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Empress Britannia’s Statement – Part 01

My name is Britannia Gabrielle Coco de Krehadl. I am the Empress of the Kingdom of Krehadl, located in the northwest of Lithuania. But of course you already know that. I knew as I entered this room. The way I was very politely escorted to this table suggested that you were already aware of my identity. I was treated like royalty, so I knew. Yes, I am the famous Empress who disappeared from the Kingdom of Krehadl.

I secretly left the kingdom to have fun traveling alone, but that ends today. I’m sure you’ve already contacted the ambassador. Oh, don’t look at me like that. It’s your job. I’m not angry.

What?

I beg your pardon.

Can you say that one more time?

The Kingdom of Krehadl, northwest of Lithuania, is not on the world map? And that there is no land to the northwest of Lithuania, only the sea?

Ahaha!

Ah, good one.

Of course I know that, Mr. Funny Inspector. Oh, don’t give me that look.

My kingdom is not on land.

Where is it, you ask?

Ugh. Don’t you get it?

The sea.

At the bottom of the deep Baltic Sea.

Of course, long ago, the ancient kingdom of Krehadl was above ground. Trees bearing ripe fruits were everywhere in the black forest. And on the white shores, there was plenty of fine amber, and the crops were plentiful. It was a truly rich and peaceful kingdom. One day however, I, the Empress, became a sea witch’s rival in love, incurring her wrath, and the kingdom sank to the bottom of the sea in one night. Hundreds, perhaps a thousand years have passed since then. I’ve lost track of the time. Anyway, the kingdom of Krehadl is still at the bottom of the sea, with its temple rocked by the tide, the citizens living the same way they did in ancient times. On a fine day, when the waves are calm, you can see the sunken ancient gray temples from the sandy shores of Lithuania. On such days, we also get a great view of the landscape above from the bottom of the sea. The tide ebbs and flows in the sky, the gray waves drifting like clouds.

During those times, I would get out of the water, sit on the rocks, and sing. However, sailors on land do not like to hear us singing, claiming that their ship will capsize or that a storm is coming. We are also known as sirens, the nymphs of the sea, feared by sailors. We have never done anything to scare the people on land.

Yes, Krehadl is a very nice kingdom. I love my kingdom and its people. But sometimes I get bored and sneak off to travel. We all need inspiration, don’t we?

What?

Why would I lie?

How rude! I am not lying!

Am I pretending to be insane? What are you talking about? Why would I do that?

The insolence! I will tell the ambassador of Krehadl about your attitude later. Keep that in mind.

A statement?

Very well. If it helps with your investigation.

No, I am not angry anymore. I am a benevolent person.

To be perfectly honest, I don’t really know what happened aboard the Old Masquerade. I am not certain if I can be of any help. The people in the compartment were not even acquaintances, so I have no idea why that happened. I would love to know what happened myself.

But in any case, I will share what I witnessed.

Ah, yes. The Orphan said something that only I heard. By Orphan, I mean the poor girl who was murdered. We didn’t know each other’s real names, so we simply gave each other some strange nicknames instead.

I met the Orphan on the train on the way to the monastery, along with the Vassal over there. We didn’t talk much then, but upon boarding on the return train, we crossed paths again. There was an aura of familiarity between us. She also sensed my dignity, a kind of elegance that I could not hide, and showed me respect. That’s why I found her charming.

Oh, that?

The story she told us.

About her searching for her birthday.

That was all lies.

How do I know?

Because she told me. She said that it was a lie. She was pretending to be crazy to protect herself. She didn’t hide the truth from me.

When did she tell me? I think I was in the compartment with the Gray Wolf and her Vassal when the Dead and the Lumberjack came in. After we introduced ourselves, the Gray Wolf sneezed, so the Vassal and the Dead went out to change her wet dress. Then the Orphan seemed like she wanted to confide in me, so the Lumberjack—that very nice young nobleman—left the compartment to give us some space.

Finally, the Orphan and I were alone.

She had been screaming and crying hysterically, but suddenly her behavior changed.

She was no longer crying or screaming.

She just seemed terrified.

“I think someone is after me,” she had said.

Her voice was shaking violently. I asked her what she meant.

“Before we introduced ourselves, I accidentally dropped a very important package on the floor. No one was supposed to see it. I made a crucial mistake.”

