Investigation V: On trembling grounds

As Amelia and Samuel strolled down the cobblestone streets of Avra, their footsteps echoed, lightly disrupting the morning hush. The streets glistened with fresh dew, and the crisp sea breeze carried the salty tang of the nearby sea, a reminder of the city's lifeblood.   "I didn't know Edmund well," Amelia confessed, her voice soft and contemplative. "We share blood, but I fear little else."   Samuel glanced at her, his eyes revealing a gentle understanding. "You once mentioned he was a rather cryptic, detached even?"   "Indeed," she nodded. "Though, I believe he had to be. Running a port is not a task for the faint-hearted, and Edmund... he was anything but faint-hearted. He saw potential in this place when it was nothing more than a handful of huts by the sea."   As they continued their walk, the small houses gradually gave way to grander structures. Amelia's voice carried a note of grudging admiration, "Edmund transformed Avra, turned it into the thriving port city it is today."   She paused, her gaze sweeping over the bustling cityscape. "But it wasn't a gentle transformation. He was ruthless - outsmarting merchants, crushing competitors, and there are whispers of dealings with pirates."   Samuel grimaced. "Sounds like he made a lot of enemies along the way."   Eventually, they arrived at Edmund's residence. From the outside, it was unassuming and rather small, which struck Samuel as odd. "For a man of his influence," Samuel remarked, "I expected Edmund's home to be... grander."   The sight that greeted them inside, however, was a chilling one. Scrolls and books littered the ground, torn and trampled, while furniture was haphazardly tossed aside in a chaotic search for something unknown.   In the heart of the chaos, they found the housemaid, a broom clutched in her trembling hands. Her face blanched as Samuel stepped into the room. She stumbled back, "Stay back! Stay back!" she cried, brandishing the broom like a weapon. "I won't let you ruin this place any further!"   "We're not here to cause harm," Samuel quickly explained, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "We're family. Amelia here is Edmund's niece."   The housemaid's stance faltered, her grip on the broom loosening. "Family? You knew Master Edmund?" she asked, her voice shaking. Her gaze turned to Amelia, searching for the truth.   Amelia nodded. "Yes, albeit not as well as I would've liked. But we're here to find out what happened to him. We...we need your help."   Tears welled up in the housemaid's eyes. "I... I saw him just yesterday morning. We had breakfast together, as we always did," she choked out, her voice barely above a whisper.   Amelia's brow furrowed. "Breakfast together? That sounds like a lovely tradition."   The housemaid nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Yes, yes... it started when he heard my stomach grumbling one morning. He was always so lost in his work that he'd forget to eat. But that day... that day he invited me to breakfast with him. And since then, it became our little routine."   She looked around the ransacked room, her voice catching in her throat. "I'd always bring him his coffee. We'd take a small break, enjoy a cup together. He...he was such a kind soul...When I fell sick once, he brought soup to us and insisted I rest. He cared, you see? Not like the others. But yesterday... yesterday something was off. He was anxious, fidgety. Kept looking over his shoulder. I asked him what was wrong, but he just brushed it off."   Amelia's expression tightened with concern. "Left? Did he say where he was going?"   The housemaid hesitated, her eyes clouded with worry. "No, he didn't. But he looked troubled. More troubled than I've ever seen him. And he left in a hurry, as if he was being followed."   Samuel exchanged a quick glance with Amelia. "Did anyone else come here after he left? Anyone who might have done this?" he gestured towards the disarray.   The housemaid shook her head, her eyes darting around the room. "No, I didn't see anyone. I heard some strange noises, when I left, like footsteps, but I thought it was just the wind playing tricks. I never imagined..."   The housemaid's voice quivered as she continued, "I never imagined it would be like this. I thought he'd come back, like always. But now..." She trailed off, unable to find the words as her eyes welled up with tears.   Samuel moved forward, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You've done more than enough," he assured her gently. "Go home, rest. We'll take care of this. We'll find out who did this to Edmund."   Nodding shakily, the housemaid left, leaving Amelia and Samuel in the silence of the devastated room.