Chapter 5

　　Arlen’s eyes widened. At the same moment, the police chief, who had been hastily scanning the report his subordinate brought him, dropped the papers with a clatter.

　　“…Y-Your Excellency, I beg your pardon?”

　　“You didn’t know, Chief? That the late king long ago designated the Sermont daughter as the match for His Highness the Crown Prince.”

　　The chief’s jaw went slack as he stared at her in disbelief. It was the first he had ever heard of it. Actually, on second thought, he seemed to recall hearing something similar a very long time ago. Before he could sort out his bewildered thoughts, his gaze fell upon the woman’s wretched state as she shivered on the cold floor. If what the Duke said was true… A cold sweat trickled down his spine.

　　“Get over here, now! No, move aside.” His eyes bulging, the chief grabbed his subordinate by the scruff of the neck and shoved him aside, then, excusing himself, scurried away.

　　Only after the chief, unable to shed his flustered demeanor despite his rank, had frantically pushed his way through the officers and vanished, did Liam turn his gaze to the woman, whose eyes now shone with desperation.

　　“So, you are Lady Sermont.”

　　“Yes. You know of my family?” The woman’s face lit up as if she were greeting a long-lost friend, and she nodded eagerly. The ends of her neatly braided hair, tucked under a small-brimmed bonnet, bobbed in agreement.

　　“As I understand it, Lady Arlen Sermont is not currently in the capital, but in—”

　　“Nortonburg, at Saint Academy,” she finished, cutting him off.

　　Liam narrowed his eyes at her, swallowing a laugh. Was that not a fact anyone with an interest in the royal family could easily discover?

　　“Do you also know why you were in Nortonburg?”

　　Arlen felt as if she were being subjected to a new interrogation. But she was certain that if this man knew of the promise, he would help her. “Because the late king, the very bedrock of Stoneburn, personally gave me a letter of recommendation to enroll at Saint Academy, so that I might dedicate myself to my education as Crown Princess.”

　　Correct. The corners of Liam’s mouth relaxed as he confirmed that the woman he had unexpectedly met at the police agency was indeed the one he had only heard of. “Then that must mean you are the dunce whose academic performance was so atrocious that she failed to graduate for ten years.”

　　“A… a dunce?” The woman, who had been composed until now, felt her cheeks flush a deep crimson. Insult was written plainly on her face. Reading the truth in her reaction, Liam’s eyes belatedly took in her full appearance. Her attire was provincial, and exhaustion was etched into every line of her face. She looked so precarious that she seemed barely able to remain upright. And yet, with her fair skin and delicate, well-proportioned features, she possessed a beauty more arresting than any lady known in high society. There was no doubt about that. But this, too, was merely an observation; it stirred nothing in him.

　　“My apologies, if you are indeed her,” he said dryly. “I simply found it hard to believe that I would meet the young lady returning from Nortonburg in this shabby police agency.”

　　At his empty apology, the woman’s expression visibly darkened. Her eyes, looking as if they might spill tears at the slightest touch, shimmered under the lights. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but I was in a hurry to attend my father’s funeral tomorrow when I found myself in this situation.”

　　One of Liam’s eyebrows rose sharply. “That’s strange. I was under the impression that Viscount Sermont’s funeral was held over a month ago.”

* * *

　　Liam silently watched as the woman’s dumbfounded face turned deathly pale. Her complexion, so ghastly she looked as if she could collapse at any moment, was pitiful enough to evoke sympathy in most, but to him, it was nothing.

　　“…The funeral is over? That… that can’t be.”

　　Did I arrive too late? For Arlen, who had packed her bags the moment she received the telegram and rushed here on the first train, it was a truth she refused to believe.

　　“McKinley Sermont. Unless there is another viscount of the same name, the obituary is unlikely to be wrong.”

　　“…How could this be…” At his words, the woman covered her face with both hands. Her small shoulders trembled. But even those slender, pitiful shoulders failed to stir any feeling in him. Her shocked expression only served to confirm once more that her claim of being a member of the Sermont family was not a lie.

　　Seeing the prelude to the tears that were sure to follow, Liam, as a matter of gentlemanly courtesy, took a handkerchief from his breast pocket. But just as he was about to offer it to her, he paused. To his surprise, the woman had already regained her composure. After calmly steadying her breathing, she asked, “Pardon my forwardness, but might I ask a favor of you?”

　　He generally disliked people who asked for favors so brazenly after a mere introduction, but Liam gave a short nod. The woman’s soft lips trembled before moving. “Please send someone to the Sermont estate. The maid I sent to fetch my mother, to vouch for my identity, has not yet returned.”

　　“…Your identity?”

　　“Yes. Just as you did not believe me, the police here will not let me go. I’m also worried about my maid.”

　　Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway, and the police chief who had left in such a rush reappeared, his subordinates in tow. “My goodness, Young Lady. Are you all right? My subordinate has committed a great discourtesy.”

　　The chief carefully draped a blanket over Arlen as a show of respect, then forcibly pushed down on the head of Langston, who was openly showing his displeasure. It was a clear command to apologize at once, but Langston, his expression still sullen, held his neck stiff and spat out, “This woman’s identity has not been confirmed.”

