Mrs. Smile was overcome by this riposte, and she took a moment to find her words again.
“My, my. Courting, you say... Is that with a view to marriage?”
“Yes. She is Octavia de Reine, the daughter of the Earl of Reine.”
In a situation like this, a late reply was fatal. Before Octavia could get a word in, sparks were flying between Raven and Mrs. Smile. They continued the conversation without her.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it. Speaking of the Earl of Reine, you don’t mean the one who used to work as a detective.”
“Why, yes, and the Lady Octavia has just opened her office as a detective as well. Following in her grandmother’s footsteps.”
“My, isn’t that wonderful. A noble and a working woman! As a woman, I have often been underestimated, so I would love for us to get along. But, that being the case, surely you shouldn’t feel like you need to get married? If you have economic power and a position in society, a husband would only get in the way. Am I wrong?” Mrs. Smile shot a brief glance at Octavia.
She answered hurriedly, “No, I still want to get married someday.”
“That’s right,” said Raven. “To move things along, I’ve paid you this visit to introduce her to you, so she can help you solve the mystery of the doll.”
“My, my. Unfortunately, I’ve had to entrust that doll to the police. I am grateful that you came all this way, but it seems to have been for nothing. So please, show yourselves out. Oh, Mr. Raven—I will, of course, hold you responsible for this agreement.”
“Ah, but she is the Detective Octavia.” At Raven’s meaningful introduction, Mrs. Smile’s flapping fan and mouth both suddenly ground to a halt. “I know news reaches your ears quickly, Mrs. Smile. I am sure you’ve heard about the incident onboard the overnight train.”
“Well,” she replied after a moment, “I would say that I have heard rumors, at the very least. Gathering information is part of my job, after all.”
“Might this not be a good opportunity to verify those rumors?”
Waving her fan more gently now, hiding her mouth behind it, Mrs. Smile did not reply. Just for a moment, her gaze turned to Octavia, as if to inspect her.
With a cool expression, Raven continued, “I believe I heard something about a letter of announcement being left by Crow, the Phantom Thief.”
“Yes, well, it’s not as if I tried to conceal that.”
“If the present situation were to continue, Miss Colette might be seen to possess a Demonic Heirloom.”
“But that is why you shall take responsibility.”
“Society will not take that view. You will be known as the mother who bought a Demonic Heirloom for her daughter, and she will be known as a girl who was enthralled by one. And if the doll itself is stolen, then there will be nothing left to show to the inquisitors to prove her innocence. Even if it weren’t a Demonic Heirloom, we’d never know.”
Mrs. Smile was silent.
Raven turned slightly toward Octavia. “However, if we have Octavia on our side, I believe she will protect the doll from the Phantom Thief and solve this mystery for us. Don’t you?”
“That is,” stammered Octavia. “Well, I am a detective. But all this talk of engagement is another matter entirely.”
“You mean it can wait after the job is finished. I understand,” Raven said.
Mrs. Smile suddenly narrowed her eyes. “Mr. Raven, could it be that you promised to marry this young lady if the job went poorly?”
The corners of Raven’s mouth curled upwards. “So what if I did?”
“What do you mean, ‘So what?’ Is that not duress?! Even if you don’t consider it so.”
“Um, no,” said Octavia. “Raven really just introduced this job to me. That’s all.”
“And I wonder about that attitude of yours, as well.” Mrs. Smile’s stare left Octavia bewildered.
Raven, however, pressed on without delay. “In that case, do not concern yourself with me. Still, won’t you please allow her to pursue the mystery of the doll? You surely wouldn’t do anything to impede her work?”
Mrs. Smile raised her eyebrows, but then sighed behind her fan. “Very well, then. I’ll talk it over with the police.”
Raven quietly smiled beside Octavia, who was shocked. “I knew I could count on you to support a working woman, Mrs. Smile.”
“Well, the reasons I couldn’t refuse were stacked up against me. However, I do have some conditions, Miss Octavia.”
“Wh-What are they?”
“If you ever need more work, I shall mediate on your behalf. Therefore, if the doll should be stolen by Crow, the Phantom Thief, then you are to end your courtship with Mr. Raven. Then, Mr. Raven shall be engaged to my daughter.”
“Why would that be the result?!” Unable to grasp the flow of the conversation, Octavia butted in, thoughtless but genuine.
Mrs. Smile snapped her fan shut and glared back at Octavia. “Using an arranged marriage as insurance for a professional failure is outrageous.”
Octavia began to agree with Mrs. Smile, then thought better of it. She had certainly promised to be engaged to Raven if she couldn’t solve the mystery of the doll, but she hadn’t done so as insurance, nor under duress.
Indeed, Octavia took a step forward to defend Raven. “Y-You appear to be misapprehending things. Furthermore, having your daughter engaged to Raven if I should fail...”
“Fine by me.”
“Huh?!”
Octavia turned around to see Raven grinning, apparently enjoying himself. Mrs. Smile snorted with laughter.
“My, are you quite sure? If the doll is stolen by the Phantom Thief, or if its mystery is left unsolved, you will be engaged to Colette. Are these not rather disadvantageous conditions for you?”
“Quite. In other words, Octavia will have to make every effort to see that I am not engaged to your daughter, correct? It’s romantic.”
Raven simply smiled, without a hint of agitation or concern. Mrs. Smile must have found this unnerving. She scowled.
He went on, “I was actually a little hesitant about our previous agreement, myself, for us to be engaged if she should fail. Just like you, Mrs. Smile, to wipe that problem away for me. Ah, shall we write up a contract?”
“Raven! Do you understand the situation? If I fail, you’ll have to marry a six-year-old girl.”
“You can solve the mystery. I believe in you.”
For just a moment, these words pierced Octavia’s heart, but she soon returned to her senses. This was just Raven indulging one of his bad habits.
“More than anything, it sounds like fun,” he added.
His answer was perfectly in line with Octavia’s expectations. It left her speechless. Raven was enjoying this from the bottom of his heart; his smile was so beautiful that Octavia felt a shiver go up her spine.