One of the unlatched windows opened. It swung open slowly by the cold night air and an owl immediately swoops inside. A rolled piece of paper, tied with a red ribbon trimmed with gold was held in its black beak. Its round yellow eyes look around the room, searching for the receiver. It flies from one aisle to another inside the library. Spotting a familiar patch of light blue hair, it flies towards the person and settles on one of the chairs. It's black It lets out a soft hoot, interrupting the peaceful slumber of Kim. He lazily raises his head. Quattro, the pet snow owl of a friend, was standing in front of him patiently. Thanking the owl, he gently took the letter and the bird soon took off out at one of the open windows of the library. The paper was old and brown, a bit rough to touch, probably torn from an old book. Unfolding the letter, it revealed a short message from a dear friend. Nia Hunter. The daughter and only child of a famous detective. A girl who he had been friends with back when he was younger.
Dear Kimmy,
I hope you are awake when you receive this letter of mine. I have a few things that I have found inside an abandoned building near the edge of the town of Lippsburg that belonged to your father. However, Papa stated that there was no sign of him anywhere just like the previous times we tried to find evidence of him being still around and about. Papa found no trace of him being there for a long time ever since he left you and your mother. I was there with my dear parents investigating. We found a few things that belong to your mother that you might want to keep. I will come by in the morning at eight. I'll see you soon.
Signed by your dearest and best friend,
Nia
"Of course... See you soon, Ms. Hunter." Kim mumbled to himself as he folded the letter back and reached to close the book that he had been reading before he fell asleep. He walked around to return it to its rightful aisle and placed it back on the shelf where it belonged. Deciding to head back to his room, he stood up and began to walk back to his room, but not before closing the windows of the library and locking them in. Instead of sleeping there till morning arrived instead of staying inside the library like he usually would. The white owl soon flew out of the open windows before Kim closed it, vanishing into the cold night back to its owner.
The next morning, small pecks and chirps of little sparrows outside the window easily woke Kim up. He sits up slowly while yawning and stretching his arms and back. He gets off the bed, slowly putting on his slippers and robe to go make a simple breakfast for himself and his arriving friend, it wasn't much like how most people prepare their morning food, especially other nobles' who would prefer a plate of the juiciest bacon, the perfectly cooked fried eggs with buttered toasts and scones. But for Kim, it was enough, he may be the new earl of Lordreign, but he's used to a rather simple yet casual lifestyle due to growing up with his mother before he was introduced to his noble lineage.
The maids greeted him as they arrived and they were used to the sight of their young master always waking up before them and wanting to cook his food. After he finished, the maids helped Kim bring the food to the table and he soon went to quickly fix himself up and wait for the clock to strike eight.
Nia arrived at the estate at the exact time as she had said in the letter from last night. She was dressed rather in her fashionable way, her ebony fedora brought out the complete style of her outfit, consisting of a white dress shirt with a light brown vest, a maroon red skirt, black tights, and brown boots. Each piece of clothing was trimmed with gold. Her skirt and boot were decorated with golden metal rose pins and small golden gear, her style was different from how other girls her age would usually dress. The ladies born in the country of Abria often dress elegantly and gracefully in bright or pastel colors. Pastel pink, spring green, and baby blue were for toddlers and young girls. Buttercup yellow, lavender, and aquamarine are worn by teenagers. Cornflower blue, emerald green and lobelia purple are worn by adults. White, Fuschia pink, and cobalt blue were worn by the elderly. The color red was reserved for the empress's use only. While men would wear dark and dull colors with tints of white or gold.
She was soon escorted by the head butler of the mansion, Mr. Falles, bringing her directly to the garden where Kim was waiting, not before giving the old man a small wrapped package and asking it to be placed in her friend's office.
"Good morning Lord Cox!" The daughter of the famous detective greeted cheerfully while Kim smiled in return, waving.
"Good morning Ms.Hunter.." Kim greets with a straight face as an awkward silence occurred for a minute before bursts of a giggle and chuckle suddenly followed. Kim stood up as he pulled the chair for Nia to sit which she gladly obliged while thanking the young lord.
"Trying to be funny, huh?" She giggles softly.
"Maybe. How have you been, Nia? Any news from Lord Banner?" The light blue-haired boy teases as the redhead girl blushes and rolls her eyes a bit from the question and soon eyes the simple yet tasty breakfast. On the table was french toast topped with blueberries and strawberries served with bacon. There was orange juice and jasmine tea to drink, it was a usual breakfast for Kim to have on most days.
"Quite alright. And no, I haven't heard from Elson. What about you Kimmy? You seem still stuck with simplicity rather than what's supposed to be your thing as a noble. It's been years. You're too humble." The girl noted as she took her fork and began eating while Kim picked at his food before plunging the fork to the toast, cutting it as he shrugged.
"Living with my mother has made me content living with simple things before knowing I was the only child of a 'mighty' lord," Kim says as he stuffed his mouth with food. Nia nods in understanding before chugging down half of her juice. The two soon finished breakfast as they walked together back to Kim's office. The door was opened by Kim and he immediately saw the nicely wrapped box on his desk. He immediately knew it was his mother's things that Nia was talking about from the letter last night.
