Chapter 8

A few hours before.

Knock knock

"Come in" Jennings answered.

A long silver-haired youth walked into Jennings's study. He bowed and said mannerly: " may heavens bless Sitia and the Emperor ".

A smile beamed on Jennings's face, it has been a while since the last time he saw this refreshing face of the young man. He said cheerfully: "Edgar! It's nice to see you. How have you been?"

Edgar:" I have been well, I appreciate your majesty's concern".

Jennings:" come closer, what do you have for me?".

Edgar: "brother– I mean duke Welfmore entrusted me to deliver this letter to your majesty ".

Edgar handed the letter to Jennings while bowing, and stepped back before straightening his torso.

Jennings: "you know you can just call him brother, why formalities?".

Edgar: "as your majesty wish".

Jennings stared at the young man's figure. This young man was his youngest nephew who was always nervous for no reason. Jennings opened the letter in his hand as he said:" by the way Edgar, you are going to the academy this year, right?".

Edgar:" ah, yes. I will be heading as a freshman before the autumn begin".

Jennings stood and walked closer to the boy. To him, Edgar was a model for the perfect noble kid. He was skilled in the human standards-do not put Lennox and the word ' normal' in the same sentence- hardworking, kindhearted, brave, and righteous. simply, he is suitable for any work.

Jennings:" then may I ask you a favor?".

Edgar nervously responded:" your majesty shall say the word, and I will put my life to fulfill it".

Jennings:" you don't need to do that. It's just I need a tutor of similar age for my Everly. She is a couple of years younger than you. And I believe that you are suitable enough for this. So if you don't mind, could you spare some time for her before entering the academy".

'Everly? Is she the one I saw exiting from his majesty's' study from the hallway?'

Edgar:" if your majesty is looking for a knowledgeable person, then I am certain that the crown prince has long since surpassed me in that matter ".

Jennings released a helpless sigh:" it's because Lennox is.....Lennox, that I have to find someone out of the palace. If you are not troubled then would you Edgar?".

Edgar:" this is an honor of mine".

The latter parted his lips to say something, but again shut them and kept his silence.

" Is there something in your mind Edgar?" Jennings asked.

Edgar hesitantly answered while stuttering: " no..... it's just the girl who got out of here just now– I mean it's the first time I see lady Everly in the palace. And she looked happy after meeting with you, and your majesty care for her. Also, it seems that you both have a close relationship. So I got curious if she is your daughter, I mean a Princess. Oh, you don't need to tell me I– I just wondered".

Awkward silence filled the atmosphere. Edgar began regretting asking Jennings about that. His face was covered in cold sweat as he internally panicked.

' What if it was a sensitive subject!!! like if she was born of a forbidden affair!! Or they are not admitting her as an imperial member!! What if she was cursed like the crown prince or maybe worse! aaaaaaaaaah!!!!!! I want to die! '

Jennings:" it's the first time I hear you talk strangely like that".

Edgar's face almost entirely turned red out of embarrassment.

" my apologies for showing such a disgrace ".

Jennings lightly chuckled, he looked at the boy gently.

" no, she is not my daughter. well, I do take her as one. Everly is such a kind child, you should spend some time with her ".

Edgar:" I- I will make sure to do so".

********

Lennox:" now, how about you start supplying me with the details of that day".

Roosevelt:" ah? yes, your highness".

Roosevelt straightened his back, he took a deep breath then said solemnly:

" yesterday after dinner, father and I discussed some work matters before he returned to his room. His death was discovered by 10:25 PM, by that time only four people went to see him. Two maids, the head butler and Eleanor."

'This looks normal, until now'

Lennox:" tell me the order of those who went to see McMillan and their reasons ".

Roosevelt said with a nod:" The first was a maid, she went to deliver some files Bertha sent with her. Then Eleanor went to discuss a matter with father, however, father did not respond when knocking on the door. But when the second maid brought his medicines father said that he will take them later ".

Lennox:" did the maid enter his room?".

Roosevelt:" no, he answered behind the door actually....".

Lennox:" I see.... now the last one is the head butler".

Roosevelt: "ah, yes. After the second maid told the head butler what father said, since father's health had been getting worse every day, he decided to put some pressure on him to take his medicine. And that's how we discovered his death".

' honestly speaking, I can tell that this Eleanor guy knows something. Well, let's just wait and watch '

Lennox: "hmm, I need to see those servants".

Bertha quickly responded: "I got this", then she left the room in seconds.

Lennox drank a mouthful of his tea, he Leisurely said:" describe the state of the corpse once found".

Roosevelt's fingers trembled for a moment as if he was irritated for his dead father to simply being called a mere corpse. However, Lennox had no interest in pitying people and silently waited for the answer.

Roosevelt said with uneasiness:" father was found in his room laying beside his bed, he was stabbed five times in the chest.... the room was messy and the treasury was broken–".

At that moment, the screams coming from the second floor freaked both Roosevelt and Eleanor, it was Adelaide's' voice. Adelaide got down of the stairs running and shouting in fear.

" BROTHER, BIG BROTHER!!!!"

Eleanor shot from his chair and dashed outside the room. He approached her with a panicked expression.

"What's wrong, Ady? are you okay?"

Adelaide had always been a scaredy_cat in front of her brothers, she would get scared of anything surprising. However, this was the first time she looked terrified to this extent.

"Ther– there is someone in my room!!!".