In Vineyard's mansion, within the large hall, dim firelight cast flickering shadows of the conversing figures. The crackling of burning wood punctuated the deep silence.
Charles was explaining his investigation details to Reginald. The young man's earlier grief had now vanished.
Charles explained every step meticulously, from examining the crime scenes and interviewing witnesses to analyzing evidence and motives.
"From my investigation, everything points unquestionably to Robert alone," Charles began, his gaze distant as if piecing together events in his mind.
"In Mary's bedroom, she was poisoned to death and showed signs of resistance and pre-mortem injuries. Strangely, there were no signs of forced entry or break-in. I suspect the killer snuck in while she slept, using a spare key from inside the house. But Mary woke up, leading to a struggle before the killer forced the poison down her throat... just days before your wedding."
Reginald clenched his fists, his face contorting with rage at how his beloved met such a pitiful end. But he contained it, nodding for the other to continue.
"As for Thomas, son of your friend Edmundton's old army companion, he was brutally murdered in the forest near the village. His body bore similar signs to Mary's, but there were no traces of being dragged from elsewhere. Everything indicates he died right there. Additionally, there were post-mortem injuries, likely from the killer's rage even after death."
Charles shifted slightly in his seat before looking directly at his listener again.
"Most telling was Father Gerard's testimony, confirming that Robert had deeply loved Mary before she became his own father's wife. Thomas had also pursued her, but while Robert seemingly gave up, Thomas continued his advances even after Mary was married."
Reginald frowned with displeasure, clearly unhappy about men surrounding his fiancée.
"There's more. The family conflicts are particularly interesting," Charles quickly added, noticing his companion's darkening expression.
"From villagers' accounts, relations between the former village head and Robert were strained. When his father brought Mary home as his new wife, tensions escalated. It was like having his love stolen away, along with Thomas's continued harassment of her. Robert must have harbored deep resentment but feared showing it while his father lived. Only after the former village head's death did he find the opportunity to vent his long-suppressed feelings."
"Especially your wedding plans - it was like rubbing salt in his wounds. Add to that the prospect of sharing what should have been his sole inheritance, and these factors all pushed him to act."
Charles spoke frankly while Reginald listened intently, his eyes widening as the dark truth emerged.
"Most horrifying of all... Edgar didn't die from illness as we thought, but from ergot poisoning, just like the other two victims!"
"Is... is this true?" Reginald clutched his temples, face pale as the shocking truth sank in. "You mean Robert would kill even his own father?"
"I believe so," Charles nodded, gravity written across his face.
"Given his closeness as a son, combined with his specialized knowledge of herbs, who else could it be? He's the prime suspect with the opportunity to poison victims without arousing suspicion."
"Beyond past conflicts, I believe inheritance played a role. If Mary remarried, Robert would have feared sharing what he saw as his rightful inheritance with others."
The young man pressed his lips into a tight line, processing everything before sharing his thoughts.
"If Robert had long resented his father, then with the head of the family gone, nothing would restrain his vengeance... against both his love rival Thomas and the woman he desired."
"I was such a fool, blind to Robert's vengeful gaze toward her. If I'd noticed sooner, I might have protected Mary..."
Reginald's voice trembled as he gripped his knee tightly, struggling to contain his turmoil, unable to separate rage from grief.
"We have considerable evidence against Robert now, but for the best case, we need his confession and more concrete evidence to support it. Your help will be crucial."
"W-what do you mean?" Reginald looked up to meet his eyes, confusion clear amid his anguish.
Charles answered in an even tone, but with absolute seriousness.
"We need you as bait... to lure Robert into confessing his crimes."
"Bait... what do you mean?" Reginald repeated, his dry lips trembling as he contemplated this unexpected danger.
"I'll explain, but... you must first promise to help us see this case through," Charles requested with firm determination.
Reginald fell silent for a long moment, his downcast eyes lost in deep thought. He weighed the potential dangers against the justice his love deserved. Finally, in his heart, vengeance won out. He lifted his head and responded with firm resolve.
