"Let's talk about it somewhere else."
Lucian was keen enough to notice that something serious was going on about Eugene. He didn't say anything and simply guided the Marquis to his own carriage.
The moment their butts plopped down on the soft cushion inside the carriage, Eugene released a deep sigh. He dropped his suitcase on his lap and opened it in fast motion. He then faced it toward Lucian.
Inside was a set of old newspapers and files. Lucian's eyebrows furrowed. "What's going on, Marquis Fergus?" He looked up to see the older alpha's expression.
Eugene's pursed lips emanated a solemn feeling inside the carriage. "These are the newspapers I tried to gather for the past six months. I found them relevant enough to the case, so I investigated some of them. These files, however, I got through bribes. They were adamant on not giving me the papers unless I give them five hundred pounds," he said in a calm voice.
From there, Lucian could piece the puzzle together. Every month, he deposits about one hundred pounds as the Marquis' allowance. He only thought it would be enough to fund Eugene's daily expenses like food, clothing, lodging, and even some entertainment. However, it was deemed useless compared to the price the locals demanded in exchange for the "sacred" files.
"The money you sent me for the past 5 months was paid for these files, while the money I used for my daily expenses was from my own pocket money. I hope it doesn't offend you." Eugene bowed. He was ashamed to spend such a lot of money just to purchase a bunch of papers.
Alas, despite being a Marquis, his daily expenses and expenses for investigating amounted to a hundred pounds every month. Unlike Lucian, he did not delve into business. He preferred a low-key, low-maintenance life. He was fine simply earning his title as a Marquis and his royalties as an author. He never needed so much money anyway. Or so he thought.
Lucian shook his head. "It was my lack of insight that led you to this, Marquis Fergus. Had I known and asked more about your troubles, you wouldn't be so..." Lucian paused his statement as he glanced at Eugene's slender fingers and slim wrist. He sighed. "I deeply apologize."
"It's not really a big problem. I will fatten up after taking a rest for a week," Eugene stated with nonchalance. His crystal-blue eyes stared at Lucian's golden eyes. "In fact, I came back here to request something from you."
"Please do so."
"While I'm resting this week, I want you to prepare to come with me back to the border," Eugene stated firmly.
Lucian's eyes widened. "Marquis, I have told you before that I—"
"This case actually has something to do with the Montagues, particularly your mother, your Grace."
Lucian's open mouth immediately closed. His fist clenched, brows furrowing deeper, a hint of confusion swirling in between. "Marquis Fergus, please explain to me. I have no idea how we are involved in this incident."
"I'm just as surprised as you. Your mother, Elizabeth Campbell-Montague, resided on the border 12 years ago for quite some time. That is two years before she died, am I correct?"
Lucian nodded.
"The investigation revealed that she was only staying there to take care of a friend who was on the verge of dying. While she was away, all of her children were left within the Duke's care. I believe you remember this," Lucian said with a knowing look directed at him.
Lucian remained silent. What 'remember'? This Chinese man can't recall such a thing from the real Lucian's memories at all!
Eugene misunderstood his silence as a sign of grievance over his mother's death, and so he proceeded, "However, despite all of my efforts, I couldn't get a hold of information about your mother's friend, the cause of their sickness, and whether or not the said friend is dead or alive. The only thing I know is that after your mother left the border, everyone slowly started catching colds one household after another, and everyone in the border almost died from sickness. It was only after a year that everything came back to normal. But right now, the said illness has come back."
Lucian felt bitter about this. 'How come my supposedly peaceful family and life are actually associated with a conspiracy?'
"Here comes your role, your Grace. I might need your help in searching through your mother's journals, or if you can't find any, then you might try asking the Duke about it. Perhaps he may know the said friend?" Eugene tried to make himself sound polite. Because no matter how he sees it, what he's doing right now is an act of invading the Montague's privacy. "I'm sorry. I owe you for this request, your Grace."
