Year 3028 of the Fifth Epoch—Eternal Night City
With the truth uncovered, everyone except the murderer, the victim, and the valet felt quite satisfied. Shade bid Angelina farewell, took the cat from Tifa's arms, and left with Maid. The people voluntarily made way for the two of them.
Once they returned to the temporarily empty corridor, the Black-haired Girl spoke softly to Shade:
"Your performance tonight was quite impressive."
"Was it?"
He patted the cat in his arms.
"Mia deserves the most credit. Otherwise, I truly wouldn't have known what evidence to present to prove my point. Fortunately, now that this matter has been resolved, His Majesty the King will need to spend some time considering how to arrange Angelina's marriage."
Tifa blinked with a light laugh.
"I thought you solved the case so quickly because you wanted to hurry back to find Her Highness Leisha and Miss Louisa."
Shade turned to look at her, and Maid pressed her lips together as she softly reminded him:
"This is Yodel Palace, Knight. You mustn't do anything naughty."
She happened to be standing beneath a gas lamp on the wall bearing the royal coat of arms. The bright light made her exquisite face seem even more radiant.
"Come to think of it, ever since Miss and I returned, I haven't had a chance to be alone with you. Last time in the room, Miss interrupted us."
Shade looked around, then embraced and kissed Maid, whose lips curved into a smile.
When they returned hand in hand to the corridor where the resting room was located, Tifa finally took the initiative to release Shade's hand. She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek one last time, then raised her right forearm and gently waved goodbye. Of course, she also took the cat with