The Case of the Serpent and Scorpion

Chapter 19: House of Glyndel

Vana's POV

It took us a long six hours to get to our destination. We had to pass three huge cities and four towns before we arrive to the province of Glymoke. The kingdom of Ashern is massive compared to Norn and Clove, but the western side is mostly covered with droughts and deserts that are unhabitable.

Though, travelling from place to place through train in Ashern is not as smooth as Clove or Fortis. Most of the trains across the kingdom have been severely cut or damaged by the war, leading to the continuous construction of most of it.

Glymoke is one of the provinces that had train tracks connected to Clove, but none in most parts of the province. Also, I didn’t know Glymoke is this far. Had I known of the distance, I would have brought some snacks from home. I’m beginning to starve.

Our trip lasted in silence, comfortable in our seats as we spend most of the time sightseeing through the window.

“The border of Clove and Ashern are only pass through those hills, right?” Jerome wondered, speaking to the group in a deadpan expression.

He glanced at the window on my direction, leaning close as he points on the hills from afar. I leaned back, raising a brow at him as I point the distance between us through my eyes. It’s cramp enough as it is, can’t he not take up the remaining space I have?

“It is, the trains that lead to Clove is found in Glymoke’s capital city, Esmori. The duke’s manor is on the right side, also within the same city,” Ms. Angela stated, informing us.

It took us another hour before we arrive to the duke’s manor. It was 6:30 in the evening when we made it in their estate, being welcomed by the carved pavement within the forest that leads to the main gate of the property.

The towering gates opened at us as our vehicle arrived. The main pavement led straight to the main entrance of the manor. The path was lavishly decorated with statues. A long, rectangular fountain divided the pavement into two separate lanes, one that leads in and one that leads out.

My jaw dropped in awe from the beauty and intricacy of the surroundings, feeling magical than our already magical world. Jerome looked as awestruck as I am, but he did not show it on his face. His eyes, unfortunately, says otherwise.

“Welcome, Ms. Angela, and to the rest of the team, “Duke Glyndel greeted us as soon as we hop out of the vehicle, welcoming us warmly.

Ms. Angela served as our leader, and representative, greeting the duke back with a small smile. “Thank you for having us, Duke Castiel,” she greeted back shaking hands with the duke with a small, elegant bow. Everything Ms. Angela does have a tint of elegance.

“Shall we head inside; you must be starving from your journey. We’ll lead you to your rooms first before we settle for dinner, would that be alright?” the duke invited, leading us into the manor.

“Certainly, Your Grace, a six-hour travel is quite tiresome, after all. I’m sure most of us could agree that we are starving,” Ms. Rosemary replied, taking the lead next to the duke as we head inside.

The double doors swung heavy as it opens, bright, golden lights spewing out of the entrance as we enter. It led to a small corridor decorated with pillars and vases, leading to the main lobby of the house.

Two other people greeted us when we entered the foyer, finding two stunning ladies standing gracefully on the center of the main lobby. They had small smiles curled over their lips, postures straight with their hands folded in front of them. They both wore a simple gown, presenting themselves with noble dignity.

“Greetings Ms. Angela and to the rest of the team, we welcome you to our home,” the taller and older lady greeted, and most likely, Duchess Even, giving us a curtsy. The daughter followed her lead, giving a kind and awkward gesture.

The daughter, Lady Whitney, looked to be in the age of 13 or 14, considering that her height is up to her mother’s neck. She backed away when she saw us, shy to face strangers as she lowers her head down. She seemed to not be the type to interact with other people. In other words, an introvert.

Yet despite that, she managed to hold herself very well in front of us. Well-mannered and delicate.

“Duchess Even Glyndel, it is nice to meet you. Same goes for the young lady Whitney Glyndel,” Ms. Angela said, greeting the two with a smile.

Ms. Angela began to introduce us to the family one by one, and in return, we gave them our best curtsy. I felt my cheeks flush red as I lower my head and do a curtsy, not knowing how to properly do it. Etiquette and I have never got along no matter how much I try. I simple lack interest of it.

We were shown to our rooms on the second floor of the manor, leading us to the north wing where the guest rooms are. Each of us were given a room of our own, a room bigger than the whole floor of our house.

A knock came at my door after I toured myself inside the room. My eyes narrowed at the door as I approach it, hesitant to open the door. Three knocks came again after a minute of me not answering it, growing louder in each beat.

I sighed, opening the door to find Jerome standing in front. He had an annoyed expression on his face, followed by a blank, irritated look on his eyes. He raised a brow at me, staring as I raise a brow back.

“What?” I growled.

“We’re being called for dinner. One of the servants came to fetch us,” he muttered, pointing his thumb on his side.

I grunted, peeking out to find the servant he’s talking about. I closed the door for a second, grabbing my communication lacrima before stepping out of the room, locking it. I turned my head to Jerome, gesturing at him to be at the front.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go,” I uttered, ushering him as we head down to the dining hall.

We were the last people to arrive at the dining hall, sitting straight to our assigned seats as the savory food arrive one by one on the long table. The head of the family, Duke Castiel is seated on the center end of the table. On his right was the duchess and one the left is his daughter.

