“Don’t go, stay with the investigation team…” Logan Redford held her back.

But why those eyes? Like he was looking at Marien, with that kind of gaze…

Ha, this is really uncomfortable. Sidney fixed her gaze on the shadows stretched out on the floor.

She could feel his intense stare following her, but it still felt like she could breathe a little easier.

“In 3 months, will you succeed the Redford Marquis family, Captain?”

“It’s something I’ll have to do eventually.”

Okay, that was fine. Sidney slowly turned and leaned against the windowsill like Logan. Counting the empty chairs in the conference room with her eyes, she spoke again.

“If that happens… I guess we won’t clash anymore in the future, Captain.”

“…You think so?”

“Yes, unless His Highness the Crown Prince orders an investigation of the Redford Marquis family…”

A cold wind suddenly rushed in from behind. Her red hair fluttered chaotically, blurring her vision.

Logan’s shadow stretched on the floor was still looking at her. It must be because he couldn’t let go of his suspicion that she was Marien.

And feeling these strange emotions from him… was being swayed by the lingering aftereffects of one night’s pleasure.

Yes, that’s all it is. A cynical smile flitted across Sidney’s lips as she sorted out the complicated situation.

“Indeed, there’s no reason for me to leave the investigation team. I understand well.”

“If you follow me, I could pay you three times your current salary… but you wouldn’t like that, would you?”

“No, I wouldn’t.”

Sidney flatly rejected the offer as soon as she heard it. As if it wasn’t even worth considering.

“I thought so.”

Logan’s mutter left a bitter aftertaste as it dissipated. Then a cold wind whistled through the conference room.

The papers pinned to the blackboard fluttered like butterfly wings, and a few documents on the conference table flew up and plummeted to the floor.

His voice sank in the chilly air.

“Hand over command of the Conrod case to Walter Asner.”

“…!”

Something was thrust into Sidney’s confused fingers. It was the business card of Steve Deniro, the Chief of Police.

Why… was he telling her to hand over command and go to the police? Then wasn’t everything he said until now not about keeping her? Rather than useless speculation, it would be better to ask him directly.

Sidney took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

“Captain, please explain properly… what this means right now.”

“Big Mouth Rick, you focus only on police corruption.”

“That…!”

Had he noticed? What she was trying to investigate alone. If so, he must know the reason she tried to move in secret…

Sidney clenched her fist and opened her mouth.

“If I touch that, His Highness the Crown Prince…”

“Not just His Highness, but the Redford Marquis family could be in danger too.”

It’s not just dangerous. At worst, the Crown Prince could lose the investigation team and be forced to hand over the throne.

Nevertheless, was he trying to give the knife handle to her? To someone who was merely expendable? Why?

Sidney crumpled the business card in her hand and asked accusingly.

“Knowing that… why are you doing this?”

“…”

Logan just stared at her silently. Just as she was about to lower her eyes in the awkward atmosphere, he tucked her wildly fluttering red hair behind her ear.

He’s crazy. Logan Redford must be crazy.

Otherwise, there’s no way he would make such a decision, look at her like that, fix her hair…

Damn it, first her heart and now her eyes are going weird too. Why is she feeling fluttery! Why does he look so cool…

No, this isn’t right. The insufferable, terrible superior was a hundred times better. At least it wasn’t confusing or burdensome.

Sidney smacked his hand away and lowered her voice.

“What is this…”

“You want to do it, don’t you? So… go ahead and try.”

Do what I want? There was never such an opportunity in her life. No, even harboring such thoughts was a luxury.

But why.

Why would Logan Redford… Sidney blinked.

When her eyelids lowered and rose, Logan’s face had drawn closer.

Her eyelids lowered again and the faint scent of cigarettes and Logan’s body odor wafted over. As her eyelids slowly rose, she came face to face with him right in front of her nose. A low whisper…

“I told you to use me.”

How? While looking into police corruption? As if to say that’s not it, his gaze licked her lips greedily.

Why with those eyes… Sidney scratched the windowsill with her nails, trying to push away the unfamiliar trembling.

At the sharp metallic sound, she felt a touch tapping the back of her hand. He spoke in a monotone voice, as if reciting:

“It’s hard to move independently while leading the Conrod investigation. So hand over the investigative authority to Inspector Asner and move separately.”

An abrupt change of topic. No, had she misunderstood? Sidney frowned and asked again.

“Is there really a need to go that far?”

“Since it’s a corruption investigation, it’s better to do it secretly.”

“It’s hard to keep secrets in the same office…”

“…Then work at your apartment or my apartment after work. Which is more comfortable?”

It would certainly be better to report on work and have meetings in a space other than the office. But that would mean sharing a space with Logan…

Sidney shuddered as if the mere thought was horrifying.

“There’s no need.”

She was about to say there was no need to go that far, but Logan Redford mentioned Walter again.

