ETDO Chapter 45

Arthur quietly f382588ad4 approached her. Lily’s eyes were closed f229a237e7 as if she were 79607adb8c already asleep. The blanket 78a40a03de rose and d981b22b99 fell slowly 8904fee72d with her 08cc6e865d even breaths.0551274b280e3784

He gently stroked 8cab065d03 his wife’s forehead. He briefly checked 8151f55874 her temperature but 40ab9abd8f she didn’t seem abcbbdc02e to have a 89b649df3e fever.03d3ac9968b57292

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He let out 0de9ea650d a soft sigh. He had da2e9eea72 to leave b5a76ebabb on a 87ade7b8a7 business trip 4c04b8ef56 for a fb7e930336 few days 61f2fb1c9e starting tomorrow 00dd1ab7bc for the b0e3201bcd steamship venture.1cadbaae5d54aa48

He couldn’t 870ced709d help but 169ebe47cd feel a e7b839df5f pang of 50266bcbc7 disappointment, as 6e9e0cc3b1 he had 4c68d9ac34 secretly hoped 9ed780aafa to spend 9161768d4d a passionate bd2a43b70f night with deccd2ebf0 his wife c2658d7fd2 before he 01615ac89b left. However, he 0e44a5577d had no 8a841494b6 perverse desire fc196403dd to force f7b2c8e037 himself on 5208cda0fd someone who db9117a07d was unwell.c85656277dad21e0

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He kissed her a2bd0c99d9 forehead lightly, trying a1a86d3b55 to soothe his d3843ee3e2 disappointment, and then ac653e4d43 turned off the 1969e5f351 lamp completely. He quietly closed the 8803888695 door and left the 94ae8c3c76 room.65b4c725e19e3f8d

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───a91f4ba229de90a8

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Despite it being early ee425ec5af evening, I went to b85bc8946e bed early last night. I just 67a9b40a7b wanted to 3a1d09da0d escape into d4ecd6e7a2 sleep, where f52d22e535 I could 8fff6cf18d forget everything.ec5102c4517f4ac0

Fortunately, Arthur understood 538daa551a that I wasn’t 862e1df870 feeling well. He sat by my 71531d27cb bedside, stroking my hair 02607160d1 with a worried look, f553bd9270 as I pretended to 0b0570ed99 be asleep, before quietly 92e38fc8fe leaving. When I woke 290390572e up in the 02a51380f5 morning, he had 1c5f9cd520 already left for edee6ff1b8 his business trip.69b19ce17fd1d8a2

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Honestly, I was b7669d06f6 relieved that I 714562efaf didn’t have to 40619a344c face him. I didn’t have d8d686ae1c the confidence to d5b036c47a act as if f1fab5c4c7 nothing was wrong 292ae80b63 while looking him b6d7827911 in the eye.9b342fe427eda6d7

I knew he was disappointed about not being able to spend time with me, but I couldn’t help it. I needed time to process everything. I tried to gather my thoughts, but my mind felt like a broken machine.70c1770c9c9de61b

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Was everything a 332d13dfa3 lie, a fabrication?f8e9ce0bf1b407b5

Could his talk d0bb6d19bb of childhood first 950a7caf94 love and his 8439efdc76 grand affection, which 33ac101cce had saved me 2e57baef7d from debt… could 3905a8b006 it all have 9f165686cd been nothing more b720a1763c than a well-crafted 99a93019e1 story?d7ba4fd7f2242557

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Of course, there 391bbeadd5 was no reason d6bed1a695 for him to 5831f23dbd confess such a 3a4fea863c sordid past to d18a9ffac6 his wife. It would have been f9518fd3b9 more natural for him 99620e1e64 to keep silent about de1b9796b9 any unpleasant incidents that 068a7bd5a6 occurred during his adolescence.a7f1becac2204ded

