The person who had called out to Bella was Inspector Arthur-a man in his late fifties, with strict but not harsh features. He wore medical glasses resting firmly on his nose, and a neatly groomed mustache sat above his upper lip. He was dressed in a white shirt, dark brown trousers, and a long, loose light-brown coat that gave him a classic look, one that suggested experience… and perhaps a bit of stubbornness as well.
Bella stepped toward him calmly and offered a polite smile as she extended her hand.
"Pleased to meet you, sir."
Inspector Arthur shook her hand and introduced himself in a steady voice:
"Inspector Arthur."
Then he gave a slight bow of his head in respect for her status-no exaggeration, no stiffness.
Amélie and Sebastian stepped closer and stood directly behind Bella. The inspector noticed them and shifted his gaze to them with clear professional interest.
Bella said calmly,
"This is Miss Amélie, daughter of Marquis Edgar."
The inspector greeted her with a brief, formal smile, then Bella continued,
"And this is Sebastian, my personal guard."
The inspector nodded to him in acknowledgment, and Sebastian returned a small bow without speaking.
Once the introductions were over, the atmosphere changed immediately.
Politeness ended… and seriousness began.
The four of them continued walking down the stone stairs, and the inspector opened his mental notebook before opening his mouth:
"Miss Bella… I want you to tell me exactly: what did you see? What did you hear? And why were you there in the first place?"
Bella took a calm breath, as if she had been expecting the question, and began in a steady tone:
"First, I heard a gunshot. I was walking near Colonnade Grove… I only wanted to return to the palace after taking a short break for some fresh air."
The inspector gave her a brief look, and she continued without hesitation:
"Then, because of that curiosity instinct we humans apparently never outgrow, I followed the sound. At first I found nothing, but while checking the area, I noticed bloodstains… I followed them and found Mr. Smith's body."
She paused for a second, then added,
"I returned immediately and informed His Majesty and the Queen."
The inspector raised an eyebrow slightly.
"And your leaving the hall?"
Bella gave a small sideways smile, not without a hint of sarcasm.
"I'm human, Inspector. I need air… or let's be honest: a bathroom break. The performance was going to last two full hours, and I'm not a statue."
A brief silence… then the inspector nodded in understanding.
"And exactly when did you hear the gunshot? The time?"
For a second, Bella's mind drifted back to the opera hall…
She saw herself sitting there, half-asleep, after Amory had woken her. The show was still going, and she was bored. Painfully bored.
She casually slid her hand into Amory's jacket pocket, with the skill of a professional pickpocket, pulled out his phone without him noticing, and checked the screen.
8:42 PM.
She sighed in annoyance, slipped the phone back just as smoothly while Amory remained absorbed in the performance, then straightened up and left the hall without anyone noticing.
She returned to the present and said confidently,
"I left the hall at 8:42 PM. I stayed outside for about fifteen to seventeen minutes… and in the last few minutes, I heard the gunshot. So, between 8:56 and 8:57 PM."
The inspector stopped walking and looked at her for a long moment… then let out a soft laugh-the laugh of a man who had found exactly what he was looking for.
"Very precise."
Then he added teasingly,
"Perfectly matches the forensic report. Exactly what I'd expect from a clever young lady… despite her obvious hatred for physics and mathematics."
Bella's eyes widened in shock.
"…What?"
At the same moment, Amélie lightly slapped her palm to her face.
"Oh my God…"
Sebastian simply let out a long sigh, as if to say, why is it always like this?
Bella looked at both of them, then let out a short, nervous laugh.
"Well… I didn't mean to expose myself like that."
Then she added apologetically,
"I'm sorry… really."
Inspector Arthur smiled as he mentally closed his notebook, now more certain than ever that this case… would not be easy at all.
He thanked Bella for her cooperation and the information she provided, then said in a firm, professional tone that allowed no argument:
"However, according to procedure, I must ask you to come with me. You were the first to find the body… and so far, the only witness."
Bella showed no objection. She nodded in understanding, as if she had expected this decision from the very beginning.
But before she could take even one step-
"BEEEEEEELLLLLAAAAAA!!!"
The shout tore through the space from the top of the stairs.
Everyone froze and looked up toward the source of the voice. Bella's eyes widened instantly.
Jax.
He was standing at the top of the stairs, his face flushed, his voice far louder than it should be, shouting with all the strength he had:
"Bella is innocent! She didn't kill anyone!"
Amélie whispered as she turned to Bella in clear shock,
"…Who is this child? And how does he know you?"
Inside, Bella muttered with sharp sarcasm:
Damn it… of all times, now?
Jax didn't wait for permission. He rushed down the stairs, his steps fast and unsteady, like someone in a race he absolutely could not lose. Bella took an instinctive step toward him-then stopped, realizing there was no way to stop him.
Jax finally reached her and threw himself at her feet, hugging her with all his small strength. Then he lifted his head and looked at the inspector with eyes filled with more anger than you'd expect from a child.
"She didn't kill the man! She was with me! I saw her! She didn't do anything!"
Then he added with almost comically serious innocence,
"Don't put her in jail with criminals… she's kind."
A heavy silence fell.
Bella immediately covered her face with one hand, placing the other on her hip, as if life had personally decided to exhaust her on this exact day.
Amélie stared at the scene in complete disbelief, while Sebastian opened his mouth slightly, then closed it, trying to process what was happening.
As for Inspector Arthur… it looked like his brain needed a moment to reboot.
Then-
Amélie burst out laughing.
"No-no. This is the best thing I've seen all day."
She looked at Bella with genuine admiration and said,
"Seems you've got yourself a personal defense lawyer… in pocket size."
