Chapter Text
The morning sun shone bright and clear over the cold English moors, dusting the fields with a sprinkling of dew that seemed to coat each flower with a layer of clear, sparkling sugar. A light breeze ruffled Phoenix Wright’s hair as he approached the entrance to the servant’s quarters of Lovelace Castle and lightly rapped on the door.
“Yes?” answered a polite female voice. The door opened, revealing a young woman, looking to be in her late 20s, wearing the simple dress of a housekeeper. Her brown hair was drawn up into a neat bun, with two wavy strands left loose to frame her kind, heart-shaped face and warm eyes.
“I’m the new footman,” Phoenix said. “Phoenix Wright.” The woman’s eyes widened.
“Oh, yes!” she said. “Mr. Gant mentioned that you would be arriving today. I think we met during your interview, but I’m Mia Armando, the housekeeper here at Lovelace Castle. I’ll help you get settled. Come on in.” She motioned for him to come inside, and he stepped over the threshold into the house.
Inside, he took a moment to let his gaze travel around the room. The servant’s hall was sparsely decorated but spacious, with a table large enough to seat thirty. On the back wall, dozens and dozens of bells hung in a row, each linked to a different room of the house. In the corner sat a circular rug and three chairs around a small fireplace. The kitchen was off to the left, and a narrow staircase was just visible through a doorway to the right.
“This is the servants’ quarters,” Mia said. “We spend practically all our time down here. But you’ll know that, of course. Remind me, you said you had worked in a house such as this before?”
“Lived in,” Phoenix corrected quickly. “The ‘ouse I grew up in, as a boy. My father was a tutor there, and the family allowed us both to stay in the house.”
“Anywhere that we would know of?” Mia asked politely. “We’re always happy to see a familiar face, even one from long ago.”
“Doubtful,” Phoenix said. “It’s rather far from here, and small too.”
“Well, either way, we’ll all try our very hardest to make the castle a home for you,” Mia said with a warm smile.
“Our first order of business is giving you a tour of the quarters and the house.” She gestured towards the staircase.
“Here, let’s get you to your rooms first,” Mia said. She led him up the stairs, passing a small, dark-haired girl, who skittered away at their approach, and down a short corridor, which split into two hallways.
“Women’s on the left, men’s on the right,” she said. “We’re not allowed to cross into the opposite sex’s side on any occasion, but Mr. Gant has allowed me an exception to show you to your room.” She pushed open a door with a small, dirty window and walked quickly, glancing at the placard on each door as she went. As she approached the end of the hallway, her pace slowed.
“Here it is,” she said, stopping at the last room on the right. “Your very own room.” Phoenix removed the key from the lock, opened the door, and stepped inside. It was a small but adequate room, with a bed in the corner, a desk and chair opposite it, and a small closet and dresser. On the desk sat a small electric lamp.
“Set your suitcases down and meet me outside,” Mia called over her shoulder as she walked away down the hallway. Phoenix tucked his two bags under his bed and sat down at the desk chair and closed his eyes. This will be my home for as long as I am employed here, he thought. Looking around, he thought he would be able to get used to it easily. His room was nice, cozy almost, and the people seemed friendly. I wonder what they think of the family, he thought. The von Karmas. I know the lord of the house is the Marquess of Lovelace, Lord Manfred von Karma, but I don’t know much else about him, beyond that he has a daughter nearly of age.
And…
Slowly, almost guiltily, his hand traveled to his breast pocket. He pulled out a scrap of paper, folded neatly in quarters and worn to nearly nothing with the passage of 15 years, undid the faded red ribbon wrapped around it, and studied it carefully, tracing his finger over the neat, careful handwriting.
Dear Phoenix,
If you ever want to find me again, I will be staying permanently at the home of Marquess Manfred von Karma. I regret having to leave you, but I have little choice in the matter.
Your friend,
Miles
“Phoenix!” Mia called. “You’ll have time to unpack later!”
“Coming!” Phoenix shouted back. He folded the paper carefully, re-tied the ribbon, and placed it back in his pocket.
