Chapter 130: Interrogation
After the little fight between the two friends had finally come to an end, Seraphina sat in front of him, still seeming quite pissed, her posture stiff and her expression sharp enough to slice through the silence that had settled between them. The two of them hadn't spoken a single word between them yet.
At that moment, Arwyn came out of the kitchen, holding a wooden tray with three cups of steaming tea, and began to hand them one by one with her usual calm grace.
Taking the cup into his hand, Kael lifted it slightly and said, "Thanks for the tea, Arwyn."
Arwyn gave a small nod before turning toward Seraphina, who immediately glared at her and looked away with a deliberate tilt of her head as though she had no interest in drinking anything.
However, even while pretending not to care, her eyes somehow kept finding their way back to the cup of tea as if the aroma itself was testing her will. It was common knowledge by now that Seraphina could resist anything in this world except a cup of tea being offered to her, no matter how angry she might be or at whom her anger was directed.
So, after a brief moment of hesitation, she snatched the cup from Arwyn's hand and muttered, "Thanks."
Arwyn smiled slightly, set the tray aside, and took her own cup before walking toward Kael. She sat down with a kind of elegance that felt almost practiced, crossing her legs as though she was some noblewoman from the capital.
However, her legs soon uncrossed in an awkward motion, and Kael noticed it immediately.
"Is it because… there's Seraphina here?" he thought, glancing between the two women.
The silence that followed stretched like a string pulled too tight, each of them sipping quietly until Arwyn finally decided to cut through it. Taking a light sip, she turned her gaze toward Seraphina and asked, "So… Seraphina, would you mind telling me what you're doing here exactly? And why are you with him, of all people? No, wait, that's not the right question. Where did you even find him? Also, why did you change your hair color?"
Seraphina, without showing much reaction, took a sip from her cup and stared at Arwyn for a few seconds before replying in her usual cold tone, "Well, long story short, your student here seems to have a student of his own."
Arwyn blinked several times, confusion flashing across her face, before turning her gaze toward Kael, who looked away almost immediately. "Kael?"
Kael lifted his shoulders with a shrug, pretending to be relaxed. "Why're you both acting like this? Can't I have a student of my own? I'm an experienced weakest adventurer, you know."
Ignoring his words completely, Seraphina continued in her steady, composed voice, "Unfortunately, that student of his was kidnapped last night. So, your student came running to me and begged me to help him find her. Naturally, I couldn't refuse him, could I? So, here I am."
Kael's expression turned stiff as he thought silently, "Just when did I beg, huh? What a miraculous liar."
But he decided to let it go for now since correcting Seraphina's version of the story was never worth the effort.
Meanwhile, Arwyn stared at her tea for a moment before looking back at Seraphina and asking, "I think I understand. But still… why did you come to me?"
Seraphina went quiet for a brief moment, then shrugged indifferently as if it was the most casual thing in the world. "Well, it's because that girl's father filed a case regarding her kidnapping, and I assigned it to you."
Arwyn blinked in disbelief, then coughed suddenly as if the tea had gone down the wrong way. After a few moments, she straightened her posture again and asked, "Me?"
"Yes, you," Seraphina replied instantly, "So, I thought it'd be wise if you helped us with searching as well. With shared information, we can find the girl more quickly, don't you think?"
Arwyn stayed silent for a while, her lips curving slightly before her teal green eyes gleamed slightly. "That's true. However, why would I want to help you two anyway? Unlike you, who accepts requests out of your feelings for someone in particular, I don't have that kind of reason. So, just go away… I have to go to bed."
Kael had just taken another sip of tea when that word slipped out of Arwyn's mouth — feelings — and his brain froze.
He ended up spitting the tea right in front of him, his mind spinning. "Feelings and Seraphina? Did I hear that right? Or am I dreaming? She has feelings for someone? But wasn't she so smug about having no interest in men? Was that all a lie? Wait… who is that person? Considering Arwyn mentioned 'requests,' that means I'm not the one, right? Then, who?"
Before his thoughts could go any further, Arwyn gently patted his back and said in a concerned voice, "Are you alright, Kael?"
Kael took a slow breath, wiping his mouth. "I'm fine."
In truth, though, he was clearly not fine in the head after hearing something like that. He glanced at Seraphina, whose expression was colder than the tea she had just finished sipping.
