The Grand Palace

Boring task, makes more tiring. Charlotte tutted and tutted. She was done for the day, not according to anyone's arrangements though, but itade sense to a bored, hungry, thirsty, tired wo... she stopped in her tracks ooh...dead bodies... thrilling. On a second glance, she noticed the younger one was still alive, but without any treatment, he also would join his ancestors anyways. They were obviously assassinated, arrows, and a stab inju... she looked closer...a gun, who had a gun?, who were these people that had to be assassinated with a gun??

****

"I'm home" Charlotte called looking around. The house was neat of course, Maisy was a clean woman, and even if Charlotte was not available she knew how to take care of the house. But the ominous silence bothered Charlotte who ran to the bedroom to find Maisy sound asleep. She pecked the woman who inhaled, her granddaughter was too familiar.

Sweet dreams granny.

Charlotte sat down to eat, it was bread and butter made by Maisy and jam she made herself. It was the fastest thing to eat whenever she was too tired to cook anything. She heaved taking a bite but almost immediately, the door banged, she groaned lazily, but the door banged again. She was too tired to get up.

"Attempting to break our door, aren't you?" she muttered to herself than anyone. "We are out of butter!" She called but felt sorry immediately as Maisy was still asleep. She dropped the sandwich, went to the door and cracked it open

"There's no but..." "Please help" Sarah pleaded, Charlotte stared at her company, it was Sarah, the neighbourhood girls and two men who were carrying two different men. Charlotte peered at the men, and the human baggage they were carrying, it were the two she had seen on her way.

"I don't do autopsies" she said proceeding to go back in "they might still be alive..." "They are already dead" she argued "please Charlotte" Ingred begged, Charlotte snorted in mockery "oh well...so you do know my name?" She asked "yes" Ingred muttered in reply Charlotte nodded slowly faking realization "yeah... because for decades, I've been correcting you that I am Charlotte not 'crazy girl'. " Charlotte ended moping. The girls wire sad faces. Charlotte was mean, there was no point begging her.

"Look how fine this man is, you can't let him die" Sarah said to Charlotte who chuckled, then laughed heartily "infact, I will... since you like him already" she was still chuckling "you wench!!" Amelia cried "of course I am... but better than you, mi'lady" "what a harpy..." "err... Charlotte, I know you do not really fancy us..." it was Klara Charlotte wore an irritated frown this one has been in luxury too long 'fancy' I don't like you maggots... "... but you can't let these innocent men die all for a beef..." I can actually "... and money... we'll pay you... yeah, you like money." Charlotte smirked these girls I might not like, but money I do "yeah...I do, now you are talking, take them to the shed." Charlotte ordered.

Charlotte gave the men a thorough look, the assassinator put in a lot of effort, an arrow was through the elderly man's throat even if they had broken it, these people are dumb big for nothings. He literally had an arrow, he was gone. The younger one had a bullet, and his pulse still counted even though it was getting slower than ever.

"This one is still alive" she said pointing at the younger man "but this one is dead" she pointed at the old man "you will bring me whiskey..." "are you sure you are not leaving him to die because you don't like us?" Amelia asked Charlotte furrowed her brows the dumbest one cut me off she maintained cool "well no..." The girls almost heaved but Charlotte was not done talking "... and if I wanted to, I will be saying this one is dead. I can't be petty and stupid, get me whiskey..." "You drunkar..." "get me whiskey or your hobo will die!!" Charlotte yakked making the girls scurry about although Klara remained calm. She handed Ingred a ten pence coin and the girl hurried off to get the whiskey.

"So what do we do with the dead man?" Klara asked Charlotte whose hands were placed on the strangers wound to stop it from over bleeding. He looked overbled to her even, he was bleeding to much and against all odds, lucky his wound was not deep into his insides. That would have been a job well done to his assassinator.

"Bury your dead" Charlotte said less concerned, but this was a case she wanted to uncover herself and did not need anyone else smarter than herself involved. If this gets to the patriach all my interest will be for waste, no I can't let anyone else know

Ingred returned with the whiskey ten minutes later.

After Charlotte removed the bullet, she treated the wound; stitched it and bandaged it, yet the man did not bulge. The girls stared at her worried, and in expectancy...

"What?, he wouldn't just jump back to life... give him a day. And you know what Klara?... You owe me a thousand pennies..." "you thief!" yapped Ingred Charlotte nodded confirming it. But Sarah knew her too well...or just enough...

"I think lord Lincoln has to hear of this, it will be bad for the crown prince to hear of murders when he visits...he will certainly feel insecure..." She got me Charlotte nodded accepting defeat, she gave a nervous laugh, Klara stared at her what made her so flustered?. Sarah raised her brows.

"So what's it gonna be miss Charlotte?" she asked Charlotte plastered a smile that yelled; 'I hate you!', but Sarah did not care...not like she likes Charlotte any better.

"Well...erm... you see...it is to soon to tell him. I should revive him first, he is the only witness I am sure." the extremely sour smile returned. Sarah moped "so... you are asking us to keep this a secret?" She asked, Charlotte nodded in agreement , and Klara understood what Sarah was doing. This girl is really a psychopath...but I'm too nice to say so...who is this?

