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~Chapter 27~
I headed with Sophie to the social club car.
The moment we stepped inside, lively noise filled the air.
The car was bustling with people, as usual.
Of course, since only first-class passengers were allowed, most were nobles.
So many people didn’t go out and just stayed on the train.
It surprised me—there were more people than I expected.
Had they never left the train?
Or, like me, had they returned early after seeing Sinks’ tense situation?
Toward the back of the club, I spotted lighthearted amusements.
Some nobles were playing billiards with long sticks.
Others sat at tables in the corner, enjoying poker and chess.
Ooooh.
Suddenly, I felt excited.
The idea of playing games with fellow travelers on the train—it felt almost romantic.
I was about to go closer to watch the nobles play when a voice came from the side.
“Irene?”
“…Your Highness?”
I turned my head and froze.
There, in the corner, playing chess—was none other than Albert von Heschitt.
“Your Highness, you didn’t go out? You’ve been here all along?”
“I went out, then came back.”
Albert was playing chess with one of his retainers.
He didn’t even glance at me, simply continued moving the pieces.
His eyes fixed on the board, he slid a piece forward and said quietly:
“You seemed to enjoy yourself with Eric.”
“…What?”
“I saw you sharing street food with him.”
…Oh. So he had seen us.
I hadn’t noticed him, but I guess he’d been at the festival.
Probably passed by and spotted us.
“That was just… coincidence.”
Maybe because Albert was so blunt, guilt crept in, as if I’d cheated with Eric.
“Checkmate.”
“…Ah.”
Moving a piece, Albert ended the game.
His retainer sighed at the board, then smiled bitterly.
“As expected. I can never beat Your Highness.”
Albert didn’t answer, only smirked slightly.
Then, his gaze flicked to me.
“Why don’t we play a round? We used to, when we were young.”
“Ah, well…”
Since I was in Irene’s body, I knew the rules.
But I didn’t want to play chess with Albert.
I was still searching for a polite excuse when Albert stood, crossed his arms, and came to me.
“Irene Hartmann. I never said a word about you going on dates.”
“….”
“Go on—date as much as you like. With Eric, or anyone else.”
“….”
“But don’t avoid me. Give me a chance too.”
“…What?”
A chance?
I tilted my head in confusion.
Albert truly misunderstood.
Did he think I could become Eric’s lover?
Sorry, but that wasn’t a date!
Sure, I liked Eric…
And yes, I had thought it felt like a date…
But Eric belonged to the heroine. I had no intention of stealing him.
“That’s not—!”
I was just about to explain when—
Crash!
“Give me back my money, you bastard!”
A loud shout echoed across the club car.
The commotion came from the group of nobles playing poker.
“Argh!”
One man in an elegant white shirt leapt up, grabbed another man by the collar, and shook him.
“Give me back my money! That was my father’s business fund!”
The man being grabbed wore shabby clothes—
No, not shabby. More like filthy.
His face was rough, intimidating. Definitely not a noble.
“How dare some lowlife sneak into first class and steal noble money?!”
“You should’ve bet less.”
“…What?”
“I did nothing wrong. I won fairly.”
“….”
“You were the fool who wagered everything with a losing hand. Wasn’t it?”
With a cold push, he knocked away the man’s grip.
The noble collapsed onto the floor.
“Ughh…”
He broke down crying right there.
The shabby man calmly packed his winnings and left the club car, pulling his hat low as if to avoid attention.
Huh? That man…
My eyes narrowed. Something about him…
“Is it him, my lady? The one you mentioned?”
“Yes. That’s him.”
I whispered to Eric, watching the man’s back ahead of us.
Outside, the night was dark.
Because of the baby bear incident, the festival had ended early and people had gone home. The streets were eerily quiet.
We had slipped out of the train late at night for one reason only: that man.
Eric and I had to confirm something about him.
“Eric, doesn’t he reek of a magic tool’s scent?”
Indeed—
From him, I sensed the same trace I’d felt on the dead bear.
The scent of a magic tool—the same as the one that killed the cub.
I knew I had to check.
And I knew I was the only one who could.
That was why I brought Eric.
As a holy knight, he could at least sense some magic, though not as sharply as I could.
“It’s dark, but… yes, I think so. And you said he suddenly showed up and took noble money?”
“Yes. I’ve never seen him in first class before. His looks, and that scent—it’s all suspicious.”
“I did think the bear’s corpse was strange, back at the festival…”
“But my lady, it’s too dark. Isn’t this dangerous?”
Eric frowned. From behind, Sophie whispered nervously:
“Young lady, this is scary…”
“It’s okay. We’ll just check and come right back. And Eric’s here with us.”
I reassured her.
Sure, I knew this was meddling.
But no one else could confirm this, except me.
That man definitely reeks of a magic tool.
It wasn’t really my business.
Yet I couldn’t ignore it.
The bears of Sinks kept dying. The locals wept.
Everyone blamed the immigrants—
but their magic left no trace on the corpses.
Now I’d found this man, reeking of magic tools.
So yes, we would check. Quietly. Secretly.
“There.”
Eric whispered, eyes on the man.
Ahead, he turned off the main path into the forest.
Not a real road. A suspicious, hidden path.
Definitely strange.
I met Eric’s gaze.
Then, together, we followed him.
