‘It feels like packing some seafood.’
I thought as I tied up the robber tightly.
The first guy was limp, making it easy, but the second guy was flailing like a live fish, which was quite annoying.
“Hold still.”
Even when I hit him, he didn’t stop.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t scared, but rather he was so terrified he seemed out of his mind.
“You, you guys! Do you think you’ll get away with this?!”
“When will that medley end? I’m sick of it.”
‘I wonder what he’ll say next.’
First he brought up the comrade next to him, then the one in the other carriage…
“Do you think our godfather will forgive you?”
‘As expected.’
This time it was time to bring up the clan.
“You’ll all be caught and finished by the godfather’s hand!”
“Thanks for worrying. But Duke, shouldn’t you worry about yourself first?”
Posha said with a pitying expression.
“I have no intention of being forgiven by Herbert, but even if you wanted to be forgiven, you wouldn’t be.”
“…What? What do you mean?”
“Still don’t get it? Because of you guys, Herbert Clan’s position has become so difficult.”
Posha said cheerfully.
“You ran off with His Highness the Grand Duke’s precious item. You, a member of Herbert Clan.”
“What nonsense! It was you who stole the item!”
“You? Who are ‘you’?”
Posha’s finger pointed at me.
“The thief that the Herbert Clan’s enforcer persuaded as essential talent and hired?”
Then her finger moved to the carriage wall.
“The coachman that Herbert Clan had waiting for this operation?”
Finally, she pointed at herself and giggled.
“Or perhaps, the traitor of Herbert Clan?”
From the Grand Duke’s perspective, they were all one lump.
The thief who ran off with the item, the Herbert clansmen who rode in the same carriage, and the coachman who drove it.
Weren’t they all people moved by Herbert Clan?
“His Highness can only think that some of Herbert Clan had second thoughts and betrayed him. A gang boss who couldn’t handle his subordinates and put His Highness in a difficult spot. Would Grand Duke Katrin forgive someone like that?”
Posha burst into laughter once more.
“Herbert is in big trouble. And you share that responsibility. You know our leader isn’t that generous, right? Can you handle that anger?”
“……”
Finally realizing the situation, Duke stopped flailing.
His face turned blue.
“Now then.”
Posha bent down and whispered in his ear.
“Time to run for your life.”
The carriage stopped.
Opening the door, there was only a desolate plain full of sand.
‘Walter managed to find a place like this.’
I pushed the unconscious guy out of the carriage and tossed him.
I had tied the other guy with the same rope anyway.
The guy who was flailing like a live fish just moments ago now rolled on the ground like dried fish tied together.
Sand dust rose.
“Now then. Try to run hard? Whoever catches you, it won’t be easy to survive.”
“Ah, no!”
Suddenly, he had to crawl away across the plain tied together with someone out of his mind.
Duke rolled on the ground and let out a desperate scream, but Posha was firm.
-Rumble, clack!
The carriage door closed.
“…You know what?”
With a wide smile, Posha said.
“Jonathan really put a lot of thought into who to put in the carriage.”
“You mean…”
“It’s those two. They insisted on sending an assassin to kill me and Utu.”
“……”
I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
Soon, the carriage began to move again.
A dry sand wind blew across the desolate plain.
The sand took away all moisture, and not a single tear fell from Posha’s eyes.
*
A little later, Posha got off the carriage.
“Then I’ll go meet the Grand Duke.”
It was planned, but I wanted to stop Posha.
“Don’t you want to change your mind even now?”
“No.”
Posha answered firmly.
“Revealing that I am behind this will be the decisive blow to tighten the noose on Herbert Clan.”
Posha was a woman who had even contemplated suicide out of despair over her lover’s death.
There was no way she would give up revenge for her lover just because her life was in danger.
“Then at least promise me you’ll stick to the original plan. Tell the Grand Duke you were behind it, but never create a situation where you have to step forward.”
“Of course. Handing over a coded message written in my own way is more effective for revealing the name Balthazar than showing my face.”
