Inside the castle on the Hall family's estate in East Chester County.
Audrey sat at her desk, holding Miss Woll's Storm Heights and reading quietly. She played her part earnestly, turning the pages now and then as though she were truly immersed in the world of the book. In reality, however, she was watching the clock on the wall out of the corner of her eye.
It was almost three...
Lady Greed's illusory figure remained in her field of vision. At that moment, she stood in front of the nearby bookshelf, seemingly quite interested in the range of Audrey's reading.
"Tick, tick..."
The clock ticked on, second by second, until only a few minutes remained before three.
"Haah..."
Audrey covered her mouth and gave a small yawn, then said to her personal maid, "I'm a little sleepy. I'd like to rest for a while. Annie, tell them not to disturb me."
"Yes, Miss."
Her personal maid, Annie, tidied the desk and turned down the bed before leaving the room, leaving Audrey alone with Greed's illusory figure.
The woman with red hair and golden eyes watched her silently.
Hold it in. Don't meet her eyes... Audrey lay down on the bed as though she had noticed nothing.
Sharing a room with such a terrifying being, she could not feel sleepy at all. She merely closed her eyes and secretly waited out the remaining time. Perhaps because she was so nervous, those few short minutes felt unbearably long.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
At last-
Whoosh!
Although her eyes were closed, Audrey could still feel the surging crimson light envelop her, and her spirit rose with it... When she opened her eyes again, she was already inside that ancient, mysterious castle, beside the weathered Bronze Long Table, before that profound and