. Since I went bankrupt, I've lost count of how many times you've shut your door in my face.

I thought you'd forgotten you had a father at all.

Is this any way to treat the one who saved your life? Getting you out of prison took quite a bit of work.

You were clever enough to leak that fake will just to lure me in. Do you really expect me to believe, cough, cough, that you got me out to save my life?

...

I heard that when the police took you away, you accepted the charges without a fight. Why?

The moment you fell from that box, I knew. I'm no match for you.

My daughter is a devil, heartless enough to kill herself just to send her own father to the gallows.

That's because I have a good teacher... my dearest father.

Just leave, Sorel.

If your mother Rebecca were still alive, she would never want to see what wretched creatures we've become.

Don't pull away, Father. This is likely the last time we'll ever see each other.

Remember when I was little? I loved to lean on your knees just like this...

We are cut from the same cloth, you and I. Relentless ambition courses through our veins, turning us into monsters obsessed with fame and power.

I could never despise you, just as I could never despise myself.

Is that so... But when I look at your mother's face, my heart aches. I am not like you, Sorel.

I don't want to become what you are. I don't want to...

I know, I get it... Reviving you only to let the Dissolution consume you, it was all N's idea, wasn't it?

All just a sick joke to spy on me and gross me out. His sense of humor is as awful as ever.

How do you know?! How dare you say His name out loud...

How ironic. First we were slaves to power, and now we're both slaves to Him.

Kin turning on kin, blood feasting on blood, isn't that His favorite kind of show?

My pact with Him is long over. We're both free now, Father.

I've secured a new identity for you and left you some money. From now on, you can go anywhere you want.

You can do anything you please, just never show up again.

Heh... Are you making fun of me? Look at me. I can't go anywhere now...

I'll get you the best doctors. You are my father. If you want to, you can surely cling to life until the end of the world.

I've waited long enough for this day. Now I finally hold all the cards to cut these ties with my own hands...

Farewell, my father.

?!

Fare... well? Oh Sorel, my naive Sorel...

I did say that only true death can break our deal, and you just believed it without a second thought.

Weak souls always put their hopes in the mercy of those in power, and they never once question the rules of this world.

But all of this is nothing more than a game to us.

You're not him... You are...

I make the rules, and I break them.

Long time no see, Sorel. I missed you so dearly, I just had to borrow Mr. Lambert's body for a while.

It's really heartbreaking, though... You don't seem very happy to see me. You even tried everything you could to get rid of me.

No, no... Our pact... I already broke it...

But then you turned around and made a deal with those fools. You were once my possession, how could I bear to see you bound by them?

So I just had to bring you back where you belong. The game of hide-and-seek in the Domain was just a little welcome gift. Did you like it?

I spent so long planning this... Was it all for nothing...?

No, it can't be... There has to be a way...

Sorel, do you know the language of the rose?

Hmm... Faithful love?

More than that, sweetheart. They say in faraway Londinium, roses also stand for beautiful longings.

A longing for love, for family, and for all the beautiful things in this world. Sorel, one day you too will become someone everyone looks up to.

Everyone looks up to...? Why?

Because you are just like this rose, beautiful and resilient. You will never be like me, always in tears.

My girl doesn't cry easily, and she never backs down. She'll seize her own fate with her own hands.

My lord, you're afraid. Afraid of Mythag, afraid of that little green Keeper.

That's not fear, my child. Don't you humans call it... "homecoming jitters"?

I do have my reasons for keeping my distance from Mythag, and from %player%.

So that's why you didn't stay for long in the Domain, which gave us our chance to escape.

My lord, you've walked the human world for thousands of years. Surely you know...

When someone is backed into a corner, they have nothing left to fear.

Yes, today I'm your captive again, all because I was weak and foolish.

But it doesn't matter. Once, twice... As long as there is the slightest chance to escape, I won't let it slip.

Whether that chance comes from Mythag or %player%, it's all the same to me.

You love a good bet, don't you? Why don't we make one of our own...

You never stop surprising me. Tell me, what are the stakes?

The stakes are... everything I have.

Well, that's where our story pauses for now. As for what lies ahead for our little rose maiden, we'll just have to wait and see.

Lest this ending seem too rushed, allow me to add a few more words.

Humans, Awakeners... you all naively believe you can shake me off, that you can build your own future if you just try hard enough.

But it is all useless.

You can never get away from me, just like you can never get away from Fate.

Remember...