Eira sat alone in her office, the warm, golden glow of the late afternoon sun streaming through tall windows, casting long shadows across the marble floor. Her gaze was locked on the documents strewn before her—maps, letters, and scraps of intelligence she'd painstakingly collected against her uncle. She absently tapped her wand against the desk's edge, her thoughts racing, already spinning the next thread in the intricate web she was weaving to bring him down.
Then, a loud bang shattered the silence.
Eira was on her feet in an instant, wand drawn, eyes scanning for threat. Her gaze snapped toward the corner where the noise had erupted—and there, in the middle of the floor, were two house-elves locked in a desperate struggle. One, small and spry, was trying to bind the other's wrists with a thin shimmer of conjured rope. The other—older, slightly hunched, with a tired yet defiant gleam in her eyes—was resisting with all her might.
Eira narrowed her gaze.
"Lolly?" she asked sharply, stepping closer. "What in Merlin's name is going on?"
Before Lolly could answer, the door burst open and Emma stormed in, wand raised, eyes wide with panic. But when she saw Eira unharmed, a rush of relief softened her expression. Her gaze flicked to the two house-elves still scuffling on the floor.
"Explain. Now," Eira ordered, her voice low and commanding.
Lolly released the older elf at once and straightened. "Forgive Lolly, my lady. Lolly saw something terrible. This bad elf"—she pointed an accusing finger at the older one—"this bad elf didn't want to come. So Lolly brought her by force. She tried to escape."
Eira blinked, her expression turning hard. "Why do you say she is a bad elf, Lolly?"
The younger elf's eyes widened. "Because Lolly saw her! Lolly saw Shani sneaking into the traitor Master Cecil's house. Last night—and the night before that too!"
Eira's expression darkened. The calm in her voice evaporated as she turned to Emma. "Don't let her run. Tie her."
Without a word, Emma cast a binding spell. A flash of silver rope erupted from her wand, snapping tightly around Shani's arms and legs. Another flick, and the elf's gnarled hands were bound together to prevent wandless magic.
Eira stepped closer to the trembling elf. Her white hair shimmered in the light, face blank and severe.
"Tell me, Shani," she said quietly. "Why did you go to my uncle's manor without my permission?"
Shani's large eyes trembled. "Shani would never betray Madam… or Master Adrian. Shani is a good elf."
Eira's blood froze.
Her voice dropped to a dangerous murmur. "Who is this Adrian? And who is your Madam?"
"Shani cannot betray Madam… or Master Adrian," the elf repeated stubbornly.
Emma stepped forward, her brow furrowed. "My lady… it sounds like this house-elf doesn't belong to our family."
Eira turned to her sharply. "Impossible. She's been in this household for decades."
"Perhaps she was brought here long ago," Emma said carefully. "By that Madam she speaks of. If so… her loyalty lies with them. Not you."
Silence fell between them as the implications settled.
Eira clenched her jaw. "Do we have any Veritaserum left in the manor?"
"Yes, my lady!" Lolly squeaked immediately. "We do!"
"Bring it. Now."
With a pop, Lolly vanished, and within seconds she returned, clutching a small glass vial filled with an opalescent liquid.
Emma took the bottle from Lolly and forced it open. "Hold her still," she said.
The older elf resisted, thrashing and growling in a shrill tone, but Emma was stronger. With firm hands and a muttered spell to still her jaw, she poured the liquid down Shani's throat. After several seconds of choking and squirming, Shani fell quiet. Her limbs relaxed. Her gaze glazed over, vacant and dull.
Eira stepped forward, cold fury burning behind her eyes.
"What is your name?" she asked.
"Shani's name is Shani," came the calm, robotic reply.
"Where were you last night?"
"Shani was with Master Cecil last night."
Eira's heart thudded once—hard.
"And why were you there?"
"Master asked Shani to come. To give him information about Lady Eira."
Emma gasped softly, hand rising to her mouth. Eira stood still as stone, her voice sharper than glass.
"And why do you call him Master?" she demanded. "Am I not your master?"
Shani blinked slowly. "Master is Master. Lady Eira is not Shani's master."
The words fell like ice.
Eira's voice dropped to a whisper. "Who is the Madam you speak of? The one you said you could not betray?"
Shani's head tilted slightly. Her voice was gentle, mechanical. "Madam Olivia is Shani's master . Shani is bound to Madam Olivia."
Eira's nostrils flared. " So it's Olivia white, my paternal grandmother. Cecil's Biological Mother "
Then Eira asked " How did you came to this family? "
"Bound by Madam. Long ago. Shani was brought to the manor. Given to the White family . But bound always to Madam."
Eira's heart pounded as realization settled in her chest like a stone.
She looked at Shani—this elf who had cut her hair with silent hands during the mourning rites. Who had served her breakfast, folded linens, swept corners of the manor. This elf had watched her, listened, reported. All in the name of some Madam and this mysterious Adrian.
"Then answer this," Eira said coldly. "Who is Adrian? Is he my uncle's father?"
Shani's brow furrowed faintly. "Master Adrian is the father of Master Cecil . Madam Said so. Master Cecil will restore the family."
"What family?" Eira hissed.
"Voclain family," the elf replied. "Adrian Voclain ."
Eira stepped back, breathing sharply, fury rising like a tidal wave within her chest. Emma reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her.