Thanks to the nightcap, I was starting to feel drowsy as I brushed my teeth and spat the water and tooth powder residue into the tiny wash basin.

“Why is toothpaste not a thing in this world yet?” I grumbled as I hopped out of the washroom. “It feels so weird to rub powder on my teeth before brushing it.”

Rapunzel seemingly heard my whining and gave me a funny look.

“It’s weirder to me that you even care about brushing your teeth before going to bed. Usually people here would just use toothpicks, you know.”

“It’s called having good personal oral hygiene,” I insisted, folding my arms across my chest to emphasise my point.

“And on that note, you must brush your teeth if you plan on sleeping on the same bed as me.”

“Sure, I don’t have any reservations against that…but I don’t have a toothbrush with me—”

I tossed the spare toothbrush that I requested from Conductor Machel in her direction. “Got you.”

“As expected of the famous detective.”

While she begrudgingly entered the washroom to use the toothbrush, I went ahead and set up the bed first. Though the first-class compartments were meant for only one occupant, the beds were generously sized to provide as much comfort to the weary traveller as possible, and it was possible for two women to share the same bed without much issue with space.

‘But with that said, this is my first time sleeping together with a girl…crap, why am I getting excited over something like this? Man, you gotta get a hold on yourself…’

I smoothened the creases in the bedsheets and pursed my lips.

‘Something’s missing…oh, shoot, I forgot to ask Machel for an extra pillow just now.’

“Hey, Rapunzel, I’m going out for a bit to get you a pillow.”

“Kay~”

I stepped out into the dimly-lit aisle and quietly shut the door behind me. It was almost midnight according to my pocket watch, and the Orient Express passengers had all but retired into their compartments after an eventful evening. I looked for Machel, but the seat which he usually sat in was unexpectedly vacant.

‘Hmm, I guess even the Conductor needs some rest after all that happened on this train…’

Not knowing where to find him immediately, I absent-mindedly walked over to the Conductor’s chair inside the vestibule. There was a neatly folded newspaper placed on the cushion, and I vaguely recognised it to be the same newspaper that Professor Sternberg had asked for in the dining room.

‘Oh, what’s this?’

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

I picked up the newspaper and squinted at the headlines.

ARCHDUKE & MORGANATIC WIFE ANNOUNCES VISIT TO SARAJEVO

Archduke Francis Ferdinand, Princess Chotek To Visit Bosnian Capital On 28 June

‘Archduke Ferdinand…hang on, this name sounds kinda familiar for some reason? Was he some important guy in my History textbook? Crap, I can’t remember…’

I was still musing on the newspaper headline when the sound of footsteps broke me out of my reverie.

‘Ah, right, I need to ask for an extra pillow—’

A cackling, sneering voice froze me in my place behind the vestibule wall.

“You can drop the pretence now.”

I suppressed a surprised gasp.

‘Such a villainous voice could only belong to one person on board this train…’

『Room No. 7』

【Single】M. Reinald Beaufore, the Connoisseur

“I know who you are,” he continued in a harsh tone. “You sent those death threats to me, didn’t you?”

I swallowed hard.

‘Who is he talking to? No way—it can’t be me, right?’

I was about to risk peering into the aisle to steal a glimpse when the other party suddenly answered.

“Surely you must be drunk, Monsieur Beaufore,” a feminine voice said coolly. “I do not know of the things you are accusing me of.”

“I know what I’m talking about, you deceitful bitch. Just wait till tomorrow, I’ll expose all of your damn lies!”

A door slammed shut, and the carriage soon regained its initial tranquillity. I finally released a breath that I didn’t know I had been holding in and dared to sneak a peek into the aisle.

To my astonishment, there were not one, but two figures standing in the aisle. One of them was a well-built gentleman with notably broad shoulders, while the other was a blonde-haired lady of slim build. A compartment door was also left swinging ajar, as if its occupant had burst out into the aisle in a frightful hurry.

“Godiva, are you alright?”

The girl nodded her head and mumbled something I couldn’t quite hear, to which the man clenched his fist and returned to his compartment via the open door. She lingered for a moment, clutching at the silver locket around her neck, then quietly walked back to her own compartment.

“Mademoiselle Guinevere, is something the matter?”

Conductor Machel suddenly spoke from behind me, causing me to jump.

“W-wha-since when are you here?!”

“Apologies for my rudeness, Mademoiselle. I was resting in the fourgon when I overheard a commotion in the voiture-lit, so I decided to check things out,” he said, a worried frown etched in his face. “But besides that, why is Mademoiselle standing in the vestibule by yourself?”

“O-oh, I was just looking for you…”

I explained my request, and he agreed to it without hesitation.

“Il n’y a pas de problème, I shall send an extra pillow to your compartment in five minutes.”

“Thank you for your help, Machel.”

He excused himself with a bow and hurried back to the fourgon. I slowly made my way back to my compartment while deep in thought.

‘If I wasn’t seeing things, those two just now, they are…’

『Room No. 4』

【Lower】Mlle. Godiva Olson, the Missionary

『Room No. 5』

【Single】Col. Robert Atkinson, the Colonel