Chapter 9 - The Rumors

Moving along the guests, Teal answered the questions with enthusiasm, while Canis spoke a few words and smiled mostly at whatever Teal said. The reporters asked question after question, how they met, who was the first to confess, how he proposed.

Autumn moved through the guests on her toes, glasses of champagne balanced on the tray, while she felt like her legs would fall off if she took another step. Her ears were on the interview, while she eyed the guard warily, she wondered if he was going to tell Cyan about her or catch her again to ask why she was snooping around Cyan's room. Autumn guessed the guard also had a lot to hide and questions might be raised if he raised suspicions on an innocent looking maid. She wondered how the reporters had so much energy to actually sound enthusiastic about the ceremony that was putting her to sleep.

'Miss Teal, is it true you designed this dress yourself?' a reporter who looked so enthusiastic, Autumn thought he would burst out of his skin, asked Teal, waving the mic in her face.

Teal laughed smoothly. 'Yes, with a little help from my brother.' She looked fondly at Cyan who smiled so widely at her, his eyes crinkled.

'Mr. North, where are you planning to take your wife-to-be for a honeymoon?' the reporter said.

'Now, that is a secret.' Canis put an arm around Teal's shoulders and pulled her close. 'But, I can guarantee you, love, you will never have had a vacation like this.' He said to her.

'I can't wait.' Teal whispered in his ear but the guests caught the words and a new round of casual whooping started.

'Miss Teal, I admire your courage. You really moved on quicker than the public expected after your parents recent deaths.' The reporter was a young, mousy man, his hair falling into his eyes, while he gripped his mic excitedly.

Teal's steps faltered. The glass of champagne stopped at her lips as her hands started shaking. She stared at the reporter open mouthed, shock visible on her tiny face, perhaps wondering why the reporter had raised a question like this at such a happy event. Sensing her sister's discomfort, Cyan strode over towards the reporter and spoke in a firm voice.

'Enough. I don't see why we should mar a happy occasion with the mention of tragedies.'

Autumn saw how the question had affected the siblings. Teal's bottom lip was trembling, tears pooling into her eyes as her whole body shook. Canis had his arms around her and was holding her close, whispering softly in her ear. Cyan looked furious, a murderous glare in his eyes as he stared the reporter down. His eyes glittered in anger while he blocked Teal from the unforgiving cameras.

'Isn't it true, it has only been a month since your mother and father death?' the reporter persisted.

An awkward, tense air had surrounded the party. While everybody there looked unhappy or angry, the guard showed no emotion, but his clasped hands betrayed how deeply he was listening to the questions and cared about not missing a word.

'I think you should stop drinking if you feel too drunk already, Mr...…Kirstun.' He said, eyeing the reporter's name tag.

A small laugh broke through the crowd, as people began to disperse, but Kirstun was not having the siblings dodge the question as he spoke again.

'Then are the rumors true? Your parents didn't die in an ice skating incident, but they were murdered?'

Autumn saw the guard's eyebrows furrow, her own confusion mirrored on his face. What did it mean? The Yarrows were murdered? Why hadn't she heard of any rumors?

'I am afraid I am not aware of any such rumors.' Cyan spoke in a voice of steel. 'Excuse me.' He turned towards his sister.

'Did you do it? Did you kill your parents to receive the inheritance...…and the package?'

Autumn's blood ran cold like someone had poured icy water over her head. How did this man know of the package, and why was he acting like it was common knowledge?

It was visible how Cyan tensed, his body went as still as a statue, while a strange emotion came over his features. From behind the shock and anger, Autumn could see it but couldn't quite place it. Was it guilt?

'What?' Cyan turned just his head around and whispered.

It was Canis who spoke next, before Kirstun had a chance to continue. 'Enough. I can't see why you would accuse the deceased's son of something like that.' He turned around and smiled at the guests. 'Enjoy the party, gentlemen..' He said loudly, dismissing the intense interview.