Emily wasn't sure she was ready to move into her room. She wanted so much to go in and rest till her show was ready but the thought of the voices and the feeling that she was being watched, there was no way she could do it."Your Grace," Emily heard someone call her and she turned to see who it was."Williams?" she mumbled in confusion as she watched her husbands brother walk down the stairs with a small smile OK his face and a box filled with items that Emily could not identify ij his hands."Yes, Your Grace," Williams answered. He raised the small box up and said, "I am actually done with the room now. I'm planning on moving to the new house to inspect all that is being done there."Emily didn't know what to say as she was dumbfounded. There was one question running through her mind and she had no other choice but to just ask it."Did you... where are you coming out from?" she asked, her throat immediately going dry."What do you mean?" Williams asked with a small chuckle. "I'm comi
Edward scattered the hay on the floor but he could not find what he was searching for. The blood stain was still there but Harolde head was gone, disappeared without a single trace."The... the head was right here," Edward said, more to himself thannhis butler. He ransacked the haystack again but his search ended futile. The head was really really gone. "No one came in here, Your Grace?" Mr Brown asked as he joined his master innhis search. Edward shook his head and said, "no, no one came in. The only person who did was Williams and Francis but I was with the head when they both came to see me."Edward stopped his search and knelt down on the floor as his body immediately went weak. How could he have lost the head just like that? How could he have been this careless."We will find it, Your Grace," Mr Brown said. "We just have to keep on searching the place for any trace." Edward knew that his butler was only saying this to give him hope but he knew that they were not going to find
Edward cussed inwardly as he turned to the carriage window and looked at his reflection. What he saw staring at him was the hideous face of a Duke. He turned back and stared at the manor that was now looking like a bead set up on a hill. They were already too far to turn back now."Fuck," Edward cussed as he turned and sat back on his seat. He ran his fingers through his hair, staring at Emily's pale face. There was no way he could turn back when she was in this condition. He would have to risk being seen to save her.The carriage rode on, shaking periodically as its wheel bumped on the little stones that filled the roads. Edward shouted countless times for the servant driving to be careful even though he knew the carriage was still going to shake no matter what. He was just too nervous at the moment to even think straight.Edward looked out the window and saw the trees passing by slowly. He frowned. Why were they slowing down?He tapped on the window and shouted, "I asked for you to
Edward entered his carriage and closed the door shut. He knocked on the roof of the carriage and the servant driving him immediately whipped the horse, causing it to begin its trot forward. He had already begun his journey to Whissletown where the party was going to take place.The main truth of the whole thing was that Edward wasn't just going there to party. He was going on a mission, a mission to find out the truth.He had received news from one of his spies that the Viscount Erin of Bardon, one of his father's friends, had partnered with his longtime arch-rival, the Duke Frederick of Bedsart, and the both were already planning on going on a coup against him.What confused Edward the most about the whole thing was that the both already had great empires to their names. He didn't know why they were going on a coup against him. He knew for sure that they weren't doing it to add his Duchy to theirs.His main aim now was to go to the party and find out from Duke Frederick himself if wh
Erin didn't reply to Edward for a few seconds and instead began laughing maniacally. Edward was confused at his reaction but found it to be suspicious."Stop laughing, Viscount Erin and answer my question," Edward said, his voice filled with anger. Erin stopped laughing and took a deep breath.He released the sucked in air with a sigh before saying, "you already know the answer to that question. I don't see why you are asking me when you do." Edward chuckled."So it is true, huh," he said before shaking his head. "Tell me one reason why I shouldn't hold you by the throat and squeeze till your eyes pop out of its socket."Erin shrugged and replied, "because we are surrounded by thousands of people and guards who would rush you if they ever find out that you killed me. Besides, you shouldn't take me as one who is dumb." "You brought your army with you?""Not all of them," Erin mumbled with a sigh as he stared at his fingernails. "Only about twenty of them.""You know I was coming, didn
Edward immediately rushed towards the man before he could make any sudden movement and grabbed him by the hand that held the dagger. The man struggled to release himself from Edwards grip but Edward held on tightly.Erin's man brought out a dagger from behind him with his other hand and tried stabbing Edward with it but Edward was just too fast. He saw it coming and quickly moved to the side, dodging the dagger but he let go of the hand in the process."You're dead," Erin's man said with a smirk as he played with the two daggers in his hands. Edwards' brain began to run as different scenarios began playing out in his head. Some were of him getting stabbed with the dagger but Edward wasn't going to let that happen.The man rushed towards Edward with a loud shout and Edwards' battle instincts immediately kicked in. Edward moved to the side and grabbed one of the hands of his attacker. His attacker tried using his free hand to stabilize Edward at his back but Edward made a quick move tha
Edward jumped out of the carriage and began limping to his door. He had noticed when he was in the carriage that his leg hurt like hell and he checked to see what was causing the pain.A large, mean slash ran from the upper thigh of his left leg down to his calf. How he had not noticed it sooner, he didn't know. Maybe it was the adrenaline that he was feeling at that moment.Edward knocked on the door, his teeth jammed together as he tried swallowing the pain coursing through his leg. He knocked again but there was no answer. Why wasn't anyone answering the door?Edward turned and looked around him. The whole place was quiet left for the bleating of the still awake goats and the grunting of the never sleeping pigs that were in his barn. Apart from those noises, no other intelligible noise was heard throughout the manor.The whole place was dark and the moon that was once casting its beautiful light upon the manor was now hidden in the clouds. The dark clouds that had swallowed the mo
