Eye candy, ear poison

Thunder rumbled as the rain began to fall. The flashes offered a black-and-white spectacle in the room where only a few crimson drops testified to the corpse's presence.

[That's it! I've had enough of this story! I'm outside!]

[Marcia calm down... No one should come out...]

[THERE IS NO MURDER, SIEUR LUC! No one told me why I was invited so let me go!]

Everyone was fussing and rushing towards the door, where the detective was desperately standing when a sudden noise startled everyone. The officer still seated had just broken her second armrest. Silence had returned as she took a sip of tea before breaking the cup, clenching her fist.

[Yup, this one, that's the good shit.]

They were all looking at her, afraid to breathe. How could this woman drink so much tea even knowing it could be poisoned?

[M-Mistress... B-b-but the poison...]

[What? Just because it's poisonous, you think I wouldn't drink it? You have no idea who your mistress is, Red.]

[... Misstress... You look evil...]

[Like a good officer should be. Anyway, this charade is finally starting to get interesting. Oi, little boy and Vodka girl.]

Everyone turned to Detective Luc and Eris.

[Oi...]x2

[Welcome to my world.] Marcia smirked.

[I think it's time to move forward with this investigation. I haven't had this much fun since the prison riots in '40. I want to see how it goes.]

[... How old are you?] The assistant wondered.

The detective pulled himself together, despite the way the officer had restored order.

[Okay then... As the officer requested, everyone sit down. One of us is a murderer, that's for sure. The question is what is the cause of the crime and who is the culprit. The culprit took advantage of a moment during the blackout to assassinate the earl... Probably by stabbing... And what country is famous for its knives throwers?]

[Don't you dare, you intellectual wannabe.]

[Haha still so funny Eris, but unfortunately for you because of your words earlier YOU are a suspect. Therefore only I, the Great and Honest Detective will continue this investigation.]

[Uh! You needed it to get some screen time, go ahead, sucker! The Great Eris will wait until you screw up to take over and solve this crime with authority.]

[Haha, I would have given my life for it to be you... Alas thanks to Miss Bonny's confession there is now a suspect who stands out.]

Thunder rumbled outside, in this gloomy atmosphere, all faces were strained. The suspects looked at each other, trying to find a culprit, among the people they mainly hated.

[I always found your way of laughing suspicious when the earl insulted you... As if you knew you would take your revenge... Diva Leonora.]

[Guaro! Are you accusing me? Darling, I'm too rich to kill someone by my own hands... Or get offended by mere insults, especially from a corpse. You in opposite weren't you angry that he drove you around when you asked him for money? For your little religious cult that preaches love but asks for big tips from the faithful? I call that smart flying. Oh? How fitting.]

[... What about you, Puella, and Marcia? You have nothing to do with this story so why are you here?]

[Hmm? I'm only talking to the horses' heads, not their asses.]

Marcia held back his laughter in front of Guy who made a sad face.

[I thought you were my brother...]

[Sorry... It was stronger than me. Don't mess with her.]

The maids were whispering among themselves, Sofiya remained impassive, Nadezhda was reading, and the assistant and Red were looking worriedly at the officer who was reserving the tea. It was time for the great detective to move forward on this situation, remembering a detail he had realized much earlier.

[....? Hmm? Oh! Right, like I said, there's no reason to tear you apart...]

[Party pooper.] The officer said.

[Because I know who the culprit is.]

[You've said this before, so I wonder how you're going to prove it. Go ahead, try to incriminate the Great Eris, I... She's ready to end your career.]

[That's where you're wrong, Eris. Unfortunately this time it is not you who will bite the dust. Among you is someone with a better motive, someone who has every reason in the world to commit this crime. Someone with the face of an angel... But hiding a demon. And that person is...]

All eyes were on Puella.

[This old food won't die alone today.]

[And that person is... You!]

(xxth? Rumble of thunder)

[Oh my god...]

[Not you... Of all people... Not you!]

[... Could you call people by name?] Red grew increasingly annoyed.

[Oh sorry, I mean You... Sofiya!]

Everyone was surprised. The rain was increasing as the girl smiled grimly.

[Oh? I'm very surprised, Detective, you think it's me?]

[Yes, and I have every reason to believe so.]

The increasingly strange young girl was laughing delicately, her little emerald cat eyes lighting up in the flashes of lightning. People were starting to move away from her.

[But... If it's true... Where is the body?...] Marcia wondered worriedly.

[Miss Sofiya... Why are you acting like a culprit?]

[What is it, Mr. Guy? Have you ever seen a murderer taking advantage of the moment?]

