Chapter 2 is finally here! *cheers*
Thank you all for the positive reviews! I didn't expect that many. :)
Sorry for making you all sad, though. I hate making Miles sad in my stories, too! :'c
*sobs*
In this chapter, we are introduced to someone totally new! She's absolutely perfect for this chapter. (Know who it is now? :D)
Will she discover Miles? Will she take pity on him? Most importantly...will she whip anyone?!
Time to find out! X3
Franziska von Karma stormed down the hallway, clutching her trusty riding crop in her right hand more tightly than usual. For a seven-year-old still attending school she could be quite the perfectionist and was angered extremely easily; but today, she had a valid reason for her attitude:
Something was up with Miles Edgeworth.
I thought that my foolish brother was just slacking off, but I can't find him anywhere!
Still…he has to be here. On the honour of the von Karma name, I swear that he's here!
Contrary to her former belief, Miles Edgeworth had not been here for over twenty minutes, and Franziska was slowly getting annoyed with her predicament. Feeling anger rising up inside of her every second, she cursed the world under her breath and firmly resolved to punish her little brother when he was finally found. After a moment if thought, she came to a halt in the hallway, shaking her head.
Calm down, Franziska. A von Karma must create a perfect plan of action, and certainly cannot do so when about to lose their cool!
Taking a few deep breaths, Franziska decided on a plan. First, she would go to Father and- trying her utmost best to not annoy him while he was working- ask him if he knew of Miles' whereabouts.
According to her logic and knowledge of her own residence, Manfred von Karma was an expert on knowing where everyone and everything was; after all, he was a very organised man. It was impossible that he wouldn't know where Miles was, and Franziska was sure of it- it often seemed to her as if Manfred was keeping a close eye on him for some reason.
Franziska smirked as she walked up to the mahogany door of Manfred's office, her eyes gleaming.
It was a plan that exceeded even her highest standards; it was foolproof, impossible to fail and to top it off, it had a satisfying result.
What else could possibly be needed?
Someone to abide by it, of course. Father would be proud of me, I bet, with my competence and my admirable…what was the word?…sagacity. Yes, that's it! I remember that Father said that word once and had to explain its definition to my brother and his foolish lack of knowledge.
…And myself.
Mentally reminding herself to use the word 'sagacity' in the next conversation she would have, Franziska remembered something.
Speaking of my brother…I best get on with what I planned to do five minutes ago!
Franziska stood back, straightened her shoulders, and knocked on the door three times; it was a von Karma tradition and one of the many rules Franziska had been brought up with.
"Come in…"
Franziska felt herself starting to get a little nervous at her father's tone. It seemed as if he was furious and about to burst at any moment, and Franziska wondered if was her fault- but the truth suddenly dawned on her.
What if it wasn't me that annoyed Father, but Miles…?
Pushing the door aside, Franziska stepped in and placed her hands behind her back, preparing to speak. Silence, however, reigned over the room for many elongated moments, and Franziska finally worked out that Manfred had not heard her enter. Looking up at his desk, Franziska could see her father furrowing his brow and working hard on a case file, pressing his pencil so hard onto the paper that the lead snapped all of a sudden and he went to get another one- but Franziska got there first and handed him a perfectly sharpened HB that would cater for all his needs.
"Here you go, Father. I have here a HB pencil for you to use in your work."
A ghost of a smile appeared on Manfred's lips as he walked back to his desk and sat down.
"Thank you, Franziska. I trust that your work so far has been perfect?"
"Yes, Father."
"And your studies of the two most important rules of evidence law immaculate?"
"Yes, Father."
"Prove it."
Franziska bit her lip. One thing she hated above all else was being put on the spot with no time to find a logical explanation for things. Sadly, however, she would have to get over it in time for her to become a prosecutor and fulfil her dream- for who can continue the great legacy of von Karma when they are yet to achieve perfection?
"The first rule of e-evidence law is, 'N-no evidence shall be shown-"
Manfred frowned as Franziska started to tremble under her father's gaze. Sometimes, she was too scared to admit it, but being under this much pressure wasn't exactly her forte, especially when trying to impress a fellow von Karma. Franziska took a moment to calm herself down by staring attentively at the pot plant that her father had placed in the corner of the room only a few weeks ago. Franziska liked it; the exotic green plant with its many leaves gave off an extremely calming aura and that, she reckoned, was the only plausible way someone could be calm in the face of her father.
"Do not stutter, Franziska. Start from the beginning and repeat the rules again."
She swallowed hard and felt a lump from in her throat as she proceeded, with great caution, to complete the task she had been asked to do.
"The first rule is, 'No evidence shall be shown without the approval of the Police Department.'