"I promise," came his commitment, though hoarse with exhaustion, yet clear.
Charles nodded in acknowledgment, seeing Reginald's determination in that pledge.
"Then I'll explain the plan. First, you'll need to write a letter to Robert. Write that you know the truth about what he's done, to provoke him into meeting you quickly. The meeting place will be where Thomas's body was found in the forest near the village. This implies you know about his actions. Meanwhile, my team and I will hide nearby, out of sight."
Charles laid out the plan with precise detail.
"You need to make Robert think he has a golden opportunity to eliminate you without witnesses. Provoke him into confessing everything he's done and his reasons. If possible, get him to discuss his killing methods in detail."
The young detective lowered his voice mysteriously before continuing.
"Then, let Robert believe he has the complete upper hand. This might encourage him to speak his mind or reveal his thoughts. The more confident he becomes, the more evidence we'll have against him."
Reginald furrowed his brow thoughtfully. "What if he doesn't fall for it? What if he attacks me before saying anything?"
"You must trust us. We'll be hiding nearby, ready to arrest him at the first sign of danger."
"What if you slip up and Robert manages to hurt me, or worse?"
Charles paused for a long moment, his expression unreadable. He sighed. "I've arranged for a skilled doctor from the capital. If things escalate, Physician Elias is ready to help you immediately."
Now it was Reginald's face that became difficult to read.
"I... understand," Reginald answered softly, before taking a deep breath.
Charles rose from his chair. "Get yourself ready. We'll begin the plan immediately."
Reginald called his butler to write and deliver the letter to Robert's house. Then he went upstairs to change, returning in loose-fitting clothes.
Charles, who had been waiting, nodded, and they left the hall for the mansion's entrance, setting out toward their destination in the dead of night to execute their dangerous plan.
In the dark forest, long shadows of great trees stretched across the damp ground in the bitter night wind. Reginald stood motionless under a large tree at the meeting point Charles had specified. Though his face was pale and tense, his eyes blazed with inexplicable determination.
The young man swept his gaze around, his body trembling slightly from both the cold wind and nervousness, but he fought to contain his fears.
Crack!... A twig snapped nearby. Reginald startled, spinning toward the sound. His heart raced as he saw a figure slowly approaching.
"What... did you call me here for?" Robert asked flatly, but with underlying suspicion.
Reginald drew a deep breath before speaking in a carefully controlled voice. "Just wanted to talk about Mary... and everything that's happened."
Robert's lip twitched into a smile. "What about? She just died from disease, like others in this village."
"Really?" Reginald raised an eyebrow. "Strange that someone as healthy as Mary would die so easily."
Robert began shifting uncomfortably. "What are you implying?"
Reginald stepped closer. "I think... someone was unhappy about her choosing me. Unhappy enough to kill her."
Robert flinched slightly before letting out a dry laugh. "You're overthinking. Who would do such a thing?"
"Someone who's loved her for a long time," Reginald said evenly. "Someone who couldn't bear her belonging to another."
Robert fell silent for a moment before speaking shakily, "You have no proof."
"Oh?" Reginald tilted his head. "Then why do you look so panicked?"
Robert clenched his teeth, anger flaring in his eyes. "You know nothing! You never really knew Mary!"
"But you did... didn't you?" Reginald pressed. "Knew her well enough to know she'd never love you."
"Shut up!" Robert roared, reaching into his coat pocket.
Reginald didn't back away an inch. "Why, Robert? Why did you have to kill her? Why did you have to kill your father too?"
Robert froze, his eyes wide with shock. "You... you know..."
"Yes, I know everything," Reginald stated firmly. "And I want to hear it from your own mouth."
Robert stood still for a moment before anger and pain exploded from him.
"Fine! I did it! I killed them!" Robert screamed, tears welling up. "That worthless father who never cared about me! That bastard Thomas who dared pursue Mary! And... and Mary..."
Robert's voice softened. "She should have been mine... she should have loved me... not you!"
