“The only empty seats are in first class?”
“That’s right. Today’s train only has one private compartment for two left. Please accept my apologies.”
“Wh-What about tomorrow?”
“Every seat on tomorrow’s train has already been taken by reservations alone. There will be a vacancy in second class...in half a month.”
“Half a month?!”
“The travel season is almost upon us. I’m very sorry.” With the attendant at the ticket counter bowing his head to her, Octavia shook her head anxiously and left. The large station platform was crowded with people coming and going: gentlemen standing on the platform, women seeing them off, children waving to the steam train, station attendants carrying luggage, and many others. So that she wouldn’t get in the way of hurried passengers, Octavia retreated to a corner and touched the white brim of her hat.
“Why don’t you just take the compartment? You have money, don’t you?” Hat asked from atop Octavia’s head, looking for all the world like a regular bonnet.
Octavia gave this some thought.
“That’s true, but thinking of what’s to come...” In the Royal Capital was the mansion Octavia’s grandmother had left her before her death, and although it was somewhere to live, she could not afford to live in luxury. Furthermore, the steam train she was trying to board was the first long-distance, overnight train in the kingdom. Naturally the fare was on the expensive side. If she purchased a private, first-class compartment, the kind used by aristocrats, it would be more expensive still.
Nevertheless, if she waited half a month for a vacancy to open in second class, she would have to pay for accommodation in the meantime. That definitely wouldn’t be cheap, either. Since boarding the train right now would get her to the Royal Capital in just one night and two days, the time and money that it would cost to wait didn’t seem worth it. Half a month in the capital should be enough time to establish her detective agency.
“Still, it would be nice if there were a cancellation in second class, with the cheaper bunk beds...”
“Aren’t the rooms in second class shared between men and women? Whatever your family might say, you are a lady of the House of Reine— No, you’re an even nobler woman than that. I won’t let you sleep in the same room as a man of unknown character.”
“You may say that, but sacrifices must be made.”
“Don’t we have a tool somewhere that can conceal part of the train, along with the space in between?”
“Hat, please don’t suddenly suggest a plan that might get us caught by inquisitors.”
“Outside of the capital, their lot don’t tend to travel by train.”
“Out of my way!” A loud voice from behind tore through their surreptitious conversation. The sounds of commotion and agitation mingled with screams and the whinnies of horses. A man wearing a hat pulled down low over his eyes pushed aside some children and a lady holding a parasol as he ran toward the train platform.
“Thief! There he is!”
“Guards! Seize him!”
“Blast!” The man clicked his tongue, struggling to slip past the crowd of people. Then his eyes met Octavia’s. A knife flashed in the sun. The man suddenly yanked Octavia toward him and held her there tightly; she could only blink in surprise. His blade glinted at her throat. Hat, who had fallen to the ground as the man grappled with Octavia, muttered, “To think misfortune would strike again, and so early in our journey...”
“If you value this woman’s life, stay back!” The guards who had been pursuing the man stopped in their tracks, then formed a semicircle around him, still maintaining their distance. Wrapping one arm around Octavia’s neck, the man brandished the point of his knife at the onlookers. He seemed to be laughing. “G-Good. Get the train ready! Chase off everyone on board, except for the conductor!”
“What to do?” Hat mused. “Out of the tools currently in my index, the most useful would be... Weapons would draw too much attention. Something inconspicuous... Ah, how about the sewing kit? If you prick his finger, you can probably get away.”
Octavia turned her head as a calm voice broke into the tense scene. It came from beyond the guards and onlookers. “Let us accept your demands. In exchange, won’t you let the young lady go?”
“Marquis Osvard, it’s dangerous. Please stay behind us.”
“He has a hostage. If I, the victim, don’t negotiate with the criminal, we will not gain his trust.” Pushing past the guards, a young man emerged. As he did so, he doffed his gentleman’s hat in greeting. His silky, lustrous blond hair flowed in the sea breeze. His almond-shaped eyes looked sharp, but the expression around his eyes was cool, and his smile was soft. In the middle of the crowd on the platform, his posture was especially straight, as if he were standing in wait at a ballroom dance. It gave him a sense of refinement.
The women who had contorted their faces in fear of the ruffian holding Octavia hostage until a moment ago, and even the thief himself, were motionless, as if enchanted by this youth.
He was a beautiful young man. Still, Octavia frowned in spite of herself. Who is he? A con man? Underneath his sophisticated black frock coat, he wore a fashionable checkered waistcoat. His shirt-collar was fastened with a wine-red necktie, and he wore leather boots in a caramel color. There was nothing in his dress to concern her. On the contrary, in attire, he was the perfect image of a nobleman. Even so, something didn’t sit right with Octavia.
“I don’t intend to take back the wallet you stole from me. I shan’t pursue you, either. So, please, see that you release the young lady.”
“H-How am I supposed to believe that?”
Indeed. With those long eyelashes that cast such languorous shadows, something about the man’s expression seemed forced, Octavia realized. The look of concern he turned on Octavia was too beautiful. It looked contrived.
“I’m telling the truth. I have no need for it. I’m giving it to you.”
“N-No need, you say?” The thief repeated, his voice trembling. He must have sounded shocked to those around him. But Octavia could tell from the strength exerted by the man’s arms that the gentleman wasn’t negotiating with the thief—he was taunting him. Handing his cane to one of the guards, the youth approached the thief, his arms spread, the heels of his leather boots clicking against the ground. He seemed to be signaling that he held no weapons and had no hostility. All the same, he left not even the slightest opening for the thief. The bemused half-moons of his hazel eyes accompanied a sneering grin.
“Quite. I’ll give you as much as you like. That will be the price of your life.”
“Why, you...!”
“Stop, or your life will end,” Octavia warned the thief in a low voice. The man lifted his foot in preparation to throw his knife at the youth when she lightly swept his leg aside. The man gasped as he lost his balance, and she ducked low and escaped his grasp as she pushed him over.
“Hey, now’s your opportunity. Grab him!” The guards hurried over to the man and held him down. To everyone else, it must have looked as if the thief had stepped forward too quickly in a fit of anger, tripped, and fallen over.
“Well, if that’s all there was to it, then it was hardly worth our getting involved,” said Hat.
“I hope that’s all.” Octavia picked up the unusually prideful Hat. The people around them still had their hands full, resolving the incident. It would’ve been best to leave while the crowd was still scattered in confusion. If she were asked for a statement, she’d be stuck here a while longer.