<Chapter 106>
#12. Black Cloud (4)
At Calix’s cold words, Durasen let out a brief cough. He roughly patted away the cold sweat that had formed on his forehead with a handkerchief.
“You said you weren’t particularly suspicious of me?”
As Calix sarcastically repeated the words Durasen had uttered just minutes before, Durasen let out a deep sigh, seemingly giving up on hiding anything further. Though only a few hours had passed since they discovered her disappearance, fatigue had deeply settled on his face.
“It’s true that I don’t suspect you… But I can’t change what others in the mansion think.”
At his statement, which was close to lamentation, Calix lightly shrugged his shoulders.
“Then why am I here?”
“Because you were Iel’s lover—”
Durasen paused mid-sentence. Seeing Calix’s expression of displeasure, he corrected himself.
“When that child came here as a guest, she showed me a letter. A letter bearing Braiante Kuse Padrian’s seal stating that she wished for a good relationship with you.”
At Durasen’s explanation, Calix nodded without changing his expression. He had already heard about this from Melty. Since Calix himself had gone to find Iel to properly discuss that letter, there was nothing surprising about it. Carefully observing Calix’s expression, Durasen continued.
“Not long after Iel arrived, you sent a letter. A letter saying you would visit here.”
“So that’s why everything was so well-prepared.”
Despite the sudden visit, Durasen’s hospitality had been flawless. Calix’s gaze grew heavy as he reconsidered actions he had simply attributed to Durasen’s years of experience.
“She was getting along well with you every day, and Iel herself mentioned that you were lovers. So there are quite a few employees in the mansion who know you two as a couple.”
Having heard this much, Calix could quickly grasp how things were unfolding. As Iel had arrived here before Calix, she clearly had made more acquaintances. If she had used them, it wouldn’t have been difficult for certain rumors to spread throughout the mansion.
Visiting someone else’s mansion was something he hadn’t done for a very long time, and Calix, realizing he hadn’t been paying proper attention due to being immersed in his romance with Melty, clicked his tongue lightly. He had fallen for such a clumsy ploy.
“We only exchanged a few words each day, and rumors spread from that?”
“Didn’t you two always come out after having various conversations in the meeting room? You also went for walks…”
What’s with all this talk about walks?
He had conversed with Iel in the meeting room only a couple of times. Even then, it was only because she had confidently said she could help with the ongoing tense negotiations, so he had listened to her. The methods that came out of her mouth were all childish and nonsensical, to the point where he almost laughed out of disbelief, but he had dealt with her appropriately out of consideration for Durasen’s face.
“You two were getting along so well, but then you had a quarrel in the garden, and you… hmm. It’s embarrassing to bring this up, but you spent time with Melty.”
“So you’re suggesting this is a ‘crime of passion’?”
“You know it well.”
At his words, Calix let out a deep sigh. It was an extremely funny situation. It was ridiculous enough that he was receiving this kind of treatment despite having a perfectly fine lover, but looking at the situation alone, it seemed as though someone had deliberately planned it.
“So the conclusion is that I was dating both of them simultaneously, and when Iel became a hindrance, I killed her?”
“…Summarized, that’s how it is.”
Durasen remained silent, as if he had nothing more to say. He laid out various explanations, close to excuses, about how he didn’t know such a thing would happen in his mansion, but Calix’s expression remained unchanged.
“Anyway, it wasn’t me. If I had done it, I wouldn’t have used such an ambiguous method.”
“……”
Durasen was at a loss for words at Calix’s response. Looking at him, Calix smiled slightly with a face that had regained composure. Melty could explain his whereabouts from evening to morning, and after that, he had discussions with Angel. The problem was that there was no suitable third party to prove this.
The testimony of the two would lack credibility and thus be meaningless. And unfortunately, everyone who could speak about Calix’s whereabouts belonged to the Padrian family.
‘I wonder if he thinks I’m lying…’
Calix, who had remained silent, scratched his cheek with a tired face. Even though this was Durasen’s territory, he couldn’t push Calix based solely on suspicion.
“If she didn’t leave on her own accord… there’s a possibility of kidnapping. Even if you found bloody clothes, we don’t know whose blood it is, so we can’t be certain she was murdered.”
