Dorothea stared out the window of the moving carriage, looking very uncomfortable.
Luke, who was only looking at the side of her face, spoke softly.
“I didn’t know you cared so much about your reputation. Don't worry. To prevent today's incident from becoming a scandal in the social world, I...”
“That’s not the problem. I haven’t eaten the main dish yet.”
When she first saw the refreshments that were served, she was definitely looking forward to the main dish.
Since tea time usually lasts for as short as 1 to 2 hours or as long as 4 hours, it starts off light and usually comes with a hearty snack to satisfy hunger before dinner.
Judging by the smell, it was her turn to place the carefully baked meat pie in front of her.
But unfortunately, the Prince came in before the food arrived.
“...”
He looked at the upset girl with his mouth shut for a moment, then suddenly said something else.
“I came because I needed you.”
“You need me, where?”
Luke leaned back, opened his eyes, and calmly answered the question in a slow voice.
“I heard that the room where the body was found had been rented by one person for a long time.”
“...”
“The person who rented that room was not a woman who worked in the art world.”
He took out a rustling poster from his arms and held it out.
“He was an actor in a theater company.”
On the crumpled and faded poster, there was a crude drawing that looked like it had been drawn by someone and a few promotional words.
Looking at the poor writing and the barely recognizable drawing skills, it was clear that this was not a professional theater company.
“It is a troupe that performs on the streets for the common people.”
“...”
“What’s unique is that it wasn’t originally a theater company, but started from an orphanage.”
Dorothea, who had been looking at the awkward poster while listening to the following explanation, finally looked straight at Luke.
“Why do you need me?”
“It is not easy to find clues because the members are very talkative. We need to find a clue before we can properly interrogate them.”
“I want to ask you one thing.”
Dorothea, looking at the blunt Prince, slightly raised the corner of her mouth.
“Is this a legitimate investigation?”
“It’s conditional.”
“What conditions?”
“His Majesty has permitted me to continue my investigation if I can persuade you to participate in responding to the delegation from the Kingdom of Lohen.”
The Kingdom of Lohen.
As far as being mentioned at the tea party, this is already the second time she's heard it today.
There was a high probability that the reason the atmosphere in the mansion had been chaotic for several days was because of the Kingdom of Lohen.
Dorothea lowered her eyes, remembering the family elders who were always busy being called to the imperial palace.
“If I refuse in the end, this investigation will also become illegal, right?”
“...”
“If there’s no problem, I don’t mind playing with you. But my dad has been worried since the last time we went out. And serving and entertaining others is not for me.”
“I try to avoid causing as much trouble as possible. This will be an opportunity for you to repay your debt to me, the Prince.”
Dorothea, facing Luke's gray eyes, paused slightly and said, "Hmm."
It certainly wasn't a bad offer.
What he meant was that, regardless of the help he had given in the past, she would pay a high price for this matter.
While various calculations were going on in Dorothea's head, the carriage stopped in front of a building so shabby that it could be called a 'theater'.
***
The woman who greeted the group with wary eyes asked awkwardly.
“Are you talking about Fatima’s room?”
"Yes."
“I can show you, but there’s nothing special about it.”
A woman who was one of the troupe members hesitantly guided the group.
Dorothea glanced around as she crossed the hallway.
The narrow hallways were full of dust, and children, dressed in old clothes that made them embarrassed to be called members, were hiding in every corner of the building, looking intimidated.
The visit from a stranger didn't seem to be very pleasant.
“This is the place. As you may have heard, she hasn’t come back for two weeks already.”
When the door opened, a similarly narrow and simple room appeared.
There were few traces of people in the narrow room, which contained only two blankets spread out on the hard floor.
Broken pen nib. A lump of solidified oil. Even the candlesticks have already rusted a long time ago.
What seemed like trash to others was all that was in the room.
While Luke was scanning the room, she picked up the only item that caught her eye.
The thick doctrine book had black hand marks, a faded color, and the outer leather had peeled off as if someone had opened it frequently.
“It’s a teaching manual. Was the owner of this room a faithful believer?”
“It was probably something she had to learn how to write. It’s the only thing here that has writing on it.”
She must have been quite nervous during the conversation, and she spilled out more information than just what Dorothea was asking.
That doesn't mean the attitude toward them has become any easier, but it's enough.
“You may have heard that this place was originally an orphanage. This was a place long ago when drought and plague struck all at once, leaving orphans born in every home.”
She spoke as if she was reminiscing.
For the orphans pouring into the streets, this shabby, old building, even though it was in poor condition, must have been a thankful place as it protected them from the cold wind and allowed them to sleep without threat.
“The adults who had been supporting us withdrew one by one as the drought prolonged, and eventually the man who ran the place ran away, leaving only the children behind. And one by one, the remaining children came out of the building and started begging to avoid starving to death.”
At first, actions that were meant to attract people's attention became something to see over time.
It was this troupe that endured countless hours of ridicule, pity, and pity until it eventually became a performance that caught the attention of passers-by.
Curious eyes appeared and disappeared behind her as she told a cruel old story as if she were telling a fairy tale.
The ages of the children in the troupe were all different.
From very young children to fully grown-up young people.
Dorothea, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly opened her mouth.
“Has anyone died here?”
