Chapter 175 Kill Everett! Smash Rose’s Wicked Plot

Chapter 175 Kill Everett! Smash Rose’s Wicked Plot

Cressida arrived at the entrance of Lumina Retreat and met up with Verity.

The night was dark and thick with autumn fog.

Verity murmured, "He did go in — third floor, second room."

She pressed the entry pass into Cressida's hand.

"The Prince sent James tonight to help. The two of us will be waiting in the shadows."

Cressida knocked and stepped inside Lumina Retreat.

The place lived up to its reputation as a venue for distinguished guests. From the entrance, servants checked the entry pass twice before leading Cressida through two tranquil bamboo groves.

Beyond the groves, the view opened up.

Three elegant pavilions stood arranged in a triangle, enclosing a clear pond at the center, with a winding covered walkway arching over the water.

A stream diverted from a narrow city river ran through the buildings, forming a meandering waterway inside. The soft sound of flowing water masked the murmur of private conversations just enough.

Cressida approached the third pavilion. The two-story wooden structure rose against the night sky, its bracket sets and upswept eaves grand and imposing. Behind every closed door and window, a dim amber light glowed.

"No need to show me the way — I know where to go," Cressida told the attendant, then entered the building alone.

Someone in the shadows had been watching her. The moment she walked in, that person slipped to the door of a private room and knocked softly, whispering, "Mr. Howard, Ms. Hamilton has come herself."

The man inside let out a cold laugh. "Perfect timing."

Inside the room, Everett drained his glass.

Rose sat beside him. Even the veil on her face couldn't fully hide the scar.

She warned him, "Mr. Howard, she's extremely skilled. Don't let her catch you off guard."

"Don't worry. I've already had someone burn knockout incense in the burner, and I took the antidote beforehand. No matter how good Cressida is, she won't be able to move once she's in this room. Tonight I'll cripple her — give us both the satisfaction we deserve."

Everett's face twisted with vicious satisfaction as he spoke.

Rose had told him everything — that Cressida had deliberately set him up, switching his supply so he overdosed on Elysian Dust and ran naked through the streets, humiliating him completely.

Today, Cressida was going to pay for it.

Rose stood up, feeling certain of their victory.

"Mr. Howard, I'll head back now. I was the one who lured her here, and I can't risk her servants catching me in the act. I need to get back to the manor."

"Go ahead."

Rose pushed open the door and was led out through the back entrance by one of Everett's attendants.

The knockout incense began to burn in the burner. But since Everett had taken the antidote, it had no effect on him.

He drank slowly, his eyes filled with dark, festering hatred.

When Cressida arrived, should he take the left hand first, or the right?

Just thinking about it felt satisfying.

But nearly fifteen minutes passed, and Cressida still hadn't appeared.

Everett was growing irritated. His attendant had clearly said she'd already entered the building — how could she be taking this long?

He called toward the door, "Someone come!"

But the attendants who should have been standing guard outside made no sound.

Everett shot to his feet, cursing under his breath. "Even they dare defy me now? Useless trash, what are they even—"

Before he finished, he yanked the door open — and the bodies of his two attendants toppled straight into him.

He had no time to step aside. They collapsed on top of him.

"Are you trying to get yourselves killed?!" he snarled, shoving them off.

Then his hand touched something wet and thick.

Everett froze. He sat up and looked.

Both attendants were dead.

Someone had driven a blade straight into their throats — someone who clearly knew how to kill. They had pressed cloth against the wounds the instant they struck, keeping the blood from spraying.

Everett broke into a cold sweat.

"Who did this? Was it Cressida?" he breathed, shaken.

Then a voice came from behind him.

"Everett. I hear you've been looking for me."

Every muscle in his body went rigid.

He turned slowly. Cressida's tall silhouette emerged from behind the curtain, stepping into the candlelight.

The flames cast her features in sharp, cold relief. She raised her thumb and lightly wiped a trace of blood from her jaw.

She had just killed two men, yet her clothes were spotless.

The sight of her made Everett shudder. He scrambled to his feet and slammed the door shut himself.

