In the depths of the castle, warm candlelight illuminated the red-carpeted halls.
Ten players were led into an opulent drawing room. The fireplace crackled, ancient portraits lined the walls, and the air smelled of wood and spice.
The butler stood by the hearth, adjusting his cuffs elegantly, and his eyes were scanning the guests with an unsettling smile.
"Welcome, everyone, to our humble estate."
He gave a courteous bow. His voice was as gentle as a private tutor's—yet not to be questioned.
Then, with a graceful smile, he stepped back, placing his hand over his chest and bowing again.
"Ah, forgive me that I've yet to introduce myself."
"My name is Adrian. I am the steward of this castle and the loyal servant of Count Leyen."
"From this point forward, I will be responsible for all matters within the estate, which include task distribution, personnel management, and… cleanup duties."
He smiled again with a serene, composed, almost unsettling.
"If you have any questions, feel free to come to ask me—so long as the time is… appropriate."
Then he resumed speaking.
"You were not brought here for punishment. You were chosen for the opportunity."
He paused, a gleam in his crimson eyes.
"Wealth, power, the fulfilment of your deepest desires... even the return of something lost. This is where your fate turns."
"Of course, there is a cost."
With a wave of his hand, a cabinet opened, revealing a thick, leather-bound tome.
"Before we proceed, you must first understand our rules of conduct."
He opened the tome and began reading aloud:
The Castle of Mist has 10 Rules:
1. Your room at night is absolutely safe. Once inside, no harm can reach you.
2. After midnight, you may not leave your room under any circumstances.
3. Do not swap rooms or tasks without approval. Any violation will be seen as a breach of contract.
4. Beware of mirrors as they don't always reflect you.
5. Your coworkers are friendly during working hours, but only during the day.
6. If you hear knocking and no one answers when you ask, please do not open the door.
7. You must finish every dinner. Even if you are not hungry, no food is to be wasted.
8. If someone disappears, do not call out their name. It may attract… something else.
9. When the bell tolls at 10 PM, return to your room immediately. Being late is a violation.
10. The most important thing is to always remember never to enter the hostess's room.
As he finished the last rule, the room seemed to chill.
"Next, each entrant will be assigned a daily task to help maintain the estate."
"Complete your duties, and you shall earn credits and rewards."
"Fail… and certain rights to survival will be revoked."
Then, his gaze swept across the crowd until it halted suddenly.
He saw me step toward the long table, pick up the feathered pen, and prepare to sign the contract.
He blinked, then smiled gently, the tone in his voice still graceful and composed:
"Young Master, always fond of your little pranks," he said with a gentle smile, his tone composed and courteous. "Please, return to your quarters and rest."
The players stared in confusion, their eyes turning toward me.
I withdrew my hand, offering a faint smile. "Perhaps… I'll sign another day."