I do not own the Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler story or characters who belongs to Yana Toboso.
I only own Celia Phantomhive and my other OCs
"Jealousy is that pain which a man feels from the apprehension that he is not equally beloved by the person whom he entirely loves." – Joseph Addison
Ciel's Twin Sister
Chapter 30: The Mystery of Shirreff Academy
Celia sat down by herself in a carriage as she stared at the field outside.
The Lady of Phantomhive wore a tan double breasted blazer with the Shirreff crest sewn onto the right side, a white self-bowed blouse, a green tie, a dark plaid pleated skirt, white knee length socks and black loafers. Her greyish blue hair was tied in a ponytail with a tan headband on it.
Celia then opened the private letter she received from Her Majesty, Queen Victoria.
"Dear, Lady Phantomhive. The misfortune that you and your brother experienced on the Campania. I hope that both of you have recovered and enjoyed your Easter. As for myself, I've had days off for Easter but cannot enjoy it due the worries of my mind. A small number of school girls have been recently disappearing at Shirreff Academy, a popular school for noble girls around your age. Their families have contacted the school, but got no responds from the school of their daughters' disappearances. I pray that you are able to find what happened to these missing girls and have them brought back to their families. -Victoria."
Celia finished reading the letter and placed it back into its envelope as the carriage stopped moving.
"Lady Celia, we have arrived to your destination."the driver declared.
"Thank you, driver."Celia replied with a grateful look.
Celia went out of the carriage with her books in her arms and found herself in silvery coloured opened gate of Shirreff Academy.
Shirreff Academy was a prestigious girls' independent school in England, where girls from noble families were taught etiquette and high level education for their young minds.
Celia took a deep breath before carefully making her way heading into the lawn of the academy.
There were girls around her age all wearing the same uniform as she was standing around a small fountain that had a statue that looked like a white stallion.
Good families and of wealth, who sent their daughters to the academy wanted them to have a training in culture and the arts, with a general knowledge of life and social facility who would be turned out agreeable, well-groomed and able to take part in intelligent discussion on any subject.
There were girls who wanted to work hard and pass entrance examinations, and eventually take degrees and who, to do so, needed only good teaching and special attention.
But there were also girls, who had reacted unfavourably to school life of the conventional type.
"Good manners are the shadows of virtues, if not virtues themselves."Celia murmured quietly. "That's the school motto."
A slender woman came forward and greeted Celia.
The woman appeared to be in her 20s with ash blonde hair styled in a bun and hazel eyes. She wore a monochrome walking dress with long puffed sleeves, a black ribbon at the blouse and small black boots.
"Are you Lady Celia Phantomhive?"the woman questioned. "The new student?"
"Yes, ma'am."Celia replied with a nod. "I am."
The woman's serious face changed into a kind expression before introducing herself to the bluenette.
"Welcome to Shirreff Academy, Lady Phantomhive. I am Antonia Burke, the co-founder of the school. Please call me, Mrs Burke."Antonia explained. "I'll show you around before class starts."
Celia followed behind Mrs Burke as they headed inside the campus.
In addition to the dormitories and classrooms, the campus featured sands for sports and fencing practices, a clock tower, a large lake, a botanical garden, a courtyard, a library, a cafeteria, an auditorium, an observation tower and an aviary.
"The academy offers the finest of education to host of international students."Mrs Burke explained. "Some of the young ladies' commute and the majority of them who have more ethnic roots, reside in dormitories. We are the first academy to offer this, which have young ladies from High Society flocking to us from all over England. Though we do take the occasional Scholarship students as well."
"That is amazing, Mrs Burke."Celia complemented. "All women have the right to be educated just like men do."
Mrs Burke turned around to look at Celia.
"I'm glad you think that way, Lady Phantomhive."Mrs Burke stated with a smile. "This is what exactly are our academy is achieved to do to help all young women be recognised."
Mrs Burke and Celia stopped in front of a door that said 'Headmistress' Office'.
"Headmistress Shirreff?"Mrs Burke asked. "I brought Lady Phantomhive."
"Good, come in."Miss Shirreff instructed.
Celia walked into the office and sat down before Mrs Burke closed the door.
The headmistress appeared to be a bit middle aged with brown hair worn in a high heart-shaped pompadour, dark brown eyes and pale skin. She wore a crimson gown with a golden brooch near her neck that has a green gem in it and the gown has a high purple collar with extended purple sleeves. There was a large green ring on her right ring finger that matches her earrings and brooch.
