"Why are we doing this?" Riven said, hammering the screws. He and Helia had been hammering those damned screws for more than an hour. Sweat was clearly visible on both of them, in fact it looked like both of them were dredged in precipitation.

"I don't know." Helia said, accidentally dropping the hammer on his feet. When the heavy object made contact with his feet, he shrieked in pain. Riven stifled a laugh. The raven haired male glared at him.

"You find this funny?"

"Sorry, can't help. Human nature." Riven said, sounding helpless.

"Human nature my ass! I can't do this anymore." Helia groaned, sitting down, crossed leg.

"Now you're going all drama queen on me." Riven said, blandly. Helia narrowed his eyes at him.

"Heroines, we need to finish it today. Get your dainty fingers on that hammer and start doing some work already." Flora said, leaning against the wall. Both of the males scowled at her.

"If you find this so easy, Heroine No. 3, get YOUR pretty ass off the wall and start working too." Riven challenged her. Flora kept her hands on her hips.

"Okay, I'll do it. It wouldn't be as hard as you guys seem to be showing it. You both need to man up." Flora said, taking Helia's hammer. The raven haired male narrowed his eyes at her with an amused look on his face.

"Trying to hurt man alter ego? Very old trick, Flora. I expected better from you." He said, letting out a sarcastic disappointed sigh. Flora rolled her eyes at this.

"Those muscles you own are just for show you know." She retorted, making him glower. She started hammering the nails out. First nail came out, slowly all the nails came out. The foul smell became stronger.

"It smells beyond worst." Flora said, covering her nose. Helia and Riven nodded at her in agreement. They took out the piece of bakelite, just then something tumbled. Helia picked it up, it was a ring. Riven stifled a laugh while the raven haired male examined it.

"It's just one of your crazy fans, who indirectly proposed you." Riven said, amused. Helia chuckled at this and shook his head.

"No, Riv. It's something else. I just can't put my finger on it." He said, twirling the ring in between his fingers. He prompted his brain to remember it but the trial failed.

"Damn my brain!" He said, slapping his head.

"It's okay, Helia. No need to force yourself for remembering it. After all, it's been 15 years." Flora said, calmly. Helia nodded and smiled at her. Riven snickered at this.

"I swear to God, you both seem like an old married couple." The magenta haired male mocked them. Flora blushed at this, while Helia groaned.

"Are you a matchmaker or something? Cause it's getting very irritating, Riven." Helia said, annoyed.

"This is the first time I set you both together."

"Oh really? That day when we had a fight, you thought I didn't hear what you said to Flora? Of course, I did. I am telling you, we" He said, pointing towards himself and then at Flora. "are just friends."

"Are you sure? As cheesy as it may seem, but I can see the love in your eyes." Riven said, saying the last part in British accent. Helia snorted.

"Love? Mark my words, Riven. We are just friends. That's all." Helia said, in an 'Am I clear?' tone. Flora agreed to this, but deep inside, her heart sank at the very words he said.

At night...

Helia was laying on the garden, holding the ring in front of his eyes. He had seen this somewhere. He could've sworn his life, he had seen this somewhere. It was an expensive ring, studded with diamonds all around and having a emerald in the centre. It wasn't something a women would wear, it was a men's ring. Now, some blood stains covered its body, but it still looked beautiful.

"Getting worked up about the ring again?" A voice said, startling him. He jumped into sitting position to see Flora smirking at him.

"Stalking me, again?" He rebutted, in a smart tone. Flora glared at him and hit him lightly on the shoulder.

"You always have a retort to everything, don't you?" She said, sitting besides him. He gave a laugh.

"Perks of being the successor of a Knightly." He said, laying down again. He went back to examining the ring.

"It's a beautiful one." Flora commented the ring.

"Hmm." He said, not really paying attention to whatever Flora was saying. Then the memory came back to him like a lighting.

"Flora. I know this ring." He said, in a knowing voice. Flora arched an eyebrow.

"What?"

"It belongs to one of the Emeralds of the court." He said, smiling to himself. Confusion crossed the brunette's face.

"Emeralds? Who- what are you talking about, Helia?" She said, perplexed. The raven haired male got up.

"I need to call Riven. Stay here." He said, sprinting to the makeshift tents. Flora sighed and shook her head. This guy was unbelievable. He was weirder than... Huh, forget it. After a minute for two, Helia returned with a very sleepy Riven.

