Chapter 16
16
*
Liv's bakery was on the first floor, and the second floor was a large family home where her family lived.
Scarlett entered Liv's cozy room, which faced her workshop window, and glared at Liv.
"Honestly, ask someone else. Who asks so many questions about divorce? These people in this neighborhood are weird, aren't they?"
"Who dragged you to this neighborhood? You came on your own two feet, so who are you blaming?"
Liv pulled a chair from the window for Scarlett to sit on and placed a bread basket in the middle. Then, she brought out filter paper and started making coffee. Despite Liv's childish curiosity, Scarlett came to her house because of the amazing coffee she made.
As Scarlett let out a happy sigh with a sip of the warm coffee, Liv poured out questions as if she had been waiting for it.
"Do nobles really have arranged marriages? You're the only noble family on 7th Avenue."
"Mrs. Paradi at the jewelry store is also a noble."
"Let's pretend she doesn't exist because she's too scary. Anyway, is it an arranged marriage?"
"Yes."
"Amazing..."
In Salantie, it was natural to have free love, except for a few nobles or wealthy people.
Liv continued.
"By the way, the Crimson family has a lot of money, right? Why are you so poor?"
"Poor? I have my own store."
"It's a rental. I think the Crimson family would have a building for each child as young as six years old."
"Maybe? My uncle took everything before I learned about money."
"So that's why you don't have money. Every family has money problems."
Fortunately, Liv responded casually to Scarlett's nonchalant tone.
Thinking it was fortunate, Scarlett took out a cherry Danish and started eating it. As she began to eat, Liv, thinking she couldn't escape any longer, asked what she had been wondering.
"So, why did your ex-husband come?"
"It's a bit complicated to explain... Well... I arrested a criminal, and I think they needed my testimony."
"A criminal? What kind of criminal?"
"I can't say too much. I think it's confidential, probably."
"What do you mean, 'probably confidential'?"
Liv scolded, but her eyes were full of curiosity.
"I'm getting more and more curious. No, I was going to join you in badmouthing your ex-husband while you ate."
"He's not someone I have much to badmouth."
"Then why did you get divorced?"
"That's what I'm saying."
As she said that and reached for another pecan Danish, Liv slapped the back of her hand.
"It's not rewarding to feed you. Did your ex-husband do something you can't tell anyone?"
"Um."
Scarlett, who was tempted by the warm Danish, hesitated and then mentioned Viktor's flaws.
"If I had to say a flaw, he doesn't smile much. I haven't seen him smile brightly in two years. Of course, he doesn't cry either, and in bed..."
Scarlett stopped talking abruptly, and Liv quickly cut the Danish in half and asked.
"In bed, what?"
"Not much... I don't think he liked it very much. Is it my problem?"
"You'll find out when you meet another man."
Liv said as if she had been waiting for it and giggled, causing Scarlett to sigh.
She continued.
"Just... Anyway, you absolutely can't talk about my ex-husband anywhere. Got it?"
"Ugh, I know, I know."
Since things had turned out this way because she had talked about Viktor Dampfelt's weaknesses, she didn't want to say more about him.
Instead of continuing the conversation, Scarlett took another bite of the Danish.
The maple syrup Danish was so delicious that she mumbled and quickly finished it, then continued.
"He was the same person from beginning to end, and that made me feel more and more disappointed."
That's when it happened.
Liv, who had gone out to the balcony after hearing a commotion outside, came back in.
"S, Scarlett. There's a Navy carriage in front of your store?"
"What?"
Scarlett followed her out to the balcony and said in surprise.
"I, I have to go! Thanks for the Danish!"
She hurriedly left and ran to the store.
*
When she arrived at the watch store, she saw Viktor and his men, including his secretary, Blight, looking into the store from in front of the carriage.
"Why are you here?"
Scarlett asked in surprise, and Viktor gestured to the watch store with his chin.
"I came to buy a watch."
"What nonsense are you talking about? There's a main branch on 3rd Avenue, buy it there. I'm not well-known yet, so jewelers don't sell very good jewels. So I don't have the highest quality watches at all..."
Without listening to her, Viktor entered the store.
His second-in-command, Evan, followed behind him, showing Scarlett his empty wrist.
"Then I'll buy it. I have a lot of money, but I can't wear a better watch than my superior."
"Sir Light!"
Scarlett called out in a fit of pique, but Palin, who used to monitor her, also slipped into the store.
As everyone entered, Blight smiled and said.