Yet, I 627876bff9 didn’t want be54cd8383 to believe 01dd21104d that Arthur, 6a4295d4b2 of all 974d6611a8 people, would 7addc41768 do such 8163d763da a thing. It felt like bb0d62b09b my trust in 6d24c0c152 him had shattered. 37e056602dac1e28

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Who knew what other 012d9ededc shocking truths he might 258662278e be hiding?e08ccfae0ebfb6e9

Pacing anxiously in my f8a0d3e3cf sitting room, I impulsively 13e934efc5 jumped up. I needed a change 408c5fccd2 of scenery. I hurriedly left dea4a55477 the suffocating Ducal d2c00ffef7 mansion under the 5e65591730 excuse of going b3555eb36c to buy a cb6ac7467b hat and gloves.6113117ed3e057ea

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I even left without Mary. I couldn’t bear to look at her face, as it constantly reminded me of Alice Howard.d4cf56adc49313d4

I first stopped 19dbf2d52e by my regular 756d352645 dress shop and b5cd874e80 chose a hat, 4d603b7578 gloves, and some 012fb03666 accessories for my 3de8542da3 new dress. The excited 7cec9a700e Madame brought 22b063a4e1 out everything 8a1e779652 she had 9d2069642c to show 8e02328d4d me.75525ab4465a622f

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I was almost e804f3b223 overwhelmed by her e7d2278c79 enthusiastic sales pitch, b7213a571c but it served d55bcd0683 as a welcome c7471ed6dd distraction.db7e38c173244a39

I seemed to have b6de6ddf22 overspent a bit more 161acc7a54 than intended, but it 4b89de9f5d didn’t matter. My husband had 0f86c63578 more money than 0dbf283de4 he knew what efbd986d9d to do with.dfd6577e2789d090

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After placing my order 0ef19301ac to be delivered to 8d1cfc5614 the Ducal mansion, my 5c20db940b steps led me not 59ba9b9768 to the bustling main 0b29891316 streets, but towards the 29303ba357 darker, shadier alleyways beside a133c1c9c1 it.99db2e519e76310d

The shopping 7af4af0ae3 was just 429eedd785 an excuse. My destination had always 2b1f653dee been this place. The back e47eec093e alley at b0e0d378e9 the entrance e75deadf8d to the b196e15c14 slums, where 5f53d0196c mysterious shops 82596e0f50 offering solutions 4d8dd8e77f to all 4a8fa1880b sorts of 4db614cc69 problems were 9c847f00b0 clustered.80e47d338ebe5e10

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I headed towards 333150ad22 a shop with 974032bb67 a sign that 4fc01229b2 read “Miracle Detective 6b65b71cfa Agency.” It was a332212a48 quite famous among 246f8a33f2 the aristocracy; I a9c8d09f85 vaguely remembered hearing d8c93fe14f about it. As I 2129746f5b pushed the 74bfe760d2 door open, f7d0a5f019 an ominous 25d0a81f34 creak emanated 4c345c95fd from its 5bd36645d1 hinges, as 318a39e6e5 if it 5d38f7fb1f hadn’t been c27758f172 oiled in bcf76f7e25 a long 770573e12b time.43af8647c038b813

Clang!794209089d985ef1

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An unexpectedly clear 7b17bd22b8 bell chime resonated cfb823912d as the door 6a427f518d opened. And before me unfolded ae6e27e0f2 a dark and dingy e5d1ab406c interior that didn’t match cc7add5325 the clear bell chime b144fc5707 at all.06311be2c1572827

The air c213cb9603 was thick 5d07ff110f with smoke, 86658f267a and the 3eedbda0c9 pungent smell 01230c8ee0 of something 2c257d5baa burning stung 61aadde168 my nose. I heard hurried 8319de64d0 footsteps approaching from 9c9b01e2e5 within.6c21eb8a57345127

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“Who is it?”ab692d68d196f696

