CHAPTER 16
Liv’s bakery occupied the first floor, while the spacious family home where she lived with her family was on the second.
Scarlett entered Liv’s cozy bedroom, whose window faced the window of Scarlett’s workshop, and shot her friend an exasperated look.
“Seriously, ask someone else. Who goes around grilling people about their divorce? The people in this neighborhood are so weird.”
“And who dragged you into this neighborhood? You walked here on your own, so don’t blame anyone.”
Liv pulled a chair over to the window and sat Scarlett down before placing a basket of bread between them. Then she brought out a paper filter and began brewing coffee. Despite Liv’s childish curiosity, Scarlett kept coming to her house for one reason: Liv made unbelievably good coffee.
After taking one sip of the warm coffee, Scarlett let out a blissful sigh.
As if she had been waiting for that exact moment, Liv unleashed a barrage of questions.
“So nobles really have arranged marriages? You’re the only noble living on Seventh Street.”
“What about Mrs. Paradi from the jewelry shop? She’s a noble too.”
“She doesn’t count. She’s way too scary. Anyway, was it an arranged marriage?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s amazing…”
In Salantie, unless you were one of a handful of nobles or an extraordinarily wealthy magnate, marrying for love was simply the norm.
Liv continued,
“By the way, isn’t the Crimson family ridiculously rich? Why are you so poor?”
“Poor? I own a shop.”
“You rent it. I figured a family like the Crimsons would have every five- or six-year-old owning at least one building.”
“Maybe. My uncle took everything before I was old enough to learn anything about money.”
“So that’s why you’re broke. Well, every family has money problems.”
Fortunately, Liv accepted Scarlett’s casual explanation just as casually.
Relieved, Scarlett picked up a cherry Danish and took a bite.
Perhaps deciding Scarlett couldn’t escape while eating, Liv asked the question she’d really been dying to know.
“So… why did your ex-husband come here?”
“It’s a little complicated… I guess they arrested a criminal and needed something like my testimony.”
“A criminal? What kind?”
“I can’t really say. It’s probably confidential.”
“What do you mean ‘probably confidential’?”
Liv clicked her tongue, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Now I’m even more curious. Honestly, I was hoping you’d spend this whole time trash-talking your ex so I could join in.”
“There’s not much bad I can say about him.”
“Then why did you get divorced?”
“Good question.”
As Scarlett reached for another pecan Danish, Liv smacked the back of her hand.
“You’re no fun to feed. Did your ex-husband do something he couldn’t tell anyone about?”
“Hmm…”
Tempted by the freshly baked Danish, Scarlett thought for a moment before finally naming one of Victor’s flaws.
“If I had to criticize him… he hardly ever smiles. I never saw him give a real smile during our two years together. Of course, he never cried either, and in bed…”
Realizing what she’d almost said, Scarlett abruptly clamped her mouth shut.
Liv instantly split a Danish in half and handed it over.
“In bed what?”
“Well… it didn’t seem like he enjoyed it very much. Was it my fault?”
“You’ll know once you’ve been with another man.”
Liv burst into laughter as if she’d been waiting to say that, making Scarlett sigh.
“Anyway… don’t ever tell anyone else about my ex-husband. Got it?”
“Yeah, yeah. I know.”
After all, simply mentioning one of Victor Dumpfelt’s weaknesses had already caused enough trouble. She had no desire to say anything more about him.
Instead of continuing, Scarlett took another bite of her Danish.
The maple syrup-filled pastry was so delicious that she devoured it in moments before speaking again.
“He was exactly the same person from beginning to end… but somehow, that gradually became more and more disappointing.”
Just thenā
A commotion arose outside.
Liv stepped onto the balcony, then hurried back inside.
“S-Scarlett! There’s a Navy carriage parked in front of your shop!”
“What?”
Scarlett rushed out onto the balcony herself.
The moment she looked down, she gasped.
“I-I have to go! Thanks for the Danish!”
She hurried downstairs and ran toward her shop.
When she arrived at the clock shop, she found Victor standing in front of the carriage, peering inside with his subordinates and his secretary, Blight.
“Why are you here?”
Scarlett asked in surprise.
Victor jerked his chin toward the shop.
“To buy a watch.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? There’s a flagship store on Third Street. Buy one there. My name isn’t well known yet, so jewelers won’t sell me their best gemstones. I don’t even carry luxury watchesā”
Before she could finish, Victor walked into the shop.
The vice commander, Evan, followed him, raising his bare wrist toward Scarlett.
“Then I’ll buy one. I have plenty of money, but I can’t exactly wear a better watch than my superior, can I?”
“Sir Light!”
Scarlett protested indignantly.
But Palin, who had once been assigned to keep watch over her, quietly slipped inside as well.
Once everyone had entered, Blight smiled warmly.
