Let me succeed in this life

Chapter 5: thief

I flipped through the pages of the book in my hand, a tea served on the table with some fresh sweets made as an afternoon snack. I was inside a gazebo around a field of flowers, different colors and faces.

Various different gems and crystals have been found to be the source of magic, many were used by powerful sorcerers and used for serving the royalty. Dozens of books were written and published by sorcerers who were able to learn about them, however, not one of the fifty books ive read have information about the opal.

I wasn't surprised about it considering how joseph didn't know how to find it. I don't want the book nor the opal but i am curious why cyril would want it, it doesn't seem to be something important. It could be that he wants to sell it to pay debt but ... Looking back at how people described him, I don't think so.

Joseph also mentioned a "puzzle" when explaining to me what the book and the opal's purpose was, i am curious about the book too after doing some thinking last night i remembered about the page flipping in the vision i saw.

If i have the time, I will ask him tomorrow when i visit. Since that book's language came from here, theres a chance my memory lost is connected to that book.

And also, the thief running around the mansion hasn't been caught yet. The part that amuses me is when anne said that since before cyril fell into a coma, the thief has been stealing things and the things getting stolen are getting more valuable as time passes.

Now that I'm awake, they're expecting me to find a solution to fix the problem... I let the book rest on the table, closing it with a sigh as i try to think about how i will find a solution for it.

"If it's not rude for me to ask, is something troubling the young master?"

I looked up at the voice that broke my train of thoughts, it was a man with a formal attire pouring me another cup. The gentle aroma of the tea has successfully made me forget about the problems as if cleansing my mind.

"... No, nothing much. You're not usually here to serve me, do you need something or is it you have something to tell me?" I asked, because normally, anne would be one serving me during the afternoons.

My butler placed down the teacup with a click, I picked up the cup of tea and quietly sipped on it. "You have guessed right, young master. I do have something to tell you..." When i shifted my eyes to him, i saw that he answered with a short smile.

"What is it?"

"Well, i thought that i should tell the young master that his brother is coming back home with his brother."

I held myself back from spitting at the tea i was drinking when i heard him say that, I'm not that shocked, in fact i am curious about him. I don't see any pictures of him in the mansion. Anne said he refuses to have someone paint his face, he says it's unnecessary.

He might have an unpleasant face, or he actually just doesn't want to. But what I'm worried about the most is when anne told me our relationship as brothers...

I stared dazedly at the sky, and then into the shadows of the things around me. The moon must be near rising. "I'm thankful you told me but at what date will they arrive?"

"Unfortunately, i have no knowledge about it yet as master felix is still busy arranging their departure from there to here and i will be busy cleaning the whole mansion so i won't be serving the young master for some time."

I didn't ask. Anyway, the thief issue needs to end immediately or else they won't stop pestering me about it. I stood up from my chair, putting the cup down.

"I'll be in my chamber, forget about dinner too I won't be eating anything tonight." I said, my butler's lips shifted up into a smile and nodded his head slightly before ordering anne to clean the table.

When i reached my bedroom, i felt a cold breeze hitting my back when i opened the door. I did not like that, i had a feeling that another problem was gonna haunt me.

I ignored it and went inside towards my bed, i fell asleep immediately i felt tired even when i didn't do much today. I found myself waking up with thuds outside of my door, i was going to check it but my eyes refused to open up. I heard the door open, it was too dark for me to see so i couldn't see who opened the door.

I felt as if i was getting watched, looming over in the dark and hiding. I rose up from my bed when something fell, the figure immediately got alert and ran away. I tried chasing after it but it disappeared when i reached, i decided to let it go after it stopped and my eyelids fell down before everything got dark once more.

The sun rises and fills my room with its warm light, the birds chirped outside and flew freely. Anne was tense today, i wondered why I didn't ask about it though.

I took a bath and walked towards the breakfast table, as i was walking in the hallways, I could help but notice the servants around the mansion acting weird. I catch some people mumbling to each other and immediately stopping when they see me walking past them.

Even as i was eating breakfast I could see some maids talking about something, i stood up and placed my utensils on the plate. They clattered in the plate, anne looked at me with confusion in her eyes. I went towards the maids, they stopped mumbling and straightened up.

"Mind telling me what's keeping you so busy from doing your job?" They were quiet, it didn't annoy me that they weren't doing their jobs but i wanted to know what they were talking about.

They couldn't answer and pathetically looked down. "How about you, anne? You're one of the maids. Surely you know what's happening."

"H-huh? N-no... I have no idea..." She stuttered, looking flustered when i asked her. It was written on her face that she was lying.

"Quit lying, it won't work on me. Your stuttering reveals everything." I crossed my arms, giving her a stern look. She fidgeted with her fingers, trying to find another excuse before giving up. "... Uhm, the young master is said to be the thief and blaming someone else for it..."

"What?" I asked in a shocked manner, i almost let out how shocked i was but i held it back to keep my composure. "Why would i... That's a stupid idea. Is there even any proof i did that?"

"... Well last night, a maid caught someone rummaging through the kitchen and then they ran and disappeared in front of the young master's bedroom door" one of the maids watching us says, so it's gossip. I let out a disappointed sigh while shaking my head, now the blame is on me. How ironic.

I'm going to have to catch that thief sooner than expected. It seems like what they were talking about was the thing that entered my room last night, I wasn't in my right mind that night and decided to let it go.

I didn't think of the consequences, what if that was my murderer trying to kill me again? Maybe they were trying to get a knife in the kitchen. "..."

"Young master?"

"Hire someone to find the thief, and make sure they do their job immediately." I raised a hand and dismissed her, shaking my hand gently into the air a sign that I don't want to hear any of their voices anymore.

I find it annoying that they trust a mere maid more than they trust the one they are for, but I don't need their trust, but I don't like it when people talk behind my back instead of just telling me directly. It's pure cowardice.

I'll have to head to joseph and ask about the puzzle he was talking about, it's a waste of time talking to these people.

"Tell the coachman to prepare the carriage, i'm heading to Joseph's shop. I forgot to ask him something and don't bother following me." I said as they watched me go and leave, shoes thumping in the floor while I went and left the hallway.

My breakfast is ruined, I'm not in the mood to eat anymore.