Edgar’s owned Catalina arrived safely at Le Mont Harbor.

It was the morning of the 16th at 6 o’clock.

They waited for the train in the main waiting room at Le Mont station, replacing breakfast with sandwiches and coffee.

The train, which arrived promptly at 7 a.m., reached Leiden Central Station at 4 p.m.

Everything went smoothly as if under full sail.

“Check the schedule and come to the hotel.”

Gerald opened the carriage door and said to Ann.

“Thank you. Thank you very much.”

Ann bowed deeply twice to express her gratitude and quickly boarded the carriage.

Although there was time, Ann was in a hurry. The carriage started rolling towards the Fatex main office.

After confirming that the maid’s carriage had disappeared, Edgar gave the order to depart.

Unless something extraordinary happened, the maid who stole Johann’s birthday present would return.

It was a simple mission.

Even in seemingly simple tasks, there were always hidden variables.

“Wait a moment. Why are you turning back?”

It was about ten minutes after the carriage had started moving. Ann, who was admiring the cityscape outside the window, was startled and shouted.

According to Gerald, Patex’s main office was just straight down this road. However, the carriage suddenly changed direction.

“This road is under control. Tram track maintenance is underway. Are you a tourist? Where are you from?”

Instead of answering, Ann asked a question in her confusion.

“How much longer if I go this way?”

“It’s just a ten-minute detour. Don’t worry too much.”

Calm down by checking the pocket watch, Ann looked out the window again. But she had to call the coachman again.

“…W-what’s going on?”

The carriage slowly decelerated and suddenly came to a stop.

“This is ridiculous.”

The coachman made a spitting sound while sticking out his tongue. It sounded like he was muttering to someone.

The window on the stone side creaked open.

“Her Majesty the Queen is passing through this road, so control has been imposed. How would you like to wait, or would you like to get off and run?”

The coachman, who had received an explanation from Gerald, asked with an embarrassed expression.

Holding the lid of the pocket watch she clutched in her hand, Ann opened it. 4:45 PM.

“What about you?”

“It’s me, I’ll just run.”

Ann, who got off the carriage and started running, looked like a cloud of people who had gathered to see the Queen.

Bags clashed with pedestrians holding the flag of Ron Dos.

Ann held the worn-out bag handle tightly to her chest and ran forward, looking ahead.

Then, she bumped into someone. Her body, running with all her might, lost balance and fell backward.

“Oh, are you okay?”

Tears welled up. Ann, whose vision turned white, blinked her eyelids as the other person reached out a hand.

Grabbing the hand and struggling to stand up, Ann slowly raised her head.

Someone shouted, “Oh, Ann? Is it Ann?”
She was a maid at Greathill. Ann’s eyes widened.

She was the woman who, under Diane Brook, incited the maids and behaved maliciously towards the young lady.

But more distressing than that was the deep navy envelope in the maid’s hand.

The fancy lettering in gold at the center of the paper sparkled in the sunlight as it set.

Fatex.

At that moment, Ann felt her heart stop.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Edgar was sitting on a single velvet sofa, reviewing documents about the International Bank with Gerald.

A whiskey with ice was placed on the side table next to the sofa.

Putting down the documents he had been browsing, Edgar stretched his body, reaching out to pick up the glass.

Swallowing the cold drink and gazing leisurely around the room, Edgar surveyed the interior of the room with a slow gaze.

Every time he visited Leiden, the rooms at Leopold Hotel were as neat as Johann’s character, free from any clutter.

Unlike the luxurious Ranslot Hotel, it was modern enough to be cool.

“That painting. It’s not bad.”

At Edgar’s words, Gerald, who had his nose buried in the report, turned his head. Seeing the large frame hung on the white wall of the bed bay, Gerald clicked his tongue.

It was a painting that seemed to have been scattered with various colors of paint, with no specific form or regularity, only the brilliance of colors.

No, can such a thing even be called a painting? Shaking his head, Gerald said.

“Our Poppy can do anything with her paint-stained feet. Should I show you sometime?”

Edgar chuckled. Poppy was the second most beloved dog after Gerald’s wife.

Edgar’s gaze, which had been directed at the painting, reached the large wall clock after sweeping across the wall in the reflection of the sunset light on the glass cover.

5:45 PM. There was still time left even after the maid returned.

Since he had come back to his hometown after a long time, he could meet his friends. It was within a reasonably understandable range if he thought so.

With that thought, Edgar put down the glass and lowered his gaze to the documents. Without a knock, the room door opened urgently.

It was Olivia’s maid.

The maid was on the verge of tears.