When the Serial Killer Next Door Gained Harem System

Chapter 154: Wedding Gift

More guests filtered into the courtyard from inside the mansion. Judging by their expensive clothing and polished manners, these newcomers were nobles who had likely been preparing inside rather than mingling outdoors.

A few moments later, the double doors opened again.

Jack Merygold stepped onto the landing at the top of the stairs, dressed in an elegant dark suit embroidered with gold thread. He waited patiently until the conversations below faded into silence.

"My honored guests," he began, his voice carrying effortlessly across the courtyard. "On behalf of House Merygold, I thank every one of you for accepting our invitation. Your presence brings great honor to my family."

This again?

He paused briefly before continuing.

"As tradition demands, this celebration shall continue for three days. Every guest attending our family’s joyous occasion has been assigned a private room within the estate or our guest residence. Please make yourselves comfortable and enjoy the hospitality of House Merygold."

As if on cue, another wave of servants entered the courtyard carrying fresh bottles of wine and silver trays piled with food.

Jack smiled warmly.

"And now..."

He stepped aside and gestured toward the mansion.

"Please welcome the blessed couple."

I slowly rose from my chair, my eyes locking onto the double doors.

Around me, the entire courtyard fell silent. The maids stopped where they stood. The musicians lowered their instruments. Even the guards shifted their attention toward the entrance.

One of the servants pulled both doors fully open.

The bride appeared first.

I barely looked at her.

My eyes immediately found the man standing beside her.

Cadence.

Fucking Cadence.

He was taller than I thought, broad-shouldered and impeccably dressed in a white ceremonial coat trimmed with gold. His dark hair had been neatly combed back, and a carefully trimmed beard framed a face that most people would probably describe as trustworthy. He wore the kind of warm smile that made him seem approachable, the kind that could win over an entire crowd without much effort.

Anyone seeing him for the first time would think he was a decent man.

I knew better.

Behind that polished smile and handsome face hid the bastard responsible for Jelda’s death... and her mother’s.

I hid in the crowd, hiding myself.

If he saw me, he gave no sign of it. Instead, he turned toward the gathered guests, smiling as he raised his free hand in greeting. His other arm remained linked with his bride’s as the two of them slowly descended the wide staircase together.

The applause began almost immediately.

Jack Merygold stepped forward once more.

"My friends," he announced proudly, "as our family’s tradition has always dictated, the sacred vows shall be exchanged at the stroke of midnight beneath the eyes of the gods."

He spread his arms toward the courtyard.

"Until that blessed hour arrives, I invite each of you to celebrate alongside us. Eat, drink, laugh, and enjoy yourselves. May this evening become a memory worthy of being shared with your children and grandchildren alike."

Cheers and applause echoed throughout the courtyard as the celebration resumed.

I spotted the same guard who had been standing outside the entertainment tent earlier and made my way over to him.

He was still watching the newly engaged couple as they greeted their guests one by one, occasionally laughing at something one of the nobles said.

I nodded toward the bride. "Look at her. She’s already out of breath."

The guard chuckled. "Well, they did just come down five flights of stairs. Our little Prince Cadence lives on the top floor, and the bride was probably getting her hair and dress done up there as well. Five stories, Mister. Five."

That immediately caught my attention. "He lives on the top floor?"

"So I’ve heard."

"Which room?"

The guard kept his eyes on the couple and shrugged. "No idea. I’ve never been allowed on the fifth floor. That’s for the family and their closest servants."

"I see."

Well, that was still useful.

At least I knew where Cadence’s room was. If I could somehow get into his bedroom, there was a decent chance I’d find something that connected him to Jelda’s murder.

I glanced back toward the mansion. The main entrance stood completely unattended. Every guard who had been stationed there earlier was now focused on protecting the Queen, the bride and groom, or keeping watch over the guests.

That didn’t mean the mansion was empty, though.

If I simply walked inside while everyone else remained in the courtyard, someone would eventually notice. It was only a matter of time before a servant asked what I was doing. I needed the right moment.

Then another idea crossed my mind.

