Chapter 18
“Did you say they had a marital fight? From the conversation I just overheard, they seemed like a happily newlywed couple.”
Isabel raised her eyebrows, intrigued by the unexpected information.
“Could you tell me what the fight was about?”
“Hmm… I don’t think I can. That’s something between my husband and me.”
Unlike before, when Amanda had been fully cooperative, she now seemed reserved. Isabel wanted to probe further, but as Amanda said, she had no right to press.
Putting her disappointment aside, Isabel moved on to the next question.
“Then, Mr. Hybert, you said, seemed unusually angry that day. Was there anything suspicious before he left the house?”
“Nothing I can recall immediately… Ah! There was something a bit strange before he went missing. He usually stayed for about two weeks, but just a few days after returning, he said he had to go back to the capital.”
‘That figures. He has thirty-five other wives besides her.’
Isabel, unable to tell Amanda the full truth, patted her shoulder and offered a well-intentioned lie.
“I heard he’s well-respected at work too. He must have been busy… probably?”
“Maybe? Now that you mention it, something else unusual comes to mind.”
“Something else?”
Amanda pulled her chair close and whispered into Isabel’s ear.
“Detective, have you heard the rumors about someone named Dr. Morus?”
“…!”
Isabel’s eyes widened. Normally her expression remained poker-faced while investigating, but now she was taken aback.
‘I didn’t expect to hear about Dr. Morus here.’
Tension crept into her smooth forehead.
“I already mentioned it to your colleagues, but I actually know a few more things. He told me not to tell anyone, but I was too anxious to keep it in.”
Isabel gently took Amanda’s slightly trembling hands, signaling that it was okay to speak.
“It was when the rumors about Dr. Morus were spreading around town. At first, everyone laughed it off as fake, but then someone actually claimed that their incurable disease was cured by him.”
“Was it really true? I mean, was there anyone who saw it firsthand?”
“I heard there were witnesses. Some even claimed to have seen a severed leg grow back.”
“…What?”
Isabel thought it absurd. How could a severed leg possibly grow back? There had to be some trickery involved.
“Anyway, as Dr. Morus’ fame grew, people began to say he could even bring the dead back to life.”
‘Even the dead? Does he think he’s a god?’
Isabel put down her pen, deeming it not worth the effort.
“But then I discovered evidence that my husband actually went to see Dr. Morus.”
“Was Mr. Hybert ill?”
Amanda shook her head with a dark expression.
“Then, Amanda, were you unwell?”
Again, she shook her head emphatically.
“I asked him too, but he just said he was curious whether the rumors were true. But that doesn’t make sense. You can’t just meet Dr. Morus if you want to; only those he chooses can find him.”
“…Sounds like a fantasy story.”
“I know it’s hard to believe, but please believe me that it’s all true.”
Isabel smiled faintly, as if understanding everything, and drew an arrow in her notebook.
‘If Amanda’s right, Hybert wouldn’t have gone to see Dr. Morus just to verify rumors. There must be a reason… Maybe one of his wives is sick? With so many, I have no idea who it could be.’
What was certain: Hybert was meticulous and calculating enough to remember the names of all thirty-five wives, except the first. And now he vanished after seeing Dr. Morus?
The assumption Isabel could make at that moment was…
A single thought flashed through her mind.
‘A series of disappearances.’
Everything was connected to the disappearances—and Dr. Morus was inevitably involved.
Isabel bit her thumbnail and fell into a whirlpool of thoughts.
‘This might be a far bigger case than I expected.’
A detective who could only see ghosts was unprepared for this. Asking the royal knights for help was tricky, too—Adolf would be difficult to deal with, especially since he wanted to keep the nightly possessions secret. Isabel didn’t want to provoke him.
Her only option: solve the case herself.
Rubbing her forehead with the back of her pen, she asked:
“Amanda, I’ve heard several disappearances have occurred around here. The missing people left no trace, so some suspect abductions. Do you know anything about this?”
“Ah… yes. But this is such a rural area. People leave for the capital every day. Who knows if they were really kidnapped?”
“But Mr. Hybert also disappeared.”
Amanda’s face paled as she realized what Isabel implied. She hadn’t thought that far.
“I can’t be certain yet, but we need to investigate all possibilities.”
“What should we do? I never imagined he could have been kidnapped.”
Her voice trembled with shock.
“Nothing could have gone wrong, right?”
“….”
Something already had.
‘He’s already dead and possessing someone without permission, causing trouble.’
Isabel chose not to tell her. Sometimes, it was better not to know. Perhaps it was better for Amanda to hold hope that he was alive somewhere, rather than face the truth of his death.
“It’s only a hypothesis for now. Don’t worry too much. Mr. Hybert will be fine.”
“Thank you. Please find him, really.”
Amanda clutched Isabel’s hands and wept on them.
Isabel closed her notebook and stood. She had obtained all the information Amanda could provide.
Next, she needed to investigate the series of disappearances, determine whether everyone had truly been abducted, and whether Dr. Morus was involved.
As she prepared to leave, a hot gaze stopped her. Looking down, Isabel saw Amanda had tears in her eyes but seemed to have more to say, clutching her dress tightly.
“Do you have something else to say?”
“Detective… could you take my case too?”
Isabel gently pried Amanda’s fingers away.
“Um… I’m sorry. As you can see, I’m in the middle of an important investigation. And I’m not like ordinary detectives. You should ask a regular detective if it’s a case to be requested.”
“Perhaps… it’s related to ‘that incident’.”
“That incident…?”
Overwhelmed by Amanda’s unwavering gaze, Isabel sat back down to hear her out. Amanda gripped her dress and spoke:
“I told you I never imagined he was kidnapped. Actually, I’ve been receiving money from someone every month.”
“Receiving money?”
“Yes. I used to think he was just sending me living expenses. But now I realize, the envelope didn’t even have a note, let alone the sender’s name.”
“Can I see the envelope?”
“I brought it with me. Today’s the day it usually arrives.”
Amanda took a thick sky-blue envelope from her bag.
Isabel examined it carefully. Indeed, there was no sender written, but she could guess its origin.
A red seal stamped with an eagle.
‘It’s from the capital.’
“Can I take just this envelope?”
“Couldn’t you take it as is?”
“This money is for Amanda, right? You’re not going to use it?”
“After hearing your words, I’m too scared to spend it. If you find out who sent it, please give it to them. But first, you’d have to accept the request, detective.”
Amanda narrowed her eyes and gave a bitter smile.
