Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

"I......"

Leona wanted to deny it outright, but the words caught in her throat.

Should she admit her rudeness and mistakes in front of these former scorned fools? But if she doesn't admit it, wouldn't that mean her previous behavior was a blatant lie?

Torn between dignity and honor, she wanted to distance herself from the situation and put pressure on the girl who had defied her. However, the other party was completely blameless in terms of demeanor and manners, appearing as a flawless gentleman.

As a guest at the tea party, she had no right to rebuke the other party for their offense, let alone presumptuously distort the truth and convict them in front of everyone.

Feeling the gazes of those around me, I knew I should rebuke and criticize as I always have, but for some reason, the once obedient eyes were now unusually sharp, as if stripped of their superior status, seeing each other as nothing more than ordinary people on equal footing.

“It seems that Miss Leona needs some more time to think. I am also reminded of an old law in the Empire: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

"You, you dare!"

Seeing Leona's wide eyes filled with fear, Charlotte immediately raised her eyebrows and denied it with a half-smile.

"Of course, I cannot lay a hand on you, my esteemed self. I can only suffer the pain of this whipping as a weak girl."

"To be honest, my friend originally only inquired about Ms. Kishia's daily habits out of concern for everyone, hoping to help with the case. Although she is not very bright, her good intentions are genuine."

With a deep sigh, the girl spread her arms and looked at the crowd with a sorrowful expression, as if she were empathizing with them who had suffered injustice.

"Sigh, but who knew it would end up like this..."

It is a stepping stone deliberately set aside, or a trap intentionally laid out.

The silence continued until the host of the tea party sorted out her thoughts, raised her head again, and glared fiercely at the girl who had pushed Winnie earlier.

"Heath, look what you've done! How could you push such a kind-hearted girl like that!"

Without answering her previous questions or even glancing at Charlotte, Leona seemed to have found the culprit behind her current disgraceful state and placed all the blame on Charlotte.

"Go apologize to her and explain things to her!"

"Yes, yes, Miss Leona!"

She hurriedly moved to stand in front of Winnie. The girl lowered her head and spoke apologetically, but Charlotte could clearly see resentment and anger in her eyes.

Unwilling to take the blame, he was forced into it out of anger.

Hehe, neither affirming nor denying, will naturally lead to a disastrous outcome where both sides suffer.

Happy with her accomplishments, Charlotte, with light steps, took the little bird that had been perched on her shoulder and returned to the sun-drenched corner.

As she walked away, the tea party resumed with the girls' laughter and chatter, but it was no longer just for Bathory; now, countless others joined in.

"So, Winnie, do you still think being a noble is something to aspire to?"

"No, it's not worth it."

Hearing the girl's words, Winnie quickly shook her head.

Her earlier fall had messed up her hairstyle, with a strand of hair falling down to her forehead, now playfully swinging back and forth with its owner.

Charlotte was delighted by this, so she reached out her fingertips and affectionately tucked the bird behind its ear.

Winnie blushed slightly at the close gesture, but she didn't forget to add her own words, expressing her inner feelings.

"She and others are no different from ordinary people, and in fact, they are far inferior to them."

Upon hearing this, Charlotte tilted her head slightly, looking at her little sparrow, letting her raven eyelashes tremble, and a sweet yet bewitching smile appeared in her crescent-shaped eyes.

"Well said, that's what you call—"

"Their true colors have been revealed."

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Wishes Fulfilled

The melodious piano music still lingers, only the performers have changed one after another.

The fragrance of incense, the richness of black tea, the pervasive scent of cosmetics, and the decadent atmosphere all intertwine, and the soft footsteps fall on the descending steps.

"Are you ladies leaving?"

"nature."

"Well then, I hope you have a pleasant afternoon."

With the maid's devout blessing, Charlotte led her flock of birds away from the courtyard and into the distance.

There was no need to linger at the tea party. The key clues had been largely clarified, and the task entrusted by the old detective was easily completed under Leona's instructions. Miss Heath not only apologized but also revealed most of Ms. Ksia's information like a sieve.

The newly established nobility, whose titles were acquired through wealth, ran a furniture business—a unique aspect of their family structure. As for another aspect—

“Miss Watson, Ms. Kishia and I have a fairly good relationship. She is a very methodical person, but she is particularly interested in esoteric knowledge and has once expressed her desire to confide in me about this.”

