The moment they entered the study, Adam, Fenella, and Aaron were greeted by a handsome, brown-headed, middle-aged man sitting before his desk, who paused from reading his paper. His name was Nicholas Caedman Woodwind, the man of the household and one of the governors in the palace. His wife died when she gave birth to their beloved son, whom they named Cyrus, and sent him to Pruestin to study when he turned 16. Nicholas was an amiable man and authoritative. He can be friendly and strict at the same time.
Nicholas stood up from his seat and rushed to the young Earl with a charming smile. "I'm so glad you stayed the night," he greeted Adam with an embrace and shook hands, "I hope you're enjoying your stay."
Adam grinned, "We are," and turned his eyes to Fenella, who was forcing a smile to the Marquess. "Even though my wife got cold, but that was because she's sensitive," he added.
Nicholas got concerned, and his expression turned worried. "Do you want us to set up the fireplace?"
Adam chuckled, "Thank you, Sir Nicholas, but there is no need. My wife is contented with cuddles. She said it was enough to keep her warm."
Hearing those words, Fenella twitched the corner of her lips and slightly frowned her eyebrows. Adam lightly chuckled at Fenella's reaction for a split second and returned his attention to the handsome Marquess.
Nicholas smiled, then chuckled, "I see that your wife is very affectionate. How lucky of you! Well, if you say so. How about we take a seat as we waited for the tea to arrive."
As requested, Adam and Fenella sat down on the couch and helped themselves to find their comfort. Fenella scanned her eyes throughout the room and glanced at Adam, who was staring at the window. A full moon, peeking through the window, was shining brightly, illuminating half of the room - but was overtaken by a number of candle lights on the wall and a small chandelier on the ceiling. The study was almost walled with tall bookshelves filled with books and gathered documents. A short, beige-colored globe was standing on the right side of the study, facing the Marquess' workspace. The ceiling was beige-colored as well, but framed with polished, brown wood.
Fenella found the study luxurious and cozy. She thought she would want to have a room like this for herself as well, but it will take long before that happens.
"Why in the world would you read this?"
Everyone inside the study turned their head where the voice came from, and found the blond Duke standing on the corner beside the globe, reading a dark-green-covered book. The title wasn't difficult to see by how Aaron held the volume, there were words written, 'Lurking Into My Wife; Lear Sly' in large, fancy fonts.
"This book is beyond a perverted man's imagination," he remarked, locking his eyes on the page. Aaron closed the book and presented the title in front of the Marquess, Adam, and Fenella, "I didn't know you were into this!"
Knowing his secret got uncovered, he blushed and rushed to the young Duke and snatched his novel. "Please do not touch anything in the study, Mi'lord," he forced a chuckle, flustered. "That book was given to me by a friend, please don't mind that. How about we begin to discuss the matters about this case?" he guided Aaron back to the living area and asked him to take a seat. Aaron sat down in front of the couple, smiling like a puppy wagging its tail in merry. Nicholas sat down beside Aaron but kept a few distance for their personal space.
Once everything was ready, Adam initiated to begin the discussion due to the curiosity that he wanted to be answered. "There's something I want to know first, Sir Nicholas. How many of your servants have been gone, and what are their names?"
Nicholas averted her gaze from Adam, to the floor. "Yesterday was my 7th servant that had gone missing. It has been a week since it started," he said, "Their names are Daisy, Oscar, Bassie, Riley, Olivia, Stella, and yesterday was Lucy."
While listening to the discussion, Fenella noticed Aaron doing something. He was folding a paper with his tongue stuck out. Most of them were folded into triangles until it was folded like an envelope and then another separated triangle. Not long, an airplane paper was formed. He blew the back of the paper, then later flew them towards Fenella. The point of the paper-plane crooked as it hit Fenella's hard forehead. Fenella did not made any expression, so Aaron could not know if the Countess was pissed. Without saying a word, Fenella took the paper from her lap and crumpled them with her fist in front of the young Duke. Then she hid them on her back and continued to listen.
"The voices come at the strike of 11 and stops when Big Ben strikes until twelve. Do you think there's a meaning behind that?" Adam cocked down his head and touched his chin with his thumb and index.
"They're playing a game, obviously," the young Duke inserted himself into their conversation.
"What game?" Nicholas asked.
Aaron shrugged his game, "I don't know. But it seems that way. It could be a game of their own, trying to mess up for their fun or could be the need of your participation."
"If you connect that to the missing servants," Fenella joined the conversation, "The game would be the latter."
Nicholas, "Participating? What do you mean?"
Adam replied, " 'A requirement must be done before one hour, or there will be consequences', that could be."
Nicholas, "What would be the requirement?"
Adam curved his lips. "There is something I needed to confirm. They are leaving obvious clues. Let another servant to be gone tonight, but I assure you, we will bring them back alive."
Surprised, Nicholas raised his voice. "What?" After realizing what he had done, he composed himself and cleared his throat, "Sorry," he said.
"It seems that the voices are not just messing with people, they're calling for your attention. Mr. Nicholas, you're a governor, and that must be the reason why they chose your household," Adam spoke for clarification.
