“What were you doing there at that hour, Miss Hailey? It didn’t seem like a place a lady would typically frequent.”

Albert’s expressionless gaze fixed on Hailey. His cold tone made it sound as though he was reprimanding her for her lack of judgment—or even for improper behavior.

No, it wasn’t just implied. It was clear he was scolding her.

Hailey clenched her jaw slightly. Cracks began to appear in her faint smile, but Albert continued his questioning.

“Swinging a parasol at a fleeing thief, for instance—what if you had known what that man was capable of? If I had arrived even a moment later, you wouldn’t have been safe. Surely, Baron Salmon would be furious if he knew of this…”

“No.”

Hailey interrupted him, shaking her head. She didn’t like the man standing before her. That was the simplest way to describe it.

No matter how high-ranking an inspector Albert was, he wasn’t her superior. Yet he treated her as if she were one of his subordinates. Such an attitude naturally triggered her resistance.

Even someone as timid as Hailey—weak to both the strong and the weak—had her limits.

Her tone turned curt.

“My father wouldn’t be angry. He’s never raised his voice at me, not even once.”

“That’s nothing to be proud of. Miss Hailey, it seems you haven’t had proper lessons in etiquette. What exactly has the Baroness been doing?”

“She passed away when I was ten.”

Hailey answered through gritted teeth. Hans gave a small, awkward cough while glancing at her, but once again, Albert failed to notice the tension.

“So that’s why Miss Hailey behaves so recklessly. I understand that for a country girl from Westhill, the capital might be full of fascinating novelties, but as a lady of noble lineage, wouldn’t it be better to act with discretion? After all, this is the capital, Aslan—a place rife with troubling incidents, as you’ve witnessed yourself.”

In short, he was blaming Hailey’s lack of discretion entirely on her upbringing.

You lot, all the same. Why can’t you just keep your noses out of other people’s families?

Hailey’s head heated up, and it almost felt like she could hear the bubbling sound of her anger simmering. Her face flushed with the heat that had no outlet.

Rising from her seat with a calm smile, Hailey stood. Albert looked up at her with a puzzled expression.

“I’m not finished talking.”

“I merely took a shortcut to return home before sunset. Unfortunately, I was so shocked by the incident that I can’t recall a single thing. So, please, see yourselves out.”

Albert’s usually impassive face wavered for the first time at her dismissal. He furrowed his brows deeply and glared at her. Beside him, Hans shook his head as if he had expected this reaction all along.

“Miss Hailey Salmon. This isn’t a joke. You have an obligation to cooperate with the investigation.”

“As I said, I was too shocked to remember anything. I fainted right there. Inspector Blair, are you the kind of ruthless man who would press a delicate lady suffering from severe trauma for answers she doesn’t have?”

“…”

Albert pressed his lips together tightly at her mocking tone.

“Oh,” Hailey suddenly exclaimed, as if something had just occurred to her. Turning to Hans, she spoke with a casual air.

“Maybe if Inspector Hans comes alone next time, I might remember something.”

The implication was clear: she had nothing to say to Albert. There was no way Albert didn’t catch the meaning behind her words. His jaw tightened, and his lips pulled taut in a way that suggested he had never been treated this rudely before.

Hailey looked down at him with a confident expression. What could he do, even if he got angry? Albert wasn’t even her superior.

Besides, Hailey was currently employed by Duke Gunner. That meant he couldn’t act high-handedly toward her without the duke’s approval. Doing so would be overstepping his authority and directly challenging the duke.

Even trash has its uses. Guess I’ll stick to this house like a barnacle for a while.

“Well, take care, Inspector Albert Blair.”

Hailey deliberately emphasized each word before turning her back on him coldly. She headed toward the parlor door, but just then—

“Miss Hailey Salmon.”

Albert’s voice, lower and more serious, stopped her in her tracks. Hailey slowly turned her head.

Albert, watching her with an inscrutable gaze, rose from his seat unhurriedly. Hailey’s gaze naturally followed his tall frame upward. He was nearly as tall as the duke.

