Eventually, the carriage halted before a grand mansion in the royal district. Enormous marble columns supported the roof, while thick masonry walls were embellished with intricate stonework and stained-glass windows.
The moment Joseph disembarked, the mansion's doors swung open. Servants rushed out to greet him, bowing humbly.
"Welcome home, Master Joseph," said the head servant in a respectful tone. "Everyone is waiting in the dining hall."
Joseph nodded. "All right. I'll head there now."
He crossed the expansive foyer of the mansion, passing luxurious furnishings—a plush red-velvet chaise, an ornately carved mahogany table, a famous painting hung majestically over a grand fireplace, and a glittering chandelier. The aroma of dinner wafted through the corridors, rousing his appetite.
Taking a deep breath, Joseph stepped into the dining room. There, his family waited. At the head of the table was Richard, his father, a tall man in his mid-fifties with hair gone partly silver-gray. His heavy brows knitted slightly in thought, but at the sight of Joseph, his pale-blue eyes—much like his son's—brightened warmly. He wore a dark-blue suit that lent him a distinguished presence.
Seated to his right was Lady Alice, Joseph's mother, a refined woman whose delicate features hinted at her youthful beauty. She greeted Joseph with a sweet smile. Her hair was styled in an elegant high bun, and she wore an emerald-green gown matching her vivid green eyes, pearls gleaming at her neck.
To the left sat a young woman with long auburn hair that reached her waist: Rebecca, Joseph's wife. She wore a simple but tasteful dark gown that complemented her sun-kissed skin. Her large, green eyes shone with intelligence and affection as she looked at Joseph. A lively smile curved her lips.
"Apologies for keeping you all waiting," Joseph said, addressing them.
"No worries, my dear," Lady Alice replied. "Your father was just about to say something. Come, have a seat."
Joseph did so, taking his place near Rebecca. She welcomed him with a warm smile, eyes sparkling like emeralds, though they quickly clouded with concern when she noticed how worn he looked.
"My love," she said quietly, gently touching his cheek. "You seem tired. Was it a difficult day at work?"
He shook his head, mustering a small smile to reassure her. "I've just had a lot on my mind, but nothing to worry about."
Rebecca didn't seem entirely convinced, but she chose not to press him right then. "Try not to push yourself too hard; your health matters," she murmured, lightly squeezing his hand before returning her focus to the meal.
Joseph returned the gesture, grateful for her understanding. Together, they turned their attention to the table once more.
They were seated together, though three chairs remained empty: one for Miranda, Joseph's older sister, who was stationed at the northern border; the other two for Edward, Joseph's uncle, and Edward's daughter, who had yet to rejoin the family. Richard always left these places open, hoping they might someday all be reunited.
Richard cleared his throat lightly, drawing attention back to him. "I have important news," he began, prompting all eyes to focus on him.
"What is it, Father?" Joseph asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
Lady Alice covered her husband's hand with hers, smiling in encouragement. "It's very important indeed."
Richard caught his wife's gaze, and she gave a slight nod. He sighed gently before speaking again.
"Miranda just sent word that she's returning from her posting at the northern frontier," Richard announced, pride shining in his expression. "The war's been over for a while now, and the peace treaty has finally been signed. The opposing side has agreed to pay war reparations as negotiated."
"That's wonderful news!" Rebecca exclaimed, turning to Joseph with excitement. "Do we know when she'll arrive?"
Joseph's relief was immediate. At long last, his sister would be coming home, reuniting the family after so long.
"She didn't specify the exact date," Richard admitted.
Rebecca looked thoughtful. "I heard Miranda was recently promoted to the rank of Major General. She must've seen some tough combat."
"She's indeed proven herself time and again," Joseph agreed. "I'm proud of her—not just because she's my sister, but because she's one of the best female officers in the kingdom."
"Indeed," Richard said, smiling with fatherly pride. "A worthy daughter of the Cavendish line. Though I still wish she could have some rest and a simpler life."
"She truly is an impressive woman," Lady Alice added softly, her eyes glimmering with mixed relief and sadness as she considered how long Miranda had been gone.
A brief hush settled over the table as each remembered the missing members of the family, not just Miranda, but also Edward Cavendish—Richard's younger brother—and Edward's daughter, both absent from the household.
"I wish this evening we could have everyone under one roof again," Richard said wistfully, gaze lingering on those empty chairs.
