The clock struck midnight as the mansion's grand hall echoed with the sound of a distant, haunting melody playing softly. Detective Harper arrived at the scene, his trench coat flapping in the cold wind, eyes scanning for any immediate clues. A chandelier swayed gently above, casting eerie shadows on the walls, as if the house itself held dark secrets. The butler, Mr. Collins, stood nervously by the door, his hands trembling, eyes darting around like a trapped animal. In the center of the room lay a lifeless body, elegantly dressed, a single red rose clutched in one hand. The guests, gathered for a lavish party, now whispered among themselves, their faces pale with shock and suspicion. Detective Harper knelt beside the victim, noting the absence of blood, and the peculiar calmness of the deceased's expression. A storm raged outside, lightning illuminating the room intermittently, adding to the already tense and foreboding atmosphere within.