Eine advanced toward Laeticia's daughter, casting her a condescending gaze. "A toy should know its pce."

  Azalea struggled to move, gring at her with defiant eyes.

  "Bring her with us," Eine ordered.

  "Yes, midy." Tasha picked Laeticia's daughter from the bed and lifted her over one shoulder, carrying the little girl like a sack of potatoes.

  Incomprehensible noises escape Azalea's mouth, tied hands and feet hitting and kicking. Unfortunately, despite her futile efforts, the maid was an overpowered opponent. They exited the chamber and followed Eine down the staircase to the main hall.

  "You can put her down."

  "As you wish, midy." Tasha dropped Azalea, producing a loud thudding sound.

  "I have an announcement," Eine said.

  The surrounding servants ceased their work and gathered around them, eyes brimming with curiosity. Their gazes focused on the little girl struggling to her knees on the floor.

  Eine scanned the room and did not see Agnes among the masses. "Is the head maid present?" she inquired.

  "Please wait for a moment, midy. I will retrieve her," a maid replied, then disappeared into a hallway. Shortly after, she brought back a tall, gaunt older maid with prominent cheekbones and hollowed cheeks. The woman's skeletal appearance reminded Eine of a mummified corpse.

  "I am at your service, Lady Estel." The Summer Manor's head maid bowed.

  "Good. Starting now, you shall manage two new maids," Eine said, pointing to Azalea and Tasha. "Assign them any tasks you deem suitable."

  "But midy, Young Miss Azalea…" The gaunt woman hesitated, though a slight twitch on her lips betrayed the reluctant facade.

  "This child is no longer a master of the estate. She is my toy, and I want her to become a servant in this pce—stripped of all authority and privileges."

  Laeticia's daughter's eyes expanded, overwhelmed with shock. Indecipherable sounds again escape her covered mouth. She attempted to rise, but Tasha pinned her down.

  Eine ignored Azalea and continued the announcement. A devilish expression occupied her countenance. "However, she may not leave the Summer Manor. All her duties and tasks shall remain here. I prefer to observe her suffering within these walls."

  "Y, yes, midy. I understand."

  "As for my maid, regard her like other servants under your supervision." She gnced at Tasha. "Do not disappoint me."

  "As you wish, midy." Tasha inclined her body.

  The servants stayed silent, not daring even a whisper. Lady Estel never expined why she pced Tasha inside the Summer Manor, yet everyone understood. The maid would become her eyes and ears, reporting all affairs within the manor for the Lady's enjoyment.

  "Excellent." Eine nodded. "You all may continue your duties."

  "Thank you, Lady Estel." The servants bowed and slowly dispersed. Tasha followed the head maid, again carrying the little girl over her shoulder.

  Eine returned to her carriage and ordered a departure to the Croix's archives. When they arrived minutes ter, she entered the building while Cecil waited outside. Inside, Eine found Herbert, the old archives keeper, standing on a dder against the fifth-floor shelves facing away from her, perusing a book with high concentration. She did not wait for him to notice before proceeding to a corner on the far end. Her hand traced the shelves to an unspecified book and performed a series of knocks on its spine. The older man gnced up upon hearing the knocks but immediately returned to his reading. He mumbled an incantation and used a finger to draw a half-moon shape on a page surface.

  Below, a small keyhole appeared on the book's spine, and Eine transferred her ice magic into its opening. The book emitted a soft white glow, then disappeared with an entire shelf—an ivory door with Croix's carving of howling silver wolves materialized in its pce. She turned the knob and entered, leaving the door vanishing behind her and returning to its original appearance.

  Eine walked down a dark corridor, guided by Estel's memories. After counting exactly fifty-five steps, she rested a hand on the wall and again transferred her magic. The bricks rumbled and began shifting outward, revealing a sizeable well-lit chamber. The area inside was vacant except for a few lone tables at the center. Eine strolled to a table and sat, lifting her head and examining her surrounding. She was alone, yet hundreds of silent shadows filled the walls, looming over the chamber.

  "Bring me information on Agnes Rossi's and Isabel de Valois' backgrounds."

  "As you wish, midy," a gruff man's voice replied, and a shadow receded from the wall.

  "Good. I expect the results in two days." Eine rose and exited the secret room, returning to the gloomy corridor. She traced her steps to the blocked entrance and re-performed the previous movements. The vanished door reappeared, allowing her back inside the Croix's archives.

  Herbert greeted her on the other side, "Welcome back, midy. I hope you received everything you need."

  "I did. Thank you, Herbert." She donned an affable smile, then bid him farewell. After stepping outside the Croix's archives, Eine collected Cecil and entered the carriage, commanding the coachman back to Estel's manor.

  The next step is in motion. Inside the carriage, Eine leaned against the cushioned seat, resting for a moment. She prepared the stage and raised the curtain in the Summer Manor. The only remaining action was to wait for the actors to assemble. Eine tasked Tasha solely to observe and not interfere unless the child encountered life-threatening situations. She aimed to establish a natural setting for everyone in Laeticia's former residence to lower their guards and reveal their characters. And the grand finale was to force Azalea into center stage and attract the mastermind.

  LittleFoodie