Bella sighed behind her hand and said in a tired voice,
"Please… not now."
Inspector Arthur finally cleared his throat, regaining his composure, and bent slightly toward the child.
"Well then, brave young man… what's your name?"
Jax lifted his head proudly.
"Jackson. Little Jackson."
Then he added quickly, as if afraid of being interrupted,
"And I hope you don't put Bella in jail, because my mom and some not-so-nice ladies were saying that… but she's not bad. Not at all."
The inspector's eyebrows rose slowly, while Amélie and Sebastian exchanged a silent look that carried one meaning only:
This case is officially out of control.
As for Bella… she was still standing there, half embarrassed and half touched, seriously wondering whether this child had just saved her… or dragged her into even deeper trouble.
Inspector Arthur smiled slightly-the kind of smile you can't tell is purely professional… or if his heart had softened in front of such a stubborn child. He adjusted his glasses and said calmly,
"Well then, little Jackson… your statement has been recorded."
Jax's eyes widened in surprise.
"Really?"
"Really."
Then he added in a serious tone, turning his gaze to Bella:
"But that does not exempt the young lady from following procedure."
Jax lowered his head slightly, as if he had lost half the battle, but he didn't give up. He tightened his grip around Bella's leg and said stubbornly,
"Okay… but don't scare her."
Bella let out a long breath, then bent down and knelt on one knee until she was at his eye level. She gently moved his hand away from her leg and placed both her palms on his shoulders.
"Jax… you're very brave. But now you need to go back to your parents."
He shook his head stubbornly.
"I won't leave you."
She looked at him with that familiar expression-a mix of warmth and firmness that allowed no argument.
"Do you trust me?"
He hesitated for a moment… then nodded slowly.
"Then do what I ask. Go back quietly, and don't say anything to anyone. Do you understand?"
Jax sighed, the sigh of a child surrendering to a higher command.
"…I understand."
He finally stood up, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, then looked at the inspector with a strangely funny warning glare.
"If anything happens to her… I'll talk."
Amélie nearly choked from laughing, while Sebastian turned his face slightly, trying to maintain his dignity… and failing.
Jax finally walked away, turning back every few steps to look at Bella, until he disappeared at the top of the stairs.
A short silence followed.
Then Amélie said dryly,
"Well… if that wasn't the strangest alibi I've ever witnessed, I don't know what is."
Inspector Arthur gave a sideways smile.
"I'll admit… this is the first time I've been threatened by a witness who's seven years old."
Bella finally stood, straightened her black jacket, and her expression returned to calm and composed, as if the awkward moment had never happened.
"Shall we go now?"
The inspector nodded.
"Yes, Miss Leclair."
She moved with them, walking steadily between Sebastian and Amélie, but her mind was racing.
Jax had told the truth…
but truth alone was not enough.
The killers were still at large…
and they had made only one mistake.
A very faint smile formed on her lips.
One mistake…
and she was very good at exploiting mistakes.
After the adults had moved some distance away, Jax stopped at the top of the stairs, watching them until the space between them was clearly wide enough. He hesitated for two seconds… then told himself:
Just one minute. I'll listen… then I'll go back. Honor's promise.
(a promise he knew very well he never actually kept.)
He slipped down quietly, taking small, careful steps, head lowered and shoulders tense, like he had walked into a spy movie with zero budget. His heart was pounding-not from fear, but from excitement mixed with dangerously stubborn curiosity.
Bella said: go back…
But his mind finished the sentence immediately:
But Bella might be in danger.
And just as he took another step forward, someone appeared in front of him-
Him.
A perfect copy of himself: same height, same features… but dressed in long, pure white clothes. His face was calm, skin pale, eyes filled with unsettling wisdom.
The white figure said in a balanced voice,
"Jax… you promised her. Going back now is the right decision."
Jax frowned and said,
"I know, but-"
Before he could finish-
Another figure appeared from the opposite side.
The same copy, but dressed in black: loose black pants, a black jacket with nothing underneath, darker skin, a sly sideways smile, hands in his pockets, and a voice low and confident:
"Oh no, no… listen to me. Don't be boring. If you go back now, you'll spend your whole life wondering: what if?"
The white one stepped forward and said,
"Keeping your word is not weakness. Bella asked you for a reason."
The black one laughed mockingly.
"Asked? No. She ordered. And are we soldiers? We're the heroes of this story."
Jax looked around nervously and whispered,
"Lower your voices! Someone might see me talking to myself!"
Black replied instantly,
"No one notices children. That's the best thing about your age."
White frowned and said firmly,
"And the most dangerous."
Jax took a step forward… then stopped. He looked toward where the four were-the inspector, Bella, Amélie, and Sebastian-moving slowly near Colonnade Grove, speaking in serious tones.
He said hesitantly,
"I just… want to make sure she's okay."
White stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She will be fine. Trust her."
At the same time, Black leaned close and whispered in his ear,
"And if she's not? Who will save her? The inspector? The guard? Or a smart kid who saw everything?"
Jax clenched his fists.
He took a deep breath… then said firmly,
"Five minutes. Just five minutes."
Black smiled in victory.
And White closed his eyes in silent sadness.
In that moment, Jax slipped quietly between the trees again, crouching, hiding behind columns, watching them from a safe distance…
Not realizing that such a small step
could drag him into something far greater
than he had ever imagined.
In Colonnade Grove, guards and police were spread throughout the area, moving carefully between the marble columns and neatly arranged trees, while several forensic doctors worked silently near the site of the body.
Inspector Arthur walked forward with steady steps, accompanied by three others: Amélie, Sebastian, and Bella. He spoke while pointing to a patch of ground surrounded by security tape.
