139 [139]

I arrived in the capital in just two days. I don't know how to run the carriage. Berdick couldn't think of anything. For two days Verdick couldn't say a word. When I got out of the carriage, I led him with a 'Hi' sound. Berdick led a shaky leg into the inside.

His guide was to the morgue. At first Verdick almost said he was in the wrong place. But when he saw him standing with a stiff face, he turned back and went closer. Berdick touched the cloth that covered the body with trembling hands. I had to open it and check it, but I was afraid to do it. But I had to.

“…….”

Berdick looked down over the cloth.

"Isela."

Being inside was certainly not a living person. However, it was difficult to call it a general body.

And I couldn't say anything for a long time. It looked like a kind of ornament. said the man from behind.

"I contrasted with the hair you gave me before, and my height and body shape were very similar to my missing daughter."

But that was it.

Berdick wanted to deny it right away, saying, 'This is not my daughter.' But Berdyck's cold hair simply couldn't deny the reality.

"Any more?"

"…that's why I need Mr. Evans to confirm."

It looked more elegant than horrible. Most of the body was embalmed like a doll. It looked more like a doll made of human material. His hair was all washed out in red wigs. And there was a crown on his head. His face was covered with a mask. The hand looked so elaborate that it was confusing whether it was a doll's or a human's.

"My hair was pushed short, but I was able to find a contrast with the hair I had left to fix the wig."

"…my daughter doesn't wear this."

"I'm sure the criminal put you do it'sir.

The body was wearing a slightly out of style dress. Seeing that there was no smell of rot, it seemed to be embalmed. He wore a mask on his face. When Verdick tried to touch it, Inspector Albert stopped him.

"It's better not to open it."

"…how do you check if you don't look?”

"His face was already white."

"The hand-like part is still the same."

"I cut out his face."

“…….”

Berdick had to think.

I can tell by the color of my daughter's hair!

She yelled that she could recognize her daughter by looking at her hair, but is that so? Berdick agonized. I wasn't sure. It seemed more comfortable to admit it was right, but Verdick found it difficult to determine whether the body in front of him was really his daughter Isela.

What if the package was not Isela's hair, but similar hair? Are you sure your memory is accurate? Can you guarantee that you didn't make up your mind just because you wanted to believe it? Verdick could not know. But I wanted to make a decision quickly. Right or not.

Inspector Albert opened his mouth.

"The spots and scars on the skin… remain almost the same. Mr. Berdick, what characteristics does your daughter have? Do you remember any characteristics of your daughter?"

"…I don't know."

Berdick answered with some difficulty.

He was not sure if Isela was right.

Body... Berdick sighed. How do you know about the body of an adult daughter? As soon as I called, I ran to her, but this was better known by Isela's maid than by herself. Berdick was hard to be sure that the girl in front of him, who had disappeared too much while he was alive, was his daughter.

Berdick raised the dead body's hand. It was too cold. It was not a human hand already. However, it was not the meat's touch. It was hard to see how it really looked by removing blood, drying it, and applying powder.

"…we'd better send a telegram to the house and call the maid.”

"Yes, Mr. Berdick, would you like to stay in the capital for a while?"

"I will."

Berdick answered briefly and changed his hat.

"My lord, what would you do?"

I will stay at the capital's mansion. And... there must be a lot to prepare.”

Berdick clenched his teeth.

I was so nervous until I came here, but when I saw him, I became calm.

Now he knows too little about himself now. Even looking at the body, I wasn't sure if it was her daughter. Berdick realized again that he was a poor father. The misery and bitterness rather chilled Verdick's head.

There is one thing I know for sure.

That body was the work of Prince Gwiz.

***

Prince Gwiz had been deeply intertwined financially with Verdick Evans. He needed more flexible funds than aristocrats. And Berdick Evans had no reason to refuse his hand. Prince Gwiz had many shortcomings, but the more he liked a man like Verdick.

Prince Gwiz received a lot of money and passed many documents and bills for Berdyk. The present king was so old that he already had many rights. The final draft was still approved by the king, but no one knew that Prince Gwiz had a strong influence. The old king was hanging on somehow to hand over the throne to Prince Louis.

Berdick knew Prince Gwiz's hobby.

Very few people knew of his hobby, but there were occasional ones.

Some direct aristocrats, some servants, a group of people who provide money like themselves.

Berdick gave him a lot of money and women, including a woman who sometimes disappeared without a hitch. Of course, he gave it to many people so that it would not be revealed directly, and there was no money and women who entered him once went out of the court.

