Chapter 1
2215 Words
"This is the fourth time this month," Marco said as he dropped the box full of red roses on top of his table.
He asked his good friend, Hunter, to pay him a visit at the House of Costa De Lucca. Hunter owns the prominent Titan Empire Security Agency, a company that provides the most sophisticated, high-tech, and top-of-the-line security services to its clients. The company was based in the Philippines.
"Someone gave you a bunch of red roses, so?" Hunter asked while frowning in confusion.
"It's bothering me," Marco answered.
"Let me get this straight. You're bothered because someone is kind enough to send you flowers. Am I right, Your Grace?" he said sarcastically. "And you deliberately insisted that I should fly over here in Italy so that you can show me these flowers? Awww... That's so sweet, Your Grace," he jokingly said.
Marco started throwing dagger looks at Hunter. It's not the flower that bothers him, but the fact that the same bunch of flowers keeps appearing right after his third wife died from a mysterious illness. It wasn't the first time that he received this kind of flower. The first one was when his first wife died of the same illness.
It has become their custom that the House of Costa De Lucca should never be left without a woman of the house. This means that the Grand Duke of Tuscany should maintain a Duchess by his side at all times. That's the main reason why Marco was forced to marry after his first Duchess dies.
"Give me enough reason why shouldn't I throw you into my dungeon?" Marco warned his friend.
Though he knows that Hunter was teasing him, Marco is in no mood for teasing. The death of his third wife cause turmoil within his land. Many people started to believe that the House of Costa De Lucca was cursed. Marco doesn't believe in curses or supernatural beliefs. But three consecutive deaths inside the palace is definitely not a coincidence. Something or someone is causing these to happen, and Marco is set to unravel the mystery that's lurking around his castle.
"First, I'm one of your few friends. Second, I'm your best friend. Third, the dungeon is so outdated. Maybe you should hire my company to build an underground torture chamber inside your castle, Your Grace," Hunter said with a playful smile on his face. He's clearly not threatened with what he said.
"This is serious, Hunter," Marco said with a serious face.
"I know. I was trying to lighten up the mood," he said before pulling the chair and sit on it. "Do you have any idea who might have grudges against your family or who might have a reason to do this?" Hunter seriously asked.
"I don't know. But I'm sure that curses have nothing to do with what's happening inside my castle," Marco firmly said.
"How can you be sure?
"Don't you have guards inside your castle? How come that no one ever sees whoever is putting this flower inside your room?" Hunter said while frowning.
"That's why I asked you here. I need you to give me the best agent you have. I have a hunch that whoever is doing this might be familiar around my castle," Marco uttered.
"Are you suggesting that the culprit might be someone close to you?" Hunter confusedly asked.
"Probably. But I'll leave it to your man to investigate and find out whoever is doing this and what is their motives."
"Do you think Castiano has something to do with this?" Hunter asked.
Castiano is Marco's second cousin and the second in line of succession unless Marco produces an heir.
"Castiano is a jerk and a scumbag, but I don't peg him as a murderer," Marco said. "But now that you mention it, above everyone, he has the most probable motive. Do you think he's killing my wives so I won't produce an heir?" he asked. "I kill him with my bare hands if he's the one responsible for the death of Olivia," he uttered with a raging fire in his eyes.
"It could be, but to be sure. I'll send my best agent right away to investigate and to guard you as well."
"I don't need a babysitter, Hunter. I can protect myself. I need someone to investigate the deaths around the castle," he firmly objects.
"If what we're thinking is true, then you're in grave danger. This person is capable of murder. As long as we don't have any idea who's behind this, then you're not safe," Hunter insisted.
"As I said, I can protect myself. I've been training all my life. I'm prepared for this," Marco said.
"Then why did you asked me to come here?" Hunter asked.
"I already told you, I asked you come here—"
"You asked me to come here because you know that this is serious," Hunter cut him off. "We still don't have any idea what we are dealing with. Plus, you can't ignore the fact that it might be someone close to you."
Marco becomes mum by what Hunter said because deep inside, he knows that what Hunter was saying might be true. That his life is in danger, and he needs help.
"That's impossible. No one would dare to harm me inside my territory. Maybe, I was overthinking. I'm sorry, but I believed that you fly all the way here for nothing," Marco said.
Hunter blew a loud breath. "Fine, it's up to you. Call me if you need anything. I'll send someone right away."
Marco nodded. "Thank you." He then stands up from his table and walks around to shake Hunter's hand. "Do you have any plans while you're here in Italy? Maybe, you should come to the gala tonight?" he asked.
"You mean the gala that full of women? No, thanks. I still want to come home in one piece. All hell will break loose the moment my wife knew about it."
Marco chuckled, "Are you sure?"
"That I want to go back to the Philippines in one piece? Of course, I'm sure!" Hunter exclaimed.
"Indeed, you are."
Marco shook his head while smiling before raising his glass of whiskey for a toast. All of his friends had this irrational fear when it comes to their wives. He never gets to experience that part since his first wife and first love, Olivia, died of a mysterious death. If it's up to him, he has no plan of marrying again after Olivia died, but he can't go against the thousand years worth of tradition. The House of Costa De Lucca needs a Duchess.