"Dude, this better be worth my sleep time. I love my sleep." He said, his eyes half open. His state was hilarious. Flora started laughing at the very second she saw him. Riven glared at her with his sleepy eyes.

"Stop laughing this jiffy, sissy." He said, warningly, making even the serious Helia laugh.

"Why in the void did you guys bring me here? Don't you both have better things to do with your lives, rather than being bitten by mosquitoes?" He said, sitting down, while slapping a mosquito dead.

"There is something interesting. You see this ring. This thing belongs to the Emeralds." Helia said, grinning from ear to ear. Flora slapped her head in frustration while Riven squinted his eyes in confusion.

"Emeralds?" The confused male asked.

"Oh, dear. I forgot to explain this thing to you guys! Anyway, Knightly's court had a lot of ministers. But the King had a few favorites. They were called the 'Emeralds'. These people helped the King in matters that other ministers couldn't. They were comparatively closer to the ruler than the others. They used to wear this." Helia said, showing them the ring.

"Oh, I understand now. So, putting two and two together, an Emerald is involved in this murder." Riven said, nodding to himself. Helia tapped his chin in deep thought.

"Maybe, I am not sure." He said.

"Guys, I think we should obtain this information from Helia's grandfather. And Helia's mother too, if Helia doesn't mind?" Flora asked, looking at Helia. The raven haired male gave her a concerned look.

"Flora, you do remember what happened last time, right?"

"I know, Helia. But nothing will happen this time. I won't even come in front of your mother. You'll talk to her. Okay?" Flora suggested but Helia shook his head.

"Please. Pretty please!" Flora begged but nevertheless Helia shook his head.

"Please with a cherry on the top! Please!" She urged, making puppy dog eyes.

"Don't do that. You know I won't fall for that." Helia said, looking away. The reality was that trick was really working.

"You know you're falling for it." Flora said, making Helia slap his face in defeat.

"Okay. But I'll talk to her and you won't come in front of her, remember." Helia said, accepting. Flora smiled like a child and gave him a hug. Helia returned the hug. Just then someone cleared his throat. They both pulled apart to see Riven smirking at them.

"Friends?" He taunted them, earning a glare from Helia.

"Riven-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll start up again like we're just friends and stuff. I get it. Sorry." Riven said, looking away, annoyed that he had to apologize. Helia smiled and shook his head.

"So, it's fixed. We're going to the royal's castle tomorrow. So, sleepy head" She said, addressing towards Riven. "please wake up early and get ready. We'll meet near Helia's car at 7:00 am." Flora said, getting up. The two males nodded at her.

"I guess, Good night then." Flora greeted before leaving.

Next morning...

"Dude, you got no good music." Riven said, scowling at the music system of Helia's car. An opera song was playing.

"What according to you is good music, Riven?" Helia said, tired of hearing Riven squirm on how boring his playlist was.

"All the dirty songs present on this earth are 'good music' for him. One day I heard his playlist and it killed my innocence." Flora said, shaking her head.

"Excuse me, Flo. That's mature music. Not my mistake that you are goodie little saint. Nerd in addition." Riven retorted in an offending tone.

"Riven, stop calling me that-" Flora had began in an fight voice when Helia stopped her.

"Woah, woah, guys. Do you both always fight? Anyway, the royal's palace is approaching. Let's make a plan real quick." He said, changing the topic, avoiding a fight.

"Okey, first we'll talk to your grandpa, while which Flora will not slip out." Riven said, casting a look to his cousin, who just rolled her eyes. "Then you can go and talk to your mother."

"Sounds good. We'll implement it." Helia said, going back to driving the car.

At the castle...

The three idiots... Err, the young detectives were sitting in the hall, waiting for King Arthur to arrive.

"Helia!" A voice called, startling them. They turned around to see Arthur grinning at them.

"Grandpa, we're here." Helia said, standing from the couch.

"I see that. So, this is Flora?" Arthur said, looking at Flora. Helia smiled and nodded.

"Must say, child, you got my grandson so worried, he looked like he was going to erupt." Arthur said, amused. Helia blushed, looking away.

"Grandpa, can't you keep some things to yourself?!" Helia whispered/yelled to Arthur, who just smirked.

"Helia is a really caring friend. We're lucky to have him as a friend." Flora said, flashing a smile to Helia.

"I see, so Helia said you people had some important stuff to discuss with me? What's it?" Arthur asked, taking a seat on the sofa across them.

"Actually, Sir-"

"Arthur. You can call me Arthur. I sound like rotten meat when people call me sir." Arthur said, making them laugh.

