To Death Shall Thy Part

Chapter 15 - A Conversation Between Brothers

"Is she the youngest daughter of Lord Frederick Faucigny? The sister of Hendrix?" William inquired. "Yes, she is. I heard that she ran away from home and denounced her Aristocracy." Louis replied while refilling both of their teacups. "I met her twice. She seems kind. She was a bit different from those high social girls." he added.

"Louis, You seem interested in her." William smiled wryly. "Please don't look at me like that, Brother William. I only felt like she was an old friend. I do not have any feelings for her. On the other hand... Brother Albert might be." Louis said knowingly.

"It is not a bad thing to fall for someone. That only means that we are humans and have different emotions. I was a bit worried about Brother Albert. He always does things for our sake while forgetting himself. It's a good thing that he has someone he cares about. I would like to meet this woman sometime." William looked at Louis with a smile.

"Brother, would it affect our plan if Brother Albert falls in love?" Louis asked in contemplation. "I mean, it's a good thing to fall in love with someone, but what if Catherine learns of our plan? And her life would be endangered? And What about brother Albert?"

"Louis. Everything has its own way. All your worries are not baseless. True, once Catherine and Albert get together, she might become part of our organization and her life might be put in danger. The key to that is Albert. Whether he can cope with that setting or he would give up his love for her, the ending of it will not disrupt our plan." William explained patiently.

"Brother Albert is a stubborn man, For sure, he wouldn't give up something he sets his eyes and heart on."Louis helplessly sighs.

"Catherine is a very interesting person. Able to capture the heart of Albert James Moriarty, she is a very powerful woman. I just wonder how much of an influence she will be to Brother Albert." William asked with a laugh.

"Do not worry, Brother William. She's a good lady. I can vouch for that." just after Louis finished his sentence, the door opened and a sturdy man with a gun came in followed by a young boy in his early 20s. "What woman are you talking about? Is she pretty? Where?" The sturdy man talked as he scanned the whole room, looking for the woman in the conversation.

"Nothing, Colonel Moran. We just talking about Duke Faucigny's daughter." William then smiled at the young boy. "Fred, how was the mission? Is it tiring." the young boy named Fred just nodded. "It was fine. Collecting the bullets and cleaning up evidence was a bit tiring but nonetheless, it was doable."

"Lord Faucigny's daughter, Was it Catherine? Why were you talking to her? Is she the next target?" Moran who snapped out of his trance casually grabbed a whiskey bottle and hurriedly poured himself a glass while spilling some of the contents into the table and floor. Louis, upon seeing this mess, replied sarcastically. "If she really is our target, and if you kill her, Brother Albert might kill you a thousand times."

"Why would Albert kill me if I kill her?" Moran asked without understanding the context of Louis' sentence. In annoyance, Louis did not reply and William just laughed silently at Moran. Fred's eyes widened for a moment before nodding in understanding. The trio unanimously agrees to not speak further, causing Moran to become more curious.

"Why aren't you all talking? Yo, Fred... You know something, right? Tell me, I'm your partner." Moran called Fred multiple times but Fred just ignored him and went to the garden with the excuse that he will tend to the flowers. "Really??? Is he mute? Why would he not speak when asked... Tsk!"

"Mr. Moran, If you do not have important things to say to Brother William, why don't you help me in cleaning the mansion. Do clean the whole third floor, please. And also, the pavilion seems like it was not cleaned for the past two weeks. Include that too. I'll be taking this." Louis hastily grabbed the whiskey bottle and the glass in Moran's hands and left. Moran was shocked and came back to his senses when Louis was nowhere to be seen. Even William, who silently watched the whole drama in a corner, also went to his study silently.

"What just happened???"

Moran decided to go back to his room after that whole ordeal, even skipping dinner. It was only when he lay in his bed that he felt tired from the mission, forgetting Louis' orders, he entered dreamland without realizing the consequences of not following Louis' orders.

The next morning, Louis, who just entered the manor from the side entrance, was so furious, that he smashed the cleaning rags he was holding to the floor. "Louis, what seems to be the problem so early in the morning?" Albert who just got home from London was not a bit least surprised to see his little brother getting angry. "Ah! Let me guess, It's about Moran, right?"

"I really want to kill someone right now." Louis left without replying to Albert. He went to the kitchen and grab something before heading to the third floor, the second bedroom to the east. Albert didn't mind that he was left and ignored. Instead, he smiled while slowly sitting in the chair while pouring himself a cup of tea. William who stands silently on Albert's left side just shakes his head while smiling and joined Albert in his tea.

In the bedroom upstairs...

Moran, who had just woken up from his lovely dream, turned around only to see a dark figure standing in his doorway, looking like the grim reaper while holding a sharp butter knife in his hand. "Uh... mm-morning Louis! Why are you here?" he asked while gulping in fear. "I do remember giving you orders to clean the pavilion yesterday, did I not? But when I checked this morning, it was still dirty with rats walking everywhere." Louis gritted his teeth to contain his anger while speaking.

"I for-forgot! Don't worry, I'll clean it up la-later." Moran pleaded while raising his hands in surrender. Louis did not buy it. "Mr. Moran, I believe you need training in cleaning. I would gladly give you lessons for free. Shall we, Mr. Moran?" Louis spoke as his tone becomes more frightening like it was a beast calling his prey.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"