"We'll pay five hundred then" Sarah said shrugging. It made Charlotte frown, but she nodded almost immediately and went "because you won't be telling Lincoln... the moment you compromise this..." Charlotte let them conclude, Klara was thrown off balance of course. She had a lousy mouth, and might just spill to someone who could spill to her father and her father to the patriach. Well...in two months, they will be staying in their villa at capital. She can wait. But Sarah scoffed simply saying; 'what can you possibly do?' . Charlotte nodded "the least I can do is stalk you, find out what you buy most and consume, lace it with drugs that make infertile and cause you kidney problems" Charlotte threatened, the girls looked horrified. But Sarah tried to maintain calm "we'll be here tomorrow. How about the dead man?... what do we do?" She asked Charlotte scoffed "you take him out of my property you nitwits" she replied Sarah who scoffed as well "you call this a property?" she asked, Klara moped glancing around " 'my property' " Sarah mocked "your kiosk you mean..." "at least it wasn't built on laundered money" Charlotte cut her off. Klara had a frown and she was vexed, Sarah just grabbed her hand and they stormed away, the other girls following suit. The men who had brought the victims joined in carrying the dead body as one had attempted and it was impossible since the body got heavier.

****

Maisy stared at the man on the couch then Charlotte who wore a thin smile. She just woke up and strolling to the sitting room, there's a man on the couch half naked...then she not the bandage.

"How was your sleep granny?" Charlotte asked "who is he?" Maisy asked ignoring Charlotte's question "guess what granny" Charlotte teased Maisy did not want to guess, but she went on anyways "he asked you out, then you stabbed him..." Charlotte had a good laugh "no... and if I did why would I treat him when I can let him rot?..." Maisy shrugged, that's all I can do she thought to herself. "Well...I won us a lottery... five hundred pence. Ignorance is sin" Charlotte said nodding. "Who is this?" Maisy asked "a patient granny" replied Charlotte with enthusiasm "what happened to him?, couldn't you just treat him in his home?" Maisy asked. Charlotte nodded "but, this one was brought to me by the penine princesses. He was brought to me unconscious, so I couldn't ask, they don't seem to know either" I can't tell her I saw him before they did and did not help, but who pays for that?? We need money like we need oxygen. "What's his case?" Maisy asked " he was shot... with a gun, the lower side of his torso. Guns in the penine..." Charlotte rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Maisy could not really tell the things that went through her granddaughter's head, but she was very sure they were all crazy things, and vivid imaginations...like she was sure Charlotte wanted to point at lord Lincoln.

"I don't know what you are thinking, but better stop thinking it." Maisy ordered, Charlotte chuckled "yunno... the bullet didn't really penetrate. His stomach wall is fine, this man was extremely dehydrated, and bled too much. Perhaps a high blood pressure...I checked his tongue to help balance it so he doesn't choke on it... he is completely dry." Charlotte said nodding "did you give him any water?" Charlotte asked "yes... through drip, I can't make him drink anything," Charlotte replied. "Okay... but you should jerk him till he wakes up" Maisy advised "nevermind granny, I am not rushing anything. His pulse is just fine. He is no longer unconscious, just taking a rest. I am not in a hurry to wake him up."Charlotte ended shrugging "okay" muttered Maisy "but isn't five hundred too much?..." Charlotte widened her eyes admist disbelief and thrill "come on granny... I'm doing my special magic. I just revived a dead man..." replied Charlotte chuckling.

****

Reginald opened his eyes slowly trying to adapt to the light after being lost to the darkness for six hours. He felt a sharp pain on his side, where he had taken the bullet. It was not the smartest move, but he had to improvise. No one would really believe he was assassinated if there were no signs. Besides, that was the best place to take the bullet at that moment. Who knew were the assassins had planned to hit him. He looked around, even though his head ached and his eyes were heavy. It was a simple cottage carrying the aroma of milk. Who had saved his life... "Oh..." a woman's voice said

"... Charlotte your patient is awake" Maisy called as soon as she caught a glance of him sitting up. He nodded slowly in realization and in the tiniest bit of relief;he was in a clinic (he had feared that his Assassinators had taken him).

"Hi..." Maisy greeted "good evening, how do you feel..." she stopped, of course he felt pain, she resolved to asking him a different question "would you like some porri..." "Ughhh" another voice groaned as the owner walked in "do not feed my patient granny" Reginald narrowed his gaze, a girl with the shabbiest hair, a terrible voice for a woman and height that could suit a man

"Good day... you can't eat anything sweet, just proteins and minerals... and vitamins... from fruits... happy healthy glucose am I right..." she chuckled dryly after sounding as dry as..."porridge will only increase your blood sugar, increase bleeding, and slow down healing." she retorted. "Where am I?" Reginald asked "my house" Charlotte replied "who are you?" He is a cautious one mhmm... "Charlotte Brumble, and my granny here...Maisy Brumble" she replied him wearing a faked smile. "Ohhhh..."he went"so I'm at a house not a clinic... good news" he muttered sarcastically, scoffing. Charlotte frowned, was he underestimating h..."and you are?" Maisy asked "Reginald" he replied watching her leave into a room.

