Episode 34

In the tranquil depths of the night, most of the mansion's inhabitants were asleep.

A faint shadow danced within the clinic, where the curtains were carefully drawn.

“We shall now commence the letter-opening ceremony!”

“Yay.”

Clap, clap, clap.

Ute clapped, his face adorned with a fresh smile.

Amid the lively ambiance, one person raised their hand.

“May I leave now?”

Karen's eyes wavered with uncertainty.

“Why am I here...”

“What do you mean 'why'! You’re the one who brought the guest’s letter—”

“Shh! Shh! Silence!”

A firm finger pressed against my lips.

She whispered in a barely audible voice.

“What if someone hears us!”

“That would be a problem.”

“Do not fret. No one ventures here at this hour.”

His long eyes curved softly.

Ute glanced at the door and turned his head towards Karen and me.

“Do not be naive, doctor. The larger the mansion, the more cautious one must be with their words.”

“Even if someone comes, they’ll faint before they reach the door, so it’ll be fine.”

“Faint?”

“There are no adverse effects.”

“...”

“They’ll collapse gradually, ensuring they don't strike their head.”

On the table lay a meticulously wrapped package of white powder, that Ute Velvel sprinkled outside the door.

‘He said it would diffuse into the air.’

The effect lasted approximately an hour.

Ute secured the powder in his drawer and added,

“Given that everyone is overworked, it won’t arouse suspicion if someone collapses.”

“And I’ll take care of the cleaning, so you don't have to worry."

“That’s not the point—”

“As you mentioned, it would be problematic if someone overheard us.”

“...”

“I, too, desire to return home.”

“You can go home if you take a leave of absence. No, never mind that. I have no reason to stay here!”

“Why are you being so cranky?”

I draped my arm over the maid’s shoulder.

“Karen and I are already in the same boat.”

“The same boat?”

“You brought us this letter.”

“...What do you intend to do with it?”

“Of course, we must open and read it.”

Ute was the one who responded.

He pulled out a sleek paper knife and brought it to the letter.

Karen’s large hand waved frantically in the air.

“Wait, wait, wait!”

Karen cautiously took back the letter as if removing a knife from a child.

“You don’t understand, but if it’s known that a letter is missing, there will be enormous consequences.”

“...”

“Even if it’s merely lost, that's inexcusable, but if discovered that it was deliberately stolen and read...”

Her brown eyes darkened ominously.

“Neither I, nor you, nor the doctor here will be safe! If I end up in a dungeon, I’ll bite my tongue and perish.”

“Are there really underground prisons?"

“In old mansions, there’s typically at least one— But that’s not the point!”

“Goodness, but you mustn't die.”

“This is driving me mad! Sonnet Posa, were you always like this?”

“Why would the letter go missing? We’ll resend it.”

His light tone did not match the gravity of the situation.

The youngest doctor in the mansion leaned back against the chair and mumbled.

“We can read the letter and then restore it before sending it back.”

“Sending it back?"

“A day or two’s delay can be attributed to minor traffic issues.”

“The envelope is already opened. How will you manage that?”

“All we have to do is restore the seal properly.”

Tap, tap.

His long finger pointed towards the red seal.

The hardened wax bore the family’s emblem of a sword and a crow.

“As expected, the doctor always has a plan.”

“So... how can we restore this seal?”

“Ah, didn’t you consider that?”

“I’ve been exerting my brain a lot lately.”

“...”

“The optimal way is to temporarily borrow the real seal.”

“That’s impossible.”

Her brown head shook from side to side.

“That person always carries the seal during the daytime."

“What about when she is sleep?”

“She leaves it on the bedside."

“Then we can steal it while they sleep.”

“By what means?”

Karen pointed out dryly.

“The lady is a light sleeper, and she does not keep a maid her during the night. Moreover, she locks the door.”

“Lady Evangeline’s room is on the fourth floor, correct?”

“Yes, but...”

“Does she lock the window as well?”

“No. She is sensitive to heat, so she leaves it open—Wait, you're not thinking?"

