The next morning, Ethan woke to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. Stretching, he glanced at the clock and realized he had slept later than usual. The night spent piecing together clues with Amara had taken its toll, but the sight of her finally resting peacefully had made it worthwhile.
Downstairs, Amara was already in the dining room, quietly sipping tea and reading through her mother's journal. Ethan joined her, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Good morning," he greeted, his voice warm.
Amara looked up, her face softening. "Morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Well enough," Ethan replied with a small smile. "Did you find anything interesting in the journal?"
She nodded, sliding the open book toward him. "It's mostly about the gardens, but there's something curious here. My mother mentioned having disagreements with someone over the estate's direction. She never named them, but I think it might've been Cecilia."
Ethan scanned the passage, his sharp eyes catching the veiled tension in the words. "It's possible. If your mother was trying to preserve the estate's legacy and Cecilia wanted control, it would explain the conflict."
Amara frowned, her fingers tracing the edge of the journal. "Do you think Cecilia could have... hurt her? To get her out of the way?"
"It's a theory," Ethan admitted. "But we need more evidence before we can confirm anything."
Ding!
New Task Unlocked: Investigate Amara's Mother's Death
Objective: Uncover the circumstances surrounding Lady Rowe's passing.
Reward: 4000 Pampering Points + Skill: Forensic Analysis.
Ethan decided their next step was to visit the old Rowe family lawyer, Mr. Darlington, who had handled estate matters during Lady Rowe's time. The aging man was known for his discretion and loyalty to the family.
When they arrived at his quaint office in the village, Mr. Darlington greeted them with a warm smile. "Lady Amara, it's been years. And you must be Mr. Delacroix," he said, shaking Ethan's hand firmly.
"Thank you for meeting us on such short notice," Ethan said.
"Anything for the Rowe family," Darlington replied. "What brings you here?"
Amara hesitated, but Ethan stepped in. "We've been reviewing some old records and journals. There are... inconsistencies regarding the estate's finances and Lady Rowe's passing. We were hoping you might have information to help us understand what happened."
Darlington's expression grew somber. "Ah, Cecilia. I always suspected she had her own agenda, but I never had the proof to confront her directly. As for Lady Rowe's death, it was sudden and unexpected. The doctors said it was an illness, but there were rumors..."
"Rumors?" Amara prompted, her heart pounding.
Darlington sighed. "Some believed she was poisoned. But without evidence, nothing could be done. Your father shut down any investigation, insisting it was a natural death."
Ethan exchanged a grim look with Amara. "Do you know who might have had the motive or means to harm her?"
Darlington hesitated before saying, "Cecilia had access to everything. If anyone had the opportunity, it was her. But I have no proof."
As they left the office, Amara was quiet, her thoughts heavy. Ethan walked beside her, his expression unreadable.
"Poison," she said finally. "If that's true, then Cecilia didn't just steal from my family. She killed my mother."
Ethan placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We don't know for certain yet, but if she's guilty, we'll make sure justice is served."
Amara nodded, determination hardening her features.
Ding!
Amara's Emotional Update: Determined and Resilient
Current Mood: Focused and Strong-Willed.
Reward: 1000 Pampering Points.
Back at the estate, Ethan decided to use some of his points in the system store to prepare for the challenges ahead.
System Store
Skill: Advanced Investigation Techniques – 5000 Points
Item: Truth Serum – 3000 Points
Item: Memory Restoration Crystal – 2000 Points
Skill: Enhanced Persuasion – 4000 Points
Ethan selected Advanced Investigation Techniques and Enhanced Persuasion, the latter to ensure any conversations with suspects or witnesses would yield the truth.
Ding!
Purchase Successful
Skills Unlocked: Advanced Investigation Techniques, Enhanced Persuasion.
With his new abilities, Ethan felt more confident in his ability to unravel the mysteries surrounding Cecilia and Lady Rowe's death.
That evening, Amara joined Ethan in the study, her mother's journal in hand. "There's one more thing," she said, placing the journal on the desk.
"What is it?" Ethan asked.
"My mother wrote about a hidden compartment in the east wing of the estate. She said it contained something important, but she never described what it was."
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "A hidden compartment? It could hold the evidence we need."
Amara nodded. "Will you help me find it?"
"Of course," Ethan said. "We'll start first thing tomorrow."
As they prepared to part for the night, Amara hesitated. "Ethan... thank you. For everything."
He smiled. "Get some rest, Amara. Tomorrow might be a big day."
She returned his smile, a spark of hope in her eyes.
Ding!
New Task Unlocked: Find the Hidden Compartment
Objective: Locate and uncover the contents of the hidden compartment in the east wing.
Reward: 5000 Pampering Points + Rare Item: Family Heirloom Key.
Ethan sat back in his chair, his mind racing. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, but he knew the road ahead would only grow more treacherous. One thing was certain: he would protect Amara, no matter the cost.
End of Chapter 23