Her grand desk was covered by a slew papers in French and a Chinese vase of wilting flowers while the study smelled like lavender and white tea.
"I assume you've been informed about the problem at hand?"Miss Shirreff questioned.
"Yes, ma'am."Celia answered with a nod.
"It is most troubling news."Miss Shirreff declared. "First one disappeared and then three more."
"Have you informed the students that have been recently happening?"Celia questioned.
"Not quite."Miss Shirreff replied. "But I have informed the teachers and my new secretary about the situation."
"Did you spoke with Scotland Yard of what has been happening?"Celia asked.
"No."Miss Shirreff responded with a small frown. "I don't trust Scotland Yard with this matter and don't fit for this case. Here are the copied records of the students that have disappeared."
Miss Shirreff opened a chest in her desk and took out a few records before handing them to Celia.
"Lady Phantomhive, for everyone's sake I do hope I made the right decision in calling you."Miss Shirreff complemented.
"You have, Miss Shirreff."Celia assured with a firm look. "I won't let you down."
There were suddenly a rattling sound heard from the roof above the office.
"What was that sound?"Celia asked.
"Ugh. It's those mice again."Miss Shirreff sighed. "They'll be removed once you solved the case."
Celia nodded and then left the office.
Afterwards…
Celia stood in the hallway and looked at the timetable page that laid above her books to see which class she had first thing in the morning.
The first class she had for her first day was Maths in Room B4 and the teacher's name was Louisa Hawkins.
Mrs Louisa Hawkins had long rich auburn hair that reached her waist with two strands hanging from each side of her head, satin grey eyes and wore a long-sleeved light orange dress with shoulder pads and blue borders and buttons with black court shoes underneath.
"This is our new student."Mrs Hawkins explained. "Her name is Celia Phantomhive and I want you all to make her feel very welcome today."
"Hello!"All the girls in the room responded together.
"Hello."Celia repeated with a smile. "I am happy to be here."
Celia went to the free seat next to Rosemary, who gave her a small wave.
"Now all of you turn to Page 13."Mrs Hawkins ordered and started writing on the board. "The equality of two expressions formulated by applying to a set of variables…"
All the girls in the classrooms opened their books and went on the page their teacher told them to go into as their class started.
"I wonder how you are doing things in college, Ciel?"Celia thought with an amused smile.
At Weston College…
Ciel sat in a classroom as McMillan spoke to him.
McMillan was a small boy with freckles along the bridge of his nose and wore small round glasses.
Like all the students in Blue House, Ciel wore a black swallow-tail coat, a black waistcoat, a white shirt, a blue tie, black trousers and black leather shoes. The emblem of his uniform's respective dormitory was embroidered on the tailcoat.
"It's really weird that Colett left the school so suddenly."McMillan commented. "You came in at a rather strange time, wasn't it hard?"
A smirk grew on Ciel's face as he turned the pages of his book.
"Well, I'd been waiting for a spot for a long time."Ciel explained. "I was happy to prepare for it."
Suddenly a loud voice rang out, warning the attention of all the students in the classroom and saw Clayton standing in the doorway.
Clayton was a young man with short black hair and glasses that are perched on the bridge of his nose. He wore a suit and a tie, as part of his school uniform.
"BOY UP!"Clayton demanded.
"Huh?"Ciel said in confusion.
"At that command, the last in line has to do whatever the upper years tell them to."McMillan explained.
"What?"Ciel questioned.
Ciel, McMillan and all the students in the classroom stood in a row as Clayton's eyes landed on the young Earl.
"The last is the new one?"Clayton asked.
Ciel nodded. "Yes."
"Well then, return to the dorm once you've polished all the prefects' shoes."Clayton ordered as he handed Ciel a piece of paper. "We'll have your welcome party."
After polishing the shoes, Ciel headed to the Sapphire Owl Dormitory.
"They don't have to throw me a welcome party."Ciel thought in annoyance.
When Ciel headed inside the room, Clayton grabbed him from behind and covered his mouth from shouting out.
"Congratulations, Phantomhive."Clayton congratulated with a smirk before shoving Ciel on a sheet that the other students held. "We're holding this welcome party for you. I hope you will enjoy it to the fullest."
"HEATH HO!"the other students shouted.
Ciel cried out in terror as he was tossed up in the air and caught by a blanket held by the students, much to his protests.
"How do you like our dorm's traditional welcome party?"Clayton asked with a smug look. "I'll expect you to work even harder at your studies from now on as a member of the Sapphire Owl Dormitory."