Lucian did not say anything. His expression was solemn, as if anytime now he would suddenly fall off his seat in the carriage.
"Your Grace?" Eugene probed the man's silence by calling him out. His heart couldn't help but feel cold. Was he angry? Was he offended by Eugene's request?
Lucian finally raised his golden eyes to meet Eugene's blue ones. "I understand. It might consume some time, though."
"Oh, it's fine," Eugene quickly muttered in relief. "I have a week or two to stay here while you're at it. Please take your time. Also, it would be greater if you'd visit my residence once you found clues. Thank you so much."
Eugene's taut nerves finally relaxed. He was thankful that the duke's son was not close-minded enough to just rashly reject his request. Eugene was serious when he said that he owes Lucian for this.
Lucian, on the other hand, plunged deeper into his thoughts. Now that he agreed with Eugene, there's a bigger responsibility waiting for him. Aside from his business, his family, and his noble affairs, another matter was added to his plate. He felt like he would choke in the future if this continued. But he can't refuse now. His mother is actually involved in this! If it was another noble and not Eugene who discovered such a connection, then the Montague's reputation would definitely be tainted by this, and they would plummet straight off the bat.
He had to clear their name before anyone else discovered this.
...
"Good morning, your Grace," Eugene greeted the man standing on his doorstep. It was Lucian.
"Good morning to you too, Marquis Fergus," Lucian greeted back as he placed his hat on his chest.
Eugene opened the door wider to let Lucian in. Lucian placed his hat and long coat on the rack, together with the cane his father gifted him last week. It has been two weeks now since they talked in the carriage.
"Marquis Fergus does not have a servant here?" Lucian wondered out loud. He noticed that he hadn't met anyone yet except for Eugene himself. He was so surprised when Eugene himself opened the door for him.
Eugene smiled. "Your Grace is very keen, I see." He dragged a finger over a table and then rubbed it to his thumb, as if inspecting the cleanliness of the furniture. "I just hired maids who would keep the mansion clean every day. After cleaning, they can go home. Other than them, I don't have anyone else."
"Trust issues?" joked Lucian, hoping that the term actually exists in this universe.
Eugene's eyes turned into crescents as a soft laugh escaped his thin lips. "That's a good way to put it."
'Phew. He didn't find it weird.' Lucian was relieved.
They arrived in the living room. There was a large circular table surrounded by three single chairs and a sofa behind it. Lucian placed himself on a single chair, followed by Eugene.
"Well? It seems like there's progress on your side, your Grace?" Eugene started to open the topic about Lucian's mission.
Lucian obediently nodded. "That's right. I found my mother's journal from her closet. I didn't bother asking my father after reading the journal, though."
"Why?"
"It's because my mother herself admitted that she kept it a secret from my father. Her writing a journal defeated the purpose of keeping it a secret, though." Lucian chuckled helplessly. "Also, I'm not sure whether my father found this first before me and then pretended to not know anything about it, or he truly did not find this," Lucian said, watching Eugene carefully fill his cup with tea.
Eugene's blue eyes were focused on the tea as he asked, "Anything important to mention?"
"Only three points. These are the only things I'm sure of that require further investigation." Lucian raised three fingers as a gesture. "The friend's name, the friend's letter asking my mother for help, and my mother's observation of her friend's illness."
"Let's hear it then." Eugene leaned back as he lifted his cup of tea. He was sure it would be a long talk. It's a good thing that Lucian's voice is a feast for the ears.
"My mother had a friend named Joe. His family surname is Carter. He's my mother's childhood friend. Although Joe grew up on the border, he still traveled from one place to another to accompany his merchant father. They met at the Royal Capital when they were still kids. My mother is a noblewoman born in the capital, by the way."
"Oh, is she the daughter of a Duke?"
Lucian shook his head. "No. She's a count's daughter."
Eugene grinned teasingly. "No wonder you're so rich." Lucian waved his hand in denial. Eugene did not continue teasing Lucian anymore. "What happened next?"
