Episode 39

Shocking Incident: Bizarre Murder!

At around 5 a.m. yesterday, an unidentified corpse was discovered in an alley on Saint Anne Street. Surprisingly, the body, which had not yet fully undergone rigor mortis, appeared desiccated like a mummy, as if all its moisture had evaporated. Bite marks were reportedly found on the back of the neck.

This discovery has sparked renewed debate over the existence of the so-called “Vampire Duke.” However, prominent physician Dr. Karl dismissed the idea as nonsense, firmly asserting that the murderer had intentionally mutilated the body to mislead the investigation. …(article continues)…

“See? Nothing but bad news in the papers.”

Matthew folded the newspaper and tossed it onto the table, glancing at the figure across from him. Kyle had been slumped on the sofa for nearly half an hour, sighing incessantly like he was auditioning to be part of the office furniture. He’d arrived with a face like a storm cloud, and now, his silence made it clear something was weighing heavily on his mind.

“Hey… Kyle. I may look like I’m just lounging around, but I am technically working here.”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to waste your time.”

“Relax. I’m kidding. But wouldn’t it be better to just spit it out and get it over with? You’ll feel lighter.”

Matthew’s advice came from knowing Kyle all too well. A natural-born worrier, Kyle had a tendency to dig himself deeper and deeper into his thoughts, like a mole burrowing endlessly. If no one stopped him, he’d spiral until his self-esteem hit rock bottom.

“I’ll tell you,” Kyle said, exhaling deeply before gulping down his now-cold tea.

“I’m planning to propose.”

“To that noblewoman…?”

Kyle lowered his head, fidgeting with his hands, a clear sign of his lack of confidence. Matthew had told him countless times that confidence was half the battle, but this seemed to be a habit Kyle couldn’t shake.

Changing his personality was no small task, but it always pained Matthew to see Kyle like this. Even setting aside their friendship, Kyle objectively had no reason to feel unworthy. He was a good man—someone any woman would be proud to stand beside. So what if he was an orphan? Nobody’s perfect, and the goal was to find someone who could embrace those imperfections.

Of course, feeling inferior was natural when the other person was a noble. But Kyle’s defeated demeanor was so pitiful that it made Matthew irrationally resentful of this faceless noblewoman. He even entertained the thought of introducing Kyle to someone more suitable.

“So, what’s the problem?”

“If I become a deacon… I know it’s rash. She hasn’t even accepted my proposal yet, but if—hypothetically speaking—she does…”

“Okay, okay. Let’s say she does.”

“Wouldn’t she be unhappy as a clergyman’s wife? Rosanna’s lived such a free-spirited life. If being with me means taking that away from her… then it wouldn’t be right.”

Matthew’s brown eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“Wait, were you seriously reconsidering your career path because of a woman? Who even are you? This doesn’t sound like you at all.”

“It’s not like that! I’ve been thinking about this for a while. It’s not because of Rosanna… not entirely.”

“I know. The Kyle Mason I know wouldn’t do that,” Matthew said, nodding, but then froze mid-motion. Rosanna? The name clicked. It had been a hot topic in the social circles this year—that Rosanna Enache.

It could just be a coincidence, but then he remembered the lawyer who had been asking around about Kyle. The lawyer was connected to Viscountess Dacia, who happened to be Rosanna’s sibling. Add to that the fact that Kyle’s intended was a noblewoman, and the puzzle pieces fit together.

“Wait… is Rosanna the Rosanna Enache?”

“…Yes.”

Matthew’s jaw dropped. “No way! How—what did you even do to make that happen?!”

Kyle’s earlier demeanor suddenly made sense. Falling for a noblewoman, a celebrated beauty from a foreign land, was bound to come with insurmountable obstacles.

“Putting everything else aside, is she planning to live here permanently? She might want to return to her homeland.”

“I hadn’t thought of that… She mentioned going back once her brother and his wife are settled.”

Kyle’s mood visibly deflated, and he murmured, “What do I do…?” It was clear that he’d poured all his energy into planning the proposal without considering the larger implications.

“So, what’s your plan after proposing?”

“That’s what I’m struggling with. If being with me would make Rosanna unhappy, I thought I might give up the clergy… but I don’t have any skills. If I leave the seminary, I’ll have to worry about basic survival. How could I possibly take care of her?”

The idea sounded like a romantic tragedy: a beautiful noblewoman and an unemployed commoner. To an outsider, it might look like Kyle was chasing after her wealth, making their relationship seem improbable.

Matthew hesitated to offer advice. If Kyle gave up his calling, he’d lose his social standing. But if he stayed, a wealthy noblewoman like Rosanna was unlikely to accept a life as a clergyman’s wife. The situation seemed riddled with contradictions, and Matthew couldn’t think of a perfect solution to help his friend.

