Fejin clicked his tongue as he reviewed the report. It was filled with nonsense, such as how the average number of times a person blinked increased by about seven times after 12:17 PM, or that the temperature in the hallway was one degree higher than in the room where April was. Fejin picked up the internal phone on the police headquarters wall and tossed the report onto the table.
“The main police headquarters is full of old, incompetent officers. Is this where people go to relax just before retirement?”
The chief of the city police department, who was much older and higher in rank than Fejin, looked troubled but couldn't argue with him.
－ Please don’t be so harsh.
“Is it harsh to tell the truth? Should I put it differently? Perhaps you’re just too comfortable?”
Though the police chief was older and more senior, he couldn’t reprimand Fejin, who had been dispatched from the Empire and was the only heir of the Grand Duke.
Fejin grabbed April's collar from behind as she was distracted, looking outside. She turned around, visibly annoyed, but he continued talking, ignoring her displeasure.
“I’m too comfortable, you say? I’ve been living away from my family, working as a police officer in the Empire... Anyway, discipline these officers and buy me a drink. Goodbye.”
Fejin hung up after finishing his speech, then turned to the glaring April.
“What? Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Do I look like a kid to you? Let go.”
“Kids always think like that. Their egos are too big.”
Feeling treated like a child, April's annoyance grew even more as Fejin retorted.
“You haven’t changed a bit. Try to change a little.”
“Why should I change? I’m already great.”
His shamelessness left her speechless. She wanted to argue more, but having not conversed properly for seven years, she felt she’d lose the argument. She turned her head to look out the window instead. Acting casual, she asked,
“They told you to hand over the case to the church, didn’t they?”
“Witches are their specialty. Or at least they think so.”
“What does Miller think?”
Fejin, matching her nonchalant tone, replied lightly.
“He probably wants to hand you over to the church.”
“Does he think I’m going to kill the Grand Duke and Duchess? How could I?”
“Who knows? If you’re really a witch, it might be possible.”
April sighed unconsciously at Fejin’s indifferent expression and response. Thinking about it, it did seem strange. She knew best that the mansion’s lights were on every night despite the gas being cut off. She had also experienced that fog, though she hadn’t known anyone died in it.
April knew that to prove her innocence, there couldn’t be any evidence linking the two surreal incidents. Fortunately, finding such evidence was difficult even for the police. It would be easier to eradicate the organized crime syndicates threatening the Grand Duchy’s security or the smugglers stationed along the coast. It would even be easier to track down the incessant poachers. This was also true for Fejin’s future. Achieving visible accomplishments would help his career advancement as a police officer. Being stuck here for seven years, holding onto a woman who knew nothing about the world, was a waste of time.
Confident that Fejin didn’t want to be involved in this matter either, April asked,
“That fog... it happened three times, all in winter, right?”
“Yeah, when it just started getting cold.”
“And the dates and days were different.”
“You know as much as the police have figured out.”
Fejin’s remark was a jab at the city police. It seemed they had merely confirmed facts that anyone, including April, who had been confined at home for seven years, would know. As expected, they couldn’t prove her guilt. April asked,
“Have you experienced the fog?”
“Not yet. I guess I’ll experience it this time.”
Fejin had always lived in the Empire and had never visited the Grand Duchy during the colder winters when the fog occurred. Soon, the Witch's Night, when the fog would appear, would come. Confirming that the report had no substantial content, Fejin picked up the coat he had casually hung on the rack.
“Let’s go.”
As April remembered, the police coats had compartments for storing weapons. Though he had no weapons, the sight of those compartments made April grab the windowsill tightly and say,
“I don’t want to.”
Fejin, buttoning his coat and fastening his belt, replied,
“Then stay here. I’m going to investigate the Lunos estate.”
“The Lunos estate? You meant home?”
“Where else?”
“The church.”
April’s voice, mixed with anxiety and relief, made Fejin scoff without looking at her.
“No. Regardless of my feelings about you, handing the case over to the church would hurt the police’s pride.”
It was only after saying this that he turned to look at April and noticed she was trembling, likely genuinely considering the possibility of being handed over to the church. Her pale lips and face made it seem she was barely standing. Deciding it was best to take her back to the Lunos estate for now, Fejin marched out of the interrogation room, with April reluctantly following him after letting go of the windowsill.
As April stepped out of the police headquarters, a small stone thrown by a citizen escorting the transport carriage hit her. She glared at them, making them retreat in fear. Cries and sobs of those who had lost family to the fog echoed from the crowd.
“Why don’t you hand her over to the church for trial!”
“A witch is not something the police can handle!”
Voices shouting these words grabbed at April’s clothes. Unable to keep up with Fejin’s quick steps, April was pulled towards the direction of the church. At that moment, a gunshot rang out, making everyone cover their ears and stop. April, too, froze but realized it was Fejin’s gunshot after opening her eyes. His coat didn’t seem to have any weapons, so where did he hide it? Anyway, he had indeed become a police officer.
As Fejin protected her and headed towards the carriage, April couldn’t help but think this. Thanks to Fejin, April barely managed to get into the carriage with its door open. Once the carriage broke through the crowd and started moving, she felt somewhat relieved. Covering her face with trembling hands, she felt a mix of sorrow, fear, and overwhelming anger. Her desire to revive the Lunos family filled her with all these emotions. But was it possible?
The uncertainty of achieving her desire made her mind go blank. Would she have to live with this unresolved, terrible anger forever? She felt like crying from the unbearable rage but held it in. She couldn’t cry out of anger, lest it be mistaken for fear. She absolutely didn’t want to appear fearful to anyone.
