Aarav sat frozen on the edge of his bed.
His mind still struggled to process everything he had just heard.
Aarav mumbled in himself
"A dead man trapped inside my ring. And he is supposed to be a transmigrator. And what more this shitty world supposedly is a novel some how ."
Aarav continue mumbling
"And worst of all , this soul knows things that only I should have known
"The suicide note contents "
"The cliff."
Every hidden shame he desperately wanted buried forever.
Aarav subconsciously tightened his grip around the blanket again.
Before he could gather his thoughts
KNOCK KNOCK.
The sudden sound startled him badly.
"A-Ah!"
A voice came from outside the room.
"Young Master, it is me. Cassian."
Aarav immediately tried adjusting himself and calming his breathing.
"C-Come in, Cassian."
The door slowly opened.
Cassian stepped inside wearing his usual silver knight uniform, though his expression looked far more tense than normal.
The moment he saw Aarav relief briefly appeared on his face.
But it quickly disappeared again.
"Young Master…"
Cassian hesitated slightly before continuing.
"…the Duke is calling for you."
Something in his tone immediately made Aarav nervous.
Cassian slowly walked closer before lowering his voice.
"Young Master…"
"The Duke looks very upset right now."
"Please be careful."
Aarav nervously swallowed.
"…Okay."
A few minutes later Cassian quietly guided Aarav through the long corridors of the Valden mansion.
The atmosphere inside felt unusually heavy.
Even the servants avoided speaking loudly.
Meanwhile inside Aarav's head Vyom suddenly spoke again.
"So…"
"What's your father calling you for?"
Aarav frowned slightly.
"Oii, so-called transmigrator."
"If your plot is real, then tell me what happens now."
"Why is Father calling me?"
A brief silence followed. Then Vyom answered calmly.
"Aarav."
"You were supposed to be dead by now."
"Anything involving you beyond yesterday no longer exists in the original plot."
Aarav clicks his tongue
"…tch ,Useless ghost."
"Watch your mouth, kid."
Eventually ,they arrive at the Duke's office.
Aarav took a deep breath before slowly knocking.
"Come in."
Ronan's voice sounded cold.
Aarav slowly stepped inside.
And immediately froze.
Three people were inside the room.
Ronan Valden sat behind his massive desk, still dressed in black mourning clothes from Vyom's funeral. One hand held a folded paper while the other tapped heavily against the wooden desk.
Tap.....Tap...Tap.
The sound alone made Aarav nervous.
On the couch nearby sat the Duchess Elara Valden ,silently in mourning attire.
Her eyes looked slightly red as if she had been holding back tears for a long time.
Then Aarav noticed the third person standing quietly near the window.
A tall muscular man wearing a greving clothes that had a symbol of tiger with crimson eyes
Aarav didn't recognize him.
But Vyom did instantly.
"…Drake."
Vyom's voice became quieter.
"My vice guild master....and another transmigrator."
Aarav's eyes widened slightly.
Before he could respond ,Ronan suddenly spoke.
"Aarav."
His voice carried restrained anger.
"Where were you yesterday?"
Aarav immediately stiffened.
"F-Father, I was at the aca—"
"DON'T LIE TO ME!"
Ronan slammed his hand against the desk violently.
Aarav immediately shut his mouth.
The Duchess flinched slightly at the sudden outburst.
Before Ronan could continue further,Drake suddenly stepped forward respectfully.
"My lord."
"If you permit me…"
"I would like to ask Young Master Aarav a few questions first."
Ronan remained silent briefly before nodding.
"…Fine."
Drake slowly turned toward Aarav.
Unlike Ronan's anger,Drake's expression looked exhausted.
Desperate.
"Young Master…"
"Did you happen to see anything suspicious in the forest last night?"
Aarav's body immediately tensed.
Forest.
The corpse.
The explosion.
The ring.
For a brief moment ,Aarav almost spoke.
When suddenly ,Vyom's voice echoed inside his head.
"No."
Aarav froze.
Vyom's tone became serious.
"Do NOT tell him about me."
Aarav mentally responded nervously.
"Why not?!"
"He's your best friend, isn't he?!"
Vyom answered immediately.
"The assassins already knew I was a transmigrator."
"If Drake learns I survived inside this ring, he'll investigate."
"And if there really is a mole inside Dravik…"
"…then both you and Drake become targets."
Aarav nervously swallowed.
Vyom continued calmly.
"This ring carries the Valden family insignia."
"If Drake gets exposed while investigating…"
"…those assassins will eventually trace the ring back to your family."
A cold chill ran down Aarav's spine.
Then Vyom quietly added,
"And honestly…"
"I don't fully trust anyone right now."
"Not even my own guild."
Aarav slowly lowered his head.
Meanwhile ,Drake still waited patiently for an answer.
"…Young Master?"
Aarav quickly shook his head.
"N-No."
"I didn't see anything suspicious."
Drake's expression visibly darkened.
Still he politely bowed his head.
Then slowly ,his voice became quieter.
Almost pleading.
"Young Master…"
"If you remember anything at all…"
"Please tell me."
"I just want to give my friend justice."
For the first time, Aarav noticed how tired Drake truly looked.
Like someone who had not slept even for a second.
Aarav nervously nodded.
"…I-I'll inform you if I remember anything."
Drake silently stared at him for a moment longer before finally bowing respectfully.
"Thank you."
Without another word he turned and quietly exited the room.
The moment the door closed ,the atmosphere instantly changed.
Silence filled the office.
Ronan slowly stood up from behind the desk.
Then he raised the folded paper in his hand.
"AARAV VALDEN."
His voice thundered through the room.
"CARE TO EXPLAIN THIS LETTER?!"
Aarav's face immediately went pale.
The suicide note.
On the couch , Elara finally broke down completely.
Tears streamed down her face as she covered her mouth to stop herself from crying loudly.
"Aarav…"
Her trembling voice shattered instantly.
"Why would you do something like this…?"