Perhaps it was the sense of accomplishment from playing the detective game that thrilled Elizabeth so much, she began to lose interest in crime novels and instead developed a fascination with becoming a detective herself. She even wrote to her second eldest brother, who worked as a lawyer in Luenton, asking him to help her buy similar books. But since that couldn't satisfy her curiosity immediately, she turned to Elina, hoping she could create more games like the one they had played.
Elina, seizing the opportunity, began adapting the game's storyline into various versions with new puzzles. She listed out several different locked-room murder scenarios—thanks to her past life of watching a certain anime about a death-prone boy detective, she was practically an expert in such plotlines.
Elina even wrote multiple scripts for the servants to rehearse. These temporary actors would memorize new lines daily—one day playing the victim's fiancé, and the next, the devious murderer. The whole experience was all about keeping players on their toes.
"They're going to visit the Earl's estate tomorrow. Are you going?" Janette asked curiously.
Elina waved her hand, "Spare me, please."
She had been busy finishing scripts for days and now finally had a chance to rest—she wasn't about to waste it on some social gathering.
Janette thought for a moment and decided not to go either. "Honestly, I don't want to go either. They're Lizzy's friends, and besides, I'm not even of age yet."
As someone still considered a minor, she had no obligation to attend these kinds of events, especially since, like Elina, she was only a guest at the Campbell estate.
"How about we walk in the garden tomorrow?" Janette suggested, planning their activities. "I think the weather will be great."
But Elina shook her head. "I have other plans." She needed to work on 'Helen'.
That's right—the monthly deadline was approaching. Because she was staying in the countryside, her submission date had even been pushed forward. After spending several days writing brain-twisting mystery scripts, she was ready for something simpler and more relaxing.
When Elizabeth learned that neither Elina nor Janette would be going with her, she couldn't help but feel disappointed. But seeing how firm they were, she chose not to push. Instead, she packed up a box of props and gathered a few of the amateur actors to head off with her family to the guest's estate.
It wasn't far away—just a two-hour carriage ride brought them to another estate in the same region. Upon arrival, Elizabeth excitedly carried the box of props and showed off her latest creation to her friends.
"Look what I brought you all!" Elizabeth beamed as she lifted the box. "This is a detective game, invented by my cousin Elina. You have no idea how brilliant she is!"
The other girls had heard of Elizabeth's relatives before but had never seen her this excited. Intrigued, they gathered around. "How do you play this?"
"Come on, teach us!"
Elizabeth, now a seasoned detective game veteran, explained confidently: "First, we need an empty room. Jones will set up the props inside."
Her maid Jones smiled faintly. The girls were all familiar with this loyal servant. "That's easy. There are plenty of empty rooms here."
Following Elizabeth's instructions, Jones quickly and skillfully arranged the room. When she opened the door again, a mysterious crime scene greeted the girls.
They were fascinated by the novelty of the game and curiously examined every corner of the room. Elizabeth began to explain the rules in detail, passionately describing how to search for clues and use logic to solve the mystery.
With her prior experience, Elizabeth was able to provide helpful hints when they got stuck. The girls, working together, quickly cracked the case under her guidance.
"This game is amazing!" they exclaimed. "I never imagined the chime could be a trap!"
"Yeah, we only figured that out thanks to Lizzy."
"I feel smarter just from playing this game."
"It's so fun—I want to play another round!"
The girls looked at Elizabeth expectantly. "Do you have any more like this?"
Elizabeth beamed with pride. "Of course! El designed several others for me. One of them is about a 'blood-sucking monster'—it's really fun! Though El hasn't finished it yet."
"A blood-sucking monster?" The local girls, unfamiliar with Luenton's urban trends, looked uncertain. "What exactly is that?"
After asking Elina about it, Elizabeth had a clearer understanding. She explained, "It's a popular myth in Luenton. These monsters have red skin, fangs, sleep in coffins, and survive by drinking blood."
The girls exchanged uneasy glances.
"Why would something so grotesque become trendy in Luenton? I really don't get it."
"It sounds terrifying… how do you even play a game like that?"
The vampire-themed game was Elina's personal touch, her way of sneaking in a bit of fun. Since vampire myths had yet to spread to the countryside, people might actually take them seriously.
So in her new detective game scripts, she cleverly wove vampire legends into the plot. The setting was a remote manor filled with a mysterious butler, frightened servants, suspicious guests, and eerie vampire rumors—all creating an intense, thrilling atmosphere.
Players would take on the role of a genius detective, gathering evidence from all corners of the manor, interrogating NPCs—maids, the butler, even guests—to collect vital clues and unravel the mystery.
When Elizabeth heard this idea, she was over the moon. Though she hadn't played such a role-playing game before, she could already imagine how much fun it would be.
While Elizabeth was enthusiastically recommending the vampire game to her friends, Elina was quietly seated in the study, fully focused on the next chapter of 'Helen'.
Previously, the news of the Rheine noble's impending arrival had stirred the upper-class society, prompting Helen's parents to loosen their restrictions and allow her to attend social events.
In the new chapter, the mysterious Rheine noble would finally make his appearance. Elina knew that to make a character instantly likable, it was best to give them a "save-the-cat" moment—a classic screenwriting trick where the character does something kind, like rescuing a kitten, to build a strong emotional connection with the audience.
It's the same logic behind the "hero saves the damsel" trope in romantic dramas. This taps into the psychological principle of the 'primacy effect', where the first impression strongly influences how people perceive someone in the long run.
So, the Rheine noble's debut had to be grand. On the eve of his welcome banquet, Helen's carriage would suddenly go out of control, dashing wildly through the streets.
Such runaway carriage accidents were not uncommon in Luenton. Just last month, a chaotic collision at a busy intersection injured two ladies and made newspaper headlines—proof that the era's transportation was no less dangerous.
As Helen panicked, and the carriage hurtled toward a wall, disaster seemed inevitable—until the Rheine noble appeared like a hero. With one hand holding an umbrella and the other firmly gripping the reins, he used his immense strength to stop the carriage just in time.
Of course, Elina gave plenty of attention to the noble's appearance and demeanor. Pale as if he'd died three days ago—just enough to evoke vampire vibes without directly copying them. For inspiration, she mischievously drew from the Earl of Norman, a judge she had once seen.
She couldn't help but imagine how amusing it would be if, after publication, society ladies who had met Earl Norman began projecting the vampire archetype onto him.
"If Berkeley knew, he'd die laughing," Elina thought.
Still, she didn't fully copy Earl Norman's features. That would be too suspicious. Instead, she kept key traits while changing some details so that readers familiar with the Earl might 'think' of him—but wouldn't be able to confirm anything for certain.
Having been saved, Helen remained in shock. She couldn't help but notice the noble's incredible strength. Stopping a frenzied horse single-handedly was no small feat, and it left her amazed and intrigued. From that moment, she began to observe him closely.
As for the male lead—he followed the 'Meteor Garden' playbook. Compared to other noble ladies, Helen, raised in the countryside, was refreshingly different, "not like the others at all." Thanks to this dramatic carriage incident, both hero and heroine became fascinated with one another.
In Elina's words, 'this' was the beginning of love.