Evie stood silently on the small balcony attached to Lucas's office, her fingers curled gently around a warm cup of tea. The sky above was dull and overcast, casting a soft gray light over the sprawling city below. From this height, everything looked so calm, but inside her, it was anything but.
Her soft grey eyes, once bright with curiosity and kindness, now shimmered with a whirlwind of feelings—anger, sorrow, confusion. She felt hollow, like someone had scooped out a part of her and left a pit behind. Mrs. Hubry's murder had shaken her to the core. The memory of being dragged in for questioning, treated like a criminal, locked in a dark room with suspicion hanging over her—she wasn't sure she'd ever forget it.
Behind her, footsteps approached, slow and deliberate. She didn't need to turn to know who it was.
"Hey," Lucas's voice was calm, gentle. "If you're up for it, I could take you to visit her resting place. It might help. Maybe say goodbye, in your own way."
Evie didn't answer right away. She stared ahead, watching a single bird circle above the rooftops before disappearing into the clouds. Her lips twitched, almost forming a smile.
"I appreciate the offer," she said softly, "but I don't think I'm ready for that yet. Maybe if I got a little dizzy and wandered there by accident, I'd be fine. But right now… it just feels too heavy."
Lucas nodded, though she wasn't looking at him. He moved closer, standing just behind her. Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder. The weight of it was grounding. Comforting. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and leaned back slightly, letting herself rest against him.
"Do you mind if I...?" she asked hesitantly.
"Of course not," Lucas replied. His voice was low, steady. He shifted just enough so she could lean fully into him, her back resting against his chest. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn't awkward—it was full of quiet understanding.
"I feel like I've been pulled into something I don't fully understand," Evie murmured. "There are things I'm starting to see, pieces of a bigger picture I never noticed before. It's… unsettling."
She raised the cup to her lips, taking another sip of hot chocolate. It was smooth and rich, a small comfort in the middle of the storm she felt trapped in. Lucas didn't say anything, just nodded as he looked out over the city. He always seemed so composed, like no amount of chaos could shake him. But Evie had seen the way he'd looked at her earlier—when she'd been wrongly accused. There had been fire in his eyes then.
"I sent Henry to Hallthom," Lucas said after a moment. "To dig up some more information. He should be back soon."
Evie gave a small nod. "You always think ahead."
Lucas didn't respond, but his slight smirk said enough.
"Lucas," she said, turning her head a little, just enough so she could see him out of the corner of her eye. The closeness between them made her heart beat a little faster. His breath brushed softly against her ear, warm and distracting.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "You believed in me. When even I started to question everything, you didn't waver. I thought… I really thought I'd end up locked away forever for something I didn't do. But you came for me. You fought for me."
Lucas's arms came around her slightly, not quite a hug, but close enough to make her feel safe.
"You don't have to thank me, Vie. That's what friends do. I'd never let anything happen to you—not if I can help it."
Her chest tightened at the word "friends." She smiled shyly, cheeks warming. She had always thought of Lucas as a friend, even during his most distant, most frustrating moments. But hearing him say it—that she wasn't just a passing acquaintance or an obligation—meant more than she expected.
"Thank you, Lucas," she said again, voice steadier this time.
Just then, the office door creaked open. Evie turned, startled, stepping away from Lucas slightly. Henry entered, a folder tucked under his arm. He blinked, clearly surprised to see them so close together. A light blush crept onto his cheeks, and he cleared his throat.
"I, uh… I went to Hallthom, as instructed," he began, struggling to keep his eyes on the folder instead of looking directly at Evie or Lucas. "I gathered some details regarding the late librarian."
Evie felt her face heat up. She stepped away from the balcony edge and moved to sit down, trying to compose herself. She didn't want Henry—or anyone—to get the wrong idea. She wasn't some scheming noblewoman using her charms to climb ranks. But the thought made her think again of the stunning woman she'd once seen leaving Lucas's manor. Gorgeous. Confident. The type of woman who probably never got flustered in front of assistants.
Lucas remained near the balcony, arms crossed, eyes cool but attentive. "What did you find?"
Henry opened the folder. "A few weeks before her death, Mrs. Hubry had an argument with her son. It got heated. Something about his drinking. He left the house in anger and didn't return until two nights later. But when he came back, it was only briefly. He left again around midnight and didn't take any of his things."
Lucas's brows lifted slightly. Evie leaned forward. "Wait… her son? She had a son?"
Henry nodded. "Yes, but he was rarely seen. According to neighbors, he kept to himself. Some thought he'd already left for good. But it appears he may have been involved in her death. There's one issue, though."
"What issue?" Lucas asked.
"He's small. Thin. Doesn't look like the kind of man who could carry a body or dig a grave without help. Especially not without leaving behind a mess."
Evie frowned, her mind racing. "So… if he did it, someone must've helped him. Or he didn't do it alone."
Lucas nodded thoughtfully. "Did you find out where he went?"
Henry looked apologetic. "Unfortunately, no. He left during the night. Neighbors only saw a figure moving through the streets. No one got a good look."
Lucas's expression hardened. "Then we'll find him. Send out search teams. He's not to leave the region."
"Yes, milord." Henry bowed, then hesitated. "There is one issue. The only council carriage currently available is… the local one. The other carriages were sent out this morning."
Lucas glanced briefly at Evie, then back at Henry. "Prepare my private carriage instead."
Henry looked surprised, but didn't protest. "Right away, milord."
When the assistant left, Lucas turned back to Evie. "You okay?"
She nodded slowly. "Just… a lot to take in. I never even knew she had a son."
"Few people did," Lucas said. "But if he's hiding, there's a reason. We'll find out what it is."
Evie looked down at her cup, fingers tracing the rim. "You don't think he was working with someone, do you? Like—someone told him to do it?"
Lucas didn't answer right away. He walked to the window, eyes fixed on the gray skyline. "I think it's possible. I think someone's pulling strings."
A chill ran down Evie's spine. She stood up and walked over to him.
"Lucas… what if this is bigger than just Mrs. Hubry? What if someone's using Hallthom to cover something else?"
He turned toward her, his expression unreadable.
"It'd be more fun then."