Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

"Change of appointment, or rather, change of the appointed personnel—"

"I want her."

Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Ephemeral Flower and Flirting

"Madam, what do you mean?"

Surprised by the woman's straightforward words, the old detective, while acknowledging his assistant's charm, never imagined that his client would fall for her upon first meeting her.

This is inevitably a bit sad. I consider myself to be quite sloppy. Could it be that Miss Watson has this "wife killer" trait?

"I'm sorry, this isn't about treating people differently, but for this particular case, this young lady is undoubtedly more suitable."

"Or perhaps the deceased's identity was somewhat special, a difference between male and female, Mr. Singh, do you understand what I mean?"

When people are close and speak frankly, even if Melissant's reasons are reasonable, no one can help but deny it in their hearts and tend to believe it's just a matter of first impressions.

Without waiting for a reply, the blue-haired beauty raised her voice and slowly asked a question in return.

"Or perhaps you lack confidence in this assistant's abilities? If so, it would make me question the professionalism of your firm, after all, these three young ladies are all rare beauties."

Dark gold eyes swept over Singh, and with just a scrutinizing glance, she took the initiative in the conversation, leaving the old detective, even if he wanted to, unable to utter the slightest refusal.

"No, Ms. Watson's abilities are quite outstanding. In some aspects, she can even do better than me. As guests from the Duchy of Plantagenet, you can indeed have a better atmosphere for communication."

It was an insincere affirmation.

"In that case, it's decided."

She made up her mind in just a few words; what a powerful and beautiful woman.

Please spare me. How could I possibly know the customs and traditions of the Kingdom of Golden Flower? If I say too much, I will surely give myself away.

Somewhat awkwardly, she peeked out from that bosom, and the full, soft, creamy white flesh before her almost took Charlotte's breath away.

Out of the corner of her eye, she secretly sized up Ms. Melissand.

The composure in speaking and the ease in demeanor are outward appearances. Putting aside their outstanding appearance, every move they make exudes strong energy and showcases their confident aura.

It is a kind of hidden charm, rooted in knowledge and upbringing, and influenced by family background, wealth and power. It is also a weapon. To use it well, one must not only be outstanding in appearance, but also be intelligent and meticulous, and have a good sense of control. Just like a martial arts master in a martial arts novel who draws his sword, only to strike and return it at the right moment, taking one person at a time without getting a single leaf on his body.

Just like before, this beautiful woman forced Singh to confess that it was a cunning scheme, but he couldn't refuse. Just like now, Charlotte is still attracted by that cleavage and hasn't lost the urge to bury her head in his chest. This lady is truly skilled and a peerless master.

Fortunately, she was also a top martial arts master, so she could withstand and endure it.

"Oh, ma'am, you are very beautiful."

Shyly revealing her bashfulness, with a slight blush, Charlotte exhaled softly, like an innocent little girl.

She was genuinely praising him, even if it came abruptly. The girl didn't resist the other person's intimacy. Being good-looking is a privilege, and such sincerity was not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it was a strong and powerful defense.

Often, being reserved and gentlemanly cannot maintain elegance or leave a lasting impression; it often only puts one in a passive position for a long time. Only by speaking frankly and feigning weakness can one conceal one's behavior and sound the horn of attack.

In fact, Charlotte was not absorbed in the moment; she was observing, trying to discern the source of the other person's composed demeanor.

Was it her family background? No, even among nobles, it would be difficult to possess such beauty. Was it power? Forgive her frankness, but the young woman had never seen the name of a female ruler in the newspapers.

As for wealth, that's even more impossible.

In this era, women lacked a voice. Even nobles mostly existed as appendages of men. Despite their high status and luxurious lifestyles, it was almost a joke to say that they had much control over the family's property.

So, is she a widow who has lost her husband, or is she an extraordinary person?

After becoming an arbitrator, Charlotte was able to vaguely observe the emotional fluctuations of others through her spiritual vision. However, throughout the entire conversation, the woman remained remarkably calm, with very few superfluous emotions surfacing.

For ordinary people, unless they are completely absorbed in something, it is difficult to maintain a similar state of mind; there will inevitably be fluctuations in their emotions, the only difference being how long they linger. Either she is a fanatic like Mr. Singer, constantly observing and reasoning, or she fits the above possibility, having surpassed herself in the sequence, or focusing on concealment on an extraordinary path.

If that's the case, why come to this firm to handle the matter?

Her thoughts paused for a moment. Hearing the girl's praise, Melissant smiled and gently ruffled Charlotte's messy hair.

"Thank you for your compliment, young lady, I really like it."

