Miss Charlotte’s Case Journal - Chapter 17

Henry said that as he kindly showed Robert Turobe the detention warrant. The veins in Robert’s eyes bulged as he skimmed over the letters. At Henry’s signal, Dan and Martin each grabbed one of Robert’s arms and escorted him out. Henry had been certain the man would cause a scene, but surprisingly, until the very moment he was locked in the holding cell, Robert didn’t say a word or make a single move.

That night, he sat across from his brother, drinking. His brother, thoroughly drunk, began to scold him with the same tiresome complaints as always. Still, Robert only smiled like a fool.

The vial of poison in his pocket felt as cold as ice and as heavy as lead. His hands trembled uncontrollably. His greedy eyes swept over the lavish decorations filling the room.

If he succeeded, all of this would be his.

He imagined himself as Baron Turobe. The thought alone sent shivers through his entire body. He would be able to return to society again, and no one would ever dare look down on him. With stakes this high, there would be no more losing at the gambling table, and his wealth would continue to grow, day after day….

His brother had always pretended to care for him, but in truth, he’d always thought of Robert as a fool, a useless parasite. His sister-in-law always smiled kindly when they met, but she had a way of slipping in subtle, condescending remarks. Robert imagined the two of them laughing together, mocking him behind his back.

He clenched his cold, trembling hands tightly. Just then, his brother, drunk and relaxed, leaned deep into his chair, let out a long sigh, and closed his eyes. Robert quickly pulled the vial from his pocket and poured the poison into his brother’s glass. His hands shook so badly that some of the powder spilled around the rim. The poison fizzed softly as it dissolved into the liquid.

He hastily wiped the table around the glass, his hand trembling. The powder that clung to his fingers shimmered faintly under the light. When his brother opened his eyes again, Robert awkwardly smiled and lifted his own glass with his other hand. His brother, without suspicion, raised the poisoned glass.

Robert didn’t blink as he watched his brother drain it completely. He was sure no one would ever suspect him. That signet ring he had given to the commoner was a bit of a concern, but once everything was over, he could simply sneak back and retrieve it. He stared into his brother’s unfocused eyes and downed his own drink. Heat rose in his chest, spreading through his entire body.

***

Robert Turobe was found guilty and sent to Irman Prison. At first, he’d passionately claimed he’d been framed, but when the judges refused to believe a word of it, he broke down and began screaming that he had killed the baron himself.

As Robert Turobe shouted and hurled insults about his brother in court, his mother fainted in the audience. Standing a little farther away, Lucy turned deathly pale and trembled. Sir Lau caught her as she nearly collapsed. She bowed her head deeply, her veil quivering faintly. Her lips twisted into a shape, just as they had the day her husband’s autopsy was performed.

A few days after the trial ended, Lucy received imperial approval from the Emperor of Essenharn to officially inherit her husband’s title and all his assets. She was now a young, beautiful, and immensely wealthy widow.

Normally, given the wealth and title she’d inherited, men’s proposals would have poured in endlessly, but her case was different. During the trial, the issue of Salvarsan and syphilis had come up. Everyone sent her curious looks and wanted to talk to her, but that was all. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing was hard to say.

After the trial, Lucy politely declined the countless party invitations she received and didn’t step outside the mansion. She even turned away visitors who came to the house. After several weeks, the social world’s feverish interest in her slowly began to fade.

Charlotte visited Lucy exactly one month after the trial had ended. The tightly closed gates of the Turobe mansion opened easily at the sound of her name. This time, the servants led her not to the bedroom, but to the drawing room.

“Charlotte!”

The moment Lucy saw Charlotte’s face, she beamed. She wore a light green dress, her hair braided over one shoulder. Her red hair gleamed under the light, swaying like a rose heavy with morning dew.

“What brings you here without notice?”

“I just wanted to see how you were doing.”

At Charlotte’s words, Lucy let out a cheerful laugh. A soft pink blush spread across her pale cheeks. Seeing her looking so healthy, Charlotte smiled as well and took a seat.

A maid entered, setting tea and refreshments on the table before quietly leaving. The table was filled with plates piled high, and Charlotte’s face twisted slightly.