“Took you long enough,” Mia said when Phoenix returned. “Come on, there’s still a lot to see.” They went back down the stairs and through the dining hall into the kitchen.
“This is the kitchen,” Mia said, coming to a stop at the island counter, “and our cook, Mrs. Starr, and scullery maid, April.”
“Please, call me Angel,” said the cook. She was young for a cook, with honey-blonde hair underneath her bonnet and a tall, lithe physique under her plain dress and apron.
“The new boy, huh?” she said with a grin. “Not bad-looking. A footman?”
“Yes,” Phoenix said, turning faintly red.
“He’s rather short, isn’t he?” April said with a giggle. She, on the other hand, was short and curvaceous, and held none of the easy grace of Mrs. Starr. In contrast, she seemed a rather sour, impish individual, with an upturned nose and haughty smirk to complete the look. “He’ll look so odd next to Jacob!”
“Get back to chopping those potatoes, April,” Mrs. Starr said sternly. “And besides, he’s taller than Winston, anyway.” April turned away with a hmpf.
“You won’t be in here too much, but this is where you’ll take the dishes for dinner from, obviously,” Mia said. “You’re the underfootman, so you won’t be taking up any main courses or sides, but you’ll be in charge of the sauces.” Phoenix nodded. He was familiar with this, of course; the hierarchy of footmen was consistent among all houses who could afford more than one.
“Let’s move on, shall we? These two have work to do,” Mia said with a purposeful glance in Mrs. Starr’s direction.
“Only having some fun, Mrs. Armando!” Mrs. Starr called after them as they left. Once they were out of earshot, Mia sighed.
“Those two can be a bit of a handful, I confess,” Mia said, “but regardless, Mrs. Starr is one of the best cooks in all of England. The family is lucky to have her. And she’s a nice woman once you get to know her, really.” Mia walked as she spoke, down a long corridor, where she barely paused to take a breath as she rattled off the names of the various rooms.
“Pantry’s in there, wine cellar down those stairs, sewing and laundry in there,” she said. “Across the hall is the mud room, and the chauffeurs’ closet two doors down from that. Is everything making sense so far?”
“Yeah,” Phoenix said, trying and failing to organize the order of the rooms in his head.
“Good,” Mia said. “That should be mostly it for down here, so all that’s left is to tour the upstairs.”
“Will ‘Is Lordship mind?” Phoenix asked.
“It’s customary,” Mia said. “I’m not going to show you around their chambers or anything! Just the foyer, the dining hall, the parlor, and the drawing room.”
“All right, then,” Phoenix said. Without further discussion, Mia brought Phoenix upstairs and into his first look at the grand castle upstairs.
“Ema! Maggey! Come quick!” Ema heard Kay’s bright voice calling her from the next room over. Ema carefully folded the last of her laundry and placed it in the wicker basket, ready to take up to Lady Franziska’s quarters.
“What is it, Kay?” asked Maggey, brushing a lock of dark brown hair away from her face and tucking it back into her perennially frizzy bun. Maggey was a housemaid with Kay and Ema. She was a bit like an older sister to the two of them, more because of her maturity and soft-spoken, maternal nature rather than the slight age gap between them.
“You just missed him!” Kay said, crossing her arms. “The new footman was walking by.”
“You called us in here for that?” Ema said with an eyeroll.
“What?” said Kay incredulously. “I just wanted to see him!”
“We haven’t had someone new since April was hired,” Maggey said. “And a footman, too…”
“Fine, I’ll ask,” Ema said. “What does he look like, Kay?”
“Tall,” Kay said. Ema paused, waiting for her to go on, but after a while, it became clear that she had nothing more to add.
“Tall? That’s it?” Ema said.
“I didn’t get a good look at him,” Kay sighed. A pair of footsteps sounded from outside the door, and the girls all glanced furtively towards the hallway, but it was only Lana and Mr. Mr. Gant. Kay flopped herself down onto the chair she had been sitting on and crossed her arms.
“It’s not so big a deal,” Maggey said soothingly. “We’ll see him eventually.”
“Yeah, but I want to see him now,” said Kay. “We maids are never the first to see anything.”
“I can help you,” said a quiet voice. Kay jumped out of her seat.
