The speed of the carriage entering the city slowed down.
Even though it wasn’t a busy time, carriages lined up on the road. Pedestrians were more numerous than usual, looking around and murmuring.
Judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like good news.
Those who came from that direction either hurriedly entered buildings with pale faces or clasped their hands together to pray.
“I wonder what’s going on.”
I remarked as I observed the coffee shop owner hastily lowering the tent. She kicked out all the customers inside and changed the sign from ‘open’ to ‘closed.’
She didn’t seem to care about the disgruntled customers, nor did she offer any apologies. She just closed the shop as it was.
Looking at Johannes with a worried expression, he seemed to be in an awkward situation.
However, as soon as I opened my mouth, I composed my emotions.
“It seems like something bad is happening.”
“We should check it out first. Would you like to wait in the carriage for a while?”
Johannes asked me with a solemn expression.
“Well, it seems like it will take quite some time, and I think it might be better to get some fresh air.”
“I don’t think you’re in a condition to go outside right now.”
Johannes gestured to my head.
“Ah.”
I quickly took out a hat with a wide brim from under my bag. It was a hat with a broad brim to hide the bandages wrapped tightly around my head. And just to be safe, I tied the strings tightly so it wouldn’t fly away in the wind.
“Now it should be okay, right?”
Then, I opened the carriage window and looked outside. No one seemed to care about me.
Of course, it wasn’t the carriage of Duke Schultz or the navy.
Seeing that Johannes chose to go in the same direction as me, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.
We finally arrived at a place crowded with people.
I was taken aback by the sight before me.
People gathered in front of an old stone building, some naval officers trying to maintain order, and voices clamoring from various places.
“Has someone died again?”
Unfortunately, it was the second murder case in Muesen.
* * *
“Colonel, I apologize for interrupting your vacation, but it seems like you need to go down there.”
Some naval officers who recognized Johannes requested awkwardly, and we entered the basement of the building.
In fact, I was stopped at the door with words like, “Lady, wouldn’t it be uncomfortable for you to see this?” However, since Johannes judged that he couldn’t leave me outside alone, we entered together.
So here we were, looking at the crime scene that had nothing to do with us.
The crime scene was a mess. Five officers were randomly moving the body covered with a sheet.
When I turned around to look at Johannes with a shocked expression, he seemed to be looking somewhere with a sneer.
However, when I followed his gaze, at that moment…
“Cousin? And the duchess.”
A familiar voice reached my ears. I frowned and turned my head sharply.
“Long time no see.”
Edward Windsor’s indigo eyes were partially obscured by a crescent. He was wearing a dark blue police uniform and held a teacup with a whirlpool pattern with gloved hands.
“To meet the duchess in a place like this.”
Edward greeted me first.
“Infinite honor.”
Thanks to him, I had to greet him back, although I didn’t feel like it. He responded with a deflated laugh.
“Although you said you don’t like pretense, it seems like you’re adapting well to this world. Thanks to the Duchess’s concerns, I’m also doing very well—”
“What brings you to Muesen? And to the crime scene, no less.”
Johannes interrupted Edward’s words.
Prince Windsor had a cheerful face for someone ignored. He raised his teacup toward the corpse, smirking.
“Do I look like I know?”
Then he made a slight nod toward his badge.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been transferred from the police chief of Baden to the police chief of Muesen. By the king’s order.”
“You?”
“That’s right. Due to the aftermath of the last murder case, there was considerable backlash in Muesen.”
Edward sighed in a mocking manner. And then, with a rather unpleasant expression, he continued.
“Understandably, there’s quite a public sentiment that the police in Muesen can’t be trusted. The king ordered me to clear out the incompetent ones.”
“So why did you have to come?”
“Well, it was a good decision on my part. The navy’s influence has grown even more in Muesen. It was impossible to just stand by when they were meddling in cases outside their jurisdiction.”
Frustration was evident in his turquoise eyes.
“Still, you’re the top naval officer in Muesen. Shouldn’t the police handle police matters?”
Edward shook his head sadly.
“Yes, but the public sentiment in Muesen is strong against trusting the police. So I came by the king’s strict order.”
His royal blue eyes were filled with resentment.
“But you’re the most powerful in the navy in Muesen. Shouldn’t the police handle their own matters?”
Edward tilted his head sadly.
“Yes, I did the right thing by coming. The navy’s influence in Muesen has increased even more. They’re meddling in cases outside their jurisdiction, and I couldn’t just let it slide.”
There was a hint of irritation in his azure eyes.
“But still, you’re the top naval officer in Muesen. Shouldn’t the police handle their own matters?”
Edward sighed in a mocking manner and then continued with a very annoying expression.
“Anyway, lady, why were you just watching while they moved the body around freely?”
Both of their gazes turned towards me.
“What are you talking about?”
Edward asked.
I disregarded him and gestured towards the officers. The officers, who were awkwardly moving the body, looked in my direction.
“Why is a woman here at the crime scene? Get her out of here right away!”
Then they looked around.
My attire was extremely ordinary, bordering on unbelievably ordinary. If they couldn’t even notice that I was having a conversation with the police chief, then…
“Because you’re so oblivious, how can you work as a police officer?”
Edward gave them a reproachful look. Still unable to notice, he introduced me as the Duchess, sounding very pathetic.
“So, Duchess.”
Caught in the attention of everyone, Edward called me again.
“I’m really curious about what you were about to say earlier.”
I glanced at Johannes. It was to get his silent permission before speaking.
Johannes just raised an eyebrow and said nothing.
The common emotion displayed on everyone’s face except Johannes was bewilderment.
He just raised an eyebrow without saying anything.
The officers looked at me with disgruntled expressions, unsure why I was getting involved in this case.
Even though I don’t know why I’m getting involved.
However, the thought persisted that this wasn’t it. It was when I was about to continue speaking.
The officer with the rough face opened his mouth.
“Ma’am, ma’am, you might not know because you’re a woman—”
That was the moment.
“Ahahaha!”
Edward burst into loud laughter. The officer’s face, which had been consistently stern, became dumbfounded.
As he blinked, Edward wiped away tears forming in the corners of his eyes and said, “The Duchess is making a valid point.”
“What is this about…”
“Isn’t that right? You guys, who vandalized the crime scene without knowing anything, are nothing but lowlifes even compared to women.”
Edward’s eyes sank with coldness.
At the same time, the officers’ cheeks turned slightly red. Judging by their glances, it seemed like they were embarrassed by being insulted in front of a woman.
Edward, who knew their true feelings, smirked.
“Officers, are you curious why I was appointed as the police chief in Muesen? It’s to overthrow guys like you, who only care about their paychecks.”
“At most, you’ve read a few books. The field doesn’t operate based on theory alone. It’s completely different, Director.”
“Is that so?”
Edward said in an exaggerated tone. Then, as if to confirm with me, he turned his gaze back.
“That’s right.”
…
“All the officers here, except our Duchess, who has surpassed you all, what do you think about this case?”
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
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