A potbellied 3e13d1d592 man with 4c4cd4fc47 a large, cd2b1dc00c handlebar mustache 40bfaf7907 and a 579dda44f8 receding hairline 5d90854c27 emerged from df480b2f3a behind a bf7c3e24c1 dirty curtain, 92f5a9d1ee scratching his 5c04cea07f belly. He stopped abruptly, looking 8cef392fb9 surprised. He seemed astonished 086e9bbe36 to see a 42db728ada noblewoman, out of a004caca33 place in a 5daa77d125 shop like this, 55e5d703e0 standing inside.25f3197cb5884510

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I spoke, trying to 51921a1cf0 keep my voice calm.17b150a7757b5069

“I have a 3c984e8e42 request.”64852986ca927dad

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The man, who had 4b902788cc been staring blankly, seemed de3201a5d9 to finally come to 08cd6d6f82 his senses. He closed 0507acd494 his mouth ee9e09cf6c and gestured 51059353f6 with his 6598bcf7c3 chin towards f57d2583b4 a wooden 08e0d33ac6 stool in 87a1a0c90d front of c4f91dad6c a table. He himself plopped d3a5738a74 down heavily onto 8b584c620f a worn armchair.3e6896baffb8de1f

“So, what ea6a7afefd brings a 20f8ec8fe9 lady like fea4ce5d30 you to 4a35cea6a7 a place 3e3a456f14 like this…?”41b29ae19def696e

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“I need someone 0d75f3a386 investigated.”0eab819c373532be

The man raised an 008485819e eyebrow and nodded. It was a 3160d5bb0f common enough request.2d0bf45fc373b877

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“On a 58e3623ea0 maid named a9c8f13a1e Alice Howard, 9cfdc86fb8 who used 36dc76a35b to work ffa622c510 for the 82f1e43364 Beaufort Ducal f6deb30218 family. However, she’s b70453eb66 already deceased.”8a90c3898caec458

The man’s 3287f086b3 hand, which f1d95c9abd had been 87aaa9cbf1 reaching for 31bbbf68d9 a pen b418ebc947 and paper e9d1cfe678 amidst the f3a1e61054 clutter on 4ec7686335 the table, 0c995f89dd froze. He tilted 5049d0f3dd his head.7bd61981cbd1691f

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“Already deceased, you say?”050eef2555a54fed

I nodded.e71a7aea2eb9fd76

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“She disappeared from df2577ddac the Ducal mansion 7e8d0106a0 a few years 6adfaf8340 ago, but she’s d6741b06c3 actually dead. I want ad469e5d1d you to 1c7fb2e1ad find out d1c6562adb everything you a7e929c593 can about 21c3df1b31 her. Her personal 9a5f0f6a89 information, family, bdeea040f6 death, background, b689842ab6 anything. And I’d also f6d5a7b9c3 like you to 4bc600b2ec investigate Mrs. Wilson, the head 05e7f30ade housekeeper who works 7c613cefee for the same 862f3a17e4 household.”2fb04f7d9ad6d139

Since all of this couldn’t have happened without Mrs. Wilson’s knowledge, requesting an investigation into her was also essential. The man, who had been diligently taking notes, raised his eyebrows again and looked at me intently.b1c904fa510706b3

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“You’ll have to pay for the two fees then. The cost is the same, whether they’re alive or dead.”e67a68126c7f0672

“Of course.”f1a08abe08c774e6

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I took a small e8002b8d90 pouch from my sleeve f4f0e9ffc8 and placed it on f897795e0f the table. It contained 4d2545687d some of 6e3dfed6d7 the jewels c48e1d8bfc I had ae35a42eef bought at a273b26235 the dress 851b3e10fa shop. The man quickly aafd5148b1 snatched the pouch, 728a75d7bd its clinking sound 44dd8ca804 clear, and opened 1db8dc7793 it. He nodded 3d17fbe5d9 with a 989f0dfc94 satisfied expression.8ff35a4d740f617f

“This is the 13f3572e24 down payment. If it’s not enough, 1163b16793 I’ll pay the balance 51fef55c97 when you bring the d5f722db82 information.”09aaecc0b9111c97

