When it was time for Princess Mira to speak, her face was tense, staring silently at the stage. Even when the host tried to gently probe her
When it was time for Princess Mira to speak, her face was tense, staring silently at the stage.
Even when the host tried to gently probe her with questions, she gave no reaction at all.
Finally, one of her attendants took the microphone and delivered a speech filled with cold, official platitudes.
Next came the toasting ceremony.
Hayashi Yoshiki took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter's tray and murmured a soft thanks.
Then he noticed Princess Mira's gaze seemingly fixated on him, but the next second, under someone's instruction, she raised her glass and stood up.
Hurry it up!
That was all her eyes seemed to say.
"Wait!"
Conan loudly stopped Mira just as she was about to raise her glass.
Drawing everyone's attention, Conan stood confidently with hands in his pockets — hardly looking like a mere child:
"Sorry, Your Highness, but that glass should be tasted by the pourer first."
The words instantly changed the expressions of those on stage.
The attendant, Keith, immediately grabbed the wine from Mira's hand.
The person who poured the wine, realizing the plan had failed, kicked over a nearby cart and tried to escape down the stairs.
Guests, some armed, instantly erupted into chaos.
"Get back!!"
The attacker drew a folding knife from his sleeve and wildly brandished it, scaring the crowd back.
"Yoshiki!"
Hayashi Yoshiki put down his champagne and stepped forward.
As he approached, unbuttoning his jacket, the attacker's eyes flashed dangerously.
He lunged with the knife, aiming at Yoshiki's chest!
The sharp blade sank into the suit jacket, and the attacker's expression flickered.
But it was already too late.
Using his discarded jacket to block the blade, Yoshiki grabbed the attacker's wrist with one hand and with the other struck a fist into his abdomen.
Bang!
A painful cry, and the attacker's eyes bulged as his body doubled over.
The next moment, he collapsed onto his knees.
Conan watched, wincing a little — Yoshiki still loved attacking the abdomen.
The hotel staff and police quickly regained control of the scene.
The princess was escorted away to rest and be guarded, while Yoshiki and Conan were left behind.
"Detective Megure," Takagi Wataru reported, entering the room, "We found a lethal dose of poison in the princess's wine."
Megure Juzo, unsurprised, glanced at Keith, the princess's attendant — Count Keith Dan Stinger of the Vespaland Kingdom.
"Mr. Keith, at this point, are you still refusing to cooperate with the police?"
"I believe the royal family's investigation is sufficient," Keith replied calmly.
"Sufficient? You mean like the situation just now?"
"We agreed with the princess beforehand — she would not touch any food or drink at the banquet."
Keith turned from the window toward Hayashi Yoshiki.
"However, thanks are due to you two."
"No problem. It's just that the princess looks almost exactly like my sister, Riko, so I couldn't help it," Yoshiki said casually.
"Look alike?" Keith's interest was piqued.
Though just a count of a small kingdom, he carried himself with the pride of a nobleman.
Yoshiki, on the other hand, found the whole thing amusing.
Or rather, after handling so many deadly cases, Yoshiki was probably the most arrogant of all.
The police interrogation soon yielded results.
"The man who tried to poison the princess claims he was just hired to do a prank.
He said the substance was supposed to be a laxative — but when we told him it was actually a deadly poison, he immediately confessed."
"Also, the person who hired him was a foreigner we've never seen before today."
Kogoro Mouri found it ridiculous.
To pull a stunt like that just for some money — and the target was a princess no less.
Keith ultimately refused police involvement.
But moments later, alarms rang throughout the hotel's upper floors.
When someone ran over to report the princess missing, Keith's face finally changed.
At 18:39, the watch on the wall ticked toward 7 PM, and Ran's heart grew uneasy.
She'd accidentally trained too late today.
If she hurried now, she'd definitely get a scolding from Sonoko.
Being late made Ran feel a little guilty.
Lately, she'd been devoting much of her energy to karate, because only when sweating did her mind stop wandering — especially away from thoughts about Yoshiki.
Since returning from Koumi Island, after being kissed by Yoshiki, her heart has been completely unsettled.
At first, when she closed and opened her eyes, she'd think about that moment — his warm embrace, the gentle yet intense way he held her, the way his eyes fixed on her lips.
Each time she thought of it, Ran's knees weakened, and her heart raced wildly.
She didn't dislike the feeling.
Even when kissed to the point of breathlessness, her legs trembled with a light, floating sensation.
So that day, after solving the case involving Mizunashi Rena's young assistant and returning to the agency, Yoshiki began to "tease" her again — and she found herself unable to resist.
But she also felt guilty.
Before that, Ran had always liked Shinichi Kudo — and so did everyone, including Sonoko — who thought they would eventually end up together.
But as Yoshiki's presence grew clearer, Ran felt awkward.
Did she not like Shinichi that much after all?
Or was she just a girl who easily changed her heart?
And if she really ended up with Yoshiki, Sonoko would definitely be upset, right?
Thinking about these things, her emotions became a tangled mess.
So lately, Ran threw herself into training, so at least while practicing, she could clear her mind.
"This can't go on — the banquet will end soon, I have to hurry."
Seeing time slip away, Ran finally decided to speed up.
She started running.
But as she glanced at her watch and rounded a corner, she collided head-on with someone rushing even faster — and they both tumbled to the ground.
"Sorry!"
"Hey, watch where you're going!"
They both exclaimed at once.
Opening their eyes and checking their situation, they simultaneously froze.
Almost like looking in a mirror, their eyes locked, and confusion began to show.
At that moment, the royal bodyguards chasing the princess arrived.
Without hesitation, one grabbed Princess Mira's wrist, trying to pull her back.
But for some reason, Ran immediately stepped forward.