"So... some women brought you to me... you had a bullet rightttt..." she pointed at his wound (more like the bandage) "...here. What happened to you?" she asked "your curiosity will get the fish in the soup" he said looking at the ceiling. Charlotte frowned "am I the fish?" she asked he nodded in approval "oh wow..." She muttered. "Your companion...he is dead" Charlotte said watching for his expression, his jaw tightened, but he scoffed "mmm-hmm?" 'What else'??, wow... "You are a stranger although...I have never seen you here before. Do you have any family that we can... yunno...any family at all" Charlotte inquired, Reginald nodded "a father, a mother, three other mothers, ten brothers , eleven sisters, a wife, a son, a daughter, six mistresses..." "large family" she muttered widening her eyes, he nodded "yes...you get it" he said "so is there anyone we can call to take you out of here?" she asked he shook his head "no" no? "Where do you live?" "London" he replied "the capital?" she asked showing a little disbelief "yes...is there a problem with that?" he asked the capital... hmmm... let me look closer...long hair, clear skin, he doesn't look like someone dying of cold...he is certainly a noble. Common men couldn't keep their hair long, they couldn't take care of it...no...he is dressed like a commoner and I will like to settle it on that... easy Charlotte... easy... "Why are you staring at me like that?" He asked clearly irritated "no." she muttered moving away from him, he was clearly lost so she expanded "there is no problem with you living in the capital." She said feigning a smile. This lady is as dry as her humour Reginald thought after looking at her close enough.

"Why do you think you were shot, as well as your companion?" She asked he scoffed "dirty tricks old man... dirty tricks" he muttered "I'm an old man?" She asked wanting him to shed more light, but he stood up and looked around a second time "no..." he muttered "where is this?... What village is this?" He asked Charlotte moped "Rams bottom... Western moors, penine moorlands province." she replied. He rubbed his nose "that's far..." Maisy walked back in "I'll have some of that porridge granny" he said wearing a honest smile which Maisy did not hesitate to return, and she rushed into the kitchen.

"No... that's not good for y..." "I know what's good for me..." Maisy returned with a pot of pudding which she placed on the table , Reginald gave a warm smile like almost like he was trying to provoke Charlotte "...oh... thank you granny..." he turned facing her completely "...I know what's good for me". He walked to the table and sat down, Charlotte only gave a gnarly glare walking like he rules the world... what peasant walks like this...this one isn't even helping matters

"How can you eat this?" Charlotte asked joining him on the table "it will slow your healing down... you already have a high blood pressure as I speak..." "are you a doctor?" He asked cutting Charlotte who sulked short "ye...well...no" "good, so silence... and let me eat" he said holding a finger up "she knows better than most doctors out there" Maisy said shrugging "I...see..." he muttered observing Charlotte who was still sulking "... delicious porridge granny, thank you" he said to Maisy who wore a grateful smile "you are welcome."

"You consume too much salt" Charlotte mumbled, Reginald gave her a glance, peered at her from head to toe then spat; "are you a dietitian?" He asked she frowned "yeah... because you care about my meals a lot lot..." "I am an apothecary and..." "Apo-what?" he asked tilting his head she shook her head "I am a chemist, and a regular doctor... it's my hustle, I am not just confirmed by the king yet." Charlotte said maybe if I try to be a little more kind and friendly he'll shed out to me "ohh..." went Reginald full of sarcasm and fake realization what an annoyi... "You are just a criminal then..." She pouted tolerating him, he continued "...yes, I consume salt, is anything the matter?" He asked "yes sir..." she relaxed more on the chair "you consumed so much salt before your assassination, it made you lose lots of water chap, made you weak too... dehydration is a bad thing for a sick person... make sure to take lots water, o'right?" She asked widening her eyes, Reginald nodded.

"How did you know I ate a salty meal?" He asked "your saliva was thicker than normal, and you couldn't stop salivating even in your unconscious state... also, your saliva tasted of salt..." He ringed his face in disgust, but she remained unperturbed. "Why would you do that?" He asked his face showing irritation, she shrugged "I had to know if you took something poisonous, or just know what you ate...they might be contraindications in the drugs I told the girls to buy you" she replied he shook his head "you take your job too seriously" "it's my job" "no... that is too much miss Brumble, how much were you paid?" he asked rhetorically "five hundred" she replied scoffing "oh... good job" he muttered.

****

"I think he smacked his head" Charlotte muttered nodding "why do you say so??" Maisy asked almost offended "he sounds..." she whistled Maisy widened her eyes, that meant crazy "saying his father has four wives, he has six mistresses, a wife as well, two children, he has ten brothe..." Maisy burst into a hearty laughter "large family" she said nodding "I said the same thing." Charlotte said with a scoff "well... you didn't Bandage his head" Maisy said admist laughter "yes granny, I so am confused--his situation... he doesn't look crazy, but sounds crazy..." "really?" "what if..." Charlotte inhaled "nevermind" she cut her own self off

"Tell me" Maisy urged

"Nevermind granny, it's just a speculation" "share with..." "no".