TCSMETMEB 09

Episode 9

I explained step by step.

“It seems too dangerous for me to investigate the murder case directly.”

“I, I’m definitely going to die. Because I know something I shouldn’t know…”

That’s what my sister said.

That she would die because she knew something she shouldn’t.

I couldn’t just stay still while the investigation was stalled. I had to do something.

But it was also true that the deeper I dug into this, the more dangerous it became.

If that led to Pippi being in danger, then my sister entrusting the child to me would have been for nothing.

It would be better if I had another identity.

A fake identity, not Mary Blinn known as Pippi’s mother.

That was the reason I had Martha sit down.

“I heard there’s an illegal trade in magic stones that can change one’s appearance in the back alleys. Is that right?”

The secret weapon I planned to use was a magic stone.

It’s illegal for non-humans to enter the Empire. But quite a few non-humans immigrate secretly.

In particular, it’s an open secret that demons sell magic stones in the back alleys and make a fortune.

“A disguise stone?”

“Yeah, that. I don’t care how much it costs, so get one for me.”

“Well, I can get it, but…”

Martha, reacting hesitantly, continued.

“I understand that doing that would allow you to protect the baby. But wouldn’t it be dangerous for you, Miss? If you disguise yourself, you won’t be able to have proper guards accompany you…”

Always so dramatic. I shook my head without hesitation.

“No, do I seem like the kind of person who would recklessly jump into something obviously dangerous? I have a plan, so for now, you just focus on getting it.”

“Hmm, still…”

Martha wavered.

Even though she knew I wasn’t that kind of person, she seemed unable to shake off her worry.

“Fine, if you oppose it, there’s nothing I can do.”

I placed both hands on my knees and spoke forlornly.

“I’ll just walk around the Investigation Bureau in this form, trailing a line of guards. Then the murderer might spot me and chop my head off…”

“……”

“When father ends up losing both daughters like that, Martha, you can take my place.”

“……”

“And don’t forget to hold Pippi’s hand and visit my grave once in a while.”

In the end, Martha conceded defeat.

Meanwhile, at the Naval Base.

“I have to die.”

Lancel muttered, cutting through the calm sound of waves.

Not knowing what he might do to Mary, Lancel had put physical distance between them for now, sitting in a chair and staring only at the ceiling.

And there was one other person in the captain’s quarters.

‘What on earth happened at the Count’s mansion to cause that?’

Melvin had stayed at the base, reading newspapers while waiting for Lancel to return.

It was the method he chose because he couldn’t contain his curiosity until Lancel got back. Could his friend really have an illegitimate child?

< Tyranny of the Empire’s Three Prestigious Families? Mary Blinn Was Just Toyed With… >

And after reading all those newspapers, Melvin looked at Lancel, deeply immersed in the story.

‘Wow, that guy is a real bastard.’

…No, that’s not it.

Melvin, who was about to throw a punch right then, hesitated.

Such articles were probably heavily influenced by other rumors.

There were sinister rumors that Lancel, despite his outward appearance, harbored a cold and frightening true nature.

‘Cold my ass. He’s just a simple guy who enjoys beating the Crown Prince in fencing matches and sharing high-class snacks, usually only for nobles, with his subordinates.’

Still, given his profession as a military officer, such rumors weren’t entirely bad, so he never bothered to correct them, but who knew it would come to this?

‘I want to comfort him, but I need to know something first.’

After Lancel returned to the base, Melvin asked him over a hundred times if it was really his child. But he never got an answer.

“Lancel.”

“……”

“Lancel.”

“Speak. Just don’t keep calling my name like a parrot.”

Lancel replied without taking his eyes off the ceiling.

At least some reason remained. Relieved, Melvin handed him the tea he had been brewing nearby.

“Here, drink this.”

“What is it?”

“It’s tea that helps ease emotions. My cousin who recently got divorced found it very helpful.”

“You drink it.”

