"Detective Alice, Inspector Sachi assigned you to another case."
"What? But my current case is not yet done." Alice ask in confusion and frustation. She investigated so much for this case. But now they wanted her to just discard it?
"But the victim's relative wanted the police to stop investigating." Her assistant said.
"Why?"
"We don't know yet. But you know we cant take an action if the relatives doesn't want to. For now you should concentrate on another case." Alice cant help but to sigh. She almost have the culprit. She just need more evidence to catch the murderer but now it is back to zero.
"Fine. As if I can do something about it. Anyway give me the details of the other case." Alice instructed and the assistant immediately obliged.
"There's a man found dead at the Loire River and the police already started the investigation. They concluded that the cause of death is the two gunshots from the chest. Here, this is the pictures..." The assistant show the pictures to Alice and she examined it.
"And the relatives?" Alice asks.
"They look eager to know the killer don't worry." The assistant must have read on what's running through Alice mind.
"Good. Because I cant lose another case again. Specially if I work hard for it." Alice stated sarcastically and the assistant just shook his head, already used in Alice attitude.
"Anyway, Inspector Sachi want you to start investigating tomorrow."
"Yeah right, whatever."
"I'll take my leave then detective." Then the assistant is gone.
Alice sigh once again and leaned on her chair tiredly. She didn't even have a chance to rest and there is another case already.
Then a white envelope that is place on her table caught her attention.
That's right. Señorita Laura invited her to a party tomorrow. Stupid of her to forget it.
'Maybe I'll go after the investigation. Señorita Laura will surely not allow me if I said I cant come anyway.' Alice thinks.
.
"Don't forget to investigate the persons that is with the victim before the incident happened. Give me the details once your done." Alice said, instructing her underlings.
"Yes detective."
"Inform me if something happen. You may go now." The two guys bowed before leaving.
Alice closed her eyes tightly because her head is starting to throb. The case is difficult more than she imagined. There is no witness and the weapon is nowhere to be found. The murderer must also good because there is no fingerprint detected.
Alice look at her left and notice the unexpensive gown that is hanging on the wall.
Oh. The party.
The detective immediately rise up on her sit and started to fix herself. She wore the gown and put a light make up, enough to cover her pale lips because of lack of sleep.
When she look at the mirror and check if she's ready to leave, she grab her pouch and head outside.
"Where to madame?" The chauffeur asks once she's inside the vehicle. Alice tell the place and when the vehicle move, its her cue to finally rest after all the hard work that she did today.
Alice look outside and notice the clouds looking so dark even if its still afternoon. 'Maybe it will rain later.' she thinks.
The detective just relax on her seat and close her eyes. Once again she will attend a party that she doesn't belong to. If she only have a choice, she will decline the invitation. But then again, Señorita Laura is really persistent.
After an hour, the chauffeur informed her that they have arrived. Alice lets out a breath that she doesn't know she's holding. She was so late. Alice is afraid the elders might start to think that she wont come. So when the vehicle stop moving, she instantly went outside, and pay, then run like there's no tomorrow.
"Is Señorita Laura and Señior Victor inside?" Alice ask the guy who looks like a butler.
"Detective Alice are you alright?, And Señorita is looking for you a while ago." The butler said.
"Im fine thank you, but I think I should go inside." Alice gave the invitation then went inside. The maid immediately approach her and escorted her to the party.
Once they arrive, Alice thanked the maid and head inside. She look for the elders and find them talking to an old man and a lady.
"Im sorry im late Señorita Laura and Señior Victor. I just have so much things to do." Alice apologized.
"Its fine Alice. We're glad that you made it." Señorita Laura dismisses and smiled at her that she reciprocate. Then the old woman look at the persons she is currently talking to.
"Anyway, Lord Gilbert..Lady Doreen, I would like to introduce you the person who helps us in our son case, Detective Alice Potter." Señorita Laura introduce her and she immediately bowed her head.
"Please to meet you my lord, my lady. Im Alice Potter." She introduce herself politely.
"You're a detective?" Lord Gilbert ask.
"Yes I am."
