12 O’Clock Marionette

Chapter 7

The thrill of my first successful lead didn’t last long.

As I visited other guilds, my mood steadily worsened.

The results of my investigation into Siora Velvet were all nearly identical.

"She never spoke. She never left the mansion."

This went far beyond mere introversion.

In fact, I had heard a similar assessment before.

Twelve years ago, during my time as Amy Royalsand.

"Memory loss?! Of course, she lost her memory—she never left the damn mansion!"

"Are you sure you don’t remember? Huh? Maybe you just forgot because you never spoke?"

"Damn it! I was thrilled that White Desert finally got a proper fiancée, and now this!"

These were the wise words of Lord Royalsand, my so-called father at the time.

After that, he had me locked away in temples for months, hoping to "cure" my amnesia.

There was a clue hidden in his words.

Before I became her, Amy had been a silent, lifeless child.

And Siora had been the same.

"Do I need something more than just a body to take over someone else’s life?"

The thought left me uneasy, and I quickly shook my head, trying to clear it.

I looked down at Minuet’s list of recommended contacts.

Next on the list was—

"Wait, I’m done already?"

The short list was already exhausted.

"I didn’t learn anything I actually wanted to know."

Siora Velvet’s past was just a side inquiry. What really mattered was Cruello’s movements.

I needed to know how much of his actions overlapped with Fate so I could plan accordingly.

But the guilds had all reacted the same way, as if they had rehearsed it.

The moment I even mentioned that topic—

"That’s classified at the highest level!"

"Hiiik! Do you want to get our guild shut down? Get out, get out!"

"I didn’t hear anything."

"Gods, please rewind time by a day and erase this conversation."

Just thinking about it made my blood boil.

Why was everything so damn difficult when this man was involved?

I clenched my coin pouch as if it were Cruello’s throat and stalked toward my carriage.

Then—

I stopped.

Near my carriage stood a familiar-looking figure.

A towering man, nearly 190 cm tall.

Even with his long frock coat, his legs were long and well-proportioned, and his broad shoulders and strong back stretched the black fabric.

And above all—

Uncommon, sky-blue hair.

I held my breath and softened my footsteps.

Pulling my hood lower, I subtly maneuvered around him.

The moment I passed him, the man, who had been standing still, began walking.

He moved beside me, matching my pace so naturally it annoyed me.

"Maybe change your mask next time."

…So that’s how he recognized me.

I should’ve thrown this thing away earlier.

"I thought this at the theater too—it doesn’t suit you at all."

I quickened my pace, but unfortunately, this was a battle I had already lost due to sheer leg length disparity.

Frustrated, I came to an abrupt stop and lifted my gaze.

Under the sunlight, those striking red eyes gleamed.

Cruello White Desert.

He smiled, and I scowled instinctively.

"Why is Your Highness here?"

"Who knows? Coincidence? Fate? A destined connection?"

"I must be having a very unlucky day."

"How cold."

He clearly didn’t know what cold actually meant.

"Well, I don’t believe in meaningless causality either. Everything in this world happens for a reason."

Cruello smiled in that peculiar way of his.

I really needed to fix that pretentious speech pattern of his.

If I could, I’d go back to my time as Amy and beat it out of him.

No—Royalsand was too soft on him. Viga’s era would’ve been better.

How had Cruello been back then? I couldn’t remember—probably too busy working himself to death.

Labor laws really needed to be reformed.

While I was lost in thought, Cruello was not wasting time.

He was up to something strange.

A flame ignited over his black gloves.

I wasn’t surprised that Cruello could use magic.

But—

"…What are you doing?"

Seriously, what the hell are you doing?

Why was he setting fire to the guild I just came out of?

I was so baffled I didn’t even stop him.

Cruello, meanwhile, beamed brightly, looking as cheerful as a child.

"I thought it was best to let them off work early."

"…What?"

"There’s a bad person lurking around right now."

That’s you.

The fire he had set quickly grew to the height of a person.

Since the area was isolated, it didn’t attract much attention, but that only made it feel more surreal.

Then, as if following a scripted play, Cruello had his attendant shout that a fire had broken out.

It was even more theatrical than the stunt he pulled at the opera.

The guild employees rushed out in a panic.

"What the—?!"

One of them, clearly about to scold whoever started this fire, froze upon seeing Cruello’s face.

Her face went ashen, looking as if she had already died.

I suddenly felt guilty for her sake.

Cruello, however, shrugged nonchalantly.

"Apologies. I set the fire by accident."

"Wha—…? Excuse me??"

"It couldn’t be helped. Something made my heart race too much."

