Miss Charlotte’s Case Journal - Chapter 16

Robert Turobe’s face turned pale. It wasn’t a lie. He had indeed once spoken about his sister-in-law in front of his friends. But he had only meant to praise her, to say how kind, beautiful, virtuous, and pure she was.

He had never intended it in such a filthy way. However….

“Brother, I, I….”

“Robert, you said what about your sister-in-law’s body when she was walking around in her indoor clothes? And what about the scent coming from her body after she’d dressed up?”

But what kind of direction would such talk take among gamblers who spent their time in shady dens? Robert Turobe froze, his mouth hanging open, unable to say a word.

“Get out of my house. Don’t you dare show your face here again!”

That day, Robert Turobe had no choice but to leave his brother’s mansion empty-handed and humiliated.

“You were rejected, and without the baron’s help, you tried to handle your situation on your own. But that wasn’t easy. Everyone around you was just as penniless as you were, and aside from the baron, the rest of your family had long since turned their backs on you.”

Henry’s voice flowed smoothly, almost like a song.

“As time went on, you sank deeper and deeper into the swamp. Out of desperation, you went back to the baron several times, but it was useless. And by then, I imagine thoughts like this started crossing your mind… if only my brother had been a little more generous.”

Robert Turobe’s shoulders trembled.

“My brother has so much money, so what’s the harm in spending a little more on me? What’s so bad about a few strange rumors spreading in society? I’ve already got worse rumors clinging to me like parasites, and barely anyone even invites me to parties anymore. But my brother, rich and titled as he is, acts so petty and stingy over a few measly coins. …That’s probably what you thought.”

Henry’s tone was calm, but the words struck sharp.

“And I suppose another thought followed. If it weren’t for my sister-in-law, my brother wouldn’t have cast me out like that.”

Charlotte picked up where Henry left off, “You must’ve hated them both. You visited the Turobe estate so often that it was only natural you’d overhear a few things about the household. For example, that Sir Lau admired the baroness deeply. That he served her like a devoted servant. That once a month, at her request, he went to the pharmacy to buy medicine.”

Charlotte tapped her fingers lightly on the table. Henry stepped back from Robert’s shoulder and leaned against the wall behind him. His long exhale filled the quiet interrogation room.

“So you came up with a way to solve your debt problem and your resentment all at once. You’d frame your brother’s death to look like something the baroness had done, to poison him. That way, everything your brother owned would go not to his wife, but to you.”

Henry pulled out the last page from the stack of documents on the table and placed it in front of Robert Turobe. It was the supply ledger from Baron Turobe’s private guards, dated the previous day.

“On the afternoon of the day the baron died, you visited his mansion, pretending you’d come to borrow money again. After a short, fruitless conversation, you secretly sneaked into the laundry room and stole one of the soldiers’ training uniforms. Then, disguised as a guard, you went to the pharmacy and obtained poison, claiming it was under the baroness’s order.”

Henry tapped the document with his finger.

“When evening came, you changed clothes again and went to see the baron. You flattered him, bowed deeply, and played the part of a repentant brother. ‘You’re right, brother. I’ve been wrong all this time. From now on, I’ll live honestly,’—something like that.”

“The baron must’ve softened up after hearing that. He’d been cold to his brother for so long, so maybe he felt a bit of guilt. So, he decided to drink with you and share old memories… never imagining that the brother sitting across from him had poison hidden in his coat,” Charlotte sneered.

Robert Turobe bowed his head, shoulders trembling, quietly listening to every word before slowly lifting his gaze. He had a crooked smile on his face.

“Quite a story.”

Robert Turobe chuckled. “Quite the story, indeed. But… isn’t that all just circumstantial?”

He leaned back comfortably in his chair and continued, “It’s true that I’m in debt, and it’s true that my relationship with my brother wasn’t the best lately. But isn’t this all a bit of a stretch, Inspector? Where’s the evidence to prove any of it? You think you can indict a noble with something this flimsy? Are you out of your mind, huh?”

“We’ve already secured the testimony of Bisset, the pharmacist. He said someone wearing the Turobe household’s training uniform came by the day before the baron’s death and purchased a deadly poison. He also testified that, after seeing your portrait, the man he saw was the same person.”