"The next one will be higher!"A student declared.
"One, two-"All the students counted.
"What is that racket?!"A strict voice demanded. "I'll give you all a 'Y'!"
"Oh no!"One of the students panicked. "It's the Dorm Supervisor!"
The students became scared seeing the figure in the doorway causing Ciel to drop on the ground.
The Dormitory Supervisor glanced at Clayton.
"Clayton."the man said in a firm tone. "Why are you as an upper year, participating in this?"
"That's…"Clayton started. "This is a tradition of our dorm."
The supervisor walked over to Ciel, who slowly panted.
"Goodness."the man remarked. "There's tradition and there's over doing it."
Ciel looked up and his eye widen a bit as the man reached out his gloved hand to him, but recognised him straight away.
The man had black silky hair with red eyes and wore small glasses. He wore white gloves and a black rope with a silver cross necklace around his neck.
It was Sebastian.
"You're the new student Phantomhive, correct?"Sebastian asked with a smile. "Welcome to the Sapphire Owl Dormitory. I'm the Dorm Supervisor Michaelis."
At Shirreff Academy…
For the whole day, Celia's life was thereon controlled by the academy's certain schedule.
Shirreff Academy Time Schedule
All students must wake up at 6:30 am.
Students have half an hour to prepare and one hour for breakfast.
Classes start at 8:00 am.
Morning classes last up to 70 minutes per subject, taking 4 to 5 subjects per day.
The students have a break for lunch at 12pm and resuming classes at 1:30 pm.
Students with extracurricular activities or clubs attend them from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Dinner is at 6:30 pm and study time at 7:30 pm.
The students must be asleep at 9:00 pm.
Celia sat with Rosemary as they ate lunch with all the girls in the dining room.
The dining room had four long tables where students sat during the day and at mealtimes.
"Hey Rosemary, where is Isobel?"Celia asked as she ate a piece of the salmon coulibiac on her plate. "Didn't she enrol in the academy as well?"
Rosemary shook her head.
"Nope."Rosemary answered. "She is at France at the moment visiting her grandfather. He's not feeling too well at the moment."
Celia glanced at the tables where the teachers were eating.
Mrs Burke appeared to be talking with two women which Celia didn't recognise.
All the teachers seemed friendly, but she wasn't going the appearances doubt her.
Mathilda had long auburn hair, big green eyes and pale skin. She wore a greyish-white linen dress with long sleeves with a tight cuff around her wrists and a raised collar. A black ribbon with a silver brooch was around her collar and top of her dress was a red vest embroidered were silver buttons. Around her neck was a cross necklace. There were tall dull white socks and brown shoes with leather straps on her feet.
Dolores was a woman with coal-black wavy hair that was combed into an updo, caramel brown eyes and fair skin. She wore a white dress that reaches her knees with a blue shawl, a white nurse's cap over her hair and black flats.
"Hey Rose, whose that teacher?"Celia asked. "The one with the cross necklace around her neck?"
"That's Miss Mathilda Simmons."Rosemary explained as she took a sip of her water glass cup. "She's a new teacher in the academy for three months and is awful nice."
"The one next to her?"Celia questioned.
"Miss Dolores Destin."Rosemary answered. "The academy's nurse."
Celia's eyes suddenly widen a bit at something she saw causing Rosemary to notice.
"Celia, are you okay?"Rosemary asked in confusion.
"Yeah."Celia assured and smiled at her friend. "I am fine."
After finishing dinner, it was time for all the girls to go to sleep in their dormitories.
Celia arrived inside a luxury dormitory that had two beds in opposite sides while the room had a dull colour with a tiled floor and grey carpet. Decorating the room was two cupboards, a small table with a tea set, and a table with two seats, two mirrors on the walls, a lamp and a bookcase. On the side was a small shelf with tea cups, a pot and a vase with roses resting next to a wall clock.
"Wow. What a beautiful dormitory."Celia complemented as she placed down her suitcase. "And peaceful-"
"Cece!"
Celia grew startled when Elizabeth came into the room and tackled her with a hug.
Elizabeth wore short blue dress with high collar and finished in violet and a long, white neckcloth which almost reached her waist. She wore stylish white gloves and blue purple heeled shoes.
"Lizzy?!"Celia said in shock. "Wha? What are you doing here?!"
"Doing here? I go to this academy!"Elizabeth remarked. "My mother sent me here to improve my education and came to see you as soon as I heard your arrival!"
"You don't say…"Celia said with a anxious smile and thought. "This is bad. If Lizzy is also attending the academy, she could end going missing as well. I can't let anything happen to her."
