Chapter 38

“Marquis.”

Count Alvin called out to Jack after he came out of the room. Jack was surprised that he hadn’t gone yet although it was already quite late.

“Don’t tell me, you’ve been waiting for me till now?”

“Yes. I have something to say.”

Ah. Jack smoothed his hair.

Now that he thought of it, Count Alvin came because he had something to say. They were talking earlier, but suddenly too much had happened all at the same time. In addition, Prillance was not stable yet. She could barely fall asleep, repeatedly waking up in fright.

He had only gone out for a bit in order to ask for a change of water for wiping her sweat.

“I think it may have something to do with this.”

At Count Alvin’s words, Jack’s eyes grew fierce.

“Just so we’re clear, it’s not me.”

It wasn’t common to see Jack’s chilling eyes accompanied by a smile.

“Derek, bring us some simple snacks and tea in my office. There won’t be time for a meal. Would that be alright?”

“That’s fine.”

Jack and Count Alvin went into the office together.

***

“The master is currently having his dinner.”

Reese stated after opening Ralph’s carriage. Annoyance and irritation were apparent on his face. Today was a bad day.

“Today…”

“If you refuse, he said he would discuss the location again.”

What a sly b*stard. Ralph was forced to follow Reese.

“Did your task go well?”

“It failed. Miserably.”

Ralph spoke with a grin. But surprisingly, Ben had no reactions to his words.

Ralph tilted his head and paused trying to eat the meat in front of him. His face was stiff. The sound of his knife and fork being set down rang in the room.

“Did you do the other thing I asked you to do?” (Ralph)

“It was something I had to do.”

Ben calmly stated. It was prepared in case of unforeseen circumstances. Besides, it was a task they actually had to do. Originally, it was a plan they wanted to implement later.

“If you’re being like this, I won’t be able to work. You know how I am – this dog-like personality of mine.”

Ben fiddled with the ring in his hand. It was a ring made of expensive diamonds.

‘Money – with him, it’s always about money’

As someone who gave him money, Ralph was grateful toward Ben. In return, he solved all of Ben’s difficulties. Nevertheless, his crooked personality made him difficult to deal with.

He was an obsessive guy who built his pride through odd things. Things not even related to noble rank. An average person wouldn’t be able to understand.

“I couldn’t help it because the Imperial Ball was just around the corner. I had to do something.”

For now, he began to calmly persuade him.

“In the first place, you don’t even trust me nor my ability!”

After Ralph hit the dinner table hard, tableware scattered all over the place.

“It couldn’t be helped. Besides, do you know how much it costs to dispose of the bodies? What about the cost of silencing them?”

Ben also put down the knife and fork he was holding. Then he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“What does that have to do with this!”

“Don’t think I don’t know anything. I don’t provide you with those things for nothing.”

Ralph gripped his napkin tightly. His face was red and his hands were shaking.

“And after the imperial ball, you’ll be going to go to Minnippi. At that place, no one will be able to stop you from doing what you want. You should know well what I am trying to say, right?”

So until then, he should be careful and just do his work well.

“You’ll have to devise a new plan to make up for today’s failure. Also,”

Today, Ben got up from his seat before Ralph.

“When you have time, learn some manners before the ball.”

After Ben left, the sound of tableware clanging in the dining room resounded.

***

“So what you are saying is,”

Jack put his cup down and put both of his hands together.

“I did it?”

“I said you would be a highly probable suspect.”

Count Alvin corrected Jack’s statement. Strictly speaking, being a key suspect, and being a confirmed perpetrator was different.

However, Jack’s was just offended by the sudden rumor.

“What is the basis for this?”

“The families involved in these events so far have stated that they have seen someone from the Weiand estate come in and out of their residence.”

“Is that supposed to be credible?”

“If a large enough number of people spout them, then it will be credible.”

Jack became a little dumbfounded. Then his mood soured.

In the midst of having his daughter injured, how could he be glad to hear that he was the most likely culprit behind the string of murders in aristocratic society?

Count Alvin’s family managed both a hospital and an information guild. His quick information likely originated from there.

“Then, I would like to hear what the Count thinks.”

Count Alvin must have come to inform him in advance because he had a favorable impression of Jack.

Did he really come here out of goodwill? Or did he just want to identify the suspect first? Or maybe it was because he had found something interesting, as usual.

“I would be lying if I say I wasn’t suspicious at first.”

Jack agreed. If he were Count Alvin, even he would have doubted himself.

“But what happened today changed my mind.”

It was more right to say that doubtful second thoughts appeared in his mind.

It occurred to him that, at the very least, he was a man who wouldn’t play with his daughter’s life. Hence, he wanted to confirm with him.