Julie and Kitturian left Zylas’ quarters. Julie’ steps were hesitant, her mind still trying to untangle the question of what to do next. Meanwhile, Kitturian walked with a steady ease, his movements unhurried, as if the path ahead held no surprises for him.

  “Let’s step outside,” he said. “I’d like a tour of the garden.”

  Julie could not believe her ears. The mystery was as unsolved as ever, yet he was suggesting a stroll in the garden as if the solution lay among the roses and daisies. She meant to object, but his expression stopped her. There was a glimmer in his eyes, the sort that comes from knowing something no one else has yet figured out.

  “Alright,” she said. “But you’ve got this all figured out… right?”

  “Yes, I have. So, if you’re done stalling, lead the way.”

  And so Julie led him through the winding paths and colorful flower beds of the garden. She showed him the tall hedges, the shimmering pond, and the delicate roses, all the while wondering what he was thinking as he observed each and every detail around him. He seemed genuinely interested in everything - not only taking in the sights, but studying them in, as if each flower bed and shrubbery held some hidden clue.

  After some time, they stumbled upon a small, secluded area with an old greenhouse hidden away from view. It seemed to have been forgotten, covered in vines and dust, a relic of a time gone by.

  “Ah, what do we have here?” Kitturian said.

  “Oh, uh, yeah, this is just an old greenhouse,” Julie said. “Nobody really bothers with it anymore.”

  “Interesting,” Kitturian mused. “Easily accessible, but not through an obvious path. Partially obscured by vegetation. Out of sight from the main house. A perfect stage for a romantic plot, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “What?!” Julie exclaimed.

  She was beginning to suspect that his apparent calmness might be less a sign of confidence and more a troubling lack of concern.

  “Mrs. Lyrana and your friend, the gardener,” Kitturian clarified.

  “Wait, what about them?”

  “The signs couldn’t be more clear. The way he watched her, how she fluttered when I mentioned his name, their shared mannerisms. And one of the rings she was wearing—inexpensive, not her style, probably his doing.”

  The words landed in Julie’s ears and exploded there, making her feel all woozy and disoriented. She had completely missed all of these seemingly obvious clues, and truth be told, it all sounded like a far-fetched plot from one of these old movies.

  “But that doesn’t make any sense!” Julie said. “Mrs. Lyrana hates humans!”

  “Hates humans, does she? Or is that her clever ruse?” Kitturian said. “Remember, the obvious is often a mask. People are puzzles, not open books.”

  “Still, I’m not sure I believe it. And what does any of this have to do with the Star?”

  “All in good time,” Kitturian said. “But our lovebirds are bound to show up anytime now. Let’s blend in and observe. These bushes over there seem like a perfect cover.”

  §

  Julie and Kitturian settled into the bushes, waiting patiently as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden light over the garden. But there was no sign of the supposed lovers.

  Julie grew increasingly restless, shifting back and forth, while Kitturian remained motionless, his eyes glued to the path leading towards the greenhouse. They waited, and waited, and waited some more.

  Finally, after what felt like ages and a serious cramp in Julie’s leg, their patience was rewarded. Someone came down the path - it was Mrs. Lyrana, along with breechy, casting furtive glances over her shoulder. With one last look around, she disappeared into the old greenhouse. A gasp escaped Julie’s lips.

  “Wait for it,” Kitturian whispered. “The second player in our romantic plot is due any moment.”

  And sure enough, it was only a short while later that Jonas came into view, looking equally cautious as he entered the greenhouse.

  Julie blinked, certain her eyes were betraying her. Yet the reality held. There they stood—two unlikely lovers, meeting secretly at dusk. She felt the odd disorientation of someone caught between waking and dreaming, unsure which side of the line she was standing on.

  “Let’s make our entrance,” Kitturian said. “Dramatically, of course.”

  Julie followed, her mind still reeling, as they stepped into the greenhouse. And here they were, Mrs. Lyrana and Jonas, tangled in a tight embrace. With a start, they jumped apart, like two startled birds caught in a spotlight.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Oh, don’t mind me,” Kitturian said. “I couldn’t resist wandering into this charming little greenhouse. Fascinating setting for… whatever this is.”

  “Have you both been spying on us?!” Mrs. Lyrana said.

  “Spying? That’s such a dramatic word. Observing, analyzing, deducing. It’s hardly my fault you left all the pieces in plain sight.”

  The two lovers shared a sheepish look, and as Julie observed, their hands were still entwined, as though they belonged that way.

  “Don’t worry, your secret is safe. Fascinating, really. Love defying expectations yet again. But back to business—the Star. I believe you can shed light on its whereabouts.”

  “Wh-what do you mean?” Mrs. Lyrana said. “We don’t know anything about that.”

  “Mrs. Lyrana, the facts are clear,” Kitturian said. “The one who stole the Star is right here, under our noses.”

  Julie’s eyes widened as the words sank in, her breath catching with a rush of unexpected hope. Could this be the moment when all the pieces finally fell into place?

  There was a tense pause. Then Kitturian pointed to Breechy, who was happily chasing a butterfly on the windowsill, oblivious to the dramatic turn of events.