The bluenette offered a smile to her excited cousin.
"It is nice that we're both attending school together, Lizzy."Celia agreed. "But there is something we both need to be careful about."
"What do you mean?"Elizabeth asked.
After putting on their nightgowns, Celia sat down with Elizabeth in her bed to quietly tell her what was going on.
The Lady of Phantomhive placed down the documents the headmistress handed her to show them to Elizabeth.
Each page contained the full name, address, family background and birthday of the four girls who disappeared.
"Johanna Denham. Ariadne Rouselle. Maybelle Crannan. Harriet Spencer."Celia read. "These girls from school have gone missing and not a trace of them has been found."
"Oh dear."Elizabeth said with a hint of shock. "This is awful."
"Do you know any of these girls, Lizzy?"Celia asked.
"I know Harriet."Elizabeth replied, looking at the picture of the fourth girl. "I met her at a ball one time. She is shy most of the times and is a very talented painter."
"Alright, but when was the last time you saw her?"Celia questioned.
"Two weeks ago."Elizabeth answered. "It was right around the time before she went to Art Club at 4:00pm. But she looked very upset for some strange reason."
Celia quietly nodded, taking in her cousin's words.
"So Harriet was last seen in Art Club before disappearing."Celia thought. "But it doesn't explain to what happened to the other three. I guess I should start by looking for some clues in the dormitory they slept in."
After everyone in the academy went to their dormitories to sleep and their candles out, Celia got up from her bed to get dressed.
The Lady of Phantomhive placed on her white shirt with blue tie, tan frilly skirt and brown leggings since it would be inappropriate to go out in the middle of the night wearing her nightgown.
Lastly, Celia placed on her tweed overcoat, high-heeled leather boots, brown gloves and deerstalker hat on her head to complete her appearance.
Celia slowly twisted the doorknob to not wake Elizabeth, who was sleeping peacefully in her bed.
The hallway was empty while it's big windows shun the moonlight's glow in the area to make the area less dark.
The bluenette checked her notebook to check the number of the dormitory that Harriet slept in.
"Room 13."Celia murmured.
Celia placed away her small notebook before heading off to her destination.
The hallway was very quiet and the only thing that the bluenette could hear was the sound of her own footsteps.
There was a sound of tapping being heard within the walls of the school.
The Lady of Phantomhive assumed it was probably mice that were in the attic on the roof and continued onward.
Celia eventually arrived in front of Room 13, but found the room locked from the inside.
"Strange that is locked."Celia thought with a frown. "I am going to need to find a way to open it."
Celia headed to the other side of the hallway and went inside the welfare to look for something sharp to use to open the door.
There was a wooden pigeon hole storage with small bottles and papers on them.
The Lady of Phantomhive looked inside the storages and saw one with a bunch of hair clips.
"It's fair if I just use a hair clip."Celia commented. "I don't want to wake anyone up by using something heavy."
Celia headed back to Room 13 and began to pick on the keyhole using one hair clip.
After a few clicks, the key dropped out which caused the door of the dormitory to open which caused Celia to go inside.
Inside the dormitory there was nothing out of the ordinary and looked the same as the others which caused Celia to narrow her eyes and take out her magnifying glass.
Celia went over to a desk and saw various papers in it including a book about doors and passages.
A letter and a stack of postcards/envelopes. The letter featured writing, whilst the postcards have a dark red stamp and were tied together with a thin brown bow.
All of these letters were from Harriet's father, Sir Nicholas Spencer.
In the desk, everything seemed to be homework papers or family relation and didn't give any evidence.
However, Celia then notice something underneath the table and picked it up.
It was an old sepia photograph with parts burned from the edges. It was paper-clipped to another piece of paper with writing on it. The photograph was a man standing in a street corner that strongly resembled a flower shop. A streetcar was on the right side of the building and a lamppost was on the opposite corner across the street.
Celia checked the written paper to scan it with her magnifying glass to read what it say.
"March 17th 1875."Celia read. "To my dearest, it seems like a dream that you love me. We were fated to marry from the moment we met. Yours forever, Michael Burnett."
This was a love letter.
"Why would this be in Harriet's room?"Celia muttered.
After placing the letter inside her notebook, Celia notice something peeking out on the pillow of Harriet's bed and removed it to see what it was.
A white stuffed rabbit with black eyes with a monocle and a black button nose. He wore a pearl blue top with buttons and a navy collar that has a red ribbon tied around it.
