Sophia's eyes widened as Lady Victoria led her to a small, hidden room deep in the palace. The air was thick with dust, and the only sound was the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath their feet.
"This is where Lady Emily was working on the night she died," Lady Victoria whispered, her voice barely audible.
Sophia's eyes scanned the room, taking in the scattered papers, the overturned chair, and the faint smudge of blood on the edge of the desk. "What was she working on?" Sophia asked, her voice low.
Lady Victoria handed Sophia a folder, filled with documents and notes. "I found this in Lady Emily's room. It's a investigation into the palace's finances. I think that's what got her killed."
Sophia's eyes scanned the documents, her mind racing with questions. She saw references to large sums of money, transferred to unknown accounts. She saw names, dates, and cryptic notes.
"This is huge," Sophia whispered, her eyes locked onto Lady Victoria's. "We need to take this to the police."
Lady Victoria nodded, her expression grim. "I agree. But we need to be careful. Whoever killed Lady Emily is still out there, and they're not going to stop until they're caught."
Sophia nodded, her heart pounding with determination. She knew that she was taking a risk, but she was determined to uncover the truth.
As they left the hidden room, Sophia noticed a figure lurking in the shadows. It was Detective James, his eyes fixed intently on them.
"Detective James," Sophia said, her voice surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Detective James stepped forward, his eyes scanning the area. "I was investigating Lady Emily's death. I saw you two leaving the room. What are you doing here?"
Lady Victoria smiled, her eyes sparkling with innocence. "We were just... exploring the palace. We didn't know it was a crime scene."
Detective James's eyes narrowed, his expression skeptical. "I see. Well, I think it's time we had a talk, ladies."
Sophia's heart was racing, as she tried to decide what to do. Could she trust Detective James? And what did he know?
To be continued...
*New Characters:*
- Detective James: A seasoned detective, investigating Lady Emily's death.
New Plot:
- The investigation into Lady Emily's death
- The mysterious documents and notes
- The palace's finances and the unknown accounts
New Setting:
- The hidden room, where Lady Emily was working on the night she died
- The palace corridors, where Detective James is lurking in the shadows