Robert Turobe burst out laughing. He slapped the table as if he’d just heard the funniest thing in the world, laughing so hard that his shoulders shook. Then he let out a long breath and whispered quietly.

“You don’t actually think that’ll hold up in court, do you? How much weight do you think a commoner’s testimony carries? Huh?”

“….”

When no answer came, Robert Turobe fully regained his composure. This was what they’d called him in for? Pathetic. He found it insulting, but he decided to be magnanimous. After all, great men like him couldn’t expect ordinary people to understand or uncover a genius plan like his.

“You’d better learn to use your head more wisely. Otherwise, you might lose that precious job of yours.”

Robert Turobe tapped his temple with his index finger, then rose from his chair. As he grabbed the interrogation room’s door handle, Charlotte spoke,

“Sit down, Mr. Turobe.”

Robert turned back with a displeased look. Without standing, Charlotte gave a small nod toward the chair, silently instructing him to sit. His expression twisted further.

“You should be careful how you act.”

“And if I’m not, what exactly can you do?”

“What was that?”

Robert Turobe strode forward threateningly until he was right in front of her, but Charlotte didn’t even flinch. Instead, she placed a luxurious satin pouch on the table.

“Evidence. It’s right here.”

At Henry’s words, Robert’s eyes twitched. His gaze locked onto the pouch, staring at it intently, as if trying to guess what was inside.

“The pharmacist said that when he asked the man in the Turobe uniform to settle the unpaid balance on the Turobe family’s account, the man didn’t pay in cash. Instead, he offered something else.”

Henry slowly opened the satin pouch and turned it upside down. A signet ring engraved with the Turobe family crest fell onto the table with a sharp metallic clink.

“That’s yours, isn’t it, Mr. Turobe?”

Robert glared at the ring, his hands trembling, then clenched them into tight fists and forced a crooked smile.

“And what proof do you have that it’s mine?”

Charlotte lifted the ring with a casual hand. Under the dim light of the lamp, every scratch and mark on the surface became visible.

“You might not know this, but pawnshops usually record every tiny scratch and dent on an item when it’s deposited. Some people cause scenes later, claiming the shop damaged their belongings, so it’s standard procedure.”

Henry spread several sheets of paper across the table. They were inventory management records from various pawnshops.

Pointing kindly to one spot on a page, he said, “These were obtained from the pawnshops you’ve used so far. They’re official records, so they’re valid as evidence. Here, it says ‘Turobe family signet ring, Robert Turobe.’”

“By comparing this record with the ring, it’ll be proven that this belongs to you.”

At Charlotte’s words, Robert Turobe ground his teeth. Clenching his fists tightly, he dropped back into the chair and growled, “What if I said I lost it?”

“Well, this ring is the last bit of pride for a noble. That’s why, among all the things you pawned, this was the only one you always reclaimed, wasn’t it? If it had fallen into someone else’s hands, it would’ve been a huge disgrace for your family. Even your relatives who turned their backs on you would’ve been forced to pay the pawnshop to get it back.”

Charlotte set the ring back down on the satin pouch. Robert Turobe’s eyes darted between the ring and the pawnshop record. His dull, clouded pupils trembled faintly.

“The fact that you didn’t report it lost or stolen would seem suspicious enough to the judges. Add the pharmacist’s testimony to that, and… well, you’re smart enough to figure out which way their judgment will lean.”

Charlotte watched Robert Turobe’s face go pale with an expression of pure contempt. Knock, knock- the sharp sound of a knock echoed like the call of judgment. Martin entered the room, saluted Henry, and placed the bundle he carried onto the table.

“We’ve completed the search of Mr. Robert Turobe’s room. We found one of Baron Alex Turobe’s private guard uniforms.”

“We also reported directly to the court and received the warrant.”

Dan followed in, handing Henry a sheet of paper. Henry skimmed through the contents quickly, then smiled coldly.

“A detention warrant signed by the judge. From the looks of it, I’d say the court’s already leaning toward a guilty verdict.”