“Who’s going to eat all this?”

“I am!”

Lucy laughed brightly, picking up a cookie.

“I always make a lot, and if there’s any left, the servants eat it too.”

Charlotte nodded and followed Lucy’s lead, picking up a cookie. It crumbled in her mouth, filling it with a rich, nutty flavor. She brushed the crumbs from her hands, then noticed Lucy doing the exact same thing, which made her giggle.

But soon Charlotte’s smile faded slightly. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. The cookie felt rough on her tongue as though it had absorbed all the moisture from her mouth. Her throat tightened, and she hurriedly took a sip of tea.

In truth, there was a reason Charlotte had come to see Lucy today. Before closing the case, she needed to ask her friend one final question. The more she thought about it, the heavier the unease sitting in her chest became. She wanted to clear it all away and finally breathe again.

“To tell you the truth… there’s something I wanted to ask you.”

Charlotte’s voice trembled ever so slightly, but Lucy didn’t seem to notice. She nodded cheerfully. Charlotte gripped her teacup tightly in her hands. The liquid inside rippled like waves meeting a trembling shore.

“It’s about… well, the owner of the Bisset Pharmacy told me something….”

Charlotte hesitated, struggling to find the right words.

“He said that whenever Sir Lau went to buy medicine, he always paid in full. But oddly, a few months ago, he started buying on credit. And, um… the decisive evidence in the trial was Robert Turobe’s seal, right? The pharmacist said he gave it to him as payment when he asked for the overdue amount….”

Did you do that on purpose?

Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to ask directly, so she kept circling around it. Lucy gazed at her quietly, then smiled faintly and set down her cup.

“I didn’t mean anything by it, I just… I mean, well….”

“That’s right.”

“What?”

Charlotte blinked blankly at her friend. Lucy nodded without hesitation.

“What do you mean…?”

To Charlotte’s question, Lucy answered clearly, as if driving a nail into place, “I killed my husband.”

She laughed lightly, as if relieved. Charlotte couldn’t say a single word. What could she possibly add to that?

“Oh, of course, I didn’t kill him myself. As you know, it was Robert who gave him the poison.”

“Then, then….”

“I just used him a little. That fool was so simple-minded.”

Lucy leaned back deeply into the sofa. She was in an exceptionally good mood. Her favorite food was right in front of her, and the place she sat in was entirely her own. There was no longer a stupid husband nagging her about gaining weight and restricting her meals, no useless brother-in-law who constantly dropped by to irritate her, no annoying maid glancing at her sideways. This place had finally become her kingdom.

She had first met her husband at a ball. On the surface, he had been the perfect suitor. Although he was the second son and couldn’t inherit his family’s title or fortune, he was a highly capable man who built his own business empire and even received a title directly from the Emperor himself. With his handsome appearance and refined manners, he seemed like a perfect gentleman.

When that perfect gentleman asked her to dance, Lucy thought, ‘This will do.’ She quite liked the envious looks from those around her and the proud gaze her father gave her. He was attentive, wealthy, and his eyes sparkled whenever they met hers.

After a few dates, he presented her with a diamond ring, saying, ‘I don’t want to lose you.’ It was during dinner at her home, with her entire family gathered around. Considering how short a time they’d known each other, it was a hasty proposal, but Lucy had no choice but to accept. Her father’s expectant gaze alone made refusal impossible, and besides, she didn’t dislike him.

The wedding preparations went smoothly. The baron bought her every ring and dress she desired. Whenever she mentioned how she wanted the wedding to be, he would immediately nod and say he’d make it happen. Lucy had thought she’d truly made the right decision marrying a man who respected her opinions.

But on the day of the wedding, she wore a gown she hadn’t chosen. The ring, too, was not the one she’d picked. When she expressed her confusion, the baron simply said, ‘My mother wanted this.’ He asked her to be satisfied knowing that her preferred gown and ring were still at home.

It was a typical wedding, one where none of her opinions were reflected. The ceremony was dazzling and grand, yet she couldn’t feel happy through any of it. A heavy sense of dread crept into her heart. And when, during the final vow and kiss, the baron gripped her wrist so tightly she thought it might break, that feeling only grew stronger.