Chapter 49

Marcus, the Captain of the Watch in Tarakan Free City, was not in a good mood. He was tapping his desk and slowly reading a document for the third time, maintaining his patience throughout.

“Charles Garington’s assault case,” the report read in bold letters.

It detailed an incident where Charles Garington had been ambushed while moving to a dark alley after leaving an illegal gambling house. The attackers had completely nullified the watch’s protection and broke Charles’s limbs in the process.

For the watch, especially for one of its most valued guards, the Third Guard, to be breached and for a noble to be harmed—well, that was like scratching a deep wound on their pride.

“So, what do we know about the assailant?”

“We couldn’t identify them since they were dressed entirely in black. They only said it was a woman with red eyes.”

“And the situation with the watch?”

Shouldn’t that have been asked first? The commander of the Third Guard hesitated to answer, then slightly bowed his head.

“Only minor injuries from being struck with the flat side of a blade. Surprisingly, they seems to have deliberately avoided vital spots, so most injuries are light.”

“That indicates impressive skill. Could it be the Imperial Order of Knights?”

“Among the Imperial Knights, they seem to possess the level of force comparable to the Blue Knight Order.”

Ah, the Blue Knight Order. This title referred to those who had earned their place in the Imperial Knights solely based on their combat skills, without any noble lineage or background. Each member was practically a walking weapon, symbolizing the Empire’s military strength.

“Is there any reason for the Empire’s Blue Knight to attack the son of Garington?”

“No, there isn’t. That’s why we suspect it’s not them. Among the Blue Knights, there’s only one woman, and she’s currently missing.”

“Hmm.”

Marcus, letting out a soft murmur, stared at the commander before him. The guard’s face was stiff as they met each other’s gaze. It seemed like the Third Guard had not colluded on this. It was too obvious for a conspiracy, not to mention that there was no better job to have in Tarakan Free City than being in the watch.

Sure, they might hear some complaints from locals, but given that the city primarily thrived on tourism, that wasn’t much of a problem.

“Any other information?”

“Ah! We suspect the assailant had a grudge against Charles Garington. If it were for money, they could have just stolen it, but they harmed only Garington while leaving the money behind. The others and the watch members were merely knocked out.”

“Does it seem like there are only a few commoners with a grudge against Charles Garington?”

“And from the way they spoke, we think they might be commoners.”

“Do you think there are only a few commoners holding a grudge against Charles Garington?”

What exactly am I supposed to do about this? The commander of the Third Guard swallowed down the words that had risen to his throat and then slowly spoke.

“Shouldn’t we ask about commoners with a grudge against Charles Garington who have red eyes?”

“But they are currently unconscious.”

“When they wake up, that is.”

“Hmm.”

A noble assault case, huh? One thing was for sure: they absolutely had to catch the criminal. If they couldn’t find them, they’d have to create one. But creating a criminal was the lowest priority right now; they needed to make an effort to catch one first. The only identifying feature they had was “a woman with red eyes.”

I mean, how many people could fit that description? Sure, red eyes aren’t that common, but the Imperial Family has red eyes too, and you can spot someone on the street with them now and then.

“Was there anything distinctive about the red eyes?”

“Um, oh! They were blood-red. It’s a color that’s quite rare in the continent.”

“B-blood-red…?”

Then the Imperial Family was out. They had a ruby-like crimson that was different. Blood-red is definitely not a common color; at least Marcus had never seen such eyes throughout his long life.

“Then let’s look for the woman with blood-red eyes.”

“Yes,” the commander of the Third Guard replied before suddenly, the door to the command room burst open. Before Marcus could frown at the unexpected visitor, he was alerted by their urgent shout.

“Captain! Charles Garington has regained consciousness!”

“What did he say?”

“He said to look for the Maid with Red Eyes… He thinks the maid is the culprit.”

“A maid?”

What on earth does that mean? A maid being the culprit? Marcus couldn’t hide his shock at the baffling idea as he looked at the newcomer, who only tilted their head in confusion.

#

Meanwhile, the Maid with Red Eyes was fully immersed in her duties. Sure, calling her a Maid with Red Eyes gave off a strong vibe, and she truly was strong, but at the end of the day, she was just a maid. There was something comforting about sticking to her job.

“Catherine, shall we head out soon?”

“Not yet, Young Lady. Just a little more fixing up.”

“Yulia will be waiting…”

“If you’re inside the Academy, you can afford to be a bit rough around the edges. Honestly, I don’t want to skimp, but I understand we’re pressed for time. But Tarakan Free City is a place where nobles walk around; you must maintain your dignity…”

“Okay, okay, I got it.”

Lilian sighed heavily as she tried to dodge Catherine’s endless nagging. Catherine was always strict about appearances. Three years ago, at a ball she didn’t want to attend, Catherine had insisted she dress beautifully, leaving her feeling tormented.

‘…Wait, three years ago? Why am I remembering this?’

As Lilian frowned in confusion, Catherine spoke in a creepy tone from above her.

“…Are you really trying to waste more time?”

“Oh, no! I’ll keep quiet!”

Holding her head stiffly, Lilian looked serious while Catherine continued to fuss over her hair. Lilian thought about how Catherine couldn’t even manage her own hair when they first met.

“Done!”

“…You really are pretty.”

Lilian couldn’t deny she wouldn’t hear anyone call her ugly, but she had a beauty of her own. In a world where looks could vary greatly, it was no surprise that Lilian was praised for her beauty. Admiring her own reflection, she slowly opened the door.

“Oh, Lilian!”

A beauty resembling Lilian, Yulia, flashed a wide smile at her. That sun-like smile made Lilian squint her eyes. With her golden hair neatly tied up, she shone without needing any fancy adornments.

“…Hi, Yulia.”

“Shall we go?”

Yulia, linking arms with both Lilian and Catherine, beamed a bright smile. When Lilian returned the smile, Yulia glanced at Catherine, who still wore a blank expression. Anyone who saw her might find it eerie, but given her exceptional beauty, few people hesitated to approach her.

It had become common knowledge among locals that she was a hidden celebrity at Apatem Academy. After helping the princess at a banquet, some even declared themselves her fans.

As Catherine became increasingly famous, it only made Lilian more uncomfortable. Just the thought that the princess was taking an interest was nerve-wracking. It truly bothered Lilian that others recognized her capable maid.

“Where should we go today?”

“I heard there’s a theater nearby. How about we check it out?”

“A theater? Sounds good.”

Lilian smiled, delighted at the suggestion she’d wanted to make since yesterday. Then, a conversation caught their ears.

“Have you seen the Maid with Red Eyes?”

“…The Maid with Red Eyes? Come on, aren’t there a few maids around this street? When do you even get to see their eye color?”

“I heard she’s a stunning beauty.”

“No idea.”

“Tsk. Inform the watch immediately if you find her.”

“Yes, yes.”

Upon hearing the exchange between the watch and a tavern owner, Lilian and Yulia looked at Catherine, who let out a sigh.

“They’re looking for me.”