The Medieval Murderer

Chapter 1~The Ball

It all started on the 17th August 1897 at a celebration ball.                    

The leaves danced and swayed in the biting air outside the beautiful building ahead. The building was surrounded by pristinely cut bushes and decorative, structural pillars placed at every single corner of the castle. An antique looking carriage slowly moved towards the old, rickety gates that squeaked and screeched as they opened. 

"Now Ernest. No funny business, we have been invited as guests and shall remain as guests not as troublemakers." Said Mr. Lenoir firmly.

"Yes Father." Ernest said assertively.

"Father?" He continued.

"Yes, come on boy spit it out we have nearly arrived!" His Father said.

"Why hasn't Mother came with us?" Asked Ernest with slight confusion.

His Father went silent and stared ahead towards the castle before saying, "Your Mother and I, we had a disagreement and refused to come along and watch." 

"Watch what?" Ernest said with great suspicion.

"That has nothing to do with you." His Father said hinting that the conversation was over and to not say another word.

All of a sudden the carriage came to a halt and the two black horses leading the carriage neighed and whinnied waiting for a signal that they could now relax and could be de-attached from the carriage they were pulling. Soon after, a small man in a long waist coat appeared in front of the carriage door and opened it quickly without saying a word. Mr. Lenoir stepped out of the vehicle and looked at the short man before nodding and continuing to walk one careless stride at a time. Ernest followed looking rather like a mini version of his Father. He wore suit and tie in all black with a belt that was just a bit to big, his Mother had told him that he would grow into it but Ernest thought otherwise. He followed his Father up until they reached a large wooden door with long metal plates attached. To the right hand side of the door was a silver plated bell and a rope pully- string. 

"Ernest. Ring the bell will you." His Father said sternly.

"Yes Father." Said Ernest but just as he reached for the bell the door swung open to reveal a short butler looking straight at them.

"Name." He said blankly 

"Lenoir." Said Ernest's Father immediately after.

"Right this way." He had said before quickly walking through the long halls of the castle.

As they entered, candles flickered and swayed with the breeze whooshing past them and paintings lined up along the walls looked as though they were staring dead at them as they walked past. The carpets were beautifully decorated with royal shades or red and purple and had elegant designs of floral print layered across them. Soon they had approached a large door entry way that was filled with people laughing , dancing and drinking champagne.

"You may enter." Said the butler before walking back towards the door they had entered from.

"Now, stay with me no wandering." Said Mr. Lenoir before walking.

Ernest followed yet got stuck between the crowds of people and ended up getting pushed to the other side of the ball room. There was a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling and the walls were covered in decorative wall trims. Ernest found a small gap of space that wasn't completely filled with other rich people attending the party and waited there looking for his Father. Suddenly, he was approached by a tall man in a long gown-like cloak with white gloves and a white top hat. He smirked at Ernest delightfully and it was almost as though Ernest could see his reflection in a pointed like tooth of his. Ernest just thought he was hallucinating but before he could really think the man had approached him. 

  "Ernest Lenoir is it?" Asked the man with a long decorative walking stick.

"Yes and you?" Asked Ernest politely.

"Its Lorenzo, Lorenzo Calvary." He said before shaking his hand.

Lorenzo gripped tightly to his hand before letting go and staring at Ernest like he had just seen a ghost.

"Sir, are you okay?" Ernest asked with slight confusion yet with a firm voice.

A young lady approached them. She had shiny brown hair that glistened in the candle light. Her eyes were green like emeralds and she was wearing a royal red dress that flowed elegantly as she walked ever so gracefully.  

"Father, are you alright?" She asked.

"Oh, yes sorry dearest. I see you haven't met my daughter Andrea." He said almost startled.

Andrea curtsied and Ernest kissed her on the back of her hand. He looked straight into her eyes and was mesmerized by how beautiful they really were. She gently tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled. 

"Sorry, I didn't quite catch your name." Said Andrea with a soft tone.

"Oh right! Its Ernest Lenoir." He had said with wide eyes.

"Ernest." Came a firm voice.

"Father. This is Andrea, Andrea Calvary." He said quickly not to keep his father waiting.

"You must be Lorenzo's daughter." He said looking down on them.

"Yes Sir, you would be correct." Andrea said smiling yet her face changed when all she saw was  Mr. Lenoir staring at them blankly.

"Oh sorry I need to be getting back to my father, he is probably wondering where I have gotten to, goodnight Mr. Lenoir." Said Andrea before she quickly scurried off.

Ernest was about to say goodbye too but his father quickly said goodbye before him making Ernest walk off into the crowds of people.

"That boy..." His father said tutting.

Mr. Calvary appeared up behind him and spoke to him quietly.

"So, are we still going to do this?" He had said impatiently.

"Yes Lorenzo, we just need to wait for the perfect moment." Said Mr. Lenoir.