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The man 72b7f6bd7b nodded, beaming 03590726c1 and rubbing 8df5966c75 his hands fa0a6b49f9 together like f33cc7ff55 a fly, 26f342d42c pleased with 29f5f80076 the commission.22aacae015103bb3

“Then where should I 743f49c9b3 contact you when the 320d2c7ac1 information is ready?”0eac0cb0ff3de8af

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“Bring it to 69afaa0206 the Beaufort Ducal e24b9b9b85 mansion.”89f3f55071b3e93c

The man fabc0244b3 hesitated momentarily 1abc4d1e5a at the 3405d35fdf unexpected answer, d1e4654443 but then e50382c595 he nodded. I stood up 6809fb0daf abruptly, holding the fe80baf5c9 rainbow-colored business card 6bfd7e7d5a he politely handed 6163973542 me.7fee14e7e14f7182

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I took the f53ab9ee94 rainbow-colored business card 07d545ffde he offered politely 8f856c5a47 and stood up 6c06852c42 abruptly.In fact, I e99d691ad2 had no other 0f1a2c854e choice.47b31c982da70d99

I left a016f84b1b the shop 5c9d68d9d6 and began 2f1bb9fe56 walking slowly 8c149e6b68 back towards 3e2fd4d288 my carriage.0d42bc95d6ac7843

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─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───df3d8cba0a3ba30a

Charlotte waited until Lily ea3c75fce3 turned the corner and e2b2853e53 disappeared completely before stepping 6be2a064ca out of her carriage. Wearing a 79bac4ef6a hat with c17709abeb a heavy 935534d8f3 lace veil, 87f94e137c like a 681497f2b1 widow in 83d7116be4 mourning, she e37fd386d6 entered the 1044315fde shop called 2894c9ec58 “Miracle Detective 645eaa59be Agency.”0615930b13ada0c6

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Clang!11277d7e4b119828

The man, who 593919df21 was examining a 5cfada4845 large sapphire ring 4a3df285e0 in the sunlight accb7ebc14 by the window, 88b3207c72 turned around excitedly bcee2e6b88 at the sound cab806c8ff of the bell. His cheerful expression 2109803e71 changed to one 920e98dfbb of surprise and c458ecf654 his eyes widened ff62114abe as he saw 8d0440fdaa a completely different 11f47795c4 noblewoman standing there. 22ee52c5e3a94c50

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“May I help fff5b64a6a you?”01163f3be56f805f

Charlotte, ignoring his question, de7d56f16f slowly looked around the cc00db96d5 shop instead. She could tell what 57696dbce3 kind of place it 33e3449946 was. She looked directly at 310692eebb the man.5c58db195a17a9cc

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“That woman 5ac2c148e0 who was 66ec0f0dfe just here, 355b7e6950 what did 065c3d2c89 she want 9fb05b73ef from you?”f7f62156d9a421f4

The potbellied 6caa32fcd4 man quickly b25a5738b1 closed his d5a12e5ef5 gaping mouth 280f47bc06 and adopted 76af1c571c a serious 31cdf035f7 expression.d3ae56562d76be66

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“Why do cc8aa87e57 you ask?”70e4019c3e96f4bd

At his a8902ab506 curt reply, 1da9b6b27d Charlotte raised 964c6d934f an eyebrow 1c40a7c60c and smiled df4427eff5 coldly.d0f06e377becea12

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“Just answer the question.”430d397cf6966250

“I apologize, cb7dd958e9 but our 5ee7dbf8fd detective agency faa1f07ba5 strictly adheres cd3e9dd2c7 to the 3d54743603 virtue of 54b592b670 confidentiality.”7e8ba9c154f7fc47

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She chuckled at the man’s blatant lie. 445eb4edd38c2e1f

The audacity of this 5ca0cd8235 man. These people would bf85017d67 blabber anything for 1ebe80aa60 the right price.fec8181bc370df4a

