"Alright, can we start with why you were at the park that evening?"

"I was just taking a casual stroll, ya know? I needed to cool my head a little because of that stupid husband of mine."

"Would you happen to have seen a man and a woman on a date? If so, did you see anyone else following them?"

"Nope, I ain't seen nothin, detective. Are you done? I really need to go back and take care of my shop. My drunk ass husband ain't gonna be able to handle the shop by himself ya know?"

There isn't really anything in this that is suspicious, and we lack evidence. I suppose I'll just let her go.

"Alright, you may go for now. Bring in the next person!"

I'll just have to question the rest of them first.

Somehow, I feel as if Eta is staring at me harder than usual. Did I do something wrong?

                                                             * * *

"Clarence Power, at your service. I-"

"Sit down and keep your mouth shut until we ask you questions."

"...Yes madam."

"It's Your Highness to you."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Now sit down."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Wow, Eta is treating him like a dog. I wonder if it's ok to let her continue like this. Will she ask him to bark next?

"Alright, tell us what you saw, and make it concise! One wrong word and I'll hold you for contempt!"

Wait, I thought I was doing the interrogation?

Oh well, I guess I'll leave it to her this time.

"Yes Your Highness! I was taking a stroll in the park that evening when I saw a couple walking through the park. I was curious as to why there's a couple out so late at night so I followed them. And it was then I saw the murder take place. I saw a person dressed in a black coat killing both of them! I immediately went to hide and didn't come out until the person was gone."

"Did you see anything else?"

"Nope, I swear I saw nothing else Your Highness!"

Alright, now stick out your tongue and bark two times~

...is what I thought might happen, but of course Eta didn't go that far. It's all just my imaginations, in the end.

I think there's something weird about this witness though. Maybe he's got a connection to this case somehow.

But for now, there's not much to be had from this guy either.

"Alright, you may go now. Next person!"

...When did Eta take over my job completely?

                                                             * * *

Next came the janitor.

Do we even need to question him?

We let him go after confirming who he saw on that day.

It does feel good to get the procedures under my control again though.

Take that, princess, haha.

Ow-ow~

I guess chuckling to myself is no good either.

                                                             * * *

"Birwyn Bleu. How can I help you?"

Oh wow. This man gives off a dangerous feeling just from the way he talks.

Nono, it's no good to judge something like that.

"Tris, something tells me this man is the murderer. No, he is definitely the murderer!"

Ah... It's no good for a detective to judge like this you know?

"Eta, we can't just a book by its cover."

"I think it should be fine in this case though?!"

...I guess I'll just ignore her for now. She's useless like this.

"So, what were you doing at the park last night?"

"I was actually supposed to meet with a friend, but she didn't show up so I just went home."

A female friend eh? In the Lovers' Park no less. I guess it's that then?

"Wait a second Tris, this guy is definitely lying! There's no way a person like him can have a girl friend! There's no way he has friends! W-"

Covering her mouth that was next to my ear, I told the man to leave.

Geez, even though she is royalty, she can be such a child someti-OW OW OW is she biting my hand?!

Pulling my hand away from her, I saw Eta glaring at me. Oh no, this isn't good.

"Next person please!"

I shall seek asylum from the incoming people.

                                                             * * *

Lastly, it seems that we have the couple coming in.

My saviours~

My back is almost definitely close to being fractured from the amount of abuse its been given in the past 30 seconds.

I wonder if it will heal itself?

While thinking that, I asked the standard question after they settled down.

"Can you tell us what you were doing at the park that night?"

"I am just here for my husband, I wasn't actually at the park."

The woman replied me with a cold voice while staring at me.

I know I am good looking but is this much staring ok?

Ouch...why am I getting hit again?

"Alright, then what about you, Mr. Eld?"

"Oh, I'm sure he just went to cool off his head a little. We had a little bit of a...misunderstanding, but its all resolved now. Right honey?"

"Yea, I'm sorry about that honey, I'll make it up to you tonight~"

The two of them proceeded to make out in front of us.

Really now?!

I can practically feel bloodlust from Eta. Oh man is she mad.

"Ah... I see then, you may go now."

...Oioi...is it just me or did they ignore me and are making out even harder now?!

