Cleaning the Home Storage Room with Her Little Daughter
Golden light shone on the red rose petals in Rose Valley. A gentle breeze blew through the ventilation gaps in the stuffy, dusty room. Inside the storage room, a young mother and her little daughter were sorting through used items.
This morning… as usual, Marry El Rose woke her little daughter, changed her clothes, ate breakfast together, and finally took her little daughter, Caelan El Rose, to clean the storage room behind the house.
Caelan's tiny hands touched the used clothes piled in a cardboard box.
"Mom, whose clothes are these?" Little Caelan held a very cute, pink, feminine outfit, a baby outfit that didn't fit her.
Marry stepped closer to her little daughter. She touched the used baby outfit and smiled.
"These are your clothes from when you were a baby. Don't you remember, honey?!" she asked softly.
"Oh…" Caelan shook her head. "Caelan doesn't remember, Mom. This is mine, right?!"
"It's yours, honey." Marry stroked her little daughter's hair. "But… that outfit doesn't fit you anymore… Mommy can sew one for you."
"Yay… Mommy is the best," Caelan enthused.
Caelan put the old outfit back in the cardboard box. Then… her tiny hands rummaged through the contents of the other cardboard.
She found an old newspaper. On the front page… was a photo of a young detective girl with a ponytail. Caelan's head tilted slightly as she looked at the photo of the young girl.
Caelan turned and called out to her mother.
"Mom… whose picture is this?!" Caelan asked.
Marry approached and picked up the old newspaper. Her blue eyes widened when she saw the photo of the detective girl.
On the front page of the newspaper… was a clear headline written in black ink:
"Who is the Identity of the *** Noble Serial Killer?"
Marry's eyes grew serious. She reread the old newspaper… reopening a dark memory the world had forgotten, and she wanted to bury it.
The newspaper never mentioned the name "Blood Rose Princess." All references to Marry or the Blood Rose Princess had become obscured and unreadable since the incident that shattered the world's memory seven years ago.
Marry continued reading the newspaper... but instead of explaining the obscured identity of the Blood Rose Princess,
The newspaper article instead highlighted and exposed the shame of each victim—nobles untouched by the law—whom Marry had judged one by one, along with the full evidence of their systemic crimes.
The young detective said, "... *** is indeed a serial killer... her actions cannot be justified under royal law... but all the victims *** killed were untouchable nobles."
"Slave traders, rapists, hitmen, tax evaders, perpetrators of violence against women and children. They are all criminals who deserve to be judged."
"Maybe... maybe if our laws were stricter, *** wouldn't have to punish them," said Detective Clara.
Marry smiled faintly. She stared at the ceiling of the barn… recalling her memories…
Ten years ago… when she first met Detective Clara in the old church while she was punishing a corrupt nobleman.
She remembered the look in those green eyes… Clara's wavering, doubtful, anxious, and shaken eyes… seeing the reality of the world hidden behind the throne.
But unlike the eyes of ordinary people, who generally choose to close their eyes. Those green eyes remained firm and unwavering.
The young detective accepted the reality, even though it was bitter and heartbreaking.
Then… a tiny hand tugged at her red dress. Marry turned her head and saw Caelan's tiny face staring back at her with round, clear eyes.
"Mom… who is she?!"
Marry sighed. She touched her little daughter's head.
"Honey… she's Detective Clara. She's a heart detective who defends the truth."
"Heart detective?!" Little Caelan touched his chin. "…Is she Mommy's friend?"
Marry just smiled. "Yes… Mommy used to know her."
"Wow… Mommy's friend?! Caelan wants to see Mommy's friend."
"Of course, honey." Marry handed the old newspaper back to her little daughter.
Marry stood and stared up at the ceiling of the storage room.
"Detective Clara, how are you doing now?!" Marry muttered to herself.
Silence enveloped the storage room, except for the sound of Caelan's soft breathing and the dust that swirled as sunlight filtered through the narrow ventilation.
Marry's inner voice echoed through the walls of the small house like an echo... carried far away by the valley breeze.
—
A Heart Detective…
And as if answering a call from within, somewhere else, hundreds of kilometres from the peaceful Rose Valley, the echo reverberated in a silent, document-filled room.
In the capital of the Rose Kingdom, the atmosphere was entirely different. It wasn't a child's laughter, nor warm memories, but rather stacks of paper, black ink, and the weight of heavy responsibility.
Behind the royal investigator's desk, a beautiful woman sat upright. Her long purple hair was tied neatly in a ponytail. Her green eyes held the same look… the same look that had once witnessed blood dripping on the altar of an old church, eyes that still held both firmness and the scars of conscience.
She held a crumpled piece of paper she had examined countless times. It depicted the faces of two notorious fugitives: Bragg and Garel.
Names that haunted crime reports across the Rose Kingdom. Ruthless slave traders, specialists in the kidnapping of women and children.
Their trail was like a trail of blood, and their presence like a ghost, always appearing at unexpected times… and disappearing just as they were about to be captured.
"Clara…" A soft voice broke the silence of the room.