"We found a hole here that was dug recently, then hastily filled in again. The way the soil was replaced clearly shows urgency."
One of the officers bent slightly to examine the dirt, while the inspector continued,
"We are currently searching for the digging tool used. Most likely a shovel. If we find it, it may carry the owner's fingerprints… and possibly the killer's as well."
Sebastian looked up and asked,
"Have the suspects been narrowed down?"
The inspector replied without hesitation,
"No one is excluded. Guards, servants, farmers-everyone who was in the palace that night. But the problem is that each of them has a preliminary alibi."
Bella listened in silence, her eyes moving between the ground and their faces, until she said calmly,
"Have the rooms been searched?"
The inspector looked at her and nodded.
"Yes, and the search is still ongoing. This palace is enormous, and it wouldn't be difficult to hide a small tool almost anywhere."
He paused, then added while pointing at one of the pieces of evidence,
"The victim was holding her phone when she was found. When we checked it, we found nothing relevant-no messages, no calls, no photos."
Amélie raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"But the phone was taken as evidence?"
"Of course. Just the fact that she was holding it at that moment raises questions."
Before the inspector could continue, Bella spoke lightly, looking thoughtful, as if thinking out loud:
"It's possible she was holding the phone because she had proof of the killer's identity… and maybe the killer erased that evidence in a hurry, then fled, leaving the phone behind. Or… maybe she was already holding the phone, and the weapon was aimed at her immediately."
A brief silence fell.
Bella immediately realized she had overstepped her role, so she corrected herself and said calmly:
"I apologize for interfering."
But the inspector didn't seem bothered. On the contrary, he nodded in agreement and said:
"No need to apologize, Miss Leclair. What you said is a logical possibility-one that deserves to be taken into consideration."
Amélie and Sebastian exchanged a quick glance, while Bella returned to her silence, her eyes fixed on the refilled ground.
As they continued their discussion, nearby-inside the dense green bushes-Jax was hiding, watching the scene with obvious amazement and sincere admiration.
Everything in front of him looked exactly like what he had seen in movies, not real life: the large number of police officers, the guards spread across every corner, and the doctors moving with precise coordination.
And yet, somehow, he-a seven-year-old child-had managed to sneak into this place without anyone noticing.
His gaze was fixed on Bella, watching her carefully, trying to make sure she wasn't in any danger.
But with one small mistake, he shifted slightly…
A faint sound slipped out.
The sound caught Bella's attention-and the others'.
Before he could hide again, Bella's eyes met his.
Only Bella's.
She showed no anger or annoyance-just a calm, neutral look, completely unreadable.
After a brief moment, everyone went back to what they were doing, as if nothing had happened.
As for Jax, he struggled to catch his breath, his heart pounding hard.
He thought they had seen him… but then he realized no one was looking his way.
He let out a long breath of relief.
But before he could fully relax, he heard a calm voice behind him say:
"What are you doing here?"
He froze in shock.
Slowly, he lifted his head…
And found Bella standing there, leaning her shoulder against a nearby tree trunk, arms folded loosely over her chest, looking at him with a quiet, sideways smile.
Jax stared at her in disbelief, then whispered in surprise:
"How… how did you see me? And why didn't I hear you coming?"
She replied calmly:
"Because I'm not as careless as the others. And as for why you didn't hear me-I don't know."
Then her tone shifted slightly:
"But more importantly… why did you follow us? Didn't I tell you to go back?"
Jax's shoulders dropped, his face clouded with sadness. Then he straightened and said with honest innocence:
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to disobey you. I was just worried about you. That's all."
Then he looked up at her, using that familiar look: wide, shining, innocent eyes… a silent plea.
Bella tried not to look at him. She turned her face slightly away…
Then looked back.
Then away again.
Finally, she sighed in surrender:
"Alright… I accept your apology."
Then she quickly composed herself and said with firmness that failed to hide her kindness:
"But you have to go back now. This place isn't safe."
Jax shook his head.
"No."
Bella gave him a stern look:
"Jax, I said go back."
So he looked up again…
And used his final weapon:
those wide, shining, pleading eyes, as if saying, don't leave me alone.
Bella tried to resist.
She really did.
But-
At that moment, Amélie and Sebastian were standing near the inspector, who was speaking with one of the officers. They happened to glance over… and noticed Bella walking back toward them.
She wasn't alone.
She was holding Jax's hand, and he was walking with clear excitement, looking around with sparkling eyes.
Sebastian lowered his voice and asked, confused:
"Why did you bring him?"
Amélie added, giving Bella a reproachful look:
"Yes, why?"
Bella sighed, helpless:
"He defeated me with his cute eyes."
Then she added with another sigh:
"I'll watch him myself. He'll stay with me and won't leave my side."
She looked at them steadily:
"Nothing will happen to him."
Jax smiled brightly at them…
officially considering himself part of the team.
When Inspector Arthur turned around, he noticed little Jax walking with them. He looked surprised, then smiled gently and said:
"And what is this little one doing here?"
Jax looked at him with confident, brave eyes and said clearly:
"I came to protect Bella from the bad guys."
Inspector Arthur laughed.
Amélie laughed too, while Sebastian tried to keep it together-but tilted his head back and failed to hide his laugh.
As for Bella, she played along, pretending to be slightly scared in front of little Jax, acting like someone who needed saving.
---
Several hours later, Bella was walking back to the palace with Jax. It was late, and Jax needed to sleep.
That was Bella's decision-and since Jax refused to leave her, she went with him, leaving Sebastian and Amélie to take over in her place.
Jax held Bella's large hand, while Bella gently held his small one.
Bella looked at him curiously and asked:
"Forgive me for asking, but where is your mother? And why aren't you with her?"
