Chapter 27.1: Melissa

  Greetings, I am Melissa, a maid currently working in the ducal Nikodemus house. It is quite a large house with much to do, so the work is quite laborious. Still, it is also rewarding. Being paid double the usual salary of a maid is rewarding indeed.

  I have a friend working alongside me. Her hair looks like braided bread so everyone of us calls her the bread girl. Judging by her laughter, I think she likes the nickname? Although she is always laughing besides.

  Now, what I really wanted to talk about is the young lady that recently took residence with us. Goodness… How can someone be so cute?

  Her cheeks look so soft that I just want to give them a little squish whenever I see them. Especially when they are filled to the brim with cake. Have you seen her? It’s a shame I’m not talented enough in drawing to show you her likeness. But just imagine a squirrel. Her appearance is of that animal with the way her mouth puffs up.

  Not to mention the silly things bread girl is teaching her. Oh my gosh. I don’t think my heart can tolerate another day of their absurd antics. It was only yesterday that— Actually, I shouldn’t say what they did. But believe me when I couldn’t hold in my laughter seeing them together. It’s too much, really.

  Did you know what happened? Her previous personal maid, Alice, got fired; thank goodness for that. I don’t usually think bad of people, but she always did the darnedest things whenever she got the chance. Skipping work, ordering the newer maids to do her work, and generally acting as if she was better than us only because she worked for a little while longer. Anyway, her position went to me. Karma sure is sweet.

  Attending to the young lady and helping her pick out her clothes has been some of my most memorable activities lately. With her pretty blond hair and pretty purple eyes, it’s not a hard task as everything looks good on her. She’s like a living doll.

  That’s why I don’t think the rumors that says she is a commoner makes sense. I mean, a glance at her and her parents is all that is needed to confirm it. What commoner family would look that harmonious and beautiful?

  She is even generous to someone like me despite being a noble. Saying that she didn’t like flowers as an excuse, she even gave me an expensive hairpin without hesitation. I haven’t known her for that long so perhaps she said it to hide her embarrassment? It’s still difficult for me to figure out her mood as her expressions doesn't change much.

  It’s sad really, she would look even more lovely and cute if only she smiled more often. It pains my heart to see her wander around with such a sour face, it should be crime with that kind of face. As such, I have taken the mantle to figure out what would make my lady smile more often. Sweet things seem to do the trick, but Lady Victoria said to not indulge her too much… A little bit is fine, right?

  Oh, someone is calling my name so I will finish up here. I hope to see you next time too. Farewell.

  Outside in the wide courtyard, I turned the corner of the annex backside. There I saw no one else but a young man. One of the newer knights-in-training. I think his name was Ronald? His grassy green hair flowed refreshingly in the cool breeze when turned his head upon noticing me.

  We have had some pleasant conversations, but nothing to warrant him calling me out here like this. I asked him what he wanted.

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  “Melissa, why are you acting this way?” Well look at him, who in the world starts a conversation like that?

  I made my voice sharper than usual and crossed my arms angrily at him. “What do you mean? How am I acting different?”

  He scratched the back of his neck. “Are you serious? It’s like you haven’t even read my letter…”

  “What letter?” The only letters addressed to me were from my family back home.

  “The letter I gave you?”

  “Again, what letter? What did you write?”

  Huh? Why did his cheeks turn red? “Here, I wrote another one. Please read it when you have the time.”

  What. In my hand. A letter. Hearts?!

  Huh. Huh? Huh?!

  Chapter 27.2: Investigation

  The Duchess, his one and only wife, was pushed down the stairs? The Duke didn’t believe his ears at all.

  “Dear.” Her voice was lovely as always. “I am not that incompetent to stumble down some silly stairs by myself. Don’t look down on me only because of my eyes.”

  If what she said was true then he would show them hell. “Who did it?” His voice came out harsher than expected.

  “It was a female voice, that’s all I remember.”

  Later that day, on the personal orders of the Duke. All current residing people in the ducal house, whether they be a guest or not, were lined up in front of the estate garden. There they would stand under his scrutiny until the damn culprit was found.

  The commander’s sharp voice cut through the frigid air, silencing all their murmurs. “All men! Take a step back!” The servants and knights let out a sigh of relief. They would still keep their head for today.

  A young maid tried to lift her head to look at the Duke but had to immediately shoot her gaze down at her own feet. Terrifying. There was a reason why the Duke was considered one of the most powerful men in the Kingdom, and his vast wealth was only one of those reasons.

  The commander turned to him with an expression fit for a battlefield. “Your Grace, the next order?”

  “Remove everyone that was hired the last two months.”

  Taking the book that listed everyone working in the estate from Alden, the commander shouted their name in order. A small number of maids relaxed their shoulders as they took a step back. They too, would keep their heads for today.

  The process continued as the Duchess forced her brain to remember the details of that day. The day that the Duke felt as though his world crumbled. Seeing his wife’s limp body.

  In the end, there were only two people left. A young maid with hair reminiscent of braided bread, and an elderly kitchen maid that had worked with them even before his first-born son was conceived.

  Murmurs rumbled in the background as sweat rolled down their faces.

  “You.” The duke commanded the young maid. “Go greet the Duchess.”

  He stared daggers at her as she took trembling steps towards the Duchess. The thing looked to almost break into a fright.

  “G-greetings, y-your Grace.” Was she the one?

  Rosalyn shook her head. “You can take a step back, sorry about this.” His wife gave the girl a smile and she really went and cried.

  The Duke addressed the other maid. “Margaret, greet the Duchess.”

  The elderly woman fell to her knees, begging. “It wasn’t me, your Grace!”

  What impudence. The Duke repeated his order. She had to do it unless she wanted to be cut down by his sword right there and then.

  She began to sob, but did as told. “Greetings, your Grace… Please believe me…” He asked his wife if she was the one that had pushed her. It wasn’t.

  That didn’t make sense. “Alden, who is missing from the lineup today.”

  “That should be everyone, my Lord.”

  “Nonsense, check again.” Doing as told, he flipped through the register containing everyone’s name and position.

  “…There is one person missing.”

  “Who is it?” Alden handed him the book. A name was crossed out. Female. It was the girl that had foolishly taken her own life in the church round back.

  Garius felt his anger rise thinking about the cover up he had to do after that stormy night. His son told him no good would come if the people knew the truth and suggested telling them she took a vacation instead. He was right, much to his chagrin, as doing it this way would prevent the Hounds from coming here to take a sniff.

  The Duke turned to Alden and ordered, “Find her family. Do it by today.”

  That day, when the sun hadn’t even begun to sink in the horizon, a whole family disappeared from the kingdom as if they never existed.