Insurgent

Chapter 2

After the said incident, the rumors spread like wildfire across the capital. The nobles keep on discussing how horrifying what happened to Art. His brain injuries are severe.

Heirs were gathered around here in the mansion. Knowing what happened to the people who were brought in the tournament who killed each other in this mansion, makes me want to throw up. I sat on the sofa and glanced at the host.

"My name is Lila, and I'm going to be the host of the game. The game is starting tomorrow. As you can see, there is nothing changed here, at the location of the murder scene." Us, the heirs took a glance at each other out of confusion. "The winner of the first round is the first person who will catch the suspect."

I gasped in surprise. Out of all the tournaments I studied that were held here, there has never been a mechanics like this in the game.

"Out of the hundred guests, there is only one suspect. How are you expecting us to uncover their crime? There are a lot of people involved." The heir of the second family, Jaidel Vertucio, protested.

"That, I do not know. Still, the person who will win would serve an impression for the king, since this very case is an assassination attempt for the ruler." Lila glanced at her book and closed it. "I will go now, get ready. Lebēn," she said and left.

Lebēn. A mantra that means live, used occasionally by people to the heirs picked at the tournament. Why you may ask.

What is this tournament all about? Simple. Kill, or be killed. Weak and dumb people are naturally weeded out first. The winner determines which family of the eight will be at top of the hierarchy of the next nine years. The family gets to serve under the royal family directly.

Right. Even a single competition, our family still hasn't lost. The Fontainne family even a single time still hasn't lost its glory. That is also why I know father and mother have high expectations on me that I wouldn't dare to break.

All of us stood up and went into our rooms. I paced back and forth, ruminated the scene all over my head to remember important details that I have noticed.

The Liegen, the people who handle cases of people who disobeys the law handled the pictures of bodies to us. It seems like Art's body was already retrieved and Mrs. Cecie is holding a funeral for him.

I kept it in my hand and went upstairs, where the middle floor is nowhere to be found, except for the thin floor on the sides that could be used to thread into our rooms. There is a railing made of cement to prevent us from falling.

There is a liegen near the crossbow that I am expecting that was used to shatter the chandelier.

"Is there any guest that went up here from the ball?" I asked at the liegen and was surprised by my approach.

"No one, Ms. Fontainne. This floor is extremely prohibited from guests, for this is where your rooms are also located." He paused a little bit. "Except, there are knights beside the door of your rooms."

My brows shot up because of suspicion. "I assume that the knights that were appointed weren't acquainted with one of us."

The liegen handed me the list. "None, miss Fontainne."

"Aren't there and fingerprints on the bow?"

"None, madam."

I glanced at the door of the fifth family, Rose Lubien. The crossbow is just across from her door. "I see, you did a good job. I will go now."

I went downstairs and saw the heirs discussing their ideas, excluding me. Their gazes went to me and I just shrugged it off.

"Can I get the list for the guests who excused themselves to go outside?" I asked the receptionist.

"The list is at the hands of the fourth heir madam."

I simply nodded and went to the circle of heirs again. The fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth heirs are here. The second and third must be exploring elsewhere.

When I am near them, their snickering stopped. Everyone tried to hold their laugh in.

"Can I borrow-" I was cut off by Rose.

"What an interesting find that your escort is Art Maximillian."

My forehead wrinkled for a second. "Yes he is, now can I borrow the list and skim it for a bit?" I sounded impatient, for they are not taking my words seriously.

"I'll hand it to you if you're not the one who killed him." The fourth heir, Harold Xaviel, mocked me.

I straightened my back. "Bring me the proof right now, and I'll stop interfering with your nonsense talks." All of them looked away and their snickers stopped. "Upstairs, there are 3 doors at the left, 3 doors at the right, and 2 doors across. The crossbow that was used to cut the chandelier was tied to the railings, near those two doors of yours Rose and Harold. Do you have any explaining to do?"

They tensed up. "As you said, you do not have any proof for that," Harold told me with an angry expression.

Rose started to bite her nails, and immediately looked away from me. I smirked, the victor of the argument is going to be me.

"You also don't have any proof that you didn't." I snatched the list for and read it momentarily before it was snatched away from me too. "Oh, so the two of you are outside too. What are you doing, making out?" I teased.

Both of them flushed out of anger, and I heard gasps from the circle. They know the rule that it was forbidden to date another heir from the other family at the hierarchy.

"I have an alibi from the waiter I took my drink from, how about you all?" I said and walked out with elegancy.

Something is bugging me, why is there a familiar name on the list?

*·˚ ༘ ➳〔 Autumn_Sceo 〕 ࿐ ࿔*

Created: July 31, 2021