Translator: Nox

Chapter 74

74

Scarlett asked, "If you suspect me of colluding with the Royal Police... why did you come to me? You could have asked someone else."

"I can't ask the navy about this. The royals..."

Joseph faced Scarlett. He looked at Scarlett's seemingly fragile face, trying to read what kind of person she was.

After a moment, he opened his mouth.

"I know you're repairing the Tram."

"...How?"

"My brother drives the Tram."

Scarlett paused at his words.

Joseph hurriedly said, "My brother didn't mean to say anything. I just happened to visit him and saw you there, Miss Scarlett."

"..."

"My brother is really grateful to you. He even said he respects you, even though you're almost thirty years younger than him. Anyway... I was just surprised to see Hiram here, but I came here with a certain amount of faith in you, Miss Scarlett."

Joseph took a deep breath and continued.

"I'll tell you why I can only rely on you, Miss Scarlett."

He took out a notebook from his pocket and showed it to Scarlett.

"This is a list of people in the Royal Family and the Senate who are highly suspected of colluding with Bestina."

Scarlett looked down at the notebook. Her eyes widened.

"...His Royal Highness Crown Prince Yuli Irene?"

"That's right."

"But... why?"

"In fact, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is currently taking care of state affairs. Doesn't His Royal Highness Crown Prince Yuli Irene take on most of the foreign affairs?"

"Yes."

"He saw it during that tour, the power of Bestina. And he was convinced of Salantie's defeat."

"..."

"It was His Royal Highness Crown Prince Yuli Irene who legally blocked the repair of the Tram. And the senators listed there are the ones who voted in favor of that law."

"Legally blocking the repair of the Tram... was for Bestina's sake."

"That's right. It's a policy to suppress Salantie's technological development. To make it easier for Bestina to swallow Salantie."

Scarlett's hand holding the notebook began to tremble.

She said, "Is it okay for you to show this to me?"

"Yes. First of all, our members of the House of Representatives think that you, Miss Scarlett, are deeply involved in this because..."

"Because I repair the Tram?"

Scarlett asked, and Joseph wiped away a cold sweat and said, "Well... in principle, wouldn't it be because of religiously misguided beliefs? The late Count and Countess Crimson also..."

At his words, Scarlett raised her head.

"My parents?"

"Ah, no. It's just speculation."

"What kind of speculation?"

She asked in an urgent voice, and Joseph swallowed hard.

But they needed Scarlett Crimson. She was perhaps the most outstanding mechanic in Salantie today, and at the same time, she was someone who could approach Viktor Dampfelt at any time and extract information.

Joseph finally opened his mouth.

"His Majesty has been looking down on engineers for the past ten years for religious reasons. He has misguided beliefs. So... perhaps the mechanics who died at that time were killed by His Majesty's beliefs."

At his words, Scarlett's hand gripping the notebook tightened, and her veins bulged.

"...Are you saying that my parents might have been killed because of that religious belief?"

"To be honest, our members of the House of Representatives almost take it for granted."

Scarlett's expression distorted at Joseph's words. It was an unacceptable statement. She clenched her teeth tightly.

"Just... for that reason, my parents died, and Isaac had to live without seeing?"

"Yes. That's right."

Even though she tried to hold back, she couldn't control her emotions. It was disgusting. She felt like she was going to vomit, so she grabbed the table with both hands.

Joseph continued, "And the price of that wrong choice was paid by young people around your age, Miss Scarlett. No matter how much I bow my head, can I ever fully apologize?"

Joseph had a gloomy expression on his face. After a moment of silence, Joseph spoke again.

"Please, Miss Scarlett. Find out if Captain Viktor is going to defect to Bestina."

"If he is?"

"Salantie will have no hope."

"Then will you, Joseph, find a way to survive?"

"Of course not."

Joseph laughed dryly.

"Where would they accept someone insignificant like me? I'll die in this land, even if I die. But if Captain Viktor shares the same opinion as the members of the House of Representatives... it would be good to work together to find a way for Salantie to survive."

For a moment, Scarlett felt that the disgust was slightly relieved by Joseph's words.

She nodded, but said nothing more. That didn't mean she completely trusted Joseph.

It was only after their conversation ended that Andrei returned. Joseph stood up and said with an apologetic expression, "What should I do? You're preparing refreshments, but I have to leave without eating."

"I knew you'd say that, so I only bought a Danish pastry for the boss."

"...Yes, your Royal Police experience is still there."

Joseph said in a daze, and then looked back and forth between Scarlett and Andrei with an expression that he still didn't understand. Andrei said, "I quit the Royal Police, remember?"

Joseph had no idea how Hiram Pete ended up here. Just like when he came, he left in a hurry, and Andrei said, "If you've finished talking, I think you should go to work, boss."

"..."

"Boss."

Scarlett sat in her seat like a person who had lost her soul.

The short day of winter was passing. The sunset, as if falling asleep on the hill, slowly covered the clock shop.

When Scarlett was in such a scene, she especially made people want to drink. Andrei vaguely thought that the reason Viktor drank so much was because he had the same thoughts as him when he looked at Scarlett.

He called her once more.

"Boss."

Only then did Scarlett raise her head and look at Andrei.

"Andrei knows, right? Since you were in the Royal Police."

"Know what?"

"The carriage accident where our parents died."

At her words, Andrei stood holding the bread bag and answered calmly, "I don't know. It happened before I joined the Royal Police."

"It wasn't that long ago. How old were you when you joined the Royal Police?"

"Sixteen."

"...Come to think of it, how old are you really? Are you really three years younger than me?"

"Yes, the age is correct."

Andrei replied. And soon continued, "If you're asking if the carriage accident was really an accident, I really don't know. That information didn't come down to me."

"I want to know."

Andrei replied, "I'll look into it."

"Really?"

"Just keep in mind that I might die in the middle of it."

"What?"

"I'm telling you this so you don't feel guilty for ordering me to do it, but even if I don't look for that information, the Royal Police are already targeting me."

"What are you talking about?"

"There have been two attempts to kill me since I quit the Royal Police. Well, I expected it."

At Andrei's calm words, Scarlett's heart sank, and she stood up.

"It's not wrong to quit."

"Joseph was wary of me earlier, too. I have information that I'm holding onto. The Royal Police probably find that very annoying."

Andrei continued, "Anyway, that's it. Don't be surprised if I die one day."

Then Scarlett shook her head violently.

"No way."

"What?"

"Don't die."

"Ah, that. That's not up to me."

Andrei said calmly.

"Anyway, it'll take a while. But I'll still find it out for you someday. You may not know it, boss, but I owe you a debt."

At Andrei's words, Scarlett wanted to ask more, but she didn't ask for now and just nodded.