Meanwhile... Mr. Frederick sat in his study, flipping through documents when Raymond burst in, holding papers in his hand and wearing a bright smile.
"Good morning, sir. I’ve got some good news!" Raymond beamed as he approached.
Frederick raised an eyebrow. "I hope it’s something worth hearing."
"It is, sir! Maria is alive. She walked into Gilbert’s mansion earlier today. We confirmed it ourselves."
A wide smile spread across Frederick’s face. "That’s music to my ears. Finally—something good."
Raymond’s tone shifted as he added, "There’s more, sir. Elijah Simons has been captured. They say he might be executed in the next few days."
Frederick’s smile vanished. He sat up straight, concern flashing in his eyes.
"A death sentence?" he echoed. "That can’t happen. Something must be done immediately. I need Elijah Simons alive."