Death of Countess von Dressen

 

What's going on? It's not time to get up yet. Who's that screaming? I have to check.

Reluctantly, I emerged from under the warm duvet, splashed my face with cold water, and put on my gray maid's uniform.

The curtains were still drawn throughout the house, and the hallways were shrouded in darkness. I recognized the voices of the Count and the Doctor. Everyone else was asleep. I carefully placed my feet on the creaking stairs. Before I reached the Count's room, I heard Dr. Meirich say

, "It was murder. Someone strangled her."

I swallowed. Murder in this house!? Count Ludenburg wouldn't survive this. According to him, such incidents stopped after the French were defeated in 1871. I had to go in.

Countess Margaret lay dead on the bed in the von Dressen bedroom. Her face was blue, her eyes wide open, and a scream had died on her lips.

Count Wolfgang stood in the window, clutching his head, and Dr. Meirich sat on the edge of the bed.

The thick carpet was covered with mud. I glanced at the count's feet; he was wearing his clean house shoes, the doctor was barefoot, and had a tweed jacket over his nightgown.

Finally, the count turned and noticed me.

"What are you waiting for?!" he shouted immediately. "Call the inspector. And go to old Ludenburg, so he doesn't have a stroke when he hears of my daughter's death; he'll swallow everything from your mouth. And clean yourself up!"

I headed downstairs. I could still hear the count waking up all the guests. I pulled aside the curtains in the living room. The sun was still very low, the first lazy rays beginning to filter into the room through the large windows. A portrait of Countess von Dressen hung above the fireplace. Looking at it made me feel uneasy; just a moment ago, I'd been staring at her lifeless body...

Countess Margaret was a beautiful woman and very proud. She always emphasized her kinship with the imperial family and didn't mix with just anyone. She almost never entered the kitchen; she considered being around servants unbecoming of a woman of her station.

Her long, hyacinth-colored curls were always carefully pinned up, her thin lips hid pearly teeth, and her large blue eyes sparkled.

She was always elegantly dressed. Her dresses came from the finest tailors. She also wore a wealth of expensive perfume.

She often shouted. She was nervous about everything. Lately, the biggest uproar was about Miss Sofi's marriage. She begged her mother not to make her marry Heinrich, but the countess was adamant. As always. She ruled the household; all decisions were hers, everything had to be done her way.

It took me half an hour to get through to Inspector Mechler. He said he'd come as soon as possible.

I went back to my room. I carefully combed my hair, straightened my clothes, and put on my apron.

I decided to wake the housekeeper. When old Helga heard of the countess's death, she said she wouldn't leave her room until they found the murderer. It made Hilda panic, pull the covers over her head, and cry. A stupid old woman and a short girl. They're worth each other. Now the whole house is my responsibility.

I went to tell the count that the inspector was coming. That old man never liked me. I'm too talkative for him to be a maid. Fortunately, as long as old Ludenburg lives, he has no say in the matter. Margaret's father, although he hardly ever leaves his bedroom and study, still controls everything with an iron fist.

Dr. Meirich's wife left the room and headed for the countess's room. As soon as she saw what had happened, she immediately paled. Her husband offered her his arm.

"He did it... but he didn't have shoes..." she fainted.

Dr. Meirich carried his wife into the bedroom and laid her on the bed. He woke her up, calmed her down, and then gave her a pill. She fell asleep. No one paid any attention to Petra's words. But they must have meant something. Shoes… shoes… Will the whole murder case revolve around shoes?

Baroness Hinterberg also experienced a slight shock at the news of the murder and told me she wouldn't leave her bed for now. She ordered breakfast brought to her.

I went into Count Ludenburg's room.

"So, Kati?" he asked. He was already awake, so he probably knew what had happened. "That clown is screaming like a stuck pig. He woke me up. At my age, it's unhealthy to get up so early. Margaret is dead, isn't she?

" "Yes, Count. She was strangled.

" "And that clown is spreading panic throughout the house. It's been quiet here since 1871, and it's supposed to stay that way. It's a decent house. Now, dear Kati, will you bring me some coffee?" I started to say he wasn't allowed, but he beat me to it. "Hush, hush, I'm allowed to do anything today, and then you can tell me what happened.

The Count was wounded twice in the Franco-Prussian War, then he entered Paris with the victorious armies, and finally he was decorated by the Emperor himself. For him, the world became paradise on earth in '71, and it was to remain that way.

He stoically accepted my account of the morning's events and then ordered me to go guard the inspector.

