4. The Strange Incident at the Louise Mansion (1)
"Ladies and gentlemen, please prepare in advance. The next stop is Roengreen. This is the final destination, Roengreen. Thank you for riding with us."
We had finally arrived at the end of the line.
The past few days had been nonstop for me. I had to write up the operation report while solving that incident—and all the while, meticulously planning our next schedule!
Marie had noticed my exhaustion right away.
"Captain, you look beat."
"Then you can play doctor too. You've already moonlighted as a detective."
I puffed on my pipe after making the announcement, my eyes hollow and sunken. God, how would I survive without this thing?
From the moment the incident wrapped up until we reached Roengreen, Pierre, Marco, and Leo Young-sik had been scheming nonstop about how to escape. Naturally, I hadn't let them off the train. With Lady Amber Louise, a fellow noble, and her escorts keeping watch, I'd dragged them all the way here.
The fuss they kicked up... well, let's just say it was a nightmare.
"Still, we're finally here. Let's grab some tart... and cake."
"Hah, you didn't forget."
Marie had one strand of her light blue-white hair sticking straight up, and whenever she was in a good mood, it would twitch. Looked like she was feeling great this time.
"Of course I didn't forget."
I chuckled and poked her.
"Good work, my vice captain."
Ever since the incident, Marie had been run ragged handling everything from gagging the crew to dealing with passenger complaints. But tarts and cake? That always did the trick.
"Hehe..."
Her cheeks flushed at the praise.
"Well then, Captain."
Knock knock.
Just as Marie was about to say something, someone rapped on the engine room door.
Passengers occasionally dropped by to praise or complain about the train. But at the end of the run?
"One moment. Marie—who is it?"
I adjusted my hat and opened the door. There stood Lady Amber with her orange curls and her massive escort.
"Th-thank you so much, Captain."
Both she and her hulking guard bowed deeply in gratitude. A noble bowing to a commoner? Even if I'd saved her life, it was rare.
It just went to show that the Louise Count's family knew their manners.
"No need. I'm just glad you're safe, Lady Amber."
Amber fidgeted, like she wanted to say something.
'Miss, just say it already.'
'It's embarrassing!'
'Hurry, the run's almost over.'
Her face turned beet red as she wrung her hands.
"C-Captain... as a token of my thanks... would you come to our mansion...?"
Her hesitant demeanor finally made her look like a girl her age.
But it put me in a real bind. An invitation from a count's family. Not a formal card, but a personal one to my face—I couldn't refuse. And I had that promise with Marie...
As I pondered what to do, Marie mouthed at me emphatically.
'Captain, no choice! Go. But bring back something tasty on the way home.'
She knew the spot I was in and played it off teasingly, like the perfect vice captain she was.
I grinned and politely accepted—with one condition.
"Of course I'll come, my lady. But I have one request."
"What...?"
"The one who helped save your life was Vice Captain Marie as well. Could you invite her too?"
Amber jumped like she'd realized her huge blunder.
"Oh! Of course. I was so flustered... Please come too, Vice Captain Marie."
I flashed Marie a thumbs-up. Perfect.
She bit her lip slightly and bowed to the lady.
"Thank you, my lady."
No one could see her face as she bowed, but I knew a happy smile was blooming there.
Somewhere in Roengreen, Marie and I gawked with mouths agape.
"Whoa..."
"Insane..."
We stared slack-jawed at the building, drool practically pooling unnoticed.
It was utterly opulent.
'Captain, are all count families' houses this huge?'
'Nah, this one's exceptionally massive...'
Amber shyly introduced the mansion, but the count's estate was a spectacle of extravagance. Ornate fountains, meticulously manicured flowers, statues standing as if they belonged there. Mana fixtures dotted everywhere.
'Security, landscaping—they've got tons installed.'
I glanced around at the mana setups; every one was top-dollar stuff. We'd barely entered the garden, and already I could feel the family's wealth.
"Welcome, miss."
Picture-perfect maids streamed out to take our luggage. And right behind them came an elderly gentleman straight out of a cliché.
"Welcome to the Louise residence. I am Head Butler Alfred. If there's anything you need during your stay..."
His greeting was impeccably dignified—flawless etiquette, restraint and politeness ingrained in every gesture.
"Please follow me. I'll show you to your rooms."
He'd clearly been briefed by Amber and treated us with utmost courtesy.
"Thank you for saving our young miss, Captain. Pretty flowers do attract a lot of bugs."
