Cayenne “Rising Star” Forthringer

"…"

'Just how could this happen…'

Sitting down in one of the guest rooms that is dedicated to significant people, I inwardly let out a sigh.

There are refreshments on the round table, cold breezing air from the open window, and a scent of perfume that is very relaxing and aromatic, indicating that there's nothing to worry about.

'Safe…'

Well, that would've been the case if I had not been inside a prison. This comfortable and extravagant room is technically part of the Administration branches – a jail – where they placed important people such as me.

If I hadn't got that amount of position, I would've been thrown into a dark, filthy, prison cell and the process will be much harder to deal with.

And… this situation is just so…

"Hello, sir Mauberon. Are you feeling comfortable?"

'Are you really asking me this? Seriously?'

Letting my thoughts stay within, I nodded curtly and replied indifferently.

"Comfortable as someone who can be a suspect can get. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

The woman in front, who excluded the usual coldness to strangers, chuckled with no hint that she was delighted or irritated. She just laughed, thinking that a businessman making jokes or sarcastic replies is already an obvious statement.

"I'm impressed as to how calm you are, sir Mauberon. Well, for starters, let me introduce myself to ensure that you really are meeting the real deal."

'I know it, all right… Just get on with it.'

Forcing a creepy smile, since this lip of mine wouldn't grin unless it absolutely happened in my mind, I let this woman continue.

"Sir Duke Mauberon, My name is Cayenne Forthringer, also known as the Rising Star," Cayenne let out a beautiful, cold smile as she stretched her hand on my front, "Pleasure to meet you. Now, I would like to ask a few questions. And I'll be happy to receive some honest answers."

Receiving her hand, I returned her cold smile and retorted, "The pleasure is mine. And sure, I would like to give them to you."

The woman I wanted to avoid all this time; The very woman that I created myself; The woman who attracted Death; The woman whom I wouldn't want to mess with…

Is currently handshaking my hand.

'Just how could this happen…'

We could've met any other day but why really on this goddamn particular day!? And shouldn't she go home after she received the note I indirectly wanted to convey to her?

…

It was about yesterday when I was gleefully taking a cozy bath, and eating a bountiful meal afterward which I could only dream of in my past life. Half-naked on top, I sudden knock sounded on my doorstep.

Looking at the clock's hand, both pointing at the number twelve, I raised a brow and replied. This could only mean that an emergency that requires my attention happened.

"What?"

"Uhm, one of Gabby's men asked the Innkeeper to deliver a message to you."

I took a moment of pause after the word 'Innkeeper' was mentioned and clarified to see if they followed the proper procedure.

"They went to the desk?"

"Yes, sir."

A frown formed on my face:

'One of Gabby's men came to the desk… That means the news wasn't 'that' important. But for him to send a man instead of ignoring it completely could also mean that I had to know it.'

After thinking more carefully, I replied to Maria, "What's the message,"

"Erm, it's on a form of paper."

Standing up in my chair, I walked towards my doorstep, half soaked, and opened it.

Maria's eyes widened as she froze at the spot while I immediately insisted.

"The paper."

"O-oh…"

Maria handed an envelope hesitantly, her ears reddened. I closed the door shut but I never heard her footsteps going away.

Slightly opening the door, making a gap, I peeked my eye into it and questioned, "Anything else?"

Maria stared at me for a few seconds before shaking her head. She instantly darted away even though she looked like she was trying to remove the words from her lips which is unable to do so.

Closing the door, I headed to my desk again and finished my meal first. The envelope felt ominous, in a kind of way – a figure of speech – hence I gobbled up the delicacy, not wanting whatever the envelope had stored for me to dampen my mood.

Once finished, I opened the envelope with two files in it. Once was a… warrant of arrest paper while the other was a note from Gabby.

I read the arrest papers first, noticing a tiny amount of detail which is very, very important that I slightly shiver.

'Cayenne Forthringer… Come… Under the suspicion of killing Nobirik Riply… Come… Meeting in the 34th Administration district branches… Come… By, Cayenne Forthringer… Come…'

Every time I saw the word 'come' in three to five sentences, I just knew the one who had written this arrest was no other than the woman itself.

And she only does this when she is writing something that is not trying to be forceful, but she kind of indirectly did. For those who knew her, the word 'come' means business.

If you don't come, she will go to you instead.

And who wouldn't know that word if it came from Cayenne? There's even a book made by the authors in this world that had the title 'come'.

But, I know another thing as to why she had written this text. Probably only I knew it.

