Vasillis exerted effort in remembering what he was doing it all for. Reminding himself of his reason was to keep himself awake, alive, and prevent himself from losing hope.
He sent all his men home so they could rest. To think that they were searching from the crack of dawn until twilight, they were tired and he knew they did all they could.
But as for him, he still feels like he did not do anything yet. All of the things he did were not enough, it will never be enough. Not until he has gotten down to the bottom of it all.
If only they could move freely, but no. There were too many eyes as if there really is someone out there preventing them from finding something, a clue, a lead to the mystery.
They need to move without the mastermind knowing.
There was a time when he recognized one of the people tailing them, it was one of the men of Marquess Midford.
Perhaps the Marquess was really one of the people behind it, but assumptions will not suffice.
"What I need is proof, and the freedom to move." He muttered as he turned the lamp off, leaving the room.
~~~~~~~~~~
Before the chaos,
Griselda Quin was right in front of them, making her way to the path that leads to her master's study. As soon as Alexandria finished dressing, she and Bastien followed the panicked old lady.
"Why is she in so much hurry?" Alexandria asked, keeping a slow graceful pace despite hearing that her own father was furious. "Why is the Head Maid acting that way, If I may ask?"
Bastien Cross, who was walking alongside her, slightly covered his mouth, "Miss Quin is scared, of course. By now, Marquess Anthony must be flying into a rage, she cannot help but be nervous."
"And why would she be more nervous than, I, the cause of Father's anger?" Alexandria asked with a straight face.
"Your father involves everyone when in a fit of anger."
"Yet I am still the one who takes most of the blows," Alexandria added.
She was used to this act of her father. Once she made a mistake, the Marquess would throw a fit, it always ended in a violent way. She would take all the pain from her abusive father.
After the Marquess has calmed down, he would send Alexandria to get treated because she cannot look ugly, he will not be able to marry her off if no one will accept her.
People base their love on looks, after all, that was the case for most of them.
But Alexandria did not want to marry.
That was why in an instant, she had an idea of why her father was enraged again.
Alexandria turned to the butler when she heard him laugh, "My Lady, Miss Quin is in a hurry so you could move at a fast pace, and here you are so relaxed."
"Why must I hurry?"
"It would infuriate the Master if you keep delaying, My Lady."
"He is already furious anyways, let us infuriate him even more."
Bastien Cross laughed but Griselda Quin turned to him with a glare, making the butler stop. He turned to the lady with a grin, "You fear nothing."
Alexandria had already told Cross many times about her sickness but he still continues to mention emotions. Her hand went to the side of her head, she was having a migraine again.
"My Lady?"
"Fear nothing..." Alexandria whispered, repeating the butler's words. She put down her hand and continued walking, "I fear myself."
Griselda Quin stopped by the door of their master's study, she looked at Alexandria while gesturing to fix herself up.
'Why bother coming in all neat if I will come out like a mess.' Alexandria thought.
"I wish you good luck, My Lady." Bastien Cross said and bowed while smiling.
But Alexandria does not believe in luck.
She looked over at the lady who was still standing in front of the door. The Head Maid must have noticed Alexandria looking at her and she gestured to the door, "You can go first, Lady Midford."
Just because Alexandria could not tell the expression on her face, does not mean that she could not guess the reason why Griselda wants her to come inside first. It did not bother her at all, so she proceeded to enter her father's study.
A vase aimed at her face welcomed her as soon as she stepped inside, she moved her head to the side enough to be able to avoid it. The vase hit the wall near the door and was broken into pieces.
Alexandria looked down at the shattered vase and bent down to grab a shard. "What a pity, I liked this vase," she said with a blank face while staring at a shard.
"How long are you going to disappoint me, Alexandria?!"
The voice of Marquess Anthony Midford echoed in the whole room, even servants who passed by could hear the enraged marquess. The servants gave each other glances, knowing what would happen again.
"Disappoint, you say. What an interesting word." Alexandria muttered, "You say that to me all the time but it still seems refreshing."
The Marquess marched towards her and grabbed her hair, pulling her up from her bent position. He pulled it, even more, to make her face and look at him clearly. "You useless woman! All the years I raised you, you cannot even listen to one damn order?!"
Alexandria stared straight into his eyes, "I am unsure of what you meant. It was I who raised myself."
Her father let out a scoff, "You dare talk back to me? You would not be able to live without my money!" he exclaimed and pushed her roughly on the table, making Alexandria slam her body down on it.
"How many men do I have to give so you could obey me?!" he yelled, "Did I tell you to turn down Rowan? You never listen to any of my orders these days!"
"David Rowan is a snake, only a stupid person would not notice it," Alexandria responded, Marquess Midford cupped her face from behind, gripping it tightly. "You should always listen to me, Alexandria. You are my daughter."
Indeed she was his daughter, yet was never properly treated as one.
Marquess Midford slid his hand on her thigh, "You should listen well, I will make sure the man you wed into would be worthy enough to have your body."
"You did not seem to be worthy enough, yet you still-"
"Alexandria." Marquess Midford's voice changed into a serious one, his firm tone was warning his daughter.
"Are you going to do it again?" Alexandria asked, directly looking at her own father. The Marquess clenched his fist and his mood seemed to worsen upon seeing his daughter's face with no emotions.
There was a faint whispering around them and the Marquess clicked his tongue. He let go of Alexandria and she fell to the ground.
There was a short silence before the Marquess spoke again, "I arranged a meeting with you and Alistair Lockhart. I have informed the coachman of the meeting place, get ready." he said, trying to calm himself down.
"Alistair Lockhart is one of the Duke's sons. Do not disobey me once again, Alexandria." He warned, putting emphasis on his every word. He looked down at Alexandria on the floor and glared at her, "If you do, I cannot guarantee what I might do."
The door swung open and Bastien Cross appeared, together with the future lord of the Midford House.
"Father." Alexander Midford greeted and bowed to show respect, Anthony Midford smiled when he saw his perfect son had appeared, it was as if his anger diminished in an instant.
"Son!" Marquess Anthony greeted and put his hands on his shoulder with a smile.
Alexander ignored his father's laugh and had his eyes fixated on his twin that was on the ground. "What happened?"
Alexander approached his sister with a worried face. He caressed her cheeks as he cupped it to take a better look at her. "Alexandria," he called.
He extended his hand and helped her get up, "What on earth happened? Father, what have you done to her?"
Marquess Midford's foul mood returned and he pointed at the door, "Get out, the coachman is waiting!"
"Is this about Alistair Lockhart again? Father, I already told you not to-
"I will go." Alexandria cut her twin off.
Alexander glanced at her with a worried face, but Alexandria did not want to be defended and get useless results again.
"After all, I do not have the freedom to choose whether I want to go or not."
Alexandria glanced at Bastien Cross and the butler nodded, guiding her out the room to go where the coachman was.
Marriage, family, control. It was not something she liked nor had.
Freedom was all she wanted, but it is something that she would never obtain as long as her father was breathing the air of life.