The second rule is, 'Unregistered evidence presented must be relevant to the case in trial.'"
Manfred nodded, and Franziska gazed up at him hopefully.
"Well done. I see you have studied well today, Franziska. Keep this up, and you may just have a chance when you're older." Manfred announced, a grin upon Franziska's face. She looked extremely proud of herself.
"Thank you, Father."
"Franziska… I've seen many defence attorneys who don't follow that last rule. Their whole lives seem to be made for bluffing, pathetic though it is, and protecting guilty people who have no shame at all."
Manfred loudly banged his fiat on the desk, causing Franziska to flinch and step backwards a little.
"Will you allow them to do this when you earn your rightful place as their rival?"
"N-no, Father!" Franziska exclaimed. She had never even thought about defence attorneys cheating, of all things- and her father was right to try and stop them. After all, cheating was something he'd never do, even if he aspired for a perfect record.
Franziska's eyes narrowed.
"I will not stand for such disgrace when I am a prosecutor."
Manfred smirked. "Very good. You will honour the von Karma name perfectly."
Franziska felt herself grinning again, feelings of great pride threatening to make her act foolish for a second- then snapped back to reality, remembering something.
This isn't why I'm here, is it?
"Father?"
"Yes, Franziska?"
"Do you know where Miles could be? I have been looking for him for some time now, and I thought that you would be able to tell me where he is."
Manfred's expression turned blank.
"I…I'm sure he's in his room, studying, as usual. What of it?"
That irritated tone again. Franziska was started to feel sorry for both Miles and her father, as the two must have had some sort of argument. If her own whip was intimidating, Manfred while angry was going to be the worst nightmare possible…
"N-nothing, Father." Franziska shifted from one foot to the other. "I suppose I'll take my leave."
Manfred looked up from his work as Franziska walked out of the door and shut it behind her slowly, as to not disturb him again. Smiling, Manfred took out Franziska's pencil and looked at it proudly, delighted at the progress his daughter was making. There was no doubt in anyone's minds that Franziska was the true heir of von Karma.
"Goodbye, Franziska."
As soon as she was sure her father could not hear her, Franziska sprinted down the corridor, took a sharp left turn and flung open the second-to-last door on the left.
"Miles Edgeworth! You have a lot of explaining to do!"
Miles Edgeworth half-heartedly turned around, his tear-stained face rapidly hit by Franziska's trusty weapon. He had been sitting at his desk, working- or so it may have seemed, if it wasn't for an untouched case file lying on the floor, its contents strewn out across the floor. It must have been either thrown or knocked off as, upon further inspection from Franziska, it became apparent that it had hit the ground with some force.
"Miles Edgeworth, have you been slacking?! Look at what you've done to this case file! You shall not be able to replace something of this quality, not shall you be able to return it to its former perfect status. You are a fool, and Papa is angry at you, so you better get back to work!"
Miles looked shocked for a moment at Franziska's sudden shouting fit, then glared back at Franziska and swiftly turned away from her.
"What I have been doing is none of your business." he coldly replied, clutching his arm. Franziska shuddered at how fierce he sounded, yet felt herself getting angrier with her brother every moment that passed.
"I have been worried sick about you, Miles Edgeworth! At least tell me if you are alright!"
Silence.
Franziska turned on her heel and stormed towards the open door, preparing to leave- but something
near the wall to her right caught her eye and she took the time to investigate. A small calendar had been ripped off its usual spot on the wall and the nail that usually held it up was nowhere to be found.
Franziska bit her lip.
That could be dangerous, just lying on the floor like that. Miles Edgeworth will find it later, or I will search his room until it is removed from its current spot and put it back where it should be.
Picking up the calendar, Franziska saw that a date had been circled in bright red highlighter, with a note reading, 'My birthday! Make sure to ask Sir if I can have the day off.'
Today's date.
Franziska gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She glanced at Miles, then at the calendar, then back at Miles.
Miles, calendar, Miles, calendar, Miles, calendar.
As much as it seemed quite a trivial thing, Franziska was still having a hard time believing it.
Y-your birthday? Today?!
I never knew of this!
"Why didn't you just tell me about today, Miles? I could have helped you!"
After several moments of silence, Franziska knew that she wouldn't get another word out of Miles in this manner. As she was thinking of something to do, a plan suddenly hatched inside of her head.
She slowly placed the calendar under her arm, all the while contemplating how deep in trouble she would be if she was caught, closed the door behind her as she left the room, and head down the corridor towards the kitchen, her head held high and a determined look upon her face.
Don't worry, Miles Edgeworth.
You will celebrate today, and if you won't bother to make it happen, I will take matters into my own hands.