Liam Moore appeared visibly displeased. Had he asked for some time to pack his belongings? We were negotiating with Lucita, but unfortunately, the auction was happening tonight, so there was no time. Consequently, Liam Moore and I found ourselves stuck on this train for several hours.
He seemed unaccustomed to such situations. Usually, it was he who was capricious, doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, driven by his whims. Now, he had to move at someone else’s request. He was being dragged along, and I could only imagine how uncomfortable that made him feel.
Above all,
“Such auctions are fraught with danger,” Liam recited.
“I know.”
Then why? His expression seemed to ask. He appeared caught between wanting to argue further and being unable to accept the current situation. Although he had followed along, he knew my health wasn’t normal, which likely exacerbated his anxiety.
This happened sometimes. The most cold-hearted man in all of England would turn into a child when it came to matters concerning me. I chuckled quietly.
“We owe Lucita a favor.”
“…The Brothers of Turc,” Liam Moore muttered with a groan.
Exactly. Although the information wasn’t free, I had indeed upset Lucita during the process of obtaining it. There had also been friction with the mad scientist Plurititas. And hadn’t Liam thrown a flash grenade in 19th-century London?Given the various offenses, it was difficult to refuse her request outright. Lucita had likely taken risks to gather information on that cult, the Brothers of Turc. I thought of it as a debt that had to be repaid eventually.
“You’re not in the best condition either. Having your heart stop isn’t something ordinary people experience. I’ll be with you to ensure nothing happens, but you must take care of your body for a while.”
Liam repeated his advice several times, pleading with me not to act rashly or get into fights.
His concern made me laugh for some reason.
“For a while, I won’t be able to shoot a gun.”
I repeated a line Liam Moore had once said.
Liam started to say something, but then he realized I was mimicking him and frowned, embarrassed.
“…You make me reflect on myself in many ways.”
I laughed.
Liam Moore eventually burst out laughing too. His laughter was a consistent, mechanical sound.
＊ ＊ ＊
Our cabin was one of the most expensive on this train, equivalent to a suite in a hotel.
Of course, it was a ticket provided by Lucita. That elegant woman exuded luxury from head to toe, so it was only natural she would seek the best, even if it wasn’t for herself. At least, that was my guess.
Thanks to her, we were enjoying a very comfortable train ride while carrying out our mission.
Lucita wanted to send a doctor with us, but Liam objected, not trusting someone whose background he couldn’t verify. Liam Moore’s distrust of people was always like this.
Liam Moore even donned a simple disguise, hiding his black hair under a wig and wearing glasses, though his grey eyes remained unchanged. It seemed excessive, but the other side of this luxurious train ride was far from beautiful.
An underground market would be held on this train. No one would be selling legal goods, and it would attract those with money looking to buy illegal items.
Thus, there were bound to be people on this train who bore grudges against Liam Moore. We had arrested more than a few criminals, and if one of the escaped ones recognized him and picked a fight, it would be disastrous.
Moreover, I was somewhat known among criminals too. They might not know me as well as they knew Liam Moore, but they knew there was a brown-haired woman with green eyes who accompanied that pesky detective.
I also wore a wig, hiding my hair. My green eyes were ordinary enough that I could pass for a noblewoman with blonde hair and blue eyes if needed.
Walking down the corridor with a coat borrowed from Liam and guided by a staff member, I thanked him with a soft smile and a nod. Liam Moore tightened his lips, likely trying to stifle a laugh. What a jerk.
Our cabin was at the front. As we entered, a clear sky was visible. It was fascinating how the sky seemed to change colors just by leaving London.
The large cabin, almost like using an entire train car, had big windows giving the illusion of watching scenery on a TV screen. Being a first-class cabin, it had minimal shaking. Money indeed buys comfort.
The room had everything: a large bed spacious enough for three adults to roll around in, a tea table, chairs, and even a sofa. I felt a surge of gratitude toward Lucita.
I had never spent much money on such travel. The best I had experienced was a pension during an MT (membership training) trip. Seeing this lavish setup made me wonder if all rich people lived like this, enjoying the daily accumulation of wealth.
Despite myself, I felt excited. I threw myself onto the plush bed. It was as soft as it looked, like hugging a lamb. I looked at Liam Moore and the bed alternately in surprise, and Liam chuckled. He then sat at the edge of the bed without feeling any weight. His grey eyes looked warm.
“If I knew you’d like it this much, I would have brought you sooner.”
I closed my eyes slightly, savoring the softness. It felt like floating on water. Fighting off drowsiness, I murmured,
“Experiences like this are more fun with someone else’s money, Liam Moore. Don’t you know that?”
“Ah. Spending our money feels a bit off?”
“Exactly. If we don’t fully enjoy it, it feels like a loss.”
Liam Moore murmured as if it was a revelation,
“I wonder where you learned such a brilliant mindset.”
“Well, I had a good education from my mother.”
Okay? If you slip up, it’s my mother and me, two birds with one stone, okay?
Liam seemed to understand the hidden meaning and skillfully changed the subject, though not to a much better topic.
“But it’s troubling… I know Lucita can be mischievous, but I didn’t expect there to be only one bed.”
Honestly, I didn’t mind. We could share the bed, no problem. It was wide enough that we wouldn’t even touch each other.
To be clear, sharing a cabin had more advantages. We wouldn’t have to run around looking for each other, and being in the same room made it easier to discuss our plans. If we solved the case quickly, we could enjoy the rest of the train trip. We’d have a luxurious and comfortable five-day journey, eating meals prepared for us.
The only odd thing about this perfect plan was the invitation. It was the strangest part. I unfolded the invitation that came with the tickets and laid it on the bed. It only said, “You’ll find out when the time comes.” There was no information about the host, the auction time, or location, which was suspicious.
Could the invitation hold any information?
The paper was slightly heavy, thick, and very stiff, like a card. It could be used for watercolor painting but was so high-quality that an artist might never afford to touch it.
I ran my fingertips over the paper. Let’s see. The texture on both sides was similar, and there were no ink smudges on the writing. Usually, the manufacturer’s seal would be on the back, but there was none, suggesting it was custom-made.
“Why don’t we just share the bed? Liam Moore, doesn’t this paper look French?”
Liam, tilting his head, also ran his fingers over the paper.
“…Ah, it certainly seems so.”
Wait. Liam Moore lifted his head, realizing the former part of my sentence. ‘Share the bed?’ he asked silently.
“Of course. You wouldn’t expect me to let you sleep on that tiny sofa for the whole trip, would you?”
“That’s true, but we—”
“If the issue is about an unmarried man and woman, it’s already a problem right now.”
Indeed.
Fortunately, Liam Moore had been looking after me attentively, and the staff on the train mistook us for a loving couple. If we had been at odds from the start, it would have been difficult to maintain our disguise. We were lucky.
“So, ‘darling,’ let’s get married.”
Liam, who was about to get up, slipped and fell.
Bang!
Liam i would also have the same reaction if THE jane osmond asked me to marry
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