A vein twitched faintly on his forehead—he'd already seen Marco, no doubt. If he thought of her like a granddaughter, he'd want to give the guy a beating.
"What will happen to Leo Young-sik?"
"That's for the count to decide. But one thing's certain: he won't let it slide easily."
Yeah, no kidding. His daughter had nearly died.
Alfred paused smoothly before a massive door and handed me a key.
"This is your room, Captain Theodor. We'll assign a dedicated maid..."
It was too grand to call a mere room, but a room it was. A maid, though? I'd never sleep comfortably.
I waved it off, shoving his kindness aside.
"No, that's fine. Alone. I prefer it solo."
"Very well."
Even after all this time in this world, the old man's politeness still chafed a bit.
'He's like my grandpa.'
The maids' deference wasn't any easier to get used to. Amber and the other nobles took it in stride, but I was a city folk back home—not a peasant or commoner, but a modern guy who did things himself. This world's excessive formality grated sometimes.
"The count is out on inspection at the moment. He should return soon, so please rest. If you need anything, this bell..."
With that, Alfred bowed and vanished without a sound.
I didn't see the count until after sunset, right at dinnertime.
He sported a thick brown beard that matched Amber's orange hair but darker, with short hair and a burly build. The blue suit suited him perfectly.
And right now, his face was beet red.
"Thanks! Thank you! Hahaha!"
"Ugh, yes, my lord. That's the twentieth time already."
I slurred as the count shook my whole body with his grip, my stomach churning.
How'd it come to this?
It started with Amber's gift. After she expressed her thanks with fruit wine, things spiraled. Evergreen's fruit wine was premium among premiums—a rare delicacy even nobles rarely touched. When I showed a bit of interest, the count insisted on cracking a bottle mid-dinner...
"Hahaha! You can hold your liquor! Not like these young pups these days. Back in my day..."
The count was a heavyweight drinker. Problem was, so was I. No way I could resist Roengreen's ambrosia.
We set aside all the talk and pounded shots until... now.
"Ahh! A true benefactor! Haha!"
"Father, be careful. That's too much..."
"Amber, my girl. Marco nearly tore me limb from limb. That baron failed at raising his kid..."
"Father! We have guests...!"
Just imagining what he'd do was horrifying. Limbs actually shattered, probably. The baron's house might be (former) baron by now.
Seizing the moment while Amber reined him in, I tried to sober up. It'd been bliss up to the midpoint. Now it was hell.
Couldn't get drunk in front of the count! And Marie had been suspiciously quiet—no excuses to slip out. She just sat there, lips sealed, looking way too pleased.
"Captain, sir. Want anything? I'll give it as thanks for saving my girl. Pick tomorrow... er..."
The count, thoroughly sloshed, kept rambling nonsense on repeat.
I shot glances at Alfred, who caught on and intervened.
"My lord, the captain must be tired from the long run. Tomorrow, perhaps?"
Tomorrow? What?
"Mm. Yeah, good point. Let's call it here. Amber. If you're hurting anywhere, wake your old man..."
Leaning on Alfred, the count staggered off, waving at Amber the whole way.
She sighed, embarrassed.
"Father doesn't usually drink that much... Guess he really likes you, Captain."
A bit tipsy herself, she twirled her curly orange locks while gazing at me.
"Captain... um, if you're up for it, wanna do one more in my room?"
The lady mustered her courage. She remembered that moment—my hand gripping hers. Slightly rough, thick, manly. Those black eyes promising protection.
It's so embarrassing...!
First time trying this, mortifying—but she didn't want to miss her shot. To her, the hat-brimmed mage-slayer aiming his revolver was a prince on a white horse.
No answer came for a while, so she peeked up timidly.
"Captain...?"
Thud.
"Ah."
The white knight was gone; only blackout Theo remained.
"Ugh... water..."
My head throbbed like hell. Fruit wine hangover was no joke.
Not much time had passed when I woke, clutching my skull. Still midnight-dark outside, dead quiet.
I sat up for water, then heard... something.
Bonk.
"Huh. Ow."
Bonk. Bonk.
Bumping and knocking from beyond the door.
Did someone hear me mutter about water?
Did the count's servants have super hearing? Swordmasters on staff or what?
"Who..."
Half shocked, half curious, I opened the door.
An unexpected guest awaited.
"Mm. Hehe. Cap... tain."
Familiar light blue-white hair, tousled down to her chest. Flushed face, clearly hammered. Her nightgown clung transparently if you stared, curves on full display.
Marie stood there, bottle in hand, wasted.
