*****
When I returned to the police department, the coachman of the Count Dundress was present.
As he entered the interrogating room where he was waiting, the coachman, who had been sitting with his shrinking shoulders, got up abruptly.
I beckon him to sit down.
“Yesterday, you took Count Dundres to a bar near Mount Denville?”
The coachman Milford gulped and nodded.
“Yes, investigator.”
“Starting from the time of departure from the Imperial Palace. Can you tell me the exact timing?”
“It was not long after the bell rang at the time of death.”
“Was the Count wearing a hood?”
“Yes, he was wearing a black robe.”
“Did he go straight from the Imperial Palace to Mount Denville? Was he planned it to go there?”
“No. I was going to return to the Count’s residence, but the Count handed me a piece of paper and ordered me to go there.”
“Paper?”
“Yes, here. I brought it.”
The coachman, Milford, held out a piece of paper the size of the palm of his hand.
The little piece of paper that was crumpled in his pocket had only ‘Denville Mountain’ and the name of the bar, ‘Lawson Tavern’ written on it.
“Did you go there often?”
“It was my first time going there. That’s the only bar nearby, so it was pretty damn close.”
“What happened when you arrive?”
“I said I’d wait, but the count refused, so I came back.”
“Tell me exactly what the count said.”
“‘Go back,’ he said. ‘What about the returning carriage? I asked, but he waved his hand and couldn’t speak anymore. If I had known that would happen, I would have waited for him—“
“I think the Count is going to meet someone, but are there any other carriages around?”
“Not at all. I thought the count was drunk, so I looked for someone to ask him to take care of the count, but there was no such thing as a carriage.”
The coachman Milford spoke harshly, perhaps to emphasize that he did his best for the owner he served as a coachman.
He left his master in a remote place and returned, but now he was in a difficult position because the owner died like that.
He didn’t even seem to be lying, so I asked again.
“Did you think the Count was drunk?”
“The Count’s voice was a little quieter. If anyone drinks too much, their voice will change.”
At the words of the coachman, Milford, I asked, turning to Stein, who was standing behind me.
“Mr. Stein? Did the Count drink a lot in the palace that day?”
“Your Majesty is such a heavy drinker that the Count must have joined.”
Stein answered, and the driver nodded, as was often the case.
It seemed that there was nothing more to be gained than to reconfirm the situation I had guessed.
When asked if the coachman had heard of who the Count was meeting that day, he jumped and said, “How does a coachman will know such a thing?”
After sending out the driver and writing down his statement in a notebook, I got up with a note that the Count had left in the notebook.
“I should go to Count Dundress. If I was going to meet someone, there might be someone who knows. There might be some correspondence left.”
“If you’re going to search the Count, I’ll bring the crew.”
“Search—.”
Stain’s words about releasing the Emperor’s Guard and searching for the Count left me speechless.
Search for Count Dundress. The investigation should be done, but it could have been done wrong by Count Dundress or the enemy. [T/N: she meant it’s possible that count had done something wrong and got killed as an act of revenge]
Investigations against aristocrats seem to be common.
It should be seen that there are very few cases where either the perpetrators or the victim’s family kindly cooperate with the investigation.
In many cases, where the victim’s private life was often infuriated and even disgusting.
The situation is complicated even if an official complaint comes into the Ministry of Justice.
Almost all crimes include the victim’s personal life. Therefore what should be done?
I don’t know how Count Dundres will come out, but I am in a position where I have received a kind of decree from His Majesty the Emperor.
There is no place to back down, so I have no choice but to confront each other. [other means the emperor]
However, it was too rude to the bereaved family to mobilize the soldiers to search the Count’s house right now, no matter how much you think about it.
“For the search, please go to Mount Denville. I think we should go together with Mr. Stein as a countess.”
“All right.”
“Then I’ll see you in two hours in front of the Justice Department, Mr. Stein.”
So Stein returned to the palace. I met Jibril as I headed to the evidence room with a bag of Count Dundres’ belongings that I had found on Mount Denville.
” Senior Nass, have you made any progress? You look very tired.”
“Don’t say it. It’s dark. Also, my future is dark.”
“Hey, what should I do? Did you have lunch?”
“Oh, I haven’t even eaten and don’t have time to eat. I have to go for further information.”
“Ugh, if it weren’t your Majesty who ordered the independent investigation, I would secretly help you.“
“What are you doing alone? I’ll buy you a sandwich.”
“Really? It’s only you. I’ll take a look at the count’s belongings, so I’m going to the office.”
“Yes, senior. I’ll put it on your desk and make sure to eat it.”
“Thank you.”
“Welcome and keep fighting, senior.”
Entering the evidence processing room with the support of a pretty, kind, and sincere junior, I opened the pouch and spread the Count’s clothes on the table.
All that was left was a white shirt, pants on the right side where blood was spotted.
There were no hood and robes that the Count was wearing.
Did the culprit dump the rest of the things somewhere else? Why?
If the perpetrator had been hoped that he would not be found, they would have been all gone, but only a part of the body disappeared and some of the belongings.
What is the reason?
Even if I had to investigate, I looked closely, but the shoes and pants were fine except for blood and dirt.
The shirt was soaked in blood with the Count’s left body missing, but the torn part was sharp like a knife, leaving traces of being deliberately torn.
It was inevitable that the guy who did something terrible to the Count’s body even touched his shirt.
“Huh?”
Among the few remaining shirt buttons, a few threads were stuck on the last button.
Green. No, light green.
I carefully pulled out two short threads wrapped around the button, torn them, put them in a small envelope, and put them in my notebook.
Was it from the Count’s jacket? No, it was most likely the traces of the criminal.
I looked at the shirt again but couldn’t find anything unusual about it.
There was a peculiar wound on the earl’s right hand, so I took a good look at the sleeve, but it was clean.
After meticulously documenting the condition of the clothes in a notebook, I returned to my seat.
I didn’t have time to meet with Stein as I promised him, but the sandwich on the desk caught my eye.
As I read Jibril’s note with a message of her support written in it with bad handwriting, I burst into laughter and sat down and forgot my sandwich.
After changing, I rode a white carriage and headed to the residence of Count Dundress.