The damp morning fog rose around the Nihelet Manor, enveloping everything in a soft, greyish-blue chill.
Batman, standing at the bedroom window, saw Shiller in the garden. He recalled the conversation they had after he had taken a visit to Shiller's room before retiring the night before.
Having arrived at Shiller's bedroom door in the dead of night, still frozen through from the cold, Batman found Shiller already in his pajamas, suggesting he hadn't left the room.
As Batman removed his overcoat to follow Shiller into his bedroom and to the sofa area, Shiller handed him a cup of coffee that had been heating by the fireplace. Batman asked, "Did you know I was coming?"
"Of course. And it's not just you. Would you like to talk about the 'Killer Devil'?"
"Mr. Nihelet is hardly guiltless," Batman replied in his characteristically low voice, making no idle claims. He took a sip of his coffee before elaborating, "There is much about him to be suspicious of."
"Firstly, as the master of an aristocratic manor, he must maintain appearances even if he and his wife may have differences. A married couple should display unity, especially within the ranks of the nobility. Regardless of the size of their private disputes, they must seem cordial in public."
"But instead of his wife, Lady Nihelet, it seems that Mr. Nihelet prefers the company of his Cousin Hancock. While it would be understandable if they were just good friends in private, it's a blatant disregard to ignore his wife in public to spend time with his brother."
Batman gently rested a hand on the sofa armrest and continued, "They are from the type of family which puts rules above everything. Having been brought up with the most traditional nobility education, they consider their family's reputation in every word and action. His discourteous behavior contradicts their values."
"And the most important point," Batman added, a slight frown on his face, "is his reason for moving out of the manor—to handle pressing business matters. However, from my conversation with him at the banquet hall, I found that he's not well-versed in business."
"This is not the Victorian era anymore. What business person doesn't understand stocks or investments? But every time I brought up recent stock market trends or inside information, he either evaded or simply sidetracked the conversation. That's suspicious."
"So what did you do?"
"The best way to investigate a lord of a manor is to investigate his butler," Batman responded, his elbow resting on the sofa armrest as he idly stroked his chin. "In these types of aristocratic manors, no one knows more secrets than the butler."
"After the banquet, I had a brief conversation with the old butler. According to him, the relationship between Mr. Nihelet and Lady Nihelet had been mostly fine—even though it was an arranged marriage, they didn't have any significant issues."
"But ever since Mr. Nihelet's Cousin Hancock joined them, their relationship faced constant crises. Lady Nihelet, who was a very dominant woman, kicked up a fuss several times. However, she has been quiet in recent years."
"The most suspicious point is that Lady Nihelet's maternal family, the Prossi Family, were once very powerful. But one night, they all committed suicide by burning their house down, including the Prossi Manor, leaving Lady Nihelet bereft of any support. Only Mr. Proche, who was painting outdoors at the time, survived but is now dependent on others."
Shiller, sitting across from Batman, quietly listened to him speaking. When he turned his head to look into the garden, the gnarled, barren branches looked like raging flames.
"Lady Nihelet mentioned that incident to me," Shiller replied. His identity had shifted back to Beihan, and there was now a hot coffee in front of him as well. Only one cup remained by the fireplace.
"She was not sad when she talked about the fire, only deeply terrified. But when I asked her to elaborate, she refused to speak. I think it's not because she's too heartbroken to discuss it; it's just that the setting wasn't right."
"So, I sought her out privately after the banquet. She was both shocked and scared when she saw me. But when I told her that my coming here was unbeknown to anyone, she suddenly seemed hopeful."
"What did she tell you?" Shiller asked, leaning back in his chair.
"Some dark hidden past. She said it was not the Prossi family themselves who started that fire. They didn't intend to commit mass suicide. But the police couldn't find a culprit after their investigation, and the case eventually went cold."
"Mr. Proche, who has been staying at the manor, suspects that the Nihelet family might be responsible. That's why he's been staying here. He wants to catch the killer into his own hands to avenge his family."
Beihan sighed slightly and said, "Lady Nihelet is being controlled by something. She is even afraid of things that are not present in our conversations. It's like she's being puppeteered."
"But what we need to consider is who the real 'Killer Devil' is. I think Lady Nihelet is under large suspicion. Even if someone manipulated her into committing murder, she's capable of lots as the lady of the manor and as such poses a significant threat."
"Do you think she is innocent?"
Beihan shook his head and replied: "I believe she's not the type who can stick to her principles. Thus, she can't be entirely guiltless."