Chapter 20.Its definitely a pre-planned murder.

Aeinshia's heart also began to beat at an alarm speed. Her throat felt dried, she swallowed on her saliva with a gulp while her cheeks blushed created a red shade.

Evan could feel sweat forms on her hand because of his tight hold, realising it he slightly eased his hold but gave a little squeeze motioning her to answer him quickly.

Closing her eyes to muster up the courage, "I.. I do", she replied curtly still feeling shy.

Evan's lips eventually curled up high that it would reach the high sky, learning she too missed him. The never expressionless prince was now filled with delightfulness as he got the answer he anticipated.

Throughout the whole journey his hands never left hers.

Soon after ten minutes the horses took a halt. That's when he left her side, opened the carriage door, then immediately got out of the carriage.

Following his suit Aeinshia too got up, when she reached near the door, there came a hand. The hand itself, long ,white and slender, looks almost weighed down with two antique rings in which are set sapphire and emerald stones.

These hands, which were beautiful, precise, elegant asked her to hold onto it while descending the carriage.

She instantly grabbed his hand like a child grabbing a candy. Even though she looked calm and composed her ears told another story which already turned red as if blood was spilling out of them.

The trio, Evan, Aeinshia and Peter stood in front of the huge house of the main official of royal court. It was mostly brown and architectural, all in all that place was homely. Warmth seemed to envoloped it. The entrance of the house had two guards infront of it. The guards immediately bowed to the Prince and Princess, who came down the carriage.

Evan stood directly in front of the house. Aeinshia towards his left almost beside him. Peter was on his left, a bit behind him as respect. They stepped onto the porch of the well built house. They could see the pretty flowers bushes- a little overgrown- with colorful flowers lining the path and the little garden on either side of the porch. When they stepped into the house, everything smelled stale, a strong smell of fresh blood.

Aeinshia immediately grimaced and scrunched her face a bit from the smell. In a distance they could see the dead bodies. 'Dead bodies? I thought only the official was dead?' Aeinshia thought and glanced up at Evan. But, she couldn't tell if he knew or not as he had his signature neutral face. Sighing, she then looked at Peter and he seemed pretty calm. So she figured out he must have known about whatever this was.

They moved a bit forward. First they saw the guard who was dead with a large eating fork, straight at heart. His face was still showing the pain he suffered. Peter suddenly spoke up startling Aeinshia a bit "He was the guard in charge at the supposed time of death. It is said a sound was heard and he came in to check on his master." He reported this to prince. Evan just shook his head and went further.

The sight in front of them was gruesome. Blood was everywhere. On the little table the long dead human was seated. On his food which seemed to be freshly made. On his simple robes. Literally his surroundings were covered by his blood. He may have suffered from all this. He clearly dies of blood loss. The dead body was totally another story.

Samuel Cullen had freshly forming bruises on his neck, seemingly to form from his own hands. His eyes bulged out and mouth opened. It was totally red and some blood was still dripping forming a small puddle at his mouth. The guards of the royal were seeing the scene. Searching for something that could tell anything about the death.

Evan observed the vicinity and some gears worked in his brain. "Its a clear case of poisoning. Mostly poisoned." He spoke out and turned around to face the hall. His eyes trailed over every thing over there. Evan started pacing the place a bit and finally went over to the window. Peter approached the seemingly in deep in thought prince. He knew the prince had concluded something. Fairly speaking, it looked more like a suicide but, it was a murder.

"You think the same too." Evan asked looking at his friend. Peter nodded his head. "The murderer escaped from here." Evan spoke up and continued to looking at the window, as if he could see the murderer running from here. Peter then looked at the ground outside the window and saw some blood outside the railing of the window. He touched it and spread on his thumb and index finger, examining it. He showed it to Evan and looked at the railing, frowning. Both looked at each other and looked out the ground.

Peter and Evan always like that. Less talk, more work. Their teamwork worked like that. They immediately jumped out of the window and saw a footprint. "They were hurt." Peter spoke immediately after seeing the foot print. "Yes, the stride seems uneven and one foot is strained." Evan completed. Their sight trailed on the footprint. But, soon a confused frown appeared on their faces. There were only two. A pair. After that the trail was Clean. "Someone have cleaned them." Peter and Evan spoke at the same time.

The pair sighed and made their way into the house. "It is definitely a planned murder." Evan declared. "Do you think his rivals killed him?" Peter asked. It was the first think everyone would think of. "Maybe or maybe not. The person is definitely a rival, seeing their motive was to kill him. Everything else is intact." Evan spoke with a husky voice, while motioning towards the perimeter of the hall. "We still have to check" Peter said as he made his way to the rooms of the house. Evan sighed, he knew they have to search every corner.

It was a murder but, he didnt think it was any rivals. At least from the country. If it was revengeful or for power or a fight or whatever reason, they would have sliced his throat and put a dagger to head or heart. Of course poisoning was an easy way. But, he didnt think they would opt for this gruesomeness. It seemed a lot more serious that it seemed. The way of killing clearly showed the murderer had a lesson or two to teach to the royal official. Just then, something clicked.

"What about his family?" Evan asked stopping Peter in his tracks. "Missing." Peter replied. Isn't it fishy? "Maybe those people who killed have their family? What are the bets of them being alive?" Evan asked Peter scrunching up his forehead and thinking. "I see no bets. They are most likely to be dead." Peter spoke. Evan just snapped his fingers, saying he caught the point.

Of course, if the main person was killed, there was no point in keeping the supporting ones. Seeing Samuel was killed, either his family should be here or be killed. They were not there, so the only option they escaped. But, there was no sign was an struggle, except the only ones around the victim. So, they were most definitely kidnapped. And most probably killed. As both of the friends thought of the same thing, there was a loud yelling. They both snapped their heads towards the voice that was coming from one of the rooms.

They both looked each other in a bit of panic as they recognised the voice, Aeinshia. They immediately rushed to the certain room which emitted the voice. Their eyes widened as they saw the princess.

She had her eyes closed seemingly in pain and was in the floor, struggling. She slowly lifted her head and saw the two men at the threshold of the door. Everyone were frozen in their places. Aeinshia on the floor with wide eyes. Prince Evan was also wide eyed, searching for any injuries while,Peter was scanning the room.