Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 136 The Writer and the Princess

Just as Miss Luisa opined, the carriage that Maid Tifa rode in was indeed reserved for nobility. The interior décor and furniture were akin to a small drawing room.

The black-haired maid sat by herself, still dressed in the same head maid gown and even the hairband from their last meeting. With her hands neatly placed atop her lap, she gave Shard a slight nod upon seeing him:

"Good evening, Hamilton Detective."

"Good evening, am I late?"

After sitting down, Shard handed over the item wrapped in newspaper. However, the black-haired maid did not take it; instead, she evaluated Shard:

"Not too late, try opening it."

Shard glanced at the maid without asking more, unlocked it again, and attempted to lift the lid of the lacquered wooden box, but still couldn't succeed.

It was then that he passed the makeup box to Miss Tifa, who gently pulled it open in her hands. Shard looked over curiously as the maid turned the box to let him clearly see its contents.

A very ordinary makeup box, divided into several small compartments, each holding different cosmetics... an outlander couldn't recognize any of them.

The black-haired maid was definitely a Circle Sorcerer; Shard didn't know what method she used, but after a faint brass-colored spiritual light flickered, she confirmed the authenticity of the item and gave Shard a gentle smile:

"Detective, you did quite well."

"There's something else I wish to mention, that delivery man... I killed him, does it matter?"

"What concern is that of mine?"

The maid tilted her head slightly, her puzzled gaze fixed on Shard; she appeared to be around the same age as Shard's body and had exceptionally fair skin. But it wasn't pale, rather the color of milk. Her eyes were large, and her black hair most conformed to the outlander's aesthetic standards.

"I mean, will it affect Miss Cavendish..."

He roughly understood that she didn't care about that.

"The lady prefers to be addressed as 'Miss Galina'."

The maid reminded him.

"Alright, will it affect Miss Galina's affairs?"

"Mr. Hamilton, do not underestimate the lady's power, nor think that the Blood of Mercury is some formidable force."

The maid said, then patted the small box she had placed on the table, giving Shard a smile:

"Indeed, in accordance with the commission agreement, you have delivered this makeup box. Beyond that, Miss Galina doesn't care what else you do... However."

She glanced at Shard's expression, lowering her voice to ask:

Shard had been organizing the ledger but now couldn't even bother to continue:

"That maid only showed herself for a moment; I almost didn't recognize her."

"Consider it my little secret, I have a good relationship with a certain member of the Royal Family, to be precise, with a certain Princess."

The blonde girl spoke lightly, then looked around the detective agency. She, like the visiting Miss Beyas and Miss Annette, showed interest in the adorable Mia Cat, but unfortunately, even though she still carried the fishy smell of the Relic, Mia didn't like being held by strangers.

Professors in Saint Byrons suspected Miss Luisa was a spy from Zaras Literary Academy, but her demeanor suggested there was more secrecy involved.

"This place is quite nice."

Miss Luisa remarked.

"Please don't tell anyone about Miss Galina's matter,"

Shard advised again.

"Her being a Circle Sorcerer, of course, I won't spread that around. I'm fine just knowing it myself. Just now, I was amazed at how it seems like everyone has secrets."

She joked, while Shard gave her a sidelong look, not daring to meet her gaze.

"But when working with that woman, you must be very cautious. She has disliked men for a very long time. Privately, there are rumors... that she prefers... beautiful girls."

The blonde girl flashed an ambiguous smile:

"This person has a fixation on spiritual cleanliness. That's the word, right? I heard a doctor mention it last time."

Experience tales at empire

"Are you close with Miss Galina?"

Shard probed again, not out of a desire to know secrets, just curiosity.

Miss Luisa toyed with her earring with a finger, looking at the lock of hair, not at Shard – a clear sign of lying.

"Of course not, Galina Cavendish is a Duchess with a fief, and I'm just a plain author from Tobesk; where would I meet her? Only heard about her through a friend. But a High Ring Sorcerer, disliking men, single..."

Only then she turned towards Shard:

"It used to be strange to me, but now knowing these things, it only makes me think, could she be from the Witch Council? All these criteria, she fits. Oh, if that's really the case, then the affairs of the Cavendish Royalty in Draleon are getting more interesting by the minute."

The blonde authoress tilted her head back, her laughter becoming more evident under the light in Shard's living room.

Her relationship with the Royalty was definitely not that simple.