I was puzzled.

Then I remembered. When the Dead and the Lumberjack came in, she dropped a red box. Everyone was staring at it. She told me that the box—it looked like a plain, ordinary box to me—was an important item that many others had been searching for, and that her enemies must not know that she had found it and taken it out of the monastery. When she dropped it, she felt a chill, and that’s when she realized that one of the people in the compartment was an enemy. She said she sensed malice. She said that if she didn’t do something, the enemy would kill her and take the precious box before the Old Masquerade could reach its final destination.

I didn’t know exactly what she was talking about, but I understood that she had some kind of mission and was risking her life to carry it out. I felt sorry for her. Such a young girl carrying out a dangerous mission. She was only about seventeen years old. She should be going to school, chatting with her friends, and living happily with her parents. So I felt very, very sorry for her. Her eyes were bloodshot, her pale lips were quivering, and she was terrified by the presence of the enemy.

So even though I really didn’t want to get involved, I told her, “Don’t go off alone. Stay close to me. I’m just a normal lady. I’m not your enemy.”

“Yeah. I don’t think you’re a spy for the enemy,” she had replied. “I know that. You’re like a mother.”

I promised to help her, hiding the fact that I was actually the Empress of the Kingdom of Krehadl.

But I couldn’t do anything for her in the end.

You know what happened after that. We went to the dining car and played a game of Pick a Raisin, and somehow she was the only one who ate the poisoned raisin. Who was the culprit? I don’t know.

Ah, yes. As you said, it was the Orphan who suggested the game. It was the Lumberjack who brought the raisins, and it was the Dead who poured brandy on them. I was the one who spun the empty bottle to decide who goes next.

What?

No.

No one knew who would get which raisin. It was all a coincidence.

The Orphan continued acting like she was crazy. She thought that if she made a fuss about the presence of an enemy, it would be hard for them to target her. But it did not work. In full view of the public, an unknown murderer poisoned that poor girl. How horrible!

And then the train began speeding out of control.

I was so scared, I almost fainted.

…What?

I was laughing, you say?

I don’t remember laughing. If I was laughing, it was because of fear. Inspector, can you please not look at me like I’m a pitiful, crazy lady?

…Yes.

What is it, Miss Gray Wolf?

Yes, you’re right. I did talk about my kingdom during the game. Now that you mention it, why did I suddenly talk about Krehadl then?

That’s what I’m wondering about.

You seem curious. Let me try to remember for you.

…

……

………

I remember now. I saw something that reminded me of the seawater all over the sky back home.

Saw what?

A glass.

Yes, the glasses we used. Not my glass, no. The Dead, the Lumberjack, and I were drinking wine. Red Bordeaux. Yes, but the glass I saw had clear liquid in it. So it was either the Vassal’s or the Orphan’s glass. They were drinking water.

Yes, the glass was very cold, with droplets all over it. It reminded me of the white surface of the sea in the sky back home. It looked a lot like the white sea foam I see when looking up from my underwater kingdom. And so, I rambled on about some silly memories.

What? Whose glass was it?

Like I said: either the Vassal’s or the Orphan’s.

What is it, Mr. Vassal?

Your glass of water wasn’t cold? It must have been the Orphan’s, then. It looked cold and refreshing.

The tide.

The seawater in the sky.

Hahaha.

Can I go now?

Really?

No. It was my honor to be of service. Thank you all for your hard work.

Oh, that reminds me.

What was that red box that she dropped?

It looked like an ordinary box to me, so I’m really curious about it. Why was she killed over such a thing?

A memento box?

Is that what it’s called?

Hmm…

No.

It’s, uh, it’s nothing.

Uhm… Actually, I remember hearing the term “memento box” on the train.

I was walking down the corridor. It was just before we ran into Gray Wolf and the Vassal. There was a small room for communication, right? I was passing by it alone, when I heard a crackling sound, like a radio.

“Retrieve the box,” it said. “Someone on the train has it.”

Then came a reply. A deep voice. “Okay.”

But I don’t know whose voice it was. I think it was a man, but I’m not sure.

That’s all.

I hope that was helpful.

I see. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’m sure that the Embassy of Krehadl will send someone to pick me up. Please show them to my room, then.

Adieu!