"Don't worry, Mother. I will take care of everything." Lucian Fox gently patted Princess Ling's hand, tucked her in, and then turned to leave.
Lucian Fox looked up at the moonlight, his golden eyes flashing. In an instant, he leapt into the air and vanished from the courtyard.
After only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he reappeared in the rear garden of Grant Manor.
Lucian Fox stood in the same spot as before, lowering his gaze to look down.
The entire courtyard was draped in mourning white. The maids and old servants knelt before the ancestral altar, burning paper money.
Four maids were sobbing the hardest. One young maid was so overcome with grief that she fainted.
Lucian Fox's heart stirred. He pulled out a handkerchief to cover his face, ready to rush down and investigate, when his loyal page spoke up urgently: "Young Master, let me go instead! They don't know me, so it'll be easier for me to blend in!"
Lucian Fox considered for a moment and said, "Alright. Be careful, and don't give yourself away."
"Yes, Young Master." The page tapped his foot lightly and instantly melted into the darkness.
Lucian Fox remained atop the tree canopy, quietly observing the commotion below.
Mason had already managed to blend into the crowd. Carrying a new brazier, he knelt down beside the others and began to sob quietly.
Tina saw an unfamiliar young servant come over, crying so hard, and couldn't help but ask, "Which courtyard are you from? Why have I never seen you before?"
Mason wiped his tears and answered, "My name is Mason. I'm from another courtyard. Miss Cecilia Grant once showed me kindness, but I never got a chance to repay her! How could she just leave us like this?"
Mason's words made Tina's tears fall again. "Yes, she was perfectly fine, and now she's just gone. Isn't it because His Majesty canceled Miss Cecilia Grant's engagement to Prince Adrian? She couldn't handle the shock."
Shea suddenly interrupted, "Tina, don't speak carelessly!"
Tina immediately fell silent.
Mason asked, "What illness did Miss Cecilia Grant have? How did she pass so quickly? The last time I saw her, she was so healthy. Even if the shock was great..."
Tina couldn't help but reply in a low voice, "We don't understand either. After Miss Cecilia Grant received the Imperial Decree, she suddenly collapsed, then fell gravely ill, and wouldn't see anyone. We couldn't serve her up close, only watch from afar. Then, just a few days later, she stopped breathing. Miss Cecilia Grant was wronged!"
Mason's eyes flickered. "Then, when will the burial take place?"
"Tomorrow. Tonight is our last night keeping vigil for her. After tonight, we'll never see Miss Cecilia Grant again!" Tina said, wiping her tears.