Chapter 27
****
Caius made a gruff quip, as if guessing Louise's sinking heart.
"I'm sure you'll be thankful for that."
Well, it was time to head to the police station.
****
Outside the Melk Police Station.
The carriage stopped, and Caius got out first. He'd announced his visit in advance, and the officers lined up to greet the Margrave.
The oldest man among them bowed deeply, almost flat on his back.
"Margrave, I apologize for bringing you to this shabby place. I have been informed of your arrival by the Burg Constable. I am Inspector Schroeder, in charge of policing here in Melk."
Caius tilted his head tersely.
"This is the first time we've met, and I've come to clear up a slight misunderstanding in the course of doing what I asked you to do before. I apologize for the trouble I've caused you."
The captain waved his hands in exasperation.
"Don't say that, Your Excellency. If we've made any mistakes, please let us know...... Yes, we will rectify it immediately."
He was about to escort Caius to the police station.
"Wait."
Caius reached toward the carriage.
"I'll leave you to it, Louise. Since this happened in your home, I think it's best that you speak for yourself."
His words were terse. Louise had to hold his hand under a barrage of stares.
The same officers who had stopped her last month to report a burglary looked up at the carriage in bewilderment.
Not that they recognized her, of course. They were just curious about the woman accompanying the young Margrave.
Louise swallowed nervously as she steadied herself on the ground, then bowed respectfully before the officers.
"First of all, thank you for your attention to my humble home ..................."
There was a little murmur among the officers as they finally recognized her. Louise paid them no mind and continued.
"However, I heard that Viscount Engel’s son was mistaken for a thief and detained. Is it true..................?"
"It is................"
The captain opened his mouth to defend his ignorance, but Caius interrupted him with a look of disbelief.
"I hear that the Viscount’s son has been in custody for several days already, and I'd like to see how he's faring, for starters."
"Ah, yes. Well, this way....................."
The captain groveled and began to lead them into the holding cell.
“..................in case you don't understand, the viscount’s son is in custody because we have witnesses to his unlawful entry into Miss Ermoli's home, and he's under arrest for the offense."
Caius nodded at the apologetic explanation.
"But according to Miss Ermoli, the Viscount’s son was on friendly terms with her and only stopped by to offer his assistance."
The captain frowned and continued his defense.
"Yes, indeed, that was his claim, but he also searched the empty house and..."
Louise was a little surprised, but she did her best to hide her agitation.
"Excuse me, captain, but there is nothing in my house for the master to steal, or for anyone but him..."
Poverty was not a sin, but in Caius's presence, it became a shame to be hidden. Louise had barely finished her sentence when she shook her head gently.
They followed the captain down the stairs. As they descended, the damp, musty smell of the basement assaulted their nostrils.
The Pietro she knew was a noble master who lived in a mansion on a hill, and she couldn't believe he'd spent days locked up in this place.
But almost at the same time as she arrived at the detention center, she heard a familiar voice from somewhere.
"..................teacher? Louise?"
The gaunt face peeking through the bars was unmistakably that of Pietro, Viscount Engel’s son.
***
"Thank you for your help. I'm Pietro George Engel."
Pietro stepped out of the cell and bowed deeply before the Margrave.
Caius spoke briefly.
"Margrave of Burg. I care about this woman’s business..............., and you’ve been having a hard time.”
Pietro didn't know what to do.
It was a surprise that Louise had come, and she had accompanied the Margrave, freeing him once and for all. It was something his father, who had ruled Melk for decades, hadn't been able to do, no matter how hard he tried for days.
He replied awkwardly.
"I heard about Miss Louise's.................. trip to Burg. Thank you again for your help, Your Excellency."
Caius replied leisurely.
"You're welcome. I'm rather grateful that you sent Louise to me."
It was an odd tone.
Louise felt awkward at being the topic of conversation between them. She forced a smile over her stiffening face.
"I'm glad it worked out, Master."
Turning to Pietro, she said, and he quickly explained.
"Ah, teacher. I only searched your place because I thought I should know the extent of the damage........."
Louise spoke slowly to reassure him.
"Of course you did, I can't imagine you had any other intention."
Pietro breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you for believing me. I'll continue to be responsible for the repairs and..................."
That's when Caius interrupted again.
"Miss Louise is mine now, isn't she, and since she belongs to Burg, I'm going to take care of it on my terms. I've already sent the carpenters to work on it, so don't worry about it anymore."
"What?"
Pietro froze, puzzled. The way the Margrave spoke of Louise as if she belonged to him was irritating.
She had worked for Engel for many years, and his family had never treated her this way, not even for a moment.
Even in moments when he genuinely wanted to help, like at Louise’s mother's funeral, he'd watched and waited, afraid of hurting her pride.
But Louise didn’t counter what the Margrave had said, as if she's used to this, which was so different from the Louise Pietro had come to know.
Pietro was used to her drawing lines. The line was invisible, but it was so clear that it made it difficult to approach her.
But he sensed no such line with the Louise in front of him now.
"Well, shall we head back?"
It hasn't even been a month since she went to Burg, so why? Why was it different for him?
As he thought about it, Caius asked Louise softly.
In hindsight, it was surprising that they had traveled this far together. It was not every day that a tutor's homecoming was accompanied by a Margrave.
But Louise nodded meekly to Pietro, as if she had been asked to do so.
"Please give my regards to the Viscount and the ladies, and I'll be off........"
Pietro stared after her as she was gone in a flash.
He had hoped to send a letter to Burg to ask for a moment to speak with her, but the joy of finally meeting her was short-lived, and she would be gone so quickly.
"Miss..................!"
But when he caught up to her, Louise was already climbing into the carriage, holding the Margrave’s hand.
Their eyes locked and smiling, it didn't look like a simple employment relationship.
Their clasped hands looked so affectionate and natural that Pietro stopped dead in his tracks.
Suddenly, it occurred to him that he might never hear back from her again.
***
Returning to Burg was lighter than Louise expected. Perhaps it was because her mother had found a place to rest, or perhaps it was because Pietro's case had been resolved more easily than she had expected.
Caius's expression didn't seem so bad after all the trouble she had caused, Louise reassured herself.
Perhaps that's why. A general store in downtown Burg that she hadn't thought of on the way there suddenly caught her eye.
"Excuse me, Your Excellency."
Louis called out softly.
The man was lost in his own thoughts and only looked up at the call.
"That's where I.................. saw the cat."
Caius asked, smirking.
"You want to see if the cat is still there?"
When she nodded shyly, he ordered the coachman to stop the carriage.
Louise peered through the window of the general store, trying to find the cat. When Caius looked at her, he opened the door to the general store with a big smile on his face and went inside.
The shopkeeper's head snapped up in alarm.
"Your Excellency, if you need anything, you can call me to the mansion."
***
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