“It’s in the papers that the daughter of the owner of the Grey Theater is missing.”

Isabelle, who had been leaning back in her chair reading, looked up at Claire’s words.

“She’s been missing since she stopped by the bookstore sister works at.”

The Rome Book store was a bookstore at the top of the hill.

It was opened by Marion, a bibliophile, and had the distinction of bringing in new books faster than any other bookstore in Shadehill.

With such strengths, Rome Book store had grown into the most well-known and highest-grossing bookstore in Shadehill.

Isabelle closed the book.

“I met Marion-sama last week. He doesn’t come to the bookstore often because he’s busy, but he came for some reason.”

She tucked her wheat-colored hair behind her ears as she pondered the memories of the previous week.

“Gemma loved books, just like Marion, and she often came to the bookstore.”

“Were you close to each other, sister?”

“Yes, she called me sister and followed me everywhere.”

Like many girls her age, Gemma had recently gotten into romance novels and had bought a few that day.

One of them was the second installment of a series that had taken Shadehill by storm last year, and it was the first day it was in stock.

She remembered that half of the stock that they’d brought in was sold in a day, even though they’d bought a lot because there were many people who were waiting.

Gemma, who was carefully looking around the bookshelves, brought a book of interest and asked Isabelle.

‘Have you read this?’

It wasn’t very popular at the time of publication a few years ago, but it was a book that has been gradually increasing in popularity in recent years.

‘I haven’t read it, but it’s selling well these days, so we ordered additional copies.’

‘Hmm. I’m wondering if I should buy it or not.’

Isabelle remembered Gemma’s face, the corners of her mouth curling up in amusement at the thought. She bought four romance novels that day, including that one.

There was nothing out of the ordinary about her behavior. Sometimes she came with a friend, but like most days, she came alone and took her time choosing her books.

‘I’ll come back when I finish these.’

With a cheerful wave, she left the bookstore.

She wondered where Gemma had gone.

When news of Gemma’s disappearance broke on the same day as the boy’s body was found in Lake Rota, a sinister twist was added to the story. 

It was feared that Gemma had been murdered as well.

People casually said cruel things about how it would have been easy to incur a grudge when her mother was an upper-tiered earner in Kaliba.

Some wondered if the kidnappers were hoping for a ransom, but the counter argument was that if they were, why hadn’t they contacted anyone yet?

Isabelle remembered Marion’s tired face when she’d called her in and asked about Gemma that day.

His eyes had their usual heaviness, but his face was noticeably tired. At the time, she didn’t realize that Gemma was missing. Isabelle assumed that he was just very busy with top-level work.

Only later did she realize it was because of heartache.

“Maybe she just ran away to get some space with her friends?”

“No, she didn’t run away. I heard none of her friends have gone missing.”

I see, Claire muttered.

She hadn’t even known Gemma existed until now, but it was disheartening to hear that she was someone that was close to Isabelle.

“I hope she didn’t get caught up in a bad incident.”

“Me too.”

Isabelle agreed with Claire.

She hoped she would return as if nothing had happened, that she’d stop by the Rome Book store again, and Gemma would chatter about how much she’d enjoyed the book she’d bought last time.

***

The dark clouds cleared, and the sun came out. People went to and fro on the dry streets as if they had never done so.

In the late afternoon, she was wiping the glass in the display case with a dry rag when the bell rang.

“Oh, Finlay.”

Claire saw him yesterday, and she was seeing him again today.

Claire quickly scanned the display case, and felt pleased inwardly. The vanilla pudding was out, but fortunately Sandra’s favorite banana pudding remained.

“Banana pudding?”

Finlay nodded lightly.

“How many do you need?”

“Three. And two raisin scones, please.”

Claire took out three banana pudding and two raisin scones, then two carrot muffins.

At Claire’s discretion, it was possible to give away two extra muffins.

“Try this, too. It’s delicious.”

“Yes, I will.”

She glanced at Finlay, familiar with his blunt reply.

Finlay usually sweats a lot because he used his body a lot as a carpenter, however today his shirt was clean without showing any signs of sweating.

“Are you done for the day already?”

“The materials got waterlogged, so I’m going to take a break for a while.”

“That’s because it’s been raining a lot. Will you lose money?”

“I’m not losing money.”

“Good.”

Claire, who diligently packed puddings and muffins, recalled the raspberry jam that she has been eating at every meal these days.