Sadness appeared on Jax's face. Bella understood immediately and apologized softly for asking.
Jax replied quietly:
"I love my mom, but I feel like she only takes care of me out of duty. In front of others, she pretends to be loving, and I'm happy when she's with me… but she's not around much. They're both gone a lot, and it's rare to see my mom and dad at home. That's why I'd rather stay with you now."
Bella felt deep sadness for what this little boy was living through-and for the way he spoke, far too mature for his age.
To change the mood, she started joking with him, trying to make him laugh.
Thankfully, it worked.
Before they reached his parents' bedroom, Bella knelt down on one knee to reach his height, gently held his hand, and said warmly but seriously:
"I'll be with you from now on and forever. I won't leave you, and I'm your friend now. And with time, I'll try to get to know your parents too, so I can stay with you and visit whenever you want me to come."
Jax's eyes lit up with happiness.
"Really?"
Bella smiled confidently:
"I wouldn't lie to you. I promise."
The moment he heard that, Jax threw his arms around her in a tight hug, forgetting status and rules, hugging her like a child hugging a loving mother.
Bella smiled softly and hugged him back, as if they were sharing a feeling they both needed:
the hug of a son… and the hug of a mother.
After a moment, Jax stepped back, thanked her, and waved happily.
Bella knocked gently on the door. A young woman opened it-the same assistant who had been taking care of him earlier.
Jax gave Bella one last look, then went inside, and the door closed behind him.
Bella let out a quiet breath of relief and smiled lightly, then walked away toward her own room, just as she had promised Jax.
---
Late at night, in the shadows of the Versailles Palace gardens, two figures moved cautiously between the trees. One of them held a small flashlight to light their way. It was four in the morning, and the palace was completely asleep, everyone inside deep in slumber.
The two men were Mr. Bruce, holding the light, and Mr. Julian, carrying a shovel.
They approached the Colonnade Grove-specifically the same hole they had dug earlier. Julian began digging again, while Bruce watched him nervously, warning:
"Be careful not to make any noise… the palace is full of people this time, and some police are still around. No one must discover us."
Their concern for others was secondary; what truly mattered was hiding the murder weapon:
a pistol wrapped in a thick white kitchen towel, decorated with sunflower patterns.
As Julian dug, Bruce criticized every movement-his method, the noise, the slow speed.
Julian snapped and raised his voice angrily:
"This is all because of you! If you hadn't killed that man named Smith, we wouldn't be in this mess. We were supposed to continue searching for the machine, but now everyone is looking for us!"
Bruce sighed, trying to defend himself:
"If I hadn't done it, we would've been exposed while trying to steal the machine. The boss wants the machine to stay completely secret-no one can know about it. We can hide the weapon here, and no one will search here again, because they already checked this place and found nothing. We just finish digging, hide the gun, remove the shovel marks, and it'll be like nothing ever happened."
Julian rolled his eyes in irritation, and Bruce shoved him lightly to make him keep working.
Julian continued digging in silence, while Bruce's eyes followed every move.
At the same time, on a nearby tree trunk, someone stood hidden in the shadows, watching the two men closely. It seemed he was holding an audio recorder, capturing everything they said.
On another tree, someone else was taking photos using a smart camera that emitted no light or sound-yet the images were perfectly clear, without distortion.
After finishing their task, both men quietly left the area without anyone noticing. They took their evidence with them, leaving the hole behind as if nothing had ever happened.
•••
One day later…
In the vast green field, where the grass stretched like an emerald velvet carpet under daylight, all eyes turned toward Bella the moment she entered.
She was riding her strong brown horse-its body tense, muscles clearly defined, steps steady, as if it sensed what awaited it.
Bella wore a white-and-red riding uniform, perfectly tailored, highlighting her straight posture and quiet confidence. Her hair was neatly tied up, her features calm… but her eyes were alert, watching every detail around her.
At the first signal, the horse moved forward in steady strides, and the performance began.
The pair moved in striking harmony:
a wide turn, then a sharp pivot,
short, precisely calculated jumps,
and a sudden halt at the edge of the field, as if time itself paused for a moment.
Bella guided the horse with barely visible gestures:
a slight pressure of the knee,
a subtle lean of her torso,
and a steady hand that never hesitated.
Then the level of the performance rose.
She urged the horse into a fast run-it surged forward powerfully, hooves striking the ground in a steady rhythm-before she made it stop abruptly, rearing up on its hind legs in a perfectly executed display move.
Whispers of admiration spread among the nobles, while Bella remained steady-no flinch, no smile… just complete control.
She followed with a series of complex movements:
jumping over low barriers,
spinning on the spot,
then an elegant side-step walk that showed elite-level training.
This was not merely a show of strength, but a silent dialogue between rider and horse-trust, respect, and control without cruelty.
When she finished, she gradually slowed the horse, guiding it into a calm walk, then stopped in the center of the field.
She bowed lightly and patted her horse's neck in appreciation, while silence fell for a few seconds… before applause erupted.
But behind the admiration, sharper eyes-the king's and his men's-were watching Bella not just as a rider,
but as someone who knew more than she showed…
and hid behind her elegance secrets that were not yet buried.
Bella left the field calmly, leading her horse after completing her role in the show with clear success. The neighing of other horses still echoed in the background as she headed toward the resting area for riders.
Before she could take more steps, she heard two voices calling her name.
"Bella!"
She turned and saw Princesses Ivana and Clarissa approaching with bright smiles.
They were wearing elegant riding outfits:
Ivana in black trimmed with purple, giving her a strong and commanding presence,
and Clarissa in pink and red, reflecting her usual lively energy.
Bella smiled immediately, stopped walking, and bowed politely.
