Several months went by as Elizabeth carried the child, and she eventually gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
Upon learning the child's gender, the father fell into utter despair.
"A girl? The Moriartys have never had a daughter, and we were still defeated. How can a girl avenge our entire bloodline?"
"Henry, please, calm down" Elizabeth pleaded, trying to soothe him.
"How can I be calm, Elizabeth? How? The Holmes killed my family, and our pride has been trampled for years! I was counting on this child to be the one to change everything."
"Oh, Henry…"
Elizabeth stepped closer, gently stroking his hair.
"Just because she's a girl doesn't mean she's not capable of great things."
Her eyes darkened with resolve as she continued.
"We'll raise her to be the most dangerous woman to ever live."
Despite the loss of her own innocence since marrying Henry, Elizabeth still possessed a unique ability — a presence that could calm her husband and bring clarity to his troubled mind.
"Yes! You're right, Elizabeth! I see it now! I have an idea!"
Henry finally seemed to regain his composure.
"Elizabeth, did anyone else know about your pregnancy, aside from our doctor?"
Having run away from her family to marry Henry, Elizabeth had lost all contact with them.
"No, no one. Why?" Elizabeth questioned.
"Listen to me carefully."
— 21 YEARS LATER, HOLMES HOUSEHOLD, LONDON —
"Today is Felix's 26th birthday! Please enjoy the celebration!"
Aaron Holmes announced with a bright smile.
Felix Holmes, the tenth heir to the Holmes family, was born to Aaron and Charlotte Holmes. He also had a younger sister, Evelyn.
Felix was exceptionally brilliant, as expected from a Holmes, and embodied the values of his family with dedication. He began working as a detective with the police at just 13 years old, saving countless lives from being brutally murdered. Felix was known for his kind heart, effortlessly predicting strategies and generously sharing his intelligence with the homeless — in fact, he took pleasure in helping those without formal education navigate everyday challenges. At the same time, however, Felix earned a reputation as a dangerous man. He learned to handle weapons at just 10 years old, under the guidance of his father, and his physical abilities were nothing short of intimidating.
All of this, with the purpose of defeating the Moriartys, of course, yet, Felix couldn't help but wonder why they hadn't made a move yet. He found it strange that they hadn't struck.
"Felix!"
Evelyn's voice broke through his thoughts. She reached for her brother, concern written on her face.
"Are you okay? You're thinking too much again, aren't you?"
Despite her young age, Evelyn had an uncanny emotional intelligence. Felix knew he couldn't hide anything from her.
"Oh, Evelyn, don't worry. I'm just thinking about the Moriartys, that's all."
"Brother, it's your birthday! Stop thinking about those criminals for once."
Their mother interrupted, her tone reassuring.
"Felix, you shouldn't worry so much. The Moriartys always lose to the Holmes family. It's in the cards."
"You remember how we beat them last time, don't you?"
Their father chimed in with a smile. He loved retelling the story.
"They actually went into the silo like that, turned on the lights — can you believe how foolish they were?"
Felix let out a slow breath.
"Yeah, maybe you're right."
He glanced around the room, filled with guests his family had invited for his birthday. Felix had trouble remembering faces, and in truth, he didn't recognize most of the people who greeted him.
"May I go outside for some air?" he asked quietly.
"Of course, son" his father replied, his voice warm but distracted.
Felix moved quietly through the door, stepping into the cool night air. His feet carried him toward his special spot, the little greenhouse he'd sought ever since childhood, where scarlet red roses bloomed quietly. It was his sanctuary, a place to hide whenever life felt too heavy, too noisy, or too much. With every slow step, his gaze wandered upward, catching the shimmer of countless stars in the sky. He had always felt drawn to them, as if they held secrets only he could understand. When he looked back down, he realized he had already arrived at his spot — but something was different tonight.
A woman stood there, right in the center of the garden, gazing up at the sky as he had moments before. Felix froze for a moment, his eyes locking onto her dark, flowing hair. But it wasn't just her appearance that caught his attention — it was her presence, something about the way she stood, so still, so certain.
"Hey!"
Felix called out, his voice breaking the silence.
"Who are you? You shouldn't be here."
The woman turned toward him, and Felix's heart skipped a beat. Her eyes — bright, glowing scarlet — met his, and for a moment, time seemed to pause. A thought flashed through his mind.
"The same color as the roses…"
Before he could think further, she spoke, her voice smooth and calm, as if the strange tension between them was nothing at all.
"You're talking about my eyes, aren't you?"
Felix blinked, startled. He hadn't realized he had said the words out loud.
"May I ask who you are?"
Felix's voice was firm, though the unease in his chest was starting to grow.
