Chapter 54
Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2022, Planet: Grimoire
A series of old proverbs ran through Doyle's head right then. When it rains, it pours. Bad things come in threes, don't count your chickens before they hatch... and so on and so forth. Since when had he ever done any of those things or wished for any of this to happen? He hadn't, yet the disasters and casualties came piling forth.
Grief screamed through Doyle's entire body, rendering him unable to move as the very breath strangled in his throat. He wheezed, trying to calm down, but now he wasn't able to respond even when others appeared after his shouts alerted him to the event.
It was too late.
Doyle bowed his head. "Why am I too late when it comes to those I care about the most?" This was one of the reasons why he never entered a serious relationship. Everyone he cared about died sooner or later. It was as if his existence was cursed.
Everyone else, hearing the yelling, came back to see what happened. Doyle simply remained where he was.
"What in the world is all the shouting about?" Darmono who'd happened to be still there from earlier also saw what happened. "Oh, dearest deities, the timing..."
He frowned when Doyle remained stubbornly silent, his entire body shook from the shock.
Darmono shook his head and muttered. "Well, he was devoted to his work, I'll grant him that, but this time, he took it too far." He knelt on the opposite side of Doyle and sighed. "I'll report this in."
This was too much for his mind to cope with. Doyle nodded tightly. Earlier the rampaging thieves and now this. He was too shocked at what happened to say anything in response to Darmono's reassurance. It was all too coincidental. Someone wanted those four children dead. He remained there while voices swirled around him. Now he had a definite goal. No one would harm those children, not in any way. Doyle had a goal to live for, but was it still achievable? It wasn't the newest arrivals but those still in his charge he also had to consider their safety of too.
Finally, Darmono took his arm and pulled him to his feet. "Who was supposed to take over for Shamus if he...was no longer able to fulfill his duties?"
Huh? Oh right, he knew there was an inheritor, but damned if he could remember right now. Doyle blinked. "Hmm? Err, I... don't remember. I need to go to my office to find the documents relating to that matter."
"No, you don't." A calm young voice interrupted them. "Butler Shamus knew this would happen." The words shocked Doyle in their cold practicality.
Much to his bemusement, the woman continued speaking very calmly. "Not the exact date to be sure," She knelt at Doyle's side, trying to reassure him. "He already put arrangements in place ahead of time."
Essentially, he'd been the last one to be informed because it would've disrupted his schedule? Doyle couldn't believe what he was hearing right now. Is that what she and others were telling him?
Still in a state of utter horrified comprehension, Doyle shook his head in silence. How could they think he wouldn't have given Shamus the time to spend with his family?
Doyle looked around in bafflement and fury. He didn't snarl when he saw who it was. "Oh, Garnet Shamus, you're taking over for your father?" More like he was relieved. Doyle knew she could be trusted. He'd watched as Garnet trained under Shamus' watchful eye over the past two decades.
Now that Doyle recalled, Garnet had taken on the more strenuous duties lately. Even then, she'd taken on the duty after having done the traditional motherhood and wife routine.
So, it had been then. Doyle closed his eyes with a sigh. That traditional role had ended, he recalled, when her husband died amidst a nasty scandal. As a result, as soon as all her children were adults, they'd immediately scattered to the winds without a word of goodbye. They couldn't leave this place fast enough, Doyle remembered.
Even though it was rare, Doyle knew that female butlers did exist. "Thank you for stepping up right now at this difficult time."
Garnet nodded. "Well, we all had known it was going to happen sooner or later. He'd had a few heart attacks before now but insisted that we keep our mouths shut."
Doyle closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, I should've stayed more up-to-date on his health problems." No doubt about it, they blamed him for overworking Shamus because he hadn't known about how fragile his health was. "I tried to get him to stop working and take a break." His shoulders slumped. Damned stubborn old coot.
Clearly recognizing where his thoughts went, Garnet sighed. "Now, you know better than that." She lectured him sternly.
Doyle grimaced because no doubt, he was like causing an unnecessary scene. He remained kneeling because now his legs were numbed.
Garnet appeared unaware of his dilemma, and Doyle wasn't about to let her know what bothered him. Rather, he simply chose to let her words wash over him as he tried to take in everything that happened without his knowledge. Maybe that was what angered him the most. No one considered that Doyle had wanted a reason to be pushier with that stubborn old man.
Now it was too late.
There was no way of fixing this situation other than initiating the burial, memorial, and grieving rites. Since he was but an employer it was now up to the immediate family members to begin that harsh process.
Garnet finally realized that he'd not spoken a single word in response to what she had said thus far. "None of us blame you because he was stubborn as a bull when it came to giving his all." She shook her head at Doyle.
He watched her quietly.
Garnet frowned, clearly troubled at his silence. "Now you go inside and take a rest." She ordered. "We'll take care of all the usual matters." She looked at Darmono. "I expect you to behave properly while keeping an eye on him!"
Darmono was here? Say what? Doyle frowned and sputtered, "Hey!" in protest when he realized that no one was going to listen to him. When had he come to the orphanage grounds and what for?