Then the old man suddenly turned silent and Alice doesn't know if she offended the old man or not.
"Lady Doreen are you alright? You look pale." Señorita ask the lady so Alice also look at her. She really look pale.
"I-i,..yes im fine. Just feeling...a little dizzy." The lady said. If she heard it right, the lady's name is Doreen.
"Do you want to rest? We have a guests room." Señior Victor offer but the latter declined.
"Thank you but I think im fine."
"Maybe she just lack sleep or probably hungry. That usually happened to me." Alice suggest remembering her also past experiences.
"Maybe you're right, Lady Doreen must be hungry. We will head to the buffet then, if you'll excuse us." Lord Gilbert said and bowed before taking their leave.
"Come on Alice, we will introduce you to the other guests." Señorita Laura said and Alice shook her head.
"Señorita you don't need to do that. Its not like im important person or some-"
"Alice, we treat you like a part of our family already, ofcourse you're important." Alice cant help but to smile. Señorita took the cue to grab her hand and pull her somewhere.
And truth to her words, Señorita Laura really introduce her to the other guests.
"Prince Alistair are you enjoying yourself?" Señior Victor asks the guy that looks like her age wearing a royalty coat. Alice gasp when it finally sinks in to her that the guy is indeed the prince.
The prince is invited?
"I am Señior." The prince answered and Alice freezes when he looks at her. Noticing it, Señorita immediately introduce her.
"You're highness, this is Detective Alice Potter." Alice bowed as sign of respect.
"I know." The prince said, making Alice gasp again.
'He knows?'
"Make I ask how? your highness?" She ask instead.
The prince just shrug.
"Maybe I already saw your name on the newspaper or somewhere." He replied plainly, but still looking intently at her.
Alice doesn't know what to say and starting to feel uncomfortable with the way the prince stares at her but thankfully, Señorita Laura break the silence.
"Scholar Francis, how's the party?" Alice then notice the other guy beside the prince who looks like the same as her age also.
"Its good Señorita Laura. I would like to thanked you again for inviting us here." The scholar said politely. Base on his looks and the way he speak, Alice already conclude that the scholar is a kind person.
"Its nothing Scholar Francis. Anyway do you want to have a tea with me at the lounge?" Señior Victor offer.
"Yes we would love to." The prince said.
"Do you want to come Alice?" Señorita Laura ask her but she just shook her head.
"I think I'll just stay here." She decline.
"Then I will also stay."
The three men take their leave and Alice notice the look that the prince gave her before leaving.
She wonder why.
Alice doesn't know how long she's preoccupied because when Señorita Laura started to talk to her, she notice that the other guests are gone.
"Where are the others Señorita?"
"We offer them our guestroom since some of them want to rest." Alice feel sleepy by just hearing the word 'rest'. After all she's been so restless this past few days.
"And Señior Philip went to the lounge to probably have some tea also." The Señorita continued.
"I see..." She doesn't even notice them leaving.
"Anyway are you fine by yourself?"
"Ofcourse I am Señorita." Alice said and the Señorita make her way, leaving Alice alone. But it doesn't take long of being alone when Madame Leticia joined her.
They started to have a chat and somehow, she's comfortable talking to Madame Leticia.
"Do you want to join Señorita Laura?" The Madame ask her and Alice nod. The two of them go to Señorita Laura and Alice notice that she's talking to the Lord and the lady earlier.
After a brief moment, the lord excuses himself leaving the four women.
"So you work as a detective Miss Alice?" Madame Leticia started asking.
"Yes Madame."
"Detective Alice is the one who helps us to catch the person who killed our son. The police believes that it is a suicide case but detective Alice prove them wrong. That's why we owe her so much." Señorita Laura mentioned and Alice cant help but to feel flustered because of the praise.
"Señorita Laura you flatter me. I did that because it is the right thing to do and it is my job. You know, I always believe that 'There is no peace without a-"
"Justice." Alice stops and look at the lady in surprise.
"How did you know my principle?" Alice asks with amazement. But Lady Doreen looks taken aback.
"O-oh? Nothing. You're a Detective so I assumed that your number one priority is the justice." She reasoned.
