Pulling back, she studied him for a moment before saying, "You look exactly the same. And now you're bringing the city to our doorstep?"
Daniel chuckled, glancing over his shoulder at the surprised expressions of Cassandra, Dallas, and Cassian. "Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that I was born in this village." He then turned back to the slightly ashen-haired woman and added, "And this is my cousin Rusella. Rusella, meet Detective Cassandra, Detective Dallas, and Constable Cassian. They're here on official business."
Rusella's eyes twinkled with curiosity as she glanced at the detectives and Cassian. "Well, I suppose if Aiden's hosting the city folk, then we'll all need a good meal and a place to settle for the night." She gestured for them to come inside, adding with a teasing look at Aiden, "And I'll make sure he actually behaves as a proper host."
Aiden rolled his eyes but grinned. "See what I have to put up with?" he joked, waving everyone in. "Come on in. We'll get comfortable, and then you can tell us exactly what you need from us."
"It's so sad. Rimus was so happy to move to the city, and now all of his family has met such a tragic end," Rusella said upon hearing about the Wan family's deaths. Rimus was the father of the murdered family.
"Not all of them," Cassian corrected gently. "One family member is still alive; we haven't found their daughter's body."
Rusella looked at him with surprise. "Is that so? Then I pray she has survived this ordeal so that you can find her," she said, clenching the locket in her hands. Cassian's gaze flicked to the locket and then to her chest beneath it. Though they weren't large, her black clothing clung to her form, outlining her figure perfectly.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts and avoid looking at her with inappropriate intentions—after all, she was a wife and seemed like a good-natured woman—Cassian refocused on what Aiden was saying. "The Wan family was truly religious and kind, as I mentioned. They managed the village church as well as those in the nearby areas. The reason they moved to the city was to expand their religious work."
"So the one who helped them wanted that too?" Daniel asked, and Aiden nodded. "I didn't meet that person personally. I was busy dealing with the monster waves that plagued our village back then. It was hell for us during those years, but thankfully, things have been peaceful for a while now." As he spoke, his expression turned grim, seemingly lost in the memories of those difficult times. His wife gently rubbed his shoulder, offering comfort as he continued, "The man belonged to some church, I believe. People referred to him as Pastor Abraham Cornus. I don't know much about him since he only stayed in the village for a few days, but he was a skilled mage proficient in healing, saving many lives during those turbulent times."
"Do you know anyone in the village who might know his whereabouts?" Cassandra asked, but to her disappointment, Aiden shook his head. Noticing her disappointment, his wife chimed in, "You could try the church. Not all of the Wan family moved to the city; his sister and her son still live here. They might have some information."
"We'll do that," Dallas replied. The conversation continued as dinner unfolded, with Aiden and his wife inviting them to stay in their home, a suggestion they gladly accepted.
In the guest room of the village head's mansion, Cassian settled into a chair by the window, the soft light of dusk illuminating the pages of the book he had picked up. It was far more comfortable than the servant's quarters he was used to back in Scarlet Castle, yet it still couldn't compare to Lady Katherine's lavish chambers.
Speaking of Lady Katherine, he had been reading another book he found on her bookshelf titled
The one he had read accidentally focused on a woman who relished being taken while pretending to be asleep, while this new book revolved around a married queen from a kingdom who was having an affair.
He read this one to see if the first book was the only risqué one in her collection, but it turned out the second was just as provocative, if not more so. As he read, he couldn't help but smile, amused by the thought, 'She really seems to enjoy this.'
However, he wondered if she would appreciate such scenarios happening to her in real life. From what he had seen, she appeared to like it, but he hadn't confirmed that since discovering her literary tastes. He was eager to find out when the opportunity arose.
As he continued reading, he started to feel a bit bored. While he had enjoyed the steamy scenes in the first book, this one focused more on emotions and relationships, which didn't hold his interest. So, he closed the book and decided to take a break. Not feeling sleepy yet, he stepped out onto the balcony to get a better look at the village below, as the mansion was perched high enough for him to see everything clearly.
As Cassian leaned against the balcony railing, he took in the view of the village below. The night cast a tranquil hush over the landscape, with the only illumination coming from the streetlights lining the main road. Most houses were dark, their inhabitants presumably asleep, but a few windows glowed softly, revealing glimpses of life within. He could see a couple of villagers meandering about, their shadows flickering against the walls as they went about their evening.
His attention was drawn to the mansion's garden, where he spotted Dallas stepping out into the moonlight. With a graceful ease, she unsheathed her sword, the blade catching the silvery glow. She began to practice her swings, each movement fluid and precise.
Cassian hadn't practiced late at night since the system stopped giving him tasks, and after completing the friendly duel, he felt a bit guilty for being lazy. Picking up his sword, he decided to join Dallas. The cool night air was refreshing against his skin as he stepped into the garden. "Sergeant Dallas, mind if I join you?" he asked, a playful glint in his eye.
But that playful glint quickly faded into fear as he noticed Dallas's excited smile and the delight sparkling in her eyes at the sight of him. He had never seen that expression on her face before, especially not in reaction to him. "I don't mind at all," she said, her enthusiasm only amplifying his unease. He couldn't shake the memory of Robert's terrified expression when he mentioned how he used to attend her lectures when she was the sword instructor for the law enforcement department before Julius took over.