What, exactly, was the essence of a detective?
May did not know for the moment, but that did not stop her from being excited. Everything May saw now was merely surface appearances: arch-enemies, detective hats, monocles, pipes. Setting aside all that flashy decoration, what should a detective be?
That was what people ought to explore.
Hoshino returned to her room and silently pushed open the window. The script on the table was gently turned by the wind, rustling as its pages flipped.
It was a rather overt homage.
She spent some time translating it all into Victorian and writing it into lyrics.
The songstress sang to the mirror, summoning the vocal instructor from her dreams. A mysterious shadow appeared in the mirror, answering her call and leading the songstress through his fortress. In the end, amid the chaos, the mask was torn away, and the instructor covered his face and fled.
That was why they had invited all those noble ladies. This part was simply too short; if it had not been an invitation from the lady phantom thief, no audience would have come to watch.
A grand drama would bring this unprompted romance to its conclusion.
Hoshino muttered to herself as she read, "There's no way anyone can beat this chemistry, right? Anyone with eyes who sees this scene should quietly withdraw from the emotional competition."
She closed her eyes, selected a character card, and completed her transformation.
Victoria's detective appeared once more upon this land of endless rain.
Evening arrived.
The crimson curtains slowly parted, and the theater fell utterly silent.
The theater manager stepped onto the stage and gave a slight bow, only to be startled by the sight before him. Those who had come were all young ladies and madams of the nobility, from innocent fourteen-year-old