"Your Highness Princess Ivana, Your Highness Princess Clarissa," she said smoothly, keeping protocol, with a friendly smile that didn't hide how close they were.
But Clarissa frowned in clear annoyance.
"What's with the formal greeting?" she said, waving her hand. "We're childhood friends! And we entered the military academy together-we spent half our lives in the same training grounds!"
Ivana supported her with a soft smile and a nod.
"She's right."
Bella laughed lightly and said jokingly,
"If we were alone, I'd never do that. But we're in public right now… and at least we should respect protocol."
Then she added honestly and sarcastically,
"Though, to be fair, I've broken protocol more times than I should."
All three burst out laughing.
The princesses began praising her performance enthusiastically-Clarissa admired the precision of the movements, while Ivana focused on Bella's clear control over the horse. Bella thanked them calmly, and as they spoke, an assistant approached. Bella handed him the horse, and he led it toward the resting area.
Bella let out a more relaxed breath and turned back to them.
Then she said sincerely,
"By the way, your performance was wonderful, Ivana. Your opening of the field was perfect."
Ivana's face immediately turned red, and she played the shy act, placing a hand on her cheek.
"Oh, stop it… you're exaggerating."
They laughed again.
Clarissa suddenly sighed.
"My turn is coming soon… and I'm actually nervous. I'm scared I'll mess up."
Bella raised an eyebrow and said sarcastically,
"You? Mess up? Now that would be the real show."
Clarissa gasped dramatically and started lightly hitting Bella's arm.
"Stop it! Encourage me instead!"
Bella laughed as she took the hits without resistance, while Ivana didn't even try to stop them-she just laughed along, enjoying the scene.
At that moment, Amélie approached them, greeted the princesses politely, then turned to Bella.
"Bella, I need you with me for a moment. There's an important matter related to the company."
At first, Bella didn't understand-she looked distracted for a second… then quickly caught on, her expression shifting into focused awareness.
"Oh," she said calmly.
She turned to the princesses and apologized with a smile.
"Forgive me, but I at least owe you both a cup of tea later."
Clarissa smiled and waved her hand.
"We won't forget."
Ivana added playfully,
"We'll keep score."
Bella waved to them as she walked away with Amélie, leaving their laughter behind, blending with the sounds of the field…
and with it, a faint feeling that this moment of calm would not last long.
---
Elsewhere in the palace gardens, far from the field and the noise of the performances, Mr. Bruce stood speaking into his smartphone, trying to appear casual while forcing a light laugh that couldn't hide his nervousness.
On the other end of the call was the boss-the man Bruce had been whispering about for days.
Beside Bruce stood Mr. Julian, arms crossed, jaw tight, eyes burning with suppressed anger.
Bruce spoke while nothing could be heard from the other side.
"It… wasn't intentional. The man was a noble… he was killed by mistake."
He suddenly stopped, swallowed, as if hearing a response he didn't like.
Tension immediately showed on his face.
"His name is Smith," he continued quickly, "and he… recorded us. Video. It shows the digging… and our talk about the machine."
He fell silent again.
This time, his anxiety was more obvious.
"I'm sorry… yes, I admit we hid it. But-"
He stopped once more, lowering his voice.
It was clear the boss was not satisfied. At all.
Bruce took a deep breath, then said, trying to soften things:
"The case was completely closed yesterday. Smith was buried in a cemetery near the palace, and no one suspects anything."
A longer silence followed.
Bruce hesitated before continuing, as if the words were heavy on his tongue.
"The location… that was marked on the paper. We dug the exact diameter, precisely. We found nothing."
He paused.
Then added quickly, as if justifying himself:
"We're sure. We dug again the night before last… no trace of the machine."
Another moment of silence.
Then Bruce said in a more obedient tone:
"We understand. We'll dig a third time… with a wider diameter this time. Yes… understood. Understood…"
The call ended.
Bruce lowered his hand and let out a long breath, as if a weight had lifted off his chest.
But the calm didn't last.
"I am not a digging tool!" Julian exploded in anger. "We're repeating the same mistake. Someone will catch us-I can feel it!"
Bruce waved him off dismissively.
"If your feeling were right, we'd have been caught a long time ago. Be quiet and get ready for tonight… we have an operation."
Julian exhaled sharply, then said in a tense but calmer tone:
"And what did the boss want this time?"
Bruce froze for a moment, as if replaying the words in his head.
Then said hesitantly:
"He asked… that we get closer to Miss Bella during this period. That we become her friends."
Julian's eyes widened in pure shock.
"What? Why?"
Bruce shook his head.
"I don't know. But he said it might be the reason we survive."
A short silence.
Then he added,
"We need to make sure whether she saw us that night. Everyone says she's the one who found the body. And you already know her… it'll be easy for you to talk to her and introduce me."
Julian thought for a few seconds, then nodded slowly.
"Alright."
As they walked between the trees, they spotted Bella walking beside Amélie, talking quietly.
The two men exchanged a quick glance.
An opportunity.
They changed direction and began approaching.
Julian stepped forward first with confident strides, wearing that social smile perfectly suited for public places, while Bruce walked beside him, trying to imitate him-though clearly less at ease.
"Miss Bella."
Bella stopped talking to Amélie and turned to them calmly.
Her smile was polite, her eyes alert.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Julian continued, then gestured to the man beside him.
"Allow me to introduce you… this is Mr. Bruce, an old friend."
Bruce gave a small bow.
"It's an honor to meet you, Miss Bella."
Bella nodded with a formal smile.
"The pleasure is mine."
Then she gently gestured toward the woman beside her.
"And this is Miss Amélie."
Amélie returned the greeting with a polite smile, but her gaze was sharp, measuring details without showing anything.