“Huh? Where?” she said.
“Here,” the girl said, stepping into view. She was slight of frame, with dark hair and eyes.
“I think I’ve seen you around,” Ema said. “You’re Mrs. Armando’s little sister, right?”
“Yeah,” the girl said. “My name’s Maya.”
“You’re older than I thought,” Kay said. “I thought you were a little girl.”
“That’s Pearl,” Maya said. “Me an’ Mia took her in when she was very little. She’s our cousin.”
“Wait, if you’re Mrs. Armando’s sister,” Maggey said, “you’ve probably heard about the new footman, then?” Ema rolled her eyes as Kay glared at Maggey.
“Maggey, stop,” Kay said, shoving her. “I don’t care that much.” Ema threw her hands up in frustration.
“You dragged me away from my laundry to hear about him!” Ema complained. “Just let her tell us and let’s get back to our work!”
“I did see him,” Maya said. Kay and Maggey giggled, leaning in closer.
“Where’s he from?” Maggey asked. “What’s he like?”
“He’s lived in another house before, but not been a footman,” Maya said. “And I don’t know. I didn’t actually speak to him.”
“Please, come back sometime,” Kay begged. “And tell us everything.”
“You’ll all get to meet him yourself,” Maya said with a laugh.
“Still,” Ema said, surprising herself with her sincerity. “Promise?” Maya paused, looking Ema in the eye.
“Promise,” she said finally.
Phoenix followed Mia down the stairs and back into the bustling atmosphere of the servants’ hall. It was late now, the family having finished their dinner, the dishes having been washed, and the silver having been polished, and the cooks had just finished rearranging the leftovers into a suitable meal for the servants. The firelit dining room, with servants running around, bringing platters of food to the table, felt almost cozy compared to the vast, empty halls of the castle upstairs, where Phoenix had not seen a single member of the family during his entire three-hour tour. It’s a small family, Mia had explained, especially since Lady Franziska’s mother died. However small the family might have been, though, there was nothing that quite explained the coldness that penetrated the very air of the castle, sucking any manner of happiness from inside. The memory lingered as Phoenix took the last open seat at the table, between a large, scruffy-haired man in the uniform of a chauffeur and a slender, auburn-haired woman wearing the plain black dress of a lady’s maid. At the head of the table, a large, tanned man cleared his throat.
“Settle in, everyone,” he said. “We have someone new joining us tonight.” He gestured to Phoenix. Phoenix nervously stood up.
“This is our new footman. Mr. Phoenix Wright.” The man looked Phoenix in the eye. There was something piercing in his stare, something that made Phoenix shrivel backwards slightly.
“I’m our head butler, Damon Gant,” the man said. “I’m in charge of the staff around here.” He looked to the man on his right, a tall, thin, dark-haired man with a gaunt complexion and piercing grey eyes.
“This is Mr. Badd, the underbutler. He’s in charge of managing some of the smaller household tasks—anything I can’t get to, really. But otherwise, he’s mostly a footman.” The look on Mr. Badd’s face suggested that he did not enjoy being introduced in this manner. Mr. Gant—who Phoenix noticed looked a bit smug at the sight of Mr. Badd’s displeasure—continued with his introductions.
“Next to you is Lana Skye,” Mr. Gant said. Phoenix looked over at the woman next to him. On closer inspection, she wore a nervous expression, and her nails were short and ragged, as if she chewed them often. “She is Lady Franziska’s maid.”
“Across from her is Mia Armando, who you’ve already met,” Mr. Gant continued, “and on her right is Diego Armando, valet to His Lordship.” Diego was tan-skinned and good-looking, and carried himself with an air of both respect and self-confidence.
“On Mia’s left is Jacob Marshall, one of your fellow footmen,” Mr. Gant said.
“Jake, please,” said Jacob. His accent was far from the mix of proper Queen’s English and Yorkshire colloquialisms that everyone else spoke; rather, he had some foreign accent that Phoenix couldn’t quite place. He was sure he’d heard it spoken by some guest of his last house, but what it was he could not tell.
