“Simple refreshments and wine.”

“Come in.”

At Victoria’s clear voice, an employee in a red uniform opened the door and entered.

Wine bottles, glasses, fruits and snacks were placed on two tables between the three chairs.

Sidney spoke to the employee who was retreating.

“I need paper and a pen to take notes.”

The employee took out paper and a pen from the bag at his waist and said,

“Here you are. If you need anything else, please press the red button.”

“Thank you.”

As she turned around after receiving the paper and pen, Victoria and Steve Deniro had taken the left and right chairs respectively.

It was a bit uncomfortable, but not worth arguing over, so she sat in the middle seat.

Victoria Owello put her hand on her chest and whispered in an excited voice.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

Looking forward to it… Because she could see her favorite novel as an opera? Could one be so happy over such a thing?

As Sidney was guessing Victoria’s mood like that, the orchestra played a gentle piece.

As the red curtain slowly rose, the lights illuminating the audience seats went out one by one.

The moment the gentle music cut off abruptly, a beam of light illuminated a woman on the dark stage.

She came out slowly, wearing a fluttering blue dress with both hands covering her eyes.

“It’s the protagonist Ariel.”

Victoria touched Sidney’s shoulder and whispered. Then the woman lowered her hands and sang her story with her face covered by a white cloth.

Now I must close my eyes to recall.
Those beautiful days when I laughed and cried with my loving family.
The peaceful days before the vicious disease devoured me.
No matter how much it hurt, I shouldn’t have cried.
I shouldn’t have begged to be saved…
Ah, the sound of trumpets on the battlefield.
Please don’t sound. Don’t take away my last remaining brother.

When the woman’s sorrowful song ended, the lights went out. As thick darkness like blackness settled in,
a lullaby that every citizen of the Arsnel Empire would know played amidst everyone holding their breath.
Then the lights gradually brightened to illuminate the stage.

The woman’s happy childhood unfolded on the stage.
Showing how peaceful daily life in the Arsnel Empire was before the war broke out…

Hide and seek.

The young girl hid around the house, stealing glimpses of her family’s daily life.
How her father fell into alcohol and gambling.
How that father pushed her second brother who would fulfill his dreams.

It calmly depicted the process of the girl’s angel-like father turning into a devil through her eyes.
Her only comfort was her eldest brother lying in bed.

My lovely sister, Ariel.
Come, close your eyes.
Click-clack, if the teacups stamp their feet, fire will rise in the fireplace to warm us.
Really? But there’s no firewood!
Oh, Ariel. Don’t open your eyes. The fairies will run away.
Ariel closed her eyes. Fairies, I absolutely won’t open my eyes… so light a fire in the fireplace to warm this cold room.

As Ariel’s cute singing voice rang out, fire fairies in fluttering red dresses appeared and danced around the stage.

Whatever Ariel’s eldest brother said came true.
Dishes to eat one’s fill, sweet desserts that melted in the mouth, even dancing with her eldest brother in a pretty dress…

The stage was decorated according to the lyrics exchanged between the siblings. Until young Ariel fell asleep.

“What are you writing so intently?”

“Oh, I’m going to tell Emilia.”

Even while conversing with Victoria, Sidney’s hand did not stop.
She wrote down every story unfolding on stage and even the smallest props.

Victoria, who had been watching Sidney with great interest, gently swirled her wine glass.

“I’m jealous of Emilia.”

Sidney glanced at her pouting friend and smiled awkwardly. Victoria glanced at Steve, who was watching Sidney intently.

Hmm, no matter how well Logan Redford and Sidney fit together like a picture…

Victoria Owello was convinced that wasn’t everything.

For Sidney, who was always struggling under heavy responsibilities, a man like Steve suited her better than the ruthless and selfish Logan Redford.

A mature, kind, and relaxed man…

Victoria met eyes with Steve Deniro in his black police uniform and dark hair and smiled brightly.
And she decided to give time for just Steve and Sidney, who responded with a gentle smile.

“Sidney, I’ll just go greet some people for a moment.”

“Huh? Should I come with you?”

“No, I’ll be right back.”

Victoria patted Sidney’s arm as she stopped her pen and stood up.
The sound of her dress rustling was followed by the sound of the door opening and closing.

“There are things even Warden can’t do.”

“…?”

“I think I’m better at drawing.”

Deniro held out the stage sketch he had drawn.

Sidney’s eyes widened at the very detailed and elaborate sketch, considering the short time it was drawn in.

“…You draw well.”

“Then will you include my drawing for your sister as well?”

There’s no such thing as kindness without reason.
It was merely an act to gain favor from the other person and benefit from it, to ease guilt, or to savor a momentary sense of superiority and self-satisfaction.

