Amyra was at loss, she really didn't know what to do or what to say. She stared at the lord with disbelief.
Did he just say she would accompany Lady Florence to Horlicks Street tomorrow?
Lord Theodore, saw her staring at him and looked back at her with a blank expression.
"Myra, do you have something to say?" asked the lord with raised brows. As if challenging her to defy him.
"I—uh…" she stammered, glancing around helplessly. Everyone at the table was looking at her, waiting. Her ears turned red with discomfort, and she simply shook her head.
A while later, both Lord Theodore and Mr. Swanson rose from their seats and excused themselves, stating they had work to attend to. Lady Florence left soon after in a separate carriage, informing Amyra she'd pick her up the next morning.
With nothing else to do, Amyra decided to explore the mansion.
.
.
Meanwhile, Theodore and his cousin Leonard, who was a ministry official were heading to the Bootleg Market. It was where most of the illegal goods were sold without the notice of the ministry.
"So?" Leonard began, "Who is this girl, really?"
Theodore leaned back in his seat, stretching his legs and crossing one foot over the other. "Which girl?"
"The one staying at your mansion? The guest?" Leonard pressed, one brow arched.
"Hmm… didn't I introduce her earlier?" Theodore replied indifferently.
"But why is she at your home?" Leonard questioned, eyes narrowing.
He knew his cousin well. Theodore never did anything without reason. He wasn't the sort to rescue a stranger in distress, let alone bring them to stay under his roof. This girl must be someone important, Leonard thought.
"She has nowhere to go," Theodore replied with a shrug. "And the mansion has plenty of unused rooms. Letting her stay in one doesn't hurt me, does it?"
Leonard exhaled, letting the topic drop. He picked up the daily newspaper lying beside him and began flipping through its pages. On the third page, an article caught his eye.
*~*~*~*
*ANCIENT DIARY UNCOVERED : Prophecy and Stellar Gems Mentioned*
The Ministry's archaeological department has unearthed a handwritten diary believed to contain a prophecy and references to the elusive stellar gems. While the full content remains undeciphered due to protective spells on the script, the discovery has already sparked significant interest.
Chief archaeologist Drago Muller suspects the diary may have belonged to Drusilla Morgana Pafford, the renowned first-generation Lunar witch. Notably, sources indicate that the final entry in the diary is dated just one month before the infamous dark ritual.
*~*~*~*
"Theo, aren't you curious about the Stellar Gems?" Leonard asked, folding the newspaper and placing it beside him.
Theodore, who had been gazing out of the window, turned to look at him.
"What's there to be curious about?"
"I've heard rumors that the prophecy predicts a destructive war between the Five Lands in the near future. It's said that there are four stellar gems, and they're the only ones who can prevent the disaster," Leonard explained.
"And what of it?" came Theodore's bored reply.
"Aren't you worried about the prediction? What if it's true?"
Theodore shrugged nonchalantly.
"Then the war will happen."
Silence filled the carriage for a moment before the Lord spoke again.
"Leo, what's bound to happen will happen. If these so-called stellar gems really exist, they'll make their presence known and stop the destruction — just as the prophecy says. There's no point in ruining our present by worrying about the future."
"Hmm... true," Leonard murmured.
"Besides," Theodore added with a glint of excitement in his eyes, "wouldn't it be fun if there was a war?"
Leonard rolled his eyes.
As the carriage neared its destination, Leonard instructed the coachman to stop a few streets away from the Bootleg Market so as not to draw attention.
.
.
Back in the mansion, Myra who had been roaming around, came across lots of maids busy doing their assigned tasks such as cleaning, mopping, cooking all around the mansion. Some of them exchanged curious glances among themselves as she passed by. A few ignored her, while others politely smiled and offered a slight bow.
The warburton mansion was really huge and splendid. As she explored, she began to worry she might get lost.
While inspecting the first floor in the east wing, she heard a strange noise coming from a room at the far end of the corridor.
It sounded like someone scratching a wooden surface with their fingernails—an irritating, creaky noise. Looking around, Amyra noticed that no workers were present on that floor. Intrigued, she walked toward the sound.
"Hello? Anybody in there?" she called out, suddenly feeling a bit scared.
More scratching sounds followed.
I think someone's locked in there! she thought.
She stood in front of a large wooden double door, ornately carved with a lion's head and intricate patterns.
Tapping the door lightly, she asked again, "Is anybody inside?"
Scratch
Grabbing the doorknob, she turned it — and to her surprise, it wasn't locked. Pushing it open slowly, she peeped inside and saw two green eyes glowing in the darkness, staring right at her.
Her heart nearly stopped. She let out a shrill scream and fell to the floor. The door creaked open further, and the creature with green eyes stepped out.
Amyra paled at the sight, her body crawled away from the door until her back hit the opposite wall of the corridor. The creature that walked out was a black panther. To her horror,
it took slow predatory steps towards her, until it stood right in front of her.
Shutting her eyes tightly, she braced herself for an attack.
This is it. I'm going to die. Why did I open that door?
Tears began to stream down her cheeks, until suddenly, she felt something warm and slippery on her face.
Ugh! Did that animal... just lick me?
Opening her eyes, she saw it looking at her with one paw placed on her lap. She stared. It stared back. But to her relief, it didn't seem hostile.
"My lady!" came Alvin's panicked voice. "Are you alright?"
The butler had been instructing a maid to pull weeds in the backyard when he heard her scream and rushed upstairs to check on her.
She looked from the panther to Alvin, then nodded slowly. "I… I think I'm alright."
Alvin helped her up. "I see you've let Oreo out," he said, patting the animal.
"Oreo?" Myra repeated, confused. Who keeps wild animals inside their home? And in a locked room, no less?
"Oreo is his Lordship's pet panther," the butler explained.
"A pet?"
"Aye, my lady. He must've done something naughty, and the Lord locked him up here as punishment."
The panther affectionately brushed against her legs.
"And he seems to like you," Alvin said with amusement. "Oreo never warms up to strangers this fast."
"Does he bite?" she asked, eyeing the creature beside her.
"He does, my lady," the butler said casually. Her eyes widened. Is he being serious right now?
"But only those he sees as a threat," Alvin continued. "Don't worry, he won't hurt you."
"Are you sure?" she asked skeptically.
Alvin gave her a reassuring nod
Still uncertain, Amyra offered the creature a cautious pat. To her surprise, it leaned in contentedly.
How adorable, she thought. It was just like a giant cat, totally harmless and seeking affection.
"Oreo, go back inside the room," Alvin ordered after a moment. The animal groaned in protest and looked at Amyra before shaking its head.
She stared, eyebrows raised. Did it just... shake its head?
"Can't he stay out?" she asked, pitying the creature. "He seems well-behaved."
"No, My lady. The lord has strictly ordered not to let Oreo out of this room for a day and he wouldn't appreciate it, to see him roaming around the mansion freely when he gets back".
Myra pressed her lips into a thin line and sighed.
"Very well."
She turned to the panther and knelt beside him. "Come now, Oreo," she said in a coaxing tone. "Be a good boy. Your master will return soon, and I'm certain he'll release you then."
Oreo tilted his head, looked at her for a moment, then turned and obediently walked back into the room he'd been locked in.