"Another customer of the Funtom's Toyshop."Celia thought in amusement.
Celia then brought her attention on the red coloured diary next to the toy rabbit and opened to read it.
"I am not happy. I just learned my father is not my father. It turns I am the daughter of an late baron who was killed in a carriage accident, which wounded his - I mean my birth mother. My birth mother, who started out as a loving person that later turned to violence and developed a cruel disregard for human life. It's really scary. But what is worse I feel being watched as if someone wants to kill me. I told my adopted father and the teachers about it but nobody believes me. Only my friends do. I need to hide. I don't want my life to be over."
Celia stopped reading the first page of the diary as she became lost in her thoughts.
BANG!
The sound of a sudden loud sharp noise came, startled Celia out of her thoughts.
She wasn't the only one exploring the academy in the middle of the night.
However, the sound immediately became replaced with the one of footsteps approaching caused Celia to hide quickly underneath the bed with the diary in her hand.
A figure came to Harriet's room wearing black heels but couldn't tell who it was since the face was covered by the hood of the black cape.
Celia felt her heart beat thumb loudly in her chest as the intruder headed towards the bed.
However, the hidden person suddenly walked out and took the key before locking the door.
Celia sighed slowly in relief, seeing that the danger passed and she wasn't discovered.
"I am trapped inside the room."Celia murmured as she got up and notice the window was a bit opened. "I'll need to get out of here."
Celia opened the window and saw it lead three floors down.
She looked inside Harriet's wardrobe and found various dresses inside but found nothing.
Celia once again used the hair clip to unlock the door and it worked.
"Better than falling down the ground."Celia murmured.
Celia headed out of Harriet's room and closed the door once she was standing in the hallway.
"It's best if I go to sleep for now."Celia thought with a firm look. "I'll be told off if I am found wondering around here."
"AAAH!"
A sudden scream echoed within the academy which caused Celia to go quickly down stairs to see who was screaming.
Celia found Mathilda trembling and staring at something in pure horror.
"What happened, Miss Simmons?"Celia demanded. "Why-"
The bluenette followed the woman's gaze and became horrified to find Mrs Burke laying down on the floor with a knife stabbed in her neck.
Mrs Burke was murdered.
The Following Morning...
Scotland Yard arrived to investigate in Shirreff Academy after Mrs Durke was found dead.
Elizabeth and Rosemary were sitting down were sitting down in the tea room, eating black-current scones with some clotted cream with cups of nilgiri tea.
The other students were sitting in the lake as well eating their own breakfast and quietly talking about the event that happened last night.
"So it's true?"Rosemary asked sadly. "Mrs Burke has been murdered?"
"If it's true, then does that mean there's a murderer within the school?"Elizabeth suggested.
Celia walked inside the school hallway wearing her detective clothing from last night as she walked past the scene where police officers were securing Mrs Durke's body.
A light smile appeared on Celia's face when she caught sight of Officer Fred Abberline in the room while Louisa, Mathilda and Dolores were both sitting down on chairs.
"Well. Hello there, Mr Abberline."Celia greeted. "It's been a while."
"Lady Phantomhive."Fred responded with a small bow.
"Celia, do you know how Mrs Burke was killed?"Miss Shirreff asked.
Celia let out a sigh.
"Not yet, Miss Shirreff."Celia answered honestly.
"Have you absolutely no idea of who killed my co-founder in the school hallway?"Miss Shirreff questioned with a frown. "You ought to by this time. And these kidnapping of four of my students on top of everything else."
"I blame myself there, Miss Shirreff."Louisa admitted with a hint of guilt."Harriet talked about someone wanting to kidnap her. I thought, God forgive me, she was making herself important. I see now that there must have been something behind it. Someone must have hinted or warned one doesn't know and three of her friends got involved to help her."
"Have any happened recently after the girls disappeared?"Fred questioned.
"As a matter of fact it has, Inspector Abberline."Dolores declared.
Dolores brought the group to her room and showed a large paining laying against a drawer.
"At midnight five days before the incident, the painting that hung above my bed suddenly feel."Dolores explained with a hint of fear. "That night, I couldn't fall asleep and was reading a book at my desk, so I wasn't hurt."
"If you had been sleeping in bed with something of this size, you would most likely have been seriously injured."Fred assumed.
"Inspector."Mathilda spoke up gently. "I've only been hearing strange sounds within the academy's walls. I assumed it was those mice but it sounded more like footsteps."
"Footsteps?"Celia repeated. "Do you where the noise came from?"
