As Klein grumbled inwardly, Reporter Mike turned to Talim with an odd look and asked bluntly:
"Talim, why hire Sherlock to go with you to a private meeting with a lady at night? Don't tell me you have some unusual tastes?"
Talim shot him a look. "How long have we known each other? When have you ever seen me show any such tastes?"
"You never know. Maybe you only discovered them recently..." Mike shrugged, but let the joke drop. A tease or two was fine; keep at it, even with a good friend, and it would get tiresome.
Instead, he asked, "Is this about that relationship problem you asked about for your 'friend'?"
Mike had happened to overhear Talim asking Klein about it a few weeks earlier.
Klein's attention sharpened again. He had long suspected that Talim's friend was Prince Edessak, and that the supposed "relationship" problem might involve two Demonesses.
But... I'd meant to learn more about this through the connection between Shoko and the Fool. Why did I keep forgetting? I have been busy lately, but still...
Klein grew wary. He had experienced something similar in Tingen.
At Mike's question, Talim shook his head.
"That relationship dispute is actually over... This is just the aftermath.
"Really, it's nothing too serious. I overthought things at the time.
"Simply put, a young gentleman of high standing fell in love with a commoner woman. You know how it is: a man in his position has to marry a noble lady. Hah, even a wealthy man's daughter wouldn't do for him.
"For the young gentleman's future, I once considered asking Sherlock to find someone with unusual abilities to handle it discreetly. Heh. Anyway, I'm a law-abiding man. It never went beyond a thought."
*So one Demoness bewitched the prince and wanted him