Howard Kwambi

At the Duke of Quamby's house, a young maid attracted the attention of the heir, fourteen-year-old Howard. He already had a hint of strangeness and sternness about him. His interest was sparked by her friendship with a young groom. One day, seeing the maid having fun with him, Howard ambushed her in the hallway.

"Hey... Do you love me?" he asked sharply, hugging her with powerful force.

Frightened and embarrassed, the maid, trying not to betray the tremor in her voice, replied, "Of course, young master." But the falsehood was obvious. Howard understood everything, and from then on, his cold, jealous attention became her shadow.

The years passed. Howard matured and assumed complete control of the estate. A week after his twentieth birthday, a "tragedy" struck: the stable burned to the ground, along with the groom. Everyone chalked it up to an accident, but the maid felt an icy terror—she knew the true cause.

Finding her in the garden with tear-stained eyes, Howard said with false sorrow: "My condolences, I remember you were close..." As he left, he placed his hand on her shoulder and leaned over to whisper words that sounded like a death sentence: "Now you belong only to me."

He departed, pleased with himself. His obsessive desire for possession, nurtured for years, was finally satisfied. For him, this wasn't a tragedy, but merely the removal of an obstacle, the assertion of his power over the one who dared to be happy without him.