Saying that, Posha jumped out of the carriage.
I sighed and hugged only the picture frame.
‘I hope nothing happens to her.’
After that, I couldn’t get off the carriage for a long time.
The carriage drove around the streets for a long time.
“Are we still far?”
When I shouted, Walter answered leisurely from outside the carriage.
“Bear with it a little longer. I need to make sure we shake off any possible pursuit.”
In the end, the carriage stopped in front of the hideout long after the sun had completely set.
“Phew…”
I almost vomited inside the carriage.
“You worked hard. Let’s go inside now.”
“No, wait a moment.”
I wrapped a black hood around the carriage convincingly.
To make the carriage look slightly different.
“Good idea.”
“A technique I learned from a gambling addict who once tried to steal a carriage.”
There’s no such thing as too much preparation.
I nodded proudly and went inside the hideout.
Of course, not forgetting to bring the most important loot.
“Now then.”
I could guess what Walter was about to say.
I grinned and cut him off.
“It’s finally time to check what the loot is.”
Since we’ve reached a safe place, I should check what I got.
“Then… I’ll remove the cloth.”
With a pounding heart, I began to remove the cloth.
The first thing I saw was the back panel of the frame.
A thick back that looked like wood plywood.
But on one corner of that back panel, I saw faded writing.
It was definitely a signature I had seen before.
[Christine]
‘Wait, this is…’
I urgently turned the frame around.
Beyond the thick glass, I saw a photo.
A photo of a man and woman pressing their faces together.
In the man’s hand were nine daffodils.
Even though I couldn’t see their faces, I could tell who they were.
‘That’s…’
“It’s a love photo. Of Christine and Wilhelm the Grand Duke’s son.”
Walter said in an interested voice.
“It seems the two exchanged photos they took together.”
Yes. There were two couple photos.
Each kept their own photo.
Christine kept the photo with Wilhelm’s signature, and Wilhelm kept the one with Christine’s signature.
In that moment of realization, the information I’d heard so far flashed through my mind.
‘When she gave me the request, Christine described the photo like this.’
“It’s a photo of them facing each other, faces pressed together, a photo that anyone can see is of lovers.”
But the photo I saw was not like that.
In the small business card-sized photo, the two were facing forward.
‘Christine’s memory was mixed up.’
That day, Christine definitely took a photo with the Grand Duke’s son, their faces together.
But that photo was the one the Grand Duke’s son took, not Christine.
Because Christine stored the photo disguised as a blank sheet, she inadvertently confused it.
That’s not all.
I remembered when the Princess and Miss Posha met.
“You’re wrong. That day, the Grand Duke’s son was holding nine daffodils.”
That day, the Princess spoke with certainty.
Now I understood why the Princess could say that so confidently.
‘Because this photo was in the Princess’s possession.’
The Princess had guessed the content of Christine’s photo based on this photo.
“Very interesting.”
Walter said.
“This photo was likely taken at least thirty minutes apart from the one Christine had.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Because the background of the photo looks like a small photo studio. Usually, a small studio like this wouldn’t have two cameras.”
‘…? What does that matter?’
As if sensing my confusion, Walter kindly explained.
“After taking one photo, you have to replace the silver plate inside the camera to take a second one. It takes at least ten minutes, and for a photo this large, it takes even longer. Considering the time to go back and forth to the darkroom, thirty minutes is a conservative estimate.”
“I see. I had no idea.”
Walter smiled kindly.
“That’s possible. It’s nothing to be ashamed of not being familiar with the latest technology.”
I felt wronged.
‘I lived in an era where taking two photos in a row took less than ten seconds. This era, where you have to wait thirty minutes just to exchange a couple photo, is backward!’
“Anyway, there must be something important hidden in this photo.”
“I know that too, but…”
It wasn’t much different from the first photo.
The second photo also seemed fine at first glance.
The poses of the figures and arrangement of furniture seemed a bit different from the first photo, but that was it.
It didn’t look like it contained evidence of Taylor John at all.
“I have no idea.”
I honestly admitted.