"Actually, everyone was curious about the madam's watch store. Since we're here, I should have a drink with Andrei."
Blight said and went inside, giving Andrei a cheerful greeting and a light hug.
Evan pointed to the 'Navy watch with sapphire' written on the panel to Andrei and asked something, and Andrei told him the approximate date it would be completed and added his name to the reservation list in advance. Meanwhile, Palin bought a pocket watch that Scarlett had made by exquisitely curving silver. Everyone was from prominent families in the country, so money was not an issue.
Soon, they came out with Andrei. Andrei said to Scarlett.
"I'm going to leave work two hours early today. I've decided to join the Navy guys for a drink."
"You were the one who told me not to work?"
"You have an obligation to give your employees one day off a month, but I couldn't because there was no one to replace me, you wicked boss. That's why people should work in big companies, right?"
Scarlett flinched at Andrei's cold words and pushed his back to tell him to go quickly.
The Navy men left in a crowd, and in the end, only Viktor remained in the store.
"Why did you come here anyway..."
Scarlett asked with a sigh, but Viktor said what he wanted to say instead of answering.
"Is the workshop on the second floor?"
"Yes."
As Viktor headed for the stairs, Scarlett urgently grabbed his arm.
"Andrei doesn't even go there."
Then Viktor took out a Navy handbook from his inner pocket and opened one of the pages. There was a certificate confirming that the police had requested the Navy's help and a stamp regarding emergency investigation rights.
She understood in her head that he had more than enough right to rummage through her workshop as he pleased, but she couldn't accept it in her heart.
As she hesitated to open it, Viktor said.
"If you don't feel like opening the door, I can break it down."
"I'll open it."
Scarlett reluctantly took out the key from the small pouch she had hung on her waist. Soon, the wooden door opened.
*
Walking up the narrow, wood-smelling stairs, Scarlett's workshop, which felt a bit larger than the first floor because there was no furniture, appeared. She had hung a translucent curtain to separate the bedroom area, and inside that section were a bed and a wardrobe.
Viktor took out a match and lit the gas lamp, and as the flame flared up, the clockworks and Molds that were full in the glass display case came into view.
He threw the still-lit match into the fireplace and then gestured to the safe on the wall. Scarlett reluctantly opened it, and inside were silver and gold ingots used to carve gears.
Scarlett watched Viktor observe her room in every corner and asked.
"What do you want to know? There should be a purpose to the investigation."
"Repairing Trams is illegal. You should know what I'm investigating."
Scarlett paused and then said with a bold face.
"I went to fix it, but it wasn't broken. It was working fine. He was just exaggerating."
He, who was acting in a way that was hard to tell whether it was an investigation or a sightseeing trip, looked at Scarlett.
"I let you off the hook that day. Don't make excuses."
Scarlett felt goosebumps on the back of her neck at those words, but she pretended to be nonchalant and retorted.
"If you let me off the hook, why are you searching here?"
"You said you went to repair the Tram, right?"
"Yes."
"I want to know where you learned the repair skills."
Viktor lifted an armchair and moved it under the gas lamp, then grabbed Scarlett and sat her down.
"What are you..."
Scarlett was talking when she covered her eyes with both arms because the gas lamp was dazzling, and Viktor said as if he were interrogating her.
"I found out that you are from the Crimson family, but you have been working as a maid since you were twelve."
"Do you have to find that out?"
"Of course. You've always lied to me. That you grew up like a young lady. Of course, I knew it wasn't true just by looking at your actions."
"..."
"A maid working at home taught herself the Crimson family's skills, which even the children of that family can't do yet? No, okay, let's say watchmaking was a family business. But most of the Tram technicians, including the previous Crimson family head couple, died in accidents. So do you remember things from before you were even twelve years old?"
If she just said she suddenly remembered, he would probably treat her like a crazy person again.
Scarlett said calmly.
"I accidentally found the Tram's blueprints a while ago. So I taught myself."
"Where are the blueprints?"
"I memorized them and burned them."
"You memorized them? That's illegal."
"..."
Scarlett was speechless and opened her mouth, then stopped. Dealing with pirates who were always trying to escape, it seemed like nothing for Viktor to talk to her, who was not good at lying.
Viktor opened his seemingly relaxed mouth and continued.
"So, what about the watchmaking skills?"
He had acted like he wasn't going to ask earlier, so Scarlett, who hadn't prepared any excuses, tried to answer something again, then sighed and closed her mouth again.
As she repeatedly failed to answer his questions, Viktor's expression strangely worsened.
