The flickering candlelight danced across the dusty bookshelves. A chill wind whistled through the cracked windowpanes. The old mansion creaked in the silence, a symphony of decay. Detective Miller paced the dimly lit room, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. He scanned the scene, searching for clues in the chaos. The victim lay sprawled on the floor, a crimson stain spreading across the worn carpet. A silver letter opener protruded from his chest, its handle glimmering in the candlelight. The detective’s gaze lingered on the weapon, its sharp edge glistening ominously. He crouched beside the body, placing a gloved hand on the victim’s cold shoulder. A faint, sweet scent of violet lingered in the air, a jarring contrast to the brutality of the scene.