"I see..." Alice said, suddenly not convinced.
"Anyway, Lady Doreen I heard you're dating the Earl from the Montenor manor." Madame Leticia brought up.
Lady Doreen looks like she's about to say something when a maid barged the room.
"Señorita Laura! Somethings bad happened!" Alice notice the terrified expression of the maid and her detective instinct immediately tell her that somethings really bad happened.
"Lord Jeremy found dead at the bathroom!"
And she's right.
"What?!" The four women blurted out in unison."L-lord Jeremy found dead at the bathroom." The maid uttered again, stuttering.But before they react, Señorita Laura suddenly collapses on the floor."Señorita Laura!" Alice immediately catch the old woman and Anastasia help her to lay her down."Señorita Laura wake up!" Alice tried to shake her but the old woman is showing no response.Anastasia check her pulse and sigh in relief when it is still beating, but incredibly fast."Don't worry, Señorita just fainted because of too much emotion. Maybe her system doesnt take the information well. She will wake up later." Anastasia assured since after all, she's originally a nurse. Alice looks relieve."Detective Alice, I think they need you there. Let me take care of Señorita." Madame Leticia offered and Alice thanked her, knowing that they will really need her at the
"Let me come with you.""No you will not.""You're not the one I am talking to.""Who said I was talking to you?""Then why are you answ-""Both of you, can you please be silent for once?!" Alice uttered in annoyance.But that's understandable. Afterall its still early in the morning, still raining heavily outside and still having their suppose to be 'peaceful breakfast' when Lady Doreen(Anastasia) and Prince Alistair started bickering at each other again.It started when Alice announced that she will going to continue the investigation later and probably needed to see the body again so she ask Señior Victor if she can go to the basement. Then Anastasia ask if she can come with her but the prince contradict it and that's how they start arguing nonstop.And Alice have enough."How about both of you will come with
"We need to go back." Alice instructed with urgency and the rest immediately followed her."What are we going to do now?" Anastasia ask anxiously, knowing that there was a possibility that someone will die again. And who knows when the killer will probably attack again."Lets talk when we're already complete so the others can also hear it." The detective replied instead.After going through on so much stairs, the four of them finally arrived at the ground floor.Alice approach the maid who was passing by and ask her if she can call the other guests since they are going to talk about something important. The maid immediately obliged."Whats with the sudden call detective? And why the four of you look so dejected. Did something happened?" Madame Leticia instantly ask when she arrived. The other guests are behind her."Please take a sit everyone we're going to discuss about s
Anastasia learn that the man's name is Nicholas Montenor when Lord Gilbert introduce him to the other guests. She also learn that the Montenor manor was just a few kilometers away from Señior Victor and Señorita Laura's mansion. And finally, she notice that the man was very touchy and quite obsess to Doreen Garcia.And it is somehow alarming given the fact that she's trying to stop herself from punching the man who keep on touching her."So the two of you we're really dating. I thought its just a humor." Madame Leticia said.Nicholas smiled and put his arms around Doreen(Anastasia) making her gasp, not in surprise but in annoyance."Yes. Ofcourse we are. Right my lady?" He said then look at her, waiting for her response. Anastasia just fake a smile and deliberately change the topic."Earl Monte–" she stops when the man gives her a loo
Madame Irene was dead.Once again, they're too late to stop it.Detective Alice sigh, close her eyes tightly and hands coming up to rub down her face from too much frustration."Detective get a grip. This is not the time to mourn and cry." Prince Alistair remind behind her."I know." She said before walking straight to the lifeless body.Alice wear her gloves and carefully place her hand on the body's wrist, checking the pulse. She sigh once again when she realize that they were really too late. The body's temperature is starting to get cold means the crime happened about an hours ago. Also, based on the body's posture, it is no doubt that the culprit used a poison to kill the victim.Alice scan the room and notice the bottle of wine and a shattered glass on the the floor."The victim was poisoned." She announced.Madame
"So you were saying that Madame Irene ask you for a bottle of wine?""Yes detective.""What do you think is the exact time she ask you that?""Around 8-9 in the evening we think." The maid answered.That's how the conversation is going when Anastasia arrived at the living room where Detective Alice is currently interrogating the two maids. She silently sit on one of the chairs and listen to them."B-but I swear we delivered the wine unopen and safe. W-we really dont know what happened." One of the maid defends."Detective, I assure you that our beverages including wines are safe." Señior Victor informed and the detective just nod her head at him in understanding.As much as possible, Alice is trying not to suspect the married couple that she known for years and treated like a real family. She hope that her trust for them will not be wasted.