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“Virtue of a45f4f6375 confidentiality, my 5c97aeaad1 ass. Virtue of 7fb14bd8a6 money, more a5dce4464e like.”aa71e52e10fe7077

“Hey, what’s with the 57be15550f sudden attitude? A-anyway, I’m da80c9810a busy, so 7727b7c319 please leave…!”08b3864ef5bff647

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Thud!38faed9a0a23184f

The man, waving 87cc6da850 his hands dismissively 9efc99aa8d in the air, 84032cb07f couldn’t finish his 3248aea981 sentence. A pouch suddenly landed b36057b24a on the table with f80d370e6c a loud thud, having e141c6f9bd traced a clear parabolic 591bdd082d arc through the air.59dcfd999b818bb9

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His eyes widened. The gleaming black silk d7f1bd5c2c pouch looked heavy. Perhaps it 91ee587dd8 contained even e640e9abd5 more than 40e2a4c609 the previous 279c8fa05e pouch.6405b0b23f4d98c8

He gulped and f412a76141 slowly reached for 7a08a1ec2e the pouch. The moment his aa34081409 fingers touched the 810072fa23 string that tied 00db53ed0d its opening, he c63f42a671 snatched it towards 81ff066ad3 him like a c14f0d72fa squirrel grabbing a f2aa6daa6d nut.88ce1e916055a7c6

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Charlotte didn’t c74a3c1b37 bat an ceaaa6f057 eye as bab94a40e5 she watched 6a0c18cb3e the man 81c347393c untie the d123a88270 pouch, glancing 3583e19844 at her 2c9cb8cbb8 nervously. The man’s fec276d0bd eyes bulged 38cd1c5b06 as he 9793853e33 peeked inside.b96de1e2004b0eff

Seemingly satisfied d2a01b0865 with the a22651472e contents, the 97c09ff5a5 man snapped 7587e5ba8e his mouth 71721960b7 shut. He quickly dcd7f1850f tightened the c32c2828ef string, clutched 1f900e7e5c the pouch 80fd32bcd7 to his 04200206db chest, and 7ebc598981 looked at 1db9459b69 her with 48f007dd7d a grin.41414443bdb29998

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“Well, well, of course, confidentiality is important, but the most important thing is to be compensated for one’s labor. So, what can I do for you?”6b18a419a3398062

Just as I 3bc68b50d9 thought.Charlotte smiled coldly.d2c6894825b46c37

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“What did b64111c705 the woman 9b556c7e91 who just e7cc075081 came in ad449a0832 want from b91a8a2f30 you?”5cb155fe7ead1555

“Uh, she 0c2b257da5 wanted information 89a2af409b about a a98c3791fe maid and 9dc8cccb89 a housekeeper f1b51aabe2 who worked 537e8bdea9 for the a01942e45a Beaufort family.”3381d0c0c74f61f5

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The man answered 24c0bc09ec quickly.06749be43a3dfaf1

“A head housekeeper?”da584ac7a8b355e3

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Charlotte tilted 37365b1318 her head.16575a921ae831a8

“A woman 51b1ccdd7f named Wilson, b9d41b9fa5 or something. She wanted 230f6ab7f0 me to 5465962623 investigate her b26397a1c6 background and f7c55ee533 personal information…”fe1e3ef16286e50a

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“Aha!”58933ec308fe6f6e

Charlotte nodded. Then, looking directly d18794e8e8 at the man, 003b9e366e she added,c58728f876a9ebf4

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“Good. I’ll buy the 75c4f255d3 same information. You just have to 6096b2c1ca sell me all the 895f4d20ad information you gathered for 4ac4ffe3a6 that woman. In return, I’ll have 7341e6b38f you deliver what I 7eeec255ef want to her as 88d77c36d2 well. What do you d549d99945 say?”4f34b18d891ce47d

“O-of course.”e7bc9d500e913db4

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Charlotte then d643e15af7 spoke to ecc27467a9 the man ff029c01a8 with a 0a8141761b sly smile.04886df190c2d337