He settled down his staff on a chair while Nia sat on one of the plush red couches as she watched Kim handle the package gently. He rips the wrapping slowly and it soon reveals a wooden chest with a simple lock. Gently flicking the lock open, he moved the lid up. Nothing much was in it except an old book, a ring, and a scroll. The young man took out the ring first. It was small and silver. With an amethyst as the main gem of the ring, surrounded by creamy white pearls. It had one word engraved inside.
"Bellissima, I've never seen this ring before... The word engraved on it is in the language of the country, Fiorella," Kim mumbles as he looks on, examining the ring further before he gently sets it back into its cushion inside the box. He soon grabs the small old book, blowing off the dust. Nia watched curiously from the other side of the room, fingers fidgeting with either her golden locket or her short red hair. Black gloved fingers gracefully ran across the cover, before it was opened, revealing its rusty brown pages and an old English language being used for the story. The title embedded on the cover was 'Kirkland the Sly Fox' to which Kim chuckled slightly. It was a book that his mother used to read to him every night. Each night, she would read for Kim a chapter till he fell asleep. Coincidentally or by genes, the young Earl had also inherited his mother's love for books and reading. Explaining the huge library he has in his mansion which is also his favorite.
He soon laid down the book on his desk and reached for the scroll. It was held by a red ribbon. He unties it swiftly, revealing a sketched portrait of his parents and him back when he was still a young child. He lets out a small hum, his eyes trained more on his parents than his younger self. The memory was blurry since it had been many years back then and Kim could only remember that this was when he was only five. He was fussy and couldn't keep sit still as his mother held him. But he could never remember how his father reacted to him at that time.
"I'm assuming that the box held something more interesting than itself?" Nia asked while Kim gave a small nod in confirmation.
"Well, I can't say it's 'that' interesting... For the book and my family portrait when I was young. But the ring is important. It's my mother's ring. It was one of the four rings that she was gifted with by my father." The blue-haired man says as he lets out a small sigh before gently putting back the two things in the small box.
"Your father is tricky to find.."
"But it is not the first time you tried, is it?" Kim smirked playfully as he looked at her, his expression smug and teasing. "I've been trying to find my father for years, yet you don't see me complaining."
"Oh don't get started on me…" Nia groans as she turns away, pouting. All the while, Kim chuckled and shook his head. "You know that I'm helping you find your father's whereabouts. He's very slippery to catch like most criminals is all. It's just been like… what? Seven? Nine years?"
"That's one of the many things people hate about my father, mostly his enemies…" Kim sighed as he set aside the box beside the papers on his desk. "Along with his passive yet cold attitude… But I know it's hard finding him… I'm patient. I'm still young. And soon will be able to get the answers i want from his own mouth.."
"Whatever reason your father left you for... it's up to you what you do now Kimmy… You are the Earl of Lordreign, the Crow of the Empress. It is up to you on how you lead. Not your father." Nia puts a hand on his shoulder. "You are the one in position, not him"
"I know. But.. even years now, it's quite funny that my father is still the hot topic in the society of Abria." The young man chuckles softly and sighs soon after. "They can't easily let go of his sudden disappearance. The empress herself deemed my father as one of the most dangerous people she ever met."
"Well, your father might have a bad attitude and has done, well.. such... well… y'know, unspeakable things." Nia waves her right hand in circles. "But he's done so much good for the kingdom just like you and the rest of the past earls have done. So it is still quite unbelievable for him to leave his wife and son and then vanish into thin air without a trace"
Kim hums, his eyes soon landing on a few signed papers that lay on his desk. He lets out a huff, sitting back down on his comfortable chair.
"I just hope that whatever he may have crossed that leads to his disappearance." He sighs once more. "I just hope I don't come across it as well shortly.."
"Well.. whatever it is... I'll be right here by your side Kimmy. I promise." Nia smiles brightly, reassuring her best friend who smiles back.
"Well then, what would you like for lunch and afternoon tea, later?" Kim asked with a small smile as he watched his friend think thoughtfully with a pout and finger to her cheek. It took a few moments for her to finally answer what she would want to eat later.
"For lunch, I'd like to have to have your famous potato and pork stuffed bun!" She declares with a proud smile.
"Oh, so you want me to cook again? I just cooked us both breakfast just earlier," Kim chuckles while Nia lets out a smug smile and a hum, wanting to taste Kim's dishes again.
"And for afternoon tea, I would like to have strawberry tarts, ham sandwiches, and rose tea!" Nia adds with a gleeful smile.
"Well then, let me finish the rest of my paperwork first. Then I'll cook lunch." Kim chuckles as he extends a hand to ruffle Nia's hair.
"Right'o! I'll be waiting then while disturbing you that is." The red-headed girl grins like a cheshire cat making her friend glare at her in warning as he reaches for his cane, fixing his tie.
"Do it or no buns for you for lunch." Kim threatened.
"I was kidding, hehe.."
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