Chapter 25
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: A Call to the Capital
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* * *
That afternoon, at the Brunel police station.
I didn’t have time to go all the way to Kintne, so I decided to use the phone at the police station. I had no other choice, even if Ethan was there.
As I entered the station, I saw a group of townspeople huddled in a corner, chatting.
Ethan, who was interrogating some man by pulling his ear, noticed me and greeted me.
“Miss Cherry, thank you for letting me stay at your house last night. I don't think I thanked you properly.”
At his words, the noisy police station fell silent.
His voice was quiet, but… were they all eavesdropping on our conversation?
I felt the urge to run back out of the station, but I forced myself to act casual as I replied.
“Don't mention it. It was nothing… Anyway, I came to use the phone.”
Ethan replied with a look of disbelief.
“I appreciate you letting me stay over last night, but this is a police station. We don't just let anyone use the phone.”
Seriously? I let him sleep at my house, and he's this inflexible. Judging by his actions and temper, you'd think Ethan was a thug, but surprisingly, he was a stickler for the rules.
I shrugged and asked him.
“Why not? I used the phone in Benton all the time.”
In the capital—though there were a few dedicated telephone offices—you could usually pay to use a phone at public facilities like hotels, train stations, or post offices.
‘It's inconvenient that there isn't a public phone system yet. I think Count Lutens was said to be pushing for that business.’
If the world wasn't about to end, I would have jumped into that promising venture myself.
Meanwhile, Ethan looked at me as if to say, ‘What am I going to do with her?’
He glanced at the other officers before whispering to me.
“That was only allowed because you're Cherry Sinclair.”
Ah, so that was it. I didn't know that. But I still had to make the call.
“Am I not Cherry Sinclair right now?”
I whispered back, and Ethan, seemingly at a loss for words, just stared at me.
I knew I was being a nuisance, but it was urgent. I needed to confirm when Harrison would be coming down to Brunel.
“It's alright, Officer Ethan. The townspeople use the phone here from time to time.”
The man who seemed to have the highest rank said, calming Ethan down.
Hearing this, Ethan shrugged, stepped aside, and offered me the phone. For someone so rigid and insistent on following the rules, he conceded surprisingly quickly.
“The inspector gave you permission, so go ahead.”
Ah. So he was the inspector.
As Ethan respectfully followed the inspector's orders, the inspector himself seemed to be warily watching Ethan.
So, was Ethan's rank something like a lieutenant?
‘Of course. He's like the CEO's son starting out as an intern.’
Even if Ethan didn't inherit the title, he was still a Lancaster.
His father was said to be displeased with him becoming a police officer, but Duke Lancaster's love for his son was quite famous.
Perhaps Duke Lancaster thought Ethan would eventually quit the force and inherit the title after all.
‘But why did Ethan become a police officer?’
That was never mentioned in the novel.
In any case, I thanked them and called Harrison Howard.
Rrrrr-
Click.
[Harrison Howard speaking.]
“Harrison! I finally got through.”
[My lady?]
“What's been going on? I was calling to ask when you're coming to Brunel.”
[Ah. It took some time to procure the items you requested. I'll be departing in four days.]
“Four more days?”
I replied, a little disappointed. I heard Harrison's laughter on the other end of the line.
[Just wait a little longer. I'll be there soon to inspect how you've decorated the mansion you mentioned.]
“Inspect? Am I a child?”
[In my eyes, you're still the girl who ran away from home and crossed the ocean on a yacht...]
“Harrison!”
[Hahahaha-.]
This time, Harrison roared with laughter. After laughing for a long while, he suddenly stopped and asked me.
[And what's this about a 100 million gold line of credit?]
“Well, Harrison, about that...”
[That matter isn't urgent, so let's discuss it in Brunel.]
Harrison cut off my excuse. Damn it. I'm already scared.
‘But he'll soon find out why I took out the 100 million gold loan, so it might be okay.’
Harrison then moved on to the next topic.
[And regarding the person you mentioned, it's very difficult for me to handle. Messing with him is dangerous.]
Harrison didn't mention a name, but I knew he was talking about Ethan.
It seemed to be his answer to my question about how to send Ethan back to the capital.
“I figured as much. I expected that.”
[Still, I will be careful. Thanks to you, I can come to Brunel well-prepared.]
“Yes. You be careful too, Harrison.”
[By the way, I sent a weapons expert. Has he not arrived yet? The instructor who will teach you how to use weapons, my lady.]
“Huh? I don't think so. No one has come looking for me.”
I had completely forgotten. Right. He said he would send an instructor. It might be better if he just doesn't show up before the world ends.
Then, I heard Harrison mutter irritably through the receiver.
[That bastard, again...]
“Hmm? What did you say?”
[Nothing. Take care of yourself, my lady. I'll see you soon.]
“You too, Harrison. Make sure you eat well.”
[Yes. Until then.]
Click.
Beep, beep, beep, beep-
I put down the receiver and mouthpiece, turning around with a look of relief. At least I was able to talk to Harrison.
Just then, I saw Ethan leaning nearby with his arms crossed.
“Was that Harrison Howard?”
“You know my lawyer?”
“I doubt there's anyone in the capital who doesn't know Attorney Howard.”
“That's true. Harrison is quite skilled.”
“Attorney Howard is coming down to Brunel? Why?”
I narrowed my eyes at Ethan's barrage of questions.
“Why are you so curious?”
“Am I not allowed to be?”
“It's my private life.”
My words seemed to leave Ethan speechless, and he didn't ask any more questions. I gave him a noncommittal nod and left the police station.
* * *
The capital, Benton. The Lancaster ducal townhouse.
“How could she not even tell me her name?”
Aurora rolled around on her bed.
Her savior from the incident at 61 Notium Street. When she heard her voice, she was certain it was a woman.
The problem was, she couldn't find any information about her.
“She must be an incredibly cool woman.”
After mulling over her savior for a while, Aurora looked up. Just then, her personal maid entered the room.
“Where on earth is my brother?”
“I heard he was transferred to the Brunel police station.”
Aurora shot up from the bed.
No wonder he hadn't shown his face at the mansion lately.
Of course, ever since he became a police officer, he mostly stayed at the police barracks, so she saw him less often anyway.
“Brunel? Where's that?”
“They say it's close to Benton, but I've never heard of it either.”
Brunel? She'd really never heard of it. Aurora tilted her head, then sighed.
“Anyway, my brother is impossible to figure out.”
Ever since Aurora had been adopted into the Lancaster family, Ethan had always been like that. It was impossible to know what he was thinking.
One moment he seemed overprotective of Aurora, and the next, he would get fixated on something and never look back.
‘They say he wasn't like that before.’
Apparently, Ethan had changed after Aurora was adopted. She didn't know the exact reason, but because of it, she always felt a sense of guilt toward him.
“Should I go to Brunel?”
I'll just watch what my brother is doing from a distance and come back.
However, on the day she was about to buy a train ticket to Brunel, Duke Lancaster summoned her.
“Have you heard that your brother was transferred to the Brunel police station?”
The duke asked Aurora while they were having tea together in his office.
Duke Lancaster carefully studied Aurora's expression. Her adoptive father was always like that. Strangely, he seemed more attentive to her moods than to his own son, Ethan.
Aurora set down her teacup and nodded demurely.
“Yes, I've heard.”
“Do you know why that boy Ethan is suddenly being so rebellious? At least he was fond of you, wasn't he?”
“Hmm? Wasn't my brother always in a rebellious phase? It's not like you to suddenly worry about your son, Father.”
Aurora asked Duke Lancaster, her face a mask of innocence.