That's also the main purpose of his gala tonight. The Private Secretary of the Grand Duke of Pietro Monte organized this ball for the main purpose of finding his new wife. Though it hasn't been long before his wife's death, Marco needs to get married as soon as possible.
"I need to get going. I have to catch the last flight going back to the Philippines. I promised my wife that I would be back in a jiff," Hunter said before finishing the glass of whiskey.
"Okay. I'll have one of my royal guards send you to the airport," he said.
"Thank you," Hunter answered. But before he could open the door, Hunter turned his back at turned to his friend, "Think about what I said, Marco. And please give me a ring the moment you feel something unusual," he reminded him.
"You sound like my mother," Marco jokingly replied.
"I'm serious, Marco. If what you're thinking is true, we are talking about three murders here," Hunter reiterated.
"I know, I know," he answered before rolling his eyes. "I'll call you right away. Don't worry," he assures him.
Hunter blew another deep breath as if he's already conceding. He couldn't say anything to the Grand Duke to change his mind.
"I'll go now," he bid his goodbye to the Grand Duke before finally leaving his office.
He nodded to his friend for acknowledgment.
He stayed inside his office for a little while. He didn't notice that he had been drowned in deep thoughts. A gentle knock from the door broke him from the reverie.
"Who is it?" Marco asked.
"It is I, Your Grace," she answered.
"You may come in, Adelina," Marco said when he heard the familiar voice of his nanny.
Adelina has been serving the Costa De Lucca family for decades. He'd known her for as long as he can remember.
The door slowly opened, and Adelina gently goes inside his office.
"Everything is set, Your Grace. Here's the list of the candidate that may be suitable to your liking," she said before handing him a list of different eligible women across his land.
"It is?" he asked, frowning. He hadn't noticed that he had been thinking for hours since Hunter left.
He frowned when he realized something, "Where's Alfonse?" he asked, referring to his Royal Secretary. "Why are you the one doing this? Is he slacking again?"
"I'm afraid I don't know where his whereabouts are, Your Grace. Would you like me to look for him?"
"No, need," he quickly answered. "I'm sure he would reappear in no time like he used to."
"Indeed, he will, Your Grace."
"That would be all, Adelina. You may take your leave. I'll be down in about an hour," he said, dismissing Adelina from his presence.
"As you please, Your Grace," she said before turning her back and went out of the room.
Marco then proceeds to the door that was adjacent to his room. He quickly jumps in the shower to prepare himself for the event tonight.
It took him more than an hour to finish preparing. The black tuxedo that Adelina prepared for him is already sitting on top of his large bed. He walked out of the shower wearing nothing but a white towel wrapped around his waist. Droplets of water are still running down on his body that came from his wet shoulder-length hair.
He made a quick glance at the huge mirror sitting on the left side of his bedroom. He combs his hair with his hand for one last time before heading out to the banquet.
All eyes were on him when he slowly steps down the stairs. Women can't help but admire the Grand Duke of Pietro Monte. His huge body built that he acquired from his daily combat training makes his presence very hard not to notice.
These women joined the banquet in the House of Costa De Lucca tonight, hoping that they would get a chance to be the future duchess of the palace.
The moment he steps his foot on the ground, women from different reputable families flocks around him. They did their best to charm the Grand Duke. Marco tried to be a gentleman and accepted their greetings. He kisses their hand one by one as a sign of chivalry. But what Hunter said keeps bothering him, which makes it hard for him to enjoy the evening.
The party hasn't formally started when a loud scream breaks the majestic ambiance of the evening. Everyone run to check what the commotion was all about. They all gasped in fear, and their eyes almost bulge out from their faces.
The body of his Royal Private Secretary, Alfonse, is hanging in the balcony near the garden, lifeless.
"What happened?" Marco was quick to interrogate the woman who screamed.
"T-The b-body s-suddenly fall from the room above," she explained while shivering in his arms.
Marco checks the end of the rope that was wrapped around Alfonse's neck. The rope was attached from one of the balustrades from the above balcony. As far as he can remember, the room where the balcony is adjacent has been empty for a long time.
"Did you see anyone?" he asked once again.
"I-I see a man in black, but I can't clearly see his face. He was wearing a hat or something," she answered.
He then turned towards one of the royal guards. "Search the parameters. He won't go too far. Check all the rooms. Leave no exceptions," he ordered.
"Right away, Your Grace," the Chief of Royal Guards answered.
"Your Grace," said the voice from his back.
"Adelina."
"Run here as fast as I could when I heard the scream—Oh, my!" she gasped in horror when she finally noticed the body hanging on the balcony.
"You should get inside. You don't need to see this," Marco said before covering her face from the body. "I can't put down the body for the investigation. For now, please inform everyone to avoid the hall."
"Y-Yes, Your Grace," Adelina answered before quickly turning her back from Marco and briskly walked towards the kitchen where most of the royal maids are staying.
He took a deep breath before sliding his hand inside his pocket to pick up his phone. He dialed Hunter's number. It didn't take long before he answered his call.
"Miss me, Your Grace?" Hunter jokingly greeted him.
"Send me your best agent as soon as possible," he blandly says.
"On it," he quickly answered without any questions. Hunter can tell from the sound of Marco's voice that something terrible had happened.
- Writer