At Calix’s skillful explanation, Durasen, who had been lost in thought for a moment, nodded.
“That point is reasonable. Then, I’m sorry, but could you wait here for a moment?”
“I don’t mind waiting, but I hope it doesn’t take too long.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
Durasen nodded silently and moved quickly. Calix, who had been staring at his back, cast a glance towards the window. He had been framed as the murderer in a missing person case where no body had been found, but he wasn’t particularly affected.
‘If I had done it, it wouldn’t have been this clumsy.’
Making the situation complicated wasn’t bad, but everything else was extremely amateurish. If they conducted a thorough investigation with sufficient time, his innocence would be proven by objective facts. As he had told Melty, Calix’s time alone with Iel was very brief, and even that was merely formal; there were no tokens of affection, let alone sweet words exchanged.
He wasn’t sure how it appeared in the eyes of the passing employees, but it was a simple matter to poke around and find out that he had never once left the room after entering it with Melty.
The word ‘murder’ briefly made him think of Malek Crosel, but Calix shook his head to dismiss the thought. It was true that Iel had insulted Melty, and Malek had slaughtered such people at the Padrian mansion before, but he was a professional. The actions were too childish and clumsy to have been done by him.
“Looking at what’s been done, it seems specifically targeted at me.”
Even if the situation was resolved, ‘suspicion’ was something that remained deep and long in people’s hearts. Especially if it was an unsolved case. With his chin propped up, Calix tapped his index finger on the armrest and sank into thought.
He couldn’t quite gauge what benefit someone would get from implicating him like this. He thought it might be related to the series of incidents that had been occurring recently, but it was only a vague speculation.
“I don’t know why they would do this…”
It was common for notorious rumors to surround Calix. That’s why he didn’t particularly care about that aspect, but it bothered him too much to simply ignore. However, he had no intention of provoking anyone without knowing their purpose.
“Why at this time of all times?”
Calix frowned deeply at the belatedly realized fact. It was the day after he had spent the first night with his lover. According to his fantasy, he should be enjoying a peaceful time playing around in bed with Melty by now.
‘Things have been so chaotic that I haven’t even given it to him yet.’
Calix let out a heavy sigh. It was because he had completely fallen for the mischievous sight of Melty swaying his plump bottom and adorably short tail from side to side, tempting him.
Thanks to recalling Melty’s image, the unpleasantness from earlier seemed to wash away completely. With a deep smile on his lips, Calix stared beyond the window and murmured.
“He shouldn’t be too shocked. I’m worried.”
***
Calix’s concerns became reality. Malek, who stood next to the frozen Melty with his mouth wide open, spoke.
“All this fuss because one person disappeared?”
At his tone, full of displeasure, Angel shrunk back. He knew that Melty had gone to talk with Malek, but he didn’t expect him to return with Malek in tow. Unfortunately, since the Botenta mansion was currently off-limits to outsiders, they had to come to a restaurant in town.
“Not just any person, but Iel-ssi, who is cherished by the Tuanivel family.”
Despite Angel’s explanation, Malek maintained his indifferent expression. With his face clearly writing “Why should I care?”, Angel shook his head with a low sigh. Then he turned his gaze to Melty sitting next to him.
“You’ll probably have a simple interview when you return to the mansion, Melty-ssi. There’s no need to feel pressured. Just answer honestly as they ask.”
“It’s not dangerous, right?”
“What could be dangerous about just an interview?”
Angel said, shrugging his shoulders. Melty shook his head at his response and spoke with a still worried face.
“No, not me… Calix-ssi.”
“…Ah.”
Belatedly recognizing the subject of Melty’s “worry,” Angel scratched the back of his neck vigorously. As Melty asked, Calix was currently designated as the most likely suspect. But for Angel, it was hard to gauge if this matter warranted such a large-scale response.
“There won’t be any issues. That person isn’t one to simply succumb.”
Despite Angel’s words, Melty wasn’t reassured at all. Seeing Melty’s face still full of concern and worry, Malek smiled slightly.
“If you’re still worried, there’s one way.”
