12 O'Clock Marionette-Chapter 73

"You really have trouble seeing past your own biases, don’t you?"

Just looking at all his clumsy schemes so far, it was clear Julian had underestimated me.

And just a moment ago, he had said something even more revealing.

Cruello’s plaything.

Hearing that title gave me a glimpse into Julian’s mind.

"You never even consider the possibility that the people you look down on might actually be better than you."

Put nicely, he was overconfident. Put bluntly, he was full of himself.

Maybe it was just immaturity.

Sweat trickled down Julian’s cheek.

"With that narrow mind of yours, how do you expect to handle magic?"

Clench!

His jaw tightened, veins bulging in his neck.

He must have been seething.

But it wasn’t scary.

If my tongue kept running, it was only because Julian still looked too young—because he had never actually killed anyone before.

…Or had he?

Now that I thought about it, a few people must have died in yesterday’s chaos.

That thought made it a little easier to steel myself.

After all, wasn’t it also Pebula’s will that had led me here?

"Try being a little nicer in your next life."

Pebula, another brat is coming your way.

I was just about to tighten the chains when—

"…Still, I was surprised. It’s been a long time since you last visited."

Marien’s voice came from beyond the door.

And not just her.

Two people were approaching the attic.

Wait. If they come in now, it’ll be a hassle to kill Julian. Why are they heading this way?

I hesitated for just a moment.

But that moment was all Julian needed.

His eyes flashed, and he suddenly stretched out his right hand toward the door.

"That’s typical of priests."

He was barely holding off the chains with both hands—there was no way he could overpower them with just one.

His left hand glowed red.

Yet, in that instant, he conjured a long, thorny rose vine and sent it flying toward the attic door.

It was already out of my reach.

"If I take a hostage, you won’t be able to do a damn thing."

That’s something you should say after you actually take a hostage.

I didn’t bother stopping him.

Because if the caster dies, the magic vanishes with them.

I poured my will into the chains and sent them lunging for Julian’s throat.

Just before his vines could pierce the attic door—and just before my chains could reach his neck—

"I wondered if she was the maid I sent away. I owe her an apology."

As if on cue, both his spell and my magic halted in midair.

That voice…

"Daedire Crimson?"

I muttered the name without thinking.

Julian flinched violently.

As if to confirm, Daedire’s voice grew clearer.

"Thank you for granting my sudden request, Marien."

"If I didn’t, the Baron wouldn’t stay quiet about it. Even without that, I would’ve done it anyway. Ah, the attic is just up there. You’ll need to use the ladder."

"Thank you for bringing me here. I’m sorry, but I’d like to speak with her alone. Would you mind stepping out?"

"Hmm… I still think I should be the one to bring her out, but fine. I’ll do as you ask, Sir."

"Much appreciated."

Footsteps approached the ladder.

From the context, it was definitely Daedire Crimson.

Wow, what do I do?

I glanced at the door, then quickly turned to Julian.

His expression was even more frozen than mine—pale as a sheet.

For all his talk about hostages, I guess he really does care about his friend.

A piece of information surfaced in my mind.

"Childhood friend of Daedire Crimson. Their relationship is rumored to be so close that people speculate they’re lovers. Exercise caution when mentioning Daedire around him."

Even hedgehogs love their own young, huh?

It wasn’t just the Crimson family’s power—Julian’s concern was genuine.

So, I didn’t need to worry about him actually taking a hostage.

But still—

"Ugh."

Killing Julian was simple, but dealing with the aftermath was another matter.

There was no way I could clean up a corpse before Daedire walked through that door.

I had no choice but to settle for a temporary solution.

"Ugh!"

I pressed a shard of chain against Julian’s throat and whispered.

"Get lost."

You’re alive thanks to your friend.

Julian hesitated for only a second before he moved.

The only mistake he made was trying to open the window without unlocking the latch first.

See? I knew something would trip him up.

Grumbling a curse under his breath, Julian finally disappeared.

And just as he did, a knock sounded at the attic door.

"Yes, come in."

I spoke calmly, satisfied by how steady my voice sounded.

But the moment Daedire entered and our eyes met, her expression shifted.

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

Her round eyes widened in surprise.

Oh.

Right.

I was also supposed to be on the run.

Damn it.

I froze mid-syllable, my lips still shaped as if I were saying, Come in.

What was she going to say?

I watched her lips anxiously.

But instead of speaking, Daedire simply stepped inside.

The door clicked shut behind her.

She parted her lips slightly, as if choosing her words carefully, while her gaze swept across the attic.