“Did you happen to see anyone you knew there?”

“Someone I knew?”

Hailey frowned slightly, unable to grasp his meaning. Suddenly, the image of a man with green hair flashed through her mind. He had a decadent air about him, blending in perfectly with that part of the city.

Why did I forget about him?

The man had been walking out of the alley where the body was found—just before Hailey had entered.

Which meant, at the moment, he was likely the prime suspect.

Albert, studying her face carefully, added in a grave tone, “For instance, Lord Gunner?”

“Ha.”

A sound resembling a laugh escaped her lips. Albert’s eyes narrowed, recognizing it as derisive.

Hailey’s voice turned sharp.

“You mean the story about needing to drink the blood of young women to lift his curse?”

“We believe this case was committed by the same individual as the Engler Street murders. The weapon, method, and pattern of the crime all match. In other words, this is—”

Albert paused briefly, then continued with weight in his voice. A chilling intensity radiated from his gaze.

“A serial murder.”

Hailey didn’t avert her eyes. Albert’s blue eyes seemed to flicker like flames. Within them, she caught glimpses of powerful emotions.

It felt like anger, passion, and an unyielding determination all at once. She recalled hearing somewhere that blue flames burned hotter than red ones.

Beneath his cold exterior, Albert was burning—hotter than anyone.

“Fine,” Hailey said with a nod. Dropping her shoulders, she spoke in a seemingly compliant tone.

“I admit my behavior was reckless. That part of town isn’t suitable for a lady of noble birth. No matter how much of a shortcut it was, I shouldn’t have gone to Tiffler Street.”

Albert’s sharp gaze narrowed slightly. He seemed to be weighing the meaning behind her words.

The next moment, her voice turned icy.

“But I never expected someone like you, Inspector, to believe such third-rate tabloid nonsense. No wonder the Metropolitan Police Department is so often criticized.”

“Miss Hailey Salmon.”

Albert’s face hardened as if he had been insulted. A frosty chill emanated from him as he clenched his fists and fixed her with a cold stare.

However, she didn’t care. After all, he was the one who had first insulted her father. They had both touched each other’s most sensitive spots, so it was a fair exchange.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

Without looking back, Hailey left the room. She resolved not to turn around even if he called her again.

As she walked straight-backed out of the drawing room, Hailey spotted Madam Mastis standing by the door. The woman silently gazed at her, her thoughts unreadable.

Slowing her steps, Hailey addressed her.

“Please see them out, Madam Mastis.”

“Yes, Miss Hailey,” the woman replied with a slight nod.

Hans sighed under his breath, scratching his head as he muttered in a tired voice, “I told you, sir, you could’ve just been nice. Why’d you have to provoke her?”

Albert didn’t respond. He simply stared daggers at the door Hailey had exited through.

“Let’s go. I’ll come back tomorrow,” Hans offered.

Albert didn’t budge. Hans glanced at the half-open drawing room door and tilted his head in curiosity.

“Still… there’s something different about Miss Hailey,” Hans remarked thoughtfully.

Albert merely closed and reopened his eyes, his mood unreadable. Hans shrugged lightly, sensing his superior’s foul mood.

“She’s a strong-willed young lady, isn’t she? Not like the typical noble girls.”

“She’s like an untamed filly who never learned proper manners,” Albert muttered.

Hans shrugged again, though he couldn’t entirely disagree. Albert was a competent superior, but he could understand why Hailey clashed with him.

After all, there were times when even Hans wanted to punch Albert’s smug mouth.

Albert, renowned for his courtesy and composure, often transformed into a different person when it came to investigations. His humorless and uptight nature didn’t help matters either.

Still, Hans knew Albert’s passion for his work and deeply respected him. Perhaps that fiery determination was what had propelled Albert to where he was now.

With a faint chuckle, Hans noticed Madam Mastis glaring at him and quickly followed Albert out of the mansion.