Ignoring him completely, Seraphina turned her sharp gaze toward Arwyn and asked, "Who exactly are you talking about?"
Arwyn laughed, her voice light but her eyes teasing. "Who else? Your duty, of course."
Seraphina sighed long and deep, her eyes narrowing. "You… witch."
Kael, for some reason, felt a strange warmth inside his chest at hearing Seraphina's irritated voice. It was an odd sense of satisfaction that made no sense even to him. Of course, it was just about her duty, nothing else. Why did he even think about something else anyway? It was indeed foolish of him.
But the sound of her voice filled with that irritation somehow felt… comforting. He didn't know why, and perhaps he didn't want to know either.
Arwyn, noticing his soft smile, shifted her eyes toward him for a brief second before turning back to Seraphina and saying with a cold voice, "Still, Seraphina… I can't accept your request."
The air around them turned colder than before at once.
Seraphina's expression darkened slowly as she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing even more coldly. "But who asked for your opinion anyway?"
Arwyn blinked, slightly taken aback. "What?"
Before she could even process what was happening, Seraphina grabbed her collar and dragged her out of her sofa, pulling her toward the door.
Kael stood up hurriedly, let out a quiet sigh, and closed the door behind them before following the two women outside.
Arwyn, completely caught off guard, found herself being dragged along the path while trying not to spill what remained of her tea. In truth, she didn't exactly dislike helping Kael, but she had her own plan in mind earlier... to let the two of them spend time together and perhaps understand each other better.
But that plan was now completely ruined, since she herself had become an unwanted third wheel between two people who were bound to be lovebirds in the near future… and if not, she was going to make them lovebirds herself.
"I think... I should buy some artifact that makes my house lightning-proof next time," she muttered under her breath, groaning as Seraphina continued dragging her away.
---
Some time later, the three of them were walking side by side along the narrow path that led toward the town. Seraphina had already finished explaining everything she knew to Arwyn, from her suspicions to the small details she had noticed, and Arwyn had simply listened without interrupting, her expression calm but unreadable.
It was indeed reassuring to have someone like her as an ally, especially when things could go wrong at any moment, but there still remained one question in Kael's mind that he could not quite dismiss. He had absolutely no idea what Seraphina was truly planning or what her exact reason was for bringing Arwyn along with them in the first place.
"Can Arwyn really track someone's scent the way a dog does or what?" Kael thought, his hands tucked into his pockets as he walked at his own steady pace behind them.
When Seraphina finally finished her long explanation, Arwyn seemed to be contemplating something quietly before turning her head toward her and asking in a thoughtful tone, "So... what should we do next? Do you have any particular idea in mind?"
Seraphina was about to respond, her lips parting slightly as if she had already formed her answer, but before she could speak, Kael halted and raised a hand lightly. "If you two don't mind... I think I have an idea. Want to hear it?"
Both women stopped in their tracks and turned toward him. Arwyn's face did not show much surprise, but Seraphina's expression shifted slightly as she said in a calm tone, "Sure. What kind of idea is it?"
Kael remained silent for a short moment, his gaze fixed somewhere ahead, and a strange smile appeared on his face. "Since we currently don't have any clear leads, wouldn't it be better to find the one who made everyone in the mansion fall asleep? If we manage to catch that person, we can interrogate him and perhaps uncover something far more useful than just wandering around looking for clues."
Seraphina tilted her head slightly, "You are correct. However, that path also comes with a problem since we don't have enough clues to identify that person. All we know is that whatever drug or substance was used had been given during dinner. The lack of evidence keeps us from suspecting anyone. Unless, of course, you have some information of your own that could uncover that detail. Do you?"
Kael thought for a few moments, his face calm as always, before shaking his head. "No. I don't have one."
Seraphina exhaled softly, her tone filled with a little trace of dissatisfaction. "Then let's just avoid that direction... for now."
But Kael's voice broke the silence again, this time carrying a quiet amusement. "But I can definitely catch that culprit."
Arwyn's brow arched slightly, her curiosity showing through her composed face. "How exactly are you going to do that?"
Kael turned his gaze forward, and a dark expression appeared on his face. "I have my own ways of doing things, you know. You could say I have keen eyes. But don't worry, it won't take too long... only about an hour or so, if you can spare it, Captain. I promise it won't be for nothing."