The woman's gaze lingered on him for a moment, then she responded calmly, almost too calmly.
"You don't need to know, Felix Holmes."
His heart skipped. "How did you get in here? Were you invited to my birthday?"
The woman's lips curled into a faint smile. "Not at all."
Felix furrowed his brow. "Then..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the woman took a step toward him. Each movement was deliberate, almost like she belonged here, the greenhouse her domain. Her steps were soft but assured, her lavender scent so strong. Felix couldn't help but notice her strikingly thin figure. Her frame was delicate, almost fragile-looking, but there was a quiet strength in the way she held herself. Was she underweight? He couldn't tell.
"Do you know about the Moriartys?" she asked, her voice low, with an unsettling calm.
Felix blinked, surprised by the abruptness of her question.
"What kind of question is that? I'm the Holmes heir, of course I do."
She nodded, as if expecting that answer. Then she pressed on.
"Isn't it strange how they haven't struck yet?"
Felix paused, his mind whirling. It was a good question, too good. The Moriartys — their long-standing rivals, a family of masterminds and schemers who'd always stayed one step ahead. He thought about it for a moment. His eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, I've been thinking about it," he admitted, a sudden unease clouding his mind.
"As far as I know, they don't have an heir yet, so maybe our war ends here. My dad says they could have just kept their heir a secret, though."
The woman's smile widened, but it wasn't a comforting smile — it was knowing, almost mocking.
"You know…"
she said slowly, the corners of her lips curling up.
"...your father could be right."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication, and Felix felt a sudden surge of anxiety ripple through him. There was something about the way she spoke, something about her change in expression, that made him uneasy.
He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.
"Who are you?" he asked again, his voice a little less steady than before.
"You'll discover very soon."
The woman's voice was a soft whisper, but it carried a weight that made Felix's heart race. His head suddenly felt heavy, as if the stars in the sky had come crashing down to rest upon his shoulders. A wave of drowsiness hit him, unexpected and overwhelming.
"What's happening?"
Felix mumbled, struggling to stay upright. His legs buckled beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground, the world around him blurring into a haze of stars and shadows. The woman's silhouette hovered over him, her figure growing clearer as he laid on the cold earth. Each step she took seemed to magnify his sense of helplessness, and he could barely keep his eyes open. She leaned in closer, her presence looming like a shadow. Her voice was the last thing he heard before everything blurred into darkness.
"Diana James Moriarty. Remember this name."
Felix felt his vision blur as her voice lingered in his thoughts, and everything around him seemed to vanish into silence.
-
Felix jolted awake, his breath coming in heavy gasps.
"Ugh, my head…" He groaned, pushing himself upright.
Then it hit him.
"That woman! Where is she?"
He scanned his surroundings. He was in his family's greenhouse, the air thick with the scent of roses. It was then he realized the truth.
"That woman... she had a strong lavender scent. Combined with these roses, it could cause fainting in some people. But how did she know I was sensitive to it?"
His mind raced, struggling to remember her appearance, but it was no use.
"She mentioned a Moriarty… what was it? Dane James Moriarty?" he couldn't remember.
Felix walked home and, as he stepped inside, he noticed that most of the guests had left. Glancing at the clock, it was only 9 PM.
"Did something happen?" he wondered.
Searching for his parents, he eventually found them in Evelyn's room.
"Felix! Where have you been?" his dad exclaimed, panic lacing his voice.
"What happened here?" Felix asked.
His gaze fell upon his mother, huddled in the corner, tears streaming down her face.
"Felix… it's time," Aaron said, his voice heavy with sorrow.
Confused, Felix peeked into his sister's room. The sight that met him froze his heart. Evelyn laid on the floor, lifeless, surrounded by a pool of crimson. A gaping wound marred her chest, her heart ripped off.
"Evelyn...?" Felix's voice wavered as he stared at the body before him.
"It's the Moriartys, no doubt" his father said, his voice cold and resigned.
"They kept their heir a secret" Felix murmured, processing the words.
Stepping closer, Felix gently touched his sister's body. It was still warm, which meant the killer had struck only recently. A flicker of hope sparked in his eyes as he realized something.
"Dad, maybe we can find out who did this!"
Felix said, a sense of determination rising within him.
His father shook his head, his expression grim.
"Felix, we're talking about the Moriartys. They probably sent someone else to do it."
Right there, it hit him. The woman he had seen recently — was she connected to the Moriarty heir? It made sense. People were less suspicious of a woman. It was her.
Felix's mind raced.
"It's Dane James Moriarty."
Just like that, Felix would begin to believe he was up against a man, all because he had underestimated a woman's power.