ANR Ch 4

Yves frowned at the unexpected answer.

“Vacation? Are you planning to catch the criminal all by yourself?”

“That would be difficult, but I should at least secure something to prove the innocence of Michelle and myself. There might be witnesses besides the Captain.”

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Hearing that, Yves scowled unhappily.

Michelle and myself. They barely met that day, yet he found it grating how he already grouped them together like they were close. That wasn’t all. He didn’t like how it seemed like he was pushing her away, as if he no longer needed his help.

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“I won’t allow a vacation.”

So he flatly rejected it.

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“Instead, I’ll appoint you as my former adjutant. You don’t need to return to the unit for the time being; just come straight to my house. Your afternoons are always free, so you don’t need a vacation anyway, right?”

Yves naturally brought up his original purpose.

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“What do you mean…?”

“Isn’t proving your innocence about catching the culprit? The former adjutant job is nothing special. Just follow me around. I’m telling you to use your time as you see fit.”

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The meaning of those words was clear to anyone. Claude’s eyes, which had been weary from Eve’s continued wordplay, regained their strength.

“Are you saying you’ll help me?”

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“It sounds fun. And I feel like Joseph’s grudge needs to be resolved.”

The name of Count Perrin came from Eve’s lips, which curved upward smoothly, and Claude’s brow furrowed slightly. He had the expression of someone recalling something unpleasant.

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“Thank you. Even arranging a adjutant position for me.”

“Well, I had to assign someone new anyway. I thought it would be better to have someone I know.”

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Yves exaggerated the connection between the two of them with a smile. Even though they had only met briefly, that fleeting encounter turned Claude into none other than the battalion commander’s acquaintance. In an instant, he had gained a significant connection.

“Ah, but don’t misunderstand and think you can just goof off. Other than the time spent looking for clues, you’ll have to diligently assist me. I’ll let you know the schedule day by day.”

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“How would I assist you?”

“Wherever I go, whoever I meet, you will always wait nearby. The distance between us should not exceed five steps. No unnecessary opinions or interference.”

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“Understood. It’s not something I’m used to, so I might be clumsy.”

“What are you saying? If you can’t even follow me around like a dog, shouldn’t you take off your uniform? If you’re being humble in front of me, I want to tell you that you don’t need to be in the future. I like confident men.”

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At those words, Claude suddenly coughed as if he choked. Even though he knew that Eve’s words didn’t mean he had personal interest, he still felt strangely uncomfortable. Now that he knew the secret of a superior officer having an affair with a subordinate, everything seemed meaningful.

Yves chuckled and raised his upper body, which had been slouching on the sofa.

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“Don’t misunderstand anything strange, and go now. At this rate, I’ll end up taking up all of your lunch break.”

“Yes, then.”

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Claude got up from the sofa, gave a short salute, and turned around immediately. Yves also rose from his seat and sat at his desk. Through the door he had closed, the chatter of soldiers could be heard. It seemed to be shift change time. Yves moved his pen over the documents he was working on again.

Then, he suddenly brought his hand to his cheek. Only then did he realize that the corners of his lips were still raised.

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This is unusual.

At the same time as he became conscious of it, the smile disappeared. Through the window behind his desk, Claude was crossing the parade ground towards the cafeteria.

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✧ ✧ ✧

Recently, the nobles of Paris had been moving out of the city walls. They were selling their mansions in the Saint-Germain and Marais districts to wealthy bourgeois. Instead, they were building mansions in the outer regions and hiring private soldiers.

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Compared to the rural nobles who were able to protect their territories and properties during the 1789 Revolution, most of the nobles living in the capital lost their lives. For that reason, those who survived were reluctant to live in the city.

In their eyes, the Paris of today seemed overflowing with poor people who came looking for work. Also, they thought that hiring poor people and desperately collecting money was something only bourgeois of humble origins would do.

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France was still a country that lived by farming, so they believed that simply protecting the land they had was enough to maintain their dignity. That was also why they were so eager to pass a bill to reclaim the property that had been confiscated from them.

Since the revolution had failed, the wheels of time had to be turned back to their original state. Those who had cut off the heads of their relatives had to be avenged. These two things were the thoughts of the Count of Artois, the claims of the royalists who followed him, and also the opinion of Count Antoine de Perrier.

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The Perrier family was located in Nanterre, north of Paris, where the Seine River splits into two branches. Originally used as a villa, the mansion was renovated and transformed into a residence after the Count returned from exile in Sweden. This Renaissance building, built during the Valois dynasty, boasted the most magnificent size in the entire neighborhood, and at night, it was as captivating as a Greek temple.

To visit the mansion, you had to first pass through the outer gate guarded by six gatekeepers. Then, you could pass through a promenade that was the length of an entire forest. The second gate was made of high iron bars, and from here, the garden began.

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Bushes and landscaping trees were squared off like maze walls, all the same size. After passing through the rows of flowerbeds that resembled gnome hats, you could see a fountain with a statue of Venus. In front of it, four huge Romanesque columns supported the entrance to the mansion like a temple.

As the day was waning and it was getting dark, Eve’s horse arrived in front of the mansion’s gate. After letting his master off, it shook his body once. Two servants, hearing the sound, ran up, took the reins, and led the horse to the stable. Now they would feed it warm fodder and let it rest well.

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The light seeping from the mansion’s windows contrasted with the dark blue sky. Yves stepped into the house, bringing the cold outside air with him. A butler holding a lamp greeted him, took his coat, and asked.

“Everyone is eating. Would you like to join them?”

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Yves nodded silently.

