ILSK Chapter 10

“Miss Sherwood, please come and sit over here.”

Cecilia approached Shannon, who hesitated at the door of the parlour, and guided her to the table. As Ella had said, a light tea table was set there.

On the plate from a brand said to be favoured even by the royal family, there were three or four types of neatly arranged fruits. Accompanied by a teacup with elegant curves and tea food. Cecilia politely began the service by pouring hot water directly from the prepared teapot.

“Do you like Earl Grey?”

Even before entering the parlour, there was a sweet scent coming from somewhere, and it turned out to be this tea. Shannon immediately realised that this tea, with its perfect harmony of sophisticated bergamot and the sweet scent of cornflowers, was not an ordinary high-end product. Just by smelling it, one could tell. The tea leaves were of the same grade as those the wealthiest old lady in the neighbourhood, who used to make Shannon read books, usually saved and never drank.

“Yes, thank you.”

It wasn’t just a formal answer. The aroma of this tea, which is currently being brewed, surprisingly matched Shannon’s taste.

“It’s a tea with a truly attractive balance of blending and long-lasting flavour.”

“I see.”

A slightly awkward moment passed until the sand in the hourglass measuring the tea brewing time ran out, and Cecilia poured tea into Shannon’s cup. Shannon, who slightly nodded in thanks, lifted the teacup and savoured the aroma first.

The elegant sweetness and rich floral aroma stimulated Shenon’s sense of smell. As she cautiously took a sip, the smooth tea warmed and soothed Shenon’s insides surprisingly quickly.

“When I first tasted it, it was exactly to my liking, I was so surprised! I’m really happy to be able to introduce this satisfying tea to Miss Sherwood.”

As soon as she took a sip of the tea, Cecilia saw a faint smile appear on Shannon’s lips, barely noticeable, and she beamed with joy. Seeing Cecilia, who had a remarkably similar taste in tea, Shannon once again suppressed the rising anticipation.

“That’s a really nice car. What is the name of the car?”

It was a question asked without much thought. It was also a question to distract from the churning stomach. However, upon hearing Cecilia’s answer, Shannon almost dropped the cup filled with hot tea.

“To my beloved daughter.”

“……Yes?”

Shannon froze at the sensation of her entire body going numb. She struggled to hide her trembling fingers, but fortunately, Cecilia, seemingly unaware, began to explain softly with a gentle smile.

“The tea is called ‘To My Beloved Daughter.’ I heard that Mrs. Fitzgerald, who blended this tea, named it herself.”

Fitzgerald & Co. was a luxury brand founded by Mrs. Fitzgerald, producing tea supplied to the mansions of royalty and high nobility. The tea blended by Mrs. Fitzgerald, known as the legend of tea, was always immensely popular. However, some special blended teas were not made available to the public and were sold only to special customers. This was undoubtedly one of those teas.

And that name was very shocking to Shannon, especially coming from Cecilia’s mouth.

“Somehow, it reminds me of my late mom. Maybe that’s why I liked it even more.”

Sipping the tea and wearing a faint smile, Cecilia seemed to be reminiscing about her memories with her mother. Seeing that, for some reason, this perfect tea felt bitter to Shannon, and she asked coldly. It was the first time since sitting down that she turned her head to meet Cecilia’s eyes.

“Duchess Kent must have been a good mother.”

Unlike you.

“Actually, I don’t have many memories with my mother. I was a late child, and my mother passed away when I was very young. In my hazy memories, my mother was always lying in bed.”

This time, Cecilia’s eyes turned towards my teacup. Strangely, I felt like I was making excuses.

From the bright and cheerful Cecilia, a precious youngest child emerged. So, Shannon thought that she must have grown up receiving more of her mother’s love than anyone else. But surprisingly, that was not the case.

“I asked something unnecessary.”

“No. When I was young, I often resented the world, wondering ‘Why don’t I have a mom?’ but now I’m okay. I now know for sure that my mother loved me more than anyone else.”

Why don’t I have a mom?

In her childhood, which she barely remembered, Shannon had asked the same question a million times. Cecilia had asked the same question too.

“I really hope I have a daughter. Even though our time together was short, my mother had a huge impact on my life. So, I want to give my daughter all the love I never received, for a very long time, until it overflows.”

Cecilia, lifting her head again, wore a bright smile as if nothing had happened. Instead of dwelling in the past and being sad, her expression was very bright, as she chose to look forward to a bright and hopeful future.

Cecilia covered her mouth and smiled softly, anticipating the happiness that might soon come. However, seeing her like that, Shannon barely suppressed the turmoil of emotions swirling inside, almost to the point of explosion. The knuckles of her hand gripping the teacup turned white.

But why did we have to break up so long ago? Did you abandon me, or did you lose me? What happened to us? Why on earth…?

“Excuse me.”

“Come on in.”

At that moment, Shannon was very fortunate to hear a knock. Cecilia turned her head to look at Ella and Anne entering the parlour.

Ella was holding a large box. Behind Ella, Anne followed eagerly with an expectant expression. Ella, beaming with a big smile, showed Cecilia the brightly coloured box.

“Miss! The satin dress has just arrived. I’ll place it in the dressing room.”

The satin dress was part of the trousseau. While the two were still having tea, Ella said she would put it in the dressing room for Cecilia to try on after her tea time.

“Miss, can I join you to watch too? Please?”

However, Anne, who was carefully asking with shining eyes, was at a loss because she wanted to see the dress right away. She was so anxious that she was even tapping her feet. Cecilia, who knew this better than anyone, made a suggestion to Shannon.

“Oh my! Of course. I’m so curious about how beautifully it turned out. Shall we take a quick peek?”

“Alright. I’m curious too.”

It was a relief that the awkward and distressing topic of conversation had changed. Shannon kindly nodded in agreement to Cecilia’s request. Anne’s face lit up at Shannon’s consent. Ella, sensing the mood, placed the dress box on the table. With Cecilia’s hand, the silk ribbon was untied, and the box was opened.

“Oh my, how pretty!”

“Miss! It really suits you well!”

“You are like an angel, miss!”

As soon as they saw the dress, not only Anne but also Ella gasped in awe. It was a pure white satin dress adorned with subtly shimmering gold threads. When Cecilia held the dress up and tried it on, everyone couldn’t help but admire how perfectly it suited her, complementing the beautiful new dress.

On the other hand, Shannon froze in place, holding her breath. Shannon’s gaze was fixed on only one thing.

Satin dress, that satin dress was so familiar. The voices of the three people filled with happiness and joy gradually faded away, and even tinnitus could be heard. It was because of the immense shock, without knowing the reason. Even in a state so shocking that her mind turned completely blank and almost stopped, Shannon’s mind was frantically rummaging through countless pieces of information like a machine.

“Really? I wish Noah would say I’m pretty too!”

The moment she saw Cecilia’s shy yet happy smile… it all came back to her. Shannon had to desperately hold back her sinking heart as she watched Cecilia smile more happily than anyone else.

Only three of the seventeen victims of the serial killer Killian Grey have had their identities made public. As the number of victims increased and the social impact grew, the police department belatedly began to restrict the release of the victims’ information. Therefore, from the fourth to the fourteenth victim, only their approximate age and gender were reported. Instead of detailed information about the victims, reporters featured the personal effects of the victims that were allowed to be disclosed, namely the blood-soaked satin dresses, in the tabloids.

Additionally, Killian Grey committed the fifth and sixth murders simultaneously. The victims were a wealthy young couple, and he brutally killed the husband first, who was desperately trying to save his wife. The sixth victim’s belongings, the wife, were that satin dress.

Shannon realised. They were the Ambrose couple, Noah and Cecilia.