People like the King and the Marquis of Pancair may be fed up, but it was a pleasure for Berdick. It was a fatal weakness. The current king and his aides are worried that Prince Gwizu's scandal will become known, but it was not that serious in Berdyk's eyes.

It's not a big deal to enjoy murder or to be a pervert. Most perversions were unable to hide it, but Prince Gwiz at least knew how to hide it. Most of the people he used were foreigners, or prostitutes or male prostitutes. Among them, I used to make it into an object and enjoy it if I thought it was okay.

But it had nothing to do with Berdick.

Prince Gwiz managed to have a good relationship with Berdick. Prince Gwiz was at least a man who vomited as much as he ate, considering that most royalty and nobles wanted to suck money and trample it down.

So Verdick wanted to deny this even more.

He can't be.

It can't be.

Why would he kill his daughter?

Berdick picked up the pen. I don't know who to talk to or who to discuss. But we have to organize it.

Isela disappeared. He didn't take any of the pieces and he didn't disappear with anyone. Who took her? Verdick thought until a few days ago that Raymond had done it. He had such a grudge, and his attitude was enough to cast doubt on him.

But the body was apparently that of Prince Gwiz. There were two ways for him to play with the body, one of which was a very common way of muttering the ship and the vagina. And the second was the way to make an object with such various decorations. His style was different, but his taste was revealed in stitching, knots, and decorations. He thought that the creator's characteristics should be revealed in art. Under no circumstances did much damage to the face.

But why did you cut out his face this time? Don't you think it's made as if you don't want to be caught by someone?

"…oh, hell."

Berdick clasped the pen. You've seen this body so many times. Prince Gwiz has never known that there is a strange habit. And he even helped it.

Never thought of the possibility of what he/she used to do to his/her daughter. I've always wanted to give Isela the best. That's how he lived like that. It was appropriate for her daughter to do so.

Prince Gwiz would not do that to Isela. He can't have treated Verdick like this. Prince Gwiz now knows that he is frantically looking for his daughter. How could he...?

It's a bittersweet.

The pen point was broken on the paper. The ink spread like blood.

Berdick couldn't stop laughing.

What is the reason why Prince Gwiz of Wales should only be gracious to Berdick? After all, in front of the royal family, he is just a pocket of money.

***

Inspector Albert sighed. His father, the general manager, has repeatedly asked him to act with extreme caution. These days, the whole country was in a state of course.

Prince Louis died.

The incident shocked the king into a state of unconsciousness.

Prince Gwiz will soon become king.

It was an open fact that Berdick Evans' businesses were heavily colluded with Prince Gwiz. Ordinary people would think that he would be more successful in the future, but in fact, he was more likely to be abandoned. Hounds are eaten after hunting.

Never tell anyone suspected to be the culprit. You should get out of this business as much as you can. "It takes time before it stabilizes."

"Okay, Father."

Inspector Albert changed the name of the person who reported the body and where it was found. In fact, the reporter was Prince Gwizu's henchmen.

Shortly afterwards, the woman from Isela's mansion disappeared again before she met with Berdick.

It was a common disappearance in the capital these days.

***

Raymond stood by the window looking out. Berdick and his group may be on their way out. Karen asked if it was okay not to go out, but Raymond just smiled lightly. But there was no laughing matter on his face looking out the window. But there was no hatred, anger, remorse, or despondency. It was just the face of a man who did what was right to do what he had to do. It looked more like a tree or stone than a person.

"Death is such an easy revenge."

When he said that, he seemed intoxicated with dismal pleasure. And he seemed to want to share the joy with Karen. But now he doesn't even look so happy. So it was difficult for Karen to talk to.

"Now they're gone."

But as soon as Raymond's face went to Karen, he immediately began to come to life. The dark color disappears and the face begins to glow again. There was a kick in the air. But Karen was already embarrassed because she saw his face a little while ago. It was as if one page had been printed incorrectly in the book. It's definitely not a big problem, and there was no problem in understanding the content, but it's still taking.

"That's true."

Karen looked up at Raymond. It looked a little dry. But there was a constant smile on his face. The face looking down at Karen was always the face of a young man who seemed to be in love. So Karen laughed face to face. To that man who did everything for her.

If he had sympathized with Verdick, a tie would have been the most troublesome luxury in the world.

Let's Smile

Like there's nothing more disturbing in the world.