The morning sun had begun to cast its golden rays upon Edwards manor, giving it a look that would make one shed tears in awe. Edward didn't feel like that though. He had more important things to worry himself about.He and his butler, Mr Brown, had discussed about the steps that he, Edward, was to take towards what he had just discovered about his father's old friend, Viscount Erin, and his arch-rival, Duke Frederick.Mr Brown had proposed that he go to the council of the Lords and explain everything to them but Edward wanted war. The attack that he had received from Erin's men while still at the party was one that he knew he could not tolerate. If they hadn't attacked him, he would have considered going to the council of the Lords but then doing that had provoked him. If he refused war, it would only show him as a coward, running to the Lords for protection. Edward didn't want to be addressed as such. That would hurt his ego and also bring down the image of his family's name. He was
Emily raised her head from the table, feeling pains around her neck area. With her eyes still closed, she touched it slightly and groaned silently.Opening both eyes, she looked around and realized she was still in the restaurant but it was late at night. "It is already late?" she asked herself and got a reply fr the old butler who just came back from the gents. "Yes, Her Grace." he replied, walking up to her slowly. "And where is His Grace?" the Duchess asked, showing how annoyed she is through the expression on her face. "I do not think he will be..." Mr Brown had not finished talking when Emily hit the table so loud that everyone in there, turned to take a glance at what was happening. "What do you mean?! I have waited for him and yet, he is not going to make it to this place?" Emily asked angrily.The old butler did not know how to calm her down and so he just stood without uttering a sound, arms at the back, heads down.Seeing the old butler not responding, she annoyingly carri
The royal guard quietly walked into the manor which he had seen the Duke's younger brother in. Looking around, he gave a voiceless sound at what he saw. He could not help but put his hand over his head and shake it for what seemed like forever. The structure of the manor made him wonder if it was Williams that owned it or another person. He, then, looked at the floor to see if he could sight a stick for clearing the bush that prevented him from passing.On catching sight of one, he picked it immediately and used it for the purpose. Swinging it, he made way for himself into the manor. "What type of building is this?" he said as he shook his head. He stood in front of the manor in an akimbo position. Sighing, he decided to enter into the manor. Surprisingly, the door was opened wide and this made the guard stop and look back. "Is there not anyone staying here? Why does it look so quiet?" He asked himself as he held the handle of the door. Summoning courage, he entered into the buildin
"I want you to help me monitor the Duke's younger brother, Williams." Mr Brown said as he put his hands in his pocket. The statement uttered by the old butler surprised the total guard and made him open his eyes wide. "The Duke's younger brother? Why?" he asked."I will explain everything to you later on. Just make sure you check every movement he makes and steps he carries." Mr Brown said. "Oh, Okay. I will do just that." the guard replied, bowing his head slightly. They, then, moved back to the living room to join the rest. Going inside, they met the old housekeeper, the Duchess and Duke walking down the stairs. "We will get going now." the royal guards said, smiling to the old butler. "Okay." Mr Brown answered. The royal guards headed to the entrance and left. Turning to Mr Dewhurst, the old butler walked to where they were seated. "Sister Emily!" Beauty exclaimed and ran to her sister who was also running towards her direction. "Beauty!" Emily shouted, hugging her younger sist
"Was that how he got to know about black magic?" Edward asked Mr Brown who was seated near him."Yes. And he hid it from your brother." Mr Brown answered. "Do you know why?" the old butler added, facing the Duke. "No, I....." Edward, then, looked at Mr Brown intensely. The old butler looked at him as if saying "you really do not know?" The Duke looked back at the floor and suddenly tapped his lap twice."I know! Because Williams will use it for his bad purpose." he said, looking at the old butler. "Exactly, His Grace." Mr Brown said, nodding his head. "So if he had the opportunity without my father's help, he would use it against everyone right?" Edward asked. "Yes and also use it against the person that denied him that opportunity." the old butler concluded. "That would mean death....right?" the Duke asked, slowly looking at the ceiling and immediately to the old butler. "Yes." Mr Brown replied. At this point, Mr Brown needed the Duke to get the point he wanted to prove to him. "H
The Duke and Mr Brown got to the manor in no time. This was because they whipped the horses to run faster. Now that they had a proper clue of what they wanted to deal with, they individually made up their minds to end the whole situation."Finally, we are here." Mr Brown muttered as he came down from the horse. He called the second stable boy."Yes sir." the boy answered. "I need you to call the royal guards for me. Tell them it is very urgent." the old butler said, as he rubbed the horse's back. "Okay sir." the boy replied, running as fast as his legs could carry him."Have you told him what to do?" the Duke asked, approaching the barn. "Yes, His Grace." Mr Brown responded. "Good." Edward said, looking into the woods."What do we need to do now?" the old butler asked. "We just need to find the killer since we are this close." Edward replied. "But first, there is something I need to show you. Follow me." the Duke added, going out of the barn and heading to the manor. "Okay His Grace."