Sensing the gloom, Joseph sought to lift the mood. "Yes, Father. I believe one day we'll all be together again, and we'll celebrate properly."
Lady Alice thanked him with a gentle smile and rose from her seat, gesturing to the meal. "All right, everyone. Shall we enjoy dinner? Your father and I prepared something special for you."
"Yes, let's," the three replied in unison.
At a signal from Alice, servants brought in elegant carts laden with fine food, setting the dishes before them with practiced grace. Joseph and Richard briefly discussed various matters of work while they waited. Rebecca watched the servants with a kind smile, admiring their diligent efforts.
Though not everyone was present tonight, merely sitting down together like this spread a sense of warmth. It was as if a small voice whispered hope that the day would come when all of them would be united in one place again.
Early the next day, the sky was far from clear. Dark clouds hung overhead, and the damp wind pressed against one's cheeks. The main streets of the city grew crowded as people emerged to start their day. Charles forged his way through, heading for the guild.
He passed through the carved wooden doors into the spacious hall reserved for members, where chatter and murmurs arose among those seeking contracts. A few greeted him by name, and he returned their smiles politely.
Wandering the hall, Charles spotted a familiar face: Matthew, a fellow detective—a thin, middle-aged man in a somber gray outfit. Renowned for his sharp investigative instincts, Matthew was well-respected.
"Morning. You're here early," Matthew greeted him, voice pleasant yet tinged with worry.
"Morning. Hoping to pick up a decent-paying job, you know?" Charles replied enthusiastically, though he noticed something off in Matthew's manner. "Everything all right? You look worn out."
Matthew heaved a deep sigh. Once Charles showed concern, he suggested they move to a bench outside for a quiet word.
"I'm working a case," Matthew said gravely once they sat. "A young woman was assaulted and killed. From what I can gather, the suspect might be someone powerful."
Charles frowned. "How far along are you?"
Matthew grimaced. "I'm hunting for clues and witnesses. The deeper I dig, the more it seems like something's fishy—like certain influential people are involved."
Slumping back against the bench, Matthew stared at the clouds overhead. "I'm worried that big shots might interfere with the investigation. Or worse, threaten the key witnesses."
Charles let the somber moment sink in before asking, "Sounds major. Do you think you can figure out the truth? And most importantly, will you be safe?"
His voice held genuine concern. The last thing Charles wanted was to see a colleague end up in danger.
Matthew gave a weary, bitter smile. "All I can do is try my best, right? No matter the risk, it's our duty as detectives to pursue the truth. At least, I owe that much to the victim and her family."
Charles offered no words at first, only a look of admiration for Matthew's determination. Even facing real peril, he refused to back down from his duty.
With a renewed resolve in his eyes, Matthew rose to his feet. "I should get going. I've got more ground to cover. You be careful, too—don't go accepting any job that's too risky."
With a wave, Matthew departed the guild. Charles watched him go, half worried, half impressed by his unflinching resolve. He filed the conversation away in his mind, hoping that one day he might lend Matthew a helping hand.
Re-entering the bustling hall, Charles approached the large bulletin board, scanning each notice posted there. Jobs ranged from finding lost items and investigating infidelity to caravan-guard details and wanted criminal bounties. Then his gaze snagged on a missing-person notice:
"Seeking Roland Bradford, age 42, missing for two weeks. Please contact us with any information. Reward: 100 crusédo."
Below that, a slightly newer announcement caught his eye:
"Urgent! Assistance needed to find a missing person. Name: Michael Berg, age 45, profession: Physician."
The document described Michael as a tall man with tan skin, black hair, and a neatly kept beard. A notable feature was a large mole under his right eye. He typically wore a long brown coat and carried a leather belt pouch for medical supplies. According to the statement, Michael had vanished mysteriously a week prior, leaving behind his wife and children. Nobody had seen him since. The family had filed a report, but there were no leads.
What truly captured Charles's attention was the reward. The family offered 200 crusédo, double the amount for finding Roland Bradford.
"Interesting… That's quite a sum," Charles murmured, brows knitting. A middle-aged man disappearing without a trace—possibly fleeing something? Or abducted? Or maybe worse. The possibilities set Charles's mind racing.
He concluded it was worth investigating and headed to a guild officer, signing up for the case. Armed with the relevant documentation, Charles left the guild right away.
His first move: visit Michael Berg's family for more details. Perhaps he'd uncover some vital clue.