Baron Hinterberg, Count von Dressen, and Dr. Meirich, along with two officers, went in search of our equerry, Stefan. After a brief conversation with the inspector, they concluded that only he could have entered the bedroom in muddy boots and that he would surely have something interesting to say about the matter. Unfortunately, he disappeared like a stone in the water.

"Is there anyone in this house I could talk to?" the inspector asked when I led him into the living room.

"I am," I replied, and he gave me a contemptuous look. Apparently, the servants weren't even worthy of his words. I'll show him.

" "Who?" he asked very rudely.

"Kati Gross, the maid.

" "Then bring me some tea while you're here."

When I reappeared in the drawing room, the inspector reluctantly decided to question me, but he considered it more of a prelude to a conversation with the household than a way to obtain any significant information. The description of the household was certainly not one of them.

Currently, in addition to the von Dressens, their daughter Sofia, and Count Ludenburg, Mr. Wolfgang's cousin, Dr. Reinhard Meirich, with his wife Petra, Baron Georg Hinterberg with his wife and son, as well as five servants, two maids, a housekeeper, a steward, and a groom.

"The day after tomorrow was to be the ceremonial engagement of Baron Hinterberg's son to Miss Sofia," I replied to the next question. "The guests weren't supposed to arrive until tomorrow."

"Yeah... So the whole house is now the responsibility of one maid," he said to himself, pacing the room and looking at the paintings. "The engagement will probably be postponed, and someone will surely lose out. Who inherits from the countess?" he asked, but quickly changed his mind. "Besides, what do you know about such matters?"

"Quite a lot," I said with a glint of satisfaction in my eye. "It all goes to Miss Sofi; the count gains nothing from it.

" "Please, please, she's not only mouthy, but also nosy. Go."

I gladly left the inspector and went to the kitchen. I finally managed to eat breakfast. Unfortunately, my attempts to convince Helga that she should leave her room and start cooking dinner proved futile. I had to take care of it myself.

I managed to light all the stoves, put on soup and stew, and even bid farewell to the inspector, who had already questioned everyone he could. The countess's body was removed, death by strangulation was officially confirmed, and the equerry became the prime suspect. He has not been found to this day.

Once I had more or less put everything back on track, I had a moment to reflect on everything that had happened. I sat in the living room with a cup of tea. Count von Dressen had gone horseback riding to calm down after the day's events; the countess was gone, so no one would yell at me for what I was doing.

The murderer had to be someone in the household, and probably not the equerry. Contrary to the belief of the entire aristocracy, even a equerry wouldn't be foolish enough to sign off on the crime by leaving muddy tracks at the murder scene. I'm not surprised he hid.

Besides, why wasn't the Count in the bedroom? Did he have something to do with all this? He gains nothing from the Countess's death. He had no purpose in murdering her. Well, except for peace and quiet. Now we'll all have that. But that doesn't explain where he was at dawn?

Baron Hinterberg and Dr. Meirich had even less reason to want the Countess dead. Because, of course, it had to be a man. The Countess was not only beautiful, but also strong, and besides… Petra's words, she said "he." But who?

I decided to bring dinner to the guests. No one would definitely go down to the dining room.

The entire house was silent. It was somehow eerie. The Countess was always bustling around here, making a lot of noise about nothing, and now not even the dogs were barking. Had everyone fallen asleep? The murderer is still here, maybe again…

I can't think about such things; no one will die again.

I decided to bring dinner to everyone.

"Damn it, Kati, I told you not to cook any dinner!" You're not the cook here, and besides, good manners require that guests not eat anything in such a situation," I heard Count Ludenburg say.

"Oh my!" I said, irritated. "You told me to keep an eye on the guests. I can't eavesdrop on them through the wall. The best way was to get them something to eat.

" "Did you learn anything at least?

" "Quite by accident, I overheard the baroness arguing. The baroness wants to leave as soon as possible. She said there was nothing keeping them here anymore, that they no longer had any obligations.

" "So there won't be an engagement. No one wanted it except Margaret. Sofi will be happy, and the baron too. I guess he's eating too..." He pondered, and I gathered up the dinner dishes and left.

Petra was still asleep, but Dr. Meirich said I could wake her. I thought we could talk about what had happened. She was a very kind and modest woman and didn't consider contact with servants to be any disgrace. When she came here, she preferred talking to me rather than the Countess. Besides, everyone preferred to avoid the Countess.

Petra didn't respond, so I shook her gently. She still didn't react, so I tried again. Nothing. I tried not to think. I calmly called the doctor. He went to his wife and told me to wait outside the door.

