Disclaimer: I do not own Kaichou wa Maid-sama and P&P... all rights reserved to the owners...
Chapter 7:
If one sees Misaki's house in Elmswood on the outside, he or she may judge it as a very ordinary two-storey house made of red bricks and an ordinary roof, all ordinary by means, with a size that of a cottage. Although it is not large by area, on the other hand, the inside is very much comfortable to live (and was organized by the sisters, Misaki and Suzuna) and one may even say, if they enter the house, that the outside appearance does not reflect on what was on the inside. Every room had this very homey atmosphere which gave comfort to the tenants as well as the guests.
Of all these rooms, the sisters' favorite is the parlor. The parlor has a nicely-built fireplace, a couch and two comfortable armchairs; the floor covered by a carpet with beautiful and unique designs of flowers and trees woven by their mother years ago; on the corner near the entrance of the room, a cabinet filled with porcelain which were passed by their grandmothers, and on the opposite, a shelf filled with books which were collected and passed by their grandfathers. Years ago, as a family, they always relax on the same room, sipping tea, eating snacks or simply reading books and warming themselves by the fire to their hearts' content.
On such occasion, the night where Emile returned to the village and visited Misaki she herself welcomed the guest, who had a pair of dark blue eyes and a brown hair with a handsome face and cheerful demeanor, and led him to the parlour. Emile built fire in the fireplace while Misaki prepared tea. When she was finished, she served it and placed the tray on the small table between the two armchairs and both took a sip.
"Hmmm... Jasmine tea... after all these years you still make good tea, Misa," said Emile, "this came from your sister in London, right?"
"Oh yes," replied Misaki, "Suzuna sends me some stuff she purchased in London, some in which she won in lottery, though most of them came from contests in her school. Last time it was a tea set, I recall. So, are we not to discuss what you swore to tell me?"
"Oh yes, of course, Misa, my own story. Funny, we have been friends since we were little, yet you haven't known my family background," teased Emile.
"That's because I was too young to ask that, and you only came here every spring, to which, you stopped going since your father passed away," said Misaki.
"Alright, alright, so my story goes like this:
"My family served the Usui family for generations; my father was the late Mr. Usui's butler, and also who helps him in his business, and confidante. I grew up in the Usui mansion, together with the current Mr. Usui and also became my childhood friend. As you may know, the Usui family is a close relative of the Walker family, as well as the Everglotts..."
"He's brought up in a wealthy family, that I know, yet his manners were too impossible," Misaki remarked.
Emile smiled and said, "Actually, he's been like that, especially with other people outside his circle. But he's highly respected by his friends and family alike, and a very influential person. He's alike with his father, but the older Mr. Usui is much kinder, in fact, he was my godfather, and when my father died, he treated me like a son, for I was his favourite, the fact which made Mr. Takumi jealous of me. As the days passed by, his jealousy grew. I did mention that he's a very influential, right, Misa? (to which Misaki nodded) Well, he has displayed this on certain occasions, but of those I cannot forget the incident that happened with his cousin, the current head of the Walker family, Mr. Gerard Walker."
"Why, what happened?" asked Misaki.
"I recalled that Mr. Takumi was the very reason why Mr. Gerard and his former fiancée, Ms. Anne Scarlet, separated. Mr. Takumi used his influence to break those two, to which the older Mr. Walker agreed and ordered Mr. Gerard to break the engagement. I believe Mr. Takumi does not like Ms. Scarlet and made every possible way to separate them... I heard Ms. Scarlet told herself many times 'Had he not interfered, it should have gone well...'I very much pitied Mr. Gerard; he was so hurt, until he later married his best friend, Ms. Eloise..."
"How awful he is..." Misaki commented.
"But that's not all. It was not a year ago that he caused my misery."
"What do you mean?"
"Months later, after Mr. Walker's marriage, the older Mr. Usui died. On that night, before he breathed his last, he gave my parsonage on some village in which he was the patron, with additional thousand pounds so that I can start with my living, and he instructed his son, as well as Mr. Walker, for some reason, to fulfil his wishes, along with Mr. Takumi inheriting his estate. But instead, he gave it another man."