Reginald stood still, watching the mentally broken Robert with pity. "Why, Robert? Why go this far?"
"Because I loved her!" Robert screamed at the top of his lungs. "I've always loved her! But she never saw me!"
Robert pulled out a small bottle from his pocket. "And if she couldn't be mine, she shouldn't be anyone's!"
Reginald stepped back slightly, realizing the danger. "Robert... calm down."
"Too late," Robert smiled sadly. "Everything ends now... and you must die."
Just as Robert was about to lunge at Reginald, a shout rang out: "Stop!"
Charles and the officers burst from their hiding places, weapons ready. But Robert ignored their shouts, his eyes fixed solely on Reginald, rage obliterating all reason.
"Mary!" Robert screamed, rushing at Reginald with incredible speed, one hand clutching the poison bottle, the other drawing a knife.
Reginald tried to dodge, but couldn't match Robert's swift movement. The knife in Robert's hand slashed down hard at Reginald's body.
But then came a dull thud. Robert's knife hit the leather armor hidden under Reginald's clothes, the blade deflecting sideways. The sturdy armor absorbed most of the force, though Reginald staggered slightly.
Robert's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"
Reginald seized that moment to push Robert away, touching where he'd been struck. "Did you think I'd meet you without being prepared?"
Robert roared in anger, trying to open the poison bottle, but his trembling hands made it difficult. "If I can't have her, no one will!"
An officer fired his gun into the air as warning. The gunshot made Robert hesitate momentarily, and Charles seized that chance to tackle him. Both men rolled on the ground.
"Let go! Let go!" Robert struggled desperately, trying to stab Charles, but the young detective managed to grab his wrist just in time.
Other officers rushed in to help arrest Robert. Finally, they managed to restrain him, kicking away the poison bottle and knife.
Robert continued struggling and shouting, "Mary! Why! Why didn't you love me!"
Charles stood up, slightly out of breath, before turning to check on Reginald. "Are you badly hurt?"
Reginald shook his head, removing his outer shirt to reveal the leather armor underneath. "I'm fine. Thanks to this armor. Without it, I'd have been in trouble."
Charles nodded with relief. "Good thing we prepared well. But I must apologize for putting you in such danger."
Reginald smiled sadly. "It's alright. If this brings Mary justice, I'm willing."
As officers led away the still-deranged Robert, Charles turned to Reginald with sympathetic eyes. "We've caught the killer, but there's still much to investigate."
"This case isn't over, is it?" Reginald asked wearily.
Charles shook his head. "No, we still need more evidence and deeper investigation."
They watched as Robert was led away, his mixed crying and laughter echoing in the darkness, leaving only depression and unanswered questions behind.
Robert Thorn's fate would soon be decided, and he would receive appropriate punishment for the innocent lives lost.
After the arrest, in the ownerless house that once belonged to the deceased village head and the murderer, officers hurried to search for additional evidence. Charles was there too.
He held the spare key seized from Robert, confirming the theory that the criminal used it to sneak into victims' bedrooms at night. They also found poisoned rye grain, forbidden extraction equipment, and experiment records that firmly implicated the culprit.
While searching the medicine preparation desk, Charles's eyes caught a small old paper protruding from a thick book. It seemed unremarkable, yet strangely drew his attention.
Charles reached for it and began reading. It contained short text written in strange characters, unlike the Kingdom of Hydelyn's main language or any other language in this world. Yet he could understand its meaning clearly.
"Pro...phe***"
Just one word was enough to spark questions in his mind. The following content was damaged and illegible, but the torn paper suggested there was more.
Suddenly, Charles felt warmth beneath his nose, trickling down to stain his mouth. He could taste the faint metallic scent of blood.
He wiped the liquid with his finger and held it to the candlelight. It was deep red - fresh blood without doubt.
"What... is this?"
The final question came out confused, before his vision began to blur. His consciousness was fading, his body collapsing to the floor.
The last thing he remembered was the officers' voices shouting his name as they rushed toward him frantically, before everything went black.