I tilted my head upward and studied the upper floors. Balconies lined the outer walls of the mansion, some decorated with flower boxes while others had their curtains drawn shut.

My Shadow Leap could probably reach one of the lower balconies. From there, I might be able to climb higher without ever using the main entrance.

Still, rushing in now would be risky.

I quietly weighed my options.

I could slip inside immediately and hope nobody questioned me. I could use Shadow Leap to reach one of the balconies and work my way toward the upper floors. Or I could simply wait until the day’s festivities died down and search the mansion after most of the guests had retired to their rooms.

The last option sounded like the smartest one.

The fewer eyes watching me, the better my chances of getting in and out without anyone realizing I’d ever been there.

The musicians gathered in the center of the courtyard, surrounding the newly engaged couple. One by one they raised their instruments, and a lively melody drifted through the evening air. The cheerful tune quickly lifted the atmosphere, and applause spread among the guests as more nobles and merchants continued arriving from the mansion.

Laughter echoed across the courtyard.

Servants walked between the tables with trays full of food and fresh wine while guests lined up to congratulate the couple personally. Most offered warm wishes before placing pouches of gold or carefully wrapped gifts into the growing pile beside them.

I quietly slipped away and took a seat at one of the tables tucked into the corner of the courtyard.

A long breath escaped my lungs. This was going to be a long night.

Just then, the double doors opened once again. The conversations gradually faded.

The Queen stepped outside with General Tornhawk at her side. As before, he offered her his hand while she descended the staircase with calm, graceful steps.

The bride and groom bowed respectfully.

Every nearby guest followed suit.

The Queen smiled politely at the couple. "My congratulations to the both of you. May the gods bless this union and grant you a long and prosperous life together."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Cadence replied with a courteous bow. "Your presence honors our family beyond words."

"It is my pleasure."

She looked around at the assembled guests, her gaze slowly sweeping across the courtyard until it landed on me.

I immediately had a bad feeling.

"As fortune would have it," the Queen announced, raising her voice just enough for everyone to hear, "we have among us someone blessed by Ambly herself, the Goddess of Lust."

Then she pointed at me.

Shit. Every head in the courtyard turned toward me. Cadence looked over as well, the last person who needed to know I was there.

For a brief moment, our eyes met. His expression remained warm and welcoming, almost as if he were genuinely pleased to see me. The bastard.

The Queen lifted one elegant hand in my direction. "Walker. Come here."

There wasn’t exactly a polite way to refuse.

I slowly stood and made my way through the crowd while dozens of curious eyes followed every step I took.

Whispers immediately spread among the guests.

"An Ambly-blessed?"

"I thought they vanished centuries ago."

"Look how young he is."

"I’ve never seen one before."

Several women smiled at me with obvious curiosity, and a few even held my gaze a little longer than necessary.

General Tornhawk accepted a large sack from one of the guards and placed it beside the bride and groom.

The Queen turned toward me. "You brought your wedding gift, I presume?"

"I did, Your Majesty."

With a quiet act of will, two heavy pouches materialized in my hands in flashes of golden light.

A wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

"It’s... what, storage magic?"

"No... that’s an inventory blessing."

"Incredible..."

I stepped forward and placed both pouches beside the larger sack.

"Fifty gold," I said. "Congratulations."

The murmuring only grew louder. Cadence smiled as though we were old friends meeting after years apart.

I looked at him without returning the smile. "I hope you’ll have a happy marriage."

"Thank you, Ambly-blessed," Cadence replied warmly. "It is an honor to hear those words from you."

Still wearing the mask. Still pretending to be the perfect noble.

But I knew exactly who stood behind that charming smile. I knew what kind of man he really was. He had Jelda assaulted before having her murdered, and when Hatche became a loose end, he had her silenced as well.

I took a small step back. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the Queen arch one eyebrow ever so slightly. She didn’t say anything. She simply watched the exchange between Cadence and me with far more interest than before, as though she’d sensed there was far more beneath the surface than either of us was willing to reveal.

Yeah... a long fucking day this was going to be...

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