"The noise I heard was between the library and the art rooms."Mathilda replied.
"It could be the murderer."Dolores suggested in fright. "If this keeps up, the academy will be-"
"I won't let this happen!"Miss Shirreff interrupted in a harsh tone. "This school will remain open even if there has been a murder! It will survive this and anything else to come!"
The Headmistress glanced at the Lady of Phantomhive.
"Clear this murder up and catch whoever is responsible for it including the disappearances of those four students."Miss Shirreff ordered in a firm tone. "I am giving you until the end of the day."
"I will like I said before, Miss Shirreff."Celia assured. "I don't attend to give up straight away."
Miss Shirreff walked out and headed back to her office.
In the Art Room…
Celia was investigating the room where Harriet and her friends were last seen.
There were paint brushes, oil pastel sets and seats that had canvases on holders in front of them.
At the end of the room there was a big painting attached on the wall which Celia walked over to check with her magnifying glass.
The top of the painting had a panel with a circle in the center, where a person's head would be, placed between two golden branches with blooming flowers on the end. The bottom of the painting features an orange cloth with tassels that's draped and falling over what looks like an old-fashioned chair. The top and sides of the painting were framed with golden geranium flower patterns.
Celia narrowed her eyes when she notice one geranium flower was blue and didn't suit the big painting.
"Mother Goose had a house."A female voice sang. "It stood in the wood. Where an owl at the door. As sentinel stood."
Celia walked out of the art room to follow the singing voice and lead her to the welfare where she saw Dolores putting bottles away in the storage.
"Me and Antonia both loved Mother Goose."Dolores explained with a sad expression. "When we were children, we often made up tunes and sang together."
"So you were childhood friends?"Celia asked.
Dolores clenched her fists tightly as a few tears appeared in her eyes.
"This is the worst day of my life."Dolores cried.
"I understand your feelings."Celia assured, remembering the death of her parents.
"You know this is not my first time."Dolores stated. "Long ago, I feel in love a man of my life but then I lost him."
"I am sorry to hear that."Celia apologised lightly.
Celia left the welfare as a maid came inside holding a box.
It was a pink rectangular box with white text covering it. There was a thick white band going around horizontal and vertical, where thin pink silk ribbon was tied.
"Miss Destin, a box of chocolates arrived just for you."the maid declared.
"Ah, thank you."Dolores remarked as she took the small box of chocolates. "I am a renowned chocolate lover."
Dolores suddenly winced and held her stomach, alarming the maid.
"Are you alright, Miss Dolores?"the maid asked.
"I am fine."Dolores groaned in pain. "It must be the truffles I got from Louisa."
Afterwards…
Celia placed down the diary and the photograph with the written paper she found in Harriet's room on a desk for she and Inspector Abberline to investigate.
"This is what I found in Harriet's dormitory before it got locked."Celia explained. "Her diary and an old love letter. In the diary mentions Harriet mentions she learns that she is not the biological daughter of Sir Spencer and believes someone wants to kill her."
"But why?"Fred asked with a hint of shock.
"That I don't know yet, but I have a plan for this, Inspector."Celia assured.
A police officer came into the room with Sir Spencer, Harriet's adopted father.
Sir Nicholas Spencer was a man with shaggy grey hair, black eyes and a stubble under his chin. He was dressed in a fine grey suit with black shoes.
"Have you found my daughter?"Nicholas asked with a hopeful expression.
"We are still looking for her and the other students, Sir Spencer."Fred stated. "We're doing everything we can."
"Really?"Nicholas said with a glare. "Because my own daughter is one of the students missing and no trace of them has bee found! Now I'd call that awfully far from doing everything!"
"Please calm down, sir."Fred instructed.
As Fred and Nicholas argued, Celia was lost in thoughts as she tried to connect the things she discovered.
The disappearances of the four missing students.
The old love letter.
The discovery of Harriet's adoption.
The murder of Mrs Burke.
An idea suddenly came into Celia's mind before her eyes widen a bit.
"So that's it..."Celia said in realisation.
The inspector and the nobleman looked at the bluenette.
"What is it, Celia?"Fred asked.
"All the pieces now make sense."Celia murmured before looking at the two men. "We are going to solve this case, but we are going to have to wait until night time. Here's what we'll do in the mean time..."
Later that Night...
When Shirreff Academy was empty, the big painting in the art room slowly started to open.
Four girls emerged out from the secret passage and all appeared to be wearing school uniforms.
The first girl had long, wavy, fair hair that reached the end of her backside and red eyes.