“Leave your…Americanisms…across the Atlantic where you found them,” April hissed over her shoulder as she walked back towards the kitchen.
“I can’t help it,” Jake said. “It’s where I’m from. It’s who I am.”
“You’re from America?” Phoenix said, trying not to sound too incredulous.
“Yep,” Jake said. “New York City.”
“Don’t be too impressed, Phoenix,” Mia said. “It’s half an act.”
“Is not,” Jake said. “I’m American, through and through.”
“And you’d do well to act a bit more English upstairs,” Mia said sternly. “Wouldn’t want His Lordship to take notice.”
“Moving on,” said Mr. Gant. “Across from you is Harry Butz.”
“It’s Larry, sir,” said a tall, lanky, rather messy young man.
“Ah, yes,” said Mr. Gant. “Larry. He’s a chauffeur. The other chauffeur, Dick Gumshoe, is next to you.” Phoenix glanced at the man, who gave him a friendly wave. Phoenix smiled back as Mr. Gant continued.
“The other footman, Winston Payne, is across from Gumshoe.” Winston, a balding, short man, glanced up momentarily before returning sulkily to his meal.
“And I believe you’ve met Mrs. Starr and April,” Mr. Gant said, “so that should conclude the introductions.”
“What about the maids?” Phoenix said. This elicited a chuckle from the table.
“The maids don’t take their dinner with us,” Mr. Gant said. “They’re impressionable young ladies, so do mind your language around them. And, of course, don’t try anything…untoward.” Phoenix went red.
“I didn’t mean anything, sir, I swear it,” he said. Mr. Gant chuckled.
“I believe you, lad,” he said. “Just reminding you of the rules.”
“If that’s all you have in the way of introductions, Mr. Gant,” Mr. Armando said, standing up, “may I speak? Mia and I have something to share.” Whispering broke out across the table.
“Of course, Diego,” Mr. Gant said. “Go ahead.” Mia stood up and took her husband’s hand.
“May I do the honors?” she asked. Mr. Armando nodded.
“Diego and I wanted to tell you all that we’re expecting,” Mia said, smiling as she looked around the table. Next to Phoenix, Gumshoe, along with the rest of the table, cheered for the announcement. Even quiet Lana was clapping vigorously.
“That is excellent news,” Mr. Gant said. “I assume you’ll be wanting some time off then, Mia?”
“Yes, I would think so,” she said with a laugh.
“We’ll need to find a replacement for you in the meantime, then,” Mr. Gant said. “Lana?” Lana looked up from the table.
“Yes, Mr. Gant?” she said.
“Would you be able to take over some of Mia’s duties while she is resting?” Mr. Gant said. “I’m sure it won’t take away from your other duties.”
“Yes, Mr. Gant,” Lana said, looking away again.
“Well, that just about settles everything,” Mr. Gant said, standing up. The rest of the table followed, filling the air with the sound of chairs scraping against the floor. “If there’s nothing else, you all are dismissed.”
Phoenix reached in his pocket for his pocketwatch, but rather than feeling the usual sensation of the cool metal, he felt only fabric.
“Mrs. Armando?” Phoenix said nervously, approaching her in the rush of servants leaving the hall. Mia turned around.
“What is it, Phoenix?” she asked.
“I…I think I left my watch upstairs,” Phoenix said. “Or it fell off, maybe.”
“Oh, while I was showing you around?” Mia said. “Do you know where you left it?” He replayed through the events of the day, trying to remember where he might have dropped the watch.
“Maybe the hall?” he said. Mia nodded.
“We can go up now, if you want,” Mia said. “As long as we’re quick.” Phoenix nodded, and they made their way up the stairs.
Upstairs, Phoenix wandered around the room, inspecting behind columns and plants, with no luck. Mia lit the two candles by the ends of the staircase and carried her own with her, pointing the flame into the dark nooks and crannies of the massive hall.
“Are you sure it’s in here, Phoenix?” Mia said.
“Pretty sure,” Phoenix said. “I remember checking it while we were upstairs.” A pair of footsteps sounded from the grand staircase above them. Phoenix looked up nervously.
“It’s His Lordship,” Mia whispered. She rushed to stand at the side of the staircase, and Phoenix followed suit.
