“Why so early…? This is different from what I expected,” Marie said anxiously.
“I heard the Archduke’s people arrived in the capital last night, so I thought they would take a day’s rest and come for me around tomorrow. To think they would come this early… What do I do now?”
I could feel Marie’s breathing becoming ragged.
“They are no different from jailers coming to take me away. They’ll try to drag me straight to the North, so what on earth should I… I haven’t prepared anything yet…!”
“Marie, Marie! Calm down, nothing has happened yet!”
I was worried she might have another hyperventilation episode. I shouted hurriedly, “Calm down. They are just the Archduke’s subordinates, not the Archduke himself. This is your home, and your territory! They cannot harm you!”
*Whew, ha… whew, ha…*
Fortunately, Marie managed to control herself by taking deep breaths.
“…You’re right, Detective. The fact that the serial killer Archduke is waiting for me in the North also means that until I arrive there, the serial killer isn’t by my side. So, I am safe, at least for now. Even if the plan went awry, my life isn’t in immediate danger.”
“That is exactly right. Excellent, Marie.”
“The wording is a bit scary for some reason, but is that really supposed to be reassuring?!”
“Of course. And if things go south, I believe Sir Hayes will protect me.”
“It would be ‘Sir’ Hayes, wouldn’t it? Like a gallant knight protecting a lady in distress.”
Seeing the two of them exchange jokes finally put my mind at ease.
‘…The words I just told Marie were half-lies, though.’
To be honest, I wasn’t certain that the current situation was truly safe.
Of course, the Archduke himself probably wasn’t hiding among his subordinates. But could I really be sure that Taylor Zone wasn’t among them?
‘If I think about it carefully… most of the circumstantial evidence that makes one suspect the Archduke is Taylor Zone could apply just as well to the people around him.’
The fact that the Archduke’s stay in the capital coincided with Taylor Zone’s killing spree? If it were a close aide of the Archduke, they would naturally move alongside him.
When the Archduke was in the Duchy, the aide would have been in the Duchy, and when the Archduke came to the capital, the aide would have come up with him.
The suspicious serial murders of the Archduke’s wives? It wasn’t impossible if Taylor Zone simply couldn’t restrain himself after seeing his master’s wives.
Lastly, while this was more of a guess than a deduction…
Wasn’t it much more plausible for a subordinate to be Taylor Zone rather than the incredibly suspicious Archduke himself being the killer?
‘If that’s really the case, there’s no guarantee Taylor Zone isn’t out there.’
Perhaps Marie Menzel’s crisis had already begun.
…But I didn’t voice any of these speculations, only speaking plausible lies.
‘I can’t help it. It’s for her protection.’
I didn’t want to trigger another hyperventilation attack by fueling Marie’s anxiety.
Furthermore, even if the killer was truly standing right outside that window, I was confident I could catch him and protect Marie.
‘I’ll be able to see it.’
There was no way I would miss that pitch-black shadow.
If I were given enough time, I could catch him. I had to.
‘So… what I need to prepare for is a possible surprise attack.’
The momentary gap where I had yet to confirm Taylor Zone’s presence.
If we were caught in a sudden ambush, I might lose Marie before I could even lift a finger.
Under that precarious peace, while I was secretly sharpening my vigilance —
*Barge!!*
Without even a knock, Marie’s door swung open with a violent noise.
‘…! An intruder!’
My body moved faster than expected.
I immediately shoved the person who had burst in.
*Clatter!*
The identity of the intruder, who went tumbling with a loud crash, was…
“Ow! Marie! What on earth are you doing?!”
“…Uncle Bernard?”
It was a small, shabby, pot-bellied middle-aged man.
‘If it’s Bernard… is he the relative who’s a gambling addict?’
Moreover, he was also the person double-cast in the same Guardian role as me. Perhaps he had the same thought, as he pointed a finger at me and yelled.
“Marie! I heard you brought some ruffian with you, and it turns out to be true! Do you really think a thug like that is suited for a noble role like a Guardian?”
“I’m not sure. Sir Hayes seems to be performing his role as my escort knight quite well. To burst in like this without even knocking. How rude can you be?”
“What, an elder relative can’t even enter his niece’s room as he pleases?”
“No, you cannot. I am not a child, but a bride awaiting her wedding.”
‘Oh, not bad.’
As Marie snapped back firmly, Bernard couldn’t immediately find a response.
“So, why exactly did you burst into my room?”
“Ah, right! I came to say a few words to you as an elder!”
The man, who had shouted grumpily, finally scrambled to his feet and yelled.
“I happened to overhear the conversation your father was having in the drawing room, and it was nothing short of a spectacle. He says you’re throwing a tantrum because you don’t want to get married? Your brother found you an excellent groom, and there’s a line of dowry carriages outside, so what exactly is your problem?”
“If you like the Archduke of Kalan so much, why don’t you get married to him instead, Uncle?!”
“Ha! Do you really not know how much effort your father put into this marriage?”
