~The Queen's Butler...Arrogant~ (Charles Grey x Reader)

Chapter 14: The she-butler, suspicious

Arthur's POV

"That's preposterous! This isn't a mystery novel," said the irritated Mr. Woodley, to which Lord Phantomhive yawned in a bored manner.
"Or not a good one. I have to imagine that the solution would be far too obvious for today's discerning reader," he sighed, turning to me with a slight smile painted to his lips, "wouldn't you agree, Doctor?"
I thought for a moment before something clicked in my mind, and I couldn't help but gasp as part of the investigation came to be answered.
"Indeed, that little trick would explain it all," I agreed as I pinched my chin and looked down in a thoughtful manner. 
"What now?" Mr. Lau asked, and before I could answer, The young Earl had cut in.
"The needle and thread trick," he began, capturing everyone's attention as he started an explanation, "It's simple enough really. First, you fasten a threaded needle near the latch of a door. Next you pass the thread underneath the door before exiting the room. Then all you need to do is close the door and carefully pull the thread to release the needle."
"Hm, how cliché," Lady (Y/n) snickered, crossing her arms.
"It certainly has become so. Though I don't believe that the killer was trying to copy a novel," Lord Phantomhive agreed with a nod, to which she nodded as well.
"Yes, it just seems the only realistic scenario in this case," she concluded as Mr. Lau copied my actions with his chin pinched between his fingers as he looked down thoughtfully.
"Hm, that answers the locked room question, but it still doesn't narrow down the suspect pool," he pointed out, myself nodding in agreement.
"That's true, the trick is so simple anybody could be responsible," I said as I looked around the room, just in time to see Mr. Grimsby hold Miss Irene protectively close to himself as he placed a hand on his chest.
"Well we certainly didn't do anything! You'll have to look elsewhere," he defended, eyeing Mr. Woodley suspiciously who picked up on this factor and became defensive himself. 
"Ah-not at me I hope!" he began, waving a finger at them, "After all, you are obviously the most likely suspects among us. You were fighting with him earlier for goodness sake."
"Oh please, what does that have to do with anything?? I wouldn't kill for such a trifle!!" Mr. Grimsby screamed, Mr. Lau waving his hands in a way to dissolve the fight.
"Gents, there's no need for shouting. Why don't we sit down and calmly sort out our alibies, shall we?" He suggested, to which Lady (Y/n) nodded and pushed herself off of the wall, coming to Lord Grey's side more closely.
"That's a good place to start," she began, her crossed arms becoming loose as they fell out of each other and to her sides, "The murder happened after Siemens retired to his room, that much is clear. We can narrow it down further to the time between when he rang for a servant and when his call was responded to," she looked around the room at everyone with an inquisitive eye, "where was everyone during that time?"
"Well, I know Irene and I were in the billiards room," Grimsby answered, being the first to do so.
"Yes, myself and (Y/n) were there too," Grey added, the lady nodding as she looked over at me.
"As was Dr. Arthur and Mr. Phelps," she finished, myself nodding as I turned my attention to the other guests.
"None of us left the room," I concluded, Lord Phantomhive looking toward Mr. Lau and Miss Ran-Mao.
"And the two of you? What were you doing?" He asked, Mr. Lau already with a smile on his face as he gently stroked the top of the woman's head.
"Us, my Lord? We were drinking together in the lounge with Mr. Woodley. Weren't we, Ran-Mao?" Mr. Lau answered, Mr. Woodley dipping his head in agreement.
"He's right. We were there until we heard all the shouting."
"As for us servants, we were all together, seeing to the cleaning and such-like," the maid cut in, her other two coworkers nodding to confirm their alibi.
"That's not quite everyone," Lord Grey pointed out, forcing the attention onto the young Earl as Mr. Lau came to ask the question.
"I hope you'll pardon the question, My Lord, but where were you at the time?"

I noticed the way Lord Phantomhive's features became slightly panicked, though they calmed down when he was to deliver an answer.

"I was asleep in my bed," he said.
"And can you prove that?" Mr. Lau asked, to which Lord Phantomhive shook his head followed by a mumbled no.