TDAF 74

Chapter 74

Scarlett asked,

“If you suspect I’m in collusion with the Royal Police… why did you come to me? You could’ve asked someone else.”

“I can’t exactly ask the navy about this. As for the royals…”

Joseph looked directly at Scarlett. He stared at her fragile-looking face, trying to read what kind of person she was.

After a moment, he spoke.

“I know you’re repairing the tram.”

“…How?”

“My brother drives the tram.”

Scarlett froze at his words.

Joseph quickly added,

“My brother didn’t tell me on purpose. I happened to visit where he works and saw you there, that’s all.”

“…”

“My brother is extremely grateful to you, Miss Scarlett. He even said he respects you, even though you’re almost thirty years younger than he is. Anyway… I was just surprised to see Sir Hiram here. I came because I was already fairly sure of you, Miss Scarlett.”

Joseph took a deep breath and continued.

“Let me tell you why you’re the only person I can rely on.”

He pulled a small notebook from his coat and held it out to Scarlett.

“This is a list of people in the royal family and the Senate who are almost certainly in collusion with Vestina.”

Scarlett lowered her gaze to the notebook. Her eyes widened.

“…His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?”

“That’s right.”

“Why… on earth?”

“In practice, His Highness oversees the government. Crown Prince Yuli Iren handles most of the royal tours, doesn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“It was during those tours that he saw Vestina’s military power—and became convinced of Salantie’s defeat.”

“…”

“It was Crown Prince Yuli Iren who pushed through the law banning tram repairs. And the senators listed here are the ones who voted for it.”

“So banning tram repairs… was for Vestina’s benefit.”

“Exactly. Policies to suppress Salantie’s technological progress—making it easier for Vestina to swallow Salantie whole.”

The hand holding the notebook began to tremble.

“Are you really allowed to show me this?”

“Yes. For one, we in the House of Commons believe you’re deeply involved in this matter…”

“Because of repairing the tram?”

Joseph wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Well… fundamentally, isn’t it due to a misguided religious belief? The late Count and Countess Crimson also…”

Scarlett looked up at him.

“My parents?”

“Ah—no. That’s only speculation.”

“What kind of speculation?”

Her voice rose with urgency. Joseph swallowed hard.

They needed someone like Scarlett Crimson. She might be the best mechanic in all of Salantie—and the one person who could approach Viktor Dumpelt at any time and extract information.

Joseph finally spoke.

“For the past ten years, His Majesty has scorned engineers for religious reasons. It’s a misguided belief. And so… we’ve begun to wonder if the mechanics who died back then were murdered under the King’s doctrine.”

Scarlett’s grip on the notebook tightened, veins standing out.

“…Are you saying that because of that religious doctrine my parents might have been murdered?”

“To be frank, our members of parliament almost take it as fact.”

Scarlett’s face twisted at Joseph’s words. She could not accept them. She clenched her teeth.

“So… my parents died, and Isaac had to grow up blind—just because of something like that?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

She tried to suppress it, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. She was sickened. She clutched the table with both hands, about to vomit.

Joseph went on.

“And it’s the young people of your generation who’ve paid for that mistake. Even if I bow my head, could I ever truly apologize enough?”

His expression was grim. After a long silence, Joseph spoke again.

“Please, Miss Scarlett. Find out whether Captain Viktor will defect to Vestina.”

“And if he does?”

“Then Salantie will have no hope.”

“Will you also try to find a way to survive?”

“Hardly.”

Joseph gave a hollow laugh.

“Who would take in a worthless man like me? I’ll die here, on this land. But if Captain Viktor shares the Commons’ view… then together we could find a way for Salantie to survive.”

For a moment, Scarlett felt some of her disgust subside.

She nodded but said no more. She still did not—and could not—fully trust Joseph Felix.

Only after their conversation ended did Andrei return. Joseph stood, looking apologetic.

“What can I say. You prepared refreshments, but I must leave without tasting them.”

“I figured as much, so I only bought a Danish for you, boss.”

“…I see your Royal Police instincts haven’t gone anywhere.”

Joseph spoke wryly, still glancing between Scarlett and Andrei with a puzzled expression. Andrei said,

“I told you, I’m not in the Royal Police anymore.”

Joseph still looked baffled as to how Hiram Pitt had ended up here. As when he arrived, he left in a fluster. When he was gone, Andrei spoke.

“If you’re done talking, boss, you should get back to work.”

“…”

“Boss.”

Scarlett sat there as if her soul had left her body.

The short winter day was passing. The clock shop was bathed in the sunset, like falling asleep on the hillside.

There was something about Scarlett in such a scene that made people want to drink. Andrei vaguely thought that might be why Viktor drank so heavily after looking at her.

He called her again.

“Boss.”

At last, Scarlett raised her head to look at him.

“You know, Andrei. You used to be Royal Police.”

“Know what?”

“About the carriage accident that killed my parents.”

Andrei, holding the bag of bread, answered calmly.

“I don’t know. That was before I joined the Royal Police.”

“It wasn’t that long ago. How old were you when you joined?”

“Sixteen.”

“…Come to think of it, how old are you really? You’re three years younger than me, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Andrei replied, then added,

“If you’re asking whether the carriage crash was truly an accident, I honestly don’t know. That kind of information didn’t reach me.”

“I want to know.”

Andrei answered,

“I’ll look into it.”

“Really?”

“But please keep in mind that I might get killed in the process.”

“What?”

“I’m only saying this so you won’t feel guilty, since you’re the one asking. Even if I didn’t look for that information, the Royal Police are already after me.”