“The truth is, everyone was curious about your watch shop, ma’am. Since we’re here, I might as well have a drink with Andrei too.”
After saying that, he walked inside and greeted Andrei cheerfully before giving him a light hug.
Evan pointed to a display reading “Navy Watch with Sapphire” and asked several questions.
Andrei told him roughly when it would be completed and added his name to the reservation list.
Meanwhile, Palin purchased one of Scarlett’s beautifully sculpted silver pocket watches.
As heirs to some of the nation’s most prestigious families, money was hardly an issue for any of them.
A short while later, they all came back outside together.
Andrei turned to Scarlett.
“I’m going to leave work two hours early today. The Navy officers invited me to join them for drinks.”
“You complained that I never worked!”
“Employers are supposed to give their employees one day off every month, but I couldn’t because there was no one to cover for me. This is why people should work for big businesses, you know? Right, boss?”
His deadpan remark made Scarlett flinch, and she quickly shooed him away.
After the Navy officers left in a group, only Victor remained in the shop.
“Seriously… why did you come?”
Scarlett asked with a sigh.
Instead of answering, Victor said,
“Your workshop is upstairs?”
“Yeah.”
Victor headed toward the stairs.
Scarlett hurriedly grabbed his arm.
“Even Andrei isn’t allowed in there.”
Without a word, Victor pulled a Navy identification booklet from his inner pocket and opened it.
Inside were an official certificate confirming that the police had requested the Navy’s assistance, along with the seal authorizing emergency investigative powers.
Logically, Scarlett knew he had every legal right to search her workshop.
Emotionally, she couldn’t accept it.
When she hesitated to unlock the door, Victor said,
“If you don’t feel like opening it, I can always break it down.”
“I’ll open it.”
With no other choice, Scarlett took the key from the small pouch hanging at her waist.
A moment later, the wooden door swung open.
They climbed the narrow wooden staircase, which smelled faintly of timber.
Without furniture crowding it, Scarlett’s workshop felt more spacious than the shop below.
A translucent curtain divided off a small sleeping area containing nothing more than a bed and wardrobe.
Victor struck a match and lit the gas lamp.
As the flame flickered to life, it illuminated glass display cabinets filled with springs, gears, and casting molds.
He tossed the still-burning match into the stove before nodding toward a safe built into the wall.
Scarlett reluctantly opened it.
Inside were silver and gold ingots used for cutting gears.
Watching Victor inspect every corner of the room, Scarlett asked,
“What exactly are you trying to find? An investigation is supposed to have a purpose.”
“Repairing trams is illegal. You know that. So you already know what I’m investigating.”
Scarlett froze for a moment, then boldly replied,
“I did go there to repair it… but it wasn’t broken. It was running perfectly fine. They were exaggerating.”
Victor, who seemed unable to decide whether he was investigating or merely looking around, turned to face her.
“I let you off that day. Don’t make excuses.”
His words sent a chill crawling down the back of Scarlett’s neck, but she answered as though nothing had happened.
“If you already let me off, why are you searching this place?”
“You admitted you went there to repair the tram.”
“Yeah.”
“I want to know where you learned how.”
Victor carried an armchair beneath the gas lamp before taking hold of Scarlett and making her sit in it.
“What are youā”
The bright light shone directly into her eyes, forcing Scarlett to shield them with both arms.
Like an interrogator, Victor spoke.
“I looked into your background. You’re a member of the Crimson family, but from the age of twelve onward, you worked as a maid.”
“You had to investigate that just to find out?”
“Of course. You’ve always lied to me. You claimed you were raised as a proper noble lady. Though honestly, your behavior made it obvious you weren’t.”
“…”
“So according to your story, a maid working in that household somehow taught herself the Crimson family’s techniquesāeven though their own children still can’t master them. Fine, let’s say watchmaking was your family’s trade. But almost all of the tram engineersāincluding the previous heads of the Crimson familyādied in the accident. Does that mean you still remember things from before you turned twelve?”
If she simply claimed that her memories had suddenly returned, he’d probably think she was insane again.
Scarlett forced herself to stay calm.
“I happened to find some tram blueprints recently. I taught myself from those.”
“Where are the blueprints?”
“I memorized them… then burned them.”
“You memorized them? That would’ve been illegal.”
“…”
Scarlett opened her mouth, only to fall silent again.
After years of dealing with pirates who constantly lied to escape punishment, talking to someone as poor at lying as Scarlett was effortless for Victor.
Looking entirely at ease, he continued.
“So what about your watchmaking skills?”
A moment ago he’d acted as though he wasn’t going to ask about that.
Caught completely unprepared, Scarlett tried to think of another excuse but only sighed and closed her mouth once more.
The more she failed to answer his questions, the darker Victor’s expression became.