He passed through the reception room and the banquet hall and entered the brightly lit dining room. In the center of a large, 12-seat table was a trout dish baked in the oven. Next to it was a roasted partridge skewer, as well as cheese, strawberries, and whole wheat bread. Next to Count Perrier, who was removing butter, were jam, salt, and mushroom soup.

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To his left was Countess Perrier, who looked nothing like Eve. And on his right was his younger brother Charles, who, in between bites, bit his fingernails and darted his eyes around.

Yves sat next to his younger brother. He took his strawberry-stained hand out of his mouth and wiped it with a handkerchief. The Countess glanced at the scene, then focused on her meal again.

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Yves lightly tapped his glass, and a serving servant brought red wine and poured it into his glass. After rinsing his mouth, Yves composed his own meal on a plate. He placed one skewer roast, two slices of cheese, and one loaf of whole wheat bread. He put the crispy bacon in the soup.

Dozens of candles were melting away on the table to illuminate the dinner. The candlelight lit up every corner of the room, making the view bright. The wealthier the noble, the later they ate dinner. The mansion’s lights were a show of wealth. Yves knew that his father always had dinner late for that reason.

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“I heard you visited the palace today. How was His Majesty doing?”

Eve’s voice cut through the clatter of tableware and resounded quietly.

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“Well, he didn’t look good. I heard he took a walk after Dr. Callonne visited, but today he’s back in bed. It’s inevitable with old age, I suppose.”

“It’s not that it’s inevitable, but that you hope he won’t get up again. Because His Majesty has to pass away quickly for Father to claim his share.”

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“Don’t bring dirty talk to the table. It makes you look like a rootless fellow.”

Even at Eve’s mockery, Count Perrier cut his meat without faltering.

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“Well, if you trace my roots, the blood of a murderer flows, doesn’t it? I’ll be more careful not to get caught.”

Tilting his glass, Yves nodded towards the servant waiting in the corner. He ran quickly and poured red wine back into Eve’s empty glass. The Count continued his meal without any particular reaction to Eve’s attitude of trying to get on his nerves.

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“A new cabinet will be formed soon. If that happens, the inheritance law will pass. Prepare to receive your title immediately. If you want, I’ll promote you to regimental commander in two years.”

“How impressive. How much did the Count of Artois promise you? Will he even give you the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs? Oh, maybe you’re dreaming of becoming Prime Minister? You can’t enter the cabinet with the status of a criminal, though.”

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Yves cut his meat without even looking up. The Count quietly lifted a glass of water and rinsed his mouth.

“You’re really only sincere in disgracing your father, aren’t you? When did you beg to be sent to the guard, and now you’re acting all sanctimonious by yourself, it’s ridiculous.”

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“Sanctimonious? Not at all. As promised, I’m showing my face in social circles, aren’t I? You should already know that I’ve been to several ballrooms.”

At his sharp retort, the Count didn’t open his mouth as if it wasn’t worth responding to. Because the two of them emptied their wine glasses so much, the serving servant’s hands became busy. Countess Perrier, who was across from him, picked up Eve’s story in slightly awkward French.

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“Yves was very popular at the social gathering held at the Marquisate of Tolomiers last time. All the ladies who wanted him to speak to them first pretended to be close to me. Miss Marianne of the Verdier ducal family also wondered why he didn’t visit again.”

“Tell her I’m busy when you see her next time, Mother.”

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“Yes, he must be very busy since he was newly appointed. Ah, then how about Yves sends a letter? If he tells her directly when he will be free, Miss Marianne will be very happy. Right?”

The Countess, with a smile, looked at her husband as if seeking agreement. The Count’s eyes, which showed her a faint smile, were very similar to Eve’s blue eyes.

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Yves swallowed the meat he was chewing and picked up a round loaf of bread. And he held it up with both hands so that the Countess could see it well and responded.

“Mother, your French has improved a lot. But unfortunately, it seems you keep forgetting the words you’ve learned. I’ve already told you several times that I can’t embrace women. I don’t get a boner unless it’s a man. Ah, is that a bit difficult to understand? It means I have to stick it in the ass, not the pussy. I don’t know what that’s called in Swedish.”

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He tore the bread he was holding in two with his hands. Then, he slathered butter on the torn bread and took a big bite. The Countess, her face flushed red, coughed and grabbed her glass of water. Seeing that, Count Perrier wiped his mouth roughly and finished his meal.

“Your mother is taking greed in her heart because she cherishes you, but all you do is make vulgar jokes. Since you promised to act as the eldest son again, keep the duty of succession. Finish your marriage before entering parliament.”

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“If it’s a matter of succession, it doesn’t have to be the eldest son, does it? If it’s a son with Father’s blood, there are still some left besides me.”

Yves looked at Charles. And he took the rotten strawberry from his hand and wiped his hand.

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Charles’ face became tearful as if he was sad to have it taken away. The nanny, who was anxiously watching this, quickly ran up and stood him up, and he immediately hugged her and started whining. He was over ten years old, but he still couldn’t speak properly, so he made mumbling noises.

“Take him out.”

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At the employer’s words, the nanny took Charles out. The Count, with a distorted face, stood up, and the Countess also hurriedly wiped her mouth.

“What are you going to do if my rumors are known to the Tuileries Palace? His Majesty says that homosexuality is a kind of mental illness. You must be infinitely ashamed. Are you going to kill me too, like my sister?”

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Eve, left alone, made sarcastic remarks to the Count until the end, but as expected, there was no big reaction.

“If that day comes, take your own life honorably.”