“Oh, please tell Aunt Sandra that the raspberry jam was delicious.”

In fact, Isabelle was enjoying eating it more than Claire.

She wouldn’t only spread it on wheat bread. She also enjoyed doing strange things with it, like putting it in a salad made of cabbage, and above all, she was enjoying it in her tea.

“Tell me if you need more. There’s still a lot left.”

Claire laughed a little. She couldn’t believe that Sandra had more to give away after she’d gifted so many to her neighbors.

“Sure, if I need them.”

She handed the packages to Finlay, and the bell rang once more.

“Welcome.”

She greeted her guest with machine-like reaction time, then locked eyes with Finlay.

“Goodbye.”

“Bye.”

Claire’s gaze, which was following Finlay’s back as he turned around, was embarrassed to find a tall man looking around the store.

“Boyfriend?”

Clive asked, looking in the direction Finlay went out a while ago. The tone of inquiry was casual.

Claire felt uncomfortable with his familiar attitude, even though he’d only met her a few times.

“Just a friend.”

Claire answered, looking to see if he had come here by chance to buy bread or dessert, or if he’d visited for a purpose.

She carefully inspected his face. She’d heard that the security forces were busy with the murder, but he didn’t look too tired.

A loose-fitting ivory shirt, straight brown pants, and leather shoes of the same color as his pants.

The security guards wore black uniforms, while the man in front of her seemed to be dressed in a more comfortable manner.

Claire belatedly remembered that she was scolded for staring at him, so she quietly lowered her gaze and fixed it on the display case.

“What would you like?”

“Put in some things that you’d recommend. Two of each.”

That was a tough order. Some customers loved Claire’s customization, others tried it and found it wasn’t to their taste, but didn’t say much.

Sometimes they’d come back, and ask if she’d recommend stuff again.

Claire opened her mouth cautiously.

“Who’s eating it?”

“My mother and sister.”

Surprisingly homely. Last time he bought a romance novel for his sister at the bookstore, this time it was dessert.

She recently ordered Lemon House’s chocolate muffins and banana pudding for a tea party, so she’d rule those two out.

More recently she’d ordered cookies, but that was a special order for that day, so she’d move on from that.

Claire took out two of the same carrot muffins she had just given Finlay, and some lemon cakes. Lemon cake was the best item on the menu at Lemon House.

Clive didn’t say much about Claire’s choices. Just looked at her white little hand.

“I found out that there were a few more missing pieces of jewelry besides the necklace. They were relatively inexpensive things, nothing that would be noticed very quickly.”

“…What?”

“There’s a high probability that someone inside the mansion was responsible.”

Claire’s head was spinning. So, that meant someone else stole everything in addition to the necklace. Some ‘insider’ in the Norton mansion.

Therefore, she was cleared of the false charge.

“I mean, I told you I just picked it up.”

She tried to speak calmly, but her voice trembled at the injustice. To her shame.

“You did.”

The possibility of being charged with theft! How anxious was she about that possibility. Even so, this man who didn’t show any sign of remorse at all was disgusting.

But what could she say because he was the son of a lord.

“…Yes, I did.”

Claire replied shakily.

There was a moment of silence, a moment where she thought there was no more conversation to follow, then the man opened his mouth.

“How old are you?”

Ask your aide about that. He got all of her information on that day.

“Twenty.”

However, her answer flowed out politely.

“You are a year older than Eleanor.”

The man’s sister, Eleanor Norton, was a young lady who devoted much of her time to service to the people of the town.

She was a frequent participant in the church’s food drives to feed the hungry and in the medical society’s outreach to the poor.

Her activities were all over the newspapers. With nothing, but praise.

Come to think of it, she remembered Drew talking about seeing Eleanor when he went to deliver wheat bread to the church, 

He said she was a kind and polite girl in real life.

Claire glanced at Clive’s face. Since they had the same genes, Eleanor was probably a very beautiful young lady.

In an instant, in Claire’s head, a beautiful lady enjoying horseback riding leisurely in the garden of the mansion.

It would be a lie if she said she wasn’t envious, but it was also true that she didn’t want to waste time on things that wouldn’t happen.

In any case, she’d been exonerated, and she would never again have anything to do with anyone who bore the name Norton.

She might stop by the manor once in a while to deliver desserts, but then she would only be meeting with its servants.

Thinking of it, she felt both relieved and forgiveness for Clive, who wasn’t sorry.