[TIDK] 148 – No Drop of Blood
“The cost of the wrong choice has the biggest loss on people who were Miss Scarlett’s age,” Joseph sighed.
He was sombre. Nothing could change the past.
After a while of silence, Joseph opened his mouth again.
“Please, Miss Scarlett. Captain Viktor, please find out if he's going to move on to Vestina.”
“What if he will?”
“Salantier won’t stand a chance.”
“Then are you going to find a way to live, Mr Joseph?”
“No way.”
Joseph grinned.
“Where would a nobody like me turn to? I will die in this land if I have to die. But if Captain Viktor agrees with the House of Commons… I hope we can find a way to live together.”
Scarlett, for a moment, felt a little irked by Joseph’s words.
She nodded, but spoke no more. That was never to say that she completely believed in Joseph Felix.
It wasn’t until their conversation stopped there that Andrei returned. Joseph stood up and said apologetically.
“What do I do about this? I have to go because I can’t eat the refreshments.”
“I knew it, so I only bought a Danish for my boss.”
“…Yes, you’re not going anywhere as a Royal Police officer.”
Joseph spoke despondently and still looked at Scarlett and Andrei alternately with an incomprehensible expression.
“Now I’m done with the Royal Police,” Andrei said.
How did Hylum Pitt end up here?
Joseph’s expression was complicated, and he found himself speechless.
Andrei said as he hurried off when he went, just as he did when he came.
“I think you should go to work when you’re done talking, boss.”
“...”
“Boss.”
Scarlett sat down, pondering.
The short day of winter was passing by. The sun slowly laid on the hill, and the sunset covered the watch store.
Scarlett was particularly tempted to drink when she was in such a scene. Andrei vaguely thought that Viktor copiously drank because he thought the same thing when he saw Scarlett.
He called her one more time. “Boss.”
Only then did Scarlett look up and see Andrei. “Andrei, you know right? Because it was the Royal Police.”
“What?”
“The carriage accident where my parents died.”
Andrei stood with a bag of bread and replied calmly.
“I don’t know. It was before I joined the Royal Police.”
“Really? How old were you when you joined the Royal Police?”
“Sixteen years old.”
“…How old are you now, by the way? Are you sure you’re three years apart from me?”
“Yes, I am.”
Andrei replied. And soon, he continued.
“If you’re asking me if that carriage accident was indeed an accident, I don’t know. I wasn't on the case.”
“I want to know.”
“Let’s find out,” Andrei replied.
“Really?”
“But I want you to keep in mind that I could die in the middle.”
“What?”
“I’m telling you because I’m afraid you’ll feel guilty because you made me, but the Royal Police are already after me if I don’t find that information anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“There have been about two attempts to kill me since I left the Royal Police. Well, I expected it.” Andrei’s nonchalant remark, made Scarlett’s heart race.
“It’s not wrong to quit.”
“You were wary of me earlier, too, Joseph. I have information in my hand. It’s probably very annoying for the Royal Police.”
Andrei continued.
“Anyway, what’s done is done. Don’t be surprised if I die one day.”
Then Scarlett shook her head, profusely.
“No.”
“What?”
“Don’t die.”
“Huh, well I can’t help it,” Andrei said calmly. “Anyway, it’ll take a while. But I’ll find out one day. Boss, you don’t know, but I owe you one.”
Andrei’s words made Scarlett want to pry more, but she just nodded without asking.
♔♔♔
‘Viktor Dumfelt, Captain of the Rubied, and Basili Lindberg, Officer of Vestina.’
Viktor identified the extra in his hand.
Basili Lindberg, preparing to return to Vestina after a day at the Dumfelt mansion, chirped.
“It’s fast, huh.”
“Yes,” Viktor replied.
“Well, consider it more seriously, Viktor.”
Basili faced him and continued.
“The royal family of Vestina desperately needs you, to the point of sending me to ask you in person. The spies you caught told you, didn’t they? Vestina respects soldiers and engineers.”
Viktor’s lips quirked up.
“I’ve heard that many times.”
Basili nodded. He leant forward, with his elbows on his knees.
“With you, Vestina would become the centre of the world, and we can achieve peace without a drop of blood. It’s a win-win for everyone,” Basili beckoned.