The worst excuse for arson I’d ever heard.

"I’ll report this to the Third Knight Order myself, so you should go home. Oh, right—"

Cruello pulled something from his coat and tossed it to the employee.

It looked like a jewelry box.

She didn’t even open it. She just bowed silently—as if she had been paralyzed.

Then she hurriedly fled.

Watching her disappear, I suddenly felt jealous.

I wanted to run away too.

I had been investigating Cruello—and got caught red-handed.

I didn’t even get what I wanted, and now I felt wronged!

After the employee disappeared, Cruello flicked his fingers.

The flames, which had been engulfing the entire wall, vanished in an instant, leaving behind only blackened scorch marks.

Standing against that charred backdrop, he looked even more insane.

What the hell was he even doing?

The distance in my heart from him grew even wider.

"Where are you going, darling?"

Apparently, the physical distance had also widened.

It wasn’t until he spoke that I realized my own legs were moving.

I had wanted to escape so badly that I had started walking away without even noticing.

I pitied myself, but I didn’t stop.

Cruello, of course, kept following me without a care in the world.

A man without blood or tears.

"Why are you here?"

"Why are you here, Your Highness? Did you come to discuss our conditions?"

"A bit too soon for that. Let’s talk after you officially take the Bonetti name."

"What a shame, then. I’ll be off—"

"Were you, by any chance, investigating me?"

I froze mid-step, and he smiled, his red eyes gleaming under the sunlight.

"I was right, wasn’t I?"

"No. I came to report an arson."

"Aha."

"Now, if you understand, step aside. I need to hurry before the culprit escapes."

"Alright. But how about taking off that ridiculous mask first?"

That set me on fire.

I glared daggers at the serial arsonist, but he only lowered his eyebrows apologetically.

"My apologies. Was it perhaps your personal taste?"

"No!"

I had just worn what was available. I didn’t like the mask either.

"To be honest, I’ll be upfront with you. I’m feeling melancholic today. That’s why I don’t want to see Your Highness."

"Ah, I see. You’re flustered because you got caught investigating me."

"I wasn’t. Do you have any proof?"

"Proof, hmm…"

Cruello trailed off, glancing in the direction where the guild employee had disappeared.

Damn it.

"Alright, fine. Yes, I did. So what? Is it strange?"

"Not at all."

"…It’s not?"

"It makes me happy. That means we’re on the same page."

"Huh? What do you mean—"

"Because I also investigated you, darling."

…Of course, he did.

But was that really something to say so confidently?

I suddenly felt wronged again. I should have stood taller when speaking to him!

"Not that I found much, though."

"Oh? So I couldn’t get anything, but Your Highness managed to find everything?"

"Unfortunately, you must have been dealing with rather incompetent guilds. My sources are overflowing with information, darling."

"Is that so?"

Fine. Let’s see how this plays out.

"Then."

I removed my mask and ran my fingers through my static-charged hair, trying to smooth it down.

Then, standing on my toes, I grabbed Cruello by the collar.

When I jerked him forward, he awkwardly lowered his waist to match my height.

I pressed the same mask I had just worn onto his face.

"…Lady?"

Seeing him wear the mask he had just insulted was an absolute delight.

"Your Highness must know at least one or two information guilds, right?"

"Hmm. I don’t recall a guild named One-Two-Three."

"Ah, so you do know some places. That’s a relief."

"Did I say that just now?"

"If curiosity about others is such a natural thing, then we should both indulge in it."

I turned to Cruello’s attendant.

"We’re going on a date. Where is Your Highness’s carriage?"

***

The destination was deep within a narrow, secluded alleyway.

There, hidden by magic, was a worn-out wooden door that could barely be seen by the untrained eye.

It looked like it should creak loudly, but it opened smoothly without a sound.

Beyond it stretched a long, cave-like passageway, lit only by a few floating, cat-eye-like magical lamps.

This—this was exactly how I had imagined an information guild should look.

Completely different from the one Minuet recommended.

I pulled my hood lower, making sure to hide my face.

Since I had given Cruello my mask, this was the only thing left to cover myself.

"Do you like it?"

I ignored Cruello’s question and focused on taking in the surroundings.

Before long, a figure in a black mask appeared.

"Welcome. What do you seek?"

The genderless voice spoke directly to the point.

It sounded both young and old, likely modified with magic to be unidentifiable.

Wow. Even the employees were perfect.

For a moment, I felt awe, but then I saw Cruello lounging back in his chair, arms crossed in amusement.

He was enjoying this.

So—

"Give me everything you have on the Duke of White Desert."

I pointed directly at Cruello.

"And he’ll be the one paying."