Prologue 1-3: Sherlyn Doteyes

Prologue 1-3: Sherlyn Doteyes

Wooooo, wooooo, wooooo!

The burglar alarm was blaring loudly. It overlapped the police sirens for a terrible chorus of electronic wailing.

A crowd of onlookers gathered outside the major art museum, making a commotion about a break-in. A few rude police officers were yelling at the clamoring reporters and masses.

“How inelegant.”

Looking down from the tallest tower in the city, the burglar who’d just nabbed the art museum’s greatest treasure let out an exasperated sigh.

This burglar’s name was Sherlyn Doteyes. However, that wasn’t what she called herself. She much preferred the term phantom thief. There were several gossip articles and people who even referred to her as a gentleman burglar. That was owing to how she used her talents. She took her spoils and sold them off to give money to the poor, or sometimes stole particular items to return to their rightful owners. But she herself wasn’t particularly fond of that title, either. She still much preferred being called a phantom thief.

When she told this to a friend once, that friend had asked why. Sherlyn answered, “Because phantom thief sounds much more elegant, don’t you think?”

Similarly, the fact that she wore a flashy cape and silk hat was simply because she believed that was the appropriate attire for the profession.

“Now then...”

Flicking the brim of her silk hat, Sherlyn picked up the treasure she’d set down on the ground beside her. The treasure she’d picked up this time was a crown salvaged from the depths of the Pacific.

“Hmm, the exhibition plaque said this was a king’s crown, but it’s small enough to pass off as a queen’s tiara, too.”

Perhaps it was designed to be worn by both men and women. Not that that really affected its value. The piece was absolutely exquisite. Compared to the wondrous ornaments described in literature, the craftsmanship of this crown far surpassed anything made in the same era.

There were doubts that it was merely a modern-made fake, but the appraisal revealed it to be genuine. I wouldn’t have bothered to steal it otherwise.

Because of the impossible technology and skill that would have been required to craft it, newspapers all over the world had been reporting it as a “new part,” instantly increasing its value by several thousand times. However, the newspapers were all talking about something other than its price... The curse of the crown.

“Well, it’s a popular tale.”

Rumor had it that anyone who wore the crown would die, but they were merely rumors. Many such objects of value were shrouded in similar mystique. But it triggered Sherlyn’s curiosity, and she eyed it carefully as she spun it around her finger.

Let’s try putting it on.

It was a bit of an impulsive decision, half out of the desire to test the curse and half out of a desire to try such a beautiful tiara on for herself. Humming whimsically, Sherlyn removed her silk hat and placed the crown on her head.

“Oh, it fits just right.”

She didn’t have a mirror to see it for herself, but the fit felt right. And surely it looked as good as it felt. She could probably blend in with the royals in England with no problems right now.

When she thought of it that way, it made her a little reluctant to part with it, but that was how it had to be. Just thinking of all the poor families she could help by fencing it, she knew this would be the end of her royal charade.

“Now that the officers have all gathered, I guess it’s time to make my exit. The buyer’s waiting for me at the port, anyway.”

Sherlyn stood up and lightly brushed the dust off her cape.

“Oh, can’t forget to put this away.”

Remembering that she still had the crown on, Sherlyn went to remove it. However...

“Hm? ...Huh?”

It wouldn’t come off.

“Huh? What?”

No matter how she pulled at it, it was like it had welded to her skin and wouldn’t budge.

“Ow...!”

Maybe it was her imagination, but it felt like the crown was gradually getting tighter...

“What? Wait, is this really a curse?! You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Sherlyn’s shouting echoed through the night sky colored red by the flashing lights on the police cars below.