'She does this when she's in a hurry…'

Bringing the warrant papers down, I moved to read Gabby's letters. Surely, he had read the warrant since his reply was connected to that.

/Sir, you don't need to come here. The papers were just sent just now and I can go answer their questions myself. We already have the perfect cover so your presence is unneeded. You should rest and ignore the star's message./

It was a simple message that conveyed a lot of things… if not for the fact that there's a continuation on it.

/You're the only one left on their investigation though… They already interrogated hundreds of people in the last week. It would be troublesome if you weren't there but I can assure you that I will do my best!/

No, no, no, this is just making it worse.

I'm the last one left to be investigated since I'm insignificant in the eyes of those hundreds of people but I was still there. And I created the partnership announcement which after the event happened, Nobirik was killed.

'That bastard is still making troubles until his death…'

It's been five days since his last breath.

In the given time, all I did was investigate my ways of returning back to my previous world, expecting Cayenne to go back to her nation since it was an ample time of travel to go back and forth to this place and that.

The note was dedicated to that! How come it started backfiring me?

Of course, I wouldn't be having this problem if I just didn't leave a note. Better, if I just completely ignored her existence when she came here but…

She is just needed in that place. The least I could do to stop the incoming tragedy of her life is inform her loved ones are in danger.

And she's far from them…

'And, tomorrow, all hell will break loose. Wow, this is so great.'

Just fucking great.

I could already pinpoint the advantages of not answering Cayenne's arrest papers but most of them are disadvantages.

At the worst, she might try to glue her eyes on me.

"My goodness…"

With no choice but to comply, afraid that it would ruin my plans, I had no choice but to come.

Since I'm just going to be interrogated on my whereabouts and so what when the time of the murder happened, there's no clear danger on this.

Then, tomorrow came.

…

"Oh, your statement is perfectly aligned with what we've gathered so far. Hahh, now the list of suspects is finally done and I can tell that there are no real killers among you guys." Cayenne sighed as she rested her back on the chair.

"Is there a third party involved that happened to know his location or…" Cayenne looked straight into my eyes, "Or every one of you is just a good liar."

After the series of interrogations, with my statements right on track which Gabby provided, Cayenne started getting suspicious about how bizarre her case was.

Having an idea of what is it since one of my official men are spy from within, I quietly looked at her and said nothing.

It's better not to get her a weird impression when I answer her question… or words? Even I don't know what she was trying to achieve with that, but I will not entertain it.

'Stop your unnecessary thoughts and leave this case behind for now… You have to return now, Cayenne…'

Looking at the hands of the grandfather clock to the side was pointed at the number twelve which signifies that it is afternoon already, I inwardly sighed.

'It's too late already…'

"Hmm, I guess you are the quiet type, sir Mauberon."

"Are we done already?"

"Got to go home soon?"

"I don't like wasting time."

Cayenne hissed, "Well, too bad. The same as others, we have to thoroughly check you if your claims are true. But sure, I guess we're done for today. You have to come tomorrow, though"

"If there's tomorrow…"

"Excuse me?"

Her face changed greatly for a moment but not to my answer because just right after, something was happening.

Clank—!

Beside me, the small cup that was just properly at the table began to weirdly float, alongside other plates and furniture all around the room which had light sizes at first.

But all of it was gone as even the items that had a large weight on their own also followed suit.

They were just hovering in the air, spilling the food from those plates and water from those cups. Vases started spreading their soil all around as they turned upside down and the papers were flying all around the place.

Even the grandfather clock isn't left in its place as it levitates around, almost hitting myself that I had to dodge it.

"What the hell?"

Crack—!

Suddenly, the ground quaked as it shook, forming cracks on the delicate floor, and fright stricken, Cayenne stood up from her chair and the seat she was sitting on also started hovering.

"Ghale?! What's the situation!?"

"…"

After a few seconds of waiting, nobody answered. Gritting her teeth, Cayenne called out once more in a hurry.

"Ghale!"

"Look outside!"

Cayenne shifted her eyes onto the broken windows.

Left standing, her gaze glued onto one spot and one spot only. The same as her, I was looking right out of it but instead of astonishment, only regret filled them.

Above the skies, there was a massive, enormous hole, piercing the fabric of reality with ease. It resumed to expand, consequently, it pulled objects, living beings even, upwards if their bodies were unable to withstand the pull.

And it wasn't even done yet as right outside of this massive hole, smaller ones appeared and monsters of different sizes and shapes that were indescribable in this long distance began falling.

Monsters falling and living beings rising.

"Fiends!"