"However, I am no longer young, nor can I be considered beautiful. I have wrinkles around my eyes, and my voice is getting hoarse. Time has selfishly left its marks on me. No matter how much I take care of myself or try to embellish my appearance, I can only retain a tiny bit of my former radiance."

Like the opposite sex in an opera, she acted innocent, she spoke humbly, she believed it all, and she was completely obedient.

With a soft sigh, the beautiful woman seemed to lament the fleeting nature of time, "All the biting cold winds will eventually fade away, and the bells that mark the changing of the year will ring out as usual, but the chill of yesteryear will never return."

"No, madam, even a fleeting moment of beauty has its prime."

Having withdrawn from the former's embrace, Charlotte's only denial here also aligns with her previous statement, and she then added.

"Having weathered many storms, she possesses a dignified grace after shedding her youthful appearance. Time may hurt, but every scratch it leaves on the body will polish the tender skin, like a snake shedding the past, in preparation for the coming winter, so as to nurture the mellow aroma of aged wine, just like you, madam."

Melissant paused slightly, looking at the girl as if she saw a shadow of the past through her slender figure.

After a while, the beautiful woman smiled gently, her smile now even more tender than before.

“Miss Watson, although your words just now have impressed me, they are not something a young girl in the prime of her life should say.”

Upon hearing this, Charlotte simply blinked playfully, letting her slender eyes sparkle with a gentle, shimmering light.

She said, "I have both morning flowers and wine."

She thought to herself, "Perhaps, in the near future, the newly born epiphyllum will happily wither after blooming in full splendor, or perhaps the unwilted branches will continue to lie dormant, quietly blooming again in the verdant spring when no one is around."

The conversation did not continue, and Melissand elaborated on the content of the commission in detail.

"The deceased was a close friend of mine. She married Viscount Chaplin when she was young, but before she could give birth to a child, her husband died, and she inherited his estate. She has never remarried. This morning, she was found dead in her bedroom in a detached house in the central district."

"During her lifetime, she did not have much contact with people. Apart from the servants she hired, there were only two visiting men: Mr. Philson and Sir John Bathory."

"Given the suspect's identity, my demands will not be excessive, Miss Watson. The clues are here; you only need to provide a general deduction—"

Having said all she needed to say, the girl, who was sorting through the clues in her mind, didn't wait for him to come any closer before he embraced her, and his bright face came close to her neck, gently blowing a warm breath into her ear.

"As the savior who guided people from nothingness to reality, from confusion to light, yesterday, the savior of the Tingen workers, am I right, dear Miss Watson?"

It was a whisper that only they could hear.

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Framing and Getting Caught in the Trap (6.5k)

Her long eyelashes trembled, as if oblivious to the commotion, and Charlotte murmured softly, unable to resist the teasing.

"Well."

Then, as if waking from a dream, she was startled and timid, just like a frightened little hedgehog.

"Ms. Melissant, you, you're too close!"

Of course this is fake.

Gently pushing the beautiful woman away, I returned to the birds' embrace. The blush on my face hadn't faded, but alarm bells were ringing in my heart.

In fact, Charlotte had been prepared to be exposed from the moment she fired that bullet, or perhaps, from the moment she helped those people, the girl had anticipated the current situation, which was an indispensable part of her plan.

She should have confessed openly amidst the crowd, questioned by the enemy, and watched by the world, before raising the flag and wielding the chessboard.

Yes, being exposed to the public eye, this day was only a matter of time before it arrived, but it should never have been so abrupt, nor should it have been caused by a strange, beautiful woman walking up to me and whispering in my ear.

This is a provocation, a mockery, so she felt dissatisfied and worried about the cause and effect—Melissand, since you are in the know, what is your reason for coming here in person to expose this foil of identity?

In a young girl's eyes, there are generally only two kinds of people: those who are irreconcilable enemies destined to be adversaries, and those who can be won over and used as friends.

If they are enemies, wouldn't it be better to kill them when you're alone? If they are friends, why use such ambiguous and intimate words and actions?

I don't like it, even though Melissand was completely in her good zone, her actions touched a nerve with Charlotte.

The girl disliked others using intimate tones to get closer to her, and then saying things that were unclear and ambiguous. Cold rationality had always been the main theme of her life. She followed her plans, clearly distinguished between gains and losses, and every word and every action was a decision made after much deliberation.

Therefore, there is dissatisfaction and resentment, even though it is exactly the same as what he did to the birds.

After all, she only allowed herself to set fires, but forbade others to light lamps; this is the so-called repulsion of like poles and attraction of opposite poles.

"Madam, overly intimate physical contact is impolite."

Raising her blood-red eyes, Su Fubi noticed the former's deliberate actions and felt displeased. She spoke in a low voice, not too loudly.

“Yes, yes, Ms. Melissand, the relationship between employer and employee is merely a service relationship!”