If looks can kill, the couple in front of my would have died ten times over by now with Eta's bloodshot eyes.

"YOU MAY GO NOW~!"

Eta shouted at the top of her lungs.

Getting their ears blasted, they quickly retreated out of the office.

...Hey...at least bring me out too...my ears are almost bleeding you know...

The couple seems really suspicious to me somehow. Would a couple really make up that fast, and instantly go into heat right after a large enough argument to see one of them driven out in the night?

Perhaps I should investigate further.

                                                             * * *

Coming out of the Headquarters, the sky is already dark.

I guess we should wrap it up for the day.

I have my doubts about several things, but it's too dark to do any investigations right now, and I would say the two of us need this rest for now too.

Eta followed me home. Well, she rents a house next to me after all.

Rather than a house though, I would moreso call it a mansion. It's gigantic after all, and it comes with servants, maids, and the Royal Guards have also stationed personnel.

Looking at my own normal home, I can't help but feel some sadness inside me. Royalty sure have it good huh...

Why can't I be born of a royal bloodline?

My family was...oh, I don't have memories of them actually. For some reason, one day I just found myself in this city. Yup, absolutely no memories.

It was harsh at the start but I managed to become a detective and got a stable income. They pay really well here in the capital so I guess I'm more well off than normal people.

"Come to think of it Tris, you've been taking walks around late at night recently. My guards say they saw you lingering around here not really doing anything, but since they know you they didn't say anything. Is that why your eyebags are getting worse by the day? Why haven't you been sleeping?"

While I was thinking that, Eta suddenly asked me some questions.

Have I really been outside at night? No way, I've definitely been sleeping well. Those cakes sure are delicious...too bad they are so expensive in real life.

"Nah, it's probably someone else and your guards mistook him for me. You should tighten your security, it seems like you have a stalker~"

Ouch, I got hit for saying that again.

Note to self, jokes of that category is not ok.

After hitting me for a while, Eta waved goodbye to me and went into her mansion.

I went into my own home and sat down on my bed after a small dinner.

Now then, its time to sort the things out.

We have a serial murder case.

Suspects are 2 merchants, a couple and I should probably include that suspicious witness into the list too.

Currently, the only things we found are the murder weapon, a knife and the coat that the murderer was wearing. But so many people wear those that both of those can't be used for anything.

On top of that, it seems that the only targets are couples.

There is actually another case that is very similar to this one, only that the couples are assaulted from behind in the day, knocked out, and had their valuables stolen.

Hmm...considering the behaviours of the suspects today, I think I know who did the assaults.

However, although the murder could be linked, it seems that...

Oh, right, maybe if the two cases are linked in that way, it would make sense why that person said that.

However...in the end, it comes down to motive. If there's no motive, we don't have a case.

After all, no one would murder so many people for no reason unless they are insane. And of course none of the suspects are insane from the looks of things.

Ah...thinking so much makes me tired.

I'll go search for more clues tomorrow. And of course investigate those suspicious people.

Time to catch some sleep...

                                                             * * *

In a certain mansion in Tido.

A black figure goes into one of the rooms and greeted the person inside.

"Was the job done?"

"Yes, my lord. Perfectly."

"Well done. Any new movements on the other thing?"

"My lord, it's been no problems so far. However, we've got a detective sniffing around now."

"Hm. Is it that famous Tris Asher?"

"Yes, that's him."

"Ah...him again huh. Well, it's fine for now, but keep a watch on the movements from the Royal Police Force."

"Yes."

                                                             * * *

Hm...? Where am I?

I don't remember coming to this place?

I was...sleeping!

How did I even come here?

I'm currently standing in a darkened house, the only light source being the candle on the table in front of me.

There is also a note on the table.

'Remember'? Remember what?

I looked around the house.

Just a normal home, except that it looks as if its been abandoned for quite some time.

There's a lot of scratches on the walls.

However, it seems like the furniture is just dusty.

Hm...? Why do I feel as if I've been here before?

Remember...?

Yes...remember your memories fool.

Hmm? Who was that?

Memories? You mean the memories of my family?

Fa...mily...?

ARGH! MY BRAIN HURTS!

Whats this?! I don't want to remember this?!!

Do...it...you can't run from it forever....

                                                             * * *