Chapter – 12
Amused by Aiden’s flustered gaze stuck on her sudden, pitiful smile, Brielle quickly changed the subject.
“You mentioned there was something you wanted to check. What is it?”
“Ah… hmm, yes. First, I’d like to take a look around the café and the garden. After that, may I ask Miss Taylor a few questions? I’ll also explain the purpose of my visit.”
…Could it be that he’s looking for traces of Rolling Pin?
Facing the police’s “special helper,” openly declaring an intent to search her base, Brielle quickly shifted her eyes. She stole a glance at Aiden’s face, but his expression revealed nothing.
“It doesn’t seem related to Rolling Pin… And there’s no need to look suspicious by refusing the Duke’s request.”
Having made up her mind, Brielle reached out and pointed toward the innermost kitchen.
“Please feel free to start there. The garden is dark, so I’ll bring you a lantern.”
“Thank you.”
Aiden nodded lightly and rose from his seat first.
Watching the tall, broad-shouldered man step into the kitchen, Brielle quietly tilted her head.
“He moves nimbly. Looks like he kept up some exercise while studying, after all.”
Her slightly tanned skin and the fluidity of his movements were unlike most people his size—it wasn’t awkward at all. Surprised, she headed to the storage room on the second floor.
About thirty minutes later, after thoroughly inspecting the café and the garden, Aiden returned to sit across from Brielle.
In the meantime, Molly had brought tea and snacks and then excused herself.
“You’re quite skilled in many ways. Please, try some.”
“Thank you.”
However, Aiden only offered a polite acknowledgment, not even pretending to lift the teacup. He ignored the carefully made pastries as well.
Just as Brielle’s mood began to sour at his finicky attitude, Aiden finally spoke.
And it was an unexpected topic.
“You signed the lease for this building directly with the owner, without a broker?”
“Yes, that’s correct. But is that a problem?”
“No, not at all. Though, the fact that the owner’s name has changed could be an issue for Miss Taylor, the tenant, I suppose.”
Brielle’s eyes widened at Aiden’s neutral delivery of the information that the building owner had changed.
“I haven’t heard that. And… why is the Duke telling me this?”
“Because I’m the new owner. The original owner was my brother. You may not know, but he passed away recently.”
“Wait, the person I exchanged the contract with was an elderly woman. Even on paper, the name was female. It wasn’t Duke Bradley Hill.”
Brielle stood abruptly and moved toward the counter, leaving Aiden no time to ask the next question. At that moment, something unexpected caught his attention.
‘…?’
The edge of the teal dress, resembling her eyes, was fraying noticeably. While Aiden stared, slightly surprised, Brielle returned to the table with the contract.
“Please check it yourself.”
“…Thank you. I wanted to see the documents firsthand anyway.”
“This situation is confusing.”
Still flustered, Brielle watched as Aiden carefully read the documents she handed him. When he reached the signature line on the last page, the corners of his eyes briefly reddened, but he quickly composed himself so Brielle wouldn’t notice.
“The name here, Isabel Atkins, is the aunt of my siblings. She was a very kind woman, and she passed away about ten years ago.”
“Passed away?”
So… does that mean I signed a contract with a ghost?
Seeing Brielle confused by his ambiguous words, Aiden hurriedly added:
“My brother enjoyed impersonating others since he was young. Aunt Atkins was one of them. Why he bought a building under the name of someone deceased… I have no idea.”
Even explaining, Aiden didn’t seem to know the full circumstances either. He roughly brushed his bangs away from his forehead with a sigh.
Meanwhile, Brielle reflected on the person she had met as the building owner.
Though skilled at disguise herself, she couldn’t easily judge whether a robust man in his thirties could convincingly appear as such an old woman.
‘Let’s think carefully. She kept her shoulders hunched while seated. She said it was because of the cold, but if you hunch like that, you can make your frame appear smaller. And… with that lap blanket, the legs…!’
The elderly Isabel Atkins never stood up that day. She complained several times about being uncomfortable and even saw Brielle off while seated.
All of it was acting to hide a large frame. Brielle had even worried that the person might be physically uncomfortable.
As understanding grew, Brielle realized the person she met might actually have been Bradley Hill.
Still, there was no need to reveal that conclusion to Aiden. An ordinary person wouldn’t grasp the possibility of such a disguise as well as she did. So, Brielle said:
“…I still don’t fully understand, but I’ll remember that the building’s current owner is Duke Aiden Hill, sitting right in front of me. Is that sufficient?”
“I have one question. When you spoke with him, did anything seem unusual? I know this sounds strange…”
“Well…”
Brielle cast her gaze slightly to the side, recalling that day. No conversation felt extraordinary; it was just formal paperwork between landlord and tenant.
With his deep hazel eyes, Aiden stared at Brielle for a long time.
“There was nothing unusual.”
“…I see. Thank you for your time.”
Aiden nodded and abruptly rose, preparing to leave.
Brielle felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu as he checked the pocket watch in his coat, but it quickly faded.
“If it’s not rude, may I ask—are you investigating the case of Duke Bradley Hill?”
Brielle suddenly asked, as a kind of encouragement. Bradley Hill’s death had faded from public attention. She worried the suspicious circumstances would be buried, but with his brother appearing and mentioning him, a small hope swelled in her chest.
“No. That’s all then.”
However, Duke Aiden Hill flatly denied her question and quickly left.
“What’s with that attitude? He looks like he’s running away.”
As someone had said before, first impressions were right. Brielle grumbled continuously about Aiden Hill while fastening the door.
Outside, a few subtle shutter clicks were heard, but too faint for her to notice.
Meanwhile
“Tabby, is this real?”
As Octavia prepared to step out for another outing to The Midday Garden, her father, Alexander Wood, blocked her way, clutching a bundle of yellowed newspapers.
“Father? What are you doing here at this hour?”
Octavia was startled. It was the first time Alexander had left work early since the newspaper’s founding.
“Don’t stand in the hallway. Come with me for a moment.”
He led her into the nearby parlor. After dismissing the staff, he handed her the notorious third-rate newspaper, Miller.
“It just came out. Look at the front page.”
“Why bother with such a low-level paper…”
Octavia reluctantly followed her father’s pointing finger, lowering her eyes. Her green eyes widened in shock.
“A secret meeting between Duke Aiden Hill and Miss Brielle Taylor? What kind of insane headline is this, Father? This is a lie… Wait, there are photos!”
Holding the paper close, she glared at it as if she could burn it. Upon closer inspection, both photos showed familiar faces.
The first photo showed Duke Aiden Hill entering the café; the second showed Brielle Taylor seemingly seeing him off.
Even to Octavia, it looked like an illicit meeting between lovers.