Summoning her courage, Winnie clutched the hem of her clothes, showing no fear or hesitation, except at this moment.

Unexpectedly, the two little birds actually went head-to-head with this strong and beautiful woman for their own sake. It seems all the pampering I've given you all along has paid off.

With her eyebrows raised and her back slightly straightened, Charlotte exuded an air of smug satisfaction.

however--

"Ladies, I am now passing on this commission to Miss Watson. There are some inside stories that should only be known to the two of you. I apologize for the misunderstanding."

Without the slightest displeasure, Melissand lifted her skirt, supported her buttocks, and sat down on a chair to the side, letting her fair skin press against the seat, outlining her alluring curves.

“Well, madam, it’s fine if you’re interested in appointing Watson, but we need to discuss the specific compensation and requirements in detail.”

Seeing that the others had fallen silent, Singh withdrew his observational gaze and spoke in a deep voice.

"According to you, the victim in this case was a viscount's wife, who had contact with a group of servants and two distinguished gentlemen before her death. Given her status, it would be difficult for us to question the latter two. Therefore, we can only rely on the crime scene and the testimonies of those servants, is that right?"

"Yes, that's why I said the requirements for the commission won't be too demanding. You don't need to find the murderer, just provide reasonable guesses."

The slender knuckles landed on the table, dancing gracefully, the rhythmic tapping pleasing to the ear and delightful to the ear.

Sound is such a magical thing; it can enhance the power of words and actions, and it can also soothe a lost heart.

"If I may be so bold, it would be more appropriate to hand this matter over to the police. After all, our special status will always make things difficult for us."

“If those police officers could do their jobs properly, wouldn’t the detectives lose their jobs? It is precisely because of my noble status that I came to Singer’s office, hoping that you can frankly give your deductions.”

“I came here on someone’s recommendation, Mr. Singh. Do you understand what I mean? No one has set foot at the crime scene yet. Apart from those two knights, I have ordered all those involved to stay at their posts, just to ensure the integrity of the clues.”

Wiping her eyes, like any lonely and helpless woman, Melissand's eyes welled up with tears, and her voice choked with emotion.

“Sir, as you know, I come from the Duchy of Plantagenet, across the ocean. In this city, I only had Camilla as a friend, and now, even she… has left me.”

“I have overstepped my bounds, madam. As for the payment, let’s stick to what we agreed on before. If Watson can find the real culprit, we can discuss it again later.”

The old detective paused his pen, which was flying across the paper, and felt a slight unease, but he couldn't find any flaws in her words. Whether it was the identity of her friend or the way she handled things after the incident, the woman did it all so naturally that he couldn't find any clues.

"That's settled then. The carriage is waiting outside. Let me know when you've finished discussing it, and we'll head to Camilla's mansion together."

The soft thud of high heels on the ground faded into the distance, but the rich fragrance lingered in the air, refusing to dissipate.

"What do you think, Watson?"

After the commotion subsided, Singh looked up again and gazed at his assistant.

Even though he verbally agreed, the person who would accept the task was Watson, so the old detective respected Watson's opinion more before nodding.

"Yes, the lady's request is reasonable, and the type of case meets moral standards. Why don't we take on the case?"

She didn't refuse; she wanted to see what this woman was planning, or what aspects this case actually involved.

Charlotte winked playfully, put on her trench coat, and strode quickly to the door.

"Sophie, Winnie, my good helpers, come and help your good girl!"

Instead of rushing out the door, she put her hands behind her back, bent slightly at the waist, and turned back to the side before leaving, letting her hair fall loose, and smiled gently at Singh.

she says:

"Sir, in the end, we are just employer and employee. Investing too much concern can end up hurting people and causing misunderstandings."

"I don't want to, and don't take it seriously."

The door was closed tightly, and with two small sparrows flapping their wings in accompaniment, the office quickly fell silent, just as it had been before, deathly still.

Without saying a word to stop him, the old detective simply closed the newspaper tightly and sighed heavily.

In one corner of that newspaper, there was half a photograph: a silver-haired girl bending down to extend a helping hand to countless suffering people.

Watson, what exactly are you trying to do? I acknowledge your kindness and pity those suffering people, but if you take too big a step and make attempts that are destined to fail, you will surely suffer a bloody crash, like a moth drawn to a flame.

With your intelligence, you should be able to foresee the consequences.

Smoke billowed from the yellowed pipe. Singh took a half-sip of the bitter taste, but then remembered the girl's warning and deliberately extinguished the embers.

Ah, Watson, even now, I still can't see through you.

......

"Madam, we have reached an agreement."

Turning her back on the wooden gate, Charlotte, cane in hand, paused before the magnificent carriage by the roadside.