“If you keep coming in and out of my office, Walter Asner will notice. He’ll stop at nothing when it comes to your work.”

“That’s true, but.”

“What if Inspector Deniro catches on?”

It was entirely possible. Today too, Walter had introduced Steve Deniro.

Still, being in an enclosed space with Logan Redford late at night… didn’t appeal to her.

While she hesitated to give an answer, Logan’s hand approached her mouth. She flinched in surprise and called out to him reproachfully.

“Captain.”

“There’s something on your lip.”

“Ah.”

That germaphobe. Sidney raised her hand and wiped her lips. When she looked at him questioningly as if to ask if it was gone, he squinted one eye.

“Not yet.”

Ah, really! Sidney suppressed her irritation and rubbed her lips with the back of her hand.

“Wait.” With those words, Logan grabbed her wrist. His face suddenly drew closer…

It was so sudden, she was entranced by those narrowed blue eyes, or maybe she blinked at the scattered sleet… and ended up offering her lips.

A vague sensation, not sure if their lips had touched or not.

But the lingering feeling left by that brief moment was real. He seemed just as surprised and flustered as she was…

No, why is he flustered? She felt unreasonably indignant and angry.

“Did I look like Marien to you?”

“…”

There was no answer. Sidney stood up, slapping her coat tails with a bang.

Then she rubbed her lips vigorously with the back of her hand as she stepped backwards.

“Don’t make that ‘mistake’ again.”

At the word she emphasized, sparks flew in Logan’s eyes. He glared at Sidney as if he would devour her and sneered.

“You’re the one who ignored the warning not to get close.”

That’s right. Logan Redford had clearly warned her, and she was the one who ignored it. Then she got caught up in it, and for a moment she even yearned for him…

Sidney shuddered with self-loathing and turned her head sharply.

“So, just this once… I’ll let it slide.”

Then she fled the conference room. The sound of her heartbeat was so loud it seemed like Logan’s footsteps chasing after her.

But that didn’t happen. After slamming the door shut, Sidney Warden saw Walter Asner approaching and firmed her resolve.

That she really needed to end it… She vowed that even if she met Logan Redford as Marien soon, she would put an end to this dreadful relationship.

But how.

How should she meet Logan to sort things out.

Since that day, it’s been hard to even see or talk to Logan Redford…

Sidney tapped a document with her pen, chin propped on her desk. As if he’d been waiting, Walter Asner sidled up close and asked casually.

“Sidney, are you free?”

“No, I’m busy.”

“You look pretty free right now.”

She pushed away the document Walter subtly held out and sighed.

“Appearances can be deceiving.”

“Sidney… is something wrong?”

What good have I done? Who’s avoiding whom now?

Sidney Warden pouted, recalling Logan who had briefly shown his face in the morning before dashing off.

“Hey, don’t touch that.”

“Come on, help me out. Don’t you feel sorry for me?”

Even though Walter, who had suddenly become the lead on the Conrod case, made a pitiful sound, Sidney’s attitude remained cold.

“I feel more sorry for myself.”

Her voice sounded somewhat gloomy even to her own ears. Even Andy Spencer, who had been quietly organizing documents, looked up.

She tried to brush it off with an awkward smile, but Walter asked with a serious face.

“Do you have something troubling you? Why, are things not going well with that woman you met at the end of the year?”

“…”

It’s not a woman, but.

She was taken aback by Walter’s unexpectedly sharp observation. Having finally gained her attention, Walter thumped his chest with his fist and boasted.

“I’m an expert at this kind of thing. Love is all the same. Even if this woman seems special… meeting, loving, and breaking up is all the same.”

He’s so simple-minded.

How can he generalize human relationships as… ‘meet, love, and break up’?

Sidney clicked her tongue briefly as she turned her eyes to the documents. It was a gesture to wrap up the conversation, but Andy Spencer, sitting across from her, chimed in and the conversation continued.

“Has Inspector Asner actually been in a relationship?”

“Inspector Spencer, can’t you tell just by looking? Women are naturally more attracted to warm-hearted, dependable men like me than cold pretty boys like Sidney.”

“…”

“Inspector Spencer, that look… is quite offensive.”

“This is just how my eyes look.”

“Hah, anyway! This is why love novices are no good. Worrying unnecessarily. That… it’s all pointless.”

Thwack, Sidney tapped the document with her pen and raised her head.

The meeting itself was meaningless.

It was just one night of mutual agreement and enjoyment.

What difference does the ending make?

“You’re right. Meeting and breaking up… it’s all the same.”

“See? You only worry when you want to do well with someone who appears.”

Sidney had no intention whatsoever of trying to do well with Logan. Marien was an existence that needed to disappear.

“I…”

And so Sidney Warden began to speak. Trusting in Walter Asner, who prided himself as something of a love expert.