Anastasia heaves a sigh while staring at her reflection from the mirror. As expected, her eyes is so red and swollen because of too much crying from yesterday night.And now she cant face the others with this sight.Grabbing a towel, she decided to take a bath for the meantime to refresh herself and do the other morning routines that she always do. After that, she goes back to the mirror to check herself and huffs an annoyed sigh when she notice that the redness of her eyes is still there.No choice. She doesn't want to show herself in this state but she also doesn't want to starve herself to death. So she look for the bell that Señorita Laura told them to use if they needed something. It is a bell that is connected to the servants room in case the guests called for them. As much as possible, Ana
Metamorphoses, the phenomenal author who instantly got famous because of his/her first ever published mystery-fiction book entitled 'Belladonna'. The Belladonna novel have found an immense popularity, critical acclaims and become one of the most successful book worldwide. The book attracted a wide adult audience as well as younger readers. Since then, Metamorphoses wrote more mystery novels and became popular with that specific genre.But the thing is, no one ever met or even actually see the author in person. Even the publishing company that publishing his/her book doesn't see him/her in person nor doesn't know the real gender of the author. But that only makes the author more mysterious and everyone is curious to know him/her.And Anastasia was not an exemption. She's been eager to know the writer since the day that she read the book that later on became her favorite 'The Book of Murder'. For her, every book that the author is w
Part 8: Waking Up(This is too domestic. Bare with me...)"Argh.... a fucking headache.""Do you want to take some pills for your headache? Or you want to eat first?""Maybe after I eat..."Anastasia can hear some murmurs around her but she cant distiguish who's voices is that. Then she felt a warm hand on her shoulder and shakes her a little."Hon wake up." She heard someone said while shaking her.She groaned and tried to open up her eyes but it keeps on closing back like she wants to go back to sleep or something. She tried and tried again until she is squinting and until she can open it completely."Hon..? Eliot?" She called groggily."Yes hon. Its me." Eliot said and helped her to sit up."Oh gosh my head freaking hurts like hell." She complained as sh
Part 7: Lets Go Back, My Love"Hon stop fidgeting... they might catch us." Eliot whispered beside her."Can you blame me? They look good together." Anastasia whispered back and grinned widely at her husband.Eliot just shook his head fondly. He's not the gossiper type but if his wife wants to do it, then why not?"I know someone who looks more good together." He says playfully.Anastasia faced him and raised her eyebrow. Although she already know where this conversation is going, she still plays along. "Who then?" She asked."Us." Eliot said while grinning and snickered after that. "Fuck I sound so corny." He muttered."Im glad you're aware." She said cheekily and pinch her husband's cheeks softly. Eliot leaned to her tounch and scrunched his nose affectionately. "Now stop distracting me. Im trying to focus here okay?" She said before turning her attentio
Part 6: With You Again"Eliot?!/Anastasia?!"Anastasia blinks at him in surprise. She looks at him from head to toe and gasps. "Oh my god... is that really y–"And before she could even finish what she was saying, Eliot immediately tugged her on her waist and connected their lips together. Anastasia gasps on his mouth but didn't broke the kiss and even responded.They only separated when the Queen clears her throat."Someone's still here if you didn't notice." She deadpanned. "Stop sucking each other faces in front of me. I already get that Im single, not need to shove it straight on my face." She added flatly.Anastasia chuckled at her bitterness. "So you must be Mary." She said."In the flesh." Mary said.Then Anastasia found herself staring at her for a second before looking back at Eliot.
