12 O’Clock Marionette

Chapter 6

Amy’s tears caught Cruello off guard.

He had been hurt many times before, but this was the first time he had hurt someone else.

She’s just lying to trick me… But what if she wasn’t?

“Fine. Since it’s come to this, I’ll confess honestly.”

“That you’re a monster…?”

“Monster? Moooonsteeer? That’s blasphemy!”

Amy bit down on her lip as if to suppress her anger.

Cruello tensed like a startled kitten, pressing his small body into the sofa as he stared at her.

The girl, whose fighting spirit had disappeared in an instant, let out a sigh.

“I’m not a monster. I lost my memory. I couldn’t come for months because I was receiving treatment.”

“What are you talking about?”

“If you don’t believe me, ask my fa—… uh, ask Lord Royalsand. He can confirm whether or not I have amnesia.”

“Why did you call your father like that?”

“You call your father ‘Your Grace, the Duke,’ don’t you?”

“He’s not my father. He’s my uncle. My father passed away.”

Cruello’s biological parents had died when he was very young, and his uncle had taken over as the Duke’s regent.

Even though she had made a mistake, Amy didn’t look flustered.

“I don’t even know if he’s really my father.”

“Liar.”

“I’m an illegitimate child. I don’t know who my mother is. One day, they just found me left at the mansion’s doorstep with a letter.”

“Is that something you can just say so easily?”

“You can, but I can’t?”

That seemed… different, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on why.

As Cruello hesitated, Amy lifted her chin in triumph.

“Anyway, you hurt me. So take responsibility.”

“How?”

“From now on, I’m going to visit you every day. And I’m going to…”

“You’re going to what?”

“I’m going to adore you however I please.”

The boy was struck speechless.

“Oh, and I have to call you something affectionate. What should it be? Ellie? Roy?”

“…Excuse me, but who told you that?”

“100 Oaths to Raise a Good Child.”

Isn’t that a parenting book?

Cruello froze, unable to formulate a response.

Realizing she had said something odd, Amy quickly ran away.

See you again! She disappeared with a high-pitched farewell, vanishing like a flying squirrel.

The parlor door slammed shut.

Cruello stared at it, his lips slightly parted.

“What a strange monster.”

Yet, despite himself, Amy’s words drifted through his mind with no apparent meaning.

From that day on, Amy Royalsand really did come to see him every single day.

Until the day she drank poison and died.

***

"Here is the document you requested."

A single sheet of paper was abruptly placed in front of me.

The person who handed it over was neatly dressed in a plain shirt, with his hair slicked back and glasses perched on his nose.

"Thank you."

I tried not to show it, but even to my own ears, my voice sounded disappointed.

This was my first time visiting the Information Guild—and it was… underwhelming.

The interior was bright, and the overall atmosphere was far too cheerful.

The employees weren’t wearing black hoods, nor did they speak in cryptic whispers.

The requested document had been delivered in just five minutes, with no ominous instructions to return in three days under the cover of darkness.

They were just well-paid office workers.

At this point, I felt embarrassed for showing up in a theater mask and a black robe—the same disguise I had used back at the opera.

Still, I wasn’t here for fun. As long as the results were good, that was all that mattered.

I swallowed my disappointment and looked down at the document.

The first thing I had requested was a full investigation into Siora Velvet’s life.

And what was written on the paper was… shocking.

“…This is all?”

?Siora Wendy Velvet. 20.

• Adoptive Mother: Wendy Eric Velvet (Deceased).
• Adoptive Father: Melos Greek Velvet (Deceased).
• All assets lost due to arson committed by former servant Hans. (Additional fee required for detailed information.)
• Currently awaiting adoption as the second daughter of Paspié Ailey Bonetti (Count) and Bure Annemaria Bonetti.?**

That was it. Five measly lines.

It looked like a child’s homework, with the text stretched out and filled with unnecessary names just to make it seem longer.

Was this real? And they were asking for an extra fee on top of this?

Minuet had warned me that there wasn’t much to dig up, but this was absurd.

Taking money and then giving me this?

Did they think they could scam me just because I looked like a first-time customer?

I shot the employee a cold glare.

“I’m going to sue you.”

Minuet had recommended this guild, and now I was questioning her judgment.

I shot up from my seat.

“W-wait a moment!”

The previously unbothered employee suddenly grabbed my arm in a panic.

I spoke gravely.

“Adding assault to the charges.”

“What?! How is this assault?!”

The man quickly let go, then folded his arms as if nothing had happened.

Oh?

“Tampering with evidence, adding that too.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“Threats and—”

“I swear, it’s not like we’re hiding information on purpose! There’s just nothing there!”

“Then at least try to explain your reasoning.”

The employee let out a frustrated sigh.

“Since the Count of Bonetti announced his plan to adopt his niece, a lot of people have tried to dig into her past.”

“And?”

“And no one has found anything. No matter how deep they dig, there’s nothing. The only ones who know anything are a handful of former servants.”

“……”

“She’s never left the Velvet mansion in her entire life. And she never spoke to anyone. It doesn’t make sense, but that’s what the records say.”