A strange light flickered in his calm green eyes.

“Miss Sonnet, can you enter and exit a fourth-floor room through the window without detection?”

Would it work?

“Sir Ute... your imagination thrives when cornered."

“Can’t you?”

“You realize that's ridiculous, right?”

Ute smiled silently.

That’s why being handsome is unfair!

Smiling like that, he believes it’ll resolve everything!

How cowardly.

...It was a problem how it made me want to solve the issue by any means necessary.

A low hum escaped the man’s lips.

“Well then, who carries the spare key?”

“The head maid.”

“What if we obtain it from her?”

“...Then count me out. The head maid is terrifying."

“If it comes to it, I can receive help from the pharmacy this time as well...”

His hand tapping the table quickened.

Ute Velvet seemed prepared to disperse sleeping powder everywhere if necessary.

‘Who will clean that up?’

There was no solution if powder got lodged in the crevices.

No, from the start—

“Do we need to deliberate so intensely?”

Sneaking into the guest room or stealing the key from the head maid were both highly risky.

I snatched the letter and put it against the light.

“The simplest method remains.”

The intricate pattern gleamed.

I elaborated on the new plan while tracing the shallow grooves.

The silver head bobbed up and down slowly.

“Indeed, if that method succeeds...”

“But can you truly do it?”

“Why not? This is the easiest way."

“It would be ideal if it works, but—”

“We all agree? Then I’ll open it.”

Snap.

“Wait, damn it!”

The sealed envelope opened effortlessly with a flick of my hand.

The man leaned in close.

Ute tilted his head and read the letter.

“Just as I suspected.”

“You’ve finished already?”

“Yes. The recipient is Leopold. I was uncertain, but... He’s a renowned banker in the East. His base is Menes, Evangeline’s hometown.”

“Wait. Why is a noble lady regularly corresponding with a banker... Could it be a secret lover?”

Karen covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes sparkling.

Regrettably, the letters exchanged by Lady Evangeline were not of a romantic nature.

Even if you refuse to specify the repayment dates, I still recall...

A debt collection letter.

And the corresponding reply.

‘Not a lover.’

Ultimately, it has been known since ancient times the most persistent pursuer was one after your money.

‘Is this what they call an obsessive individual?’

Eyes wide, unreasonable, persistent.

He possessed many of the traits summarized by Ute Velvet.

“For an amount like this, it’s understandable to be obsessive.”

Counting digits in gold was tiresome. Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands...

“What is it?”

“Our guest, or rather, the Menes family, has incurred a substantial debt.”

“Huh?”

“They’ve squandered their fortune, leaving only the shell.”

Fortunately, the letter concisely summarized the past conversations.

“It’s unclear whether it was gambling or a failed investment. Most of the estate’s assets are on the brink of being transferred to the bank.”

“The lord had run away, and the family scattered. It hasn’t become public yet.”

Ute continued my explanation.

“If they are unable to repay, Menes will be consumed by this bank.”

“Since the lord can’t manage the people, will someone new come?”

“It is up to the Emperor. He might appoint a loyalist noble without land or let Leopold handle it.”

Karen’s frown deepened.

“Wait, wait. Menes was fairly wealthy...”

“Do nobles refrain from gambling or investment mania?”

“...”

“They probably intended to settle the debt by marrying into this household.”

Edwell is one of the wealthiest families in the capital, making them a prime target.

“So it wasn’t truly love...”

Her dark skin paled.

“Did you earnestly support them, believing it was genuine love?”

“I made a wager with the maids!”

...Ah.

“I wagered my entire month’s salary!”

“Withdraw it swiftly.”

“Once you wager, it’s final. Until the end.”

The perils of gambling were not distant.

Very close... in everyday life.

“If you have money, why not purchase a house instead...?”

“There’s no time to spend it outside, so what’s the point of hoarding? You need some amusement.”

Karen quickly brushed me off, accepting her loss. Her mental fortitude was impressive.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“What?”

“We uncovered our guest’s objective. What are you going to do with this?”

“First...”

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