Gino’s gaze detached from Ray, glazing over slightly as a memory from three days ago slammed to the forefront of his mind.
(Flashback: Three days ago.)
Gino stood at attention in the Head Butler's office. Warren had his back turned to him, staring silently at the wall of framed photographs that chronicled his life's work from Warren holding a young Lady Jane to Warren standing stoically behind the Starr siblings during their academy inductions. A lifetime of service.
"Five years, Gino… Five years of grueling work. You have mastered the ledgers, you have navigated the family's temperaments, managed the staffers, and you understand the responsibility of supporting this house."
Warren said quietly, breaking the heavy silence. He finally turned around, his usually stern face softened by a rare, genuine look of pride. Gino kept his posture rigid, though his heart began to pound against his ribs.
"I was simply doing my job, Mr. Ramada."
"Your work has been exceptional.”
Warren corrected.
"Your training is complete. I am confident that you are ready to take the mantle of Head Butler and support House Starr into the future."
Gino’s heart soared. It was everything he had worked and bled for. A massive smile threatened to break across his face.
"Thank you, sir. I swear to you, I will not let you down. You can finally rest."
Warren raised a single, weathered hand. The pride in his eyes vanished, darkening into a mask of grim, heavy duty.
"However. The official transition must be delayed. Indefinitely."
Gino’s smile shattered. He blinked, the air rushing out of his lungs.
"Sir? I... I don't understand. If my training is complete…"
"The family still needs me."
Warren interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"There is a highly sensitive task that has recently presented itself. It is a matter that only I can complete, and I cannot, in good conscience, retire until it is finished."
The news was devastating. Gino felt his ambition, his entire future, crumble into dust. Desperate, he stepped forward, breaking his formal posture.
"Then let me help you!"
Gino pleaded.
"Whatever this task is, let me shoulder the burden with you. If I am ready to be Head Butler, I am ready to handle this. Let me do the heavy lifting so you can step down!"
"No."
Warren’s voice was ice-cold, shutting him down instantly.
"This is not an estate business, Gino. This is a burden that is mine alone. You are not to assist me, and you are to ask no further questions regarding it."
Blinded by sudden grief and frustrated ambition, Gino lost his temper. His fists clenched at his sides.
"Is there even a task, sir?"
Gino demanded, his voice cracking with anger.
Warren’s eyes narrowed.
"Excuse me?"
"You made me work for five years for this position!"
Gino shouted, the betrayal boiling over.
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"You practically handed me the keys to the estate! And now, at the absolute last second, you invent some 'secret task'? Are you just making excuses? Are you just too arrogant to finally give up your power?!"
Warren didn't respond. He didn't defend himself against the accusation. He simply looked at Gino. His eyes held a profound, quiet understanding, recognizing that there is nothing he can say that would ease the young man's pain.
Without a word, Warren turned his back on Gino, returning his gaze to the photograph of young Lady Jane.
Gino stared at the Warren’s back, breathing heavily, his vision swimming with angry tears.
"Right. I understand perfectly."
Gino stormed out, slamming the heavy oak door behind him, fracturing their relationship forever.
(End of flashback.)
Gino blinked, the memory fading as the cold reality of the vacant parlor rushed back in. He looked up at Ray, his face pale and hollow.
"Yes…"
Gino whispered, his voice cracking.
"He was. And then he took it away. I was furious. I hated him for it."
Gino took a shuddering breath, the fear in his eyes dissolving into an agonizing regret.
"But that hatred only lasted a day."
he choked out, his hands trembling.
"I respected Mr. Ramada more than my own father. He built me into who I am. I was just too proud, too hurt to go back into his office and apologize. I slammed the door in his face, and I told myself I would make it right after the gala when things calmed down."
A tear spilled over his eyelid, tracing a line down his pale cheek.
"When you told me he was dead... I realized I would never get that chance. I wanted to help you find the killer because I owe Mr. Ramada so much. Catching his killer is the only apology I have left to give."
But Gino’s eyes widened as the realization finally clicked into place. He looked at Ray, horror dawning on his face.
"That is not really the reason why you asked me about that, didn't you? You…you think I killed Mr. Ramada because he rescinded the promotion?"
In the Ambient Presence of Ray’s mind, the Charismatic Conman spoke with absolute finality.
Conman: "Look at his eyes. Listen to the genuine horror and grief in his voice. He is telling the truth. He had the motive, but he did not pull the trigger."
Ray stared at the trembling senior staffer, a cold knot forming in his stomach. The Charismatic Conman had cleared him. Gino was just another lead that did not pan out, a victim of terrible timing and a broken promise.
Ray let out a slow breath and shook his head.
"No, Gino."
Ray said, his voice dropping its clinical edge, returning to a tone of genuine respect.
"I don't. You are cleared."
Gino sagged, letting out a shaky breath as he wiped a hand across his face, the sheer relief nearly buckling his knees. But as Ray watched the innocent staffer recover, the Gritty Detective immediately pointed out that this left them with a terrifying void.
Detective: "If Gino did not help the killer... and Bastian Sterling is an outsider who doesn't know his way around the manor... then who the hell guided the killer to the wine cellar and opened that door?"
Before Ray could even begin to process the terrifying implications of the Gritty Detective’s question, a sharp, urgent knock shattered the silence of the room.
Svane moved instantly, his massive frame blocking Ray from the doorway. He pulled the heavy door open just enough to look out, then relaxed slightly, pulling it wide to admit a nervous junior footman.
The young servant took one step inside and froze. He took a single look at Gino’s pale, tear-streaked face, Svane’s lethal posture, and Ray’s cold, calculating demeanor, instantly sensing the heavy, lingering pressure in the room. He swallowed hard, looking like he desperately wanted to be anywhere else.
"Report."
Ray commanded, his voice calm but brooking no delay.
"We found him, my Lord. The guest that we were tasked to look for. We have another staffer observing the room now."
The staffer stammered, looking directly at Gino.
Gino stepped forward, a sudden, desperate fire igniting in his eyes. This was his chance to make things right for Warren.
"Where? Where is he?"
"The Eastern Wing, sir. But... he isn't alone. He is sharing the parlor with three other nobles, including Young Master Dylan Starr."
The staffer replied.
Gino’s jaw tightened.
"It doesn't matter. Take us to him."
"Hold."
Ray said sharply, raising a hand.
Gino looked back, his grief making him restless.
"My Lord, shouldn't we hurry?"
"If we kick down the door of a private lounge and drag a noble out in front of the host’s son, we will cause a scandal. I am under strict mandate that this investigation remains completely low profile. We are not tipping our hand."
Ray interrupted, his tone icy and precise as he turned to the junior staffer.
"Return to your duties. Speak of this to no one about this."
The junior staffer bowed hastily and bolted from the room. Ray looked at his small party.
"We are going to the Eastern Wing.”
Ray declared, moving toward the door.
They moved swiftly through the sprawling manor, leaving the music of the ballroom far behind as they crossed into the quiet, carpeted corridors of the Eastern Wing. As they approached near the location, they spotted another junior staffer standing near a decorative marble pillar, trying his best to look inconspicuous.
Seeing Gino and the party approach, the junior staffer straightened up.
"They are still inside, Mr. Gino."
The junior staffer whispered nervously.
"Good work. Return to your duties. We will take over the watch from here."
Gino said, waving a hand to dismiss him.
The junior staffer bowed deeply and hurried off down the corridor. Once they were alone, Ray looked at his small party.
"We will wait here for Sterling to exit the room alone."
Ray said, stepping back into a small alcove just out of sight of the door.
But waiting does not mean I am not going to do anything.
Ray thought as he looked down at his shadow.
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