There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game-Chapter 457 - 397: The Girl in the Castle

By the time he stepped out of his room, the Traveling Poet had already come to his senses.

Yet he still headed in the direction of the music, not only because of its allure, but more importantly to investigate the abnormalities of the castle and find a way to leave.

[Main Quest: Escape from Prague Manor.]

This was the mission he had received.

After all, he didn’t believe that he could simply rush outside and leave it all behind with ease.

Though the forest surrounding the manor appeared normal for now, who knew what the situation would be like once he left this place.

When they had opened their eyes, they were surrounded by countless Abyss Creatures!

If it weren’t for the bells tolling inside the castle, which inexplicably caused those monsters to retreat, this script might have turned into a grand Abyssal battle royale! Continue reading stories on novelbuddy

At this moment, a melancholic melody drifted from deep within the corridor, seemingly sharing a mysterious kinship with those bell chimes.

Unlike when he first heard it, the originally melodious tune had unexpectedly become sorrowful and plaintive, its fluctuations so beyond understanding that he felt dizzy and disoriented just listening to it in his mind.

If before it resembled a light breeze over distant dunes, then now it was like a whirlpool silently drifting in the pitch-black Deep Sea.

He couldn’t fathom how the tune had changed so swiftly.

The Traveling Poet followed the sound of the music, turned through the grand and spacious corridor, and arrived at the entrance of a vast palace.

Ascending the steps, he could clearly see the palace’s interior through the half-opened grand doors.

However, the scene facing the doorway wasn’t particularly pleasant to look at.

All that met his eyes was a swathe of dark red hues.

Thick velvet curtains cascaded from the ceiling, with the black threads embroidering rose patterns on the red curtains, somber and dim, while that strange and mournful melody emerged from this palace.

The Traveling Poet tiptoed to the palace doorway. He peered inside and saw the girl standing by the window.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

She wasn’t tall—the Rococo-style heavy gown she wore almost engulfed her completely, blending her into the backdrop of the palace. The dark red hem of her dress was bordered with circles of black lace, dotted with indistinguishable rose blooms.

She slightly tilted her head, resting the deep amber violin on her shoulder, her gaze lowered as she drew the bow across the strings.

The melody flowed out from the trembling strings, as the girl played, her expression seemingly calm yet tinged with sorrow—an enigmatic yet profoundly mournful tune.

The Traveling Poet stared emotionlessly for a while, until she stopped playing, with the music hovering in the palace abruptly ceasing.

Then, the girl suddenly turned her head towards him.

In her pitch-black eyes, surprise was unmasked—an astonishment at seeing him.

The Traveling Poet felt that now was indeed the time to say something, whether to start a conversation or to explain why he was there.

"Sorry, I just heard the music," he explained.

Hearing this, the surprise in the girl’s eyes softened slightly, then she lowered her head and said, "This is not a place for you. You’d better leave this castle quickly, before it gets dark."

Hm?!

The Traveling Poet suddenly became acutely aware!

Was this clearly odd character now trying to convey a secret message to him? Why?

"Why should I leave?"

Thinking this, the Traveling Poet also asked, while appropriately expressing his confusion, "The people in Prague Manor have been very warm, and it was the castle’s owner who invited us in as guests. There’s even a welcome party prepared for us tonight. Why do you want me to leave now? Who are you?"

"You talk too much!"

The girl suddenly set down her violin and, lifting her skirt lightly, briskly walked towards the door.

The massive dress swayed as she moved, and the red light at the palace entrance shone on the girl, casting her walnut-colored hair in an ever-deeper shade.

Truth be told, though beautiful, it was rather like a crimson moving tank.

Therefore, when the other party approached, the Traveling Poet, despite appearing undisturbed on the surface, had actually tensed his nerves, ready to fight at any moment.

However, the girl stopped five meters from him and began to push open the huge doors of the palace with her slender arms.

As she pushed the ten-meter-tall brown palace doors, the girl paused as she was about to close them again and then looked up with a complex expression. "I’ve already given you my advice. Prague Castle is not as wonderful as you think. If possible, you should leave as soon as you can."

The Traveling Poet, who had been pondering how she was able to move the door, hurriedly stepped forward, pressing his palm against the rose relief on the door panel.

Peering through the gap in the door, he looked at the girl who was so close and asked solemnly, "But you haven’t told me how to leave."

Xu Shuo: "..."

"Go upstai..."

The girl opened her mouth, but after uttering just one word, a look of terror appeared in her eyes as if she dreaded something.

Then, without waiting for the Traveling Poet to stop her again, she forcefully closed the door.

Bang!

The hefty door shut, and the Traveling Poet’s view was filled only with the lifelike rose relief.

Besides the roses, there were patterns resembling a Magic Array on the door, which made one feel a heavy drowsiness just by gazing at it for a while.

The Traveling Poet withdrew his gaze, his head bowed in puzzled thought.

What was the rest of the sentence the girl had been unable to finish?

Go upstairs... to the rooftop?

He raised his head to look at the high vaulted ceiling.

The castle was immense; when he had been in the first-floor hall, he thought he had seen the ceiling, but after reaching the third floor, he realized it could go even higher.

The layout inside the castle was even more complex; earlier, while following the music, the Traveling Poet had already taken many detours.

Frankly, the moment he saw the girl in the palace, the Traveling Poet had thought she was the owner of the castle.

Or perhaps the main boss of the script.

Though the butler had said that their master wasn’t in the castle, who would believe that?

It was simply inconvenient for them to see him, or perhaps it was not yet time to see their prey.

Moreover, living in such a splendid palace, the girl’s identity must be far from simple, coupled with the fact that he had been drawn there by her music—it almost confirmed the prologue of the script.

However, what the Traveling Poet had never anticipated was that she would actually give him advice!

He did not doubt the credibility of this counsel because his mission was to "Escape from Prague Manor". And considering his encounter in the Dark Forest and the butler’s insistence on keeping them there, from any perspective, it signalled the strangeness of this place.

Leaving was the safest option!

The Traveling Poet looked towards the door with the rose relief, and for a moment, he was also somewhat unsure of the girl’s allegiance.

If she wasn’t the owner of this castle, then who else could be?

The person whom she feared even more?

Recalling the words the girl had not finished earlier, the Traveling Poet no longer intended to return to his room. Instead, he decided to ascend higher to investigate.

...