Obviously, Randolph Ulster was not in military uniform today.
However, it is still a plain, simple, undecorated black formal dress. The dress, reminiscent of mourning attire, stands out conspicuously among the participants, mostly dressed in elegant attire. And that, to Connie, cannot help to think of his intention.
That is to say, he did not come here to dance, but to make a bloodbath of some preyā¦.
(S-s-s-Scarlett-sama, your turnā¦ā¦!)
Connie retreated involuntarily and clung to Scarlett. But she too with a somewhat stiff face, said, [No, no, Iām not good at him! That guy!] As soon as she shouts that, she disappears in an instant. She runs away with surprising speed. By the time I realized it, there was no sign of her.
So this is what it means when all is over.
Randolph comes toward us one step and then another. Connie hastily turned backā¦ butā¦
[āāāHavenāt seen you since a few days ago, Sister.]
A low voice fell and Connie turned slowly, feeling hopeless.
[W-wrong person I guessā¦ā¦]
[Wrong person?]
He nodded his head.
[ā¦ā¦I see. Then letās start with a greeting. Iām Randolph. Randolph Ulster.]
Yeah, I know.
[C-Constance Grail.]
[Yeah, I know.]
I was not in a mood to casually say, āOh, we are so compatible with each other.ā
[Let me ask you a straightforward question. What is your purpose?]
[W-what are you talking about, Sir?]
Of course I know what he is talking about. I know too much. I just canāt tell him. I canāt tell him that we are helping Scarlett Castiel get her revenge.
[What did you steal from the chapel of the AuramĆ¼nde residence? The will of the deceased? Orā¦]
[No, itāsā¦ā¦.]
Her eyes flutter. No excuses are given. Cold sweat drips down her face. Connie called out for help in her mind.
(So-someone help meā¦!)
[Aah, damn it!]
Then, as if unable to hold back, Scarlett came back out of nowhere. Enough, enough! She raised her voice in anger.
[Canāt be helped! Youā¦needā¦toā¦leaveā¦ Constance!]
(āāā Eeh? )
Somethingā¦is coming into Constance. At the time, it was as if a strong force was repelling it, but this time, it felt as if it was being pushed away from the edge of her body. Besides, she is conscious.
[āāāSince you are so confident, of course you have proof, donāt you?]
Someone was speaking, borrowing Connieās mouth. The confident voice sounded like Connie, but it was not Connie. The expression on her face must have been different, too. She turned her chin away and glared directly at that terrifying Randolph Ulster.
The expressionless Randolph, shook his azure eyes slightly.
[Are you calling a young and innocent daughter a thief without any proof? The name of His Holiness the Grim Reaper will cry. Itās an insult that you donāt remember. If you donāt take it back, I may be so terrified that I will run to the womenās association. I am troubled by the persistence of Randolph Ulster, who is the epitome of good behavior.]
[If you and I go to the Maurice Orphanage, and the director and the children testify that you are not the same Lettie from the AuramĆ¼nde family, you are free to do so.]
(H-he knowsāāā!)
Connie bent her back, but Scarlettā¦ā¦smiled, without moving.
[Iām not going to do it. It is said that there are three faces in this world that look alike. I am honored that you want me, but I am not a cheap woman who would arrange another date with a gentleman she has never met.]
He probably did not expect her to fight back so boldly. Randolph was dumbfounded, and kept his mouth shut.
But, no matter how you look at itāāāthis is a dead end, isnāt it? To be honest, it didnāt feel good to live. As expected, Randolph frowned and was about to say something when the sound of breaking glass echoed through the hall. A scream followed. Connie was surprised and turned her head to see one of the ladies from earlierāāāTheresa Jennings collapsed with her hand on her cheek. Bright red blood was trickling from between her fingers and dripping down from her chin.
Fresh blood stained her collar in a glance.
=====
It was Margot who was breathing heavily as she looked down at Theresa. In her hand she holds a broken wine glass. Perhaps she had struck her with that glass. A red drop was dripping from the chipped tip.
[ā¦ā¦this woman.]
Margotās eyes were seethed and she yelled in an angry voice.
[This whore is to blameā¦ā¦!]
