Axel

Chapter 31: The Cat Spirit Detective

Added 2025-01-09 21:04:54 +0000 UTC

Charlot Mecklenburg was utterly shocked, his expression one of disbelief as he exclaimed, "How is that possible? You're a graduate of the National Institute, not a public academy! At the very least, you should be a second- or third-class Assistant Clerk. Even being a first-class Assistant Clerk wouldn’t be unreasonable. But a third-class Clerk? That’s absurd! How could you be relegated to such a low rank?"

In the Empire's bureaucratic system, clerks were ranked from first to fifth class, with 49 levels in the first class and 45 levels in the fifth. It was considered the bottom rung of the civil service. Assigning such a position to public academy graduates was already a courtesy, but appointing a National Institute graduate to this role was a blatant act of political sabotage.

Sylvie Martin responded calmly, “It’s nothing. It’s because I’m a woman.”

Charlot wisely shifted the subject. “What’s the weekly salary the detective offered you?” he asked.

Vinnia Arsenault smiled and replied, “Eighty-five centimes, including accommodations and two meals a day.”

Charlot nodded slightly, thinking, “This pay is quite reasonable. It’s on par with a first-class Assistant Clerk. Considering the included board and meals, the living conditions might even be slightly better than those of a newly appointed civil servant.”

Vinnia Arsenault continued, “Miss Sylvie is an exceptional talent. My Cat Detective Agency just happened to have a vacancy. One of my assistants recently got married and had to resign, so there was an opening.”

Although the Fars Empire allowed women to work, traditional societal pressures remained strong. Unless the husband’s family was in financial difficulty and needed the wife’s income, women were often expected to resign after marriage.

Charlot understood and refrained from further persuasion. After all, she was his ex-fiancée now, and it wasn’t his place to meddle. Just as he was about to ask when she planned to move out, Sylvie spoke hesitantly, “I haven’t received my salary yet. Although I managed to retrieve my belongings, they’re mostly just items, and I couldn’t recover much cash. My father’s remittance will take some time to arrive. Regarding the shopping expenses you covered yesterday... I’ll need a bit more time to pay you back.”

Charlot smiled faintly and said, “There’s no need to be so formal with me.”

The lively ex-fiancée quipped, “Miss Vinnia came along to help me move. I wonder, cousin, if you have some free time to assist?”

Charlot smiled again and said, “Miss Vinnia, cousin Sylvie, why don’t we head back to my house to chat? Standing out here on the street isn’t very appropriate.”

He led the two ladies to 58 Elysée Avenue, brought them into the drawing room, and poured three glasses of sparkling apple wine. Raising his own glass, he motioned for a toast and drank it in one go. Smiling, he remarked, “This sparkling apple wine is quite good. You two should give it a try.”

Once inside, Vinnia Arsenault looked around curiously. She took a sip of her wine and asked, “Does Mr. Mecklenburg live here alone?”

“Yes, I do,” Charlot replied.

Vinnia didn’t pursue the topic and instead asked, “I wonder, Mr. Mecklenburg, what are your thoughts on women working?”

Sylvie interjected with some irritation, “Even after I get married, I don’t intend to quit my job. If the other party can’t accept that, I simply won’t marry.”

As a modern individual, Charlot naturally had no objections to women working. After a moment of thought, he answered, “I believe women should be like birds, free to choose the lives they wish to lead.”

A crisp and familiar voice rang out from the doorway. “Mr. Mecklenburg, is that really how you think? That’s wonderful!”

Charlot nearly jumped out of his seat in surprise. He hadn’t expected Annie Bretagne to suddenly visit. Hurriedly, he said, “Miss Annie, please come in.”

He introduced her to the two women, “This is Miss Annie Bretagne, a close friend of mine.”

Annie Bretagne’s delicate face was filled with joy and delight. She had always worried about being forced to give up work after marriage and becoming confined to dull aristocratic social circles. Charlot’s earlier statement had significantly raised her opinion of him.

Annie lightly tugged at her skirt and performed a customary lady’s curtsey.

Sylvie returned a standard curtsey, while Vinnia offered a formal imperial greeting.

Charlot braced himself as he introduced, “This is Miss Sylvie Martin, my cousin. And this is Miss Vinnia Arsenault, the head of the Cat Detective Agency! My cousin, a graduate of the National Institute, has just arrived in Strasbourg from the Behemoth Principality and is about to start working at the Cat Detective Agency.”

Annie’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “Miss Vinnia Arsenault? The renowned Cat Spirit Detective? I’ve heard so much about you and have always admired you. I even considered applying to the Cat Detective Agency after graduating!”

Noticing Charlot’s confusion, she explained softly, “The Cat Detective Agency is the Empire’s only detective agency where 70% of the employees are women. Every female employee is trained in Cat Spirit Magic upon joining the agency.”

“Miss Vinnia Arsenault is one of the Empire’s seven great detectives, known as the Cat Spirit Detective. She’s a source of pride for all the women of the Fars Empire.”

Annie offered Vinnia a formal courtly greeting. Unlike the simple tug at the skirt for a customary lady’s curtsey, the courtly greeting involved several intricate and graceful movements.

Vinnia smiled lightly and joked, “I just tend to indulge my free spirit a little too much. On behalf of the Cat Detective Agency, I welcome you to apply after graduation, Miss Annie.”

Having heard the name “Bretagne,” Vinnia immediately understood Annie’s noble lineage and knew she would never actually work as a detective. Her words were mere politeness.

Annie, too, was aware that her family would never allow her to become a public-facing detective. Sighing inwardly, she quickly joined the three women in conversation.

As Annie learned that Sylvie was Charlot’s cousin, she subtly tried to glean information about him. Surprisingly, Sylvie spoke well of him on several occasions, which was a rare occurrence. Charlot, who had been sitting nervously, finally felt a small sense of relief.

He mostly stayed quiet, occasionally serving as a temporary attendant, refilling glasses of sparkling apple wine for the ladies.

After about an hour, Charlot noticed that the three women were still engrossed in conversation. He couldn’t help but interject, “Please excuse me for a moment. I’ll go purchase more sparkling wine and some pastries. The house is too plain, and I feel I haven’t prepared enough to properly host you.”

Annie and Vinnia both called out in unison, “No need!”

The two beautiful women exchanged a glance and shared a moment of mutual understanding.

Vinnia smiled and said, “I’ll take care of it. My cats are much more efficient.”

She extended her slender right hand and formed a peculiar magic seal with her fingers. A soft, drawn-out meowing sound filled the air. Vinnia’s voice turned affectionate as she commanded, “Go to a nearby shop and bring back some sparkling wine and pastries.”

With another long meow, the sound outside fell silent.

Vinnia turned back and said, “I’ve sent my cats to handle the errand. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself, Mr. Mecklenburg.”

Charlot was thoroughly astonished. While he had inherited some of his predecessor’s native memories, he had no real understanding of what Cat Spirit Magic entailed.