Thank god Genevieve had the sense to lead her away from the madam's bedroom. They ended up in an unused storage room, fourth floor, just five floors below Agrona's chambers.
Nobody ever questioned Genevieve anyway. She was Agrona's most trusted confidante, practically her shadow. She'd given some excuse about the madam wanting to "relocate" Cressida, like she was some kind of misplaced furniture instead of a person.
'Prick...'
The door creaked open as she prepared to go outside.
Spotless. Not a soul in sight.
Honestly, if it weren't the fifth floor, she would've been tempted to jump out the window and be done with it. But knowing Genevieve, she doubted the vampire would go out of her way to catch her.
║[SYSTEM] Event Triggered — The Event has begun. All future choices will significantly alter the outcome. Proceed with caution.║
'Ah. So it's started. The estate will be swarming soon…'
"Miss, what are you doing on the fifth floor?"
"Ah—!"
Cressida was startled and turned. A servant stood at the doorway, a vampire. Their nose twitched, faintly sniffing the air.
Shit.
They could tell. She knew they could tell.
Humans were a rarity within the Dark Tide's domain.
Centuries ago, some had migrated or been dragged into their lands as servants or slaves. A few rose to nobility, but most remained at the bottom of the food chain.
And in this world, that imbalance hadn't changed much.
But no matter how many generations passed, racial imbalance never truly disappeared.
And right now, that imbalance was staring her dead in the eye.
Fortunately, she wasn't just any human.Being of noble descent had its perks, like knowing the archaic physical and oral gestures reserved only for noble-born humans in the Dark Tide. Most commoners wouldn't even recognize them, but among the upper classes, they were like an unspoken seal of legitimacy.
Time to bluff like her life depended on it.
She straightened her back, brushed imaginary dust from her dress, and gracefully brought her hand to her chest in the distinct crescent gesture, right palm over heart, fingers bent just so. Then, she spoke in the old dialect, her tongue carefully curling the consonants in that snobbish tone the nobles loved so much.
"Oh, forgive me," she said, offering a small, perfectly measured bow. "I seem to have lost my way in this… overwhelmingly vast estate. I was merely trying to return to the reception hall before the festivities begin."
The servant had a sharp suspicion in their eyes softened into mild confusion, then reluctant respect.
"Ah… my apologies, milady. I didn't realize."
Cressida gave a nervous laugh that she really hoped sounded noble enough. "Of course you didn't. I do blend in rather well, don't I?"
The servant bowed. "Allow me to escort you back."
"Oh, that won't be necessary," she said quickly, waving her hand with a fluttering, delicate motion that screamed aristocrat avoiding inconvenience. "I insist. I'd rather wander than trouble anyone."
They hesitated, then nodded and stepped aside.
'Gods above,' she thought as she walked past with a forced smile, 'I should win an award for this performance.'
'I love my younger self for being obsessed with this novel now.'
She remembered the days she used to joke around with her friends, play-acting scenes from the novels they read, mimicking the lofty dialects, noble gestures, and archaic expressions just for fun.
Who would've thought those cringe reenactments would save her life one day?
║[SYSTEM] +10 Positive EXP — Improvisation through Prior Knowledge.║
'I miss my younger days…'
The days before she had sinned. Before she became the mess she was now.
'Time to keep going.'
She slipped into the hallway and kept walking.
The estate was enormous, corridors branching endlessly like veins, sunlight trickling through tall windows to guide her steps.
All she had to do was follow the light until she found the main staircase sitting inconveniently dead center of the floor.
But she couldn't just march down. That would draw attention. She needed to move carefully, slowly, or find another way.
Peeking over the railing, the place was crowded with all sorts of nobles glittering in jewels, their laughter echoing through the grand hall.
'Breathe in. Breathe out.'
She took the risk anyway, descending quickly. A few heads turned her way, but conversations carried on. No suspicion yet.
"Ah, Your Imperial Highness!"
"Eep!" Cressida squeaked, clapping a hand over her mouth.
And there she was, Madam Agrona herself, the very woman she'd been trying to avoid, standing just a few steps away, entertaining guests.
Cressida was certain their eyes had met.