Young Master Jason lay sprawled on the gravel, a stark contrast to the regal figure he usually cut. The guard, struggling with desperation etched on his face, attempted to lift the man, but it remained limp and unresponsive.
A heavy silence hung in the air as Mr. Harrington's footsteps echoed through the courtyard. The butler's usually steady hands trembled slightly as he knelt beside the fallen master, his keen eyes scanning the bloodied scene with a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Summoning his courage, Mr. Harrington reached out and delicately placed his fingers under the young man's nose, searching for the reassuring sign of breath. The seconds seemed to stretch into an eternity as he awaited any indication of life.
Once. Twice.