Either way, it was equally uncomfortable. Steve’s drawing was too perfect to refuse as usual.
To the point where it created the illusion of looking down at the stage from right here, in this seat.

Steve Deniro casually held out the drawing to the hesitating Sidney.

“A small gift from an uninvited guest.”

“If that’s the case, gladly.”

Sidney accepted the drawing for her sister’s sake. As she was evaluating the actors’ performances in her own way again…

“Arresting Count Hamilton… I was honestly surprised.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Warden, how about a promotion to major and deputy commander of the police force?”

The sound of the pen nib scratching paper was particularly loud in the silence. Sidney put down her pen and took a deep breath.

Just a few days ago, Duke Yant had tried to kill her.
Having failed at that, to now try to persuade her using Steve Deniro… there was no way her words would come out nicely.

“What happens if I refuse the offer?”

“We’ll remain good friends.”

Is that all? To use this opportunity to even disband the investigation team while talking about ‘good friends’. Sidney raised the corners of her mouth as if mocking.

“Lord Deniro, a good friend doesn’t recommend something their friend will regret.”

“Is it something you’ll regret?”

“Yes, if the investigation team was disbanded because of me… I would certainly regret it.”

Steve Deniro’s eyes widened as if surprised.
Although he tried to control his expression again by smiling, his eyes and voice couldn’t completely hide his hostility.

“That regret… is it loyalty to your superior? Or is it because that superior is Logan Redford?”

The unusual emphasis on “superior” seemed to be asking if Sidney herself had other feelings for Logan Redford.

Of course, even if Logan and herself, as a man and woman, were like that, it wouldn’t be a problem, but externally they were both known as men.

Putting herself aside, for Logan Redford’s honor, this couldn’t be let go.

“What is your intention in saying such things now?”

“That guy, and Warden too… seem too sensitive. As if you’re affectionate lovers.”

At the word “lovers”, sparks flew from Sidney’s eyes.

“Lord Deniro, that’s an insulting statement to both the Captain and myself.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

Steve looked at her trembling fist once, and then at her gritting teeth once, before smirking.

“But Lord Redford is…”

“He is not.”

Damn it.

Every time Steve Deniro opened his mouth, Sidney denied it flatly while grinding her teeth. Yet Steve persisted tenaciously.
As if determined to hear a definitive answer on whether Logan Redford and Sidney Warden were simply superior and subordinate or lovers.

“What about Warden?”

“Not worth answering.”

Before Sidney could finish speaking, Deniro added with a bright smile, “That’s a relief.”

“…?”

“I quite like you, Warden.”

What a crazy bastard. Sidney was thoroughly confused by the genuinely delighted Steve Deniro.

“Not going to the Armand Hotel that day, trying to destroy the investigation team… I like you enough to regret it. Will you give me a chance to make amends?”

Does he know? That I’m a woman? But that’s impossible…

Sidney just stared blankly at the hand Steve held out. That hand seemed to be asking for a lady’s hand to kiss.

I let my guard down too much. If Logan Redford reacted so sharply… Steve Deniro must not be an easy opponent at all.

Despite being an illegitimate child of the Holden family.

A man who achieved the title of Viscount Deniro and even the position of police chief through brilliant military accomplishments…
How foolish to carelessly lower her guard just because he was Victoria Owello’s cousin brother.

Sidney bit her lip, cursing her own stupidity.

And she rolled her eyes, trying to figure out how the man before her had discovered she was a “woman”, or if he had merely guessed…

“Are you curious how I found out your secret? Whether a trusted friend betrayed you, or if this man just took a wild guess… Oh my, that will hurt your lips.”

Sidney, whose thoughts had been read so clearly, coldly brushed away Steve’s hand approaching her lips.

“Lord Deniro, which is it?”

Steve Deniro lowered his eyes apologetically and withdrew his hand. Then he gave his answer in a calm voice.

“Neither. I know Victoria Owello and Logan Redford too well. And I’m quite perceptive.”

“…”

The polite yet humorous tone and voice would easily break down the defenses of the listener.

Whether it was his original nature or achieved through painstaking effort, Steve Deniro seemed to be of a disposition that never got flustered or swayed by intense emotions.

His first impression was like that too.

An elegant stag with antlers one might chance upon by a lake.

But gazing into those deep blue eyes of unfathomable depth… brings to mind the deep sea one encounters after sailing for a long time.

The waves that slowly rise and fall, surging, reveal their power only as they approach the shore.

Steve Deniro was such a man. Sidney’s instincts warned that he would be very troublesome to meet as an enemy.

“Aren’t you curious? How I knew Warden was a ‘woman’.”