“If it were so easy to find, the Princess wouldn’t have been looking for the second photo.”
That’s right. One photo alone was only half.
Didn’t they say that only when the two photos are combined do they become complete evidence?
“If we compare the two photos side by side, something new might come to light.”
At Walter’s words, I unconsciously placed my hand on my chest.
The thick black clothes I wore to pretend to be a robber.
Underneath, I was wearing my usual clothes.
Of course, it was because of the photo hidden inside the lining of my clothes.
I could still feel that stiff texture.
‘…What should I do? Should I confess now?’
Should I suggest comparing since I have the photo?
But if I say it now, it might feel like a huge betrayal.
‘No, but to analyze the photo properly, I’d need Walter’s help…’
Just as I was lost in thought.
“Anyway, everything worked out well in the end.”
Walter turned to me and smiled.
“You tricked the Grand Duke and used Herbert Clan to rob the Princess’s safe.”
“When you put it that way, it feels like I’ve accomplished something great.”
“Of course it’s great. You even got the important evidence in the end, right? All that’s left is to analyze it.”
Saying that, Walter handed me a glass.
A golden liquid with bubbles rising.
“Won’t you join me for a toast?”
I opened my mouth in disbelief.
“When did you pour the drinks?”
“Of course, while you were staring at the photo, Hayes.”
Walter, speaking calmly, also held a glass like the one he gave me.
“Well, a few days ago you were lying in bed coughing…”
“That’s why I settled for beer. Just one glass.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to toast after Posha comes?”
“Posha doesn’t drink. Besides, if we wait until then, the mood will be gone.”
I was a bit reluctant, but I couldn’t exactly pour out the drink someone had poured for me.
‘Well, whatever. This is a safe place, and there are no enemies around.’
One glass of beer should be fine.
“Then, just one glass each.”
I clinked glasses with Walter and downed the beer.
It was quite different from modern beer.
The dregs didn’t seem properly filtered, and it tasted bitter.
Still, thanks to the cold weather, it was refreshing.
‘Well, it has its own charm.’
It was already dark, and the moon was rising outside the window.
I used the full moon reflected in the glass as an accompaniment and emptied the glass cleanly.
‘Come to think of it, what time is it?’
I glanced at my pocket watch; it was already past midnight.
‘The date has changed.’
It felt new and emotional.
‘How many days has it been since I started chasing Taylor John…?’
Day one: I rescued Walter from the eerie park in front of the Grand Duke’s mansion.
Day two: While fleeing from the Grand Duke’s subordinates, I learned that the Princess was also looking for the photo.
Day three: To find out the Princess’s goal, I sent a fake letter pretending to be Christine.
Day four: Posha, disguised as Christine, learned about another piece of evidence the Princess had hidden.
Day five: I went to the vault where the Princess had hidden the item and met the people of Herbert Clan.
Day six: Disguised as a robber, I obtained the item hidden in the vault.
‘So much happened in just a few days.’
Finally, the seventh day.
I was now in possession of the evidence I had been looking for.
It couldn’t be better.
I felt so good that my spirits were naturally lifted.
My mind felt floaty, and my body kept slumping, wanting to lean against something.
‘Am I drunk?’
I only had one glass of beer.
“You look very tired, Hayes.”
“Not really.”
“But you can’t keep your eyes open.”
No wonder it was dark around me.
I had my eyes closed.
I heard Walter’s voice laced with laughter.
“Then, Hayes. Close your eyes and listen comfortably.”
Walter had the softest voice of anyone I knew.
If he were born in modern times, he could have been an ASMR YouTuber.
If I listened to this drowsy voice a little more, I would fall asleep…
“It seems I’ll have to take this photo with me.”
“Where to? To move it into the room?”
“No.”
Click!
Through the soft voice, a familiar and harsh metallic sound was heard.
My eyes snapped open.
Walter was smiling, pointing a gun at me.
“Because I have another use for it.”
“…What?”
Taylor John chase, the seventh day.
Detective Walter Bell turned into a robber.