Gasping softly, Eliza looked up at Octavia. “Then if we seek out the tools in this photograph, we may find this girl too,” she breathed, almost questioning.
“I think we’ll grasp something. But I’d like you to leave the matter to me. I’d like you to keep an eye on the queen’s brother, Prince Henry. Raven managed to utterly inflame him, so he might expose himself in some small way.”
“V-Very well. What a frightful predicament,” said Eliza with a slight air of excitement, holding her hands against her cheeks. “So this is the excitement that comes with solving a mystery! I feel almost like frolicking.”
“It’s habit-forming, isn’t it?”
“Quite,” replied Eliza with a smile and a nod. “I’ll make every effort myself,” she said as she rose to her feet. The motion was so buoyant that she did not appear eight hundred years old to Octavia.
After they had watched her depart, Hat asked, “Are you sure it was all right not to tell her?”
“If I’d said anything, she would only have gotten in my way. This is my battle.”
“But you might have gained some information.”
“I don’t need it.” On top of the photograph on the table, Octavia laid a letter. It was an announcement from Crow, the Phantom Thief, and it had arrived that very morning. Of late he had even been polite enough to address his letters to the owner of the item that was his quarry, to the police, and, of course, to Octavia.
Dear Detective Octavia,
I shall be making my way to the Royal Museum of Art, to help myself to the angels’ music box.
With love,
Crow, the Phantom Thief
That very music box lay on the floor at the feet of the girl in the photograph. Indeed, many of the objects in this photograph—from the doll to the painting displayed on the wall, and now even the music box—were targets of the Phantom Thief’s burglaries. Octavia felt sure that Raven already knew she would notice this, and that he’d encouraged her to accept the queen’s request for exactly that reason.
And then he had taunted her, asking if she planned to run away!
“He’s got some nerve.” In an even lower voice, Octavia muttered to herself, “This time, I swear I’ll break both his legs.”
Perched on a nearby chair, Hat began to quake in fear.
The Royal Museum of Art was—just as the name suggested—an art museum operated by the royal family of the Kingdom of Angelus. It was part of a colossal public park situated on the south side of the Royal Capital, in the fan-shaped portion. In the park, the Royal Museum stood alongside a theater, a library, and other such cultural institutions.
A ticket was required to enter the Museum of Art, but one could come and go as one pleased from the park itself.
Ashton had been waiting for Octavia outside the entrance to the museum. “Just since noon today, we’ve managed to get some security in place for the surrounding area.” He pulled a bitter face, chewing on his short cigarette. “There’s a lot of nosy parkers, you know. Museum’s supposed to be closed today, an’ they still tried creeping in! Had my hands full catching the blighters left and right, I did. And before I knew it, the day was getting on. We’re not mucking around ’ere.”
But Octavia had brought Raven—who was rather shrewdly staying behind her—and so she knew that the police’s attempts at installing security hadn’t been terribly successful. Internally, she apologized to Ashton.
That being said, as long as he has the emergency activation key, he can open any door he pleases. It seems he can also assume any disguise that he requires. Now that I think about it, Octavia thought, which is his true appearance?
Crow, the Phantom Thief, had black hair with red eyes. He didn’t even have the same hair color as Raven, so how—
Well, to be fair, she hadn’t quite made up her mind yet that Crow’s true identity was Raven.
There was no smoking allowed inside the museum. After Ashton had properly disposed of his cigarette in an ashtray outside and entered the museum, Octavia silently followed him inside.
“Now, I’ve got to tell you—you two are a special case. The only reason I’m allowed to take you inside is because I told my superiors you were informants with information about the Imperial Heirlooms. Don’t forget it, you hear?”
“But this time, there do appear to be others around—people who are not affiliated with the police,” Raven pointed out, prompting Octavia to look around the room.
A constable stood at every display in the exhibition hall, but here and there, there were clear non-police mixed in with them. Some looked like journalists, but men in black suits had begun to enter the museum from the front door. As they passed Octavia, she saw star-shaped badges glinting on their lapels.
Unconsciously, she lowered her voice. “Sheriffs?”
“Yeah. Someone pretty important is coming...”
“Would that be His Highness Prince Henry? Or His Highness Prince Edward, perhaps?” wondered Raven.
Ashton, who had spoken ambiguously, suddenly came to a halt.
Octavia supposed that this was an affirmative reaction. Surprised, she asked Raven, “What do you mean? Why would those two be involved with one of the Phantom Thief’s crime scenes?”
“Why, of course they would stick their noses into our business. Consider the circumstances. They’d surely like to have a grasp on everything you’re investigating, wouldn’t they? We’re in competition, after all.”
“What’re you lot talkin’ about?” Ashton butted in, his tone menacing. “You’re right that Prince Edward’s just shown up with some of his helpers. I dunno whether they came for security or surveillance, but they barged right in without a single care for our situation. They’ve been a proper nuisance, but what about them? Friends of yours?” There was more than a hint of a grudge in Ashton’s eyes and voice.
Unconsciously, Octavia averted her eyes—but then they met Raven’s.
“Octavia, may I explain?” he asked after a moment. “The heart of the matter does concern your family.”
“Y-Yeah. Go right ahead.”
There were no objections from Hat, either.
Ashton’s brow was furrowed. Although he was in charge of this prospective crime scene, he was only there because of the Phantom Thief’s letter. It was very likely that he had been called up here with no knowledge of the surrounding circumstances.
Raven gave Ashton a brief and easily understood explanation of the issues surrounding the inheritance of the House of Reine. As he did so, the furrows in Ashton’s brow grew steadily deeper, so that Octavia was almost worried they’d stay that way permanently.
“In other words,” said Ashton slowly, “they don’t give a fig about the Phantom Thief, after all. They just came to watch you while you fight to be head of your family! What, am I just caught in the crossfire, then?”
“Though it pains me to say so...” Raven trailed off sadly, nodding.