Clara looked up and stared at the young man who had just entered. He was dressed in a royal advisor's robe, with a silver rose emblem on his chest. His neat blond hair… and his gentle blue eyes seemed to hide deep anxiety.
"Prince Elvyn," Clara greeted softly, yet still formally.
The young man, Elvyn El Rose, let out a long sigh. His face was streaked with exhaustion, not only physical but also mental.
"Have you found their trail?" Elvyn asked, sitting across the table.
Clara paused for a moment before answering. "Not yet. They're very slippery. But recent investigations indicate… they're most likely headed south, to Rose Valley."
"Rose Valley?" Elvyn narrowed his eyes.
"A valley south of the Rose Kingdom… a remote countryside filled with wild roses, green meadows, and misty forests."
"Quiet, but perfect for hiding," Clara replied, looking back at the wanted papers.
"If they're really there... I hope you find them soon. Wherever they are, there are always victims. And those victims are always—"
Elvyn stopped, gritting his teeth and holding back his anger.
"…Women and children."
Clara nodded. "I know, Prince. That's why I won't back down."
Silence fell over the room. Elvyn glanced at the papers and reports piled around them.
The documents were testimony to the chaos that followed the World Memory Collapse incident... seven years ago.
Elvyn sighed... he rested his head on his palms resting on the table.
"Clara, do you think... have I changed?"
Clara paused... didn't answer immediately.
"It feels... like walking in a mist. I don't know exactly who I used to be. And somehow... something's missing. Something important. But I can't remember it..."
Clara just stared at him, her expression softening slightly. She looked at Elvyn and said:
"I don't know, Prince. Seven years ago… I didn't know you…"
Clara paused, staring into Elvyn's blue eyes. "…But maybe if there was someone who truly knew you… They would be the ones who loved you."
"Loved me?!" Elvyn asked, surprised.
"Yes, your family… like your big sister."
"Big sister?!" When Clara mentioned 'big sister,' Elvyn felt a pang in her heart.
"I don't even remember having a big sister…" he said hesitantly.
Clara smiled faintly and said, "No one really knows who we are…"
"Reports say many of the kingdom's citizens have forgotten their identities and their families."
Elvyn lowered her head. "Seven years ago… who was I? Did I have a family? Why did the world choose to forget?" Elvyn muttered to himself.
For a moment… there was silence. Clara simply sat in her chair, keeping Elvyn company. But then… Elvyn looked up and broke the silence.
"So… when are you leaving, Clara?" Elvyn asked quietly.
"Tomorrow," Clara replied, standing. "The preparations are complete. Several elite knights will be coming along. I won't be careless."
Elvyn nodded.
"Good. Hopefully, we can finish this soon. Other matters await."
He stared at the never-ending pile of documents.
Clara smiled slightly. "Being crown prince is hard, isn't it?"
"Blame the old nobles for sleeping so long. All their burdens fall on my shoulders," Elvyn complained, only half jokingly.
"At least you're not alone," Clara said softly. "You still have us."
Elvyn looked at Clara and smiled faintly.
"Thank you, Clara."
"Good luck, Prince," Clara smiled briefly. "…We will always be with you."
—
Journey to Rose Valley…
The next day… the capital's main streets were bustling. A procession of white horses was seen moving elegantly. At the head of the procession, a beautiful woman with long, purple hair tied in a ponytail rode her horse, greeting the citizens of the capital.
"Look! It's Detective Clara."
"Wow… Miss Clara is as beautiful as ever."
"What other case will she solve?!"
"Detective Clara… I love you."
"Be safe on the road, Miss Clara!"
The citizens of the capital cheered and waved… seeing Detective Clara off, leaving the capital.
Clara smiled, raised her right hand, and returned the greetings cordially.
A few moments later… Clara and her entourage arrived at the gates of the royal capital. Clara stopped in front of the gates.
Clara clutched a scroll of intelligence reports tightly. It was a letter detailing suspicious activity around Rose Valley, the sighting of two men matching the descriptions of Bragg and Garel: a burly, rugged swordsman and a fat, dirty man.
Her green eyes intently scanned the intelligence reports. She stopped reading when the report stated:
"Bragg and Garel are likely searching for and intending to kidnap young girls in Rose Valley…"
Clara's hands gripped the report so tightly they nearly tore.
"…and take them across the border to the kingdom of Wealth…and then sell the girls as slaves at a gold auction."
"These damned fugitives…" Clara gritted her teeth.
Clara looked south. Her green eyes seemed to penetrate the veil of Rose Valley.
"If the trail of those two fugitives leads to Rose Valley…I will capture them. For justice. For those who cannot defend themselves," Clara muttered to herself.
Clara glanced back. The morning sun shone on the knights' armour…reflecting a silver light.
White horses were lined up neatly. Elite knights mounted them. They carried supplies strapped to their backs.
"Let's go," Clara instructed curtly.
She heads to Rose Valley to capture the fugitives. But little does she know… the valley holds more than just a refuge for fugitives.
There… lives a gentle mother and an innocent, cheerful little daughter. And her journey begins!