Seraphina stood still for a while, deep in thought, then began walking again with her usual cool grace. "Alright. We can spare an hour. But since you are so confident in your ability, you must not disappoint me, Kael."
Kael's face darkened further, but his lips curved into a smirk, "Don't worry. You definitely won't be disappointed. Let's head to Arienne's mansion, then."
Seraphina gave a brief nod of agreement.
The three of them continued down the quiet road. At one point, Arwyn lightly punched Kael's back as she walked beside him, her expression playful yet curious. "So," she asked, "how exactly are you planning to find that culprit, Kael?"
He turned his head just enough to meet her gaze, his expression unreadable. "You'll see."
---
Not long after, the three of them stood before Arienne's mansion. The tall iron gate loomed in front of them, its surface glinting under the pale silver moonlight. The night air carried the soft and sweet scent of lavender from the gardens inside, filling the silence with a strangely serene feeling.
Kael's eyes wandered over the familiar sight before he noticed Arwyn staring at the mansion in surprise. She blinked several times and pointed toward it with a slightly trembling hand. "You... you're training the daughter of the wealthiest merchant in this entire town, Kael?"
Kael tilted his head slightly, his tone calm and casual. "Yes, I am. Why? Is there something wrong with that?"
Arwyn shook her head slowly, the long ponytail behind her swaying gently like a ribbon caught in the wind. "No, nothing like that. I'm just... a little surprised. Families like this usually hire the strongest teachers they can find to train their children. But you? It's just hard to believe. Please, don't take it as an offense."
Kael looked at the mansion again, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "No, I don't mind. I understand what you mean. To tell you the truth, I never actually intended to train Arienne in the first place. I just said something similar, just gave her a little comfort in her sad times, but the next day she came to me herself and asked me to keep that promise which I never made. She's far too stubborn, that's why I couldn't refuse her. You could say she forced me into it. Maybe that's why her father didn't object either. Who knows."
Hearing that, Arwyn turned her gaze away, her voice turning soft, carrying a smile. "I see. Then we should find your little student as soon as possible... so that you can introduce her to me. I want to see just what kind of teaching you gave her."
Kael nodded quietly.
Seraphina, who had been standing beside them without saying much, continued to listen to their conversation in silence. There was a soft hint of boredom on her face.
Come to think of it, wasn't she the one who had also forced Kael to train, not only with herself but with Arwyn as well? But that, of course, was for his own good. So it did not count as forcing.
Soon, the gate opened, perhaps because someone inside had overheard their voices, and from within stepped out a familiar figure, Darian. His expression was calm at first, but the moment his eyes fell on them, a change flickered across his face. He hesitated for a moment, then said as his gaze settled on Kael, "Sir Kael... it's good to see you again. Did you find anything about young miss?"
Kael stepped forward, his tone polite, "Good to see you too, Darian. But... I'm sorry to say we haven't found anything yet. We're here to meet with your master. Is he awake?"
Darian's eyes lingered around them for longer than necessary, as if confirming something unsaid. It was clear he had already recognized Arwyn standing behind Kael, which explained why he didn't ask any more questions.
After a quiet moment, he turned away and said simply, "Yes, he is awake. Come... follow me."
The three of them exchanged a brief look before following him inside. The air grew quieter as they walked through the familiar stone corridor that led deeper into the estate.
Seraphina, still in her disguise, could do nothing but listen. Her usual commanding tone was absent, and her expression remained distant and unreadable.
Arwyn, on the other hand, seemed withdrawn, her gaze fixed forward without uttering a single word. So, their steps echoed in silence until they reached the far end of the hall.
---
The room, once again, was as spacious and orderly as Kael remembered. Tall bookshelves lined the walls, their spines carrying years of history and research, and near the far window stood a round table polished to a soft reflection beneath the morning light.
There, seated in quiet composure, was an old man with light gray hair that fell loosely behind him. His cool pale-blue eyes gave off a calm impression, but Kael, after a single glance, could already tell that the calmness was a fragile surface stretched over deep unrest.
Albrecht had not noticed them until Darian walked forward and gently touched his shoulder. The old man blinked, and the haze in his eyes vanished as he turned toward them. His composure broke slightly when he recognized the visitors. "Oh, it's you, Mister... I mean, Arienne's teacher. And..." his words caught in his mouth as his eyes fell on the woman beside Kael, "Lieutenant Arwyn. Greetings to you as well. My apologies for the lack of proper welcome. I wasn't expecting the three of you to appear without notice."
