Chapter 45 : A Lady Among Corpses
Chapter 45
As I hesitated, Johannes gently draped his arm over my shoulders.
“You can speak,” he said softly. “You are my wife. No one here has the right to silence you.”
Even royalty. His gaze flicked to Edward, cold and unapologetic.
That alone gave me the courage I needed. I parted my lips slowly.
“Then… please remember, these are only the words of someone who’s only read a handful of books.”
Of course, I hadn’t even done that. But unless I spoke, no one would even pretend to listen.
“To be perfectly honest, I don’t know. I’ve never seen a corpse before.”
A few snorts of mockery echoed nearby.
“Duchess, this isn’t a place for delicate women to—”
The voice died abruptly. Likely silenced by a glance from Johannes.
I ignored it entirely.
‘Then perhaps it’s time I took a look myself.’
I stepped forward. Silence fell.
“Are you sure you want to see?” Edward asked, narrowing his eyes. It was a challenge, daring me to look and faint.
Perhaps I would faint. But I wouldn’t turn away.
I gave a firm nod.
Edward gestured, and one of the officers pulled back the cloth.
To my surprise, the body was in far better condition than expected. But it still didn’t explain how she had died.
Tsk. I clicked my tongue.
“There are no signs of external trauma. With all these crates, slipping seems unlikely. So how did this woman fall?”
No response. I glanced at each officer in turn. Blank stares.
‘So no one saw a thing.’
I sighed and crouched beside the corpse.
“There are vivid red marks on the right cheek and limbs—it seems she collapsed on her right side. Judging by the stiffness, she’s been dead at least five hours.”
Wait… what?
The words spilled out naturally. Startled, I felt an uncanny familiarity with the scene.
My hand moved instinctively to her neck. Still faintly warm.
“Yes… the body temperature hasn’t fully dropped. And…”
I inspected her more closely, brushing strands of hair away.
“Couldn’t the cause be poison?”
Everyone froze. The officers stared, wide-eyed. Even Edward seemed rattled.
Only Johannes remained impassive, though his blue gaze shimmered with the faintest trace of intrigue.
Of course, I could be wrong.
I rose to my feet.
“I believe it would be prudent to investigate her acquaintances—and her occupation.”
“Duchess, if I may…”
Edward’s voice softened as he interrupted.
“Your deduction is impressive. But… isn’t it premature to label this a murder?”
“Does she look like someone who’d come to a basement alone and just die? Can we dismiss the possibility that she drank tea with the culprit at that table over there?”
I pointed at a wooden table set at the room’s center. Edward feigned interest, but his face remained indifferent.
“With all due respect, it would be rash to stir more fear when Mussen has yet to recover from its last homicide.”
“That teacup you’re holding—did it come from the scene?”
Edward blinked. I tilted my head.
“You wouldn’t seriously drink from a murder victim’s teacup, would you? Especially not as the director.”
Then I glanced at the corner.
Shards of porcelain glittered by the dusty gramophone.
“That piece matches your cup. The tea may have been poisoned. The victim might have thrown her cup at the attacker… a wound should be visible.”
I looked again at Edward’s cheek—the scratch that had caught my eye earlier.
“Like the one on your face, Director.”
Edward smiled thinly. The officers chuckled.
“It’s far too tidy here. No signs of a struggle. Who knows when that shard broke?”
He looked at me with faux sympathy.
“If we lacked a forensics team, I’d hire you myself. Truly unfortunate.”
I raised a brow, and Edward turned to the others.
“Dismissed.”
His tone was like ice. He approached the body, then turned back.
“A real officer should investigate with logic, not carelessness. Tampering with evidence, or showing rudeness to the Duchess, is inexcusable.”
Tsk. His tongue clicked. The laughter died.
Only then did they realize they’d been dismissed—and froze.
I faced Edward again.
“As I said, my theory may be wrong, but…”
“But?”
“We already used a poison test strip. No poison was found.”
The confidence drained from my face.
Edward smirked.
“It could be sudden death. A heart attack, perhaps. Quite common.”
“Impossible. Her muscles are stiff. There are signs of vomiting. Her pupils are constricted.”
A new voice joined.
Johannes.
“Cardiac arrests cause dilated pupils. No vomiting.”
I exhaled slowly. Johannes’s quiet support gave me strength.
Edward fell silent.
I looked again at the body.
Dry foam lingered on her lips.
Despite the absurdity of it all, I spoke with newfound confidence.
“How could this possibly be a natural death?”
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Though Edward promised to consider my words, he soon ushered us out, citing the discomfort of having outsiders near an active case.
After the first murder, Mussen’s police had lost their credibility, forcing the navy to temporarily take over.
But now that Edward Windsor had been appointed chief, it would seem improper to reclaim authority.
Clearly, the guards posted at the door were part of that tug-of-war.
The navy, who had marched Johannes in triumphantly, slumped as we exited, clearly disappointed.
In contrast, the police straightened proudly, exchanging grins with smug satisfaction.
Johannes, as always, paid them no mind.
We made our way toward the carriage. Once far enough from the scene, he finally spoke.
“What was that?”
It wasn’t sarcasm. His tone was sincere.
“Do you enjoy deduction? That wasn’t guesswork, was it?”
Of course, I wanted to tell him everything. My lips tingled with the urge.
But I couldn’t.
Even I was baffled by what had happened.
Yes, I had studied pharmacology. I knew a thing or two about poison. But I had never, not once, encountered an actual corpse.
So how had I known?
How had I deduced the time of death? Stood beside a body without trembling? Suggested poisoning as if it were second nature?
Then, a sharp pain lanced through my skull. I gasped.
Johannes reached out instantly, steadying me.