[... You... You admit it... So it was really you!]

[Fufufu, that would be too easy, it's up to Mr. Detective to decide.]

[And I will. The interrogation will start now, Miss Sofiya...huh...]

[Emerald Ronshia III.]

[Yes, you... You are... A suspect!]

(Rumble of Thunder)

/Murder Case/

suspect 1:

Name: Sofiya Esmerald Ronshia III

Age: 14

Height: 162cm

Weight: 105 pounds

Status: Suspect

The detective walked around the armchair Sofiya was sitting on elegantly. This one had been moved to face the other chairs, like a court.

[Miss Sofiya.]

The girl bowed in response.

[You are one of the Earl's three children and the youngest. You had shown a hostile attitude towards the Earl and that makes you a suspect.]

[Fufufu, but sir, everyone hates my dear genitor. I often wonder how mother had children with such a despicable man, but I'm too afraid to learn something outrageous.]

[Yes, and again you played yourself. You called him "earl" earlier and now "genitor".]

[Oh you expected Daddy? I'm sorry but I decided to never use it again after my uncle annoyed me, forcing me to call him daddy. It will only be for my soul mate.]

Everyone was surprised. Red, facepalming turned to his younger sister who sneered.

[Nadez...]

[What? She can't stay a child forever, at least now she can put a name to the people approaching her.]

The detective coughed for silence and continued.

[Okay, what I mean is that the fact that you hate him makes you suspicious, but what I'm about to reveal will set you apart from everyone else.]

The thunder rumbled, menacing, as if waiting for a shocking revelation to unleash its lightning into the abyss.

[... Do you mean I'll be above the rest? Gorgeous! It proves to the earl that he was wrong and that even I am good at something.]

She said this with bright eyes, in front of the embarrassment of the group.

[This man was a horrible monster.]

[Worse than Puella?]

Marcia stifled a laugh at the assistant's joke, feeling an aura growing behind him.

[Please everyone, I'm trying to make it easy... So as I said, my revelation is irrefutable. I call the main witness: Maid Bonny.]

(Another mighty rumble of thunder)

The young lady stood up, politely greeted the audience, and sent a wink to imaginary spectators.

[Pff, amateur.] The Diva said annoyed.

[Maid Bonny, you are the earl's main servant there, so you logically have access to all the rooms in this mansion and de facto all the information.]

[Correct, but I think all the staff... Except maybe one person can come and go freely.]

[Yes but that is not the question. Maid Bonny, who owned my wife's girlfriend?]

The faces were shocked and everyone was beginning to realize what the detective was insinuating. Bonny watched for a moment before giggling.

[Maid Bonny, come on!]

[My apologies, I just thought that sounded a lot like you.]

[This is a serious matter, we don't have time for... What do you mean?]

[Ha! Got him! The Great and Entertained Eris really appreciates this maid. Take note number 2.]

[*sigh* Alright miss...]

[For God's sake! Next to talk is a dead man!]

The detective was exacerbated. The others, who seemed less and less concerned about the matter, were silent. Only one person had taken a liking to the situation.

[I hear the earl's voice from hell. He says "Damn! I forgot to write my will!"]

[Miss Sofiya...]

[What? He's dead right?]

She laughed cutely, adding angst to the horror of the moment. The detective was at his wit's end when suddenly.

[Anyway, mister detective, if you think that you will get me so easily, you're deeply mistaken.]

[So you admit it. It was you. I know that you were the true owner of my... The jewel. The earl mentioned your name in the letter. At this time I didn't know the circumstances but now... Everything is clear. You are the daughter whose mother was killed to appropriate the jewel and to recover it and avenge her... You murdered the earl!]

(Another perfectly timed rumble of thunder)

The girl burst out laughing, a sinister laugh. Terror was beginning to creep up on each individual, the girl sitting in the shadows looked like a demon.

[Do you find this funny?]

[Yes... Forgive my rudeness but after all those big talks... It was so predictable but you always denied it.]

[... What a waste... You had your whole life ahead of you. However, this case is closed now. Miss Sofiya, you are...]

[Not so fast, dear detective.]

These words were uttered by Bonny, a mischievous smile on her lips. The thunder rumbled louder, the rain was beating on the windows.

[Miss Sofiya is a bit special and sometimes hard to understand. Her attitude just now looks suspicious because she wasn't addressing you.]

The detective no longer understood the situation. He looked at this maid who was enjoying this situation too much.

[Who is she talking to then?]

[The person you named as the main suspect: the real owner of the jewelry.]