Nicholas knew Adam was heartless from the start, but he did not expect that the young Earl would suggest to sacrifice one of his servants just for him to solve his case. Although it sounds dangerous, Adam never failed to solve a crime yet. He had no other choice but to trust him. "Sir Adam, there is something I wanted to know before I agree," he said.
Adam leaned his head, "What is it?"
Nicholas, "What will happen once you confirm that your assumption is right?"
Adam smiled, "It is not an assumption, Sir Nicholas, but a presumption. And I will send my wife to come to that place - if it's on a different location, but mostly."
Heartless. Even sacrificing his wife sounds casual. Nicholas turned his eyes to Fenella and saw that she did not react or anything. He thought that she must be used to it.
By observing the Marquess' obvious expressions, Adam read his mind like a book and smirked at his reaction. "Don't worry, Mr. Nicholas. My wife is also my partner in this business."
Surprised that Adam answered the thoughts in his brain, his eyes widened. He then remained silent and looked away. Nicholas thought there was something that had not arrived until now. "Where are the tea maids?"
Then all of a sudden, the voices came.
'Arbiter magnus quietem-'
They all spoke in the same words and language but unsynchronized. Some voices spoke in a whisper, while some voices spoke in an aggressive tone.
'Opifex gloriosus amenitatem-'
'Clemens pacem Rector Clemens-'
'Fappientiffimus habitationem-'
The room was overwhelmed by chaotic voices. Adam moved his hand to Fenella and held her hand tightly. Fenella felt Adam's force and turned to her hand, which was clenched in Adam's.
It took a long minute when the voices calmed down, although they were still there, whispering. Now that everything was calm, Adam and the rest piped down as well.
Adam continued the discussion, but changed the topic. "So, what happened before this?" he asked casually, although his hands tightly clenched to Fenella's.
Nicholas was surprised by Adam's calm manner. If it were only him, he would be bothered and nervous for the whole hours until they stop.
Despite being bothered, he answered, "Nothing happened, Sir Adam. The only thing I remembered, was that Eric and I went to the Tethiece to buy a land. It went pretty well, and we bought the land for the candy factory. The building was being planned at this moment, and by the next two weeks, the construction will begin."
Adam nodded and hummed. "Did you met anyone different before or during that?"
Nicholas titled his head and played with his bangs. "I don't remember much. There was no one whom we bump into, or met someone different."
Adam, "I understand."
For the whole hour, Adam and Nicholas talked about his (the Marquess) event of life before the voices began. Sometimes, Adam changed the subject and talked about Fenella and her personality, while the young woman beside him only glanced and glared whenever he does a small insult.
Despite the eerie voices in the background, Adam made sure the Marquess would answer his questions and listen to his story. The Marquess was bothered and worried about one of his servant that was about to be missing.
"Do you have any background about your wife?" Adam asked Nicholas.
Hearing that question, Nicholas turned his attention back to Adam and smiled at his question. "Yes. Her father and my mother were best friends. They were once lovers that only got separated due to arrange marriage."
Aaron stepped in, "Huh, seems like the supposed fate was passed to you and your wife by your parents," he remarked.
Nicholas chuckled, "Precisely. But Marjorie and I were happy about it. We were best friends since we were kids and developed feelings for each other."
Aaron smirked, "That sounds like a puppy love. I didn't know you had this side of the story, governor Woodwind."
Nicholas chuckled, "Please don't tell that anyone about that story."
Aaron beamed, "Yes, I will!"
After those light conversation, the voices stopped. The sound of Big Ben rang. Nicholas realized there was still a problem that he still had to be worried about.
"It seemed they recognized the missing person already," said Adam.
Nicholas partly understood him, but remained silent.
Adam spoke again. "They will be here in a few minutes," he smiled.
The Marquess glanced at Fenella, who was already asleep from earlier. Her head was placed on Adam's shoulder, sleeping peacefully like an angel.
Adam turned his head to his silver-haired wife and stroke her hair. "Look how peaceful she looks when she sleeps," he whispered, but audible enough for Nicholas to hear. "But sadly she needs to be awake," Adam added. He tried to wake Fenella by calling her name, and later, the young woman opened her eyes. A pair of ice-blue and brown orbs appeared, reflecting against the lights as soon as she opened her eyelids.
Adam smiled, "Fenella, it's now your turn," he whispered.
Without saying a word, Fenella withdrew herself from Adam's shoulder. She rubbed her eyes as she yawned, making her look cute. Fenella knew the meaning behind Adam's whisper earlier, so she asked: "Did one of the maids came to inform?"
Adam replied, "Not yet, but they will soon."
A few seconds later, someone suddenly opened the door and there appeared a black-haired maid, catching her breath as sweats rolled down on her face.
"Sir," she said, still catching her breath. "Alvin is... missing," and she propped on her knees and breathe sharply.
Of course, Nicholas became worried. He turned his attention to Adam, who was already smiling triumphantly after hearing the news.
His presumptions were just confirmed.