“……”

I go through all the trouble of worrying, and this is the thanks I get.

Melvin looked at Lancel with cold eyes, then poured the emotional relief tea into his own mouth.

Of course, even that sight didn’t register with Lancel.

‘That child…’

It was highly probable that the child wasn’t his, just as Mary said. Vaguely calculating the dates in his head, Lancel sighed.

“…Ha.”

So, to summarize.

After having a huge fight with me, she made a mistake in her anger and ended up pregnant with some guy’s child, whose identity she doesn’t even know.

I shouldn’t have let Mary go like that that day. I should have said something more.

“You’re too much for me.”

Because you wouldn’t tell me anything.

“I’m the one struggling because of you.”

Because I always felt I was lacking for you.

…I shouldn’t have said things like that.

As soon as he boarded the ship, he wrote hundreds of letters to send to Mary. All of them were discarded, unfinished.

He needed to contact her, but he didn’t want to trivialize what happened right before he left the capital with just a letter. He was afraid it would only deepen misunderstandings.

It took over six months to finally make contact, but…

Lancel vaguely recalled the reply he got.

[ From Mary, who used to love you ]

He read that letter over and over. But the content didn’t change.

Even after letting Mary go like that, for her sake.

She kept lingering in his mind.

I really loved her so much.

Actually, maybe he had a certain premonition, which was why he could let her go. Things had clearly been off between them for a while.

So…

‘Who the hell is this one-night stand guy?’

His long train of thought eventually arrived right there.

Who is the child’s father, the one not taking responsibility now?

In truth, he didn’t even want to believe that the child was Mary’s. He couldn’t believe it.

But to deny it… she looked too much like Mary.

The little one was unmistakably Mary’s child. Light brown hair, golden eyes. Even the slightly upturned eyes.

Yes, the conclusion was, after all.

“I need to find and kill that bastard…”

Lancel muttered fiercely and straightened his head, which he had been leaning back.

Right at that moment.

Bang.

The door opened.

Melvin, eyes wide, confirmed who it was and let out a flustered voice.

“Princess…?”

It was Lariensa, Lancel’s only older sister, who had used the privileges of the Arbiente family to enter the captain’s quarters.

I came to the base to avoid seeing her, but she followed me all the way here. Lancel slowly rose.

“Bursting in without knocking, how overflowing with manners. Hello, sister.”

A laugh accompanied his final words. He wasn’t in the mood to talk, but things had gotten to this point, and he was beyond even getting angry.

“…I need to talk to you for a moment.”

At Lariensa’s curt voice, Melvin tactfully left the office.

And a while later.

Lancel, hearing from Lariensa about what had happened in the capital over the past year, thought of one possibility.

For instance…

The next day.

<The Inside Story of the Greatest Scandal to Shake High Society?>

[On the 8th, at the same time Mary Blinn’s illegitimate child was revealed, the West port Line returned, focusing many people’s attention on Arbiente.

But Arbiente remains silent.

Even though their reputation is sure to suffer a major blow, they are not stepping forward. This makes the speculation of some that the illegitimate child inherited the blood of the guardian seem to be becoming a confirmed fact.

(omitted…)]

It was the newspaper published today.

‘…Confirmed fact? What’s a confirmed fact?’

Sorry, tree. Calling this a newspaper.

Originally, my plan was to explain the situation through a letter and quietly wrap things up.

And have my ex-boyfriend, who wouldn’t want to be associated with me, draw the line.

Being ostracized by a prestigious family might put me at a disadvantage, but once I caught the murderer, everything would come to light, so it would be fine.

But instead of drawing a line, he wasn’t even making a passive response. Thanks to that, people’s misunderstandings seemed to be growing.

I frowned and put the newspaper back in its place.

Then, just as I placed my hand on the boutique door.

“Seriously, I’m telling you, the owner herself said so?”

A situation like, “Describe the feeling of overhearing an employee’s words that clearly seem to be about me. (5 points)” unfolded.