October 27, 1879
"YOU'RE—!?"
She tried to speak, but her words were cut short as she and her companion, Helena, were swiftly pulled into the carriage by the two servants. Before she could utter another protest, the large door closed with a loud noise, plunging the ladies into darkness of carriage.
The young ladies were directed to settle themselves in the interior of the mysterious carriage, along with the imposing woman and her two servants. Charlotte, ever inquisitive, cast her gaze at Vladimir, the butler, and queried: "Mr. Roosevelte?"
Her curiosity had been piqued by the familiarity of the man's face, yet she could not fathom the reasons for his presence in the mysterious woman's company. Surely there was something afoot, something that her sharp mind could not quite discern.
"It is quite a lengthy tale, I assure thee, mí lady...", Vladimir responded in a brief but reassuring manner. However, the words of the mature woman only piqued Charlotte's interest further as she directed an inquisitive gaze at her. The woman's mischievous smile only fueled her curiosity further, prompting her to demand, "Forgive me for the rather hasty interference," she muttered. "Charlotte, isn't it?" she then enquired.
Upon hearing her name being spoken by the imposing stranger, her eyes widened dramatically, as if she had heard the voice of the devil himself. With a sense of trepidation, she cautiously inquired: "How is it that you know of my name, Madame?"
The lady in the carriage remained still and calm, as if she was expecting the question. When she finally responded, her tone was calm and collected, as if she was used to giving explanations to strangers. "I shall tell you that I have known your mother for a long time, many years to be exact..."
Charlotte leaned back in her seat while looking at the mysterious woman with an air of intense curiosity in her eyes. "You are acquainted with my mother? Who exactly are you? For I am utterly ignorant of your identity."
"My humblest apologies for not introducing myself sooner, fair maiden, I'm Countess Dorothea Amelia Grimoard, of House Grimoard." She spoke with a sense of grace and elegance.
She then quickly added, "It is likely that you are familiar with my surname, isn't it? For my butler Vladimir had spoken of it, I presume." She took a draw from her long antique smoking pipe, seemingly unperturbed by the smoke as it billowed before her and drifted outside the carriage.
Charlotte's keen eyes scanned the countess, from head to toe, as if she was appraising her for the first time. She quickly recognized the pearl necklace nestled at her neck and the blindfold that covered her eyes, prompting her to believe that the woman was blind.
"So, I've heard that you're to wed that valiant Prince of Luxtonia." The countess inquired with a subtle smile gracing her lips. The query was asked with a certain intention to confirm if the news was true, as she was quite well-informed of the goings-on in the realm.
"In truth, I am to be wed to the gallant Prince of Luxtonia. Oh, but I do agree with the sentiments about being true to oneself. I say, it is better to pursue one's passion than to succumb to the shackles of royal expectations." Charlotte answered the countess with a sense of conviction, as she knew the weight of the expectations and duty attached to being part of a royal family.
"Is that so?" Dorothea inquired with a slight recline against the plush seat of the carriage, as if intrigued by the conversation at hand. Her smile and relaxed demeanor, however, hinted at confidence and a sense of satisfaction at the course of this discussion.
"Then, I daresay I may be in some agreement with your sentiments. How may I assist you in this endeavor?" The countess, her interest piqued by Charlotte's aspirations, eagerly awaited her response to this intriguing proposal.
"You wish to assist me?" Charlotte's eyebrows were raised in puzzlement, as she looked at the countess with curiosity and interest.
"There's no need to put your mind at ease, for my offer is a fair and simple one." Dorothea stated with a soft smile, conveying a sense of warmth and sincerity to her words.
"You shall gain freedom from your impending marriage to the Prince of Luxtonia, and in return, you shall assist me with solving a particular case. Does that satisfy you?" The countess explained her proposal with clear terms and forthrightness, as if she was offering a lucrative business proposition.