That was completely ridiculous.

I clenched my jaw in frustration.

As someone who had also spent her entire life confined to a temple, this was personally offensive.

Sometimes, people had their reasons for not going outside!

“You’re the one trying to scam me, and I’m the weird one?”

The employee looked exasperated but stayed silent.

“Are you sure there’s no other information?”

“Nothing. The only extra detail I have is about how badly the Velvet family overworked Hans.”

“And you expect me to pay extra for that?”

"Well, technically speaking, the Velvet Mansion arson case is a separate issue."

"Do I look like I’m joking? I’m serious about suing you."

"Ah, come on, give me a break!"

"Try saying that to the judge."

"Seriously… Ah! There is one suspicious thing."

"Speak."

The employee hesitated, then finally said,

"When the mansion caught fire, no one reported seeing that young lady outside."

I paused.

The employee stared at me before continuing.

"But somehow, she was the only one who survived unscathed. Isn’t that strange? Not a single injury, either."

To someone unaware of the truth, it would indeed seem suspicious.

After all, who would ever suspect that an ancient god had intervened?

That day, Siora had died in that mansion.

"Well, if we’re being realistic, there was probably a secret passage or something."

The employee shrugged nonchalantly.

"Anyway, I admit I shamelessly took your money, so I’ll refund half of it."

With that, he turned away, acting as if his business here was done.

At that moment, I recalled Minuet’s advice.

"The guildmaster here is incredibly perceptive. Wear this recognition-blocking necklace."

"I was planning on wearing a mask. Won’t that be enough?"

"Even if you cover your face, he’ll still figure out that you’re Siora Velvet."

"Ah, then I’ll wear the necklace outside of this place."

"Do you enjoy spreading weird rumors about yourself?"

"No, I just wanted to test how honest they are."

"Excuse me, but half isn’t enough."

Just as Minuet had predicted, this man had figured out who I was.

The way he subtly pressed about my survival—it was a clear attempt to probe me for information.

He was fishing for a reaction.

Too bad he’s only good at swindling people, not uncovering real secrets.

"Give me double."

"…What?"

"And include information on the arson case."

"Wait, that’s—"

"You were planning to sell off the fact that Siora Bonetti investigated her own past, weren’t you?"

A noblewoman personally requesting an investigation into her own life?

Why? Did she lose her memory? Was she replaced by someone else?

It was the kind of information that could spark all sorts of rumors.

He had probably been thrilled at the thought of profiting from it.

"And you didn’t even realize that I was testing this guild’s honesty."

Now that I had said it out loud, it was worthless as a secret.

The employee stiffened.

I removed my mask in front of him.

I wanted the moment to look impressive, but static electricity made my loose strands of hair stick to my cheek.

How tragic. Even something like this required skill.

"You really shouldn’t… take off your mask like that…"

The employee muttered in a dazed voice.

I stretched out my hand toward him.

"You gave me garbage information and then tried to sell me out.

Shouldn’t I be compensated double?"

If he didn’t want his business to collapse, he’d have to comply.

***

BANG.

A woman with soft golden hair exited the guild.

James stared at the closed door with a sorrowful expression.

He had never expected a client to swindle the information fee out of him.

He had grossly underestimated the nobility.

"Well… at least I learned that Siora Bonetti has changed."

James tried to comfort himself.

Siora was no longer the gloomy girl who shut herself away inside her mansion.

Her entire personality had shifted—especially her eyes.

Those deep, striking violet eyes felt as if they could pierce straight through someone’s soul.

What had happened to her?

His curiosity burned.

Now that she was entangled with the Duke of White Desert, her information would be worth a fortune.

He could make plenty of money just by following this lead for a while.

A slow smirk spread across James’s face.

And then—

The door opened.

"Welcome, esteemed guest. This is the Information Guild, Erentitia."

James greeted the new client with enthusiasm.

The person wore a deep black hood, pulled low over their face.

Seriously, why did all the first-time clients do this?

Where did they even get this idea?

Hiding their face wouldn’t help them remain anonymous.

Without recognition-blocking magic, their physique, gait, stray hairs peeking out from the hood, their eyelash color, voice, speech patterns—all of it could still give them away.

Even if they concealed everything else, their habits would betray them.

Of course, James’s level of perception was rare even within this industry.

He called everyone "guest" out of formality, but he had already identified this one.

Someone from White Desert.

Another big shot.

The thought of money made James grin instinctively.

But then—

"How may I assis—"

His smile collapsed in an instant.

The new guest’s shadow stretched unnaturally, growing long and thin.

It swallowed him whole.

"S-save…!"

A formless darkness wrapped around his limbs.

James struggled desperately, his movements distorting the shape of the shadow, but his resistance grew weaker and weaker.

The overwhelming darkness devoured him effortlessly—then retracted as if nothing had happened.

The owner of the shadow tilted his head slightly.

"Tch."

He tapped the floor lightly with the tip of his shoe.

The shadow rippled.

"Didn’t have much to say, huh?"

The footsteps leaving the guild faded into the distance.

And then—silence.

Nothing remained.