CHAPTER 85…………………………..
Different Faces of Ugliness
“What… what are you talking about?”
Emilia’s trembling voice asked, and Tirein gave her a gentle smile as if to calm her.
“No matter how much you dislike someone, you can’t just push them down the stairs. Don’t you agree?”
“I don’t quite understand what you mean… Are you talking about Miss Cordelia having some kind of accident on the stairs?”
Seeing how calmly Emilia responded, Tirein clicked his tongue inwardly. Well, of course, the first thing to do was deny everything.
“About two hours ago, Miss Cordelia Weitzen fell down the stairs.”
Suppressing the urge to sigh, Tirein spoke stiffly.
“At her request, I’ve been investigating the matter, and I’ve concluded that you, Miss Emilia Brodin, are the most likely culprit. I would like you to come quietly with me.”
As soon as she saw the royal insignia on the badge he showed her and heard the name Tirein Meira, Emilia’s face turned ashen.
How could anyone not know that name? The king’s loyal hound, the traitor to his own house, the man with unrelenting persistence who never let go once he set a target—tearing at throats with a smile.
If Tirein had overheard, he would have protested that he was merely his master’s dog and nothing more, but Emilia, grasping at straws, forced words out.
“Evidence… what evidence do you have?”
“There is a witness.”
At that brazen claim, Emilia’s pupils quivered slightly. Tirein pressed further.
“You shoved someone in such an open place—did you really believe there would be no witnesses at all?”
Of course, there weren’t any. If there had been, she’d already be in chains. But these things were all about psychology. If he let her push him back here, the whole matter would drag out.
“I wanted to give you one last chance, but if you insist on responding like this, then I have no choice.”
Besides, Cordelia herself seemed to suspect this girl midway and deliberately gave her warning glances. It must have been like sitting on needles.
When Tirein signaled to Marcel, who had been waiting behind him, the man stepped forward holding rope. Finally realizing the danger, Emilia backed away in terror and shouted like thunder.
“She… she’s not dead, is she?!”
“Ah, so you admit you pushed her down the stairs.”
Tirein’s voice, pointing out her slip, was icy cold. The sight of a beautiful woman turning pale and trembling evoked pity in any onlooker.
Noah might have felt a flicker of sympathy, but Tirein was unmoved. Whatever her outward shell, a criminal was still a criminal.
Marcel, who had been watching for the right moment, swiftly bound her. He felt a pang of pity, but seeing his commander angry was far more frightening.
“Why on earth did you do it?”
At his sharp tongue-click, Emilia blurted her feelings out with difficulty.
“Because that woman…!”
Looked at me like that.
‘Um, Miss Emilia. Are you going to stay there?’
Emilia’s lashes trembled as she recalled the moment. The humiliation from that woman’s words still pulsed through her veins.
Born into an old family, she had been taught that a woman’s virtue was obedience and modesty. She joined the reading circle to build connections and perhaps find a suitable match.
She was often the only woman there, but fitting in with people was never difficult. Sometimes she didn’t understand certain remarks, but she assumed it was her own shortcoming.
But that woman dared to pity her. That downward gaze, as though offering help, stirred an indescribable feeling. Even worse—the woman was in a position to pity her.
The willful youngest daughter of the Duke of Weitzen. From the moment she appeared in society with her natural beauty, she became the object of countless men’s admiration, discarding suitors with no hint of regret.
Surely she had breezed through life, never once experiencing emotions like Emilia’s.
‘Yes, take care on your way home.’
And all Emilia could do was mutter that.
Even after she left, Emilia had sat in a daze, trying to settle her churning stomach. Then she saw the woman standing alone, gazing off somewhere in the distance.
Her single braid swayed in the wind, her face fixed on the empty air—so frail and sorrowful. That fragile beauty sparked a strange fury within Emilia.
Why had no one else been there? If someone had…
“Well, if you don’t want to talk now, you can tell me later. But that won’t change the fact you tried to kill someone.”
Her spiraling thoughts shattered at Tirein’s words. Leaving the bound woman standing there dazed, Tirein scratched his head.
“Phew. At least we’ve settled part of it…”
He stopped when he sensed someone approaching from behind. Turning, he grinned.
“Oh, my lady. Where have you been?”
“Shall I repeat your last words to Lady May?”
Julia—currently disguised as Calypso Modren—spoke stiffly, her shyness gone. Tirein clasped his hands as though begging.
“Spare me. Hannah is terrifying when she’s angry.”
“But Captain, Miss Cordelia is missing from the ballroom.”
“What? Where has that girl wandered off to now? She should be getting treatment, not running around.”
Grumbling about wasting his time, Tirein felt something stir in his pocket. He pulled out his mirror and checked the reflection.
“What is it?”
Lineth’s tiny face appeared clearly. She skipped pleasantries and went straight to the point.
—“I think we’ve identified a strong suspect.”
“What did you say?”
—“According to the victim’s younger sibling, she was seen meeting a certain man. I had an artist sketch his face quickly. Here it is.”
A sheet of paper fluttered before the mirror. As Tirein studied it, his expression hardened.
“Captain?”
“This is bad.”
He turned to Julia, voice lower and more urgent than ever.
“Notify the master of the house. Seal the mansion immediately. I’ll head to where the carriages are parked—the suspect may try to flee. Marcel! Hand the girl over to the soldiers and meet me there.”
“A suspect? You mean he’s here, in the mansion? Who is it?”
Tirein’s voice came out like a growl between his teeth.
“Jacques Horel!”
Brown hair, blue eyes. Not strikingly handsome, but his large, melancholy eyes drew attention.
Tirein let out a frustrated sigh, not noticing Emilia’s face grow even paler as she listened.
The mansion was soon sealed off as ordered, throwing the guests into chaos. Herded into the ballroom, they were questioned one by one.
At the main entrance, Tirein and his men exchanged reports.
“The man has likely already left. The guards said a carriage departed about ten minutes ago.”
“Nothing we can do. What about the soldiers?”
“They’ve been dispatched to his residence. With a full search, at least we’ll catch his trail.”
“Good… there must be accomplices. Tell them to investigate any connections. We should probably head there ourselves.”
“Excuse me.”
The men turned at the same time. Recognizing Jasmine, who looked at them nervously, Tirein addressed her politely.
“What is it, miss?”
“I’m sorry to trouble you, but someone I know is missing.”
“Someone you know?”
“Miss Cordelia—I can’t find her.”
“That can’t be. The carriage is still outsi—”
Tirein stopped short, then groaned.
“Oh, no.”
It couldn’t be.
“Damn it—ah, damn! What kind of idiot am I?!”
“C-Captain?”
Marcel and Julia gawked at Tirein as he suddenly shouted and cursed. He snapped his head toward Marcel.
“Marcel. Cordelia Weitzen—she’s a beauty, right?”
“…What?”
“Yes or no. Pick one.”
Though baffled, Marcel recalled the girl he’d saved earlier—the shimmering golden hair, the sculpted features. Scratching his temple, he muttered,
“Well, I doubt anyone in the kingdom would say otherwise… Wait. Hold on.”
Both Marcel and Julia grew grave, unable to voice the conclusion that dawned on them.
“You mustn’t come in here!”
“Just for a moment. I need to confirm something.”
One disaster after another.
At the mansion’s entrance, a familiar voice rang out, and Tirein’s face twisted far worse than before.
“Let him through!”
At his roar, the soldiers flinched and quickly stepped aside. A large man strode toward them.
While his subordinates looked confused, Tirein couldn’t even meet the man’s eyes. Wiping sweat from his brow, Noah looked utterly bewildered.
“What’s going on here?”