The conversation progressed, her mind reeled with questions and doubts. She couldn't be sure whether this arrangement was beneficial to her or not, as she couldn't see the big picture of Dorothea's proposal. She looked at Helena, who was sitting quietly beside her. Helena, as usual, had no comment on the matter, choosing to remain silent and merely smile at Charlotte, in an attempt to reassure her lady and give her the confidence to make a decision.
"Gain my freedom? But is it right for me to trust a stranger who claims to know about my mother?" She speaks through her mind, unwilling to say it out with her voice.
With the exchange between them remains, Dorothea offered further clarification on the terms of her proposal. "If you accept this agreement, then I shall send you to my abode in the countryside of Albiana this very midnight. There is a ship that will take you there, and they were preparing to leave Normaine in the meantime." Her proposition was enticing, to say the least, which only served to add more to her confusion and doubts.
In an attempt to sway the course of the discussion, Vladimir chose to interject with his own opinion on the matter. "If you will allow me to chime in, young ladies, I believe the time for dallying is over," he said in a commanding tone. "A choice has to be made at this very moment."
After a long and nerve-wracking moment of hesitation, Charlotte finally decided to break the tense stalemate. "I am willing to hear of this case of yours first but that doesn't mean I finally agreed upon your request," she calmly uttered to Dorothea's curious gaze.
"What I am pointing, I can't just trust someone who randomly drag us to their carriage out of nowhere." The young lady knew she had to exercise caution when dealing with strangers, and her words reflected that. She was willing to compromise, to a certain degree, but she was determined to see through Dorothea's intent first, before making a definite decision.
Dorothea proceeded to explain the case at hand to the young lady. "Indeed, the case revolves around Viktor Corvisant Calestinia, who was, to our knowledge, the last surviving member of the distinguished Calestinia family. His death transpired in 1855 and to this day, the circumstances surrounding his demise remain shrouded in mystery. It is my wish to uncover the truth behind the mystery of Viktor's death after the authorities gave up and close it."
The countess' words conveyed a sense of urgency and determination, as if the matter held a great deal of significance for her.
"Hmm, Viktor Corvisant Calestinia..." She stroked her chin while looking lost in thought, trying to recall if she had ever heard the name before. The name sounded familiar for some reason, as if Charlotte had heard it somewhere before. However, she could not remember clearly where and how she had come across it. Yet, the notion that the name was vaguely familiar still remained, fueling her curiosity to know more.
"Oh, I remember, I'm familiar with this man's name," Charlotte claimed, explaining her knowledge on the late Viktor Corvisant Calestinia. "It has come to my knowledge, through my discoveries at the royal library, that the Calestinia family has had a history of remarkable accomplishments and lineage."
"However, it is indeed true, according to the records, that Viktor Corvisant Calestinia was reported as 'missing." she continued, sounding quite intrigued by the contradiction between the two different accounts of the late gentleman's fate.
Dorothea fell into a slight moment of silence before she spoke to Charlotte again. "I wish to uncover the truth behind the Calestinians," she reiterated, as if she meant to stress the importance of the matter. Her words sounded determined, as if she was determined to find the answer to a long-standing mystery in her eyes. "If there's one thing I wish to unearth, it would be the truth that has been buried for far too long."
Helena, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly spoke up, adding her two cents to the matter. "Mí lady, I believe that the proposal you have been presented with is a very beneficial one. It is not often that one gets an opportunity of this kind, and it would be unwise to let it go now." Helena voiced her enthusiasm with sparkling eyes, as if she was trying to push her to make the decision that she wanted to see. The situation seemed to be growing in intensity, as if everyone was awaiting Charlotte's answer to this enticing.
"She was right, I had to make a decision. But it's overwhelming to trust these strangers. What if they'll just use me to threat my family?"
