Shadows and Deceptions: A Royal Murder Mystery (Masterlist)
In the heart of Cordonia's grand ballroom, an eclectic cast of characters gathers, their lives interwoven as a result of a shocking turn of events. Trystan Thorne, the exiled prince with a taste for mystery, Olivia Nevrakis, the snarky Duchess skilled with daggers, Tyril Starfury, the noble elf Lord a defender of the realm, Amalas, the enigmatic spy queen, and Prince Hamid, the charming and formal imperial prince. Amidst the grand party of the birth of King Liam's third heir, Princess Ariana, the joyous celebration is broken by a piercing scream, a dead body, and a room full of royal suspects.
Each section begins with a quote that provides some insight into the story. Most are by famous fictional detectives. Each post includes two sections (ie: I & II, III & IV, etc)
I. Every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective. (John Buchan)
II. Have patience and endure; this unhappiness will one day be beneficial. (Ellery Queen)
III. From now on, it is our task to suspect each and every one amongst us. (Justice Wargrave)
IV. Truth arises from the seemingly irrelevant. (C. Auguste Dupin)
V. --- In the Ballroom with the Dagger? (Clue inspired)
VI. Put two and two together... sometimes the answer's four... and sometimes it's twenty-two. (Nick Charles)
VII. When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. (Sherlock Holmes)
VIII. It is not the past that matters, but the future. (Poirot)
Series Information:
Books: The Royal Romance Series, Crimes of Passion, Desire & Decorum, Blades of Light and Shadow
Characters: Trystan Thorne (M, race not mentioned), Marguerite Thorne, Olivia Nevrakis, Queen Amalas, Maxwell Beaumont, Daniel, King Liam, Tyril Starfury, Nia Ellarious, Prince Hamid
Pairings: Olivia Nevrakis x Queen Amalas ; M!Trystan Thorne x (no gender given) MC (mentioned) ; King Liam x Riley (mentioned)
Total Word Count: 6,600
Rating/Warnings: Teen, mentions of blood, stab wound, knives/daggers (no graphic descriptions)
Series Video Edit
The loveliest and talented @secretaryunpaid created little mini videos/gifs for each section and edited them together into what would be an amazing commercial for this series. Check it out:
The Viscountess, Chapter Seven: Back to Square One
Author's Notes
Guess who's back?? Nicole Donovan is back, baby!!! After a long silence, I've been able to pull this chapter together. Buckle up, people, cause this is about to take off! Prepare the popcorn and your theories, cause this is the calm before the storm
English isn't my first language, so please forgive any typos/grammar mistakes
If you're interested in Nicole's journey, click here!!
Summary: Nicole makes a tough choice, and a call from Isabelle Sinclaire leaves her intrigued
Word Count: 1.7k
Category: Single parent AU, romcom, couple break-up
Rating: PG-13
CW: Duke Richards being his disgusting self
Pairing: Prince Hamid x F!OC, Ernesr Sinclaire x F!OC (eventually)
Book: Desire and Decorum, modern AU
Nicole thought she had accomplished everything she wanted in life.
Her daughter had a friend whom she seemed very fond of, a boyfriend that worshipped the ground she walked in, amazing friends and an enviable network.
But the moment Hamid told her about possible marriage and meeting the parents back in Turkey, she froze. They weren’t going fast at all. Their pace was perfect. But why did it feel like she didn’t want it? She should feel nervous about impressing them, not about telling Hamid the reason she didn’t want to. What was worse? She didn’t know why she didn’t.
Or even worse, that she knew deep down and was in denial.
He had done nothing wrong. He was an angel. Anne loved him dearly, even if she never said it. All her friends ‘shipped’ them. Her father was practically begging her to settle with him after punishing herself for so long. Then why didn’t she want to advance?
What else could she possibly want, especially at her age?
Finding someone else was already hard. She was thirty, fat and had a kid. And a boyfriend who worshipped the ground she walked into. Then why did it feel like it wasn’t what she wanted?
Pulling the covers out of her large body, she shook away those thoughts and quickly dressed in her usual wool cardigan and baggy trousers. Hearing Anne stirring up, she quickly went to greet her “Morning, sweetie! Do you want me to kiss you and dress you?”
Anne nodded. Nicole gladly kissed her daughter’s forehead and helped her up, going for her dressers “Remember that today’s your presentation for the planet Jupiter. Have you studied?” She nodded. She was quite groggy and silent, as every morning. It’d pass the moment she had something solid to eat.
