A speeder raced towards the Vorru estate. The Dowager Lady Everon sat in the back seat rustling a news article in her fingers stressfully. Events from the last week plagued on the matriarch's mind.
First was the rush meeting She had with Jeref Ulmeran. She recalled the day of the Vorru gala when Ulmeran stopped by her estate, expressing for a second time his desires to take on Rebecca as his bride. At the time she was trying to set Rebecca with Ariam Vorru so she revealed nothing of her devious plans, instead told Ulmeran her precious granddaughter was seeing another man. She did also remember Ulmeran storming out of the estate after being denied his lady prize. That was the last time she saw him alive.
Next was the luxurious gala itself. Much planning went into the guest list and ensuring Ariam Vorru's proposal would go without error. Rebecca's downright refusal shocked her, the Vorru's and everyone in attendance. The invited reporters and paparazzi turned their focus to badgering herself and Ariam about what went wrong instead of questions about the future nuptials. Reports about the failed proposal stopped posting after a few days.
Instead, they've been focusing on a new story, and the mail reason for Elsa's stress. Last week's gala marked the night Rebecca went missing. Coincidentally, Jeref Ulmeran vanished the very same night. Gossip sources claimed the two ran off together, but neither Elsa or Ariam believed a word of it. The Dowager began searches all over the city and countryside where Rebecca grew up, believing her granddaughter simply ran away to a more comfortable, familiar setting. The one mishap in her theory is what happened to Lord Jeref Ulmeran.
However, the news article in her hand answered that question. As soon as her speeder stopped in front of the Vorru estate, she bounded out and inside the home.
"Fliry! Ariam! I have news!" she announced, walking into the parlor. Ariam and Moff Vorru quickly ran from the study and joined her.
" have you found Rebecca? Oh please tell me you have." Ariam said, sinking into a chair.
"no, I haven't." Elsa answered, clearly troubled. "this was in today's post." she nervously handed the article to Ariam. Moff Vorru moved behind his son so he could read it as well.
" Jeref Ulmeran found dead." Ariam Vorru read aloud. "his body was discovered early this morning mangled and dumped in the woods just outside the city..."
"dear Maker..." Moff Vorru said, rubbing his chin.
"keep going... There's more." Elsa replied.
"... Although the autopsy has not been completed, preliminary reports indicate he had been severely beaten, tortured and disfigured. Details on cause of death will be released later."
"who could have done that?" Vorru asked.
"well Jeref had plenty of enemies..." Ariam answered.
"Don't you see?? Ulmeran and Rebecca disappeared at the same time! What if they were together when this happened?? Is my granddaughter dumped in the forest too? Dear Maker...her virtue is still at stake!" Elsa panicked.
Moff Vorru came over to her and patted her shoulder. "Calm down, Elsa. I'm sure Jeref had nothing to do with Rebecca's disappearance. She might just be lying low until this whole matter blows over. I have a feeling she's still on Corellia."
"father is right, Elsa."Ariam said. " We'll find sweet Rebecca before too long, and then we'll stick back to our plan."
"oh Ariam...for her sake I hope you're right..."
