Episode 15
— Flap flap!
— Flap flap!
Leonard chuckled quietly.
From the annex, a black crow came rushing straight toward him.
He spread his arms wide, waiting for the bird to jump into his embrace.
“Had fun out there, Canary?”
“Cawwwk!”
Isadora shrieked furiously, dive-bombing him.
[I told you not to come looking for me!]
[I told you not to come looking for me!]
You said you’d come back in two hours.
In two hours!
And yet here you are, sneaking back in early like nothing happened!
— Flap flap!
— Flap flap!
She thrashed so hard her feathers almost flew off.
But it didn’t matter—Leonard had already grabbed her tight in his arms.
[Let me go!]
“It’s still cold out. Come inside.”
[Cawww! I said no!]
Isadora squirmed inside his coat, furious.
The position was humiliating.
Every time this happened, the servants stared at her like she was some bizarre little monster.
Like it was her fault!
When clear that the one stuffing birds into his clothes was the Duke!
“Did you come back early just because I was waiting out front?”
He smiled softly as he teased her.
Duke Caribou… are you really that terrifying Black Duke everyone talks about?
This isn’t how you’re supposed to act… right?
[Stop laughing! Don’t you have some big, scary secret? A real one?]
Something dark, shocking—Something that could shake the world!
“By the way, there’s a strange rumor going around.”
Lania tilted her head.
“Did you recently hire a new maid?”
“No. Why?”
“Because the servants swear there’s a ghost in the annex.”
It all started a few days ago with one maid’s report.
She said a new maid had skipped her work and then disappeared like the wind.
According to her, the woman had white eyes, was really tall, and gave off an intimidating aura.
She questioned people like she was interrogating them.
But… who in the world has white eyes?
And it’s not like the ducal estate is short on staff—why would the head maid hire someone with such a bizarre appearance?
Listening silently, Leonard’s face hardened.
“Why wasn’t this reported to me?”
“They thought it was just another lazy excuse. That maid is always making things up.”
But yesterday, another sighting was reported.
A tall maid at the end of the corridor—who then vanished into thin air.
Her eyes were glowing white.
Now the staff were whispering that a ghost was haunting the annex.
The vengeful spirit of someone the Duke had killed eight years ago.
“…Was it her?” Leonard muttered.
“Who?”
“Isadora McDorr. The editor of the Black Bird Daily.”
[Me?!]
Isadora flinched and looked up at him.
The Black Bird Daily’s editor-in-chief…was literally sitting on his lap right now.
But Lania looked unimpressed.
“No, I don’t think it’s her.”
“If it’s a woman with white eyes, it has to be her.”
After all, who else could slip past heavy security and interrogate the staff?
“Well, that may be true… but still, it can’t be her.”
“Why not?”
“Because I sent her a letter asking her to visit the ducal estate properly. So why would she sneak in?”
She was talking about the letter she’d sent to the Black Bird Daily, giving that tip about the crow.
“The Lady’s always helping me out…”
Isadora’s eyes glittered with emotion.
“Then maybe it’s a spy. Or an assassin.”
Leonard’s brow furrowed.
Whether journalist or spy, someone had slipped into the estate again.
“How could anyone sneak in here? It’s just gossip.”
After that night when assassins attacked the young prince, Leonard had strengthened the castle’s defenses.
But he knew too well: the more guards you have, the more people come and go.
The more people, the more traitors.
In the end, sometimes “safety measures” just create more danger.
So Leonard couldn’t shake his unease.
— Stroke stroke
His hand absentmindedly kept petting Canary.
“Great. He’s using me as therapy now.”
Isadora sighed heavily.
“I’ll send more soldiers to the annex.”
“No way. I’ll suffocate!” Lania groaned, shaking her head.
“Who would sneak in here anyway? Maybe the main building, but not the annex.”
“What are you talking about? You’re in the annex.”
Lania snapped her head around.
“Why would anyone come for me?”
“You must never underestimate assassins—”
“Why would anyone want to kill me? I’m completely useless!”
“…Lania.”
Leonard’s low voice made her flinch.
