Everyone in the room waited for Marceline's answer as if sitting on needles and heard the young vampiress answer, "No."
Lady Aurora's eyes narrowed at the young vampiress's words. Did the councilman fail to relay her words to this naive young vampiress? Even Byron turned slightly worried with the way Marceline refused. He was sure the woman would agree to it on the first try. He picked the next question, while Clayton quietly sat there witnessing the beginning of the interrogation.
Byron questioned again, "Did you see anything unusual that particular day? One of your maids told us that you inquired about a carriage that didn't move from the front of your mansion's gates for a long time. Can you tell us a little about it?"
Marceline gave a nod. She then explained, "Father and mother weren't at home. They had to attend a soiree and they left with my younger sister Allie."
"It seems like we have another suspect in the list apart from Vincent Moriarty," Clayton remarked, and Marceline turned slightly annoyed that this short vampire had the nerve to suspect her. She offered him a sweet smile before continuing,
"I went to get some fresh air, when I noticed this carriage standing in front of the mansion. Not directly, but right next to it, as if someone visited us. I decided to take a look, after all, I didn't know if the person had lost way or if the carriage was broken. When I stepped out of the mansion to inquire and learn more, I found my butler there."
Lady Aurora wondered where this vampiress was spinning the tales because she wanted to corner Vincent and not some lowly butler. But the older vampiress didn't know that Marceline wasn't making it up and this was something that had happened.
Marceline continued with, "My butler said it was from the council. Who had come to meet my brother, who was in the mansion that time. And the carriage had left."
Clayton questioned the young vampiress, who feigned innocence, "Are you telling Vincent was in the mansion at that time? When the carriage was stationed."
Marceline nodded, "Yes."
Marquee Hooke remarked, "As you can see, Vincent Moriarty is the one who is behind my sister's death."
"We aren't completely sure about it, Marquee Hooke. Things like these take time to understand and gather. Just because Vincent was in the mansion, it doesn't say if Lady Camille was in there too," Clayton pointed it out.
Lady Aurora glared at the Head Council and then Bryon for not being able to convince this vampiress to bring her to their side. At this rate, the little hope she had gathered was slipping between her fingers.
But Marceline spun a lie and said, "The carriage that the butler said was a councilman's, I believe it belonged to Lady Camille. It is because I have seen the lady and her carriage move frequently on the streets of Skellington."
Clayton's eyebrows furrowed, "Are you sure of what you saw?"
Marceline nodded, "I wasn't sure before, but now... I believe it to be so. I just cannot believe that my brother would do something like that."
A proud smile appeared on Lady Aurora's lips on hearing these words. Finally, she thought.
The Head Council could sense that the Hookes weren't here for the deceased murder but for Vincent. But he didn't understand why Vincent's own blood was agreeing to his murder. The truth was, Clayton didn't know if Vincent had or hadn't killed the woman. He said,
"Alright. As Lady Marceline has revealed information that we weren't aware of, I will ask the council—"
"You don't have to do that, Head Council," Marquee Hooke interrupted Clayton, leaving the small-looking vampire curious. "This is a case that we reopened, and the Council failed us. We would like to deal with things our own, vampire, old fashioned way."
"What do you mean?" Clayton questioned.
"If Vincent Moriarty agrees to marry our daughter Rosetta, we are willing to drop the charges. It is only because my daughter Rosetta is in love with him that we are ready to overlook things," Lady Aurora explained with a serious look and said, "We want it in writing and get a copy of it. Let him know about it."
Clayton, who was already aware that Vincent was going to marry the governess, stayed quiet for a moment before asking, "And what if he refuses?"
"I am sure he will understand the situation, when he knows the evidence that has been gathered against him. We are all looking to draw peace among us," Lady Aurora responded.
After giving it a thought, Clayton turned to look at the councilman and ordered, "Byron. The lower ranked councilman bowed, and left the chamber to go to the dungeon to deliver the message.
Lady Aurora faintly smiled and said to Clayton, "It is good to have your cooperation in this matter, else there would be a need to get an answer from the lords. I am glad that everything went well," she smiled, bowing her head, and she walked out of the chamber.
Marceline was next to leave the room, leaving Clayton alone in his chamber. But not for long, as the Viscount came to meet him, to inquire what was going on.
A couple of minutes later, Bryon appeared in front of Vincent's cell with the deal the Hookes proposed for the matter to be completely hushed. Vincent had returned inside the cell, while Eve, who stood outside the cell, heard it all and looked between the councilman and Vincent. The councilman asked Vincent,
"What is your answer to it?"
Silence fell in and around the place, while Eve could feel her heartbeat increase.
Byron was more than pleased to see the arrogant and sarcastic pureblooded vampire in the dungeon. It seemed like all the highly ranked vampires were being shown their true place and he said, "Take your time to answer it. The Hookes are in no hurry and you can tell it tomorrow."
What better, but to have this person in the dungeon, so that his pride could lower down, the councilman happily thought to himself.
But when Bryon turned to leave the place, Vincent replied, "Okay. I will take the deal. I will marry Rosetta Hooke." Eve's eyes widened at his words.
