The Tales of Marielle Clarac Volume 01: The Engagement of Marielle Clarac by Haruka Momo

Author:Haruka Momo [MOMO, HARUKA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J-Novel Club
Published: 2020-04-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

Initially, I thought the letters were written in blood. Taking a closer look, however, it was red chalk. Touching it left red dust all over my finger. “I didn’t know they made chalk in this color.”

“That’s your first thought?” asked Lord Simeon, exasperated, as he kindly wiped the red dust from my finger. He took a good look at the handkerchief he’d used, then returned his attention to the lettering on the wall. “The handwriting’s the same as on the threatening notes, I see.”

“Yes. It seems implausible that anyone could have written it just by copying an example.”

That might have been possible for a short phrase, I thought, but with a message this long, the differences would have been obvious. It’s clear that this was written by a confident hand.

Lord Patrice had left before dinner and wasn’t currently in the manor. Assuming that hadn’t been an act—he wasn’t secretly still there after all—it was impossible for him to have written this.

I sighed. “I suppose my guess was mistaken.”

“He’s not our only suspect,” Lord Simeon replied. “Quite a number of people would have sufficient motive.”

“But we are limited to the people who are here at present. Which means...it might have been written on Lord Patrice’s behalf, by a servant who’s skilled at writing? He could still be the mastermind after all.”

“If so, we’d easily be able to find out who wrote it simply by asking all the servants to write something and comparing their handwriting. Then it’s only a small step to find out who asked them to do it. I doubt the perpetrator would behave so carelessly.”

He did have a point. The letters were quite distinct, so investigating based on that would have turned up the answer immediately in that scenario. But then, what possibilities are left?

I was staring at the wall, my head tilted, when Lord Cedric returned, holding a bucket.

“Well?” I asked.

He shook his head. “It was Anne who prepared the room before bed. I asked her, but it seems she saw nothing out of the ordinary at that time.”

“Is that particular maid able to write?” Lord Simeon asked.

But Lord Cedric shook his head again. “She can write her name, but that’s all. She’s from an agrarian background.”

Lord Simeon nodded, as if he’d expected nothing else. Lord Cedric came over to us and put the bucket on the floor. “Do you mind if I clean it off already?”

“Go right ahead,” said Lord Simeon.

“Let me help,” I said, putting my hand out, but Lord Cedric gently put his own out to block it.

“Thank you, that’s quite all right. I’m used to cleaning up this sort of thing by now. There’s no need to sully your delicate fingers.”

He knelt down and took my hand softly, almost as if he was about to kiss it. Above him, Lord Simeon coughed loudly.

Lord Cedric let go of my hand and picked up a washcloth. He made short work of cleaning the wall. He really is used to this, I thought. The red letters besmirching the walls were wiped away in a flash, leaving no trace.

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