LIAM
It is almost like the crime scenes are twins. Everything is just the same. The state of the scene, the state of the body, and even the blood marks. But there is something notable. Last time the blood marks were on the books. But now… it is on the dresses in the girl's closet.
This woman is also the daughter of a former military man. And coincidentally she was engaged to someone as well just like Kian's fiance. And of course, no one heard anything after she went to bed last night. And I might just know where all this is indicating.
Jealousy.
It is not rare at all. Vengeful ghosts used to commit this kind of a lot in ancient times. When the ghosts weren't restricted to come to the mortal realm. And when the Gods and angles used to roam free here. I know it sounds stupid. But well, this is what our historians say. Personally, I think all of these are a lot of bulls. But this is our belief. I cannot just oppose it unless I want to be executed for treason.
"What do you think of all these cases?" Kain asks as we stroll out to the backyard of the victim's house, we are standing below the victim's bedroom window.
"Easy." I look up at the window which is at least twenty feet above the ground, "Jealousy. Whoever doing all this, is out of jealousy."
"I have eyes. I can see that." Kian replies curtly, "Give me something I don't know."
I turn to him at this word, "Commander, it is almost impossible that you haven't noticed what I have."
"Almost." He retorts, "I might just miss something. So, it is your duty to keep me updated."
Anger starts to bubble up again but I bite my under cheek and acknowledge him, "Understood."
I look over my shoulder to Fred. I suppress a sneer. No matter how much he blends into the shadow, it's hard for me not to notice him. My five senses have been sharpened like this since childhood.
So uncomfortable.
It's almost like I have a stalker that I cannot escape from.
I try to focus on the task in my hands and try to ignore his lurking presence, "Can you tell me something? What did your fiance like? Like makeup, dresses, shoes?"
"Books. She liked books." Kian replies almost instantly, "And Sera liked dresses. The culprit has marked the victims' favorite things with their blood."
"Who is Sera?" I quirk my eyebrows in curiosity.
"The girl we are investigating about now." Kian has a look of disdain etched on his face, "Seriously, Lain, I think you should at least memorize the names of the victims you are trying to serve justice to. Even though it is just for courtesy."
"It sounds like a pain. So, I will pass." I shrug, "And another thing that is common about them is that all of them were engaged and they are the former military officers' daughter."
"There will be another murder tonight." Kian continues. "We have to seek out all the former military men with engaged daughters."
"Yes. And I think it would be better if they were high-ranking officers." I conclude.
"Seems like we have almost solved the case." Kian lets out a breath.
But I know that both of us know that we are missing something. Something that is there but we can't quite grasp it. There is more to Jealousy. Why the spirit is just ruining the favorite things of the victims? And how come there is no single drop of blood on the murder scene? And why there is no eyes as well? Answers to these questions are very important. But as no one has ever seen the ghost, who is doing all this or nobody has ever heard of cases like this one, it is pretty difficult to get the answers to those questions. Unless… we meet the ghost itself.
Kian seems to be contemplating the same thing as we stroll out of the backyard. We have found no clue there. What a waste of time.
"Fred." Kian calls out to his executive officer as we head toward his carriage, "Collect all information of those former military men whose daughters are engaged or getting married." He orders his shadow. "The higher-ranker, the better. I want all necessary documents at my desk by sunset."
"Go it, commander." Fred pauses and then announces in a somewhat tense tone, "Commander, I have received a letter from Commander Jennifer. She informed that she is coming to visit."
And all the blood drains from Kian's face as he hears the word 'Jennifer'. "Why is she coming to visit?" Kian frowns, I have never seen him this bothered before, he is always laid-back and unaffected.
"She did not mention it," Fred answers humbly.
"And when is she coming?"
"She did not mention."
"Ugh, this old woman is a pain in my neck." Kian rubs his face.
Jennifer is Kian's aunt. This is the only thing that is written in the book of the history of this continent. She was the commander of the imperial army of this kingdom before Kian's father. She was one of the greatest rulers the continent has ever seen. I don't see why Kian is so frustrated about it when I should be frustrated instead. As if Kian alone wasn't enough and now another tigress is joining the hunt.
"Get inside the carriage." Kian demands as we reach the carriage, it is clear from his tone that he is not so happy about the arrival of his aunt.
Fred takes his usual position of being our carriage driver.
"What is wrong with your aunt visiting you?" I ask as I climb into the carriage, "I thought she was the imperial commander?"
"Indeed." Kian follows after me and takes his seat across from me, "As you are here you will see just why I do not like the idea of the former commander visiting."
I raise a curious brow at his statement but I don't press the matter further. For now, I just need to focus on a few things; finding Oliver, solving this serial murder case and lastly killing Kian and getting the hell out of this kingdom. Just being here makes me nauseous with disgust and disapproval. I will just lay low in front of Jennifer. Guess what much an old woman does?
Jennifer was the commander of Oblivara for two decades before she retired thirty years ago. She became the commander at the age of 19. Which is pretty young for a woman. She is probably in her seventies right now. She is particularly a granny by now. I don't have much reason to worry about it.
I yawn. Sleep hitting my system once again. I have been suppressing my sleepiness up until now but it is becoming more and more difficult. I can no longer keep my eyes open. Guess this is what I get for pulling an all-nighter.
My head starts to doze off, my vision is becoming blurry as sleep floods my system. Suddenly a warm hand cradles my head up so that I won't hurt my neck. I am too sleepy and comfortable under the touch of the hand to notice whose hand it is. I lean to the touch and drift off to a slumber.