The second girl had long violet hair usually kept in pigtails with bangs that frame her face and golden brown eyes.
The third girl had wavy auburn hair, that she keeps tied into a ponytail with a yellow bow.
The fourth girl had short bright orange hair with a navy-blue headband and turquoise blue eyes. She had pale skin complexion with freckles on her cheeks and semi-rimless eyeglasses.
Their names were Harriet Spencer, Johanna Denham, Ariadne Rouselle and Maybelle Crannan.
The four girls that 'disappeared' in Shirreff Academy.
"It's all clear, girls."Johanna commented. "Nobody is here."
Light from torches suddenly shun at the four girls, revealing to be held by Celia, Inspector Abberline and two police officers.
"Actually, all of you are right on time."Celia added with a hint of amusement.
In the Tea Room...
"This is unacceptable!"
Harriet, Johanna, Ariadne and Maybelle all winced at Miss Shirreff's angry outburst as they sat at the same table.
"What were all of you girls thinking?!"Miss Shirreff scowled with a furious look. "Do you have any idea how worried your parents have been because of what you've done?! I was this close on planning the academy shut down because of your actions!"
"Miss Shirreff, please! It's all my fault!"Harriet declared in shame. "I thought my life was in danger! I am to blame for everything!"
"But your life was in danger."Fred admitted.
Celia came inside with Inspector Abberline and the police officers.
One of the police officers came forward and showed a white coat.
"Whose coat is this?"Celia asked.
"That is my coat."Louisa responded.
Celia placed her hand inside one of the pockets and took out a pistol inside, shocking Miss Shirreff, Mathilda, Louisa, Dolores and the four girls.
"This is the gun that killed Mrs Burke."Celia admitted.
"But wasn't Antonia stabbed to death?"Mathilda reminded.
"That's true, Miss Simmons."Celia agreed. "But to be honest, when Mrs Burke was found murdered there was also a wound at the back of her left leg. But this type of wound was one caused by a bullet. And there is no such thing as an unsolvable mystery."
All eyes landed on Louisa, who backed away in horror.
"No!"Louisa protested in shock. "I didn't do it! I am innocent!"
"Louisa, I never thought of you to be a cruel person."Dolores said in disappointment.
"Neither did I."Miss Shirreff retorted.
"It's not me!"Louisa argued. "I didn't murder Antonia!"
"We'll hear your excuse once we bring you to Scotland Yard."Fred stated.
Two police officers came forward to grab Louisa.
"Please! No!"Louisa protested. "I am not a murderer!"
"Inspector Abberline, you musn't rush things."Celia instructed.
"Huh?"Fred said in confusion.
Celia glared at Dolores.
"Miss Destin, you're the one who will be arrested."Celia announced.
Everyone became stunned at Celia's declaration as a scoff escaped Dolores' lips.
"Don't joke around, Lady Phantomhive."Dolores commented with an uneasy smile. "I would never kill somebody."
"You can drop the innocent act."Celia insisted with a frown and glanced at Inspector Abberline. "Can you tell me what you saw Miss Destin do a few moments ago, Inspector?"
"Miss Destin said she was going to the restroom because her stomach was hurting, so I followed her. But she headed to her own room, not the restroom."Fred admitted. "She opened a hidden panel and took out a pistol before putting it in the pocket of a white coat in the entrance hall."
"No! It's a lie!"Dolores accused. "I am not a murderer!"
"Also, inside the secret door, there was this bundle of Baron Michael's love letters."Fred added.
Fred placed two small sets of letters on the table.
Celia pointed at the wrapped letters and then the ones that were unwrapped.
"This is the bundle from before and this is the bundle I discovered. I'll read one of the letters I found."Celia explained and picked up one of the love letters. "Dolores, beautiful daughter of a Yorkshire priest, when I came back from this voyage, I'll convince your father no matter what. To Dolores, whom I love. The other letters are probably similar. Yet, during the year 1975, the Baron of Burnett was actually engaged to the Lady of Dalles. My Aunt, Madam Red."
Everyone gasped in pure shock at the declaration.
"You let me find only the love letters that didn't show that didn't show that it was my Aunt Angelina, but you were Baron Michael's fiancée."Celia stated and narrowed her eyes. "At first, I believed your self-made and self-acted act that your life was being threatened. Even in the case of the chocolates, when the maid gave you those treats from Mrs Hawkins and you acted as if the chocolates contained ipecac syrup."
Dolores looked away and glared at the ground.
