Chapter 24

"Woof" Snowball called, as it waved its tail happily, when the servant gave him food.

"Our Snowball is so foodie. Look how happy he is at the sight of the food" Stella tried to tease her pet.

He barked happily, thinking he is being praised.

It was a fine morning. Alice is eating her breakfast in an open place they found. The servants were resting as they enjoyed their meal.

"Did you see the newspaper today?" the Duke asked, holding one.

"No. Why?" the Duchess asked.

"They published the news about the corpse you found" he said.

Alice looked around as soon as she heard her father. Stella and Daniel were playing with their pet, teasing it as they ate with it. Nowadays, instead of sitting on chair, they are eating on ground, saying that they do not want Snowball to feel lonely. They are quite far to hear what they are speaking.

"Oh, really. Did they already solve it?" the Duchess asked curiously.

"It seems that way" he said as read the newspaper.

"What did they find?" Alice asked curiously.

It has been a week since they left the town. That night they hurriedly left the town. Even thought Stella was ill and Daniel has still not recovered from his fear, they were still pushed into the carriage and were forced into the journey.

Alice stayed with them entire night, as she did feel uneasy to leave them alone. As she coaxed them to sleep and helped them to regain their cheerfulness, as she wondered why her parents pushed forward their journey, even thought their kids haven't still recovered their mental strength. They were still shaking in fear because of what they saw.

Stella was sick for next two days and Daniel still has nightmare about it. Alice patiently treated her sister and lulled her brother to sleep. She took care of him as they struggled and helped them.

Is it because of the corpse?

"It seems it was a son of a poor family. His father was unable to feed him and found him dead one night. He did have money to bury him, so he put him in the box, thinking that gods will send him to the afterlife safely" the Duke explained.

Alice looked at him surprised.

"Father, can you give me newspaper once?" she asked.

She read the contents carefully.

"Is something the matter, Alice" the Duchess, looking at her daughter who suddenly became serious.

"It has been covered up" Alice concluded.

"What?" the Duchess asked confused.

"I saw two people digging, but this article states it was father alone buried his child. And why in the midnight, sneakily dig a grave? And why in a place hidden under the bushes" Alice asked.

"Who knows? Maybe those weren't the people who buried this child. And everyone knows that Starling lake is famous, it is also believed to flows to the underworld. Maybe he wants to bury his child for a safer afterlife, but was scared of authorities" the Duchess guessed.

"What you said may be right mother. But the most suspicious thing is, the father who is not able to feed his son properly, can find a luxurious box made of oak wood, that even has a lock made of bronze" Alice asked.

"Ah... let us forget about it. It was just a thing of past. Focus on present. How is the breakfast, dearest?" the duchess tried to change the topic.

"Taitis town under the district of Marquise Grandore. Hmm" Alice read.

"Alice" the Duchess called anxiously.

"What? The case is personally solved by the crown prince?" Alice read suspiciously.

Suddenly she felt her newspaper being snatched. The Duchess took it and gave it to the servant. She then wiped her hands and smiled at her daughter, who is still surprised of her reflexes.

"Since we are eating our breakfast. Isn't it better to concentrate on it?" the duchess asked with uneasy smile.

"Yes" Alice said as she picked her fork.

"Mother, Father, ever since we left that town, there was something bothering me" Alice stated her thoughts.

"What is it?" the Duke asked without thinking.

"Why did we hurried out of that town?" as Alice raised her thought, both her parents felt that their heart is being pulled out. They looked at each other anxiously.

Alice did not notice as she thinking hard.

"Now I understand."

"What do you understand?" the Duchess asked with trembling voice.

"You knew this is how the case would end. So you want leave that place so that we won't bother them anymore. Whoever is behind all this, is someone powerful. He can easily cover it up. You want to protect us, so that we will not become their enemy."

Her parents relaxed at her answer. They sighed in relief.

"Ah… yes. Yes" the Duke said.

"Our daughter is so smart" the Duchess praised.

"I guess he is someone who supports the crown prince. The crown prince is really an idiot to protect him" Alice said as she sighed.

"Why do you think so?" the Duke asked.

"Since that person can cruelly kill a small child, then he is a demon. Not someone worth protecting. One day he can easily betray him" Alice answered honestly.

The couples looked at each other. They were shocked first but immediately covered their expression with a smile and started to sing praises of their smart daughter.