“Now, let’s see what you can wear for today’s presentation…”
“Good morning, Roselyn. Is Isabelle awake?” Ernest got into his ex-wife’s house, for Roselyn was busy with baby Percival… and a divorce.
“No. I suppose she won’t want to see me in a while…” She frowned, clearly guilty.
He placed a hand on her shoulder “She is angry, but she is also smart. She’ll figure it out. Give her time.”
She nodded, fighting back tears. Feeling for his ex, he hugged her, and allowed her to cry on his shoulders, just like when they were eighteen and she had fought with her mother again. They stood there, in silence, until small steps and someone clearing his throat called their attention “A-hem. Not a single week after the divorce is underway and you weasel yourself into my house trying to get back with your ex-wife, Sinclaire?”
Despite his anger, he kept his voice level. He would not wake his princess with a shouting match “I did not ‘weasel’ myself into the house, Roselyn invited me. I am here for Isabelle’s sake. And I also happen to have in high regard the mother of my child, a thing you cannot say. Now, if you will excuse me…”
“Surely you’re not angry about that little incident? It was all in good fun. A man my age has needs, after all.”
He was about to turn around and punch him when Roselyn did the unthinkable. She slapped him and spit in his face, her face full of anger “You’re a disgusting little degenerate, and if you even breathe in the same room as my daughter, I will rip out your heart and eat it for breakfast. Pick up your things and fuck off before I kick you out myself.”
Picking up a crying Percival, she lifted her chin and left, leaving behind the dumbfounded men. For Ernest, it quickly changed into pride. His dear friend had at last opened her eyes.
Chuckling, he went upstairs, where Isabelle was struggling with her alarm. But the moment she spotted her father, she jumped into his arms, and he picked her up “Ready, princess?”
“Almost. Gimme five.”
He kissed her temple “Take all the time you want. If you must be late to class, I’m happy to handle it.”
Nicole and Ernest found one another in the parking lot with their daughters. As Anne squealed and walked with Isabelle, they greeted one another “How have you been holding up? With, you know…”
Nicole shrugged “Haven’t thought about it, honestly. I’ve been focusing on Anne and helping Briar with her kids. It’s not worth the effort.”
Ernest’s shoulders softened “I’m sorry, by the way. I feel like I’ve endangered everyone with that menace.”
She touched his shoulder “The only one to blame is that lecher Richards. You couldn’t have guessed what he’d do.”
He nodded gravely, and observed their daughters, giggling as they seemed to make fun of certain boys who made a fool of themselves, as any average 13-year-old would. His eyes lightened “At least some things never change.”
“She’s her first genuine friend, you know? Teachers used to pity place Anne with the kindest group so she wouldn’t be alone, but she never clicked with anyone, you know?”
He looked at her intensely “Then all my efforts to raise her well haven’t been in vain.”
She squeezed his arm “I’m glad I have you in my corner, Sinclaire.”
“Me too, Nicole.”
As Anne was in school, Nicole tapped her foot repeatedly as she waited for Hamid to drop in. When the time finally came, she greeted him as usual and ate their meals, and as Nicole revised what she’d say, Hamid took her hand and smiled gently “Is something bothering you, askim? You know you can tell me anything.”
She sighed, her shoulders sagging “What gave me away?”
He chuckled “You’re as tense as my cat Nala when she sees a pigeon, for one. That and you’re chewing on your lip, and have nervous ticks. Spotted that as soon as I entered the room.”
She sighed. Despite having dated for a few months, he knew her so well, it made it even more difficult to break up with him.
Taking a long, deep breath “Listen, I want to start by saying that being with you was amazing, and you’ve been amazing, and still are amazing, and Anne adores you. But… I just… have this feeling that this isn’t what I want. This isn’t where I’m meant to be. I want… something else.”
“Is there someone, Nicole?”
“No! No. There isn’t anyone. It’s just… I don’t think we can offer the other what we both look for.”
Hamid sat there, taking all in as he processed it. Then, he chuckled bitterly. Nicole frowned “It’s funny, actually. My mother told me once that she was engaged before my father to a friend with whom she had a whirlwind romance. Thought he was the perfect guy, then… woke up with a gut feeling that he wasn’t the one for her. Months later, she met my dad, and it all clicked.”
She squeezed his hand “You’re not angry, then?”
