Chapter 3.10

From then on, Azrael couldn’t stop thinking about Beatrice. Whether investigating or handling his duties as a Duke, she remained in his thoughts. 

Focusing on investigations helped him distance himself from thoughts of Beatrice, but depending on the nature of the case, even that wasn’t always effective. 

Azrael mostly handled violent crimes. The Newethen Street serial killer hadn’t claimed any new victims yet. With the trail going cold once again, Azrael was assigned other kidnapping and missing persons cases. 

“Good heavens! Commander, what’s with your face?” 

“Carlson? It’s been a while.” 

“Yes, it’s me, Carlson Turner! Back in action without a hitch. Though I’ve been back for a while, I’ve been dragged all over the place, and now I finally get to see you.” 

With his usual cheerful smile, Carlson threw an arm around Azrael’s shoulder. After confirming that no other members of the investigation team were nearby, Carlson lowered his voice and asked, 

“Are you sleeping properly these days? Have you seen a doctor?” 

“I’ve seen a doctor. He prescribed me sleeping aids.” 

“Hmm, judging by your appearance, they don’t seem to be working very well.” 

Taking sleeping aids allowed Azrael to barely fall asleep, but it was only a temporary solution. Occasionally, when he dreamed, he saw the people he hadn’t been able to save. The nightmares were familiar, but their intensity had worsened recently. 

The doctor had suggested trying medication that would prevent him from dreaming altogether. However, Azrael couldn’t bring himself to do it. 

Erasing them from his dreams felt like he was denying his own mistakes. Even when the victims in his dreams poured out their resentment or strangled him, he didn’t resist. 

Above all, he wanted to believe they were alive, if only in his dreams. He didn’t deny their deaths, but he wanted to hold onto even a fragment of their living moments in his mind. 

“Ugh, hand over that report right now. Commander, you shouldn’t be working; you need to rest.”

Carlson snatched the report from Azrael’s hands. Then, he pushed Azrael’s back, guiding him into the building. Powerless against Carlson’s insistence, Azrael allowed himself to be led and flopped onto the sofa. 

“Now, lie down quietly and get some sleep. I’ll check the simple matters myself, and I’ll set aside the documents that require your signature.” 

“Can’t you just let me work?” 

“No, I can’t. You might have kept working however you pleased while I was away, but that won’t happen anymore.” 

With a sigh, Azrael obediently leaned back on the sofa. Carlson’s attitude was too resolute for him to resist. 

“By the way, Commander, you’ll be attending the spring ball, won’t you? Word came down from above, and it seems we’ll be assigned as security personnel again this time.” 

“I’ll have to attend. It’s one of my duties.” 

“Have you arranged your attire? Most of the tailors are already fully booked, I hear.” 

“I’ve asked the butler to handle it. Do you think I’d overlook something like this?” 

“Well, you might if you’re too distracted. Honestly, Commander, you seem like you’ve gone back to how you were years ago.” 

Azrael remained silent. It was an unspoken affirmation. Carlson scratched his head with a complicated expression. 

“Is the matter with Lady Delphinium bothering you that much?” 

“Does it look like it?” 

“Very much so. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. What’s so different about Lady Delphinium compared to the other victims we couldn’t save?” 

“You became an investigator to solve cases, but I became a knight to protect people. That’s why I can’t help but regret. If only I had assigned more guards, if only I had mobilized more people… things like that.” 

Listening quietly to Azrael, Carlson rummaged through a drawer. He retrieved a bottle of sleeping aids and tossed it to Azrael, who instinctively caught it. 

“Those kinds of thoughts are poison. If you keep grieving over every past event, your mind will wear down for sure. As your deputy and friend, the only advice I can give is to take the medicine and sleep soundly.” 

“Thank you for your concern, Carlson.” 

Azrael opened the bottle and swallowed the sleeping aids. With Carlson being so insistent, there was no reason not to comply. He lay back down on the sofa, closed his eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep. 

***

Mid-May marked the arrival of the spring ball. As nobles from across the kingdom gathered, carriages lined up outside the ballroom from early morning. Carlson and the knights of the Second Knight Order were deployed as security personnel, while most of the noble-born knights from the First Knight Order attended the ball. 

The spring ball was massive, as invitations were sent to all the nobles. Even Azrael, who maintained only the minimum level of involvement in social activities, had no choice but to attend. 

After spending the day handling affairs at the Duke’s residence, Azrael began preparing late in the evening. The neatly tailored formal attire he donned felt distinctly different from the knightly uniform he usually wore. It was a time for him to transition from the commander of the Second Investigation Unit back to Duke Hyacinth. 

As his carriage approached the ballroom, the lively and extravagant atmosphere could be felt from afar. Azrael exchanged brief nods with the knights stationed at the entrance before stepping inside. 

It didn’t take long for the nobles who recognized him to swarm around. 

“Duke Hyacinth! It’s been so long.” 

“Good evening, Madame Burnett.” 

“Well, look who it is! It’s been ages. How have you been?” 

“Viscount Blant. The tea leaves you gifted me last time were truly excellent.” 

The crowd surrounding Azrael chattered endlessly, sharing stories ranging from business ventures to subtle proposals asking for the support of the Duke’s influence. When a viscount attempted to offer a bribe, Azrael barely managed to stop him. Seeking a moment’s reprieve, he picked up a glass of wine. 

“It seems the case isn’t progressing well, Duke Hyacinth.” 

Marquis Servan had approached him unnoticed, greeting him with a smile. As Servan raised his wine glass, Azrael lightly clinked his glass against it. 

“You’ve arrived, Marquis Servan.” 

“Of course. How could we miss an event like this? Are you enjoying the ball?” 

“I’m participating as much as necessary.” 

“You’re always so stiff, even at occasions like this. I see many longing gazes directed your way. Don’t you plan to dance with any of the young ladies your age?” 

“They’re just gazes, nothing more. If that’s all, I believe staying in my place is the right thing to do.”

At Azrael’s indifferent response, Marquis Servan shrugged lightly. With two dukes gathered together, it seemed people hesitated to approach them. While Marquis Servan wasn’t exactly comfortable company, at least Azrael could avoid feeling suffocated by being surrounded by others. 

“Have you thoroughly examined the records room? Ah, of course, I’m not trying to rush you. I’m merely curious about how your investigation is progressing.” 

“I’ve been reviewing it little by little whenever I find the time. However, there seem to be insufficient materials regarding the Lily serial m*rder case.” 

“That’s unavoidable. Wasn’t the investigator in charge replaced at one point? It’s only natural that some records were lost in the process.” 

“With precedent now established, if a similar incident occurs in the future, we’ll be able to preserve prior records.” 

Azrael’s suspicions toward the commander of the First Investigation Unit remained unchanged. Marquis Servan was undoubtedly aware of this fact as well. Although the atmosphere between the two men appeared amicable, an invisible tension lingered in the air. 

Before long, it was time for the Imperial Family to make their entrance. Nobles gathered in a throng near the ballroom’s entrance. Marquis Servan and Azrael also moved toward that direction. 

“His Highness the Crown Prince is entering!” 

The Crown Prince, dressed in a pristine white uniform, entered alongside a woman in a matching white dress. At the sight of the pair, Azrael’s grip momentarily faltered. The wine glass he was holding slipped from his hand, crashing to the floor and shattering into pieces. 

A few startled individuals turned to look at him. However, Azrael stood frozen, unable to tear his gaze away from the woman. 

‘…Beatrice?’