My first time in the interrogation room

   “You idiot,” Zephyra snapped, definitely unhappy from what I did.

   I leaned back in my chair, feigning calmness as I replied, “I understand that you’re angry, but why do we have to do this conversation in the interrogation room?”

   The room was small and minimalist—gray walls, a single steel table, and two pairs of chairs facing each other. Behind the one-way glass, Luna and Bel observed silently, their expressions mixed with curiosity and concern. Sakura, however, had already returned home, narrowly escaping the tense aftermath.

   Zephyra’s patience seemed thinner than the air in the room as she continued sharply, “Do you realize what you’ve done?”

   I shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re accusing me of. He was the one who challenged me to a duel. As the son of the head of one of the 13 clans, I couldn’t refuse. You know it well yourself.”

   Zephyra’s piercing gaze said otherwise; she was far from satisfied with his answer.

   Before she could press further, Lilith, who was siting next to me, interjected, “I’m sorry, it’s partly my fault too. I asked him to help me.”

   Zephyra turned her attention to Lilith, studying her face as if searching for the truth. With a heavy sigh, she finally turned to Rex. 

   “Can you leave us alone? I want to talk to him in private.”

   Rex nodded, and guided Lilith out of the room. He gestured for Luna and Bel to follow, and they complied, leaving Zephyra and me alone in the tense silence.

   Zephyra crossed her arms, her tone dropping into something more serious. 

   “Okay, go ahead.”

   I tilted my head, playing innocent. “What should I say?”

   Zephyra’s eyes narrowed. “Stop playing a fool. Why did you challenge him to a duel?”

   “I already said that—”

   Zephyra cut him off with a biting tone, “It has come to my ears that you electrocuted him for half an hour.”

   “Not half an hour but 20 minutes, and in addition, it was supposed to be 5, but—”

   “And you also declared at the shopping mall, in front of hundreds of people, that you were Lilith’s fiancé.”

   I leaned forward slightly, my demeanor calm but firm. “If you are afraid of the reaction from other clans, then they have long known about the relationship between Vermillion and Naberius, so I’m sure they expected it sooner or later.”

   “Sora—!”

   “I know, what I’m doing. Can’t you just trust me on this one? I promise that everyone will be satisfied with the result.”

   She opened her mouth, but I pressed on before she could protest again. 

   “Okay, I won’t ask you to believe my words when I say that we’ll manage. Let actions prove it. Just give me 3 days and everything will be resolved.”

   We stood there, locked in a battle of wills, staring each other down. The room was thick with tension, but I wasn’t going to back down.

   Finally, Zephyra sighed, the weight in her shoulders lifting just slightly. “Okay, you win. But only 3 days.”

   I nodded, extending my hand. “So we have a deal?”

   Her gaze lingered on mine for a moment before she reached out and clasped my hand firmly. “Deal, but if you screw up, you better be prepared for consequences.”

   “Challenge accepted.” I said with a smirk on my face.

* * *

   As the evening deepened, I found myself sprawled on the bed, lying on my stomach, phone in hand, while I played chess on a simple app. Bel sat on a nearby chair, engrossed in his laptop. Luna knelt at the foot of the bed, methodically massaging my legs after a long day, her hands skilled and comforting.

   The room we were in was a guest room at the Vermillion family’s main residence, generously arranged by Rex and Lilith after it became clear we wouldn’t be able to return to the house in the woods that night.

   Lilith sat on a bed next to mine. Breaking the silence, she finally spoke: “I understand that this duel is part of your plan, but… could you explain to me what you’re up to?”

   “Only if you tell me why you really thought we were the ones to help you.” I answered without taking my eyes off my phone.

   Lilith’s expression flickered, her hesitation unmistakable. “Okay, I won’t ask. In that case, at least tell me what the chances of success are.”

   “That, I’ll tell you, if you tell me about your relationship with Rex.”

   Her eyes widened slightly in surprise before narrowing suspiciously. 

   “Grandpa Rex? He’s my grandfather’s brother from my father's side, who died when I was young because of his sickness. My grandparents—on my mother’s side—live outside the capital, so he’s the only one grandparent here I’ve had a close relationship with.”

   I nodded thoughtfully, the image of Rex’s serious face flashing in my mind. Just before we left his office, he’d pulled me aside to share a quiet moment.

   “This child always had a magnet for problems. I don’t know what you’re planning, but please keep her out of this.” - That's what he said.

   Returning to the present. 

   I replied, “I see.”

   The room fell silent for a moment as my thoughts churned. I had the feeling that there was more to her story—there had to be. But for now I decided to let her be. Right now, I'm curious about another thing. 

   “Is there something more that you’re not telling us?”

   Her posture stiffened slightly, and she didn’t respond.

   I sighed, my tone softening. “Lilith, let me ask straight out. You don’t believe in us, do you?”

   Her crimson eyes widened, startled. “What are you talking about? Do you think I—”

   “Sorry, I misspoke. You hold doubts about us, don’t you? You’re wondering if you made a good choice letting us help you.”

   She looked like she wanted to protest, but my words seemed to hit too close to the truth.

   I pressed on, my voice calm but firm. “Think about it. In the current situation, if I win, the Silverbane family will leave, taking their properties with them. The resulting economic instability will hurt Vermillion more than anything else. If I lose, Liam becomes your husband. The Silverbane family gains even more influence, and you’ll never escape their grasp. Either way, the future of the Vermillion clan is done for.”

   Lilith’s voice carried a weight of inner conflict as she admitted, “I really think of you guys as my friends. From this side, I want to believe in you with all my might, but I am also the person closest to becoming the head of my clan. Therefore, I cannot act under the influence of emotions.”

   I looked at her steadily. “And yet, you asked for our help based only on your emotions?”

   She hesitated, her usual confident demeanor faltering. “That’s…”

   I stood up from the bed and walked over to her, standing close enough that she couldn’t avoid looking at me. “Let me make it clear for you. The situation your clan got themselves into was awful from the very beginning. Playing it safe at this point, can only keep you standing still—or worse, moving backward. No one will be saved like that. If you want things to change for the better, you have to take risks.”

   Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly, irritation creeping into her expression. “This is not the way to go. Every decision can determine the lives of hundreds, thousands of people. Are you suggesting that it’s worth risking their lives for the development of the kingdom?!”

   “No,” I replied. “I’m suggesting that the risk is better left to those who know how to handle it. People like us. And within the next three days, I’ll prove it to you.”

   She frowned, her expression both puzzled and cautious. “The duel is the day after tomorrow at 4 p.m. Why three days—?”

   “Big brother, I found something!” Before she could finish, Bel’s voice cut through the tension.

   Curious, I walked over to where he sat with his laptop, his small fingers navigating the keyboard like a pro. I leaned over and glanced at the screen, the words catching my attention immediately.

   “Good job! As expected from my younger brother.” I said, ruffling his hair affectionately. Bel’s face lit up with a pleased grin, his tail wagging slightly behind him.

   Lilith, still sitting on the bed, tilted her head with a mix of curiosity and confusion. “What did you find?”

   I turned to her, a confident smile on my face. “Something that just dramatically increased our chances of success.”

   I gestured toward the laptop screen, where a headline from a news story from a few years ago stood out in bold letters:

   “Tragic Accident! Stone Avalanche Crushed Car! The first daughter of Silverbane Family dead!”