She was laughing. Chuckling, she was enjoying herself too much. Perhaps out of fear that someone might hear, she suppressed the sound, but she couldn’t hide the joy seeping out. It had only been a few days since their father’s death, but Catherine was laughing. She was laughing.
Cedric turned his body silently and left the place without making a sound, ensuring that Catherine wouldn’t even hear his footsteps. He went to meet Jane Tellot, the telegraph officer he had planned to meet immediately. Jane Tellot happened to have the conclusion with her today.

“Hello. Are you ready to retrieve the body today? Most of the investigation is already done.”

“Will it be concluded like this?”

“Yes. As you already have a lawyer prepared, and the lady has confessed, the case is very clear.”

Jane Tellot never uttered words expressing discomfort at the clarity of the situation. After concluding this matter today, she would return with her annoying aunt, who had been summoned to the family, and meet again to spend a good time together before returning to Chaléa.

“I have to deal with official matters, so the case will proceed to court, but the lawyer for Duke Alanka is very competent.”

It was a case that would end as expected. Jane was extremely displeased with the fact that all two incidents related to this household ended like this. But what could she do? The law is very lenient to those of high status.

“I’m not a lawyer, but the judge will take into account that the lady confessed immediately and that it was an accident.”

Cedric noticed a subtle change in Jane’s voice when she mentioned the word ‘accident.’

“Our lawyer also mentioned that there was no intent.”

“Yes, that’s for the prosecutor, judge, and lawyer to figure out.”

Jane Tellot refrained from commenting on that part. The investigators who thoroughly searched the fourth and fifth floors of the Vueteng Hotel, as well as the servants and hotel staff of the Duke’s mansion, had done their job. No matter how much they thought about it, there were no more clues.

“Do you also consider this an accident?”

At that moment, Jane realized that Cedric had seen something.

“I am known to look at things with a suspicious eye, as Lady Duke Alanka has pointed out.”

She said it and inwardly bit her tongue.

‘Oh, I can’t believe I’m speaking so diplomatically! Now, if I handle a few more murder cases among the nobles and solve them well, I might even become the head immediately! Of course, if I solve those cases well.’

Although she was extremely dissatisfied and annoyed, she was holding back.

“Then, do you think I am the culprit in this case as well?”

Despite being a noble, Cedric Lambert used polite language with Jane. His temperament had changed a lot from before, when he would overturn and run away.

“No. You don’t gain anything from this case. You don’t seem to be in a hurry to obtain the dukedom.”

“I wish you had realized that sooner.”

“Investigations can’t proceed so quickly. We have to keep looking and stay up all night. And even then, there are many cases where we don’t find out.”
Jane concealed her dismayed gaze. Her heart was heavy. The culprit who killed Elshe Viscount Manuel Lambert and the dancer Elena Jusner had disappeared.

Jane would not forget the names of the victims until her death. She hoped that their unforgettable names would not be added to the list, but even the Alanka Duke case left a lingering uneasiness.

“So, are you saying the person who benefits from this case is the culprit?”

“Usually, murder cases are like that. The judge will deem it not a murder case.”

“It seems you, too, don’t express your opinion, Ms. Tellot.”

Cedric would naturally protect his younger sister. But he would live, thinking about whatever his sister had done.

“Sometimes, you can’t prove intent.”

Jane answered briefly. There was no way to prove Catherine Lambert’s intent. If only she had asked her lawyer in advance what kind of punishment she would receive for confessing to murder, but there was no evidence of that.

“I see. … Will my brother’s case be concluded like this as well?”

Jane stared at Cedric. He had the same face as Jane, making her suspect he was a murderer. He wouldn’t be able to act so well. The anger and unforgettable resentment were deeply embedded in his gaunt face. His eyes were shining black.

“I am continuing my efforts. I apologize.”

“…Yes. Please.”

After exchanging a few more words, Cedric Lambert stood up with formal greetings and left. His departing figure looked very burdened. For the first time, Jane felt that this man also carried a heavy load. Now that he had become the Alanka Duke, he would have to bear even more burdens.

She stood up and left the fourth floor. Then, she returned to her room, stared at the paper for a while, and reluctantly began to write the unwanted incident report.

While gritting her teeth, she was on her seventh draft of a report that would undoubtedly need multiple revisions. As she was grumbling, Lady Gordieux returned to the room.

“I’m back, Jane.”

“You’re here?”