"No!!! Why her?!" The doctor ran from the room, furious and distraught. "Whoever did this will pay for it!"

I saw Petra's body lying on the bed. I couldn't believe it was really happening. No one would feel sorry for the Countess, but the doctor's wife was an angel, not a woman.

It wasn't hard to guess that Dr. Meirich was calling the inspector. He was upset, shouting so loudly that the entire house could hear him.

I went down to the kitchen and tried to pretend I wasn't shaking at all, that I wasn't afraid, and that I didn't feel like crying. Why Petra!? I remembered the words she'd spoken that morning. She hadn't had time to tell anyone what had happened or who she'd seen. Because she had seen the murderer! He had killed her... The man without shoes had murdered Petra.

Inspector Mechler wasn't as confident as he had been that morning. He even looked at me with a slightly more favorable eye. It wasn't hard to guess that the news of the countess's murder had already spread throughout the neighborhood. It wasn't every day that such a sensation happened. The inspector had to act quickly and effectively now if he didn't want to jeopardize his career.

"I won't leave this house until I find the murderer," he said ominously, crossing the kitchen threshold. "Perhaps you could help me?"

I looked at him in surprise. Could the wonderful inspector not handle such a simple matter? Let's think about it. The only one benefiting materially from this death was Miss Sofi. It follows that the barony should now strive for an engagement at all costs, because the young lady's dowry has grown to a very large size, so they too could indirectly benefit.

Why is this any different? The baroness wants to leave here as quickly as possible and has no intention of carrying out the engagement. To me, this is incomprehensible, to say the least.

Count von Dressen derives no material benefit whatsoever. At most, it's psychological. Perhaps he's fallen in love and wants to remarry? That could possibly serve as a motive.

Who else... No one. No one benefits from all this! This murder was senseless!

Once the inspector became so kind, I told him everything I knew and suspected. In return, and only by accident, I learned that someone had given Petra a lethal dose of a sedative. That someone was most likely Dr. Meirich.

My assurances of their love didn't help. The inspector wasn't convinced. He was certain he'd found the murderer. There was nothing I could do. His only hope was that he still needed irrefutable evidence, and that was what held him back.

Count von Dressen had given him permission to do whatever he saw fit, so now the inspector bustled around the entire court, peering into every nook and cranny, questioning everyone, disregarding court etiquette.

No one in this house would risk their position for trivial reasons. Dr. Meirich is a renowned heart specialist throughout Europe, Baron Hintenberg is a close associate of the emperor, Count von Dressen... he has nothing but position and a name.

Petra's death clearly places the blame on the doctor, but it's all too logical and obvious to be true. If she'd seen her husband murder the countess... No, that makes absolutely no sense. She couldn't have seen the doctor, and for one thing, he would never have killed her. He loved her. They were one of the few marriages that wasn't formed for a dowry, but for love. Whoever ruined that will pay dearly.

My thoughts were interrupted by one of the inspector's men. A young, uniformed man timidly entered the kitchen.

"Excuse me, could I have a glass of water?

" "Excuse me?

" "Well, water..." Inspector Mechler won't let us leave this place. I don't know how much longer we'll have to stay here.

" "Can I have some tea?" I asked, smiling amiably.

I wonder if the inspector had sent him to find out anything more, or if he was simply thirsty. Besides, I'd already told him everything I knew.

Maybe this time I'd be the one to learn something. He seems like a nice man, he's clearly tired, and I don't think he'll mind revealing a few details. Maybe to encourage him even more, I'll give him some lunch?

Martin clearly didn't want to cause any trouble, but whatever. So, out of pure gratitude, he told me that the inspector was convinced the doctor was guilty because only he had access to his medical bag and could have given Petra an overdose without any suspicion, especially after she fainted that morning. Now he was just looking for irrefutable proof, but he didn't know exactly what it was yet.

It might be true, but I didn't believe it. After all, unlike the inspector, I knew these people and knew a thing or two about them.

I wonder what was happening with Stefan. He probably hid somewhere when he noticed all the commotion and the police. So, he must have been in the countess's room, and his footprints were visible on the carpet. But what did he want there? It was unlikely anyone would have paid him to kill the countess. He would never have agreed to that.

Something must have happened to the horses. Count von Dressen imported the finest horses in all of Europe. They were his passion. He could spend all day with them.

Why is it so hard to find out anything?!

"Inspector!" a raised voice came from the hall.

Martin jumped to his feet and ran out as if stung. I followed him. In the living room stood a policeman holding a handcuffed and clearly displeased Michael.

"Do you know him?" the inspector asked.

