Octavia, feeling fed up, repeated herself offhandedly. “I said that I decline. I have not fulfilled your request, my queen. That was all merely a hypothesis. All we can say for certain is that the targets of Crow’s burglaries are shown in the photograph. We still have no way to verify the girl’s identity. With all the material evidence carried away by Crow, we cannot discover his true identity, either.”
“But Crow admitted it himself.”
“Can you really believe the words of such a rogue? Perhaps that really was the girl from the photograph, and he only claimed otherwise to sow discord amongst us! She certainly appears to be in the photograph. Therefore, there’s every chance that she could have become one of Crow’s targets.”
The more Octavia tried to explain the counterarguments, the more fascinating they became. Probably Crow had only appeared in order to prompt Octavia to say these things.
Choosing her words carefully, the queen murmured, “I have information which suggests that Henry did indeed conduct unethical experiments.”
“I see. However, I had no part in proving that. What I’m trying to say is—if you’re going to raise your estimation of my value, couldn’t you wait until after I’ve caught Crow, the Phantom Thief?”
After thinking for a while, the queen finally asked, “So you’re saying you’d like to continue being a detective for now?”
The queen was still able to follow what she was saying. Octavia nodded. “To be honest, if you asked me to manage a realm right now, it would only be a burden. I’m happy for my father to go on managing it in my stead.”
“Wh-Why, you—how dare you speak about me in that manner?!”
“Just as long as he doesn’t get in my way.”
Octavia’s father fell silent. He was rather busy, what with his face alternating between bright red and blue.
“More than anything, if I inherited the House of Reine just after being beaten by the Phantom Thief, I think my grandmother would turn in her grave.”
Silence now descended over the entire chamber. Jessie and Octavia’s father both looked as if they were holding ticking bombs; they frantically looked at the queen and Octavia in turn. Edward clenched both his hands in fists, rooted to the spot. Doubtless none of them spoke because they knew Octavia held their fates in her hands.
“Very well.” As if to restore order, the queen sounded her staff again. “In that case, let’s do the following.” Her tone of voice was severe. “Octavia de Reine, I name you the next Earl of Reine. However, you will only formally inherit the peerage if you manage to capture Crow, the Phantom Thief. In the event that you fail to capture him, then, just as Edward has insisted, the peerage will go to him, Jessie de Reine’s groom.”
Saved by the skin of their teeth, Jessie and Octavia’s father clasped their hands together. However, the queen’s stern voice interrupted their celebration.
“Edward. You are to be stripped of all the privileges you have attained as a prince for one year.”
“Eh...? Wh-Why?” It was Jessie who spoke up, her voice hysterical.
The queen responded evenly, “He misused our sheriffs and, far from contributing to the uncovering of the truth, confused the matter. Though his crimes are not as serious as Henry’s, he still must be dealt with. From now, for one year, you are not a prince or anything of the sort.”
“B-But, mother-in-law, Prince Edward did his best...”
“Know your place. Have some shame.”
This merciless remark from the queen froze the smile on Jessie’s face. Edward knelt to display his obedience. “As you wish...”
“Th-This can’t be,” breathed Jessie. “Then...what will become of our marriage? Darling?”
“J-Jessie. Stop this at once!”
“Detective Octavia.” At the sound of the queen’s stately voice, Octavia turned to face her once more. “Do you find this satisfactory?”
“You have my gratitude, my queen.”
“Then there is nothing more to discuss, and I declare this audience to be at an end. We will make preparations to release Marquis Osvard at once.”
At this reminder, Octavia released all of a sudden that she had forgotten about Raven. Where is he now?! He hasn’t run off, has he?! And just what did he intend to do with the girl he’d carried off with him? Octavia hurriedly turned to leave.
“Sorry, but I must excuse myself! Please handle the details however you wish!”
“O-Octavia, wait! Don’t you care about what happens to your family?”
“That’s right, Sister! You’re on good terms with Marquis Osvard, aren’t you? That being the case...”
Before she opened the large door to the audience chamber, Octavia came to a halt. Then she slowly turned only her head to look back at Jessie. “The next time you do anything to Raven, I won’t let you off so easily.”
Octavia’s father had been looking at her with pleading eyes; Jessie, smiling wickedly; and Edward, still crestfallen—but at this, they all collectively gasped. Without waiting to hear Jessie’s response, Octavia promptly opened the door and stepped out of the chamber.
The tower where Raven was being held was not far from the palace. If Octavia ran, she should make it there in no time.
“I do wonder about your choice of words just now,” said Hat.
“Was there something wrong with what I said? I just think of him as my prey, and mine alone.”
“Is that how you think of him? Well, probably better not to announce it to society at large...”
Octavia didn’t know what Hat was so worried about, but right now, Raven came first. Ah, right! I should check to see if there’s any evidence that Raven left his cell! As Octavia stepped outside, the sun had reached its apex in the sky. The brightness of its rays instilled hope in Octavia. Full of enthusiasm, she broke into a run.