The Wedding in Crimson Light

Prologue: The Bride’s Curse

1823. On the eve of his wedding, Gabriel Duval, heir to the Château Valmont, abandoned his fiancée Isabelle de Lancrê for a wealthier bride. In despair, Isabelle placed a curse before the mirror in the Red Hall:

"May no wedding within these walls ever be happy. May grooms die, and brides weep tears of blood!"

The next morning, she was found dead in the river—still in her wedding gown, a dagger in her heart. Since then, the château has been plagued:

• In 1889, a groom suffocated in smoke from mysteriously burning wedding candles.
• In 1947, a bride went mad and threw herself from the tower.
• In 1985, the officiating priest vanished without a trace...

Now, in 2024, Emily Duval—the last heiress—dares to break the curse by marrying here.

Act I: The Guests Arrive

Château Valmont looms over the cliffs, shrouded in mist. Guests arrive under a steady drizzle:

1. Emily Duval – 28. An artist who inherited the château after her father’s death. Her secret: She’s pregnant with Richard’s child but hasn’t told him.
2. Richard Brant – 35. A lawyer with a shady past. His secret: He plans to sell the château to cover debts, hiding it from Emily.
3. Sebastien Moreau – 30. Emily’s cousin, the only other heir. His secret: He forged the will to inherit if the wedding is called off.
4. Victoria Lockwood – 29. Emily’s friend and Richard’s ex-lover. Her secret: She still loves him and has blackmail letters.
5. Dr. Lucien Gray – 60. The family doctor. His secret: He knows Emily’s father was poisoned but hid the truth.
6. Margot Duval – 55. Emily’s superstitious aunt. Her secret: She believes Emily must stay single to "appease Isabelle’s ghost."
7. Oliver Kane – 40. The wedding planner. His secret: He stole heirlooms to pay off gambling debts.
8. Inspector Armand Larousse – 45. An uninvited guest. His secret: He’s investigating a murder tied to Richard.

Atmosphere:

• The château reeks of incense and damp stone, as if someone recently lit candles.
• The Red Hall (where the curse began) holds a cracked mirror—some claim to see a veiled woman’s reflection.
• Portraits of past Duvals line the walls, their eyes seeming to follow guests.

Act II: Ominous Signs

Before dinner:

• Emily finds an antique doll in a wedding dress (identical to Isabelle’s) in her room.
• Richard receives an anonymous note: "She will learn the truth by dawn."
• Victoria switches wine glasses, poisoning Emily’s drink.
• Sebastien hides a dagger (a family heirloom) in the library.
• Dr. Gray whispers with Margot about "that terrible night 20 years ago" (Emily’s father’s death).

Dinner. Tension rises. Suddenly, a hollow knock echoes from the Red Hall.

Margot (whispering): "She’s here..."

Act III: Murder in the Library

After dinner, Richard goes to the library to review the château’s sale documents.

Twenty minutes later, a scream rings out.

Guests rush in to find:

• Richard in a pool of blood, his throat slashed.
• In his hand: a torn note—"Forgive..."
• A shattered wine glass (later tests reveal poison).
• A bloodied dagger (the Duval family’s antique blade) on the hearth.

Inspector Larousse takes charge.

Act IV: The Investigation

Clues:

1. Note in Richard’s pocket: "If she learns of the sale, you’re dead." (handwriting unclear).
2. Emily’s diary (found in her room):

• "I can’t let him destroy everything..."
• "Dr. Gray is hiding something..."

1. Victoria’s letter (in her purse): "R., if you marry her, I’ll expose the Lenington case." (hinting at Richard’s crimes).
2. A safe key (on Richard)—inside, sale documents for the château.
3. Muddy footprints leading to the cliff’s edge.

Suspects:

• Emily: Motive—learning of the sale and her pregnancy.
• Sebastien: Sole beneficiary if Richard dies.
• Victoria: Her handkerchief reeks of cyanide.
• Dr. Gray: A vial of poison in his bag.
• Margot: She feared Richard would "awaken the curse."
• Oliver: Richard could expose his theft.

Act V: The Truth Unravels

Inspector Larousse gathers everyone in the Red Hall.

"The killer is here... and it’s not the curse."