Randolph Ulster was the first to move in the silent hall. He walked over to the fallen woman, picked her up and examined the affected area, even though the blood was stained on his uniform.
[āāāThe wound doesnāt seem to be that deep. But there might be a piece of glass in it, so it is better to wash it off immediately. In the meantime, prepare a sterilization bottle and a clean cloth. It should be a while before the doctor arrives.]
In his words, several servants rushed over and politely carried Theresa away. The maid runs to the laundry room. Somewhere someone yelled āWhat are you waiting for, get the fast horse immediatelyā were heard.
[Margot Tudor.]
Randolph called out the name of the standing woman in a formal tone devoid of any emotion.
The womanās shoulders shook.
[You probably understand, this is an assault. As a law enforcement officer, I cannot overlook what you have done. I will take your statement until my men arrive. āāāMrs. Godwin, Iām sorry, but could I borrow one of your spare guest rooms? Iād like a female escort if possibleāāā]
His calm demeanor gradually calmed the noisy hall. Someone whispered behind Connieās back.
[ā¦ā¦Oh, is it over? Thatās kind of a bummer.]
[Remember? Whenever that boy came out, things were alwaysā¦likeā¦thisā¦]
[I hear youāre now enrolled in the Royal Military Police, but youāre still doing the same things like ten years ago.]
[I think it spurred you on to act more like a stubborn person.]
When Randolph finished giving instructions to the people in the mansion, he returned to Connie. As expected, he had no intention of continuing where he left off in this situation. However, the look in his eyes told me that this was not the end.
[āāāTake a good look.]
At those words, Connie slowly looked around the hall. It was a terrible mess. Blood dotted the floor, tracing the path of Theresa as she was carried away. Before long, the music had stopped, and the young ladies were huddled together, pale and anxious. The expressions on the faces of the older ones varied. Some were worried about the situation, others smiled with amusement, and some looked bored.
Such an evening party had never happened before. Never before had an argument started like that. No, itās wrongāāāConnie shook her head. There had been. In Grand-Meril-Anne. No blood was spilled, but Pamela Francis had been accused and blamed. Alarm bells were ringing in the corner of her head.
āāāThen whose fault was this in the first place?
At that moment, a low voice that grabbed Connie by the heart caught her.
[This is what you have brought upon yourself.]
=====
As a matter of course, the evening party was over.
As the guests left in order, Connie looked for Emilia Godwin and found her sitting on a bench in the courtyard past the greenhouse. She was sitting down, looking terribly tired. In fact, she must have been exhausted. As the organizer, she would have to explain the situation to the Jennings house, and the military police had only just begun their inspection of the scene.
As Connie approached, Emilia gave her a glance.
[You look alike.]
Then she turns her face away as if giving up.
[I donāt see any resemblance in appearance, though. It makes me laugh.]
[Toā¦ā¦Scarlett Castiel?]
Perhaps surprised that Connie told her the name, Emilia looked up quickly. Then she laughed to herself.
[If I said that to an ordinary girl like you, Iām sure Iād get scolded againāāā]
Jealousy and hatred. Envy. And deep within it all, a slight hint is longing? Connie asked without thinking.
[Do you know whyā¦ā¦she had to be executed?]
[Because she tried to poison the Crown Princess Cecilia.]
As if it were a matter of course, Emilia Godwin said that confidently.
[Thatās āāā]
Certainly Connie up until a short time ago had no doubt that this was true. But there are people who proclaim that it is not true. Scarlett is a helpless person who is quick to deceive and trick people, but her anger at that moment was real. You know something too?
Emilia stared at Connie, who was clenching her fists tightly and looking as if she was appealing for something.
[ā¦ā¦I knew you were alike.]
After saying so, she gets up. Then she looked up at the moon, which was covered with clouds and blurred, and talked to herself.
[āāāThe seventh verse of the middle stem of the sixth month of Malta. The ruins of the old Montrose residence. The invitation is in the hat of Count John Doe.]
[Ehā¦?]
With Connie confused, Emilia quickly returned to the mansion as if to say that she had done her duty.
As she was leaving, she turned to Connie just once and muttered to her in a tone of voice as if she were telling a poorly-remembered child.
[Life is won by those who survive. āāāSo be careful you donāt accidentally get kicked out, Constance Grail.]