Bang!
The door swung open with a resounding crash, its weight slamming against the wall as Cassius and Lucius strode into the Holyfield household's grand library.
Cassius paused mid-step, his sharp remark about Lucius's dramatic entry dying on his lips as his gaze swept across the room.
The library was nothing short of magnificent, a true testament to the Holyfield family's legacy. It was a vast, cathedral-like space with towering shelves that reached up to a ceiling painted in exquisite murals of celestial scenes. Golden sunlight filtered through enormous stained-glass windows, casting colourful patterns across the polished wooden floor. The scent of aged parchment and leather-bound tomes filled the air, rich and inviting.
The bookshelves were carved from dark mahogany, each panel adorned with intricate designs of ivy and mythical creatures. Thousands of volumes lined the shelves, their spines gleaming in shades of gold, emerald, and crimson. Rolling ladders were fixed to the shelves, their brass wheels glinting as they waited to be used.
In the centre of the room stood an imposing oak table, its surface strewn with quills, parchment, and ancient maps. Surrounding it were high-backed chairs upholstered in velvet, their edges trimmed with gold. Chandeliers of wrought iron and crystal hung from the ceiling, their soft glow illuminating every corner of the cavernous space.
Cassius exhaled slowly, his lips curving into an impressed smirk. "I'll admit." He said, his voice breaking the reverent silence. "I didn't expect this."
Lucius, ever composed, gave a small bow. "The main household spares no expense in cultivating knowledge, young master...This library is said to contain works from every corner of the empire, some of which are priceless artifacts."
Cassius took a few steps forward, running his fingers lightly along the edge of a nearby shelf. "Hmph. I suppose even this family of mine has some redeeming qualities." He murmured, his tone wry. He glanced at Lucius with a crooked grin. "Though I doubt any of them have even touched half of these books."
Lucius chuckled softly, his hands clasped behind his back, which made him look like a child trying to imitate an adult, and he continued saying,
"It's said the library is more of a status symbol than a sanctuary of learning for most of the family."
Cassius turned, his gaze falling on a display case near the far wall. Inside, ancient tomes bound in iron and silver were carefully preserved, their pages locked away behind enchanted glass. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of awe.
"For once..." He said, his voice quieter now. "I might actually agree with them...This place is extraordinary."
Lucius's smile widened, though he said nothing. Watching his master's intrigue grow was reward enough.
Cassius's gaze lingered on the sheer expanse of the library before he casually turned to Lucius, leaning back against the oak table with a smirk.
"Well then, Lucius." He said, his tone half-amused. ''If this place truly has books on everything, fetch me one on poisons...Something comprehensive.''
Lucius bowed his head slightly, his expression unchanging. "As you wish, young master. Please wait a moment."
Cassius chuckled softly, expecting his request to send Lucius on a long hunt through the labyrinthine shelves. He reached for a quill on the table, intending to idly sketch while he waited—but to his shock, before he could even dip the quill into ink, Lucius was back.
"Here it is, young master."
Lucius said in his sweet voice, holding out a hefty leather-bound book titled 'Toxica: A Collection of Poisons and Their Remedies'.
Cassius blinked, staring at the book in surprise. "That was... fast." He said, accepting the volume. ''How in the world did you find it so quickly in this maze?"
Lucius tilted his head, his dark hair bouncing slightly as he offered a faint, almost mischievous smile. ''Simple, young master. I've memorised the layout of the library, down to every compartment and section.''
Cassius raised an eyebrow, his surprise deepening as he said, ''You've memorised it?...All of it?''
Lucius nodded, his tone light, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
"Yes, young master. When I first came here, I thought it would be useful to familiarise myself with the household's resources. It took a few months, but now I know exactly where every category of book is stored. For example, poisons are located in the alchemy section, third shelf from the left on the eastern wall."
Cassius stared at his butler for a long moment, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile.
''You're full of surprises, Lucius. I thought your talents were limited to brewing tea and helping me to bed when I'm drunk with that angelic face of yours.''
Lucius gave a small, playful shrug.
"I do aim to exceed expectations, young master.''