“It’s not a silly dilemma,” he said eventually.

“It’s not?”

“No, it’s a tough one,” Matthew replied in a deliberately lighthearted tone. “Life isn’t a single path. It might feel like your world will collapse if you abandon your current road, but I hope that thought gives you some comfort.”

“Thanks.”

“Not that I’m telling you to quit! I’m just saying that whatever you decide, it’ll be okay.”

The two friends shared a smile, and Kyle’s expression finally relaxed.

“Still, even if you leave the clergy, I feel like you’d live a life of service. You’d probably worship your wife if you got married. That’s fitting for a marriage between ranks, don’t you think? Oh, wait. If you became a live-in son-in-law, all your problems would be solved. No need to work, and you’d live comfortably.”

Matthew chuckled at his own teasing.

“Anyway, make sure to have a serious conversation with her about the future.”

“…I will. Thanks for listening. I should head out now.”

Kyle stood, expressing his gratitude again before leaving the office. Matthew watched him go, his face lighter than when he’d arrived.

“Rosanna Enache,” Matthew muttered to himself. The idea of Kyle marrying her felt like witnessing a preview of the scandal of the century.

Meanwhile, Rosanna was basking in the sun on a terrace, reading a letter from the orphanage. The uneven handwriting and clumsy grammar made it clear the letters were written by children.

During her visit to the orphanage with Kyle, she’d given a nun her townhouse address before leaving, saying she’d welcome letters from the children. The kids had been thrilled by her interest, and since her visit, they had sent her occasional letters. Most of them recounted trivial daily events, so she skimmed through them casually.

“This is the last one.”

As Rosanna read the final letter, her expression brightened. For once, it contained some useful information: Kyle apparently visited the orphanage every year on the head nun’s birthday, and that day was coming up soon. The child who wrote the letter even kindly included the date, mentioning their worry about whether their handmade gift would be finished in time.

“So, it’s this day?”

It was the perfect opportunity to plan a meeting. Although she had promised herself to limit their encounters this year, that promise no longer seemed to hold weight. Based on Kyle’s behavior during the charity bazaar, he wasn’t likely to protest if she showed up unannounced.

Tracing her finger over the written date, Rosanna reached for the call bell and rang it. She intended to have the butler begin preparations for that day. It was time to make her move.

* * *

Kyle stepped out of the dormitory in casual clothes for the first time in a while. He had carefully chosen the neatest outfit from his limited wardrobe, carrying a gift in hand. All that remained was to stop by the market district to buy a bouquet.

That perfect plan, however, was derailed the moment he stepped out of the main gate.

“You are…”

A man in a flat cap blocked his path. The stranger gave a silent nod before opening the door of a nearby carriage.

“Did she leave any instructions? Somewhere specific I should take you?”

The taciturn man made no reply, only gesturing for Kyle to get inside. Kyle felt uneasy. The driver was undoubtedly sent by Rosanna, but had they arranged a meeting? He was sure he hadn’t forgotten any plans.

More puzzling was how the driver had known he’d be heading out this morning. It seemed unlikely that Rosanna would have stationed a driver here on a mere whim. She must have known in advance.

‘Did she figure out I’d be going to the orphanage for the head nun’s birthday?’

It was a reasonable guess. If so, perhaps Rosanna had sent the carriage to take him to the orphanage.

“Could we stop by the market district first?” Kyle asked hesitantly.

The driver nodded curtly, so Kyle climbed aboard without further suspicion. The thought of possibly seeing Rosanna at the orphanage filled him with anticipation.

The carriage set off promptly, rolling smoothly through the streets. Kyle only began to sense something was off when he noticed they were passing through the affluent district. While there were surely florists here, the prices would be exorbitant compared to what he had budgeted for in the city’s market district. Thinking the driver might have taken a wrong turn, Kyle reached up to knock on the carriage ceiling.

Before he could, the carriage came to a stop. Stepping out, he found himself in front of a high-end tailor shop. Kyle stood there, bewildered by the unexpected destination.

A shop attendant stepped out to greet him.

“Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”

The attendant ushered Kyle inside, leaving him more confused than ever. He followed, passing by displays of tailored suits, hats, and ties arranged meticulously in the showroom. They eventually arrived at a spacious fitting room that resembled a sitting area, complete with a plush sofa facing a semi-circular curtain.

As they entered, the figure of someone seated on the sofa came into view. The person turned their head, revealing a familiar face.

“You’re here.”

“…Rosanna.”

“Come, sit next to me.” She patted the space beside her, a confident smile on her lips.

 

 

 

 

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