He shook his head “Gutted, and a bit disappointed it didn’t work out, but no, I’m not angry.”
They stood in comfortable silence again, then looked at one another and smiled sadly “We’re good, though? Anne would hate to lose a valuable playmate.”
Hamid smiled “You’ll have to pry our adventures from my cold, dead hands.”
They laughed, and pulled in for a hug, both sad smiles on their faces “Thank you, Hamid. You were an awesome boyfriend, and an amazing friend to Anne, and I will always remember you fondly.”
He kissed her head and cradled her face in his hands, a fond look on his face “You were probably my best girlfriend. And even though we didn’t last long… I shall carry you with me as well.”
They hugged again, allowing the midday sun light the whole scenery, allowing the other to linger. Then, he kissed her forehead and picked his things “I’ll see you around?”
“Always, my friend.”
He turned around and left, looking back only once to place his hand on his chest and nod, before disappearing in the doorframe. Then, she collapsed. The breakup had gone well, and he took it like a champ, but she still felt like crap.
She pulled herself when the time for coming back to her shift came, and wiped her tears and decided to go autopilot until it was time to pick up Anne.
As Anne and her dined, she kept rambling about recess time with Isabelle “… And then, she caught the ball on one hand, threw it out of the area and told the boy that if he ever hit the girl with glasses on the face with it, she’d kick him and call the cops for bullying.”
Nicole chuckled “Good for her. I never told you this, but that punk had it coming,”
Anne gasped and pointed “Swear word!”
Nicole laughed “Bring on the jar.”
As she watched Anne run for the swear jar, her phone rang. Wondering who was calling her, she saw who called her, and, curious for why he’d call instead of text, she answered “A bit odd that you call at such sacred hour instead of a simple text, isn’t it, Ernest?”
A childish giggle made her raise her eyebrows “I’m not my father, Mrs. Donovan. I’m Isabelle!”
“Hello there, sweetie! Does your father know you have his phone?”
“He does! This is his personal phone, not his work phone. Anyways, I’m planning a weekend road trip to Bath, and we insist you come with us! You and Anne, obviously.”
“…Does your father know you’re inviting us?”
“Yep. In fact, it was mama who suggested it! What do you say?”
“Well, an impromptu road trip to Bath for Anne may be a bit—,”
“Is that Issy, mama?!” Nicole nodded “What does she say?” She quickly explained the call and, to her surprise, her face lit up “Oooooh, I’ve always wanted to go to Bath! It’s where you and Papa had your love story! And so many historical buildings and cool fairs! Can we go, please?!” She pleaded, those puppy eyes she couldn’t deny.
“Well, since I am surrounded by all fronts, I have no option but relent. Tell your father to call me and tell me all the details. You girls focus on school and preparing your luggage.”
“Yay!!” Both girls shrieked before Isabelle hung up and Anne went up her room to plan the entire event on her head.
She chuckled to herself. It looked like it’d be a very interesting road trip indeed.
In the heart of Cordonia's grand ballroom, an eclectic cast of characters gathers, their lives interwoven as a result of a shocking turn of events. Trystan Thorne, the exiled prince with a taste for mystery, Olivia Nevrakis, the snarky Duchess skilled with daggers, Tyril Starfury, the noble elf Lord with magical abilities, Amalas, the enigmatic spy queen, and Prince Hamid, the charming and formal imperial prince. Amidst the grand party of the birth of King Liam's third heir, Princess Ariana, the joyous celebration is broken by a piercing scream, a dead body, and a room full of royal suspects.
Join the adventure starting July 21st and see if you can uncover the secrets of Shadows and Deceptions: A Royal Murder Mystery.
This fic is approximately 3K* words but will be released into several smaller sections beginning July 21 and ending on July 24 (National and International Private Investigators Day). Each section will give you a little bit of the information to hopefully give you time to analyze the clues yourself and decide if you can figure out the mystery before the end!
I am thinking about doing a giveaway for anyone who participates!!!
Please let me know if you are interested in participating in this event, I'll start a tag list if you are. You do not need to be participating in our Crimes of Passion Book Club to join in, especially since it includes characters from numerous choices books.
Also, if you have ideas for other events, games, quizzes, questions, anything else we an do to celebrate National Private Investigation Day as it relates to the book club, please let me know!
*It's 5K as of this update, but I only completed the second draft. The length might increase as I revise it. 🙈
