The noble estate smelled like burned incense and secrets.
Perry stood at the center of the Tharven hall, arms crossed, a half-eaten chicken leg in one hand. Around him, the suspects had gathered—drawn by courtesy, suspicion, or simply the inability to say no to a Bureau seal.
The gravekeeper slouched near a bookshelf, picking at his gloves.
Magus Corlan, the family's surgeon, stood too straight to be relaxed.
The noble father, Lord Tharven, sat rigid in his armchair.
And Rena—daughter of the house—watched the fire, fingers twisting her sleeve.
Then it happened.
A faint thrum filled the air. Barely audible, but distinct. Like the hush before thunder.
Corlan blinked. "Did anyone hear that—?"
"The barrier," Perry said. "Standard Bureau protocol. Means the investigation's begun."
The gravekeeper shifted. "That noise... it's like the air just pressed in."
"You'll get used to it." Perry took another bite of his chicken leg. "Now. Let's begin."
---
He stepped forward—not dramatically, but just enough to tighten their nerves.
"I've reviewed the grave, the records, and your statements. Separately, each of your stories is plausible. But together, they hum like off-key strings."
His gaze landed on the gravekeeper.
"You claimed the gardener saw Liran move. Then said he wasn't working that day. Then admitted to reburying the plot within hours of death. For a noble family, that's fast. Suspiciously fast."
The gravekeeper grunted. "I dig where I'm told."
"You sealed it, too. A Blood-Sign barrier. Which means, unless someone in the family undid it, it hadn't been touched."
Perry turned slowly to Rena.
"You said Liran left a will. But no one's seen it. No magical copy. No ledger trace. Convenient, considering all his belongings were cremated."
Magus Corlan cleared his throat. "That was under the family's direction."
"There was no formal request. No signature. Just... a verbal command?"
Corlan hesitated. "She showed me the family crest. Said it was Lord Tharven's wish. I obeyed."
Lord Tharven narrowed his eyes at his daughter, but said nothing.
Perry tossed the chicken bone onto a silver tray and wiped his hands on a curtain without asking. Then turned back to Rena.
"You cried that night," he said.
Her eyes snapped up.
"You told the steward you were mourning. But the gravekeeper says he saw you the next day too—alone at the site. Crying again. Why?"
She stared at him. "That's not a crime."
"No. But lying is. You told me you hadn't visited after the burial."
"I—I forgot."
Perry's voice didn't rise. "Did you forget that your brother wasn't really dead?"
Silence.
She opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again. "No—I—he... he asked me to help him."
Her voice cracked. But she pulled it back.
Perry didn't interrupt.
"He said... he said he'd fallen for someone. A commoner. Father wouldn't accept it. Liran said... faking his death was the only way to leave without disgrace."
"So you buried him alive?"
"No!" She backed away a step. "It wasn't like that. He had a potion—to slow his heart. Said he'd escape once the seal weakened. I didn't... I didn't think he'd really die."
"Then why burn everything? All his effects. Even his blood-signed ledger."
"I... I didn't know Corlan would destroy it all!"
Corlan looked offended. "You told me to burn it."
"You said it was routine!"
"I said if there was a will, I'd need to archive it. You said there wasn't."
Rena's voice rose. "I trusted him! I thought he had a plan. He always had a plan..."
She faltered. Her knees buckled, and she sank into a chair, pale and trembling.
"I didn't want to lie. I didn't. But I couldn't tell Father. He would've stopped everything."
Perry remained still.
"You helped your brother vanish. Then when he didn't come back, you said nothing?"
"I checked the grave. The lock was still sealed. I thought... maybe he escaped. Maybe he just didn't want to come back."
A cough interrupted her.
The gravekeeper looked away. "I saw her. Day after the burial. She was crying at the grave, wouldn't let me near it."
Perry turned toward him. "And you didn't think to mention that earlier?"
"I didn't want to get involved," the man mumbled. "Figured maybe she missed him too much. But now... it makes sense."
Perry's voice lowered. "The seal hadn't been broken. Liran never got out."
---
Rena buried her face in her hands. "I didn't mean to kill him."
Lord Tharven stood slowly, his expression unreadable.
"You will not speak another word," he said to his daughter. But his voice was quieter than before.
Perry turned toward the door. The silence in the room was now thick, real—not magical.
System?
Suspect confession confirmed. Investigation complete. Barrier lifted. Reward available.
He ignored it, as always.
The butler had returned, quietly holding the door open. Perry passed without a word.
Outside, the breeze stirred the garden vines. A pair of guards exchanged glances near the front gate.
"Alveth's arriving next week," one muttered. "High Rank coming in person. Wonder why."
Perry heard it, filed it, but didn't flinch. Just tugged his coat tighter and adjusted the ribbon on his detective badge. The case was closed.
For now.