Then, pulling himself together, he managed a sneer.

"Cressida. Bold of you to come in person. There's knockout incense burning in this room — I'm going to cripple you today."

"We have no quarrel between us. Why come after me?" Cressida raised an eyebrow, completely unhurried even at the mention of the incense. "What exactly did Rose tell you?"

Everett's voice came out rough and cold. "You dare ask? You switched her medicine and made me overdose on Elysian Dust. I lost my mind and ran through the streets without my clothes. Because of you, my parents are sending me back to the family estate. You destroyed my reputation. Even if I'm leaving Emerald City, I will not let this go."

He smirked. "And I'd wager you slipped out after Rose without anyone knowing. Even if you die in this room tonight, no one will trace it back to us. Believe me?"

Cressida moved toward him slowly, her voice steady. "You're a fool. She's the one who ruined you, and you still believe every word she says."

"Rose told me you're the most convincing liar of all. How twisted are you? The day my mother went to church, you showed up and Master Conrad started speaking those prophecies — don't tell me you didn't put him up to it."

Everett watched her carefully, counting down the time until the knockout incense should take effect. It had to be soon.

"I've heard you're proud of your fighting skills. Today I'm going to cut off your hands and see how arrogant you are then. Kneel and bow your head now, and I might spare your legs."

Cressida stopped a short distance from him.

She was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Are you waiting for the knockout incense to work?"

The question sent a chill straight through him.

He snapped his gaze to the incense burner — and saw no white smoke rising from it.

Something was wrong.

He rushed over and lifted the lid.

The incense was still there. Nothing seemed off.

And then it hit him.

He'd been tricked.

Everett spun around — and felt a sudden tightness in his chest. He looked down, bewildered.

Rose's gold hairpin was buried in his heart.

Before he could make sense of it, his body gave out beneath him.

The pain was overwhelming. He watched Cressida walk toward him and tried to push himself up, but his legs buckled and he crashed back to the floor, gasping.

Her deep blue skirt came to a stop a few feet away. She bent down, and those eyes looked at him — empty of anything.

"No—" Everett reached out with a bloodied hand, grasping for the hem of her skirt.

He couldn't reach her.

His eyes went wide with rage.

How could she dare kill him? His guards were all outside — she'd never get out alive. Wasn't she afraid? He knew she was skilled, but he never imagined she'd go this far. Did she really think she could afford to make an enemy of the Howard family?

Cressida watched the light fade from Everett's eyes.

"I should thank you. You handed me the proof I needed to bury Rose. So I'll at least give you a quick death."

When she was sure he had stopped breathing, she reached down and pulled out the gold hairpin.

As she drew it free, she tilted her head slightly to one side, away from the spray of blood.

Cressida stood, walked out through the front door without any attempt to hide, and found Verity and James waiting for her.

"Deal with the two guards' bodies. Leave Everett where he is — let someone find him."

She handed the bloodied hairpin to Verity.

Then, instead of leaving, she walked to the end of the corridor, turned left, and knocked on the door of the sixth private room.

A moment later the door opened. Three or four young women were seated inside, gathered around a graceful figure at the center — Princess Bella.

The moment Bella saw Cressida, she jumped up and took her arm warmly.

"What took you so long! We've been waiting forever — come in, come in, let me introduce you to my friends."

Cressida smoothed her skirt and smiled lightly. "I heard on my way here that Rose had gone missing. I was worried my mother might fret over her, so I had someone look into it. Forgive me for being late, Your Highness."

Bella clicked her tongue. "Why do you bother with her? From what I've heard, she was the one who got Everett Howard to take Elysian Dust. Honestly, nothing she does surprises me anymore."

The other women gasped and broke into a flurry of whispers about Rose.

Cressida settled comfortably into the seat beside Bella, listening as the conversation flowed around her. The women were warm and perfectly pleasant toward her.

The entry pass Miguel had given her said the third pavilion, sixth room. That was exactly what she had told the attendant when she arrived.

So before she came tonight, she had already sent word inviting Bella out for the evening.

Tonight, she was here to see the Princess. Who could question that?