His face had gone cold, and it looked like he might explode.
“…Alright. I won’t say that again.”
As soon as she backed down, his sharp glare softened.
Yikes.
Tense atmosphere in here.
Isadora let out the breath she’d been holding.
Even his hand, which had been stroking her feathers, stilled.
Wait, that’s it? Conversation over?
She glared at him, demanding more words, but he only rubbed his chin in silence.
His fingers scratched at the scar beneath his jaw.
— Tap tap
Breaking the silence, Velox landed on the window.
Lania’s face lit up.
“Oh, a letter!”
The seal had the mark of a black bird.
[It’s from Edgar!]
Isadora zipped over to peek as Lania opened it.
Letter from Edgar McDorr
Greetings, Lady Lania.
This is Edgar McDorr, writing on behalf of my sister, Editor Isadora.
The Black Bird Daily is on a temporary hiatus. My sister is busy with an important investigation.
Please be patient—she will surely repay your support with a great article.
Your tip about the crow was fascinating, even to me. When my sister returns and hears of it, she’ll be delighted.
As a token of thanks, I’ve sent a bookmark made from the leaves of Misrove’s coastlands.
As a devoted reader, I’m sure you’ll recognize it from one of her articles.
I wish you a speedy recovery.
From Sertio, Edgar McDorr
“A hiatus? Why?”
Lania pouted, fiddling with the bookmark.
She lifted the letter to the light—and noticed the paper was strangely crumpled.
“Why’s the paper all wrinkly?”
Isadora winced.
‘Edgar, did you cry while writing this?’
Her brother was ridiculously emotional.
He’d probably figured out that the “crow” mentioned in the letter was actually her.
Lately, she had been trying to send messages to him.
But she only had a two-hour window, which made sneaking letters out nearly impossible.
After several failed attempts, she finally slipped into an old library.
Dust everywhere—but no paper, no ink.
“Fine. I’ll just rip a page out of a book.”
She searched for something nobody would miss.
Soon, she found a shelf of children’s books.
“Perfect—”
But when she opened one, she froze.
On the first blank page, someone had already written:
‘Read Chapter 7. It’s the story of you and your mother.’
She flipped to the table of contents.
Chapter 7: The Harlot Who Stole Another’s Husband and the Daughter Punished with Poison.
“…What kind of book is this?!”
She checked the cover.
The Imperial Book of Crimes and Punishments.
“Ughhh!!” She threw it away in disgust.
Why was that horrible thing here?
Sure, technically it was a “children’s” book—meant to teach kids that crime deserves punishment.
But it was so brutal it could warp any child’s mind.
“And no, I don’t hate it just because it has a chapter about punishing tabloid reporters! Definitely not!”
Grumbling, she grabbed a different book and tore out a clean page.
Meanwhile, Leonard headed to the annex earlier than usual.
His sister’s words about the ghost rumor still bothered him.
A tall woman, gray-black hair, white eyes…
Lania denied it, but only one name came to mind: Isadora McDorr.
Even Leonard, who didn’t read the papers, knew about her outrageous infiltration stunts.
She’d once snuck into a noble’s bathhouse.
While it was occupied.
But even so, he wasn’t sure.
What could the editor want from this ducal estate, important enough to halt her newspaper?
And why the annex, specifically?
“If she dares to turn my sister into an article…”
He gave orders to his aide:
“Investigate the Black Bird Daily’s editor. Her origins, family, distant relatives—everything. Find any suspicious details.”
Whether she was a spy, an assassin, or just a nosy journalist—No one who sneaks into my estate will lay a finger on what’s mine.
Then, with that vow still burning inside him, he muttered:
“But first…”
He stopped by his sister’s room.
Time to check on Canary.
The little crow always banned him from entering during her two hours of free time.
What on earth is she doing that’s so fun without me?
Frowning, Leonard opened the door.
— Creak.
“Brother?”
Lania blinked in surprise, sitting up.
Leonard’s sharp eyes darted around—but the Canary was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Canary?”
“She’s not here.”
“What? Wasn’t she playing with you?”
“What are you talking about? She never was.”