Cassius let out a soft laugh, flipping open the book as he sat down at the table.
"Well, consider me impressed. You might be cute, Lucius, but you're also far too capable for your own good."
Lucius's smile widened, a faint pink dusting his cheeks as he shyly said, ''You're too kind, young master. But I assure you, my only priority is assisting you.''
Cassius shook his head with a bemused grin, already absorbed in the pages of the book.
Lucius, ever dutiful yet brimming with his golden retriever-like energy, couldn't resist leaning closer as Cassius flipped through the pages of the thick tome. His grey eyes sparkled with curiosity as he pointed at a particularly gruesome illustration of a toxic plant.
"Look at this one, young master!" He exclaimed, his tone bright and almost gleeful despite the morbid subject. ''It looks so harmless, but one bite and you'd be...Well...Probably dead in minutes!...Isn't that fascinating?''
Cassius glanced up, his lips twitching with amusement, and said to him, ''Lucius, are you sure you're not the one I should be worried about poisoning me?''
Lucius gasped, his black hair swaying dramatically as he straightened, placing a hand over his heart and solemnly said, ''Young master! How could you accuse me of such treachery?" He cried, his voice dripping with mock indignation. "I would never harm you! Besides, I'm far too clumsy to pull off something so sneaky.''
Cassius couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head, and said, "You're utterly ridiculous, you know that?"
Lucius grinned widely, his earlier composed demeanour completely replaced by his puppy-like enthusiasm. "Ridiculously loyal, you mean!" He beamed, standing tall as if awaiting praise, his eyes shining with pride.
Cassius sighed, half-exasperated but undeniably fond of his eccentric butler. "Alright, alright, ridiculously loyal...Now quickly go and find whoever bought this specific poison on this page from any sellers nearby, as this is what almost caused my death." Cassius pointed at a red flower on one of the pages that was dried and turned into a powdered poison called 'Velveta Rose'.
Lucius blinked in surprise, his eyes wide as he stared at the page Cassius had pointed out. "Velveta Rose?" He murmured, tilting his head to read the description of the crimson flower that was turned into powdered poison. He then leaned closer and asked, "Young master, how did you..."
He trailed off, glancing up at Cassius with a mixture of awe and confusion.
"You found the exact poison already? But you've barely had the book for five minutes!"
Cassius leaned back in his chair, a smug smirk playing on his lips as he crossed his arms and said, "What can I say, Lucius? Genius runs in my blood, no matter what this family likes to believe." He tapped the page with a finger. "I've been piecing together the symptoms ever since I woke up...All I needed was confirmation, and this..." He gestured to the book. "...provided exactly that."
But even though Cassius said it was because he was a genius, no prodigy out there in the world could possibly read through a five hundred-page book in a matter of minutes. Only someone like him, who had the comprehension skills of a supercomputer that came with his identity as a 'peacekeeper' could do something as extraordinary as that.
But of course Lucious didn't think about that and simply stared at him, momentarily speechless. Then, with a gleam of admiration in his eyes, he clapped his hands together.
"Young master, you're amazing! A true detective!"
Cassius arched an eyebrow, his smirk widening, and said in an amused manner,
"Detective, is it? I think I rather like the sound of that. Maybe I should add it to my growing list of talents."
Lucius nodded enthusiastically, his earlier astonishment quickly giving way to his usual puppy-like energy. ''Absolutely! You're the most brilliant, clever, and daring detective in the Holyfield household...No, in the entire country!''
Cassius chuckled, shaking his head, and said ''Flattery will get you everywhere, Lucius...Now, enough theatrics. I need you to focus.'' His tone grew serious as he tapped the page again. ''Track down whoever bought this poison...It's rare, and there can't be many sellers dealing in something so specific. Start with the alchemists and apothecaries in the nearby towns.''
Lucius straightened immediately, his playful demeanour giving way to sharp determination.
''Understood, young master. I'll gather the information as quickly as possible.''
Cassius gave him a nod, his red eyes gleaming with purpose.
"Good. The sooner we find the source, the closer we'll be to uncovering who wanted me dead.''
Lucius spun around, his usual bounce tempered by the weight of his mission.