"Yes?"
“Is there anyone who passed away in this building or died near here?”
The woman who guided the question to Dorothea looked at Dorothea with a shocked expression.
These are not words that would come out of the mouth of a beautiful noble lady.
Well, the fact that she crossed the threshold of this place wearing a luxurious dress in the first place was surprising.
It would be normal for the nobles to not only not pay attention to this place, but also to be busy casting looks of contempt and disgust.
Except for ‘him’...
“Why? If there are a lot of dead people, the ‘vengeful ghosts’ that are usually there are not visible.”
Dorothea muttered, glaring into empty space.
“It’s so clean, but the strangely flowing energy is cloudy.”
The moment a look of disapproval appeared on the face of the woman who guided him, Luke took out a heavy bag from his pocket.
She was delighted by the clanging sound and took it.
“I will take this doctrine. Has this room been occupied by a woman named Fatima?”
“No, Mine shares it with her. That's probably why they took the doctrine book with them. Sbd want to teach young Mine how to read.”
The child whose name was called hovered around the door and quickly ran away.
The knights standing behind Luke quickly lifted the child up.
The child's shocked, shocked face was quite cute.
Luke, seeing the dried tear stains on the child's cheek, roughly rubbed the child's face with a handkerchief.
“Do you know where the owner of this room has gone?”
The child opened her mouth and then closed it tightly.
“The child cannot speak.”
A cautious explanation from the woman followed.
“I’m not sure, but it’s been like that since she arrived. I think she understands what people saying, but maybe it's because she hurt her neck...”
The child's bright eyes reflected Dorothea.
Dorothea smiled as she looked at herself reflected like a mirror in her eyes.
Luke, who had skimmed through the doctrine book in his hand, looked at Dorothea as if he had finished answering all his questions.
“Can you find clues to the whereabouts of the owner of this room or even things that might be related to the case?”
"First of all...”
Instead of answering, Dorothea smiled calmly.
It would be nice if she could do her bit since the Prince had brought her in while mentioning 'debt', but the situation was turning into an awkward situation.
It's so surprising that it's a building that has no sign of anything.
Just looking at their intertwined stories and the history of the building should make your ears perk up.
Not only Luke but also the guides and those who were hiding and watching were all focused on Dorothea. Everyone waited with bated breath to see what she would say.
At that moment, a bright bell ringing throughout the building was heard, and Mine struggled out of the hands of the knights and quickly headed somewhere.
“Well, it’s the sound that announces meal time. Since we only get one meal a day, we can't miss it, so everyone...”
"Ah."
Dorothea let out a sigh-like sigh.
Today, dark blue eyes turned towards Luke.
“I think there’s a clue in the restaurant.”
Luke, whose eyebrows twitched and went up, followed closely behind Dorothea as she headed toward the restaurant.
“You’ll have to hope there’s a real clue there.”
They say that ghosts that die after eating have beautiful stains. After eating, you will think of something.
Her mind was still carefree as she walked towards the restaurant.
***
The moment they went down to the restaurant on the first floor of the building, Dorothea and the group realized that there were a lot more people in the 'troupe' than they thought.
"Leader!"
“Captain—.”
Among the children, the youngest ones rushed towards someone.
The young man called 'Captain' did not take kindly to the children who ran towards him in joy, but he had eagle eyes and picked out the children who cut in line.
There was no doubt that he was in charge of this place, as he skillfully gave instructions and kept order in order.
“What is this...”
As he continued to mechanically serve food, his eyes caught Dorothea, who was carrying a large bowl that could easily have been used to fill other people's stomachs.
The girl with platinum-blond hair and a beautiful appearance was wearing a luxurious dress, showing off a completely different and alien atmosphere from here.
Except for the ridiculously large bowl in her hand, she had the appearance of a perfect noble lady.
Little by little, hostility filled the brown eyes of the man who was staring at her blankly.
Mine rushed over and put some hard black bread in her bowl. Dorothea's lips drew an arc as she looked down at the familiar smell and shape of the food.
“It’s been a while...”
“...Do you know me?
The blunt man's face overlapped with that of the boy on the street who had handed her the same bread a few years ago.
The boy who introduced himself as 'Revan' and encouraged him to join the gang suddenly became the leader of this district and was in charge of numerous troupe members.
"Look. I said there would be a clue if we went to the restaurant.”
Dorothea smiled and looked at Luke.
“Look over there. The child you handed over to the police with your own hands has grown up like that.”
Luke's indifferent gaze swept over the young man as she spoke with pride as if he were a child she had raised with her own hands. He seemed to have no memory of the past.
Moreover, the other person also raised his eyebrows and hesitated as if he did not recognize the two people.
“W-what is it?”
“I thought you grew up well.”
Dorothea's eyes filled with satisfaction as she looked at the young man, who was one head taller than her.
“I thought one day he would end his life by getting stabbed in an alley without even a rat or a bird knowing, but he survived well. Judging by the strength of his life, he must have accumulated merit in his previous life.”
“...”
Is she crazy?
Revan's embarrassed eyes wavered, with nowhere to go.
Dorothea asked with a wide smile.
“What about meals?”
Since she had a fondness for old times, she figured that she could carefully select delicious food and eat it in abundance.
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