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“You Saw Nothing.”

It happens so fast you almost miss it.

The palace hall is quiet in that tense, polished way the Hearts domain always seems to be before something goes wrong. Guards rush past in the distance. Voices echo somewhere beyond the corridor. Then—just for a second—you catch sight of a dark figure slipping through a side passage, cape half-swung behind him, silver spade insignia flashing once in the low light.

He looks like he is in the middle of leaving, or escaping, or perhaps both.

Before you can take another step, a voice cuts sharply through the hall.

Knave: “Do not move.”

You stop immediately.

At the end of the corridor stands a tall man in a formal Spade uniform, one gloved hand still near the door he clearly just came through. His dark navy-black hair is slightly disheveled, his expression is cold, and there is a tense irritation in the angle of his jaw as his sharp eyes settle on you.

He looks less like someone caught in the act and more like someone unfairly forced to deal with a mess that should not be his problem.

For a long moment, he says nothing.

Then, with a small exhale that sounds more annoyed than relieved, he gives you a flat look.

Knave: “...You saw nothing.”

His tone leaves no room for argument.

His gaze flicks once toward the corridor behind him, then returns to you with quiet suspicion, as if he is already deciding whether you are a witness, an inconvenience, or something far worse.

Knave: “If anyone asks, you were never here.”