Emily woke up to the sound of a bell ringing. She grabbed her pillows and covered her head with it but it did nothing to block out the noise. Her head began to bang from the loud sound, forcing her to open her eyes."Where is that stupid sound coming from?" Emily mumbled as she sat up on her bed. Her hair was all over the place and drool made a trail on her face. She wasn't one who liked early mornings.Emily had slept late at night due to her constant crying. His Grace had tried speaking to her but she didn't pay any attention to him. She was too hurt to answer him."Good morning, Your Grace," Emily heard someone say and she turned to the door, her eyes still drowsily half opened. "How is your morning?""Fine?" Emily answered as she stared at the young girl standing at the entrance. "Who are you again?" She knew the girl worked in the manor. She just could not remember seeing where."I am one of the chefs," the girl answered with a small smile. Emily nodded as she yawned loudly. The
Emily shifted the tray closer to her and stared at the covered plate in the tray. She sighed and then opened it, praying that it was not toast and milk that she had been having the previous times. "Wow," Emily said with a smile as she saw what she had been served. Pieces of meat lined the soup in front of her with a glass of pressed orange by the side.Emily picked the fork on the tray and stabbed a piece of meat with it before shoving it into her mouth. She chewed on the juicy meat and moaned as the soft meat rolled over her taste buds. She then grabbed the spoon that had been laying beside the fork and took a small sip from the plate. It was a little bit spicy but it was alright. Emily picked up another meat and plopped it into her mouth, chewing it as she went for her juice. She grabbed the surprisingly cold glass and took a small sip before putting it back down."So where was I?" she said with a small grunt as she removed a piece of paper from the stacks and placed it in front
Emily got into the carriage, His Grace holding her hand. She still felt heavy from the food that she had just finished eating and her bladder seemed to want to burst from the juice.His Grace let go of her hand and turned to the other side to enter while she adjusted herself. She pulled the tail of her very long gown into the carriage and closed the door gently as she sucked in air through her teeth.Emily still felt uncomfortable going to church with the man she called her husband, wearing a mask that would scare little kids. She didn't want to but she had no other choice. She had at first not wanted to go but then after hearing that her father was going to be at the gathering, she quickly changed her mind. At first she didn't believe His Grace when he said it but after he showed her the letter, she believed."My father would be there?" Emily scoffed after His Grace had told her that the Baron Dewhurst would be at the church for the gathering. "You think I am stupid? If my father wa
Edward jumped into the carriage and closed the door shut. He adjusted his mask on his head and sighed as the carriage driver whipped the horses, causing them to slowly trot forward.Edward turned to his wife and have her a small smile but then it faded after he realized that she could not see it through the mask. He coughed awkwardly and turned to his window as she did same."I, uh, I still want to apologize for what I said last night," Edward said, his eyes ok the trees that passed by. "I shouldn't have said that to you and I apologize for it." Edward turned to Emily and waited for her response but got none. She just sat there, her head towards the window. He sighed and said, "I understand that you are angry at me but you do know that we will have to speak when your father shows up."Still no reply.Edward waited for a few more seconds but his wife seemed to be bent on giving him the silent treatment. He later gave up after waiting for too long as he grunted and turned to the windo
Edward stood still, his hands behind his back and Emily, his wife, standing next behind him. His eyes were on his father-in-law, the Baron Dewhurst, who had walked into the church and sat down on the pew. His heart had stopped pounding and he felt at peace.There wasn't going to be any fighting... for now."I'm sorry I thought that you were lying," Her Grace said in a small whisper as she leaned close to Edward. "I'm sorry for not believing what you said.""It's alright," Edward whispered back. "I am actually a little bit surprised myself that he showed up."Emily frowned as she heard Edward's words but then she quickly wiped it off and replaced it with a smile as she noticed that her father was watching the both of them.She leaned closer to him, a fake smile on her face as she asked, "why? Why are you surprised? I thought he informed you of his coming. Why then are you surprised if he did?" Edward paused and began thinking of what to tell her. He had not expected this kind of quest
Everyone stood from the pews as the service came to an end. Emily turned and saw her father walking towards her. She quickly grabbed His Grace's hands and put a smile on her face but he squeezed his hands out of her grip. "Oh, Emily," Baron Dewhurst said with a small smile as he walked over to Emily and pulled her into a hug. "I have missed you so so much, dear daughter." "I have missed you too, father," Emily replied as she hugged her father back. Baron Dewhurst released his daughter from his hug and turned to his son-in-law who stood watching the scene between father and daughter. "Hello, sir," His Grace said, his demeanor immediately changing. "We are very happy that you came today." Emily grunted as she saw her husband's fake acts. The guy had just been angry at her and all of a sudden he seemed to be happy just because of her father. If only her father knew. "Of course, I did," the Baron said with a throaty laugh that sounded more like a cough. "When I saw the letter that y
Edward walked towards the manor and suddenly noticed that his stable was filled with different horses, many he knew was not his. The sound of laughter and music also seemed to increase by the minute and this made Edward very uncomfortable.He turned to the trail of river that ran down the trees as he thought of the body and head that he had dumped in. He saw someone walk towards that direction and he cussed inwardly.Edward heard someone whistle behind him and he turned. Coming towards he and his father-in-law was a man and a woman, dressed in fancy clothes, the man a cane in his hands and the woman a hat on her head, walking towards the manor with their nose in the air. From the stitches that were on their clothes, Edward knew that the duo were not from the nobles at all."Oh, Duke Edward," the lady said as she suddenly saw Edward, Baron Dewhurst standing beside him. "It is an honor to have met you, Your Grace.""Uhun," Edward mumbled as he nodded slightly. The man walked over to E
Edward locked his door behind him and motioned for Detective Harold to sit down on a seat beside him before walking to his couch. He sat down on it and grabbed a stick of cigar and a lighter. "We are in a secluded place like you said," Edward said as he put the cigar in his mouth and turned on his lighter. "Why did you ask for everyone to come to the manor? What was your reason?" "There are somethings that I wanted to know for myself," Detective Harold said as he removed his pipe from his mouth. He emptied the dried tobacco inside on an ashtray that was on a table beside him. "And what are those things?" Edward asked, rubbing his hands together. The detective slow response to his questions were beginning to make him very anxious and he didn't like it. "Why do you look so nervous, Your Grace?" Detective Harold asked as he stared keenly at Edward. "You should try to remain calm or else nothing is going to come out of the investigation that you are paying me to do." "Paying you?" E
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