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He stood up from his seat. The Countess followed behind with a pitiful expression. A servant who was waiting in advance quickly opened the door. The Count’s face showed his uncomfortable mood as it was. But thinking he had to say something, he turned to his son and said.

“I was the one who tried to save Yvonne until the last moment. Don’t disrespect your father with memories from your immature years.”

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The door closed and the sound of the two’s footsteps gradually faded. Now Yves was left alone at the table.

At that time, when the Count called him a childish fool, Yves was fourteen years old. His sister, who had fallen in love with a man of humble status and was locked in her room, tried to escape in many ways. Then she got a mental illness and cried out in pain every night. One night, when the screams were no longer heard, Yves saw his father coming out of her room with bloody hands.

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That’s how his sister left and a funeral was held immediately. The following year, the Count planted several hazelnut trees next to her tomb.

Yves tapped the glass with his finger. Then, a servant who was waiting without making a sound approached and filled the wine. He drank it all at once and shook his glass again, recalling his sister’s unfocused eyes.

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‘Jules, you mustn’t fall in love.’

‘Love will eat away at you and devour your soul. It will grab your heart and make you live just enough not to die. Then it will betray you as if it were showing off, so watch out. It’s a terrible hell, Jules. So you must never love.’

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Was that why? Yves became a man who couldn’t embrace women. He thought that was his sister’s curse and blessing.

On the large 12-seat table, there was trout and partridge roast, as well as cheese and strawberries, but Yves drank wine. His glass was filled and refilled until all the dishes had cooled down. Yves drank and drank until all the candles on the table had melted away.

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Then he raised his head after 10 o’clock.

“Yes, come to think of it, their eyes are similar.”

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Yves muttered an incomprehensible sound as if he had just realized it. Then he suddenly looked for someone.

“Bring Jacques.”

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He didn’t specifically name anyone, but one of the servants sensed it and ran out of the dining room. And he brought Jacques from the stable.

“Did you call for me?”

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“Are there any horses available right now?”

“Yes. Three or four are free.”

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“Prepare the fastest and strongest one, ah, but I’d prefer it to be brown. Could you prepare one with a very warm, dark brown color?”

Jacques nodded as if there was no problem.

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“Okay, then I’d like you to deliver the horse as soon as the sun rises tomorrow morning. I’ll have the house manager pass on the address.”

“Yes. I understand. Do I just bring it?”

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At those words, Yves leaned back into the chair, tilted his head, and closed his drunken eyes.

“They’ll understand if you say it’s a gift from the battalion commander to his exclusive adjutant. And tell them to come pick me up by 8 in the morning at the latest.”

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“Yes.”

After the short conversation, Jacques retreated.

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Yves was silent for a while with his eyes closed. The surrounding servants, watching his every move, yawned. They must be tired and sleepy after serving him for over two hours. The chair squeaked as it was pushed back, and Eve, opening his eyes, got up from his seat.

“Tell the Count that I’ve eaten everything, and take care of the leftovers as you see fit.”

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Yves threw down the linen he had used to wipe his mouth and went up to his room. The servants’ faces, seeing the meat and fruit that was still plentiful, lost their sleepiness.

✧ ✧ ✧

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Early in the morning, a guest came to the Perrier mansion. There were originally many visitors, but it had been a long time since someone had visited at this early hour.

Mrs. Evermonde had always been in charge of guiding the Count’s guests. Her rules were simple. VIPs who had made an appointment in advance were guided to the reception room with rose wallpaper, and those who came without an appointment were guided to the waiting room at the end of the hallway.

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Most of the guests who came unannounced often left without meeting the Count. Usually, they were artists hoping for sponsorship or businessmen interested in the land owned by the family.

Count Antoine de Perrier hated these money-grubbing people very much. Therefore, even a smartly dressed businessman from Paris was invariably guided to the waiting room.

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‘Please sit anywhere comfortable and wait.’

Then everyone headed to the sofa right next to the fireplace. This was also why the right seat of the purple sofa covered with velvet was particularly worn out.

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Sitting in front of the warm fireplace and looking at the crackling firewood, an hour passed and then two. Then, people who were exhausted by themselves put on their hats with awkward expressions and left the mansion on their own.

In that respect, Claude’s grenadier uniform was more efficient than an expensive waistcoat. He didn’t have to elaborate on who he had come to see, and most of the servants recognized his uniform.

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He rode the horse that had been delivered early in the morning to the Count’s house. The Perrier family’s gatekeepers recognized the family’s lion emblem hanging under the saddle and immediately opened the gate. The second gate was opened for the same reason. The third person to greet him was Mrs. Evermonde.

“Sergeant Vail here. I’ve come to escort the Captain.”

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She scanned Claude, who had dismounted, from top to bottom. A tall physique and well-defined features. His appearance alone was impeccable, but the uniform he was wearing was a bit old.

A commoner, I see.

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Mrs. Evermonde led him to the waiting room at the end of the hallway. Since she was of the same status, she didn’t want to take him to the reception room even more.

“He’ll be down soon. Please sit anywhere comfortable and wait.”

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As the wife closed the door and left, Claude was left alone in the large room. It was such a large space that he was even worried about where he should stand. Claude walked past the sofa next to the fireplace and went to the window overlooking the garden.

Just then, a boy was running around the garden, shouting. He looked like a teenager in build, but the sounds he made were like a three- or four-year-old child. Others were struggling to catch him.

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The boy, who was caught by a servant, struggled, making bizarre noises. The scattering blonde hair seemed somehow familiar, and at that moment, someone’s voice was heard from behind.

“The priest said that Charles was born with a mental illness. I just think he’s a kid with strong self-expression.”

