~Chapter 12~
“Um… Riche?”
Gizela hesitantly spoke to Edith, who was tidying up the cleaning tools after finishing her work. Edith straightened her back as if she had been waiting for this moment. After circling around her all this time, Gizela finally seemed ready to speak.
“Yes, Gizela. What is it?”
“Well… um.”
Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.
What could she be so hesitant about?
Growing slightly impatient, Edith prompted her quietly.
“You have something to tell me, don’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“It’s okay, so just say it.”
“Could you… maybe spare some time after work? Just for a bit?”
“Ah…”
Caught off guard by the unexpected request, Edith showed a fleeting look of awkwardness. Though she had finished her chores, her main workday was only beginning. She needed to share with Perrel, Shasha, and Karon what she had learned about the city hall today, and also get updates on the current situation.
While Edith worked at the city hall, they were all carrying out their own tasks. Perrel was preparing bombs for an upcoming operation, Karon was scouting a suitable target among the lower-tier staff of Stifts who resembled someone to disguise on the day of the operation, and Shasha was gathering information about Loris and his group, imprisoned in the detention center. After their busy days, they would all meet in the evening for a briefing.
“What should I do, Gizela? I’m really tired today…”
Edith wanted to refuse Gizela’s earnest request. If not for Karon’s words this morning.
“My wife and I have a prior engagement today, so we might be late for the meeting.”
Hearing that he would return as soon as possible, Edith had already decided to skip today’s meeting. She didn’t want to disturb the couple enjoying a rare ordinary day, and she herself wanted a little rest. If she accepted Gizela’s request, that rare rest would be lost.
“Just a little, really just a moment. I really have something to tell you.”
“….”
“Okay?”
After a brief hesitation, Edith lightly nodded with a faint smile.
“Alright.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Edith smiled gently at Gizela, who immediately brightened.
Even though their relationship was built on lies, with even her real name unknown to Edith, Gizela was a decent person. And Edith didn’t mind her much. That was why she didn’t want to refuse Gizela’s first-ever request.
“I’ll stop by home briefly before coming. After today’s outside work, I’m covered in dirt. Where should we meet?”
“Uh… um… ah! In front of the clock tower.”
Edith sighed lightly at Gizela, who fumbled her words. It seemed the matter was heavier than expected. Perhaps…
“She wants to borrow money or something.”
If it wasn’t a large amount, Edith thought she could lend it. She picked up the cleaning tools again.
“Alright. Then we’ll meet in front of the clock tower in an hour.”
“…Thank you. Really.”
Relief washed over Gizela’s brown eyes.
“…Two hours.”
Standing at the end of a secluded alley facing a wall, Gizela spoke in a trembling voice.
“I’ll try to buy as much time as possible, but that’s the best I can do. As I’ve said repeatedly, I’m not that close to Riche…”
The man who must have been watching her from behind said nothing. Still, Gizela couldn’t complain. Clink, clink. She knew the sound of metal she heard was him securing his firearm, not a response.
‘What exactly is his plan?’
The man had issued this strange order yesterday. After Riche’s “peculiar temperament” had been discussed previously, he had suddenly appeared and ordered Gizela to keep Riche detained after work. She had no confidence in accomplishing such an order for the taciturn woman, but she reluctantly accepted. The reason was the condition he added at the end.
“This really is the last time, right?”
“….”
“Hey? You promised. If I handle today’s task, you wouldn’t trouble me anymore…”
“Yes.”
Finally receiving a definite answer, Gizela exhaled softly. The wave of relief washed away some of her lingering curiosity about the man. Of course, she still felt guilt toward Riche.
Keeping a heavy silence while the man completed his preparations, Gizela finally spoke when she heard his footsteps approaching.
“…What will you do with Riche?”
Again, no answer came. Rarely, Gizela voiced a hint of resentment. She wasn’t particularly close to Riche—not even friends. Yet, if something bad were to happen to her because of Gizela, she feared she couldn’t bear the guilt. That’s why she resented the man who involved her in this task.
“If you make me do this, at least tell me this much.”
“….”
“You’re not planning to… kill her, are you?”
At those words, Zekart completely stopped in his tracks. His lips, pressed tightly together, twisted in self-mockery.
“Well?”
Though he answered ambiguously, his attitude made the truth clear. Since he planned to infiltrate Shasha’s mansion to search for the Enigma, he wouldn’t go through all this trouble if he intended to kill the woman.
‘Why?’
Questions swirled in his mind again.
Perhaps he was captivated by her beauty? He had briefly thought so, but the timing didn’t fit. He had been irritated by her since their first meeting, when he hadn’t even properly seen her face.
‘Then maybe he’s just sympathetic.’
That didn’t seem convincing either. He knew nothing substantial that would make him empathize with her. All he knew was that she had a young son, her husband had died, and she hadn’t been able to forget him. In a post-war world, there were many others with such tragic stories.
Shaking off these thoughts, Zekart added casually to the still trembling Gizela facing the wall.
“What if we run into each other?”
It sounded like a warning. Whatever the reason, if she interfered this time, she would have to die. He had already given more than enough unexplained leniency.
“So, keep the promised two hours.”
“….”
“Don’t cross my path.”
Zekart turned away from Gizela.
Meanwhile, back at Shasha’s house, Edith returned after work, moving her slightly heavy, tired body briskly. She had taken a quick shower, changed clothes, and cooked a small tomato stew—her specialty—for Perrel, who would be eating alone tonight.
Even after all that, Perrel hadn’t returned yet. Normally, he would have come home around the same time as her.
‘Hmm. He’s a bit late today.’
Edith noticed a note on the living room table just as she began to worry.
[To Edith: I’ll be late today. I received news from the illicit dealer I mentioned before. I forgot to inform you earlier. Karon and Shasha will likely be late too, so please lock the doors. – Perrel]
“Idiot.”
Edith clicked her tongue at the note. He must have been too preoccupied with the tight schedule. She only noticed it now, though it had been in plain sight.
Returning to the kitchen, Edith poured the tomato stew back into the pot. She added a few words to Perrel’s note and placed it back. She, too, would be going out. Though she would likely return home before Perrel, better safe than sorry.
Before leaving, Edith wrapped herself in a thick cape shawl and checked the house thoroughly. She turned off the fireplace, securely locked all the windows, and moved the bookshelf covering the basement entrance. It was rare for everyone to leave the mansion simultaneously. Even if just for a few hours, it was better to be careful—especially when there was much to hide.
The day was slowly drawing to a close.
