"What?"
"I said Im not Doreen Garcia." Anastasia repeated, more confident this time.
"What are you talking ab-" Lord Gilbert was cut off when the prince decided to interfer.
Prince Alistair grab her arm lightly and pulled her on the other side, making some distance from the old man so he wouldn't hear what he is about to say.
"Lady Doreen what are you saying? Are you out of your mind?" Alistair whispers at her but the firmness on his voice is still evident.
"Your highness...do you trust me?" She asked in a low tone instead.
"Huh?"
"Eliot..." She called him again, with his real name this time. "Can you trust me? Im asking you to trust me with this." Anastasia said with a determination in her eyes. She even called him on his original name to show him how serious she is right now.
The prince was obviously having an hard time to decide whether
And the next thing happened passes in a blur. All Anastasia could hear was the loud cry coming from the actress. But she cant do anything. Her mind instantly went blank and just left staring at the lifeless body with mixed emotions. She cant even bring herself to move or to do something or to say something. Its like her body just completely shut down on its own after seeing the corpse, hanging on the ceiling, with a rope on its neck.She want to close her eyes. She badly want to close her eyes. The sight was terrifying, traumatizing. But she cant move."Miss Louise stop! You cant touch the body!" She heard someone yell from somewhere so she tried to find where the voice is coming from.Its the prince. He's holding the actress who was close on hyperventilating. But she cant afford to help him. She cant even move her body to do so."Miss Louise I said stop! Detective why aren't you helping me?!" Anastasia he
"You think its a Hebrew Alphabet once again?" Anastasia asked in wonder."I think so. Its pretty similar." Alistair replied while studying the sign in every angle, hand on his chin."We cant tell that for now until we check it on the book itself to make sure." The detective said before inspecting the other parts of the body to see if she can find something helpful.After making sure that nothing can be found except from the sign on the neck, Alice instructed the servants to bring the body to the basement like where the other victims is currently placed. But they decided to remove the rope first on the victim's neck. They even encountered some difficulties from removing it because the rope was so tight around the neck. It was like...the culprit put it in with so much rage.I wonder what's the cause of all this murder. Anastasia thinks.After removing the r
"What?!" Anastasia said in disbelief."Are you sure detective? Maybe you just misplace it on somewhere." Alistair tried to suggests."No! Im certain that I've put the green book on my table together with my other belongings." The detective said in so much distress."Who could have take the book? Did you ask Madame Leticia already?" She asked Alice."Yes and she said that she doesn't have any idea about the book that Im talking about.""But we are the only ones who knows about the existence of the book." Anastasia mumbles to herself and stiffened when she realize something that was proven by the gaze with full of suspicions that the detective is currently throwing her. "No its not me!" She defended instantly."You said it yourself...we are the only persons who know about the book and we share the same room–""Detective are you accusing Lady Doreen?" P
"Come again?" The detective said."I said I have a photographic memory." The actress repeated."You mean...you have the ability to visualize a certain image in a great detail?" Anastasia said, clearly impressed with the new information."Yes." Louise answered."OMG! That was really awesome!" Anastasia cant hide her amazement and even jump to the actress for a hug.She actually admired the people who have that kind of ability. In fact, she can only read that idea from the books so she was really amaze to see one."Its not really a big thing." The actress uttered shyly."It is!" Anastasia insists when she pulled out."Sometimes..." Both of them turned their heads to Alice when she suddenly muttered something. "Your words really confuse me Lady Doreen." she continued.Oh?Did she slipped again?
"Lady Doreen!"Its Prince Alistair.The culprit hisses under his breath and immediately looses his hold from the lady's neck before sprinting to the other direction in a speed of light.Anastasia on the other hand, cough so hard and tried to gain back the air that had been hold after being choked for a second."Doreen are you okay?" Alistair immediately come to her aid."D-dont worry a-about me...c-catch the c-culprit." Anastasia said while pointing to where the culprit ran, still catching her breath.The prince looks uncertain to leave her alone when one of the rooms suddenly went open, revealing the awaken detective."What is happening here? Lady Doreen what happened to you? Is you the one who shouted?" Alice said in consecutive questions."G-go...Alistair." Anastasia just urged the prince who nodded before running towards the pointed di
"Hey...correct my memory if its wrong but...all of them arrive on the commotion earlier with almost at the same time right? Like all of them were present, no one was left out?" Anastasia suddenly brought up, remembering the scenario earlier."Now that you mentioned it, I was actually surprised when I saw that we are completed that time. I even made a head count to check if someone was missing.""Does that mean that...none of us was the culprit all this time?""I dont know...but lets not assume for now." Alistair just uttered. "...and if none of us was really the culprit, then that makes the servants as the suspects since aside from us, they are the only people inside this mansion." He said."But they said its not them. Senorita Laura even defended their servants as an innocent." Anastasia said in wonder."Its not like you were going to admit it if you're the culprit." The prince reasoned i
"And what about it?""Uh...Im planning to ask him to cover for us so we can investigate by ourselves with no interruptions?"Anastasia said in a question, obviously uncertain with her own plan."And what are we going to investigate then my lady?" Alistair asked in a raise eyebrow, completely judging her plan already."The third person? We're going to check if there was really a third person inside these mansion." She said."That's insane." He commented while shaking his head in disagreement."But that's the only way to know if the culprit was really none of us at all!" Anastasia insisted."But Doreen, the thing that you are suggesting is too way dangerous. What if we really saw the culprit one on one? What if he attack us? We cant do anything!" The prince blurted out."But we need to do something! I have a feeling...I have a feeling that..." Anastasia
"You know...you still have time if you want to change your mind.""I dont, so be quiet for a meanwhile will you." Anastasia whispered under her breath.They are currently hiding on a wall where they can see the lounge area from their position. And the man beside him keeps on complaining nonstop. He keeps on ranting about 'how this is so unplanned' and 'how reckless her decision is' and etc. Obviously, the man was freaking out."What are you being so afraid of?" She asked him then."For the record, Im not afraid...Im just being careful. What if the murderer caught us? This is too dangerous Doreen." He complained for the nth time.Anastasia rolled her eyes."I know...but still, all of them are in the lounge that time–including the culprit. So he cant caught us Alistair." Anastasia tried to reassure."Tsk. Why are you so reckless
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