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Claude, turning around, saluted politely. Yves came down faster than expected. He hadn’t properly put on his uniform yet, and his coat was only draped over his shoulders. Flesh was visible between the unbuttoned shirt.

Even the strictest soldier is bound to relax at home, I guess. When I meet him outside, he looks like a god of war, but in a place like this, he’s just a young man in his twenties.

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Claude suddenly wondered how old he was. His height seemed to be a little shorter than his own, and his crown must come around here. Claude unknowingly scanned Eve’s appearance.

Eve, unaware of his gaze, took another step closer and continued speaking.

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“He was really cute when he was young. He was like an angel. After I started going to the front lines more often, I didn’t see him grow up often, but I thought it was strange. Because every time I met him, his way of speaking was the same as when he was four years old.”

Yves put his hands behind his back and cast his gaze out the window. Following him, Claude also turned his head again and looked at Charles.

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“He looks a lot like you, Captain. Is he your younger brother?”

“In a way, yes, but the mother is different. My energetic father embraced one of the people he kept at home. Ah, you must have already met her. Mrs. Evermonde, who was originally my mother’s maid, but after she passed away, she served my father. After all, when you watch over the bed, those kinds of things are bound to happen.”

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Yves smiled, raising the corners of his lips. Then Claude asked back as if he didn’t know.

“You said the Countess passed away?”

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“Ah, the current mother is a remarried person. She was a widow who showed kindness in exile, and she’s a good person. She’s having a hard time marrying into France for nothing.”

Eve, leaning against the window with his arms crossed, turned his head and looked at Claude next to him. In the meantime, Charles was running away from the servants again.

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“I also had a sister, but she suffered from mental illness and died. Including me, all the sons and daughters of the Count’s family have incurable diseases and mental illnesses, and there’s not a single normal one. Far from God’s blessing, isn’t it no exaggeration to say that it’s a cursed bloodline to this extent?”

“I didn’t know about your sister. I express my condolences.”

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As Claude paid his respects with a serious expression, Yves turned his head, looked at him, and smiled.

“I’m telling my adjutant all sorts of things.”

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Yves raised his body, which had been leaning against the window frame, and passed by Claude. In an instant, his hair brushed the tip of his nose. It was fleeting, but Claude knew that his prediction was correct. It seemed like there was no need to measure his height.

He rubbed his dark, coarse palms together and approached Eve’s side.

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“Did you call me?”

“Are there any horses available right now?”

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“Yes. Three or four are idle.”

“Prepare the fastest and strongest one. Ah, but I’d prefer it to be brown. Would it be possible to prepare one with a very warm, dark brown hue?”

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Jacques nodded, as if there was no problem.

“Very well. Then I’d like you to deliver the horse as soon as the sun rises tomorrow morning. I’ll have the house manager pass on the address.”

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“Yes. I understand. Do I simply bring it?”

At those words, Yves leaned back against the chair’s backrest, tilted his head, and closed his intoxicated eyes.

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“Tell them that it’s a gift from the battalion commander to his exclusive adjutant, and they will understand. And tell them to come pick me up by 8:00 AM at the latest.”

“Yes.”

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After the brief conversation, Jacques withdrew.

Yves remained silent for a while with his eyes closed. The surrounding servants, watching his every move, yawned. They had been serving him for over two hours now, so they must be tired and sleepy. The chair emitted a creaking sound as it was pushed back, and Eve, opening his eyes, stood up from his seat.

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“Tell the Count that I’ve eaten everything, and take care of the remaining food as you see fit.”

Yves tossed the linen he had used to wipe his mouth and went up to his room. The servants’ faces, seeing the meat and fruit that remained plentiful, lost their sleepiness.

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✧ ✧ ✧

Early in the morning, a guest arrived at the Perrier mansion. While there were usually many visitors, it had been a long time since someone had visited at such an early hour.

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Mrs. Evermonde had always been in charge of guiding the Count’s guests. Her rules were simple: guide VIPs who had made an appointment in advance to the reception room with rose wallpaper, and guide those who arrived without a prior appointment to the waiting room at the end of the hallway.

Most of the guests who came unannounced usually left without meeting the Count. Usually, those types were artists hoping for patronage or businessmen interested in the land owned by the family.

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Count Antoine de Perrier intensely disliked these money-grubbing types. Therefore, even a smartly dressed businessman from Paris was inevitably guided to the waiting room.

‘Please sit anywhere comfortable and wait.’

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Then everyone would head to the sofa right next to the fireplace. This was also why the right seat of the purple sofa covered with velvet was particularly worn out.

Sitting in front of the warm fireplace and looking at the crackling firewood, an hour would pass, and then two. Eventually, those people, growing tired of their own accord, would put on their hats with awkward expressions and leave the mansion on their own.

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In that respect, Claude’s grenadier uniform was more effective than an expensive waistcoat. He didn’t have to elaborate on whom he had come to see; most of the servants recognized his uniform.

He rode the horse that had been delivered early in the morning to the Count’s house. The Perrier family’s gatekeepers recognized the family’s lion emblem hanging below the saddle and immediately opened the gate. The second gate was opened for the same reason. The third person to greet him was Mrs. Evermonde.

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“Sergeant Vail here. I’ve come to escort the Captain.”

She scanned Claude, who had dismounted, from head to toe. A tall physique with well-defined features. Looking at his appearance alone, there was nothing to criticize, but the uniform he was wearing was a bit old.

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A commoner, I see.

Mrs. Evermonde led him to the waiting room at the end of the hallway. Since she was of the same social standing, she was even more reluctant to take him to the reception room.

