Chapter 20: The Interrogation of an Innocent Criminal
A man with emerald green eyes dressed in a dark blue suit sat stonily in a spacious, sleek, black helicopter. In front of him was a projection that showed his valet, Aleks, speaking of the events that occurred in the Rochester mansion over the past two days.
As the man listened, he rested his left hand at the ridge of the helicopter's window, tapping at its base using his index finger. There was a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips.
Aleks placed his gloved hand on his chest and bowed. "Mr. Rochester, that is all I have to report."
Mr. Rochester replied in a nonchalant voice, "Thank you for your report. You may hang up." His valet on the screen nodded.
Once the projection disappeared, the man left in the helicopter chuckled. So much had happened in the short while he departed the house. He was looking forward to going home.
…
In a dark room, Felicia sat lifelessly on the floor with her long dark hair spilling around her. Her original room had been emptied to prepare for the arrival of a new housekeeper, and now she temporarily occupied a small enclosed room, with only a bed and a table in it. Perhaps it was because she was used to living a relatively luxurious lifestyle (in the standards of a servant), Felicia couldn't stand dwelling in this room that had terrible living conditions.
The room reminded her of her past.
How she longed for someone's warmth or just presence. It has already been two days, yet she still couldn't get the scene of what happened out of her mind. She felt abandoned and thrown away…
Had those maids been planning that from the start?… No, it must have been Mary who did it. Those girls would never muster up the courage to disobey Mary's orders.
But why?
Did she do anything wrong? She has always been a faithful servant.
Was Mary worried that she would threaten her position? After all, Felicia's position was already one of the highest a maid could climb to, and ambitious people would start vying for the position of "housekeeper". But Felicia was satisfied. And she shows it!
Did they think that she was lacking in loyalty? Never! Felicia worshipped Miss Eyrie like a god!
Or was she just not useful anymore? No way, she is still young and could last for a few more decades…
… There was another possibility, but Felicia did not dare think of it.
Did… Miss Eyrie… dislike her…? After all, Felicia is her subordinate and only she could throw Felicia away without a reason.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
That couldn't be it! She hadn't done anything to displease her, so in return, Miss Eyrie has no reason to dislike her.
… But was there truly no reason? Felicia thought back to her recent interactions with her Miss.
It was frightening to think about: The most recent time Felicia had been called to Miss Eyrie's room was almost a year ago…! And… she had only seen the Miss once this month…
Calm down! Felicia thought to herself with resolve to prevent any other depressing thoughts from surfacing. She leaned the back of her head against the edge of the bed and stared at the ceiling.
Suddenly, the door to the small room opened, and light came spilling in, causing Felicia to squint her eyes.
"Felicia! Get up, Mr. Rochester is calling for your presence!" A young maid with freckles called out to her with a mocking smile.
This girl… She used to fear me so much that she trembled when facing me. Now,… she looks at me with contempt, thought Felicia, dazed.
She soundlessly stood up and followed the maid, not allowing any other emotion to surface on her face but a smile. No matter what, she already decided to protect Miss Eyrie in this matter. Felicia considered it the last installment of the repayment she owed her.
---Inside Mr. Rochester's office---
"Why did you do it?"
"I did it because I held a grudge against her," Felicia replied weakly, with her hands clasped in front of her lower abdomen.
The man sitting in front of her raised his eyebrows. "What atrocious deed did she do to make the head housemaid hate her so much as to the extent of putting her on torture devices?"
Felicia wet her cracked lips and responded, "She ignored me, so I held a grudge against her." She glanced up to see his expression, but he hid it so skillfully that she could not discern anything from those cold emerald eyes and that stoic face.
"Who made you do it?" The man continued his interrogation.
Felicia looked down again and shook her head. "... I did it myself."
"Who made you do it?" The question was repeated patiently. After a second of silence, the voice added, "Carol?"
Felicia focused on her clasped hands as she shook her head silently.
"… Mary?"
She continued to shake her head, making sure to suppress any emotion that she felt.
"… Eyrie?"
Once again, she shook her head with resolve.
"I see… you may go." The man interrogating Felicia dismissed her with a wave of his hands.
Felicia snapped her head up in astonishment.
That's it?
The man raised his eyebrows and chuckled, "Are you unsatisfied with my way of interrogation?"
"No, no. I wouldn't dare to be, sir." Felicia replied in a fluster.
"You can pack your things and leave any time you want between today and Friday."
This… Felicia clutched the hem of her dress. She took a deep breath. "I understand. Thank you for your generosity, General Rochester. I shall take my leave."
She once again took a deep breath and left the room with soundless footsteps, preparing to enter another battle, one that took place in the halls and amongst her ex-subordinates as well as her ex-superiors.
…
That head housemaid is not good enough at hiding her thoughts when she is nervous. Her emotions fluctuated too much when he mentioned the names of his housekeeper and daughter.
General Rochester sat in his seat with his elbows propped up on the desk in front of him, pondering with interest. Just what was it about that young mutant that would cause my son to mature in a split second and my eldest daughter, a person that normally shows no interest in anything, not even to her own marriage, to show such intense emotion as to use such underhanded means to tell me her disapproval of it?
Or rather, trying to tell me that she would handle that mutant in my stead?
And to abandon one of her most loyal dogs.
Keeping this mutant will be worth it, he thought. Though of course, there were many other, unspeakable reasons for keeping it.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
_VA_
_VA_ How was Felicia's interrogation?
What is the reason that Eyrie has such an intense reaction to Fei? Or was she even the person who directed this matter?
If not Eyrie, then why would Mary, the housekeeper, do such a thing? What is her motive?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone