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Chapter 15
"Did
anyone show anything suspicious that day?"
"I
don't know, because I overslept."
Claude
recorded every word I said in his notebook without a single gap. He was a man
with eyes that seemed to smile even when he was silent. The bones in his
sizable hands were thick, and he had many scars, perhaps because he had
suffered so much as an investigator.
Claude
who finished writing glanced at me.
"The
carriage didn't roll down the slope. Someone deliberately loosened the
wheels."
"......How
terrible."
I
closed my eyes tightly and opened them again. I imagined a terrified Mother
hugging Duke and screaming loudly. The friction caused by the carriage's fall
into the ravine set the carriage on fire.
"I
hope the real culprit is caught soon."
"I
hope so."
"Do
you have any more questions? I will do my best to assist with the
investigation."
I
put my hand in front of my chest and slightly leaned towards Claude. I want to
show that I support him. Maybe it was because he saw Alexander's face that
turned cold as soon as Claude revealed his identity.
***
It
seemed that for some reason, Alexander really disliked Claude. Given his
position as the heir to this family, that was understandable. Claude came
straight to the Manor without even getting permission to visit, then he sat
down in the living room and said that he would start an investigation without
asking Alexander's opinion.
"Looks
like the Duke isn't ready yet, so we'll start from the beauty that is here
first."
Moreover,
wasn't he currently treating Alexander like an uninvited guest? That makes all
of this even more uncomfortable. Alexander was forced to keep his mouth shut because
Claude had documents containing the imperial seal with him.
'It
was an intentional incident, not an accident.'
It
hurts me to try to remember what happened 3 years ago. Because of that, the old
memories that I had buried deep within my heart were now surfacing one by one.
But
if someone is deliberately trying to harm my mother and the Duke, I must know
the truth. She is a mother who has experienced various kinds of scandals in her
life. Despite her death with the Duke, there were only a few people who
sympathized with her.
'If
only Isolde didn't exist!'
I
still vividly remember how red-haired Catherine screamed and glared at me with
vengeance. And she did it in front of many nobles and servants.
***
"Miss,
who do you think would dare to do such a cruel thing to the carriage that the
Duke and Duchess are riding in?"
Claude
put down his notebook and asked. I was thinking about my mother's last
appearance when she climbed into the carriage with her blond hair flowing like
a pearl.
I
told Claude that I overslept and didn't see anything, but that day I was by the
window watching the Duke and my mother leave. I watched them leave, holding the
syringe I found in the locker room.
But
that has nothing to do with the investigation. It was something I didn't want
to tell Claude. Of course, no one knows. As I watched the carriage move away, I
burned all the syringes hidden here and there.
My
mother's secret is kept by me.
"......I'll
be honest with you."
"Please."
Claude
leaned his upper body as if interested. He and I exchanged glances at the low
table separating us. He slightly lowered his eyes, looked at my slowly parting
lips,
"There
are too many people so it's hard to choose one. I don't know much about the
reputation of the previous Duke Arpad, but my mother isn't someone many people
like."
On
the contrary, she was a woman who aroused the sympathy of men with much
jealousy surrounding her. If my mother, a beautiful woman created a sad
atmosphere, showing signs of sadness. Then the men will definitely rip their stomachs
and give their hearts.
She
has been married several times. So it's not surprising that other women talk
about my mother, even talking about my mother's husbands too. My mother used to
say that it was something a woman who was born with beauty had to endure, but
well... My opinion was different from my mother's.
"As
a daughter, you make a very cold and objective evaluation of her."
Claude
said it in surprise. Although she is a good mother to me, but not to other
people. I bit my lip, slightly regretful.
"I
was skeptical of my mother's marriage to Duke Arpad."
"What
is the reason?"
"Because
the North is a cold, dark place and the winters are long. I'm from the
South."
"The
reason is simpler than I thought."
"What
else do you want to know?"
What's
important right now isn't what I think about my mother's marriage to the Duke.
Isn't the purpose of this investigation to find the culprit? I wondered what
other information I could give Claude.
"For
now, that's all. I'll start looking for witnesses."
Claude
smiled with a tired face, saying that there were a lot of people he had to meet
after he talked to me. It would take a lot of time to talk to everyone in the
Arpad Manor one by one. Claude said as if he noticed my curious gaze.
"The
situation was unfavorable, so I arrived at the Arpad Manor first. In a few
days, another investigator will come after the blizzard has passed."
I
nodded. Actually, the situation outside the Manor wasn't that good. It's been 3
years that I've been in the Arpad Manor, and this is the first time I've seen
such bad weather. The snow continued to fall non-stop for a week as if to give
a hint that something was going to happen.
"Then
I'll head out. Would you like something to drink?"
"You
are very kind. A cup of tea to warm the body is enough."
"Would
you like some alc*hol?"
"That's
good. Should I get drunk at work?"
Claude
thanked me for my cooperation, he got up and held out his big hand to me. When
I shook hands with his large hand, his eyes widened as if amazed. Then he
smiled, lifting one corner of his mouth gracefully.
Wait!
I think I've met someone who smiles like that.
"......Have
we met somewhere?"
I
asked the question, but no face immediately came to mind. There were so many
people I met while my mother and I were moving around, how could I remember
every detail?
"Does
my face such an unremarkable face?"
"Ah,
that's not what I meant."
"I
used to hear that I looked handsome enough for an investigator, but now your
words hurt me."
Claude
put the hand holding the pen to his chest, pretending to be hurt. I laughed out
loud at his funny appearance, he let go of his hand that was still shaking with
me.
"This
is unrelated to the investigation, but you have a very beautiful smile."
"......Thank
you for the compliment."
"Are
you disappointed that it was such a cliche compliment? In that case, please
forget what I said."
"No,
it's always nice to receive compliments."
I
shook my head. If the two of us talk to each other like this, it seems only
words that have nothing to do with the investigation will continue to flow. So
I decided to leave him and let the person who was waiting for their next turn
enter.
"......Alex?"
I
thought he had gone to his room. It was Alexander who should be interviewed by
Claude first, but his irritation caused the interview sequence to go awry.
Though I was hoping the person to be interviewed next would be a servant.
Alexander
leaned sideways against the wall, he crossed his arms. He stared at the window
as if thinking about something. Then, when I called his name, he slowly turned
his head and looked at me.
"You
look happy, Sis."
After
saying that, he just left me and went to the living room. Alexander slammed the
door so hard that I shuddered. That's surprising.
***
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