Charlotte's words were met with a noticeable silence from the rest of the occupants in the carriage, as if all of them were trying to process her words. "But what about you? If I agreed, you'll left behind the mansion. And I can't just choose a decision right now. It's just overwhelming." The mere thought of leaving Helena behind seemed to have cast a shadow over everyone, as no one spoke up to respond to her. The air in the small space suddenly felt heavy and still, as if it had been tainted by her worries and fears.
Helena took Charlotte's hands, her eyes meeting with her in a show of understanding and reassurance. "My lady, your own freedom is of utmost importance to me, more than being confined alongside you. But I don't think they would harm you for something." Charlotte's eyes widened at Helena's words, as she was clearly touched by her declaration.
Indeed, it was difficult to not find Helena's words moving and emotionally charged, and it certainly didn't help that the young lady seemed to hold her companion in high regard and affection.
"Alright, fine by me then. But in one condition..." Charlotte appeared to have reached her decision to help Dorothea with the case, but she has something else to say. "You may raise your condition." Dorothea allows her to speak her terms and condition.
"I'll come with you, but once you lay a finger or a nail on me. I won't hesitate to return myself in this place and sue you." She utters, her words were threatening yet at the same time it is understandable for them. It is a matter of fact that she won't immediately trust them. After all, this is the first time she meets them.
Out of curiosity, she also raises a question that the countess certainly wasn't expecting. "There is also something that's been bothering me," she began, her tone taking on a slight edge of suspicion and concern.
"Why were your eyes blindfolded, your Grace?" The young lady's tone suddenly took on an inquisitory and sharp edge, as she stared directly at Dorothea, awaiting an answer to her question with keen interest.
Dorothea took a heavy sigh, before presenting what seemed to be a cryptic answer to Charlotte's question. "Let us simply say, I am a wandering blind," she stated with a subtle hint of annoyance in her tone as she plays with her fingers at the top of her walking stick.
Her remark seemed to be a way of dismissing the issue or avoiding a direct answer, as she swiftly took a drag from her cigarette and blew the smoke, as if to emphasize her point. It certainly didn't help that Charlotte's question remained unanswered, increasing the overall sense of mystery and paranoia surrounding Dorothea's unusual and ominous behavior.
Dorothea, seemingly pleased with Charlotte's decision to assist her with the case, proposed an offer that would see the young lady to her home. "Since you agreed to my proposal, we will escort you back home. I presume that you do not have any further whereabouts?" Dorothea asked the young lady with a polite air about her.
Charlotte turned to Helena for a moment to seek her support and reassurance, before looking back at Dorothea with a nod. A knock on the roof of the carriage indicated that the ladies were ready to proceed, as the driver started to get the carriage moving again. Dorothea appeared to be relieved that she was finally on board with the proposition, as she would be crucial to the success of the investigation and the resolution of the case.
After a period of travel, Charlotte and Helena finally reached their destination, stepping out of the carriage and onto the cobblestone pathway outside. Dorothea, who was still inside the carriage despite having arrived already, called out one last reminder to the young ladies before the carriage door closed. "Remember our plan at midnight," she called out, speaking with a hint of urgency and seriousness in her tone.
The door of the carriage shut closed once more with the work of coach, and with that, the carriage proceeded to leave the premises. With a loud clatter, the vehicle was soon gone from view, leaving the ladies alone and to their own devices.
The atmosphere was suddenly still, as the silence and stillness were only punctuated by the sounds of Charlotte and Helena breathing and walking. It was clear that the mysterious and clandestine nature of the meeting weighed heavily on them.
When the two young ladies stepped into the grounds of the mansion, Charlotte was greeted by a familiar face and an equally familiar gesture. Her sister, standing by the main door with a mischievous grin, greeted her in a rather sarcastic manner with a cheeky expression.
"Well, well, if it isn't my little sister..." her words were spoken with a mocking tone and mischievous smirk, as if they held a history and dynamic of their own. It certainly didn't help that her sister's face exuded an air of confidence and superiority, as if she held the upper hand in this interaction with Charlotte.
"Carmelia...."