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
Edward was staring down at the hallway where the feast was going on and sighted Williams and his wife speaking together. The two seemed to be engrossed in their conversation and that annoyed him much.Emily seemed to be suddenly agitated after William left, signalling the end of their discussion. She looked up and her and her husband's eyes met.Edwards anger seemed to increase as their eyes met and he quickly left to prevent himself from doing anything that would hurt the both of them later on.He walked towards his room, mumbling chases and words as he passed the other rooms. He stopped by one whose door was open and peeped into it. That room was one that he had used for storing some of the old weapons that he and his father had used. It was the same that he has found Emily unconscious in.The whole place was scattered and the items and tools that he had stored in there seemed to have been moved around. Things looked to be really out of place. Someone had been in there."Who's here
Edward was very much relieved when he heard what his father-in-law had really called him for. He was glad he wasn't going to receive any lashing from the old man today."Of course, she can," Edward said calmly as he tried holding his shaky breadths. He the turned to Emily and asked, "why did you not personally let me know of this, Emily? You should have come to me."Emily stared at her husband, giving him a knowing look. Of course, Edward knew why she had come to her father and not him instead. He just asked to cover up for his acts so that he would not be seen as a bad husband.Something that he knew he very much was."I guess she is still shy to personally ask you of some things, eh," Baron Dewhurst said with a soft chuckle. He poured the last drink into his mouth, taking the whole thing in one gulp before turning to the men around him and saying, "I am very sorry, sirs, but I beg to take my leave now.""Of course, Your Grace," one of the man said with a small bow. He then dug his h
Edward immediately grew at alert when he saw bloodstained Mr Brown run into the manor. He immediately left his wife and father-in-law and ran towards the man with concern in his eyes."What happened, Brown?" Edward asked the butler as he held him ok the shoulder. "Why are you covered in blood?""It's Harold, Your Grace," Mr Brown said quickly as he turned and headed back to the door, motioning for Edward to follow him.Edward stood, unable to say a word. The first thought that came into his mind was that someone had found Harold's body in the river."Fuck," Edward muttered before turning to Emily and the Baron and motioning for them to wait for him as he followed his butler. Baron Dewhurst nodded for him to go as he held his daughter who seemed to have entered a state of shock, her eyes on the door where Mr Brown had left. The Duke was a surprised at how fast Aron Dewhursts mood had changed. It was as if the sight of Mr Brown covered in blood had caused him to snap and become sober a
Edward was still with his father-in-law and butler, explaining all that had happened when they all heard a loud scream come from the manor. Edward recognized the voice almost immediately and he turned to his father-in-law. "Emily," Baron Dewhurst breathed with a small gasp as he immediately left Edward and his butler and ran back to the manor. "Brown," Edward mumbled as he turned to Mr Brown but before he could say anything his butler held his hands in in the air, causing him to stop. "You can go with your father-in-law," Mr Brown said. "I will stay here and take care of the body." Edward nodded. He smiled a little bit after seeing that the former Mr Brown had now come back. The stoic faced, expressionless Brown who knew the answers to almost everything. Edward turned to leave but Mr Brown stopped him, calling his name for him to turn. "What happened, Brown?" Edward asked as he turned to the old butler. "Is anything the matter?" He watches as Mr Brown bent to the ground and p
The sun had just set, announcing the end of the day. Edward sat in his study, his butler and brother sitting opposite him as they discussed. He looked up at the both of them and sighed as different thoughts rushed into his head. "What are we to do now, William?" Edward asked his brother as he dropped the small glass of rum in his hands on the table beside him. "You have just displayed something to my father-in-law that I have been trying to keep hidden for years. What do I do about it, huh?""And what is that something, if I may ask," William mumbled. He raised his hands up as Edward was about speaking and said, "if you are about mentioning what happened between I and that servant--""So you do know what I am talking about then," Edward shouted, cutting Williams short. "You have always had this liking for blood and death and I thought tye prison fixed you. Apparently, I was very wrong.""You know that it was a mistake that she died," William shouted back angrily. "I didn't plan for h
"This... this man," Edward mumbled as he stared at the picture on the soldiers hand. To make sure his next words weren't going to put him or his brother in trouble, he decided not to not reveal to the soldiers what had really happened with the man, how they knew him and that they had killed him. He instead asked, "what do you people need this man for?""Have you seen him around?" the guard insisted and Edward shook his head as he swallowed dryly. "If you haven't seen him then I guess we should--""There might be a possibility that I have seen him," Edward said quickly before the men left. "I just want to know why you are looking for him, that's all.""This man right here, Raymond Johnson, is a serial killer that has been on a murdering spree," the guard said after much hesitation. "He was found at the borders of this town where he murdered a few persons. He was chased right to this place.""Heavens," Edward mumbled as the guard finished his explanation. "The invitation that you annou
The guards carried the bag containing the head of the murderer and looked inside. The stench of the now rotten head hit them on the nose and they had to retreat and drop the head back on the table as they covered their nose with their hand and used the other to waft the smell away from them."That should be it," one of the guards said after a few coughs. He looked at the bag as if it was some kind of poison and the slowly walked towards it, his hands stretched to it. He took the bag with his left hand, making sure that he closed the too tight so that the smell wouldn't seep out of it but it did nothing to stop the spread. With every swing that they made, the smell seemed to spread throughout the room."We will take this to the council and inform them of the man's death," the guards said, his voice sounding weird as he held his nose tight."Understood," Edward said with a small nod. "Would the council call for us after? Would they need any of our presence?""We will let you know if th
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