"How cruel!" remarked Misaki.
"And now, I am a poor soldier, too lowly to be recognized by anyone, except you, of course," said Emile.
"So that was the reason why he's like that," Misaki said.
"Let's stop talking about these things, Misa. Those were in the past. What about you, Misa, how you been? Are you working in a case?" asked Emile.
Emile also knew of Misaki being a detective, aside from Suzuna and her co-workers in the restaurant. And to which she replied, "Yes, now it is some murder in some aristocratic family"
"Oh, the murder in Chevalier manor. I heard it was Raven, the notorious thief, and that the victim was the poor Ms. Angelique, the daughter of Lady Annabel. I heard that Ms. Angelique was a beauty too, but then again, her murder was too brutal. It was something very sharp, I heard," Emile said.
Misaki felt an unknown feeling inside. She poured herself a cup of tea, drank it, and said, "Yes, I believe. In fact, the police are searching for Raven. By the way, may I ask, what was the connection of the Chevaliers and the Usuis?"
Emile replied, "As far as I know, they were business partners, as well as the Walkers and Everglotts. Is there and more inquiries?"
"No... no more... thank you."
After tea, Emile left and said goodbye. Misaki, on the other hand, still felt an unfamiliar feeling and was determined to end it, along with the case.
-0-
That morning, Ms. Satsuki visited Misaki, who was standing outside her house with her luggage, before Misaki's departure. Misaki told Ms. Satsuki about her conversation with Emile last night, to which Ms. Satsuki replied, "I believe, Misa, that no one is that cruel."
"But I think that there's a connection..."
"Oh, Ms. Satsuki, you're here..."
Both women turned towards the direction of the voice. It was Inspector Norris, in which he added, "Come, let's go, Miss Ayuzawa, we don't want to be late."
"By the way, Ms. Satsuki, the militia left by dawn, right? When will they be back?" asked Misaki.
"I believe they will be back weeks later, no one knows. I'll inform you, Misaki. Good luck," said Ms. Satsuki.
"Thank you, Ms. Satsuki," said Misaki and left, along with her luggage. The inspector bowed to her and joined Misaki; Ms. Satsuki left for the restaurant.
The Inspector and Misaki rode the carriage and to Nottingham they go.
-0-
It was already late in the afternoon when they arrived in Nottingham, where the Everglott palace was situated. The palace was five miles away from the town itself, and they were going there in the morning tomorrow for a visit. The moment they arrived at a lodge, Mrs. Norris welcomed them heartily; to Misaki, she said, "Misaki! It's such a very long time since we met! I trust that you are fine, are you not?"
"Thank you, Mrs. Norris, for the hearty welcome... by the bye, can I ask, why didn't you come with us?"
"Oh, I went here yesterday to reserve two rooms in this lodge. Don't worry, Misaki, we'll take care of you and tomorrow, we'll go shopping... speaking of which, I have to run to the markets to buy something. Dear! Please accompany me..."
"Hold your horses, Jane, let us settle first in the room, then we'll go."
For fifteen minutes, they settle in their rooms; the couple on one and Misaki the other, and the couple bade goodbye, saying that they will be back before supper. As Misaki arranged her belongings, then suddenly, she heard a knocked in her door.
'Who could that be? I expect no visitors here, and it cannot be them, it is too fast to be returning...' she thought, and then opened the door. As she saw the visitor, she could not help but stare at the man in front of her.
_END_
Sorry guys for the late update! As well as for the mistakes and that Usui is not here yet, and for the confusion that I gave you, so feel free to ask anything...
By the way, I may be busy for the next weeks... but I'll try to update weekly...
Thank you for those who supported, read, reviewed, and who added my story to their favourites and story alerts... I hope you could stop by and review, though the "drama" (if there is...) is not yet here... and yeah, I'm very mean for leaving you a cliffhanger...
So... yeah... thanks and happy reading!
Lovelots!