“Your Lordship—” Mia began, but a quiet, low voice cut her off.
“No need.” The figure came into the faint light of the candles. He was a man around Phoenix’s age, tall and well-built, wearing a black tailcoat and white shirt and tie. His hair was black and styled in a neat pompadour. His features were startlingly pale, his lips were chapped, and dark circles rimmed his tired grey eyes, but none of this did anything to combat the fact that this man was possibly the most handsome Phoenix had seen in his life. The man walked down the stairs sinuously, as if the plush red carpet was melting into the immaculately polished calfskin of his black leather boots. His gloved hand traced the mahogany railing delicately with long, slender fingers as he came to a stop just before the candle at the base of the stairs.
“New footman, Mia?” the man said.
“Yes, my lord,” Mia said. The man’s gaze met Phoenix’s, and Phoenix was startled by its intensity. His grey eyes burned with intelligence and questioning, and Phoenix suddenly felt examined, as if he was being slowly stripped of all of his bluffing, all of his concealments, and laid bare for the world to see. He crossed his arms over his chest, insecure.
“Do you have business up here?” the man asked, finally breaking eye contact with Phoenix.
“He’s lost his pocket watch, my lord,” Mia said. The man raised his eyebrows.
“Would it be this pocket watch?” He pulled a silver pocket watch out of his pocket. Phoenix’s eyes widened.
“Yes, my lord,” he said. “That’s mine.” He stepped forward and took the watch from the man’s outstretched hand.
“You should go to bed now,” the man said. “It’s rather late.” Mia nodded.
“Of course, my lord,” Mia said with a bow. “We’ll be off now.” The man nodded before turning around and returning up the stairs in the same fluid, graceful manner.
Once he was gone, Phoenix turned to Mia.
“Who was that?” Phoenix asked.
“That was Mr. Miles Edgeworth,” Mia said. “I may have forgotten to mention him.” Phoenix’s eyes widened.
“Miles Edgeworth?” Phoenix said. The boy he had known all those years ago had really grown into such a man? And he was here, right here, where Phoenix could see him every day…The letter in his pocket seemed to burn with possibility. Phoenix had taken a leap, a stupid leap, really, over the slightest chance that he might get to meet the author of that letter one more time…and it had worked.
“Why, do you know of him?” Mia asked. Phoenix shook his head.
“No, the name just sounded…familiar,” he said quickly. “Is he a member of the family?”
“Well…not quite,” Mia said. “His Lordship was close friends with Mr. Edgeworth’s father. He unfortunately died when Mr. Edgeworth was a small boy.” Phoenix nodded.
“His Lordship kindly took in the boy, but…” Mia trailed off.
“What is it?” Phoenix asked. Mia sighed.
“Well, as you know, Lady Franziska is His Lordship’s only child,” Mia said. “His Lordship had fought very hard to ensure that no other heir be deemed eligible for the title of the Marquess of Lovelace.”
“I thought women couldn’t inherit?” Phoenix said. Mia chuckled.
“No, they can’t,” Mia said. “But His Lordship has had some health problems, and he is very worried that he will die before he can find a way to leave the title, land, and money, to Lady Franziska. So he has tried to fight the entail by disproving the claims of every possible heir he can find.”
“What does that have to do with Mr. Edgeworth, if I may ask?” Phoenix said.
“If His Lordship had formally adopted Mr. Edgeworth, Mr. Edgeworth would become the heir to the title,” Mia said. “And Lady Franziska would have no chance of ever inheriting.”
“She hardly has a chance at it in the first place,” Phoenix said. “With the entail, she won’t even get the money, right?”
“Right,” Mia said grimly. “A terrible system, if you ask me.”
“That’s sad,” Phoenix said. Mia laughed.
“Well, we may not be rich, but at least there are some things we don’t have to worry about,” Mia said. She patted him on the back. “Come on, let’s go back downstairs.” Phoenix nodded. Mia began towards the stairs, and Phoenix followed her, but not before pausing and looking back towards the stairs, hoping to catch one last glance of the man he had loved so dearly all those years ago.