Holding her notebook, Melina added some supplementary information regarding the question from earlier.

"She has acquired many antique items and collected similar books. How should I put it? Although it may be offensive, she is like a seagull yearning for the sea, desperately flying towards the other side."

Miss Parrot's voice echoed in my ears, and the hazy truth gradually became clearer. Not only the former, but Sophie's younger sister Samuel was also seeking a path to the extraordinary, just like herself at this moment.

Similarities often indicate a turning point in the investigation. Now, it has been determined that the suspect is an extraordinary individual who is purposefully searching for his target.

“Miss Melina, thank you for informing me. However, you said you would plead with the Earl's daughter on behalf of your father, so why have you left with us now?”

With a hint of teasing, Charlotte raised her lips and asked.

“Miss Watson, you know perfectly well why I’m asking you this. No matter what I say, I’m afraid I won’t be able to move that heartless Ms. Bathory, who made up her mind long ago.”

Melina glanced at the girl, sighed softly, and understood the reasons both inside and out.

"Besides, I don't want to be one of those girls. Like you said, everyone should be equal. You can be humble, but you can't be subservient."

Stepping out of the gate, the sea of ​​flowers and duckweed outside the villa still swayed gently in the breeze, and the rare fresh air was particularly invigorating, making one forget the somber fragrance of the courtyard.

The cart tracks rolled over the grass, and the tall horse slowed its pace, gradually coming to a stop in front of the group.

"Well then, see you next time, Miss Melina."

"Goodbye, Miss Watson. I have learned a great deal from your story today. My address is 16 Wood Street in the Marais District. I look forward to your visit at any time."

Adjusting her glasses, the chestnut-haired girl boarded a nearby carriage and waved goodbye from the window.

It was clear that she still felt reluctant to leave, and her thirst for knowledge had not faded from her eyes.

This is the last time. I'll note down the address above. If necessary, Charlotte can stay there temporarily under the guise of a visit, avoiding the cost of renting a hotel for a day or two.

"Let's go, Mr. Singh should be waiting for us not far away."

He cupped Winnie's face in his hands, forcefully turning the bird girl's gaze away from the mansion and towards himself, while the girl pointed to a carriage parked in the distance.

The carved patterns, the width of the carriage, and the physique of the slow horse were undoubtedly exactly the same as when they arrived.

"Ah."

Winnie nodded vigorously, her cheeks flushing, but she also smiled faintly, revealing two small dimples at the corners of her mouth.

She looked at Charlotte with eyes full of longing and gratitude.

“Miss Watson, thank you. Even though Mr. Singer had already given me instructions, I still overestimated myself and went up there, which made me a target for those girls. Without your help, I would have been in a very embarrassing situation.”

"In comparison, Miss Watson, you..."

Before the self-deprecation could be fully expressed, an index finger was placed in front of the girl's lips. Instinctively, Winnie pursed her lips and even closed her eyes.

"Shhh."

"Saving your thanks once at the end is enough. Compared to the past, you mustered up the courage to try, which is also a kind of growth."

Although Winnie's performance was poor, Charlotte was a patient person. She would always give a girl who was easily manipulated more time to slowly train her into the shape she needed.

However, this action seemed to have offended the peacock beside her. As soon as it saw her take the first step, it walked towards the carriage without saying a word.

The deliberate neglect and the preferential treatment will inevitably make the waiting girl dissatisfied, but it doesn't matter. Just like lovebirds in the throes of new love, they can come up with a million reasons to explain themselves. They just need to spread their wings.

After all, the time after dusk was reserved by Charlotte for the little peacock.

As they walked towards the carriage where the old detective was, the girls' slender figures faded out of the courtyard.

Perhaps only Leona, standing on the rooftop gazing into the distance, could not tear her eyes away. She gripped the short whip at her waist, yet she could not feel any peace of mind that the matter was over.

Even though the flattery of the crowd still echoed in her ears, a strange sense of irritability and panic welled up in her heart. She felt a long-lost emotion... the melancholy of losing control and an inexplicable fear of the silver-haired girl.

Looking into the distance, Singh is holding a brush, grooming the horse's mane, dutifully posing as a butler.