Our team followed the next seats from them, with Ms. Angela, Ms. Rosemary sitting on the right, while Professor Zander, Jerome, and I sitting on the left consecutively.

“I have heard of the feat Ms. Vana and Mr. Jerome has accomplished. If I were a dean, I would have suggested to not punish them at all,” the duke cheered, striking a conversation with us.

“It’s our fault that we also left the academy, so I understand where the deans are going from,” I argued, trying to be polite as I can.

“We were lucky that the incident occurred. If not, we would be expelled by now,” Jerome added, taking a spoonful of food in his mouth.

“Even so, to be recommended to be part of an investigation is also something. Not all students get to have such an experience, knowing Jasper Academy, I’m pretty sure they don’t send their students to missions like this one,” the duke chortled, arguing back.

The dinner ended with a light laughs and cheerful chuckles. I think I ate way more than I should have, taking a bite of every dish laid out on the table. After the dinner, all of us in the hall parted ways.

The duke is the first to leave the table, bidding us an excuse as he leaves. He left without saying a word to the duchess, and only giving Lady Whitney a smile. Duchess Even followed soon after, smiling at us with a disappointed look before walking away. She doesn’t look disappointed at us, but someone else.

Lady Whitney left last, following the duchess seconds after she left. Their parting drifted over the dining hall, leaving an awkward atmosphere in the table. I also noticed the servants slowly disappearing as the time passes, and before I know it, only a few servants are left.

“Well, that was fun,” Ms. Rosemary commented, grunting on her seat. “Are they always like this?”

“Is it just me, or the air around the duke and duchess seems a little odd?” Jerome wondered.

“Nope, you’re not only one who noticed,” I said, glancing at him.

I am pretty sure the duke did not marry his second wife for the sole purpose of beneficiaries, nor does the duchess and the daughter have a bad relationship. Did they have an argument or a fight? I never saw them talk to each other even once when I see them together.

“The duke will tell us the details of the initial investigation later. For now, let’s go to one of their lounge rooms,” Ms. Angela stood up, finishing her meal with a neutral expression on the matter.

She dismissed us and before long, we followed pursuit of her, leaving the table. Our team gathered in the lounge room on the south wing of the manor, resting and taking our time while we wait for the duke and duchess to arrive.

“The duke is quite busy, I see,” Ms. Angela commented as she leans on her seat.

“Not only does the duke oversees the land, but he also oversees the foreign affairs department,” Professor Zander pointed, playing pool with Jerome.

“Is Castiel not here yet?” Duchess Even wondered, arriving at the room with the butler in tow.

The duchess raised a brow at us as she glances across the room, while the butler dropped the file on his arm on a table nearby. The duchess’ eyes have a faint glow of restless ness and exhaustion, hiding underneath her light makeup.

“He has not yet arrived, Duchess Even,” Ms. Angela replied, a hint of awe and bafflement in her eyes.

“Then, Norman, could you—”

A loud bang resounded down the hall, cutting off the duchess’ words. The noise banged countless times, rattling everyone in the room. We all exchanged glances, brows creasing together as suspicious gazes’ trail down on the hallway.

“Where is that coming from?” the duchess asked, demanding an answer from the butler.

“It’s coming from the second floor,” Ms. Rosemary answered, skidding out of her seat and towards the place the noise is coming from.

Thuds and banging and crashes continued to blare in the air. We strode down the hall, heading up the stairs that lead to the second floor of the manor. The noise grew louder as we approach its location, the faint sound of whimpering echoing along with it.

“Wails?” I wondered.

“No, screams,” Jerome muttered, sprinting up the stairs as distress flushes down his face.

“Who does it belong to?” Professor Zander asked, a concerned expression writing on his face.

“One of the maids,” the butler muttered, recognizing the whimpering voice ahead.

We rushed to the direction of the noise, sprinting down the hallway until we reach the exact spot of the noise. I jolted, hating to a stop as my eyes widened in shock and distress. A maid was banging on a room’s door, trying to pry the door open as she calls out for the person inside.

She was panicking, weeping as she calls the duke. She heard our footsteps, turning her head towards us while shaking as her mouth babble and stammer. “M-M-M’Lady, the duke—the duke is inside—the door is locked, I cannot open it!” the maid wailed. “M-Mr. Norman, please help—please—”

The butler immediately took action as he stepped forward in haste, grabbing the maid away from the door. “Stand back!” the butler shouted, then banged himself on the door. He hauled himself a few times on the door, but the locked door wouldn’t budge.

Jerome took a step forward to the door, gripping a hand on the butler’s shoulder. He gave him an assuring nod, making him step aside as he prepares to charge at the door. Jerome busted the door open with a kick, a fleur of magic whipping through the air.

The door slammed open with a loud thud, and the scene that greeted Jerome, the butler, and the made inside made them all gasp. The rest of the group followed them, quickly taking a look at what transpired inside.

I gasped, horrified at the scene that awaited us inside the room. I stepped back, petrified with my mouth gaping. I trembled, with my eyes widened in shock. What happened?

The duke laid planted on the desk, spilled tea dripping down from the top of the desk. The door of the room was locked and is now broken, and from afar, I can tell…

That Duke Castiel Glyndel is dead.