“Yes, yes, I don’t know and I don’t care. Am I supposed to be grateful for a marriage I don’t even want?”
Bernard’s lips twitched.
“Marie, one day you will deeply regret it after learning how much your father loved you! Of course, it will be too late by then!”
After pouring out a series of curses, Bernard straightened his shirt collar and glared at me.
“And you! You there.”
“Are you talking to me?”
I only took one step toward him, but —
“S-Stay right there and listen!”
Bernard hastily backed away, shrinking his neck. It seemed he had popped his collar for this purpose; the way his head vanished into the stiff fabric made him look just like a hermit crab.
“You, how can you just shove people around like that!”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“As long as you understand! Be careful next time!”
‘…Is that it?’
Compared to the verbal abuse he rained on Marie, it was a surprisingly pathetic lecture.
“Ahem, then I shall take my leave! I have to check the carriages before we depart! Marie, you stop being so stubborn, get dressed up pretty, and come down quickly! We have to move fast to make a good impression on the Archduke’s people!”
Leaving only those words behind, Bernard vanished like a flash.
“Ugh, seriously! What is with that unpleasant man! Marie, are you okay?”
Lure forgot her formal speech and checked on Marie’s well-being.
“I’m fine. He’s always been that way. He’s hot-tempered, impulsive, and greedy, and he loves to show off, but he’s such a coward that he can’t actually act out against anyone.”
Contrary to her saying she was fine, a torrent of complaints about Bernard poured out.
It seemed she had a lot built up over time.
“I don’t know why Father is trying to send someone like that with me. And how can he so proudly talk about eavesdropping on Father’s conversation in the drawing room — .”
Marie suddenly stopped talking.
“Wait, wait a minute.”
“Marie?”
“Father is in the middle of talking to the guests, the people from the North, in the drawing room… and Uncle Bernard went to check the carriages. Then, then isn’t it not too late yet? Yes, we don’t know. Maybe there’s one last chance left…!”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
Marie, who had been muttering to herself for a while, suddenly looked up.
“Sister Lure, and Detective Hayes. I’m sorry, but could you trust me and help me with one dangerous task? I will surely repay this debt!”
Why ask something like that now?
“We’ve already decided to help. Just tell us what you need.”
Marie opened her mouth.
“I must steal the marriage certificate that should be in my father’s safe.”
—
The marriage certificate was a type of prenuptial agreement.
The bride’s side and the groom’s side each kept one copy, and it contained all sorts of complex prior agreements related to the marriage.
“Because it is such an important document, the rule is to keep it securely. That is why if both copies of the marriage certificate are destroyed before the wedding ceremony, the marriage is completely annulled. Such a thing wouldn’t happen unless both sides had no intention of maintaining the marriage.”
Marie’s goal was the annulment. To achieve that, she had to steal and burn both copies of the marriage certificate.
“Before we head North, I have to steal the certificate that is in our house. It’s not that I haven’t had the chance to steal it before, but since I didn’t know when Father might check it, I thought it would be safer to steal it at the last possible moment.”
I could finally understand Marie’s panic from earlier.
“The problem was that the Archduke’s subordinates arrived earlier than expected.”
“Exactly. It looks like we’ll be leaving for the North sooner than I thought. I was so flustered because I thought we might leave before I could get my hands on the certificate.”
However, Bernard’s words had given Marie an idea.
“The marriage certificate is in the safe in Father’s office. Right now, Father is greeting the guests from the North in the drawing room, and all the servants’ eyes will be focused there. Uncle Bernard said he would be checking the carriages outside. So, now is the perfect opportunity.”
Until the Baron finished talking with the Northerners and came looking for Marie. We had to steal the marriage certificate within that short window of time.
“If we’re caught, we might be branded as thieves. Even so, will you help me?”
I nodded without hesitation.
“It’ll be a good rehearsal before we go stealing from the Archduke’s estate.”
“I’ll help too! It’s a bit scary but… it’s for justice! Even if I have to become a phantom thief again, I’ll help Marie!”
“Thank you so much! But what do you mean by ‘again’? Have you been a phantom thief before, Lure?”
I was wondering the same thing. ‘I see. Lure, I didn’t think you were like that, but do you have a bit of a habit?’
“E-Eek! It’s not like that — !”
I was sorry, but there was no time to listen to Lure’s confession. Like Marie had once done, I thrust my fist toward the two of them and said, “Then, Team Phantom Thief Lure! Launch for the marriage certificate!”
“Launch!”
Marie’s fist met mine.
“W-Wait a minute! That’s not what I meant — “
“We don’t have time, Lure. Are you doing this or not?”
Lure let out a long sigh and nodded.
“O-Okay, fine. Launch!”
The desperate operation to seize the marriage certificate that followed was truly an epic adventure. If this grand saga were written down, it would easily fill one book.
However, in the end, it became a story that could never be told to anyone…
“W-Why…???”
The safe Marie had told us about. The office safe where the marriage certificate should have been kept was completely empty.
Someone.
Someone had gotten to the marriage certificate before us.