A Transmigrated Princess's Guide To A Fluffy Royal Life!-Chapter 150: Blood Red?

Evelisse cleared her throat and lowered her voice. "Hello, boys." Her tone dropped, thick with icy menace. "Miss me?"

They flinched.

She almost grinned.

’Fluffy, can you take note of this face? Also, lie detector and heartbeat reader, on.’

"Already done. Tracking their pulse and pupil dilation now."

The prisoners were visibly shaking. One stared up, voice trembling. "We didn’t expect... this. H-How did you get in, sir?"

Evelisse kept her tone sharp. "Do you think I’m the kind of fool who needs permission to enter his own prison?"

They flinched again.

"No, sir! Of course not!"

Another dared to speak, still on his knees. "Are... are you here to get us out?"

She tilted her head slowly, letting the silence linger like poison.

"Is that what you thought this visit was for?"

They paled.

"I—I mean, it’s just... you being here—"

"I’m here because someone made noise," Evelisse snapped. "You were told to stay quiet. Why did you draw attention?"

"We—We didn’t mean to! The blond prince—he was already down here—"

"Do you think I care about excuses?" she said, stepping forward.

They recoiled like whipped dogs.

’Fluffy, that line from the kdrama villain worked better than expected.’

"A+ delivery," Fluffy praised. "Very wicked shaman vibes. You even got the slight eye twitch down."

’Thanks. I binge-watched ’Curse of the Ice Witch’ last week.’

One of the prisoners dared to raise his head. "Boss... do you still have the plan in place? The one you... left us here for?"

That made her pause.

Left?

’They weren’t captured. They let themselves be caught?’

Her gaze sharpened. "Why would I tell you anything if you’ve already proven you’re too loud to keep secrets?"

They shut up immediately.

She smiled. Cold. "That’s what I thought."

Still... a sliver of curiosity tugged at her.

’Fluffy, can you do something... terrifying? Just to make sure they don’t doubt who I am?’

"What level of terrifying?"

’I don’t know. Maybe... no mouths? No eyes? Something subtle but horrifying.’

There was a soft ding in her mind.

A moment later, one of the prisoners let out a strangled noise.

He grabbed at his face. His lips were gone. Skin had grown over them, smooth like porcelain. His scream was silent.

Evelisse raised her hood further and crossed her arms. "Speak. All of it. Now."

The men hesitated, then looked at one another.

One finally spoke.

"You told us to get caught, Boss. You said it was the only way in. That they’d never suspect prisoners were the ones starting it all."

’Starting what?’

Another added, "We followed orders. We kept quiet even under torture. We didn’t break. Because we trust you. You told us to wait for the signal."

"What signal?" Evelisse asked coolly.

"The fire," one of them whispered. "The fire in the throne room."

Evelisse’s breath caught.

"What fire?"

"It hasn’t happened yet. But it will. The moment the fire starts, the east wing defenses drop. That’s when the real group enters."

Evelisse’s thoughts raced.

’They’re planning an attack. From inside. Using a prisoner distraction... They’re not the distraction. They’re the trigger.’

"And once they’re in?" she asked.

"They retrieve the girl," one said.

Evelisse blinked.

"What girl?"

They looked confused. "You said it yourself, Boss. The girl with the blood you need. The royal one."

Her heart dropped.

’They’re talking about me.’

"Repeat that," she said.

"The girl with the royal blood. You told us she’d be sedated. That she’d be easy to move. That her blood unlocks the gate."

’Gate? What gate?!’

"You said," one added nervously, "that the brothers are too distracted to notice her gone. That once the eldest leaves for the summit, the palace is ripe for picking."

Fluffy chimed in, voice rigid, "Evelisse. They’re talking about abducting you. For something magical."

’They think I’m a key? What gate are they even—’

A new sound cut through her thoughts.

CLACK.

It wasn’t from inside the cell.

It was from outside.

Metal.

A key turning.

Fluffy’s voice spiked. "Someone’s unlocking the dungeon door!"

Evelisse spun. "End the illusion?"

"No time. Hold character!"

The heavy iron door creaked open.

Torchlight spilled in.

A silhouette appeared—tall, broad-shouldered.

Lucien.

No. No no no.

’Please don’t walk in. Please just check—’

He stepped in.

The prisoners froze.

Lucien’s eyes scanned the room. His gaze landed on Evelisse.

His brow furrowed.

She turned slowly, letting the shadows fall across her face.

Lucien’s hand went to his sword.

"You."

Evelisse’s voice was deep, controlled. "You’re not supposed to be here, Prince."

Lucien narrowed his eyes.

"Who let you into the dungeons?"

"The walls did," she said.

He stepped forward. "I don’t recognize you."

He was trying to see through the illusion. Trying to place her.

She had to keep control.

Behind her, the prisoners were shaking again, kneeling low.

"Stand down, Prince Lucien," one whispered. "It’s the Boss."

Lucien looked between them and Evelisse.

"Who are you?"

Evelisse gave a slow, cruel smile.

"A ghost you should have buried better."

His sword came out halfway.

’Fluffy, help!’

But Fluffy’s voice didn’t respond.

The air shifted.

Lucien stepped closer.

And then—Evelisse saw it. The rune on his gauntlet.

It was glowing.

’He’s wearing a detection rune. He’s about to see through me!’

Lucien’s eyes widened. "Wait—"

Then everything happened at once.

The rune on his hand pulsed.

Evelisse felt her skin burn—like the illusion was tearing.

And Lucien—

His expression shattered.

"Evelisse?!"

The air snapped.

The illusion broke.

And now, Evelisse stood in the cell—

No hood.

No shadows.

Just herself.

His sword came fully out.

"You," he growled. "What are you doing here?!"

The prisoners looked up—

Confused.

Panicked.

"BOSS?!"

"She—she’s not—"

Evelisse’s heart pounded.

Lucien moved fast.

She backed away, stepping between him and the prisoners.

"Don’t!" she shouted. "They’re dangerous, but they—"

"Move," he snarled. "Now."

"No!" she yelled. "They know something! There’s going to be an attack!"

He froze.

The prisoners screamed.

And behind them—

A rune exploded on the floor.

BOOM.

The shockwave knocked Evelisse backward, slamming her against the wall.

Lucien hit the ground hard.

Smoke filled the dungeon.

The prisoners were gone.

The bars—melted.

Lucien groaned.

Evelisse’s head throbbed.

In the smoke, a single glowing message appeared on the wall.

Written in blood-red magic.