The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 42: Strange Sounds
"I've never seen a detective as young as you."

Mrs. Cherry covered her mouth: "…Why don't they arrange a place for you to live in the West District?"

"I'm paid weekly, ma'am."

Roland shook his head: "I can't afford to live in this house."

"They are all meaningless things." She casually fiddled with the daffodils in the vase, making them assume various postures, and then quickly bounced them back.

The flowers were still fresh and their colors had not faded at all. They reflected the light coming in from outside, giving her face a layer of gold and making the dazzling decorations even more vivid and lively.

"I have loved detective and thief stories since I was a child."

Cherry said: "At that time I decided that if I grew up and bought a police uniform, I would wear it all day long."

Roland is a rookie detective and Cheryl is also a woman reporting a crime for the first time.

Two newbies chatting casually...

There's no telling where the topic might go.

The pretty young lady started off with the 'strange noises in the night', then gradually went off the track:
We talked about the salons and the 'strange things' that happened to the girls or ladies.

For example, if someone’s husband snores at night like a donkey, the sound can pass through the second floor and reach the first floor;
For example, who has a lover, and how did they find out that the lover is actually their husband's work partner?

For example, who pays special attention to foot care, and whose husband has some "special hobbies" -

Roland felt that Cherry-Chloe was different from before.

When she talks, she seems younger and more energetic than when she is in front of her husband.

During this time, the servant came once.

The maid held a plate with a small piece of honeycomb on it.

Cherry didn't touch it, but considerately put on the appropriate tableware and pushed the plate to Roland.

Pour the cream on top and cut it vertically with a spoon and knife to eat.

Like gummy candy, honey flows to every corner of your mouth, sticky, floral and chewy.

Then, at the end, cover your mouth and spit the unchewable part into another exquisite porcelain cup for waste, then quickly put the lid on.

That's all there is to eating it.

Cherry watched with satisfaction, watching him chew and spit, and imitating some of the behaviors in their circle in a very clumsy and cute way, and giving him advice from time to time.

"…lady?"

"I wish I could give birth to a child half as beautiful as you, even if it's a girl." She said this like singing, her light blue eyes curved.

Roland smiled shyly: "I don't dare to hope to have a mother like you. I would be so happy even in my dreams... Madam."

"Ok?"

"I never asked." Roland lowered his eyes and blinked twice: "Aren't you worried about my illness?"

"Ill?" Cherry-Chloe stretched her neck like a clever fox and leaned closer to Roland. Her voice seemed to play a playful melody on the piano keys: "I know you are not ill at all. Roland Collins."

"It's invisible to the eyes, but it's not contagious."

But that day at the pharmacy...

"Humans, like animals, need to be sociable." Cherry-Chloe shrank back and picked up the teacup with a smile.

At this time, Fernandez came back.

Behind him followed the servant named Pink, and Mince-Chloe lagged behind, walking slowly.

"Roland." He called out and asked Roland to go outside to talk alone. "How is it?"

"Nothing at all."

Roland didn't need to look back to see that Mr. Mingsi was walking into the room, pushing away the beehive and teacup he had just touched with a look of disgust, and saying something to Cherry Chloe with gestures.

"I checked it with the 'secret'."

Fernandez nodded: "Same upstairs."

that…

What is the reason?
"This is none of our business, Roland."

Fernandez lowered his head and dusted his hands. He had touched many boxes and cabinets just now.
"Who knows where all those noises in the night come from? It could be rats, or maybe a servant stealing some food. These people would make a fuss."

After he finished speaking, he glanced behind Roland.

In a house not far away, the husband and wife started arguing for some unknown reason.

"'I told you! These are all necessary expenses!' Mingsi Chloe growled sarcastically."

"'I never saw the need for it, dear.' Cherry-Chloe absentmindedly flicked her fresh nails."
-
I don't need you to describe it to me, wrench.

“I’m like a literary writer.”
-
You act like a fool.

Fernandez seemed to want to leave, but the two people in the room were still arguing about something.

For the sake of both parties' dignity, he deliberately moved towards the patio under the gaze of the servants, trying his best to avoid himself and Roland falling into an 'undignified' situation.

But Roland could still "see" the conversation.

"What can we do now for free? Cherry, do you think those carnivores will do us a favor by feeding them some hay?"

These are the words of Mr. Mingsi.

'We? Which we? Are you taking lovers for us, or holding salons without me, for us? Or gambling? Which? Mince Croy, whose money are you using? 'These are the words of Lady Cherry Croy.

Her husband was a little annoyed.

Ming Si: 'Your money? This is my money!'

Cherry: 'This is the dowry my father left me!'

Ming Si: 'That's mine! Holy Father, are you asking too much of a man?'

Cherry: 'If you could stay home every night instead of going to shady places with shady people, I guess I wouldn't ask for anything more.'

Ming Si: "Ms. Jasmine is not a bad person, and her home is not a bad place!"

Mingsi: 'If you don't understand anything, just shut up!'

This statement angered Cherry.

"Why on earth would I marry someone like you—"

'Because I'm a knight. Because your father and your brother agreed. Well, I don't want to waste time arguing. Women are always like this - do you always have to wait for men to calm down before you can regain your senses?'

Footsteps sounded.

Roland pretended to concentrate on fiddling with his cane.

Fernandez concentrated on observing the lines on his palms.

"I am so sorry, gentlemen."

It seemed as if this section of road was as long as from the East District to the West District.

Mingsi Chloe used this time to adjust her expression, and politely asked the servants to pack two bags of snacks, "This is the new honey and honeycomb, some of which are made into cakes."

Fernandez thanked him and let him see them out.

There was a small episode in between.

Fernandez had forgotten his gloves on the second floor, and when he went back, he found that all the servants in the mansion had been mobilized - they wore cloth hats and white aprons, and held rags or buckets in their hands.

Every place they wiped was where Roland and Fernandez had just sat, stood, or touched.

Mingsi Chloe was very happy: "It's just the right time to prepare it. This house is too dirty. Who knows if there are mice in the corners. What do you think?"

Fernandez nodded with a wry smile and led Roland away.

“This is how we are in their minds—”

In the carriage, Fernandez said to Roland sullenly.

"dirty stuff."

All the prosperity around is fading away.

After appreciating the colorful pictures, they have to continue to face their own gray lives.

Roland drummed his fingers on his knees, feeling quite good—at least Mrs. Cherry Crowe was quite interesting, and the interesting things she talked about would surely keep him happy for weeks.

"At least it's better than not having any food to eat."

Fernandez turned his head to look at Roland and stared at him for a long while.

I laughed too.

(End of this chapter)