"Hold on, Lady Phantomhive."Miss Shirreff spoke up. "If Dolores was the one who killed Mrs Burke, why would she plan to kill Harriet?"
Celia was silent for a moment before responding.
"I was told that my aunt's unborn baby was killed on the day its father died. But that night when I was looking for clues, I also found an adoption file hidden inside one of the drawers in the welfare."Celia admitted and held out an adoption file to open it. "Harriet Spencer. Born: March 15th 1876. Adopter: Sir Nicholas Spencer. Name of Birth Parents: Michael Burnett and...Angelina Dalles."
There was a dead silent in the room before Harriet's eyes widen in disbelief.
"So, this means I am your long lost cousin?"Harriet asked.
Celia nodded. "Yes."
The bluenette walked up to Dolores before taking out the missing key of the locked dormitory.
"And you were the one who planned to kill Harriet since you've been secretly coming to her dormitory to see if she would come back."Celia added and shook her head. "All this because she was the daughter of the man you loved."
Louisa glared at Dolores, who scoffed in respond.
"So it was you the one who caused that carriage accident that murdered Lord Burnett and injured his wife years ago, isn't?!"Louisa snapped in anger. "I lost my job as one of his house maids because of you!"
"Why would you do such a terrible thing, Miss Destin?"Maybelle asked.
A dark look appeared on Dolores's face as he clenched her fist.
"None of you would understand."Dolores retorted in a cold tone. "I was the one who loved that man first, but my father hated the rich. I loved him for his honesty and purity. Yet he fell in love with that woman on the first day he met her. And when I discovered his only child survived..."
Dolores suddenly launched forward to strangle Harriet, only to be quickly grabbed by the two officers.
"I would've taken pleasure for you to feel my pain just like your mother did."Dolores scowled.
Harriet looked at Dolores with a startled expression as her friends comforted her.
"In that case."Fred spoke up. "Miss Dolores, you are under arrest for the murder of Baron Burnett and Mrs Antonia Burke."
Inspector Abberline walked out with the two police officers dragging Dolores away.
Celia walked over Miss Shirreff and handed the key to her as Mathilda glanced at her.
"But why did Mrs Antonia Burke was murdered, Lady Celia?"Mathilda asked. "Weren't they childhood friends?"
"They were."Celia admitted and sighed. "But Mrs Burke was also actually Harriet's wet nurse before retiring. When Madam Red was taken to the hospital, a fake nurse hired by Miss Destin switched the healthy baby's position with a dead one. However, the new born infant was saved from murder by Mrs Burke and brought her to Sir Spencer since he didn't have any children."
"Harriet!"
Nicholas rushed into the tea room and hugged Harriet to see her alive.
"Your alive!"Nicholas remarked in joy. "I thought I would never see you again!"
"Father, I am so sorry!"Harriet cried as tears appeared in her eyes. "I didn't mean to make you all worried!"
Nicholas dried Harriet's tears away with a tissue.
"There. There. It's alright. I am sorry for doubting you."Nicholas apologised and smiled at Harriet's friends. "Thank you all of you for keeping my daughter save."
Johanna, Ariadne and Maybelle smiled at Nicholas.
"It's what best friends do, Sir Spencer."Maybelle remarked.
"I am very glad it's finally over."Ariadne added.
"Me too."Johanna agreed. "And no more hiding."
"But you do realise all of this will still need to be told off by your parents, correct?"Louisa reminded with a small glare. "Including discovering and using the academy's secret passages without permission."
Johanna, Ariadne and Maybelle sweat dropped at their teacher's respond.
"Yes, ma'am."Johanna, Ariadne and Maybelle answered in unison.
Miss Shirreff shook hands with Celia, thanking her for solving the case.
"Thank you, Lady Phantomhive."Miss Shirreff thanked. "I am forever in your debt for saving the lives of the students and the academy."
"You're welcome, Miss Shirreff."Celia said with a smile. "I did give you my word that I would solve this case before the end of the day. Now that my job is completed, I should go and report to the Queen."
Harriet looked at Celia.
"Hey, Celia."Harriet spoke up. "Since I have no memory of my birth mother, will you tell me about her? Father?"
"You have my support to know, my dear."Nicholas assured. "And you, Lady Phantomhive?"
Celia stopped at the entrance and glanced at Harriet with a smile on her face.
"Of course, I will tell you about her."Celia chuckled lightly. "We are cousins after all."
And here closes Celia's first solo case!
Next is the Cricket Tournament of Weston College! Until next time and Merry Christmas!