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“He’ll be down shortly. Please sit anywhere comfortable and wait.”

As the wife closed the door and left, Claude was left alone in the large room. It was such a vast space that he was even worried about where he should stand. Claude bypassed the sofa next to the fireplace and walked towards the window overlooking the garden.

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Just then, a boy was running around the garden, shouting. He looked like a teenager in build, but the sounds he was making were like a three- or four-year-old child. Others were struggling mightily to catch him.

The boy, who was caught by a servant, struggled, making bizarre noises. The fluttering blonde hair seemed familiar somehow, and at that moment, someone’s voice was heard from behind.

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“The priest told me that Charles was born with a mental illness. I simply think that he’s a child with a strong way of expressing himself.”

Turning around, Claude saluted respectfully. Yves came down faster than expected. He hadn’t fully put on his uniform yet; he was only wearing the coat draped over his shoulders. Flesh was visible between the unbuttoned shirt.

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Even the strictest soldier is bound to relax at home, I guess. When I meet him outside, he looks like a god of war, but in a place like this, he’s just a young man in his twenties.

Claude suddenly wondered how old he was. His height seemed to be a little shorter than his own; his crown must come around here. Claude unknowingly scanned Eve’s appearance.

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Eve, unaware of his gaze, took another step closer and continued speaking.

“He was really cute when he was little. He was like an angel. After I started going to the front lines more often, I didn’t see him grow up often, but I thought something was strange. Because his manner of speaking was always the same as when he was four years old.”

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Yves stood with his hands clasped behind his back and cast his gaze out the window. Following him, Claude also turned his head again and looked at Charles.

“He looks a lot like you, Captain. Is he your younger brother?”

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“In a way, yes, but the mother is different. My energetic father embraced one of the people he keeps at home. Ah, you must have already met her: Mrs. Evermonde, who was originally my mother’s maid, but after she passed away, she served my father. As one would expect, when you watch over someone’s bed, those kinds of things are bound to happen.”

Yves smiled, raising the corners of his lips. Then Claude asked back, as if he was unaware, “You said the Countess passed away?”

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“Ah, the current mother is someone he remarried. She was a widow who showed kindness in exile; she’s a good person. She’s having a hard time marrying into France for nothing.”

Eve, leaning against the window with his arms crossed, turned his head and looked at Claude next to him. In the meantime, Charles was escaping from the servants again.

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“I also had a sister, but she suffered from mental illness and died. Including me, all the sons and daughters of the Count’s family have incurable diseases and mental illnesses; there’s not a single normal one. Far from God’s blessing, isn’t it no exaggeration to say that it’s a cursed bloodline to this extent?”

“I wasn’t aware of your sister. I offer my condolences.”

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As Claude paid his respects with a serious expression, Yves turned his head, looked at him, and smiled.

“I’m telling my adjutant all sorts of things.”

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Yves pushed himself up from the window frame and passed by Claude. In an instant, his hair brushed the tip of his nose. It was fleeting, but Claude knew that his prediction was correct. It seemed there was no need to measure his height.

You only come up to my eyebrows.

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Perhaps it was because he had just seen him in a disheveled state, but he became personally interested in him. It could also have been because he had no experience serving a noble officer like this. He became curious about what he ate, what he wore, and where he slept. He had boundless curiosity about what kind of people he spent time with and what made him happy.

“Let’s cut the depressing talk and tell me about your plan. Have you thought about how you’re going to catch the criminal who killed Joseph?”

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Yves headed towards the mirror in the center of the waiting room and began to put on his uniform properly. He buttoned up the unfastened coat and stood the stiff lapels up to his neck.

“If what the Captain told me is true, I should first go to the Pont Neuf bridge. Since they supposedly took off the Viscount’s clothes there, I think there might be something that could be a clue.”

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Claude strode towards Eve, who was standing in front of the mirror. He watched him quietly as he fastened his uniform.

“What if you can’t find anything there either? What will you do then?”

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“I plan to request a visit to Michelle to ask her directly about the bloodstains on the bed sheets.”

“What if you can’t get anything out of her either?”

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Yves didn’t lower his head and finished adjusting his last sleeve. His eyes were fixed on Claude beyond the mirror. The two men’s eyes met.

“You talk as if you particularly want me to not find anything, Captain.”

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Yves smiled faintly.

“Of course not.”

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Eve, having finished getting ready, turned around.

“I was merely confirming my schedule for today in advance. Let’s get going. Is the Pont Neuf bridge the first stop?”

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“Are you coming with me?”

Claude asked, surprised. He had assumed that the Captain would, of course, go to the unit. He had thought that he would simply escort him and be free to use the rest of his time. He hadn’t imagined that he would be with the Captain all morning.

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“I told you, it sounds like fun.”

“This isn’t something to do for fun. It could be dangerous, and you have duties to attend to, Captain.”

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At those words, Yves smiled and retorted, “Are you really asking because you don’t know? Or are you just messing with me? You know very well that high-ranking officers stationed in the capital have nothing to do. It’s much more fun to come out here and track down a murder case than to sit in the office and listen to boring reports.”

“You can’t keep leaving your post. If the regimental commander finds out…”

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“Do you think I needed the regimental commander’s permission to be assigned here?”

“Excuse me?”

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“Do you think Major Neker left this position of his own accord?”

“I heard that he applied for a transfer to another unit.”

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“Yes, I gave him time to maintain his dignity. You know that not all nobles are of the same rank, right? Just know that, in that respect, the adjutant is quite lucky.”