Part 5: Royal Masquerade Ball"Of course I am invited. Im dating the Head of the Council's son, Dexter. I will be his date for that royal event." Yesha said proudly while showing the invitation in her hand. "And naturally, Thally will be invited to because she's dating the crown pri–""Fake dating." Thallia corrected.Yesha rolled her eyes before continuing. "Fine. Fake dating as it is. As if it will not change into something real soon enough." She teases. Thally was about to argue when she stop her using her right hand. "Hep! Im talking. Don't interrupt." She said.Thallia just snorted before gesturing her to continue."Yes. So as I was saying, we...Thally and I, receiving an invitation from the palace is not surprising at all because we're in relationship with someone who has a higher rank in our nation." Yesha said. "Even if its fake or not." She added while looking at Thallia. "Howeve
Part 4: Found Him"Luthor?" She called.Its like everything is on slow motion when she saw... how his eyes widened in shock, mouth agape."H-how did you...." He stutters. "How did you know my name?!" He exclaimed in question.Its him.Anastasia was actually just trying to see his possible reaction if she call him with that name and based on how shock he is and the look that he's giving at her like she grew two heads or what, its confirmed."So its really you." She said, almost breathless. She cant believe that the person they've been looking for is actually in front of her right now."Fuck." He suddenly curses and grab her wrist. Then he pulled her on god knows where and when he found a perfect place for confrontation, he finally decided to asked. "How did you know me?"Anastasia fight the urge to roll her eyes.
Part 3: The Real Boyfriend"Fuck you ruined my clothes." Anastasia only got out of her reverie when the adonis man suddenly groaned in annoyance.She blinked about two times again before shaking her head to come back to her senses.Why is she even acting like this? Its not like its the first time that she saw a gorgeous man like him.And for pete sake she has a husband!"Your highness please forgive my friend." Thallia interrupts in an instant and walks beside her because the guy looks like he's about to eat her friend alive in any second."Do you know how expensive this shirt is? This cost more than you make in a year." He sputters madly.Anastasia looks at his shirt an notice that it was indeed, got stained by the spilled coffee."Calm down brother. It was an accident." Rex joined the conve
Part 2: Coffee ManiaAnastasia can still remember how Mary describes Yesha's character. Based on her description, Yesha is a kind of person who always spitting green jokes and such. Her mouth has no filter at all! Always have a dirty mind and dirty mouth.That's why Anastasia was not that surprise to hear that from her. Its just uncomfortable because it is new to her ears and she's not used to this kind of conversation.She tries to think what to reply from that."Hey Abby? Are you still there?" Yesha asked from the other line.What will Abby probably say in this situation?"What's new to that Yesha? You're always like that and he knows it." She said and crossed her fingers, hoping that she actually says the right thing"You dont understand! For the first time in my life, I actually want to change myself. Because I want him to see me diff
Part 1: The Beginning"So what's the next story?" Anastasia asked while munching the chips on her mouth."Hon stop eating my chips." Eliot complained beside her. "I thought that's unhealthy." He added."Shut up hon Im stress." She said."Then why are you stress." Mary asked her while munching the same chips on her mouth."You too." Eliot deadpanned and sighs dramatically. "Ah I could have bought many more if you didn't stop me hon." He complained at his wife like a five year old."Because its unhealthy." Anastasia repeated her reason. Eliot was about to speak when she added. "For you, not me.""What–""Okay times up!" Mary interrupted. "Lets go back to our real agenda. You asked about the story right?" Anastasia nodded. "Well Im gonna summarize it for you. You dont have to read the whole stor
Part 6: Coming BackThe place is filled with loud sirens that is echoing all over. Sirens from the police and sirens from the ambulance."Hon..." Anastasia turned around and immediately jump on Eliot for a tight hug."Im glad you're fine." He whispered at her.She chuckles dryly. "You know Im going to be fine." She mutters before separating herself from her husband. "But Denver was shot.""You know he will be shot." He said softly."Yeah. But its traumatizing to witness it with my own eyes." She said sadly. "Sometimes, I think reading it on the book is more okay than to experience it in your own.""I know." Eliot agreed. "But you know... if that somehow happened to us, I think I will do the same thing.""Do what?" She asked."I will do anything to save you too. Even