When the Serial Killer Next Door Gained Harem System

Chapter 156: Not Enough

The butler turned and began walking through the manor, his posture remaining perfectly straight with every measured step.

I followed behind him.

We passed through a wide corridor lined with expensive paintings, polished marble pillars, and suits of decorative armor standing silently along the walls. After turning left at the end of the hallway, we reached a grand staircase with crimson carpeting running up the center.

The butler climbed without slowing his pace, and I followed him floor after floor.

By the time we reached the fifth floor, I was beginning to wonder just how ridiculously large this place actually was.

He stopped outside an elegant oak door with polished brass handles and turned toward me.

"This shall be your room for the duration of your stay, Sir Walker."

He reached into one of his pockets and produced a brass key before placing it into my hand.

"We shall also notify the academy that you are residing here as Her Majesty’s honored guest during the coming days. You need not concern yourself with any accommodations or formalities. Everything shall be handled on your behalf."

I gave him a nod.

"Thank you."

"It is our privilege to be of service, sir." He bowed deeply. "Should you require anything at all, simply ring the bell inside your chamber. A member of the household staff shall attend to your needs without delay."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

The butler offered one final respectful bow before quietly taking his leave.

I unlocked the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind me.

The room was larger than my entire apartment back home.

A king-sized bed sat against the far wall, its dark wooden frame carved with intricate patterns that looked like they belonged in a museum. Thick crimson curtains framed a pair of tall windows overlooking the estate grounds, while sunlight poured through the glass and reflected across the polished hardwood floor.

A stone fireplace occupied one corner of the room, already stocked with neatly stacked firewood despite the warm weather outside. Opposite the bed stood a comfortable leather sofa facing a low wooden table, and beside it rested a bookshelf filled with everything from history books to novels.

Near another wall stood an enormous wardrobe made from polished oak, large enough to fit an entire year’s worth of clothing. A writing desk rested beside the window with fresh parchment, ink, and a fountain pen already waiting for use.

Even the air smelled expensive, carrying the faint scent of polished wood and fresh linen.

This wasn’t just a guest room.

This was the kind of room reserved for royalty.

"Too bad I won’t be staying."

I quietly opened the door and peeked into the corridor. I barely managed to catch the butler disappearing down the staircase at the far end of the hall. Once he was gone, I looked both ways. The corridor was empty, and not even a guard was standing watch.

I stepped outside, carefully closed the door behind me, and started walking. Every room along the hallway looked identical, so there was no obvious way of telling which one belonged to Cadence.

"Okay... where is it..."

I continued down the corridor, turning one corner after another while trying to memorize the layout of the mansion. Just as I rounded another bend, I spotted a guard standing at the far end of the hallway with his back turned toward me. Instinctively, I stepped back before he had any chance of noticing me, but the moment I did, I heard footsteps approaching from behind.

I glanced over my shoulder and felt my stomach sink. Another guard was climbing the staircase in my direction.

There was no time to think.

I reached for the nearest doorknob, turned it as gently as I could, slipped inside the room, and quietly shut the door behind me.

Only after making sure the latch hadn’t clicked too loudly did I look around.

The room was empty.

Relief washed over me for exactly one second before the sound of water splashing reached my ears. It came from the bathing area at the back of the room, hidden behind a thick embroidered curtain.

"Is somebody there?" a woman’s voice called from behind it.

I held my breath.

Answering wasn’t an option, so I silently crossed the room and crouched beside the bed. The layout was almost identical to the guest room I had been assigned earlier. A wardrobe stood against one wall, a neatly made bed occupied the center, a writing desk rested beneath the window, and, thankfully, a narrow balcony overlooked the courtyard outside.

That was my escape.

I carefully unlocked the balcony door, eased it open just enough to slip through, and quietly pulled it shut behind me.

The balcony was barely large enough for a single person. A stone railing surrounded its edge, carved with decorative vines that matched the rest of the mansion’s architecture. Flower boxes rested along the railing, their blossoms swaying gently in the evening breeze.

Leaning forward slightly, I looked down into the courtyard below.

The celebration was still in full swing. Music drifted upward while nobles laughed over overflowing wine glasses. Servants hurried between tables carrying fresh dishes, and Cadence stood among the guests beside his bride, greeting everyone with the same warm smile that fooled the entire courtyard.

I slowly leaned toward the window and peeked through the glass.

The woman had stepped out from behind the curtain, her wet hair clinging to her shoulders as she looked around the room with a puzzled expression. She scanned the corners for a few seconds before scratching the back of her head. Apparently deciding she had imagined the noise, she turned around and disappeared behind the curtain again.

I finally allowed myself to breathe.

"That was way too close," I muttered under my breath.

I waited on the balcony for nearly a minute, listening carefully for any footsteps coming from inside the room.

When I was sure whoever had been inside had already left, I slowly opened the balcony door and peeked through the gap. The bedroom was empty.

Without wasting another second, I slipped inside, crossed the room, and cracked the main door open. I looked both ways down the corridor.

Nobody. Good, the guards were gone.

I quietly stepped outside, closed the door behind me, and continued down the hallway.

The fifth floor was far quieter than the rest of the mansion. Most of the guests were outside celebrating, leaving only servants and guards inside. Even so, I couldn’t afford to lower my guard.

As I reached the first intersection, movement caught the corner of my eye. A guard was walking toward me with an oil lamp swinging gently from his hand.

I immediately turned the opposite direction and slipped behind a marble pillar. The guard walked past without so much as glancing my way before disappearing around another corner.

Only after his footsteps faded did I continue.

A short while later, I heard quiet voices approaching from ahead. Two maids rounded the corner carrying neatly folded blankets between them. I stepped into a shallow alcove beside a decorative suit of armor and waited until they disappeared down the corridor before resuming my search.

The hallway twisted through several corners, each one looking almost identical to the last. Portraits of stern-faced nobles covered the walls, while polished wooden floors reflected the warm light of chandeliers overhead. Thick rugs stretched across the corridor, muffling my footsteps as I walked deeper into the mansion.

Eventually, something caught my attention.

At the far end of the hallway stood a pair of double doors decorated with fresh flowers woven around the frame. White ribbons hung neatly from polished brass handles, and above them rested a golden crest bearing the Merygold family emblem.

That had to be Cadence’s room.

I walked over and carefully turned the doorknob.

It didn’t budge.

"Of course," I muttered under my breath.

I looked around until my eyes settled on a nearby window.

Walking over, I carefully peered through the glass. From here, I could see the balcony attached to Cadence’s room. It wrapped around the outside corner of the mansion and sat several meters away. The distance was too great for a normal jump, but Shadow Leap could bridge it if I managed to get just a little closer.

I quietly unlatched the window and pushed it open.

Stretching one hand toward the balcony, I focused on the spell. The glowing destination appeared in my vision, but it still fell short of the railing.

"Damn. Still not enough."

I climbed onto the windowsill, carefully pulled the window shut behind me, and balanced myself against the stone wall. Standing several stories above the ground with nothing beneath my feet wasn’t exactly comforting, but there wasn’t another option.

Taking one deep breath, I pushed myself forward.

The moment my feet left the ledge, I activated Shadow Leap.

Darkness swallowed my vision for the briefest instant before the world snapped back into place. My hands slammed into the balcony railing, and the impact sent my body swinging hard against the stone wall.

I gritted my teeth and tightened my grip. My boots scraped uselessly against the smooth surface until one finally found enough purchase for me to pull myself upward. After several strained seconds, I managed to drag myself over the railing and collapsed onto the balcony floor.

I lay there for a moment, staring at the darkening sky while catching my breath.

"That was way too close."