　　“Langston!” The chief’s mouth fell open as if he were about to foam at the mouth at his subordinate’s defiance, even in front of Duke Crawford. He squeezed Langston’s shoulder hard. Under the silent pressure to release her immediately, Langston scowled but puffed out his chest, his face set with the conviction that there could be no exceptions.

　　“Did Her Majesty the Queen, the mother of Stoneburn, not always emphasize this? That sentiment is the primary culprit in the disruption of social order, and that the Edel Police Agency must abide by law and order no matter what. My conscience will not permit me to defy Her Majesty’s will.” A fiery loyalty to the royal family burned in Langston as he recited the Queen’s ideology like a priest. Of all people, it had to be a zealot.

　　Liam watched the officer with narrowed eyes. “Is that so.”

　　The tip of his golden ceremonial cane, intricately engraved with elegant patterns, tapped the floor. As he took a step forward, Langston flinched at the oppressive aura and took a hesitant step back. He was more than a little flustered by the Duke’s sudden intervention, but he forced his shoulders back, trying to hide his intimidation. “With all due respect, the maid this woman sent has not yet returned. If someone from her family comes, we can reconsider then—”

　　“I will do it,” Liam cut in. “I will vouch for her.”

　　Langston, who never imagined the Duke would go to such lengths, scowled fiercely. A flicker of satisfaction touched Liam’s lips as he looked down coldly at those displeased eyes. “If the House of Crawford vouches for her, there could be no simpler way to handle things. I doubt the Edel Police Agency would have a problem with that.”

　　The chief, standing beside him, nodded eagerly. “Of course, of course. You are correct. If none other than the Duke himself vouches for her, it would make things much easier for us…”

　　“But Chief, there is clearly a witness…”

　　“Quiet! No one was shot. What kind of witness is a woman who gives one statement and then vanishes?” The chief, who had just been citing procedural issues, casually dismissed Langston’s rebuttal and clasped his hands together respectfully.

　　In the end, the officer, unable to protest against Duke Crawford, bowed his head. And with that, Arlen was finally able to leave the police agency where she had been held for nearly half a day.

* * *

　　Watching the woman’s retreating figure, her head bowed low, Liam took a pocket watch from his jacket and flipped open its cover. One hour. An hour wasted from a schedule so busy that even ten of him would not suffice. Mulling over the needlessly squandered time, he stepped out of the entrance, only to be met by a bone-chilling gust of wind. He withdrew the hand he had tucked in his pocket and placed a cigarette to his lips. The lit tip flared red in the cool air.

　　As Liam, his eyes impassive, gazed at the woman’s petite frame and slowly exhaled a plume of smoke, she, who had been staring blankly into the distance, suddenly approached and bowed her head.

　　“Thank you for your help. I don’t know how to repay your kindness.”

　　Liam’s gaze was bleak as he stared at the woman, who was under the grand delusion that he had helped her. His words had not been born of any desire to help her, but from sheer annoyance at the time he had wasted. He was already irritated that the police agency he had visited to finalize the report on last night’s raid was unprepared; the chaotic atmosphere inside had only frayed his nerves.

　　“That won’t be necessary.”

　　“No. Please, tell me if there is anything you desire.”

　　What could she possibly repay? A woman so powerless she couldn’t even get out of a police station on her own. Her intentions were transparent. Having no desire to entertain her hopes for a future meeting, Liam lightly flicked the cigarette held between his fingers. The long ash scattered in the wind.

　　“I’ll repeat myself, Young Lady. There will never come a day when I require your help.”

　　“Still, should you ever need assistance, I shall repay you with the humble power of House Sermont. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

　　Leaving behind an offer and thanks that held little credibility, the woman turned away without a hint of hesitation. As he watched her descend the stone steps, his eyes caught the slight, almost imperceptible limp in her gait.

　　“Your Excellency, you were gone longer than expected.” His aide, who had been shrugging against the biting chill, quickly approached.

　　“Police Chief Alphons—replace him.”

　　“What? Why so suddenly? Did the chief make some kind of mistake?” Surprised by the sudden dismissal, the aide followed Liam’s gaze and looked on with curiosity. “Do you know her, Your Excellency?”

　　Trapped by his aide’s question, Liam watched the woman silently. The maid hasn’t returned, she said. Indeed, it seemed she hadn’t thought about transportation, as a look of uncertainty crossed her face while she stood at the main gate. How bothersome. Regretting that he had even looked, Liam turned his head to his aide, Jason.

　　“See her to the Sermont estate.”

　　“Certainly—Pardon?” Jason, having answered out of habit, widened his eyes as if he had misheard. Liam’s cool gaze, which had been about to place the burnt-out cigarette into a portable case, settled on his unmoving aide.

　　“Ah… yes… I’m on my way.” Jason scurried over and spoke with the woman, who then offered another word of thanks from a distance. Soon, the carriage carrying the plainly dressed woman disappeared into the damp air, which felt as if it would snow at any moment.