The cool morning sunlight streamed through the high windows of a corridor in Monte Castle, dispelling the lingering chill of the night.
The first to notice something was amiss were two young maids assigned to the morning cleaning.
They carried buckets and brooms, chatting in low voices about the previous night's amusing stories. As they rounded a corner in the corridor, their conversation came to an abrupt halt.
"Ah—!"
One of the maids let out a short scream. The bucket in her hand fell to the floor with a CLANG, splashing water everywhere and soaking their plain skirts and boots.
But they paid no mind to any of that now, staring in terror at the huddled figure in the corner ahead.
The other maid was slightly braver, but her face still turned pale with fright. She covered her mouth and stumbled back several steps until her back hit the cold stone wall.
She tremblingly raised a finger and pointed. "Is... Is that... Sir Carl? Wh-What's happened to him?"