"So, Arthur. Actually we're... We're detectives." Riven said and Arthur stiffened at the statement. "We were sent here to investigate your son's death. We want some information."

"Helia, are these really your friends?" Arthur angrily whispered to Helia.

"Grandpa, they are really nice friends of mine. We met while they were secretly inspecting the attic." Helia replied to him. Arthur stood up.

"How did you allow this, Helia?! That bastard deserves none of our time." Arthur yelled at Helia, who flinched.

"Arthur-" Flora was about to say when she was angrily cut off by Arthur.

"It's Sir to you." He snapped at her.

"Sir, please, try to understand. According to the proofs we've found, your son didn't commit suicide. It was a murder." Flora said, staring into Arthur's eyes. The King of Knightly stood there, frozen by shock. His son was murdered. The son he had despised for 15 years was murdered. He stumbled and fell on the sofa.

"Grandpa! Grandpa, are you okay?" Helia said, worriedly while holding onto Arthur's shoulders. The latter tried to catch on his breath, which he didn't realize that he had been holding for a minute or so.

"I am okay. Is this true?" He asked, breathlessly. All the three slowly nodded their heads. Arthur choked a sob. Silent tears slithered from his eyes.

"I see. What do you kids want to ask?" Arthur said, wiping away his tears and trying to sound strong.

"Are you sure you're okay, Grandpa?" Helia asked, thoughtfully.

"I'm okay. It's not like I am going to die or anything." Arthur said, letting out a bitter chuckle. Helia frowned.

"Grandpa, you know I hate it when say things like that?"

"I know, I know. Now don't start lecturing me. I am the grandfather, not you." Arthur said, sitting up straight. "Ask what you want."

"Arthur, was there any one of the emeralds that didn't like your son that much?" Riven asked in a serious manner. Arthur nodded his head in deep thought.

"Yeah, there was one such person. Lord Darkar. Saladin and he didn't have many similarities, and often got into conflicts because of it. Saladin didn't even want him as a minister, let alone an Emerald. But he was my favorite, his brain was super sharp. He had done our kingdom proud many times. So, I insisted Saladin to maintain his calm and retain him as an Emerald." Arthur said, remembering all the fights his son and Darkar used to get in.

"Darkar... Do you know where is this man residing now a days?" Flora asked.

"Why, of course! He's still in Knightly. But he's retired now, but he helps the state whenever in need."

"Okay. Actually Arthur we got this ring in an suspectable place." Riven said, taking out the ring and placing it on to the table in between them. Arthur took it and scrutinized it.

"This is of an Emerald. Are you saying that Darkar... No, he can get into numerous disagreements with Saladin but he cannot kill him. You people have misunderstood. It can even be a person who would've stole the ring." Arthur said in sheer disbelief and a bit of nervousness, which only Riven noticed.

"We are just suspecting. We're not declaring it. Yeah, it can even be a person who would've probably stolen the ring. But the direct suspect falls on the Emeralds, specifically Lord Darkar." Flora stated in the matter of fact tone.

"Yeah, but-" Arthur was about to say when he was cut off by a screaming voice.

"Let me go! I want to meet my son, you idiots!" The voice yelled. They heard something break and Liliana came running into the hall. Helia's and Flora's eyes widened. Flora somehow hid behind Riven. The raven haired female looked around the hall to search for a certain girl.

"Helia, where's that brunette?" Liliana asked, still looking around.

"Behind me." Riven said, subconsciously, before realizing what he had just said. He cursed under his breath. Flora nearly burned a hole in his head while glaring at him.

"Hey, brunette, come out!" Liliana called out. Flora frowned and stood up. Liliana's eyes widened in surprise.

"Good God! I am so sorry. I tried to hurt such a pretty girl." Liliana said, holding her shoulders. Flora looked at her, her eyes showing the look of confusion.

"What are you talking about, Your Highness?" Flora asked, in an utterly confused voice.

"Your Highness?! Call me Liliana. Didn't Helia tell you how cool I am?" The raven haired female said. Flora blinked her eyes and turned her eyes to Helia, who was equally incoherent about the entire situation.

"Helia, must say. Your girlfriend's really quiet. No wonder you chose her." Liliana commented. Flora's eyes went as wide as saucers. She felt warmth creep up to her neck and then the skin of her face.

"Mom, she's not-" Helia was about the negate the statement made by his mother but she cut him off.

