Forgotten Easily?

Everyone in the room appeared astonished. Just like the moment when Lady Gladys first saw her face and just like how all maids learn she is the missing daughter of the Vernons, their jaw almost fell slack after hearing what the doctor had uttered.

Only Estelle was clueless of what a stigmata is.

Granted, she grew up in the slums. She never heard of any religious terms nor does she ever cared for it. She only knew that there was a saint and that saintess had came down to protect their land from the evil beings. The saintess however sacrificed herself and died; with her soul going back to the sky where she would protect to those humans who prays for her. When she had heard of the story, Elle only felt bad for the saintess as even though she owed the humans nothing, she had to sacrifice her life to protect them.

But "stigmata" was never taught to the slums and Elle who spent most of her life being worried of how she could find food to eat never thought of knowing more about the church.

"God heaven, I should have known!" whispered Count Arthur in shock, his face appeared pale before it turns bright yellow as if the sky above had granted him blessing. He then turned his eyes to Elle who was confused and made an "oh" face. Brimming with happiness, Count Arthur explained, "Stigmata is a blessing, my dear."

"Blessing?" Elle looked at the blood and looked back at the man as if he was insane. "How is my blood spilling from my body without a wound could be called a blessing?"

"The saintess," said Madam Val who had been behind them. Having one who learn most about the history of the church and being a devout herself, she step forward to explain herself, "The saintess leave her blessing to few of her chosen people. Those people will then receive blessings which we call as stigmata. A mark and blood appearing from one's body without a wound is one of the signs of stigmata's holder."

"Wait wait, I don't have a mark," whispered Elle in confusion. She doesn't believe in Saintess nor her blessings! Why would she choose her out of everyone in the world?

The doctor who had examined her also sighed, "It seems true that there are no stigmata marks. They usually appears on one's back of their palms and forearms."

"No where else?" Inquired Count Arthur.

"I assume no, if it would there would have been many records about it but all the stigmata holder have marks only on their palms."

Elle pulled her palms forward and stare at her flawless skin, she was convinced that this was only a misunderstanding or it would mean that the saintess have gone mad from being too far away from humans. To think that the saintess hope she would use her blessing.

"I think it's not stigmata," Elle hurried to stop them from examining her even more. She stood from her bed and looked at her father, "I am sure this doctor…" she looked for his name,

"Afton."

"Doctor Afton is surely capable to find out what is wrong. I think we have more important arrangement to finish?" Elle looked at Count Arthur with one eyebrows raised softly.

Count Arthur sent a small gaze to Doctor Afton and nodded his head, appearing slightly reluctant, "But we still have to find out what happens for your own sake, dearest."

"I know but Doctor Afton will find out about it, maybe by giving some time for him to think will help him find a possible explanation," came her clever reasoning that convinced everyone and almost herself in the room.

"That is true…" Count Arthur then look at Madam Val, "Well then I will wait for you in the carriage? Should we visit the dungeon first or your family's graveyard?"

"Dungeon," responded Elle with her golden eyes set firmly.

In meanwhile, Magnus' pale long fingers lined the sides of his bathrobe. Slowly pulling the knot around his waist, the soft silk pooled under his feet. He walked toward the large bathtub prepared for him and took a dip in the ice cold water. As though it didn't affect him, Magnus continued to walk inside the tub that appears more similar to a swimming pool, he let his body submerged inside the water.

Dark red petals scatter all over the water but when Magnus looked at it, his eyes appeared to be disinterested in them, seeing it as something that is ugly despite its attractiveness.

His black hair had fallen over his forehead which he wiped away when it almost entered his eyes, "It's getting too long," he clicked his tongue.

After a while a sound of a knock rang across the room and a head pops from the door. Tuesday held his hands together in a cross and held a face that is as strict as a wall. He looked over the bath, finding that Magnus was no where to find. Seeing how weird it is, he turned away his face to the sink found Magnus holding a pair of scissor and his black locks falling over the sink.

Magnus turned his scarlet eyes across his eyes, finding Tuesday and raised his eyebrow, "What's wrong?" A water glide across his chest muscle.

"I have received news from the church that I thought you would like to hear."

Magnus walked over to the butler and took the neat towel from his hand. Roughly placing it on top of his head, he ruffled his hair and dried it off with a light rub, "Oh? Rarely there is a news that could ever make me delighted. Entertain me," he offered.

"The perpetrator of the slums had been found and captured in the dungeon. I was wondering if you want to see them," Tuesday wasn't too sure if Magnus wanted to see the criminal, after all what happened in the slums didn't really matter to the Lord.

For a few days he appeared to be interested in the girl that she he had constantly see for a few days but alas that had passed for a week and knowing how Magnus' interest could rarely be held for more than a few hours, Tuesday was certain that Magnus have all forgotten about the slums' incident.

Magnus turned to Tuesday and crooked his head slightly, "What for?"

As Tuesday have guessed, Magnus had forgotten everything about the slums— or even the phantom thief who he kept referring as a cat.