A brief silence followed… before Bella broke it in a natural tone:
"Did you enjoy the horse show?"
Julian and Bruce exchanged a quick glance, barely noticeable.
"Well, actually…" Bruce said with a light laugh, "we got caught up in conversation and completely forgot about the show."
Bella raised an eyebrow slightly-not accusatory… but not naïve either.
"That's unfortunate," she said calmly. "The show was quite enjoyable."
"So we heard," Julian added quickly. "That's why we regret missing it."
He hesitated for a moment before speaking in a friendly tone:
"What do you two say we spend some time together? The weather's lovely… and talking with you is far better than being stuck in that crowd."
Bella glanced at Amélie, exchanging a silent look.
It was clear they both had other commitments, busy schedules, and plenty of reasons to decline.
"We have a few appointments later," Amélie said politely.
"But…" Bella added after a brief pause, "a little time won't hurt."
Relief appeared on Bruce's face, while Julian simply gave a calm smile, as if he had been expecting exactly this response.
The four of them moved together toward a quiet corner of the garden, where elegant benches were placed under the shade of trees, far from the noisy arena.
They sat down.
Light laughter, small talk about the horses, the weather, the beauty of the gardens.
Everything seemed normal… almost too normal.
But beneath the casual words,
each party was measuring the other.
Every glance was calculated.
Every smile hid a question that hadn't yet been asked.
And what began as an innocent meeting…
was planting the first thread in a web yet to be revealed to one side.
They sat talking, punctuated by gentle laughter and passing compliments, making the encounter appear completely relaxed.
Then Bruce leaned forward slightly, a smile forming on his face-the kind of smile of someone trying to appear clever and observant. In an affectedly casual tone, he said:
"Since you were near the scene, Miss Bella… is it true that you were the first to see Mr. Smith's body? If so, that would mean you may have seen the killer."
Bella looked at him with genuine surprise, then smiled calmly, completely unflustered, as if the question carried no weight.
"No, actually," she said quietly, "I wasn't the first to see the body."
The two men exchanged a quick glance while Bella continued steadily:
"There was a guard on patrol with some colleagues who found the body first. I was walking nearby when one of them came and told me what had happened."
She paused briefly, then added naturally:
"I didn't see anyone suspicious, nor did I witness anything other than the guards who informed me."
Her words were coherent, her tone sincere enough to convince even the most skeptical minds.
A flawless lie… without a crack.
Julian nodded in agreement and said:
"That makes sense."
Bruce smiled and added:
"Yes, it seems the rumors exaggerated the situation more than they should have."
Then Julian asked:
"And do you have any suspicions about anyone?"
Bella shook her head lightly.
"I don't think so. But if I were to guess, perhaps the killer is someone Mr. Smith knew. Crimes rarely come from nowhere."
The men immediately agreed, even expanding on her reasoning with additional analyses, as if weaving a full story atop her lie without realizing it.
Amélie watched them silently, her expression puzzled. She didn't fully understand the direction of the conversation but chose not to intervene.
As for Bella…
she was enjoying the scene.
Laughing with them, nodding politely, while inwardly hiding a sly, secret smile.
She wasn't oblivious to who sat in front of her, yet she didn't need to reveal anything-this matter no longer concerned her.
If this was a stage… she was a heroine used to standing upon it.
After some small talk, Bella rose gracefully.
"We apologize, we have some commitments."
Amélie agreed, and they both bid them farewell, leaving the area quietly.
As soon as they were out of sight, Bruce let out a long sigh, as if he had been holding his breath the entire time.
"Thank God… she doesn't know anything."
He turned to Julian and added, almost jokingly:
"If she had seen us that night, I would have seriously considered getting rid of her."
Julian's face immediately hardened.
"That's impossible. Don't utter such nonsense."
Then he added in a less harsh, yet more peculiar tone:
"And even if she had known… I would have made her forget, not killed her. How could you think of killing a woman of this status? With this beauty? This wealth?"
He paused, then a dreamy smile appeared on his face.
"Actually… I started wondering… what it would be like if I became her husband."
Bruce burst out laughing sarcastically.
"Snap out of your delusions."
Then he added coldly:
"You forgot one small thing… Miss Bella is already married."
Julian's smile slowly faded, replaced by a heavy silence…
a silence that didn't bode well.
Late at night, the palace was steeped in heavy quiet. Everyone was in their rooms preparing for sleep, and darkness wrapped the corridors and gardens.
In Bruce's room, he prepared to sleep for a short while before setting his smartphone alarm for four a.m. He finished setting it and placed the phone beside him, but before turning off the light, the phone vibrated suddenly.
A new message.
Bruce lifted the phone listlessly, frowning as he saw the message came through a modern instant messaging app called [Chattro], from an unknown number.
He hesitated for a few seconds, then tapped the conversation.
A blurry image began loading. He watched with hidden anxiety, and as soon as it finished, his eyes widened in sharp shock.
It was a photo of him… and him with Julian.
At Colonnade Grove.
Julian was digging the same hole, Bruce standing beside him holding a flashlight, and in his other hand, a sturdy white kitchen cloth folded carefully… inside it, the gun used to kill Mr. Smith.
Bruce froze in place.
He didn't speak, just stared at the screen, his heart sinking to the pit of his stomach.
Who took the picture?
How?
When?
The phone vibrated again.
A new message:
"What do you think of the photo? I worked hard to get a good angle."
Bruce's face turned even paler.
His hand trembled slightly, and with a racing pulse, he typed a short message:
"Who are you? And what exactly do you want?"
Not a second later, a reply came:
"If you want to know… look out the window of your room. You'll see me."
