Chapter 59
“You mean he lied about having a younger sister in the South?”
I was shocked as soon as I returned from a walk with the dogs and heard the news.
According to Calix’s plan, I had taken Luca, Tofu, and Black out so the two of them could talk comfortably.
I was completely exhausted, but I was far too curious about what conversation had taken place. Almost as if he had read my mind, the Duke of Calix approached me the moment I entered the room and explained everything.
I accepted the glass of water he handed me as I listened, though I was too stunned to even take a sip.
“Why would he lie about something like that? What’s the reason?”
“There’s no way for us to know.”
“Does he have personal circumstances, or some hidden scheme? Then where on earth is his sister?”
“She definitely isn’t far. At the very least, I’m certain she’s closer than the South.”
Hmm, if that’s the case…
“Could she be somewhere along his travel route?”
“But aside from the garrisons, the Doctor’s entire route led south. I don’t think that’s it.”
“Or maybe she’s hiding in one of the alleys we trailed him through? But if that’s the case, why would he shake us off in the first place?”
“If he thought someone was following him, anyone would feel threatened and run. Anyway, no matter how we think about it, it’s strange.”
The more we discussed it, the less sense it made. And I couldn’t exactly confront him outright.
“What about Michelle? Has she finished investigating that alley? It feels like it’s been ages.”
“A report should come in soon. Just wait a little longer.”
“This is so frustrating. At this rate, I’ll grow old and die before we catch the culprit.”
At that, the Duke chuckled.
“Don’t worry. We’ll have a lead soon enough.”
“You don’t think he’ll try to target me again, do you?”
“That I can’t say. The best thing is to catch him before that happens…”
On this matter, neither of us could give an answer, nor feel any certainty. Just as he said, the only option was to catch the culprit first.
The next afternoon, I left the ducal estate to meet Inspector Jerry.
This time we had agreed to meet directly at a café, not outside beforehand, so I arrived early and waited at the same café where we had last met.
I sat quietly, watching the café, until Jerry came in not long after.
Looking around, he spotted me, then smiled and walked over. Thanks to that, the awkward air that had lingered at our last parting didn’t return.
“Did you wait long?”
“No, I just got here myself. Please, sit.”
At my words, Jerry sat across from me. After we ordered some coffee, silence settled between us until it arrived.
Why was he hesitating so much before speaking?
I had nothing to say, so I simply waited for him to open his mouth.
It was only after the coffee came and he had taken a few sips that Jerry finally spoke, slowly. He seemed a little nervous—enough that it made me tense as well.
“You remember I said I had something to tell you today?”
“Yes. You wrote that in your letter.”
“Then I won’t beat around the bush.”
“…”
“To be honest… I like you, Miss Elena. As a man.”
“…”
Ah. I really hadn’t seen that coming.
I remembered the Duke’s words—the “what if.” How had he guessed such a thing?
Jerry continued.
“That’s why I’m even more worried about you. I still want you to leave the ducal estate.”
“Oh, that…”
“You can reject me, that’s fine. But I hope you’ll at least follow my advice and stop working at the estate.”
His expression was so firm, I hadn’t known a person could look so determined while confessing their feelings.
“If it’s a matter of residence, you could stay at my house until you find somewhere else. I can live at the garrison in the meantime.”
His “confession” blurred quickly into a string of persistent suggestions.
Was this really even a confession?
“No matter how I look at it, the estate is too dangerous. Anywhere else would be better—just get out of there.”
“Inspector.”
“…”
If I didn’t cut him off, he would keep pushing. So I softly called him to break in.
“I’m grateful for your concern. And for seeing me in that light.”
“Then…”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept your feelings. And I can’t accept your suggestion either.”
“Not even if it’s a plea, not just a suggestion?”
“No. In fact, this is where I’d like to ask you a favor.”
At that, Jerry’s face filled with confusion.
“It may be hard for you to believe right now, but the Duke is absolutely not the culprit. Whatever else you think, I need you to trust me on this. Time will prove it.”
“…”
His face visibly darkened. It was as though the light had drained from his eyes.
After staring down at the table for a long while, Jerry finally lifted his head again, composure regained.
“Then I suppose… this is the end for us. Thank you, for everything until now. Miss Elena, I truly hope you live well. That is my honest wish.”
“You too, Inspector. Please take care.”
“I’ll take my leave first.”
He rose and quickly left the café.
And just like that, everything with Inspector Jerry was over. Even as a person to person.
To think he’d liked me… I was still stunned. It felt like hearing something utterly out of the blue.
I had expected him to urge me to leave the estate, but I hadn’t expected an actual confession.
But in a way, it felt freeing now that it was truly over with Jerry. I wouldn’t have to meet him again, and I now knew exactly how he viewed the Duke.
Soon enough, Jerry would publish his accusations in the newspaper, naming the Duke as the suspect. But the Duke was already prepared for that, so I had nothing to worry about.
With that thought, I quickly rose from my seat. The only thing in my mind was the need to return to the estate.
Calix had been waiting for Elena in the garden the whole time. When she finally returned, the two walked side by side back into the main residence.
“I’ll go rest a bit in my room.”
“Of course, get some rest.”
Tired, Elena went straight into the secret room.
Meanwhile, Calix spent the entire walk listening to her recount what had happened with Jerry.
‘So, it really was a confession from Inspector Jerry.’
He mulled over her words.
「Other than that, you didn’t talk about anything else?”」
「There was… something else, but I don’t want to say it.”」
Clearly, that part had been private.
Which left only one conclusion: Jerry had confessed to her, and been rejected.
Judging from Elena’s insistence that things were now completely over, Calix felt confident she had refused him properly.
‘She can be surprisingly firm when it counts. I like that even more.’
He had thought she was oblivious, but when it came to drawing lines, she did it well.
It made him both satisfied and impatient.
Still, it was a relief that she would no longer be meeting with Jerry. That alone was enough to please him.
‘She’s becoming more and more precious to me. It’s a problem.’
At this point, Calix couldn’t even imagine life without Elena.
“Luca, Tofu, Black… what do I do?”
“Woof?”
“Whine?”
“…”
The three dogs tilted their heads at him. Calix hugged all three at once, overwhelmed with happiness.
He hadn’t even confessed yet, but he already felt like he had won something. And that made him even more intoxicated.
‘Until we catch the culprit, I’ll keep courting her. I can’t risk being rejected too.’
With Elena, who was clueless in such matters, it was more than possible. He could already picture her wide-eyed, asking, “Wasn’t this all just because of catching the culprit?”
From now on, he would have to go straight ahead with no hesitation.