Upon seeing the three approaching, he immediately bent down and bowed respectfully.

"Welcome back, ladies. Judging from your complexions, did you have a pleasant experience at this tea party?"

"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Singh. We not only enjoyed some delicious snacks, but also had a very pleasant conversation with the girls."

Their conversation flowed smoothly, like that of a familiar master and servant. Through their exchange of words, they subtly explained the progress of the commission.

Lowering the footboard on the side of the carriage, the old detective mounted his horse, cracked the whip, and with a thunderous roar, all sight of the surroundings vanished, leaving only the two of them.

"It seems, girls, you have passed the test very well."

"Ah."

Charlotte took the initiative to start the conversation, glancing around and clearing her throat to try and get their attention.

"Without Winnie and Sofby's cooperation, it would have been difficult for me to infiltrate the circle of those noble ladies. My subtle questioning of Miss Ksia was also thanks to their covert and overt protection."

She openly shared the credit with the two little sparrows, and seeing their surprised looks and Singh's inquiring gaze, she raised her voice slightly and smiled gently.

"So, Mr. Singh, may I make the decision to hire these two capable young ladies for the firm?"

P.S.: I've unknowingly fallen behind on the bounty by three or four chapters (I'll try my best to update, ┭┮﹏┭┮).

Thank you for reading. There will be another chapter later.

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Fisherman and the Monster (3k5)

"Miss Watson?"

Winnie stared wide-eyed at the girl, her face filled with disbelief.

She didn't understand why Watson could advocate for this assessment, and she didn't understand why the other party would humbly give the credit to them.

"Perhaps, a different word would be more descriptive, such as an informant."

Charlotte rested her fingertips on her chin, feigning thought, and said with a half-smile.

"After all, I know very little about the Bell Alley area. If I encounter cases there in the future, I will still need a well-behaved guide like Winnie. As for Miss Sophby, she has a special talent for keeping silent. Even those noble ladies can't get her to talk."

She smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke in a calm and humorous tone, leaving no one knowing how much sincerity and how much falsehood was in the girl's words.

Seeing the little bird still standing there in a daze, Charlotte immediately stretched out her fingertips and ruffled the bird's short, dark brown hair into a messy bird's nest, which was both comical and endearing.

"Snap out of it, Winnie. Actually, I was never your competitor from the start, Mr. Singh, wouldn't you agree?"

She gave the old detective a wink, and even pretended to wave her fist, making a threatening gesture that was anything but fierce, like a boisterous kitten.

Upon seeing this, Singh chuckled and nearly fell off the carriage due to the sudden jolt.

"You really know how to be clever. Even if you are excluded as an assistant, there is only one position for this short-term job."

“Mr. Singer, you should also take care of a frail girl like me. I don’t have your height. I might encounter something unexpected while on a case. If I had an experienced person by my side at that time, I could help you get there in time.”

"...Oh, please forgive my slip of the tongue. This was just a normal girl taking a small step to protect herself for safety reasons."

With her eyelashes lowered and her body curled up, Charlotte tried to wipe her eyes, but alas, not only could she not squeeze out a single tear, but even her words were nothing but well-intentioned lies.

If she were really in danger, she would definitely abandon the two little birds perched on the branch on the spot.

"Haha, if you're willing to take a portion of your original weekly salary and transfer it to them, then that would be in accordance with the rules."

There was no refusal. Although the girl's demeanor did not seem forceful, Singh could already sense her determination.

Well, with such a perceptive assistant, what harm is there in indulging her a little? After all, she can always stay alert and handle things properly when necessary.

"Thank you for your understanding."

Looking back at the two girls beside her, Charlotte's tone was light and cheerful, like a nightingale that had perched on a branch and fluttered its feathers.

—See? I found you great jobs, and I not only went to great lengths to persuade you, but I also took a pay cut. Oh dear, Miss Watson is such a kind-hearted young lady.

She had hoped to earn the admiring and grateful looks of the two little birds, but a slightly rough hand grasped the girl's knuckles. Looking closer, she saw Winnie shaking her head slightly.

“I’m sorry, Miss Watson, I cannot accept this kindness without a reason. It is too much for me to repay.”

The girl's whispers were so faint that only those nearby could hear them.