"Their fateful meeting turned into friendship. However, Joe's father is a traveler, and so they had no choice but to part ways with each other. They promised to still write letters and communicate with each other if they could. And if one of them needs help, then the other should respond."
"Hmm..." Eugene placed his chin on his hand, pondering deeply. Joe and Elizabeth Montague... If Elizabeth wasn't married, anyone who would hear this story would think that his lover was Joe! He signaled Lucian, "Continue."
"Then the day came where Joe finally reached out to her. I found the letter in between the pages of my mother's journal. You can read it for yourself, just to be sure." Lucian handed an old piece of paper from the chest pocket of his coat. It was so thin and brownish that you would be so scared to hold it.
Eugene accepted the letter with a calm demeanor. He carefully opened the folded piece of paper.
"Dear Beth,
It has been so long since I wrote you a letter, hasn't it? I'm sorry. I was busy these past few years, and I know you're busy too. I heard you have three sons now. Congratulations to you and your husband!
Please pray for me. I still haven't found my fated partner yet! I want to get married too. Kidding aside, I initially wrote this letter with a purpose in mind.
I'm currently bedridden because of my illness. I used all of my strength and willpower to write this letter while I'm in bed. I've been ill for too long now, ever since I came back from my adventures in the Northern Islands last year. It was not noticeable at first, but the pain gradually invaded my system until I finally couldn't walk properly.
My father had to bring me back here to the border and continue his business without me. He always sent me money for the first five months, but after that, it stopped.
I tried to live off of my allowance to buy medicines and pay physicians. However, I'm running out of money.
My pride is aching as I write this letter to you.
I need your help, Beth. In any way that you can. I'm looking forward to your response. I shall wait.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Best regards to you and your family.
Yours truly,
Joe"
Eugene fell silent after reading the letter. 'Something's off.' He brushed his suspicions first so as to focus on Lucian's third point.
Lucian tacitly understood the look on Eugene's face. And so he continued, "My mother noticed how black veins started protruding on Joe's skin the longer she stayed. It was very weird for her. It was even weirder when Joe suddenly started salivating like a mad dog. His eyes were red and his attention span waned like a mentally ill person. He would blank out and would not respond to my mother's question most of the time."
'Like a zombie,' Lucian shuddered. This was exactly what he thought when he first read his mother's journal.
"After that, the physician's suggestion was to just conduct a euthanasia for Joe as they deemed him a lost cause. They did not know how he contracted the disease or how to cure it. The physicians were also scared of the possibility that Joe might have become a monster or a demon. My mother was adamant on finding the cure, however."
"Then, why did she leave?" Eugene asked in wonder.
Lucian closed his eyes. "She left because Joe suddenly died the day after."
Eugene's interest was piqued. So suddenly? "And then...?"
Lucian's long eyelashes fluttered as he opened his eyes, his golden orbs glowing under the morning light. "The journal stopped there. Actually, a page of the journal was torn apart. It didn't make any sense, so I stopped reading."
Eugene was concerned about the missing page. It must be so important to the point that someone would actually remove it from the journal. Lucian thought so too.
"What are you going to do now?" Lucian asked the blonde man.
Eugene stared at the letter in his hand in a daze, his fingers gently playing with his newly cut golden hair. "Your Grace..."
"Yes?"
"You have to come with me to the border, whether you like it or not." Eugene's dazed eyes turned firm as they shifted to Lucian. "I have a strong feeling that a descendant of Elizabeth Montague would be needed to resolve this case."
Lucian sipped on his tea. "I thought so too. I don't mind coming with you, if that's what's bothering you, Marquis Fergus. This past two weeks, I've been arranging a lot of things to prepare for my visit to the border."
"That's good." A smile appeared on the young alpha's face. Hearing that Lucian Montague would come with him gave him a sense of security and companionship.
Traveling with someone is better than going alone, right?