It was an extremely arrogant tone, but even if Major Neker himself heard it, he would have had nothing to say. Society, which liked to divide people by rank, endlessly subdivided social statuses. Clearly, Yves was different from the nobles Claude had encountered up to this point. If you lined them up behind the King, the Perrier family’s lion emblem would be in the top ten, at the very least.

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That was why Claude couldn’t understand why he was giving him this opportunity even more. If he was anxious about him saying unnecessary things to the police, it would be safer to find fault with him and send him to the brig. It was suspicious and dubious. Perhaps that was why he was constantly curious about him.

“How was the horse you rode? I would have sent you a rather good breed.”

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The two were leaving the mansion together. Walking down the marble-finished hallway, Claude offered his thanks.

“I apologize for the late greeting. You gave me an excellent horse. Thank you.”

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“Do you have a place to feed it?”

“There’s a stable nearby, so I’ve decided to leave it there. But why did you send it directly? The army would provide a warhorse separately.”

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The butler quietly appeared in front of the two, who had reached the entrance. He handed Yves his gloves.

“I thought it would suit you.”

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With those words, Yves mounted his white horse. Then, as if he had no intention of waiting, he started off first. Chasing after him was something he had grown accustomed to, so Claude also immediately mounted his horse. The bright brown Alpine stallion began to run, bathed in the morning sunlight.

✧ ✧ ✧

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It was a little past 9:00 AM when the two arrived at the Pont Neuf. Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be a clue. Claude rubbed his dry lips and looked at the Seine. The river, which had swallowed the body, offered no particular answer.

He went down to the riverbank and looked around the inside of the bridge, but he still didn’t find anything noticeable. Only mud was caked on Claude’s military boots. Eve, not even getting off his horse, had an expression that seemed to say, “I knew it.”

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“Well, is it time to go visit Michelle now?”

“That’s a bit strange.”

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“What is?”

“According to the police, he died from having his throat cut, but there’s not a single drop of blood here.”

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Claude, with his hands on his hips, said while still looking around.

“This isn’t where he was killed. Shouldn’t you look for bloodstains on the sack, clothes, or cart that were used to move Joseph?”

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“Yes, that’s right…”

He nodded slowly at Eve’s words. Then, as if something had occurred to him, he got back on his horse and approached Eve’s side.

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“Let’s go to Rue de la Lingerie. There’s the largest laundry in Paris there. Even if it’s stained with blood, they wouldn’t just throw it away. Silk and high-quality velvet fabric are valuable.”

“That’s nonsense. Do you think the people who killed him would be too good to throw that away? If it were me, I would have burned it already.”

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“Did they seem like nobles to you?”

At Claude’s question, Yves shook his head.

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“If so, they definitely wouldn’t have just thrown it away. Everyone will do anything if it makes money. Especially people who have committed murder.”

“Bloodstains aren’t easily removed.”

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“You know that well. That’s why I’m going to the laundry. Are you coming along, too?”

At his words, Yves gripped the reins tightly. Nodding and signaling him to lead the way, Claude smiled and spurred his horse on. He would have been disappointed if he had said he wasn’t coming along. The two seemed unnecessarily cheerful for people who were tracking down a murder case.

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A little more time passed, and at 10:00 AM, the two were climbing the hill on Rue de la Lingerie. At the end of the street, they could see a steam engine emitting white smoke and a large tank filled with water.

The women came here carrying their laundry, and received soap and sodium carbonate. Then, inside, they removed dirt by beating it with a bat and eliminated stains by steaming it. They soaked the white clothes entirely in buckets containing lye water and brushed the clothes that needed special attention. After applying soap and creating light foam, they poured small amounts of water to create dirty water.

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They had to pay to receive clean water again, so saving water and soap was an important laundry secret. The laundry, full of steam, was filled with the noise of steam engines and the sound of pounding bats.

The owner, who collected fees, was sitting at the entrance. Claude dismounted his horse and approached him.

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“May I ask a question?”

The owner, who was counting coins, looked up at his uniform. Then, he moved his lips and answered curtly, “What?”

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“What should I use to remove blood stains?”

Then he presented a brown bottle from among the dyes lying on the desk.

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“If you dissolve a little of this in cold water and soak it for about thirty minutes, it comes off quickly. Are you going to do some laundry?”

“No. Has anyone asked for this bleach recently? I was wondering if anyone had asked for a lot of it.”

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The owner looked disapprovingly at Claude, who was talking suspiciously. He was about to fire back, “Why would I know something like that?”, but he swallowed the words after seeing the officer approaching on horseback from behind. He hated getting involved in troublesome things.

“Come to think of it, Mrs. Simon bought a whole bottle of it about two days ago and spent an hour doing laundry.”

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“Do you remember what kind of clothes they were?”

“Well, it was like they had been rummaging through the trash can of some noble’s mansion… A long shirt with lace and a blue coat with gold buttons.”

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Hearing those words, Claude turned around, and Yves nodded slowly. He confirmed that it was the clothes Joseph had been wearing that night. There was progress.

Claude gave the owner coins and asked again, “Would you happen to know where this Mrs. Simon lives?”

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Fortunately, the laundry owner was a modern person: an average Parisian who would do anything if it made money. That’s how Claude easily obtained the name of the store that Mrs. Simon ran.

She was running a small butcher shop near the catacombs. Claude knocked on the door, but there was no sign of anyone. Inside the tightly closed store, there was an empty display case with flies on it. Even for a lazy person, it was strange that the store wasn’t open at this hour.

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Right next to the butcher shop, across a narrow alley, was a restaurant. Just then, the back door opened, and a man who appeared to be a cook came out. He was holding chunks of fat separated from pork, and it seemed he was going to melt them in a brass pot.