Bruce leapt to his feet and rushed to the window. With a trembling hand, he drew the curtain aside slightly and peered outside.
No one.
He opened the curtain wider, inspecting the garden, the trees, the pathways…
Nothing.
He breathed uneasily, and at that moment, the phone vibrated again.
He looked at the screen… and blood froze in his veins.
A photo of him.
He himself… standing at the window, pulling the curtain aside.
Then another photo.
Of him, looking at his phone right now, at the exact same moment.
Bruce gasped and quickly closed the curtain, as if the darkness behind it could swallow him.
A new video.
He opened it with a shaking hand.
A short clip showed him closing the curtain in haste and fear… and then the video ended.
A new message appeared below:
"Sleep well. You won't find the time machine… because it doesn't exist. Tell your boss, or maybe he already knows and just wants to get rid of you."
Then a single emoji was sent:
😅
Bruce stepped back, his heart pounding as if it might burst from his chest.
This person knew everything.
They knew about the murder.
They knew about the device.
They knew where his room in the palace was.
In a panic, Bruce slammed the call button.
Not a second passed before the call was answered.
He shouted, a mix of anger and panic:
"Stop this immediately! This isn't funny! If I find you, I'll kill you!"
No reply came.
Only silence.
Then…
A recording played.
It was his voice. And Julian's.
Their conversation from the previous night, perfectly clear, confessing to Mr. Smith's murder and talking about the device, completely unaware that they were being watched.
Bruce's face drained of color, turning a deadly pale.
His throat went dry, his breathing became erratic.
Suddenly…
A hysterical laugh erupted-high-pitched, twisted, clownish laughter that pierced his ears and slammed into his head.
The world began to spin around him.
He staggered backward until he collided with his bed, collapsing onto it unconscious.
The last thing he heard before plunging into darkness was that manic laughter…
fading slowly.
---
An hour later, in Bruce's bedroom, where he still lay unconscious, there was a knock on the door three times in quick succession.
The person knocking entered. It was Julian, surprised to see the lamp on and no sign of Bruce stirring. When he turned toward the bed, he saw Bruce in a completely odd position, causing him to fluster and quickly close the door behind him.
Julian approached Bruce, a mix of irritation and astonishment in his mind-annoyed that he was still asleep despite the importance of the mission, and shocked at his awkward, suspicious sleeping position.
He tried to wake him multiple times, but all attempts failed. Tension rose, and he began to fear something had happened to Bruce due to his age.
"This isn't your time to die, old man!"
Grabbing a glass of water from the table, he suddenly splashed it onto Bruce's face.
Startled, Bruce jolted, opening his eyes wide, gasping and staring at his room in shock and fear.
Julian exhaled in relief when he confirmed Bruce was okay, then scolded him sharply:
"You can't stay asleep like this! We have a long job ahead and no time to waste!"
Bruce didn't respond immediately, still dazed, staring at the phone beside him, trying to gather his thoughts.
But after the sudden splash on his face, he fully woke. He didn't yell at Julian as expected but apologized immediately, quickly putting on clothes to prepare for work.
Julian remained astonished at Bruce's calm, composed reaction, but didn't dwell on it. Time didn't allow for pondering others' behavior; the mission awaited.
---
They walked through the dark forest, the only light coming from the faint moon and the flashlight Bruce held. Bruce looked around nervously, fearing the same thing might happen again, watching warily for any sign that the unknown person was still following them.
Julian noticed his tension and snapped sharply:
"Move quickly! Don't linger and let fear control you!"
Bruce couldn't hold it in any longer and stopped, confessing what had been on his mind:
"Don't get me wrong… something happened to me a few hours ago. There's someone who knows everything about us, tracking us, watching us…"
Julian was stunned, unable to believe what he heard. When Bruce tried to show him the conversation on [Chattro] to prove it, the shock only grew: the chat had vanished completely, as if it had never existed. Even the photos and videos sent to him were gone.
Bruce was bewildered, asking himself:
"What's happening here? How can all of this disappear suddenly?"
Julian interjected sarcastically, echoing Bruce's words about the unknown person, laughing mockingly:
"Really? So someone knows your secret entirely… wonderful!"
He continued walking calmly, taking the flashlight from Bruce's hand, who followed behind in shock. Julian returned the flashlight to his pocket, leaving Bruce stunned, staring at his phone, thinking about what had happened, his heart heavy with suspicion and fear.
They arrived at the same spot that had been dug multiple times in the past days. Julian handed Bruce the flashlight to illuminate the site clearly, then began digging the hole again.
Bruce stood to the side, occasionally scanning the surroundings cautiously for any sign of someone following them, sometimes glancing at Julian as he dug precisely.
Time passed, and Julian was surprised not to find the gun they had placed there previously. He looked at Bruce sharply:
"The gun… it's not here!"
Bruce was shocked, the possibility forming in his mind that the unknown person had stolen it, making him extremely uneasy.
"Maybe the unknown person took it to threaten us."
Julian was irritated by Bruce's speculation and replied firmly:
"Forget this person in your imagination. Focus on the disaster in front of us and let's figure out how to solve it."
Bruce sighed for a moment, then muttered softly:
"Maybe we dug too shallow… that could be why it disappeared."
Julian nodded, agreeing silently, and continued digging with all his effort.
At that moment, the moon was the sole witness to the event, illuminating the silent scene among the shadows, watching as the process repeated once again.
---
The next morning, Bruce walked among the nobles gathered for breakfast. The chatter and laughter around him didn't reach his mind; he was lost, weighed down by the previous night's events: the unknown person, the missing gun, their failure to find the device.