"If I were in his shoes, I would have dealt with the Duke severely. But I would not let it be obvious that I am the one carrying out the acts. It would just be like an insect, eating up the vegetable from within." Hannah said firmly. Emily looked at her, opened her mouth and waved one of her fingers in the air as if to say something. Hannah thought she had offended the Duchess and immediately knelt to beg her. "I am so sorry Her Gra...." She was about finishing the statement when Emily interrupted her."No no, that was not what I meant. Please rise." Emily said as she assisted the housekeeper to stand by using both of her hands. She held her shoulders tight and said "Look Hannah, you have really helped me to see what I needed. I can not walk on this journey alone." the Duchess added."I need your help. I would explain everything to you." Emily said as she quickly dragged the housekeeper by her hand and ran as fast as she could. "Her Grace, I do not seem to understand what is going..
"Wow! The sky looks radiating, making it difficult to take my eyes off it." Emily said, swinging her hands sideways and making claps. It had been a while she felt genuinely happy and refreshing. With all that had been happening, she had been in her space, scared to come out. But was helped by her best friend's comfort and definitely, her husband, the Duke. Hannah, who always stayed behind her, followed her slowly. As the housekeeper walked having both of her hands in front of her, with her fingers interlocked, she observed the Duchess. "She looks peaceful and free. I think she is already getting comfortable in here." Hannah thought. "Hannah." Emily called. "Yes ma" the housekeeper answered, moving to her side. "How long have you been here?" the Duchess asked. "For thirteen years, Her Grace." Hannah said as she bowed slightly. "You have actually stayed here for long." Emily added, facing her. The housekeeper responded with a nod."Which means you know a lot about the Duke and his fa
Emily woke to the singing of the birds near her window. She turned slightly to the opening that made the sun rays shine brightly into the room. The light from the beautiful day's gift made her cover her face with her right hand. "Urgghh, it is too bright!" She exclaimed.As she was about sitting upright, a hand out of nowhere put down the drape."Why would the sun ever think of hurting you?" The voice said. She turned immediately and was about jumping up from the bed when she saw Edward.On seeing him, she sighed and relaxed back on the bed."Were you that scared?" Edward said, sitting near were she was lying and rubbing her forehead. She mumbled something he did not hear. "Good morning my Queen. I hope you are better now?" Edward continued. "Good morning His Grace." She replied, sitting up again. Looking at him, she asked "How did you know I was not okay and where is Victoria?""Victoria is carrying out her duties in the kitchen. She reported to me this morning about your welfare. S
The Duke followed Mr Brown to the barn. It was already late at night and so they took a wooden lamp along with them. Mr Brown got to the barn and signaled for them to sit. Edward obeyed and sat. Despite the fact that Mr Brown worked under him, he still showed respect to the old man. He had been working for his father before he kicked the bucket. He had also been taking care of he and his junior brother, William ever since they were little. With several sacrifices, the old butler had taken his time to train them well but William chose the wrong part to follow.Thinking of all the good and bad times they have had together, it made Edward love the old butler even when he gives certain attitudes."Mr Brown, what is the matter?" Edward asked as he sat slowly on the wooden box that was used by the stable boy. "Your Grace, I am sorry for disturbing you after meal. I just needed to relay some essential information to you." the old butler replied, looking at the Duke. While saying this, he al