The open window.

The—bloodstained—carpet.

The mattress.

The robe hanging on the rack.

Her eyes lingered just a little longer than necessary.

Wait.

Hold on.

I blurted out my thoughts before I could stop myself.

"Are you my direct senior or something?"

Daedire Crimson looked at me with a darker gaze.

Then, with a quiet sigh, she exhaled.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"Is that robe the one you received from the investigator?"

"Uh…."

"I visited the Bonetti estate, but there was nothing special about the robe there."

That was an outright confirmation.

Wow, this was the most surprising thing I'd heard in a while.

I blinked slowly.

"I was told no one would be coming here."

"That was the plan. Until I heard that the Winterbell household had actually taken in a new servant."

Daedire took a step toward the robe, and I quickly blocked her path.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Lady Siora."

"Oh, of course, I planned to hand it over to the Imperial Court. I didn’t decide to keep it out of spite just because I suddenly found myself wanted."

I let my words drip with sarcasm and took a brief pause.

However—

"As the one providing the lead, I need to know what’s inside."

"That is for His Majesty alone to know."

"Even though the evidence wouldn’t have made it here without me?"

"In that case, burn it. I will consider it lost."

Daedire turned on her heel.

Oh?

I narrowed my eyes and watched her back.

"You're quite the stickler for principles. Though you seemed to turn a blind eye to Julian Minerva."

Daedire froze mid-step.

I saw her inhale sharply.

"Logically speaking, shouldn’t you have noticed? As an investigator, I imagine you've practiced mana detection to the point of exhaustion. There’s no way you didn’t sense what was happening right above you."

"I…."

"Julian panicked and fled the moment he heard your voice. He didn’t seem to realize you were an investigator, though."

Daedire slowly turned back toward me.

Her face was expressionless, but her pupils wavered ever so slightly.

I gripped the robe tighter.

"You’re going to tell me what’s written here, aren’t you?"

"…."

"Unless you’d rather I report your little oversight to the temple?"

"…Fine. I can’t guarantee it holds anything valuable, though."

"I’ll trust in your touching friendship."

Daedire sighed and took the robe.

Good, I had the upper hand now. Time to squeeze a little more out of this.

"And since I was only here for the rendezvous, I need to leave this house soon."

"I’ll make up a suitable excuse."

"But I’m broke."

"Take this."

Daedire untied her coin pouch and tossed it to me.

The weight was substantial.

Hmm, but since she handed it over so easily, it felt a little underwhelming.

Oh, right.

"And that sword looks nice, too."

"…Take it."

Only after securing Daedire’s sword as well did I feel fully satisfied.

Cruello, happy birthday in advance!

***

I had to leave since my cover was blown, but wandering around all night without a place to stay would have drained too much energy.

So instead, I latched onto Daedire and spent a sleepless night.

At dawn, I finally departed from Winterbell Manor.

I had given the robe to Daedire, and I couldn’t exactly walk around in priest robes, so I borrowed clothes from Marien.

Of course, Daedire paid for them.

"It’s a shame you’re leaving after just one day. Though, I suppose it’s good news for you since you’re heading to the Crimson Duchy."

Marien's eyes glistened with disappointment.

The excuse I had fed her was simple.

I was originally a maid from the Crimson Duchy who had been fired due to a minor misunderstanding. While searching for new work, Daedire had found me and cleared up the misunderstanding, convincing me to return.

Apparently, the Baron of Winterbell owed Daedire a favor, so the matter was settled smoothly.

"Thanks for understanding. Please send my regards to the Baron."

"Of course."

Marien, ever sentimental, pulled me into a hug.

"If you ever need to come back, don’t hesitate to reach out."

Ah, so it wasn’t just sentiment—she was scouting me.

I chuckled at the whispered words in my ear.

Truly, talented people never go hungry.

Outside the alley, a carriage from the Crimson Duchy was waiting.

As Daedire climbed in, she spoke.

"I can drop you off wherever you wish."

"I appreciate it, but I’ll pass."

I wasn’t ready to head to the Imperial Palace yet.

Even if I had leverage, how could I trust anyone from the Imperial Court?

Daedire narrowed her eyes and smirked.

"You really wear your thoughts on your face."

Really?

Startled, I pulled my hood lower.

"I was joking."

"Hey."

"I don’t enjoy doing other people’s jobs."

With that parting remark, Daedire signaled the carriage to depart.

I silently watched as it rolled away.

"What an infuriating personality."

She was honestly easier to deal with when she pretended to be oblivious.