Gone (Part 1)

"The Madam is now talking with Milady Ashley in her room." Count Harriston instantly sprang out of his seat as the butler uttered those words.

"Why? Since when?" After hearing Carl's report, he walked over to Countess Reeva's room as he spoke "And why did you just tell me about this now?"

"The Madame was calm when she arrived from the town and said she wanted to go to the garden. Milady and her maid were in the garden at the same time. The Madame approached the lady, who instructed her to go to her room later." Carl explains as he follows his Master. "And you were busy with the funeral and attending to the guest."

"Where is Lana? She could have avoided this."

"Lana is still punishing the maid who accompanied the Countess at the funeral."

The Count accelerated his pace while gritting his teeth.

When he arrived, he found Lord Bennet fighting with Mary and another maid waiting at the door of Countess Reeva.

"What's happening here? Why are you all outside?" he immediately asked. The two maids bowed down upon seeing the Count, and then Ashley's maid was the one who responded.

"My lord, Milady, and the Countess ordered us to wait outside the room."

Lord Bennet suddenly cut her words, "They won't even let me in. What if she does something to her, Percival?"

"Is that true?" The Count's face scowled, asking the maid, who nodded and responded again.

"Yes, My Lord. They firmly ordered us not to let anyone in." The other maid nodded as she agreed with Mary's response.

The Count becomes furious. "Step aside. I will go inside."

But the maid remained standing where she was. "I apologize for what I did but cannot do that. The door is locked."

"Then get the damn spare key. Carl!"

"I'll get it-"Carl was suddenly interrupted.

"We tried doing that already, My Lord, but unfortunately, the spare key is gone. It seems that someone stole it from the key box."

The Count began pounding on the door because he was getting impatient. "Open this, Reeva."

Silence…

As Lord Bennet assisted him in opening the door, he continued to beat and punch the door while shouting into it. He told Carl to summon some knights and grab an axe. Then he glares fiercely at Ashley's maid.

"Why did you let this happen? You, of all people, know how Reeva treated her."

Mary couldn't respond immediately. She looked down as her body trembled.

"If something happens to her, you're dead."

The door opened as he finished speaking, and Countess Reeva emerged with a vacant expression. Count Harriston asked her right away, "Where is Ashley?"

Countess Reeva remained still, just staring at him. The others followed the Count, who pulled her away from the door out of impatience and went inside her room.

The room was disorganized. Her bed linens and the table where a tea set ought to have been arranged were both on the ground. One of the balcony doors is slightly ajar, allowing a gentle breeze to enter. There were dresses, garments, and jewelry lying about everywhere.

Ashley nor her shadow was not seen despite their search of said room. The Count asked the Countess once more while glaring at her. "Where is she? Where is Ashley?"

The Countess's expressionless visage flashed a grin as she said, "Gone."

The Count frowned as she uttered those words. "Gone?! What nonsense are you spouting now? Where did you hide her?"

But the Countess started crying again. "My baby. Elizabeth…" She picked up one of the dresses that Elizabeth owned from the floor.

The Count walked towards her and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Where is Ashley? Answer me, Reeva. Answer me!" he shouted.

But as he roared, all he could receive in response was Elizabeth's name from the Countess, who sobbed harder. In irritation, he let her go and touched his face.

He then turned around and took another look at the area. Crumpled sheets on the floor, along with dresses and jewelry. He turned his head at the balcony, where a door was open. He rushed towards it and got to the balcony.

Carl returned inside the room with an axe and some knights and saw the Countess sobbing on the floor while his Master walked toward the balcony. The Count then turns around with a frown to Ashley's maid and asks, "How long have they been in this room?"

The maid, who is about to burst into tears, replied, "Since the sunset, so it's been three hours since then, My Lord."

The Count gritted his teeth, then fiercely spoke, "Search the whole mansion, the garden, and the outside fields. Search every nook and cranny."

The butler immediately understood his orders and replied, "Yes, My Lord." And immediately leave the room together with the knights.

Lord Bennet, still confused, asked the Count, "What? What is happening? Percival?"

"Those ungrateful fools," the Count replies, turning to face him while shaking. Is this how they pay me back for everything I did? Elizabeth first and now her." Upon hearing Elizabeth's name, he immediately understood the meaning behind his words.

'So, you finally decided to escape now, Ashley.' Lord Bennet sighed and looked at Mary.

Mary, who is on the verge of crying, did indeed cry. But he immediately saw that it was not because of fear or grief.

Happiness and relief.

Lord Bennet is ambivalent about what occurred. He was delighted yet disappointed in himself because he could not intervene and worried about what might happen to her. Lord Bennet faces Count Harriston again, still wearing a furrowed brow and moving in Mary's direction while he is still in agony.

"You! I know you know where she is?!" he shouted, pointing at her.

Still crying, Mary shook her head. "I don't know where she is, My Lord. Please believe me."

She is pinned to the wall after he grabs her neck. He tightened his hold on Mary's neck while she was gasping for air. The present Lord Bennet made an effort to convince him. "Percival, stop. Stop it."

He was so furious that he could not hear Lord Bennet's words. He continued to tighten his hold on Mary's neck as her face began to turn blue. When Lord Bennet realized Mary was about to die of suffocation, he punched Count Harriston. As a result, he let go of Mary's neck and fell to the ground.

After being released from suffocation, Mary found breathing difficult while Lord Bennet stroked her back. As soon as Mrs Lana, who had just arrived, observed what had happened, she helped Mary.

"It's alright. You're fine now."

Lord Bennet then walked towards Count Harriston, who was on the floor, grabbed him by the collar, and ranted, "Are you insane? Do you intend to kill a person now?"

The Count glared at him and shouted as he grabbed his collar. "How dare you to punch me? And at my household. You've gone too far, Sven."

"It's to make you wake up from your foolishness. You could have killed that maid."

"And why should I hesitate to kill a mere maid of mine? She is my people, and I can do everything I want. You are just a guest here."

Lord Bennet clenched his teeth before settling down. He then released Count Harriston, and the Count reciprocated. He knew he was in the right and shouldn't meddle because he was only a visitor. But he couldn't just stand by and watch someone die.

"I was wrong. I apologize for my actions." He apologised and bowed. Count Harriston, who was now standing, straightened himself before passing by.

"Be grateful that I still consider you as my guest. But never crossed the line again, or I might forget about it."

"Consider yourselves lucky," he said, glaring at Mary and Mrs Lana as he walked by them and headed for the door. "However, you remain to be investigated." He continued, turning to face the knights who were still waiting outside the door. "Investigate everyone who is within the mansion. The Countess, even our valued visitor, is to be scrutinized therefore never let anybody alone."

He then exiled them from their sight. Lord Bennet groaned as he observed Mary, still having trouble breathing, Mrs Lana, still assisting her, the Countess, weeping as her maid helped her, and their messy room.

'I should have gone home.' He mumbled to himself.

Meanwhile…

Someone was flawlessly blended as they hid behind the shadows of the trees and shrubs while the chaos in the Count's home continued. He waits there, staring at a particular unoccupied balcony on the second floor. The scene piqued the attention he witnessed this afternoon, and his curiosity about that woman was torturing him. Owen's green eyes gleam in the dark like a predator watching his prey. But the said prey has yet to come out ever since he came. And there was no evidence that she was currently residing in the room, which was dark. His attention was caught when somebody from another balcony came out. It was Count Harriston.