"Ah, I understand. Can't hear anything against your beloved? Okay, she's not quiet. Better?" Liliana asked Helia as if he were a child. "Anyway, don't interrupt the conversation going on between me and my soon to be daughter in law. We'll go to a quieter place, you people talk male nonsense."

And with that Liliana practically dragged the green eyed female away. Helia tried to stop her but he was held back by Arthur.

"Helia, it's okay. She won't do anything to Flora. She loves you, she won't hurt something that's related to you."

"Grandpa, let me get this clear. Flora. Is. Not. My. Girlfriend." Helia said, adding the gaps to make it more clear.

"Of course she's not but if this misconception is keeping Liliana from attacking Flora then... I don't see the reason why we need clear that up. It's doing more good than harm." Arthur said, stating the obvious fact.

"But Grandpa?!"

"Helia, I think whatever Arthur is saying is correct. You don't want Flora to get attacked again, right?" Riven asked the raven haired male, who nodded his head. "So, please bear with it for sometime."

Helia let out a defeated sigh and nodded reluctantly.

In the garden...

"So, your name is Flora?" Liliana asked Flora in a childish voice. The brunette nodded cautiously.

"How did you two meet? I hope the event is an interesting one!" Liliana said, clasping her hands. Flora remembered how they had met, on the first day of university and smiled at Helia's stupidity.

Flashback

A brunette with a jumpsuit on walked into the compound of the enormous building she would from now on call her university. She smiled at her achievement, that she'd made it here with a scholarship. Only few students had gotten this chance from her was in the Arts department. Flora had been an born sculptor. She could even make a statue with closed eyes.

She was just walking through the corridors when she heard noises coming from ahead. By natural instincts, she rushed to the origin. But what she saw was disgusting. A raven haired male, extremely handsome, was rolling his eyes off as a lavender haired female begged to him for something, with tears in her eyes. She got nearer, pushing through the crowds, to hear what they were saying.

"Please Helia, I love you! You're the most handsome male I ever saw, plus the most mature person I came across. Please, accept me!" The girl cried as the man cringed his face in hatred.

"That's what I hate about you girls. You all go after looks. You all have got no self respect." The man said. Flora clenched her fists in anger. How much of a sexist this man was?! How could he question a girl's self respect?!

"Helia, I do have self respect. But love sees nothing, love is blind. I can't see anything but you. My self respect doesn't matter anymore." The girl said. Flora's eyes widened in shock. That man, presumably Helia, was partially correct. That girl was really getting desperate now. But that doesn't give him any right to question any girl's ego!

"Self respect? If you had any of that, you would've slapped me by now." Helia said. Flora gritted her teeth. Now she had had enough. He couldn't just go on publicly insulting that poor girl?!

"If you don't stop insulting her this instant, I don't know about her, but I for sure will slap you." The words tumbled out of Flora's mouth. The entire crowd turned their eyes to her. She felt a blush creeping into her neck, she was not as used to the attention of a crowd.

"Another wannabe." Helia sighed, rolling his eyes. Flora turned her eyes to him and folded her hands in front of her chest.

"What did you say just now?" Flora said.

"You're just another wannabe. Don't try to act as if you're different." Helia had just completed his sentence when Flora felt her palm making contact with his cheek. A slapping sound echoed in the corridor.

"Is that enough to prove that I am not a wannabe?" Flora asked, dropping her hand to her side. Helia looked at her with a plain look. Two or three minutes passed but Helia didn't answer.

"You take too long to answer. I don't care if you do think I am wannabe or not but if harass this girl again, I swear to God, I'll forget that I am a civilized person." She warned him before turning to the girl. "Come on, this guy doesn't deserve your time."

She started walking away with the lavender haired female.

End of flashback

"Flora, Flora! Are you okay?" Liliana asked, waving both of her hands in front of her eyes, making her snap back to reality. She nodded and casted her eyes down.

"So, how did you two meet?" Liliana asked, excitedly. A thought struck Flora.

"Leave about Helia and me. How much do you love Uncle Saladin?" Flora asked, knowing that Liliana would probably not remember his demise.

"A lot. But Saladin is very impulsive and short tempered. He often fights with Darkar. I hate that thing." Liliana replied. Flora arched her eyebrow. She wasn't getting this Darkar man, he seemed a pretty intelligent man, but he used to get in fights with Saladin. Doubtable.

"Is Lord Darkar a really bad person? I mean, is Uncle Saladin always right or is it Lord Darkar?" Flora asked, trying her best to mask her curiosity.