Of course I know him. He was Sofi's first, great, and true love, which, thanks to the Countess's intervention, ended tragically and immediately. However, this didn't stop the young lady from continuing to see her beloved, in which I helped her a little...

"It's Master von Richthofen.

" "We searched the park and the surrounding forest. He was hiding there, and when he saw us, he started running," the officer explained.

Michael probably didn't want to meet the police, and it wasn't hard to guess that a small fight had broken out. Why was he hiding in the forest, and why was he dressed like a peasant!? Sofi would have a lot of explaining to do.

Her mother's death certainly wasn't a tragedy for her, but she probably wasn't happy about it either. She didn't yet know that the baroness had called off their engagement. Now she was despondent and resigned. I noticed she was crying, but it was probably because of all the events of the last few days combined. It pained her greatly that she couldn't disobey her mother, that she had to obey.

"Miss, the police have caught Master Michael. Perhaps you should talk to them and explain this.

" "What!? And stop talking to that young lady, your mother won't hear about it. How did they catch you?!

"Sofi, he was hiding in the forest, the inspector will suspect him. What's going on here?" I fixed my gaze on her.

"We... I mean, I... wanted to run away with him... I won't marry Heinrich!" She burst into tears and buried her face in the pillows.

"You won't have to," I said, more to myself than to her. "Come and talk to the inspector, because Michael seems to be in big trouble right now.

Great. Problems are multiplying instead of solving. Why is all this happening at once?! The Countess's death, then Petra's, and now Sofi's escape? It's going to be a real scandal. I hope the inspector doesn't make use of it.

I wonder how Count Ludenburg will react to all this."

"Bring me some cognac," he said as soon as I finished telling him.

"You're not allowed.

" "Girl, you're not supposed to tell me what I'm allowed to do. I didn't dismiss the nurse for that. Do as I say. "

I shrugged and went to get the cognac. Just then, a messenger from the post office arrived with a letter for the baron.

"Show me what you have there?" he said, pointing to the envelope.

"But, Count..." I began, confused, it all getting a bit too much for me.

"Kati, I can do whatever I want, I'm the master of this house, today someone murdered my daughter and my guest, and my granddaughter tried to commit the biggest foolish act of her life! I think that's enough to justify me."

I handed him the letter without a word.

"Posen... I wonder what business Baron Hinterberg is conducting there... Open it and bring it to me, but gently."

I didn't need to be told what it said. The Baron was collaborating with the Polish intelligentsia who were planning an uprising in the Poznań region. They asked him to come as soon as possible. Why would someone in such a position and so close to the Emperor betray the country!? Unfortunately, this was beyond me.

"Take this to the Baron. Ask for Sofi, I need to speak with her, and then the inspector. Run, Kati, run!"

I arranged everything so quickly that within an hour the Baron was taken to jail in a police ambulance. I was certain he had been accused of collaboration.

Meanwhile, the police finally found Stefan. He was hiding with a woman in the village. It turned out that someone had let all the horses out of the stables at dawn, and he couldn't handle it alone. Besides, a mare had strayed into the wasteland and injured its flank. It was common knowledge that if anything bad happened at the stable, the Count was to be awakened even at midnight. Stefan did what he had to do, but then the police arrived, and he preferred to wait it out safely.

However, the information Martin provided me with was nothing compared to the fact that the baron was accused not of treason, but of double murder. After reading this unfortunate letter, Count Ludenburg was certain that Countess Margaret knew about the baron's activities and was blackmailing him. Otherwise, there would have been no question of an engagement, nor of the castle on the Unstrut River, land, and jewels that were to go to the young couple. Sofi's dowry was practically insignificant compared to what Heinrich was supposed to bring to the marriage. The barony, without a truly solid reason, would not have agreed to such a marriage.

The inspector, lacking evidence, had to force the baron to confess. He told him that a conspiracy had been uncovered in Poznań, aimed at inciting an uprising. The arrested leaders revealed Georg Hinterberg's involvement. The baron believed it, but his own son brought him down. Heinrich didn't want to marry Sofi, and finally realizing that his father was forcing him into it to protect his own interests, he gave vent to his anger. A heated argument ensued, and the baron, overcome with anger, lost his composure and confessed to the murder.

It was late at night when the entire household finally fell asleep peacefully. Thick darkness enveloped everything, bringing a sense of calm to the household after that nightmarish day.

Much later, it was revealed that the baron was in serious financial trouble, and while in Poznań, he stumbled upon a secret organization that, defending itself against exposure and repression, had recruited him into its own business.