His eyes suddenly became sharp.
Could it be that the doctor stole Melissa? Why? Where?
Henry, anticipating the next question, added immediately.
“I don’t know if she was kidnapped or taken, but the doctor definitely knows Miss Melissa. When we first asked her if she had ever been visited by a woman called ‘Mel Greenwood’, she didn’t tell us who she was, but instead asked us where she came from. That’s why she didn’t return and stayed to watch.”
“So, did he take the train?”
“I’m on board. Two agents have joined us and we’ll contact you when we reach our destination.”
“… … .”
Walter fell into deep sleep, checking his tightly fastened pockets.
Realistically, the possibility of kidnapping should be considered very low.
The only people who know Melissa’s true identity are the subordinates who attended the dinner and the employees of the main building.
Excluding the tight-lipped subordinates, the only people left were servants, all of whom had clear identities and had been weeded out again and again to weed out spies.
No one disappeared with Melissa. That’s for sure because they do surprise checks every day.
In conclusion, Melissa got out of here on her own… … .
‘The doctor who found out that the Duke was looking for Melissa Bansen packed his bags and left overnight.’
‘He is a person who has been supported by the Banseng family for a long time.’
What this might mean, there was no way to guess at this point.
“You should investigate this man named Isaac in more detail. Don’t ask someone else to do it for you. Do it yourself.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Answer only once.”
“Okay, I understand.”
Instead of answering once, he looked at his disloyal subordinate who was rambling on and on, and Henry quickly brought out a pouch that was tied to his ankle. He grumbled as he knelt down and filled it.
“To be honest, it’s been a long time since I had the time to take care of this for you. You haven’t forgotten that I’m a lieutenant, have you? That would be disappointing.”
“If you have any complaints, please discharge me. I will treat you as the Marquis’s son. Private Sir Henry Schumacher.”
Henry raised his head with a displeased expression at the words spoken with an extremely expressionless face.
“Colonel, don’t go around joking. It seems like the number of times you do it increases because no one says anything, but it’s actually really boring.”
“… … .”
Wasn’t it fun? Private Henry Schumacher. I guess it wasn’t too bad.
Walter thought for a moment, then went down the stairs with heavier steps, mulling over his joke.
* * *
‘Is this how the investigation ends? Is there really such a thing as a chronic illness?’
Returning to the guest room under Emily’s close supervision, Hermia immediately collapsed on the sofa.
The duke really seemed to be in pain somewhere. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have fallen backwards just because the woman pushed him.
He had been said to have performed great deeds on the battlefield several times, and I began to suspect that the rumors were exaggerated.
Basically, since he was born with the fame of the Rockford family on his back, it was only natural that the achievements of his subordinates would be reflected in his own achievements. Isn’t that how all high-ranking people are?
Sit down at your desk and attack here, attack there, be quiet. Bring me some water, don’t vomit on me… … . Ah. This is going too far.
She shook her head vigorously as she imagined things according to her own consciousness. She almost turned the grateful person who had helped her the whole time since they met into trash.
‘I guess I just wasn’t feeling well for a little while yesterday or today.’
I don’t know when the duke’s mind will change, but I must not curse him when he treats me well. She deliberately made a resolution and hugged the square cushion next to her.
The soft material of the sofa naturally makes my body and mind tired. Compared to the sofa in my room where the seat is sunken because I didn’t change the cushions on time, it was comfortable enough to sleep soundly.
Besides, while I was briefly in the study, the bed had been neatly made, and there were even new snacks set up on the sofa table.
“What kind of heaven is this… … .”
Hermia put a biscuit in her mouth and turned her head to the glass bottle where water droplets were dripping down.
Ah. It’s fruit juice. I opened the bottle filled with purple liquid and a refreshing scent wafted out.
As I poured the contents of the glass and slowly rolled it around in my mouth, a sense of luxury quickly washed over me.
“Grapefruit? Did you put carrots in it too?”
It was a strange taste that was a complex blend of fruit and vegetable flavors. It was quite addictive, and as I was slurping it down, someone knocked on the door.
She quickly sat up and answered, then coughed loudly as the door opened. Around twenty maids of similar age were rushing in.
“Excuse me, miss!”
“Hello.”
“… Cool.”
Even though it was a sight of lively girls to everyone, Hermia’s heart began to pound with anxiety.
‘Surely they aren’t all reflective, right?’
Then, if you go back and get hit once each, you get twenty.
Even though I think it’s common sense that it can’t be true, when a group of young women look at me, I instinctively cringe.
The maids gathered around her, who was frozen in place like a plaster statue. They all had the same expression on their faces and their eyes sparkled.
“I’m sorry. The kids really wanted to say hello to you, Miss.”
The last person to come in was Emily.
Greetings? What greetings to me? Hermia, who was sitting as if everything except her eyelids were broken, chose her words to reply a little late.
