Vana's POV
With our investigation hitting a dead end, the team chose to head back to the manor, and wait until our warrant arrives tomorrow morning. I thought our problems end there, but I forgot to remember that Chairman Zerondale has no idea of the duke’s death yet.
The manor was filled with nothing but silent awkwardness when we arrive. The duke’s death has been kept confidential to the servants who came the next morning of the death, and the death of the duke is kept secret to the public until our investigation is over.
Right now, the duke’s body is kept on a room in the manor, where the memorial ceremony will later be announced.
We head straight to the duchess’ office, Chairman Zerondale looking confused at the duke’s missing presence. The Chairman looked restless as he wanders his eyes inside the halls, searching for the duke.
Vana's POVMom—” Lady Whitney shouted, running towards the body of her mother.Ms. Zeraphine’s body laid slump against the top of the desk when I turned my body to the direction the lady sprinted. Her head was planted on the desk the same way we found the duke’s body, not an object or an item set on top of the desk.The shout made all of the people in the room snap back to reality, the Chairman bringing himself to reality as he hears his granddaughter’s voice. He blinked, the heavy aura lifting up in an instant as he tilts his head to the direction of Lady Whitney’s voice.The anger and fury dissipated from the Chairman’s face, changing into a sad and dreadful expression. His jaw dropped, eyes drooping with tears as grief and anguish befell him. He took a step forward, and he slowly paced his way to his daughter’s body.
Vana's POVThe letters! I need to read the letters!I jumped out of the bed, sliding across the floor as I reach my bag to grab the letters I found on the duke’s office. I nearly forgot their existence after thinking of so much in the past few days. I feel guilty for stealing them from the crime scene, but these letters are something I cannot ignore.I took out the letter that was addressed to Master Sergis, staring at it as I make my way to the desk against the wall. I sat down on the chair, searching for a letter opener or a swiss knife o the drawers. I found a scissor in one of the drawers, using it to peel off the stamp cleanly and opening the envelop.I cannot recognize the stamp on the letter, and its not the House of Glyndel’s insignia either. I slipped the paper out of the small envelope, unfolding it as I study the paper’s condition. The paper was wrinkled
Vana's POVMorning came with more thoughts in my mind than any of the days I wake up. I can feel my head ached from the thinking, drowsy when I sat up on my bed. Flashback of yesterday’s events came railing in my mind, and I can’t help but slump back on my pillow.What occupied my mind the most is the letter I read last night. It bothered me for so long last night to the point that I didn’t sleep much at all. Add to that, it was storming heavily and nonstop. The rain hadn’t slowed down since last night, and its already morning.I thought it was still in the middle of the night when I woke up, realizing that not a shard of sunlight beamed through the clouds. My eyes blinked, contemplating on myself for the knowledge and information I possess.Maybe reading that letter is a bad idea. There’s no regretting my decision now. I’ll just have to find a cha
Jerome's POVI heaved a deep breath, the cold air sweeping through the space around me. I placed a hand on my gun, wary as a pentagram flare from the floor beneath Ms. Bella’s feet. Or in this case, Ms. Wina’s feet.Her eyes flickered in a dark purple hue; her body seared out of her body, a dark energy enveloping around her. Vana, without her weapon and as she is right now, will be powerless and useless in stopping her. We had stepped back already, ready to take her on.“Jerome, I’m counting on you,” Vana muttered, looking at me straight in the eye.“Yeah, leave it to me,” I said, assuring her directly in the eye before I turn my attention back to Ms. Wina.“Vana, bring the duchess and the Chairman away from here,” Ms. Angela ordered, yelling at her over her shoulder.“Okay,” Vana replied, t
Jerome's POVI glanced at Vana; brows raised at me. “I did. It’s easy to solve it actually, since she chose a direct, simple course of action,” I said.I bobbed towards the direction where the team headed, gesturing at Vana for us to follow and tail them. Considering the evidence we found on the crime scene and the victim’s body, its easy to tell how the crime is committed.“Around midnight is when Ms. Bella was knocked out by the robber. Around three is when Wina woke up in Ms. Bella’s body,” Vana stated, as we follow the team.“After she woke up, Ms. Wina made her move and attacked Mr. Plaid. What I believe to have happened is that Mr. Plaid realized the dragon egg was stolen, and when he entered the vault, he was knocked out by Ms. Wina who came to try to murder him,” I explained.“From there, the vic
Vana's POV“That’s it?” I wondered, slightly annoyed at how things are ending.“What?” the Chairman said in surprise.“That’s it? No seeing the end results of the mission. No other loose ends. Just a mission and an unexpected investigation,” I scowled in irritation.“Something wrong with that? Don’t you want to get back to the academy?” Jerome asked, raising a brow at me in astoundment.I do wish I can go back to the academy soon, but not everything in this situation sits right with me. Especially not in our mission and that robbery case. I have a feeling that something intentional is at play and I can’t quite put my fingers around it yet.All I know is something else behind the scenes.“Is there something you want to say, Vana?” Ms. Angel
Jerome's POV“Because I believe this would change everything between us; and everything we believed about our guilds,” Vana stated.“Excuse me? Pardon?” I scoffed, staring at Vana with confusion and spite.First of all, I don’t even know where she got these letters from. I’m not stupid enough to fall for a trick she may or may not have come up with. And how in the world did she got her hands on these letters?“Just—” she said, cutting herself off as she scratches the back of her head. “Just read it. You’ll understand what I’m trying to say once you do,” she said, persuading me. “How can I understand when I have no idea what I’m getting myself into? Vana is telling me that the contents of this letter changes everything between us. There is nothing between us. She said it&rsq
Vana's POV“I knew I could count on you. Let me introduce myself again to you, may I? I’m Vana Farasol,” she mused, grinning. “It’s a pleasure to work with you.”Jerome stood blank and in awe after I reintroduce myself. I smirked, letting him know that the person he’ll be working with is not someone from a rival guild, but a girl with aspirations of being a detective.It would be better if he thinks of me that way. A girl, a classmate, a schoolmate, a junior detective. Anything, as long as he wouldn’t think of me as someone that is a member of the Green Serpent.“Did you have to reintroduce yourself?” Jerome wondered, baffled.“We started off on the wrong foot, might as well restart since we’ll be working together,” I mused.A small smile flickered on his lips. &ldq