"I don't know, but Darkar isn't a bad person. In fact, he's really intelligent and calm. He treated all women and men with utmost respect. But Saladin thinks that Darkar fakes it. Plus Saladin has a very bad temper too." The raven haired female replied, before starting to laugh like a mad woman, she was already one. Flora ignored this, knowing her state. 'Darker doesn't seem like a person who would possess hatred so strong that he would kill someone. This is getting more confusing by and by.' Flora thought to herself, furrowing her brows.

Just then a voice rang through her ears.

"Come on, Flora! We need to leave." A voice called, making her head snap up to see Helia waiting for her.

"You're so much of an interrupter! We had just started talking." Liliana whined, childishly holding onto Flora's hand. Helia looked at her with an amused mixed surprised look.

"But we need to leave, Mom. The gates to our camp close at 6 PM. It's already 5:30 PM. I need to run the car to reach there." Helia explained.

"Then don't go. Can't you the stay here for tonight? The palace is very big. We've got room for an entire army. Can't you stay?" Liliana pleaded.

"Some other day, Liliana. If we don't go today, Mr. Cordorta will bite out heads off. I assure you we'll come soon." Flora said, reassuring her that they'll meet soon.

"Promise?" Liliana said, holding her pinkie out. Flora amusedly started at the raven haired female's pinkie while Helia tried his best to keep his laugh in.

"Promise?" Liliana said again, this time a bit forcefully. Flora forced a small smile and wrapped her pinkie around the older female's.

"Promise."

"Okey then, bye!" Liliana said, pulling her into a bone crushing hug before letting her go. Flora awkwardly got up and walked away with Helia.

"Aren't you too old for pinkie promises?" Helia mocked her, making her slap his arm in return. He laughed at her scowling expression.

"So, how was the talk?" He asked, gaining control on his laugh.

"Darkar doesn't seem to be someone who would even hurt anyone, let alone killing. I don't thinking Darkar would've done it." Flora said, on a serious note.

"If Darkar hasn't done anything then who the hell has murdered Father?!" Helia said, angrily, growing frustrated because of all the mystery.

"Helia, calm down. It's gonna be alright." Flora said, softly, holding onto his hand. The raven haired male yanked his hand out of hers.

"I don't know why this is happening. Why couldn't it just be like I it was before? I was in peace until I got to know that Father... I don't know what to do." Helia said, his voice cracking up. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to cool down.

"You don't have to do anything. Leave it is. If you're not comfortable with being involved in this case then sit back and relax. We'll do it. It's perfectly fine."

"That's not the thing, Flora. It's just... I feel immensely guilty for blaming my demised father all this time. I thought he was a coward and didn't care about us. I feel like fucking shit of a son." Helia said, making Flora glare at his unnecessary usage of profanity.

"I feel like a bad son, man. I couldn't understand my own father." Helia said, correcting himself. Flora sighed and turned him around to face her.

"Helia, it's not your fault. You didn't know what had exactly happened." Flora tried to comfort him.

"It really isn't helping."

"Maybe this will help." Flora said, pulling him into a hug. Helia froze for a second or two before instinctively returning the embrace.

"Nice scent." Helia said, sniffing her neck. Flora let out a laugh at his clumsiness at conversations. After a minute or so, they both pulled out of the hug.

"Feel better?" Flora asked in a concerned voice. Helia smirked at her.

"Beyond better." He said, flirtatiously, making Flora roll her eyes.

"Come on, flirt. Cordorta won't consider the excuse of flirting with a girl for getting late." Flora said with sass, walking to the car. Helia chuckled and followed her lead. She was, by far, the only girl who could cut out his advances. The more he got to know, the more he had grown to admire her. 'Everything happens for the good' , he had started to believe this statement.

Author's note:

Sorry guys, I don't have any excuse for not updating because I've been very busy, so busy that I don't even have time to see my tablet. Guys, you all need to understand that I am living in India. We have a education system that thinks that students have no work except for studying.

So, half of time, I am doing my homework or studying hard. We've much more work to do than any other system. I've high ambitions for my future and I need to study real hard for that stuff. I know that many of you get annoyed by the thing that I take long too update but I have a valid reason for it. So please co operate with me.

Anyways, if you liked the chapter, review, fav or follow!

Next chapter: The trio communicates with Darkar. Somehow Arthur and Darkar grow suspectable in Flora's and Riven's view.