Signs of exhaustion were evident on his face. A sleepless night had taken its toll. He moved away from the crowd, sitting on a bench along one of the corridors, trying to catch his breath and organize his thoughts.
As he sat in silence, he heard a voice calling nearby. He lifted his head to see Bella standing before him, concern etched clearly on her face.
She said quietly:
"Mr. Bruce, are you okay? You look exhausted."
He responded with a faint smile, hiding his fatigue:
"I'm fine, don't worry."
But Bella wasn't convinced. She studied him carefully, then sat beside him, speaking sincerely:
"No, you're not fine. You can be honest with me… maybe I can help, even if just with advice. You shouldn't stay like this alone."
Bruce sighed wearily, pausing for a moment before asking suddenly:
"Tell me… what would you do if you received a threatening message from an unknown person?"
She looked at him in surprise, then thought briefly before answering honestly:
"I'd tell people close to me, without hesitation."
He asked again, his voice more tense:
"And what if those close people didn't believe you?"
Bella thought for a moment, then said calmly:
"Then either they are collaborating with the one who threatens you… or the person doesn't mean real harm, just joking."
She smiled, chuckling softly, and added:
"I used to do that a lot with my friends in my teens, sending them cryptic messages just to scare them a little."
Bruce smiled faintly, realizing she didn't understand the nature of the threat he was facing. He said gratefully:
"Thank you, anyway."
Bella stood, and before walking away, said:
"In any case, don't hesitate to ask for help whenever you need it. I'm very resourceful… I might be useful."
Bruce smiled in thanks, watching her leave. One phrase lingered in his mind:
What if the close person is the collaborator… or is the one threatening me?
Julian's name immediately crossed his mind; he remembered how he hadn't believed him, how he mocked his talk about the unknown person. Anxiety gnawed at him:
Could Julian be the one threatening me? Or is he working with that person?
He shook his head, dismissing the thought, trying to push away the heavy suspicion. He rose and continued on his way, though the unease stayed with him, a shadow that wouldn't leave.
---
Over the past two days, Mr. Bruce hadn't found a single moment of true peace.
At one point, he was standing among nobles, laughing politely with them, a glass of juice in his hand, his voice sounding far steadier than he felt.
When the conversation ended, he excused himself quietly and made his way through the corridors toward his room.
As he passed down one long hallway, his eyes happened to fall on a window…
Below it, in the shadows, stood a tall figure, completely cloaked in black, motionless, lifting their head to stare directly at him.
Bruce froze for a single second, then hurried away, his heart pounding violently.
On another occasion, while in his room, he received a message from the same unknown number. The screen displayed: a photo of the gun at the dug hole, as if someone was watching his every move. Bruce was stunned, fear wrapping around him more tightly than ever.
Once, he was in the kitchen, speaking with the head chef and some nobles, seemingly discussing a special culinary event.
As his gaze wandered without focus, he noticed something on one of the tables:
A thick cloth napkin, patterned with sunflowers.
The same napkin… the one that had previously concealed the gun.
He tried to convince himself it was just a coincidence.
He asked the chef casually about the napkin.
The chef replied indifferently that it had been missing for some time, but miraculously returned last night, covered in dust.
At that moment, Bruce felt a sharp pang in his stomach… the truth was beginning to weigh on him physically.
On yet another occasion, Bruce noticed Julian's absolute joy, as if nothing mattered to him, flirting with young noblewomen, while Bruce remained consumed by threats and dangers surrounding him. Doubt crept into his mind: Was Julian connected to the unknown person? Or did he know them?
These thoughts circled endlessly, but he had no concrete evidence of anything.
This time, back in his room, he closed the door firmly behind him, and his phone vibrated in his hands.
A new message from the unknown number.
Unknown:
"How are you today, Mr. Bruce? You look tired… I hope you're well."
Bruce froze for a moment.
The tone wasn't threatening-it was familiar… far too friendly.
Bruce:
"Who are you? And if this is Julian, end this nonsense immediately."
He waited.
No reply.
Five long, heavy minutes passed.
He stared at the screen, heart sinking-if only it were Julian… at least then he could breathe a little.
Then the notification appeared.
Unknown:
"You poor thing! No… Julian isn't the one doing this to you, but I believe I know someone by that name who asked me to threaten you."
Bruce's eyes widened.
Bruce:
"What do you mean? Speak clearly."
Unknown:
"He just requested, provided the information, and asked us to frighten you. The execution… that was left to us."
A shiver ran through Bruce's body.
Bruce:
"Full name? I want the full name."
The reply paused briefly, then appeared… but with misspelled letters.
Unknown:
"Julian de Mostreval… or Montreville? Wait-"
The message stopped.
Then it returned.
Unknown:
"Julian de Montreval."
It was as if the ground had vanished beneath Bruce's feet.
Bruce:
"This is impossible… why would he do this?"
The reply came swiftly, without hesitation.
Unknown:
"We asked him the same question. He said he wants a higher position within the organization. Your position, Mr. Bruce, according to him… I don't know."
His hands trembled as he read.
Bruce:
"You're lying… aren't you?"
Unknown:
"No, my mother taught me never to lie… and that's all you need to know for now."
A brief silence followed.
Then one final message arrived.
Unknown:
"By the way… the guards' room is full of silenced guns… hmm, I don't know why those weapons are there. If I recall correctly, that room was empty between eight and nine in the evening? Wait, why am I even telling you this… bye for now 😉👋."
Bruce lifted his eyes from the phone and whispered to himself:
"Why?… and for whom?"
He wrote the word down in his notes, mind clouded, chest heavy.
Then another notification appeared.
Unknown:
"Take care of yourself 😘."
Bruce closed the phone.
And from that moment…
No more messages arrived.
To be continued…