“Nice to meet you… Yes.”
Hmm. I think I still need more practice with speaking.
“I’m sorry for disturbing your rest.”
As someone spoke coquettishly, dozens of eyes once again looked in one direction.
She decided to keep her mouth shut because she knew that she wouldn’t be okay. Instead, she shook her head with a smile, and the maids’ expressions brightened again.
“See! I told you, he’s a good person!”
“You are much more beautiful in person than I imagined!”
The maids were ecstatic at finally meeting the famous person from the novel in real life. It was as if they had met the theater actor of the century.
Among them, there was even a maid who came with a pen and paper to get Hermia’s autograph.
Hermia smiled sincerely this time at the girl who had just left Haiti. Thanks to her, the tension that had been like a sandcastle was blown away by the wind.
“Oh my god, look at her pale skin!”
Ah, that’s because it’s only in the room.
“Your hair is like silk!”
That’s because it doesn’t get much sunlight.
“Isn’t she like the Snow Queen from a fairy tale?”
What is that?
When Hermia continued to respond with a smile, Emily intervened urgently.
“Actually, I have a few things to confirm before I greet you.”
“Are you sure?”
“While you are here, I would like you to choose the children who will serve you. If there are any conditions you would like, such as personality, speech, appearance, or sibling relationships, I can arrange them to suit your preferences.”
At the senior maid’s words, the rest of the group formed a long line. They moved quickly and in unison, as if each had a designated position.
Emily pointed to the maids with a familiar gesture.
“We will take turns taking care of you since we also have regular work to do, but if there is a type that is particularly uncomfortable, we will exclude it from your list.”
The added comment was the rule here.
Whether staying for a long time or leaving soon, guests are not assigned a dedicated maid.
It was also a kind of insurance that the head maid, who had served the previous duke for a long time, personally suggested and received permission for. This was because there were many cases where guests visiting the duke’s castle treated the maids rudely because they were familiar with their faces.
The maids simultaneously recalled the time they had lined up in front of Melissa Bahnsen, when Emily had asked the same question, and Mel had hesitated to answer.
‘I, I wish my voice wasn’t loud.’
‘I see. Anything else?’
‘Anything else? Um… I wish I didn’t have to wake you up so early in the morning… … .’
Emily nodded as if to tell Mel to continue talking while rolling her eyes.
‘Who, someone without a mole under their eye? Reminds me of Mrs. Laura… … .’
‘Mrs. Laura?’
Mel waved her hands in surprise.
‘No, it’s nothing.’
‘Except for those with dark circles under their eyes. Okay.’
‘I hope you speak kindly and don’t pressure me to do this or that.’
‘You want politeness, right?’
‘That’s right. Politeness! And don’t serve cold food just because you missed your meal time.’
Emily frowned without realizing it.
‘Miss Melissa, that kind of thing never happens here… … .’
‘Also, I wish my room always smelled like flowers! Not damp and moldy!’
At that point, she forced a businesslike smile, feeling like it would never end if she continued.
‘I’ll bring fresh flowers to your room every morning. It was helpful. Now, we’re off.’
Mel’s last words, which had just begun to speak, flew into the back of the heads of those who were leaving one after another.
‘Fresh fruit next to the flowers! It must be clean, without any bruises or blemishes! Thank you!’
These were requests that gave us a glimpse into Melissa Bahnsen’s past years.
The recollections in the minds of the eighteen low-ranking maids ended like that. And some of the eighteen even brought back memories from even older times.
It was the winter of the year when the funeral of Leonard John, Duke of Rockford took place, just a few months before Princess Elizabeth’s visit.
The princess, who was neither from the provinces nor from abroad, stayed in the duke’s castle for a week as if she were a visitor from afar.
‘It was really terrible back then.’
In a situation like this, Elizabeth first eliminated the maids she didn’t like (those who were pretty).
After that, he was completely self-indulgent. He refused every day for reasons such as not liking the intensity of the brushing, the teacup being placed crooked, and the massage not being refreshing. And then… … .
‘What if that kid’s pimples spread to me?’
‘The sound of swallowing is too loud.’
‘The look in his eyes as he looks at Sir Walter seems full of darkness.’
For such absurd reasons, only two people remained. Even then, she was not satisfied and asked to be served by the head maid, but in the end, she returned to the palace only after Gerard came forward.
Fortunately, Gerard was a kind and sensible person to women regardless of their social status, so it was possible for him to tattle on them.
Those who thought of the gorgeous platinum-blond hair adorned with all sorts of jewels, who looked exactly like the sad prince but had a completely different personality, shuddered as if they had made a promise.
So what exactly is the demand of Hermia Bahnsen, who has been suffering the oppression of the Countess Henry Pischel, the daughter of a prominent countess?
She finally opened her mouth, her curiosity and tension rising alongside each other.
“I am…….”