- getting fooled/played by someone.

19

It's just like what they say, the main character always steals the spotlight.

Everyone's attention is on the man who entered the room. Wearing a black suit, and an irritating yet magnificent gift from the heavens which is his face that has a serious expression. He's holding a gun that is releasing smoke from its mouth, I can smell the gunpowder.

Sherlock's character indeed holds power itself, and he himself is a known figure. Maybe that's the reason why every guard lowered their guns in shock, and also fear. It made Sherlock freely enter the room.

"S-Sir Holmes, I didn't expect that you're coming." Tuluyan namutla si Lord Byron, hindi pa tuluyang naasikaso ang nangyari kay Felix.

Matalim siyang tinignan ni Sherlock. "I didn't expect to see this scene as well."

"Sherlock!" I called him. Tuluyan na 'kong nakalapit kay Felix, lumuhod ako sa lapag para makatapat siya. His right shoulder is bleeding. I immediately took the dining towel to put pressure on the wound. "S-Shit, we need help," halos maiyak na sambit ko.

May malay pa si Felix, marahan niya 'kong hinawakan. "I-I'm sorry, lottie." Sa kabila ng nagdudugo niyang braso, ang paghingi pa rin ng tawad ang nasa isip niya.

I clicked my tongue. "Shut up! We will find Hilian so make sure you won't die or I'll kill you!" I told him before looking up at Sherlock. "W-Where are the police?"

Nagpatigil sa lahat ang tanong ko, pero ang nagpatigil sa 'kin ay ang reaksyon ni Sherlock. For pete's sake, in this situation, he's making me doubt everything that I know about him. But then again, he's a fanmade Sherlock Holmes.

Despite being the smartest character here in this novel. The author gave him this weakness. This man can't lie.

His silence blew up his cover. From being pale, the lord got alive. His face lightened.

"Ohhh? What do we have here?" he scoffed. His mockery turned into a laugh. "LOOK AT THAT! OTHER THAN THE ADELAIDES, IT WILL BE THE END OF THE GREATEST DETECTIVE AS WELL!"

"Tomorrow, the news will blow up! Fantastic!"

"W-What are you waiting for?! Just kill them already!! Felix needs to see a doctor!" pagsingit ni Lady Stella, hindi nawawala ang naluluhang mga matang nakatingin sa anak.

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi. It's all a mess.

"I thought you're a smartass! Why didn't you come with the police!" Nagawa ko pang laitin si Sherlock na nasa harapan ko. Hindi siya kaagad nakasagot. Kahit mahina, nagawa kong marinig ang sinabi niya.

"I did, actually . . ."

My forehead furrowed, but before I could react, Lord Byron's voice filled the room.

"This is the best day! Luck is on our side! With the Adelaides gone and so as the great detective, we will find Hilian soon and success is within our grasp!" He sounds like a maniac, which he is. His hands are in the air, reaching for the top. "Finally, I can-"

He stopped when we all heard a chair move. Nagtataka at hindi maipinta ang mukha kong napatingin sa kaniya. All of the butlers and guards got alerted and pointed their guns at him— at my father.

Funny how he just stood up and with the guns pointed at him, it was Lord Byron who flinched.

"W-Wha-"

"I've heard enough, this should be handled by the authorities."

Everyone was dumbfounded, even I. Napakurap-kurap ang ama ni Felix, hindi alam kung tama ba ang narinig niya.

"H-Have you lost your mind?" He nervously chuckled. "What makes you think you'll get out of here alive? No one will know if there's no witness, the authorities won't make it here to see you alive."

My father looks calm. He glanced at us, at Felix. "If your son wasn't injured, I would let you make a fool of yourself for a little longer. But he needs to be treated immediately," he calmly said.

We were still confused, couldn't make out what he's saying.

"Who said they won't make it here? They're already here."

I felt the goosebumps, the trembling started, and the whole manor started shaking. Because of the dozens of stumping . . .  of the authorities. Before I knew it, a loud thud shook everyone. The doors opened once again, and there, the police and authorities entered. Together with a doctor who rushed towards us to aid Felix.

I couldn't move, I can't. My mind is still blank, can't believe or process what I'm seeing right now.

Wh . . . at?

"So, that's why there is no one at the office." I heard Sherlock mumbled.

Hindi maipinta ang mukha ng lahat, lalo na si Lord Byron na pinoposasan ng mga pulis.

"W-What-"

"I've always known since the start, I'm just waiting for the right time." I couldn't take my eyes off my father. At the Governor. At the Lord of this manor.

Umiling-iling ang kausap niya. "H-How, how did you know?! You tricked me!" The lord shouted at my calm father.

"Hilian. Hilian told me." Umangat ang dalawang kilay ko sa narinig. May kung anong magaan at mainit ang dumampad sa dibdib ko. "I always believe my daughters," my father added. For some reason, I heard his voice again when he told that to me.

"We have already planned this since she found out the truth, we planned this when no one was looking."

I was dumbfounded. I slowly stood up, staring and watching them.

Everything . . . every detail, they're starting to sink in.

I couldn't believe it as I looked at my father.

Howard Von Adelaide, the twins' father. A well-known governor and an influential man. He has many connections, but also many enemies. He's known to be very clever and sharp, a man you shouldn't mess with.

He knew. He talked to Hilian in secret.

That man . . . at the bar . . .

"The guy with a white hair." (Bartender, chapter 16)

As if I was at the bar again, at the seat where I was when I was talking to the bartender. I can see Hilian talking to a man with white hair.

"I've known that place for quite a time now, it was introduced to me," sagot niya. "I go there to drink from time to time." (Nilus, chapter 17)

I slowly went towards them. It was only I, who assumed it was Felix who she was seeing in secret. As I move closer to them, I'm starting to see who that man is.

It was my father.

Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko, parang may nakabara sa lalamunan ko.

"Then-" I tried to speak, loud enough to get my father's attention who turned his head on me.

If it was all planned. If you knew it all along . . .

"Where is Hilian?"

I can feel it. I'm about to cry. I'm about to collapse.

Not until I heard a familiar, not-so-familiar voice.

"I'm here, always here."

𓉞✎🕊