Second Step To The End II

The night has fallen, and it was time for everyone to rest but not for Tine and Laura. Tine lit her oil lamp and took a piece of paper out. After hearing about the news from Laura, she had thought hard about what she would write to Viscountess Andrea.

Her lips rose to a smile, and she smiled ear to ear as she wrote on the paper but was disturbed by the sound of the windows. The window had opened forcefully and startled her. She sighed in annoyance as she was just starting to write the letter.

Tine stood up and went to close the windows. She leaned over and rested her head and saw a black shadow by the corner. The man in the shadow did not reveal his face, but he was an ally of Tine.

"What do you think you are doing?"

The black shadow had stayed quiet and dropped a note for Tine. She picked up the piece of paper and bit her lip. Tine crumpled the note and threw it at the black shadow. She clicked her tongue and had forced him out of her room.

However, the black shadow did not leave. He was waiting for a reply. "I don't have the time, leave." She harshly looked at him, but still, he did not move an inch.

Tine clicked her tongue and sat back in her chair and ignoring the black shadow. The black shadow threw another note to Tine, and she this time she hissed out loud in annoyance.

"I just need to sign it, right? Gosh, I'm grateful that you don't have a tongue."

Tine then smirked as she had remembered something. She wanted to have a feel of the necklace Laura had and wanted to know what she was hiding in her room.

"You… I have a job for you."

Laura brushed her straight hair before as she was about to go to sleep. She couldn't help but feel overjoyed with the news she had received earlier that day. It had been a while since she felt this happy.

Suddenly her window opened, making Laura jump out of her chair and drop her brush. She looked at the open window and had it closed as it was freezing outside. As she turned around and went to go back to the chair, she suddenly lost consciousness and dropped onto the floor.

The next morning, Mary had knocked into Laura's door several times but heard nothing from her. She had gotten worried and just forced her way in. Mary looked around the room and did not see her on the bed and also noticed that the bed was left unused.

Mary also noticed that the windows were left open, and so she walked closer to the open window to shut it. However, as she went nearer to the window, she saw Laura on the floor unconscious.

Mary immediately yelled out loud, asking for help, and Lester who was about to knock from outside of the door came in and rushed as soon as he heard Mary's yell. He looked at Mary who was kneeling onto the floor shaking Laura's lifeless body.

Lester had asked Mary to move and carry Laura on the bed. He checked if she had a pulse and was relieved that there was. He then hurried called the other maids to bring some firewoods and start the fireplace.

Lester covered Laura's unconscious body with several layers of blankets and had asked Mary to call a doctor immediately. He looked around her room and checked her drawers to see anything stolen.

His eyes widened as he had noticed the necklace that the Count had given to her was missing. He checked her drawer once more and his eyes did not deceive him. It was missing.

They had stolen the tears of the goddess. Lester immediately reported it to Count Harrison, who was furious upon hearing what had happened. The count couldn't believe someone had stolen something from Laura, especially after he had gone through all the trouble to buy it for her.

Count Harrison slammed his hand onto the table while Lester him watched uncomfortably. He called for Percival to find who the person behind the incident was and to bring him or her alive.

It was the first time for Lester to see such anger from Count Harrison. He had never expected him to blow up and deal with it peacefully. After all, Laura was still his daughter.

"Find them."

=====

"Young master, have you signed this document?"

"Not yet put it on my table. I'll do it in a minute."

Erwin massaged his temples and looked at the piles of papers he had to finish. His eyes had felt tired, but he had pushed himself the entire night. Blaine on the other side still looked refreshed, even after not having any sleep.

"Do you want more coffee?"

"Yes, without sugar."

Erwin wanted to get some sleep, but after the incident that had happened in the palace, his workload had increased. He felt bad for Blaine, who had also kept him company and stayed up all night, and it was also Blaine who needed the sleep more than he needed.

Erwin couldn't help but feel worried, and he did not know why. To clear his worries, he had opened the curtain and looked out of the window.

Another reason why his workload had increased was because of the recent movements of the organization called, "Silence." Just like its name, they move in silence.

The organization was known for only working at night, and Erwin had been wanting to find their hideout. He had no clue where to start because the more he read the reports, the confused he became.

'Silence, huh? Just like how they move, secretly and quietly. I only wished to have one clue about them.'

Blaine entered the office and placed the cup of coffee on the table. He looked at Erwin whose eyes looked desperate; he needed answers.

"Young master, are you alright?"

"Am I hearing things right? Blaine, you're asking me if I'm alright?"

"I am serious."

"Don't be."

"Erwin, you can tell me."

Erwin sighed and sat on his chair and rested his arms on the messy table. He looked up at Blaine who was giving a serious expression.

"I feel uneasy." Blaine was surprised for a moment, then chuckled. He took a seat on a chair across from Erwin and smacked his head.

"At least you're human."

"As if you're not one."

The two young men laughed out loud and shared a fist bump before going back to work. Erwin felt lucky to meet Blaine, and that was because, without Blaine, he wouldn't have anyone to talk to and have fun with.

"I just feel like something bad has happened."

"What are you a fortune-teller?"

"Blaine…"

"I'm just kidding and so what is that something bad?"

"I feel like someone's in great pain right now."

Laura's eyes slowly fluttered open, and she sat up, holding her head. She felt like her head was about to spinning and she couldn't see anything properly. She then noticed that she was in an unknown dark place and a light flashed down to her.

When her vision somewhat cleared, Laura stood up, and she immediately felt her legs wobbling. It felt like she hasn't walked in a long time. Is this a dream? She thought. She yelled out loud, asking if anyone was there, but no one replied.

'Ah... I'm alone again. But I don't want to be alone anymore.'

Laura took one step at a time as she noticed that the floor had formed ripples and she continued walking further. But no matter how long Laura had walked, it never ended. Her body shivered as she felt icy air passing her.

Laura then realized that there could be a way out of this dark place. She continued to follow the cold breeze that had passed through her. And as she walked closer and closer to what it seems like the exit, her eyes were suddenly blinded and she felt something warm.

Right in front of Laura's eyes was a garden filled with chamomile flowers. She ran towards to touch the flower, but then her hands had passed through it. She was shocked and tried touching the flower, but it had passed through her hands again.

Laura looked at her trembling hands and tried touching her face, but her hand had passed through her face. She shook her head and fell onto the floor and panicked.

'I'm not dead, am I?'

"My child, calm down. I am here to help you." Septus' voice rang in her ears.

Laura confusingly looked around the garden and saw a small light coming down. It stopped on her hands and had shined brightly, forcing her to shut her eyes tightly.

When Laura thought that the light had faded she slowly opened her eyes to see both Mary and Lester looking at her worriedly.

She felt her tears dropping off her eyes and couldn't help but give them a smile.