A Hidden Secret

~•|•~

The carriage stopped in the courtyard of the Buford Mansion. The door was opened by the coachman, and Dante got off first. He extended a hand to Inez, who felt a little awkward. Nonetheless, Inez accepted it because she was a bit troubled by her wet body and heavy dress.

"If you don't mind, I'll escort you all the way to the mansion and explain everything to the count," Dante said as the man let go of Inez's hand.

"No need to do that, Capt," Inez refused with a small shake of her head. She looked at the mansion, where no one was outside. "The count hasn't returned from work yet anyway. There's only my sister-in-law and nephews inside," she continued, looking back at Dante again.

"I see. All right." Dante nodded in understanding. He glanced at Inez, making her break her gaze and look down. "Don't worry about what happened earlier. I'll make sure that the accident doesn't get published in the paper. Even if it does, I'll help lead public opinion that you were also a victim in the accident," he said, causing Inez to hold her breath in shock.

"... thank you very much, Capt." Inez stared deeply at the bright blue eyes. "I don't know how else to repay your kindness," she said, feeling embarrassed.

Dante smiled a simple smile. "I only did what I was supposed to do. Please go inside and warm yourself in front of the fireplace so you don't get sick, Lady," he said.

"I will watch you go. Please don't refuse," Inez said stubbornly.

Dante gave a small chuckle. He sighed softly. "All right. I'll go now," he said as he turned around and was about to get into the carriage again. However, before he got into it, Inez called out to him.

"Captain!"

Dante turned around and raised one eyebrow. He waited for the momentarily silent Inez to speak again.

"Um... I'll return your coat soon," Inez said, which made Dante let out a small sigh.

"No need to return it, Lady. Keep it or throw it away," Dante replied with a faint smile.

"No, no, no! I will still give it back to you," refused Inez who nodded confidently and showed her stubbornness.

"It's up to you," said Dante as he got into the carriage. The man nodded briefly at Inez from the window and the carriage left the courtyard of the Buford Mansion.

~•|•~

Inez opened the door of the mansion by herself. She found a silence she had never found inside, as if the mansion she had grown up in had been abandoned for a very long time.

The girl tightened the coat and blanket that covered her wet body. She passed through the living room and ascended the stairs to the second floor, where her bedroom was located. However, when she reached the hallway, there was not a maid to be found either. Neither did Anne. It was really like there was no life in there.

'Where did everyone go?" Inez wondered to herself. She turned her head to the right and left of the big window to see if there were any maids who could help her to light the fireplace or not. However, until she arrived in front of the bedroom, there was no one she met. 'This is strange,' Inez thought as she opened the bedroom door. 'It's almost lunchtime, but there's no one to see,' she thought as she stepped into the bedroom.

"Anne," Inez called with a look of confusion. "Anne!" she called once more.

There was no answer at all. So Inez went to the small warehouse in her room. Usually when she couldn't find Anne, the woman was in there taking a short break.

Kriett...

The old door rang as Inez pushed it open. The dim light greeted Inez's senses.

There was no one there.

Inez let out a long breath. She looked down and saw that she looked like a sewer rat. The girl turned around and looked at the extinguished fireplace.

"Taking a bath or lighting the fireplace?" muttered Inez. "Which is easier for me to do alone?" she asked herself.

Inez stepped towards the fireplace. She stopped in front of it and squatted down, then let out a surrender sigh. "I'd better take a bath," she said as she stood back up and stepped into the bathroom to fill the water first.

~•|•~

Before the carriage had even stopped in front of the manor, Dante could see Kaspar running with a worried expression from inside the manor and stopping in the middle of the courtyard, where normally all vehicles would stop.

"Captain," Kaspar said as he opened the carriage door for him. The man examined Dante's drenched body. "I heard about the incident at the Chete River," he added.

"Then why do you have that expression?" Dante replied as he got off the carriage. He turned to Kaspar, who still maintained his worried expression. "I hope you haven't forgotten that I'm from the naval military. The Chete River is nothing compared to the high sea," he added.

"Yes, and I'm still worried," the man replied with a heavy sigh. "Especially since the letter from His Majesty arrived a while ago."

"Already?" said Dante, who could not hide his surprise.

"Yes, Capt. Didn't you meet the mailman on the way back? He just left," Kaspar said, stepping behind Dante to enter the manor.

"I didn't. Maybe he took another way," Dante replied. "Did you open the letter?"

"Not yet. But the mailman asked me to tell you that His Majesty has asked you to come to the palace for lunch," Kaspar said with a serious expression.

"Huh, then the contents of the letter are something else." Dante suddenly slowed his pace and looked at the rising sun. "The lunch time is too early. I can't possibly come to the palace in these wet clothes," he complained.

"So?"

"Tell His Majesty that I'll be there twenty minutes late," said Dante, who quickened his pace again as he took off his wet gloves.

"Wait, Capt. Is it okay if you do it like that?" replied Kaspar, catching up with Dante.

"I don't know. But just say that to His Majesty. If he can't meet because of other work, our meeting will be postponed. And it will work in my favor because his anger will subside," Dante explained as he shrugged indifferently.

"Ah... I see. That's your real purpose for coming late," Kaspar responded with a sly chuckle.

Dante laughed a bit. "And don't keep running around, Kaspar! Your joint pain could flare up again."

"Who is it that makes this old man act like this?" said Kaspar with a wry smile.

Dante chuckled a little at the old man's reply.

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