"Your Grace, what brings you here?"

Almond beams, wiping away at the dirt on his cheek. It's no surprise that the gardener's more than estactic to see you in all of your glory. He hasn't seen you in days, after all. He's quick to untangle himself from the flora, bounding towards you like a puppy.

You're running an investigation within the manor.

There's been a sudden increase of missing persons within the duchy, with all of them having the same excuse of resigning. While your mother oversaw the household and you the external duties, the growing mystery of the loss of staff became a task for you to uncover. When you'd ask the remaining maids and servants, they would all tell you the same thing.

But there's still that underlying feeling of being suspicious nonetheless.

Almond was your good friend since childhood. Rescued by your father when his parenrs passed away and they'd met one fateful winter, you grew up with him.

You didn't want to suspect him of anything. He wasn't the person to do so, and you've known him for years upon end. Almond was an honest person. To you, at least. But when you sometimes spot him late at night with a wheelbarrow filled to the brim, and a shovel to match, you knew you had to at least ask.