“What happened then? Did you make up with Rae?”
“Well…in a way.”
It was the night of the day we paid a visit to the Thompson estate. Rae went back to her room upon our return to the Academy, while I went to mine and chatted with Catherine before bed. Catherine was already under the blankets, but I, not quite ready for bed yet, sat in front of the dresser.
“Perhaps it’d be more accurate to say we tabled the issue instead of making up…” I said. In the end, Rae and I had shelved the marriage discussion for the moment.
“I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Catherine said with her usual sleepy drawl. “Some things can only be fixed with time. Oh, could you grab me a candy?”
“There you go acting wise again… Make sure you brush your teeth later, okay?”
“Okaaay.”
✦ ✦ ✦
I reached into the candy pot on Catherine’s desk and took out a piece, something I was long used to doing by now. “You’ve gone through these quite quickly. There are only three left.”
“I can’t help it, they’re too yummy. I thought I took my time savoring them, though.”
I handed her the piece of candy, which she received with a brimming smile before tossing it into her mouth. I then climbed into my own bed.
“I’m sure things will be fine between you and Rae,” she said.
“…Really?”
“Really. So let’s just put that issue aside for now. How’d investigating corrupt nobles go?”
“…About as you’d expect. Baron Thompson was guilty.”
Rae had looked through House Thompson’s ledger and found a number of inconsistencies when she compared it against the documents Rod provided. Thompson wound up admitting his guilt. Rae offered him a plea bargain in exchange for information, and we learned of House Yale’s involvement. I’d been positively taken aback to see Rae being so cutthroat. She did do a strange impression of a character from some story named “Mito Komon” that I’d never heard of, but she ended up explaining herself afterward… Though in retrospect, I found myself wondering what that had all been about.
“Oh, I see, I see. And then?” Catherine urged.
“And then nothing. That’s it.”
“Oh, Claire… How long do you think we’ve known each other? I can tell when you’re trying to hide something from me.”
“…Hmph.”
“What else happened?”
“We…learned some disturbing news.” I’d originally intended to tell her the moment I returned but, the news being what it was, had hesitated until now. “The documents we confiscated from Baron Thompson included a passage regarding House Achard.”
“I…see. What’d it say?” Her tone remained the same, but there was a slight tremble to it.
I hesitated to continue. But it had to be said. She was a noble; it was her duty to know her family’s wrongdoings. “Catherine… We have reason to believe Marquess Achard is running a human trafficking ring with Baron Barlier.”
No reply came from the bed above mine, only a heavy silence.
What Baron Thompson had was a letter from Patrice Barlier, Pepi’s father, asking that they reduce the volume of their trafficking. There was mention of Kristoff supporting the decision. Of course, this alone wouldn’t be enough to incriminate Clément, Catherine’s father. He could easily just hang Patrice out to dry and slither away scot-free. But there was no denying that there was a significant amount of circumstantial evidence.
“Will my father be…arrested?” Catherine asked.
“Human trafficking is a grave crime. He must be punished. I’ll…see to it that he is punished.”
“…I see.”
I heard her roll over in her bed.
“Catherine, did you know?” I felt ashamed to even ask such a question.
“No, not at all. But my brother Kristoff knew, huh? It seems only I was left out.”
“You have my sympathies.”
“Thank you.”
There was nothing I could say to offer any real encouragement. Not given her family circumstances.
“I’ll try my hardest to have your punishment reduced as much as possible,” I said.
“Nah. It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine! You haven’t done anything wrong!”
“Well…I wouldn’t say that,” she said in a sudden, self-deprecating tone.
“…Catherine?” Worried, I got off my bed and climbed up to look at her. She had her back turned to me, though, so I couldn’t see her face. “Don’t tell me you had a hand in the human trafficking after all?”
“No, no. I’m not involved in that. But…I may have done something worse, in a certain sense.”
“…Like what?” I questioned. She rolled back over, showing me a face that bore no resemblance to her usual nonchalant mien. “…Catherine, you look awful.”
“Aha ha ha. I had a feeling.”
“You’re as pale as a sheet.”
“Hey, Claire?” Her tone was as light as ever, but it was clear she was forcing herself. Her face was pale, and her gaze wandered restlessly. What could have made her so unsettled?
“Yes, Catherine?”
“Do you have anything you wish you could go back in time and redo?”
“…Where’d that come from?” I questioned her intent.
“Come on, just tell me.”
“…Of course I do. Many things.”
“What do you wish you could redo the most?”
“Hmph. I’d rather you not ask questions you already know the answer to, Catherine.”
“Right… So it’s that after all.”
The fact that my mother passed away before I could make up with her haunted me more than anything.
Catherine said, “You know, there’s something I wish I could redo as well.”
“What’s that, then?”
“It’s a secret for now. I’ll tell you one of these days.”
“…Is that so?” Why had she brought this up now of all times? What guilt was she carrying with her, and what was it she so wanted to redo?
“It looks like it’s time for my father, my brother…and I to be held accountable for what we’ve done.”
“Catherine…”
“Don’t hold back in your investigation, Claire. And don’t bother trying to get me a reduced sentence either. Just see to it that justice is served.”
“…All right.” I could do nothing but nod along to what she asked. She looked tormented with grief. I felt as though she would crumble before my very eyes if I answered differently at all. She and I had known each other long enough to be as close as sisters, and yet I’d never seen this side of her before.
I wasn’t being entirely truthful, however. She’d asked me to forget about trying to help her, and though I said I would, that was something I could never ever do.
“Thaaanks, Claire.” She rolled back over and began to breathe softly, as though asleep. She seemed back to her usual self, sleepy drawl and all.
I returned to my bed and began to think. Everyone had a secret or two they wanted to keep, but it was clear Catherine’s secret was something a bit graver than most.
“Hey, Catherine?” I said. No response came. Perhaps she had fallen asleep. I continued regardless. “I don’t know what burden it is that you carry, but is it not a burden I can help you shoulder?” Again, no response. Only the soft sound of breathing. “Happiness shared is doubled, and burdens are halved when shouldered together. That’s something Rae told me. Won’t you let me shoulder your burdens with you?” Still no response. It seemed she was fully asleep. I felt drowsiness gradually take hold of me as well. “Catherine…I think of you…as…a real sister…”
I felt my consciousness slowly fade. As I slid into sleep, I did not hear her next words.
“I’ll let Rae be the one to take my place. I…have no right to stay with you.”