After I finish the preparations, Eva issues the invitation. (Pink Trigger)

I finished the set-up, which I won't bore my reader with the details of... It'll be much more interesting to see the fruits of my labor fresh, as my guest would witness them. As for the invitation... It would be much more difficult for me, a mysterious masked stranger, to convince Battler to join us for an evening of excitement. Instead, Eva had offered to extend the invitation herself.

With everything prepared, I didn't have anything better to do than watch her, though, so I peered over the railing of the stair. I saw her standing as the lone aunt among all those nieces and nephews, keeping mostly in the background as Maria attempted to explain to all of them who the Witch of the Portrait was, why they should respect her, and so on. Sorry, Maria... there'll be a new witch on campus before this night is over!

Anyway, that was a very strange group of characters, and I could tell everyone was a little tense having her there. George and Jessica looked a little relieved when Eva pulled Battler aside to the staircase, right as Battler was telling Maria he was much less interested in the Witch and more in her epitaph and gold. As it turned out, that was the perfect segue.

"Battler..." Eva spoke in a conspirator's whisper from behind her unfolded fan, her eyes narrowed. "What would you say if I told you I have an idea... about how the solution to that epitaph goes?"

"Really? You aren't kidding, Aunt Eva?!" Battler's eyes wind wide and his voice went loud, causing Eva to hush him.

"Yes, Battler, only I don't have all the pieces together. I hear you're something of a mystery fan, though-"

"Ah, crap, is the old bastard saying stuff like that, now?" Her nephew scratched the back of his red hair with frustration. "But yeah, sure. You're saying we'll work on it together? I... guess that's all right." He looked hesitant: it wasn't clear whether that was because he didn't think he'd be of help, or he'd been looking forward to an evening with his cousins he hadn't seen so long, instead of his intimidating aunt. "Why me, though? I'm pretty sure George is way sharper... Probably even Jessica is."

"The truth is, Battler, I need someone with flexible thinking. I've applied all of the straight logic I can to it. The remaining part might be a little... less logical." Her fan hid her face from Battler, and she was turned from me, but I could tell she was smiling impishly. "You won't mind if I lean on you a little bit? I promise, you'll have fun...!"

"Okay..." Battler wasn't so dumb he couldn't tell something strange was going on, but he also seemed way too trusting of his family and wanted to see the best in them. He probably couldn't fathom his aunt had shady intentions...

... Or, maybe he was interested in the same way I was? From my perch, Eva's thinly-veiled teasing was driving me crazy, knowing what was to come. Anyway, his motive was not for me to say. The bottom line was, he agreed. The show was on. Eva let him rejoin his friends for the moment, then quickly retreated into the darkness of the staircase to join me.

Good work, Eva. I wish I'd been there to see you make the others buy the idea that you wouldn't be attending the conference. How'd you manage it?

"Natsuhi isn't the only one who can fake headaches," Eva said with a smirk, unfolding her fan to hide her face. That was her ordinary gesture, but... she was probably trying to hide her nerves. I could almost hear her heartbeat in close proximity. "Hideyoshi agreed to handle my place in the conference. Ah... I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful husband, aren't I?"

What a thing to say at this particular moment! I didn't say that. Instead, I nodded. Hideyoshi is certainly a respectable man and a wonderful husband. You don't... have any reservations about this, in light of that?

"I've come way too far for that, haven't I?" Eva asked me a little indignantly as she headed into the VIP room. "Besides, this is just playing around a little with my useful idiot of a nephew. As for you... I don't want to hear you've gotten cold feet."

Not at all. I joined Eva inside...