You brought the beast

The next day,

the sunlight brushed Lillian's eyes as they fluttered open.

She was lying on her bed

on the other side from where she usually slept.

Her eyes blinked.

"It's morning?"

She turned her head.

Her hand reached out.

"Robert...?"

She stood slowly, scanning the room.

No sign of him.

Then.

a knock at the door.

It was Mikael.

"My lady, you need to get ready. The guests are almost here."

She let out a small yawn,

her eyes drifting toward the book beside her.

That same line.

"The Beast killed my whole family just to be me."

She sighed, brushed it off, and began getting ready for the day.

Later, in the Wilson Mansion

As usual, everyone had gathered at the hall.

Doctor Meson checked on Lillian's grandfather in the sitting room. his routine medical care.

Lillian sat gracefully at the long dining table, sipping her morning tea.

Beside her, Mikael stood silently, watchful.

At the far end, Sheriff Wesley took a bite of one of the cookies laid out.

Just then, Nira approached him.

"Sheriff. Can we have a word?"

"Yes, of course, my dear."

They stepped outside together.

Nira leaned in, voice low and urgent.

"Yesterday... just as I was closing my window.

I saw something."

The sheriff's brow lifted.

"At first, I thought it was Robert.

But the shadow... the figure...

It was huge, Sheriff. Not human. Like a Beast.

I know how it sounds, but...

I'm not going crazy. I saw it."

The sheriff nodded slowly.

"Keep it a secret for now. Alright?"

Later The Round Table

Everyone gathered again around the table.

The air was tense. Watching. Waiting.

Sheriff Wesley stood.

"Any news?

Or suspicions?"

Reana's husband, Elrick, raised his hand quickly.

"I have a question!" he snapped, glaring at Robert.

"Last night. Nine o'clock.

Where were you?"

All eyes turned.

Robert looked directly at him, calm.

"I didn't go anywhere.

I was in my room, writing my new novel."

Nira's eyes widened in surprise.

A soft click echoed as the sheriff pressed pen to paper.

His eyes lifted.

"I'll ask again.

Where were you last night at 9 o'clock, Robert?"

Lillian turned to him. Watching closely.

Robert raised his chin.

"I was in my room. Writing. As I said."

Elrick stood, slamming his hands on the table.

"That's a lie! I saw you walking outside!"

Robert didn't flinch.

Instead, he threw the question back.

"And why were you outside at that time, hmm?

Didn't the sheriff say no one was to wander after dark?"

The room fell silent.

Tension thickened.

Sheriff Wesley stepped in, voice firm.

"Settle down.

Or I'll throw both of you in jail."

He paused.

Then spoke clearly:

"This is now a trial.

Robert Sterling—you'll be held in jail for one week."

Gasps rippled through the room.

"If the murders stop...

then maybe we'll have our answer."

Lillian stood quickly.

"But Sheriff

Didn't we all already prove our innocence during Mr. Smith's death?

We were all gathered here together."

Nira nodded.

"And... wasn't Mr. Smith's death a suicide?"

The sheriff shook his head slowly.

"In fact... he was killed before he was hung."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Shock. Panic. Unease.

"The plan is simple now," Sheriff Wesley declared.

"I'll take each of you, one by one.

a week in the cell.

Until we find the killer."

He paused, eyes narrowing.

"And I'll start with the most suspicious.

That will be Robert Sterling.

And that... is final."

He glanced around the room.

"The rest of you stay in this mansion.

No one is allowed to leave.

Until further notice."

One by one, the others nodded, unease settling in.

Just before the sheriff led Robert away,

Lillian stepped forward.

"Wait.

Can I have a word with him?"

Wesley glanced between them.

"Yes," he said.

"But I'll stay close.

I'll be... monitoring your conversation."

Lillian stood before Robert,

her hands clutching his tightly.

He raised a hand, brushing her cheek gently.

"I'll be alright in there," he said, smiling faintly.

"Jail might be the safest place for me right now."

He leaned in, as if to kiss her cheek.

but instead, he whispered:

"Two more, Lillian.

If two more die...

Find me. And kiss me."

Her heart stopped.

His eyes... serious. Dark.

The teasing gone.

Only truth remained.

Then softer than a breath

"I love you," he whispered.

"Alright, that's your moment!" the sheriff barked.

He flipped the reins.

The carriage rolled forward.

Robert was taken away.

Leaving Lillian standing alone.

A pair of arms wrapped gently around her.

It was Nira.

"Hey... it's just a trial," she said softly.

"He'll be back soon."

Lillian nodded, barely.

Her voice low.

"If anything happens...

I have to prove it."

Her eyes gleamed with resolve.

The Jail

Sheriff Wesley cuffed Robert's hands,

gripping his shoulder firmly.

They walked down into the basement jail.

In a town this small, there were only two cells.

To reach the empty one.

they had to pass Reana's.

As they moved through the hallway

a horrible sound echoed.

Laughter.

High-pitched.

Hysterical.

Reana rocked back and forth in her cell.

Hair tangled. Eyes wide.

"You brought the Beast..." she sang, laughing.

"You brought the Beast..."

Again. And again.

Wesley's arms stiffened.

A tremble passed through his fingers.

Robert turned his head slightly.

"...Are you shaking, Sheriff?"

His voice was calm.

Controlled.

But his lips...

curled into a wicked grin.

The sheriff said nothing.

"You kids play too many games," he muttered,

then shoved Robert into the cell.

Locked the door.

And walked away.

Without looking back.

Behind him,

Reana's screams and laughter

echoed through the stone corridor

like a curse carved into sound.

Robert leaned his head back against the cold wall.

"Well, Reana," he whispered.

"I suppose you can see me now huh?..."