XXXIII

Simon burst into the room, more agitated than usual. It had only been a few hours since Marcus had begun his day, but the exaggerated demeanor of his valet signaled that he had something important to share. Westlin, still preoccupied with the events of the previous day, glanced up with a hint of suspicion.

" My lord, what I've just heard is unbelievable, " Simon announced, a mix of excitement and drama in his voice.

The marquis eyed him warily, already fearing what was coming next. He had learned that when the boy brought incredible news, it usually meant chaos was about to follow.

" What now, Holloway? " Marcus asked with a sigh, trying to sound more patient than he felt.

Simon, as usual, wasted no time in heightening the tension.

" The vicar confessed his love to Lady Grace yesterday morning! " Simon exclaimed, equal parts horrified and thrilled.

Marcus felt his heart skip a beat. " What...? " he thought, struggling to process the information. His grip tightened on the arm of his chair, tension rippling through his body like a whip. Seeing Grace leave with Lesly the day before had already been unsettling enough, but hearing this? It was simply too much.

" What did you say...? " he asked in a hoarse voice, barely able to contain his anger.

Oblivious to the gravity of his master's reaction, Simon continued his tale with his usual dramatic flair.

" After the service yesterday, " Simon began, talking quickly and gesturing wildly as he spoke, " Elior pulled her aside, took her to a secluded corner, and confessed his love. He even promised he would treat Robert like his own son! " he added, as if reaching the climax of a tragic story.

Marcus shot to his feet, unable to contain the fury that consumed him. The thought of Elior courting Grace, offering to be the father to his son... His jaw clenched, and for a moment, he felt his whole body tremble with frustration.

" That man...! " he growled through gritted teeth, struggling to express the storm of emotions tearing through him.

" I know, I know, my lord, " Simon replied quickly, trying to calm him down. " But don't worry, because I've already come up with a solution, " he added, flashing a grin that only made Marcus more anxious.

The marquis turned to him, glaring with mistrust. Every time Holloway had a " solution, " things tended to spiral out of control. But right now, he was too enraged not to listen.

" What are you thinking...? " he asked tensely, knowing that whatever Simon proposed would likely be as absurd as it was reckless.

The young valet grinned even wider, as if he were about to reveal a brilliant strategy.

" The only way to save your relationship with Lady Grace, " he declared confidently, " is to get rid of the vicar. "

Marcus stared at him, utterly stunned. For a second, he thought he must have misheard. " Get rid of...? "

" What...? " he managed to say, incredulous. " Get rid of...? " He repeated, as if the words made no sense in the context.

But Simon, completely serious, pressed on with his plan.

" Of course, my lord. We'll get him out of the way—discreetly, of course. Something simple, like an accident... a little push here, a fall there. Nothing that would raise suspicion! " he explained, waving his hands around as if choreographing a stage play.

Marcus blinked, trying to comprehend if Holloway was truly suggesting what it sounded like. The anger he'd felt toward Elior was now mingled with overwhelming disbelief. He took a step toward his valet, who was already heading for the door, seemingly prepared to put his plan into action.

" Holloway, don't you dare kill him! " Marcus shouted, desperation creeping into his voice.

Simon paused for a moment, turning back to his master with a confused expression that quickly shifted into a grin.

" No, no, my lord, I didn't mean kill him exactly... just, you know, get him out of the way, " he said with a wink, as if the distinction was obvious.

Marcus stared at him, unable to find words for the chaos he felt in that moment. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure, but the situation with Grace, Elior, and now Simon was pushing him to the brink.

" No accidents, Holloway! " he shouted as the boy disappeared down the hall.

" Don't worry, my lord! " Simon called back, his voice full of enthusiasm.

Westlin stood in the center of the room, pressing the bridge of his nose in frustration. He knew Simon never stopped when he had an idea in mind. Taking a deep breath, he muttered, " God, what am I going to do with you...? "

Marcus couldn't sit idly by while Simon forged ahead with one of his outlandish plans. Instead of sinking back into his chair, he jumped up, his mind still spinning from Elior's confession and Simon's absurd " solutions. " Anger and helplessness warred within him, but he couldn't let things spiral out of control. No, he had to stop this before it turned into a disaster.

He carefully adjusted his mask, ensuring it was securely in place. Then, grabbing hold of his cane, feeling its weight in his hand—a symbol more of the facade he had to maintain than any real physical need—he hurried out of the house, determined to catch up with his valet and prevent him from doing something irreparable.

With each step he took, Marcus felt his heartbeat quicken, not just from the rush, but from the fear of what Simon might be planning. " Damn you, Holloway, " he thought, knowing that while his valet was loyal to the extreme, his ideas always veered toward the ridiculous. He couldn't afford to let this be one of those moments where everything spun out of control.