  “Our little friend here is the thief, isn’t he?” Kitturian said.

  Julie struggled to follow the logic, but the gaping mouths of Lyrana and Jonas told her all she needed to know–Kitturian’s deduction was spot-on.

  “The window’s security system can detect people, based on size and weight,” Kitturian explained. “It misses the small and furry, though. And they leave traces. Strand of hairs on the window and floor. Invisible to most, but glaring to a trained observer. Oh, and they make me sneeze.”

  “Wait, so that’s it?” Julie said. “Breechy stole the Star? So this whole thing was an accident?”

  “An accident? No,” Kitturian said. “Breechy was methodically trained for the theft and someone gave him a push, so to speak. He didn’t randomly wander into Madam Nerivana’s study on his own. Tell me, Julie, does Mrs. Lyrana often come out in the garden early in the day?”

  “Um, no, I don’t think so,” Julie said.

  “Then it couldn’t be her. Too conspicuous. Which is why it was Jonas. You were with Breechy this morning, weren’t you? You’re the one who let him into the study, betting on Miss Rose to open the window as usual.”

  Jonas started, his hand jerking instinctively to his collar, as though some unseen hand had given it a sharp tug.

  “What?!” Julie exclaimed.

  “I couldn’t help but notice Breechy’s fur clinging to your sleeve, Jonas,” Kitturian continued. “You nudged our little thief into action. Mrs. Lyrana’s role? Occupying Madam Nerivana, no doubt. My first deduction was on target. I got sidetracked by a false lead.”

  “Is there any… any solid proof?” Mrs. Lyrana said. “A strand of fur can’t be enough to accuse someone of a crime.”

  “We could comb through that greenhouse,” Kitturian said. “I’d wager the Star is hiding there. Find it, check for prints, and if we find Jonas’s, well, that would raise the right kind of eyebrows.”

  A silent conversation passed between Mrs. Lyrana and Jonas, their eyes betraying their shared anxiety. She gnawed on her bottom lip and he flicked nervously at his hair. Finally, with a defeated sigh, Mrs. Lyrana gave a tiny nod, and Jonas bowed his head in defeat.

  “Fine,” she said. “You win. We were the ones who took the Star.”

  “Seriously? How could you?” Julie said. “I mean, I don’t really care about the Star, but you let Rose take the fall for you!”

  “Rose wasn’t part of the plan,” Jonas said. “We never thought it would come to this. But when Madam Nerivana accused her, we didn’t know how to fix it.”

  “By telling the truth, maybe?” Julie said. “And what did you need the Star for, anyway?”

  “Er, well,” Mrs. Lyrana shuffled her feet, avoiding Julie’s accusing gaze. “Jonas and I wanted to elope. The Star was going to help us start a new life together, away from my mother’s disapproval and society’s judgments.”

  “Elope?” Julie said.

  “It means to run away and get married,” Kitturian explained. “In secret, of course.”

  “Right. Well, I hope you’re both happy with yourselves.”

  “Don’t be too harsh. Our friends here were simply chasing their hearts, breaking the mold,” Kitturian said. “Although, I must admit, the decision to steal the Star was a bold move. Almost respectable, if you tilt your head a bit.”

  “But still, they put Rose in danger.”

  “Forgive us,” Mrs. Lyrana said. “We didn’t mean for it to go this far. We only wanted to be together.”

  “Love often drives us to madness,” Kitturian said. “But no one is hurt, and the case is closed, isn’t it?”

  “I’ll give back the Star,” Jonas said. “But I ask to take full responsibility for this. Lyrana’s name must stay clear.”

  “Very noble of you, Jonas,” Kitturian said. “But it’s possible we may not even need the Star.”

  Jonas and Mrs. Lyrana stared, wide-eyed and speechless,while Julie stood quietly, prepared for whatever peculiar turn events might take next.

  Kitturian reached into his pocket and pulled out the fake Star.

  “A near-perfect copy. Acquired by methods best left unsaid,” he said. “But this might just spell a happy conclusion for everyone involved.”

  He then turned to Julie. “Assistant, your call. Do we play cupid by returning the fake to Madam Nerivava? Or do we hand back the original?”

  At his words, Julie’s heart made a sudden leap. Here she was, an unexpected judge presiding over a modern tale of Romeo and Juliet. She furrowed her brow, pondering the options presented before her.

  While she was still seething at the couple for their reckless decisions, she could not ignore the tinge of sympathy she felt for them. She turned things over and over in her mind before finally speaking.

  “Let’s return the fake Star,” she said. “All that matters is clearing Rose’s name. I’m not interested in helping Madam Nerivana, anyway. If the fake can do the trick, let’s go with it.”

  “Thank you, thank you, Julie,” Mrs. Lyrana said. “You have no idea what this means to us. I may have been harsh towards you before, but please know that I never meant any of it. You are truly a kind and forgiving soul. Oh, how I wish my mother had even a fraction of your understanding.”

  “Let’s not get carried away now,” Julie said. “I’m not sure if I’ve forgiven you completely. But I’ll consider it a work in progress.”