Claude approached and spoke to him.

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“Mrs. Simon isn’t here, I see.”

It must have sounded like he knew her well.

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“Ah, I heard that they went down to their hometown yesterday.”

Fortunately, the restaurant man seemed to be on good terms with the neighboring store.

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“Vacation? I haven’t heard anything about that.”

“That’s what I mean. I was surprised, so I asked. It seemed like they were going to be away from Paris for a while. They even sold all their meat at a low price like this. Well, it’s good for me, though.”

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The man melted the fat in a brazier placed outside and chatted with Claude. He looked like he was doing well in his spare time.

“Hometown… Didn’t the wife say she was from Provins?”

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“I don’t know about the wife, but Simon came from Brie-Comte-Robert. I heard that his family runs a pretty big lumber mill in town, so that’s where he’s going.”

The fat in the pot boiled. Smoke billowed out, and the smell of pig fat filled the air. Thanks to that, Claude also felt hungry.

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“Are you going to make a stir-fry?”

“Ah, I’m going to stir-fry young spinach and potatoes. I’ll quickly take out the spinach and put it inside the bread, and I can make soup by cooking the potatoes until they’re golden brown and then pouring water on them.”

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“Sounds delicious.”

The pot was boiling. The man, about to go inside, pointed his chin at the restaurant’s front door and said to Claude, “It’ll be ready soon, so why don’t you, soldier, have a meal and go?”

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Only then did the man see Yves standing behind Claude. He didn’t seem to have noticed him because he had been chatting all the time. The nobleman’s face, with his neat clothes, immediately contorted. After clearing his throat, he disappeared into the restaurant with the words, “I’ll be going now.” As the back door slammed shut, Yves raised one eyebrow and crossed his arms.

“I guess I don’t give off a very good impression. Everyone’s nice to the adjutant, though.”

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“Are you upset? That’s just what the class system is like. The position of a commoner isn’t something you can buy with money.”

Claude made a light joke and approached Eve’s side.

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“By the way, you should finally give me a vacation this time.”

“Are you going to Brie-Comte-Robert?”

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Claude nodded. And he pointed to the end of the alley between the butcher shop and the restaurant. There was an old cart lying around there, and it was unmistakably stained with dark smudges, which looked like blood stains. Because it was a cart that was also used to transport animal meat, it seemed to have not aroused suspicion among the neighbors.

“Not bad. Let’s take a vacation together.”

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Yves smiled meaningfully and walked past Claude, patting him on the shoulder.

✧ ✧ ✧

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That afternoon, Claude, who had returned to the unit barracks in the Champ de Mars, heard unexpected news. Finally, Auguste’s petition for discharge had been approved by the squad leader and submitted to the higher-ups. The members of the unit all congratulated him and patted Auguste on the head.

“Did Lieutenant Mirabeau do his job properly as soon as he returned? Amazing.”

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“If I have a conscience, shouldn’t I do some work? When are you going to take care of the overdue supplies?”

“If it’s approved by the higher-ups, will you be immediately discharged from conscription?”

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“What if it gets blocked from above again? The battalion commander is new. He didn’t seem very easy to get along with.”

The unit members wondered about his background and offered their opinions. Then the heat quickly cooled down and the topic changed.

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“Yesterday, during an outer patrol, I met a funny guy. He was coming down from Montmartre with a luggage cart, and the smell was so sweet that I thought it was jam. But when I opened the box, I could only see bottles full of tree sap.”

“Does sap smell, too?”

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“It turned out to be an aphrodisiac. It’s from Africa, and it’s so popular with the nobles these days. This dealer seems to have been regularly supplying it to brothels, too. He must have made some money.”

As soon as the word “brothel” came up, the other soldiers began to show interest. They each stopped their conversations and listened to this story.

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“Then they should charge a high customs tax.”

“Of course, I couldn’t just let him go. I looked around at various things, and there were a lot of interesting items. Among them, there’s something called a ‘cock sock.’ If you put it on like this, women go wild, they say. No matter how prim and proper a noble lady is, once she gets a taste of someone wearing this, she loses her mind, they say. Like, oh, like this?”

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He overlapped his two fists between his legs, as if demonstrating. And he imitated a vulgar act, shaking his waist. The other unit members who were listening to the story snickered and enjoyed it.

“Conversely, there was also something for gentlemen who are too big down there. It was a sticky solid inside some kind of ointment container. If you applied it to the middle of your thing, it would harden over time, they said. That way, you don’t go all the way in when you’re doing it. Do you know what I mean?”

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“Are there people who need something like that?”

“Yes, there are, definitely.”

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With that, he looked at Claude, who was leaning against the wall, and smiled. Playful glances all turned towards Claude, following him.

“Our sergeant’s size is enormous. Everyone, when you go on an outer duty later, make sure to go to the bathhouse with the sergeant. Just amazing. Huh? Something this big dangles between his legs. Hehehe.”

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He overlapped his fists between his legs once again and shook his waist, chuckling. Laughter erupted, and whistles sounded. Claude, who had been listening quietly with his arms crossed, sighed as if he couldn’t help it.

“Stop gossiping and get ready for the patrol as soon as the shift ends. Jerive, and who else?”

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“Sergeant, I got the dealer’s name, should I tell you? Even a prostitute on Rue Pigalle might be a bit much for someone of your size, right? Since the topic came up, let’s go together today. I found an incredible woman there recently.”

“Jacobo, shut up.”

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Claude casually ignored the soldier who kept making jokes and checked the shift duty roster. He didn’t particularly get angry or blush. The soldier who was joking also nonchalantly returned to his position.

There were rules between the unit members and Claude: an implicit agreement that they wouldn’t cross the line, in exchange for providing as much convenience and freedom as possible. Claude was a non-commissioned officer, but he often represented the soldiers’ positions whenever unreasonable things happened within the unit.

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That didn’t mean that he always sided with them unconditionally, either. Depending on the situation, there were times when he had to stand on the officers’ side and persuade them, and the soldiers also tried to listen to his words as much as possible in those times. That way, negotiations would be easier when more important matters arose.

The title of “sergeant” was also a kind of nickname that they called him among themselves. It was also an expression of dissatisfaction with the higher-ups who hadn’t promoted him to platoon leader.

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So, since Claude was a well-liked figure among the soldiers, the news that he had been selected as the battalion commander’s exclusive adjutant was nothing short of disappointing. Moreover, everyone looked regretful at his words that he wouldn’t be coming to the unit for the time being.

“Why did they pick our sergeant of all people? Usually, the non-commissioned officers who have been with them since they were commissioned follow along, don’t they?”

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“That’s what I’m saying. Sergeant, did you do something to displease him?”

The soldiers once again added words at random and wondered about the background.

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Something to displease him…

Claude couldn’t answer. It seemed like he had, but it also seemed like he hadn’t.

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“It sounds good to call it an exclusive adjutant, but isn’t it just a story about following me around and acting as a bodyguard?”

“He must be a nobleman full of nothing but pretense. It’s going to be hard to match his pace, Sergeant.”

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At that moment, a soldier who knew sign language casually threw out a word.

“The battalion commander is a good person.”

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“Who?”

“Auguste.”

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At those words, several people turned around. There, a large soldier was diligently conveying the words in sign language.

“He’s been wanting to say something since earlier, but I’m too lazy to translate everything. Anyway, that new officer is a good person. Okay, I get it, stop it, Auguste.”

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The soldier who was conveying the words went back up to his bed, annoyed. Auguste, who had become gloomy, also scratched his head and returned to his position.

Seeing that, Claude remembered the time he had suddenly visited his house a few days ago. He also remembered the Captain’s expression, wrinkling his nose at the smell coming from the house and fluttering his handkerchief.

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He probably made a point of going out on duty in order to confirm the Viscount’s body, but it was fortunate that it had turned out well for Auguste as a result. Moreover, it wasn’t without benefit to the Captain himself, either. It seemed that there was at least one person in this unit who was on his side.

“No, maybe two people…”

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Claude muttered to himself. Just then, the bell signaling the end of free time rang across the parade ground.

✧ ✧ ✧

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The next morning, Claude packed a travel bag. He packed enough clothes to stay for a day or two in casual wear, not his uniform. Catherine came into the room and handed him a pear that she had taken out of a basket. It was meant to be eaten instead of breakfast. When he took a bite, the sweet juice spread throughout his mouth.

“You said you were going on an outer duty, cough, cough. Why are you dressed like that?”

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“It’s not good to be too conspicuous.”

“Where are you going?”

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“Brie-Comte-Robert.”

“What? Cough, cough. You’re going pretty far this time.”

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Catherine, wearing a camisole, covered her mouth with the back of her hand and coughed. Her symptoms had worsened during this winter. If she had any relatives in the countryside, she wanted to send her to recuperate, but she couldn’t even try because she didn’t have a single blood relative.

“Claude, do you have some money?”

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At those words, Claude gave her the entire wallet placed on the shelf without hesitation.

“It’s almost Easter, so I was thinking of buying some lamb. Cough, cough. You’ll be back before then, right? The young couple living downstairs had a baby. They’re so poor that they pawned a lot of the clothes they had, cough, it’s pitiful to see. I was thinking it would be nice to have Easter dinner together.”

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“Let’s do that. Buy anything you need. I’ll be back in two days.”

“Okay. Ah, come to think of it, a carriage has been waiting since earlier. Cough, cough. I thought it was a customer of Uncle Balmain, but no matter how I look at it, it seems to be waiting for you.”

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At her words, Claude went to the window and looked down. He saw an ordinary-looking two-wheeled carriage. He quickly ate the pear in his hand, grabbed his bag, and left the room.

“Travel safely.”

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He greeted his sister and went downstairs. Then, as if waiting for him, the carriage door opened. Inside, Eve, dressed in casual clothes, was waiting for Claude.

“You could have sent someone up. I didn’t know you were here.”

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“The promised time was 9:00 AM, so shouldn’t I be the one waiting, since I came early?”

Claude got into the carriage. Facing each other in the narrow space, the two men gave each other a once-over of their attire.

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“You’re rather unassuming today.”

“The adjutant also looks a little different dressed like that.”

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Wearing a linen shirt and a frock coat, Claude looked like a university student studying abroad in Paris. Eve, also wearing a plain coat and a felt hat, appeared to be a son of an ordinary bourgeois.

Yesterday, the two realized that walking around in military uniforms wasn’t appropriate for questioning people. So, they came out in the most ordinary clothes possible. The interesting fact was that they hadn’t even consulted each other, but it matched as if they had planned it.

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“Since it’s turned out like this, let’s refrain from calling each other by rank when there are people around.”

“Then what should I call you?”

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“My name is fine, or you can call me whatever you want.”

“I’ll call you Lord Perrier.”

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Claude answered as if there was no room for hesitation at his words.

“As you wish.”

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Yves had a faint smile on his lips and tapped his cane to signal the coachman. The carriage slowly began to move, and the two soon left Paris behind.