Then, catching himself, he gestured to the nearby chairs. "Please, take your seats."
He turned his head toward Darian and added, "Go and prepare some tea for them."
Darian was about to step out when Kael raised a hand to stop him. "That won't be necessary, Mr. Albrecht. You already know we wouldn't be here for hospitality at a time like this."
Albrecht drew in a quiet breath and exhaled slowly, as if forcing his mind to stay composed. "Right... of course. Forgive me, I tend to lose track of formality when things weigh on me. But if I may ask, what brings you here so suddenly? Does it relate to Arienne?"
Kael nodded and took a deliberate step closer. "Yes, it does. We haven't located her yet, but we've found a clue that might lead us closer. It appears that one of your own servants may have been working secretly with the kidnappers."
Albrecht's calm expression faltered, if only for an instant. He straightened in his chair, his tone sharper now. "I already suspected as much. But do you know who it is?"
Kael shook his head slowly. "Not yet. That's the reason we came here uninvited. We want to find that person, if you'll permit us to investigate, that is. I hope you'll cooperate."
Albrecht went silent for a long moment, his fingers curling tightly together as if holding back frustration. Then, with a deep exhale, he said, "Alright. What do you need me to do?"
Kael replied calmly, "Gather every servant and guard in the main hall. We'll check their personal rooms for anything suspicious. After that, I'll be interrogating each of them one by one."
There was a brief pause before Albrecht finally looked toward Darian and said, "Do as he says."
Darian bowed slightly, "Yes, sir," and hurried out to carry out the order.
Behind Kael, both Seraphina and Arwyn exchanged silent glances filled with quiet confusion.
The knights Seraphina had sent this morning had already scoured every corner of this mansion without finding a trace of useful evidence. So how exactly was Kael expecting to uncover something those knights could not?
Seraphina didn't know.
---
Some time later, all of them gathered inside the wide living hall. The servants stood in two straight lines across from each other, their faces uneasy and uncertain. The guards, too, looked tense as whispers passed among them. None of them seemed pleased by the idea of being interrogated, and the mention of their rooms being searched only deepened the discomfort that hung over the hall.
Kael stood quietly at the center, his eyes scanning across the faces before him. There were twelve of them in total, including the guards. Five were maids, two were cooks, four were guards, and one appeared to be a steward who managed most of the household matters. Fortunately, no one from the staff was missing, which meant there was still a chance to uncover the truth before it slipped away again.
Then Kael went to check the male rooms while Seraphina walked toward the female rooms and started examining everything she could find. They continued searching the furniture, shelves, and clothes one by one, leaving nothing behind, not even the bed sheets or the windowsill. It took them almost half an hour to finish inspecting every single room, but in the end, it was Seraphina who finished first.
Unfortunately, she did not find anything useful at all. It was as though none of them were actually criminals, as if whoever was behind it had erased every possible trace.
Her eyes narrowed the moment Kael stepped out from the other corridor.
She thought silently, a little frustrated in a long time, "Just how exactly is he planning to find the culprit? From the way I see it, they are far too clever to leave any kind of clue behind, so how will he manage that? Will interrogation really work? Has Kael ever even done something like that before in his whole life? It doesn't seem like he has. But he looks so confident, as though he already knows what to do. Does he have some kind of trick, or is he just pretending to look cool?"
Kael came to a halt and let out a quiet sigh that carried his disappointment. He did not even need to say anything... Seraphina could already tell that he had not found anything either. What now?
Stopping right in front of her, he turned toward the others and spoke in a cold tone, "It's time for the interrogation. Come one by one."
Then his gaze shifted toward Seraphina, and he added, "Miss... I need your help as well."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by the way he called her 'miss'. It sounded strange coming from him. "With what?" she asked, though her voice carried little curiosity.
Kael replied evenly, "Stay right in front of the door of the room where I'll be interrogating them. If someone decides to attack me out of nowhere, you'll be there."
Seraphina nodded without much hesitation. She had already agreed to let him handle everything here, so she had little room to argue.
She walked toward the door and stood by the side of it, leaning against the wall and crossing her arms as her eyes stayed fixed ahead. Soon after, Kael entered the room along with one of the female servants.
From where she stood, Seraphina could not hear anything, but she was fine with that for now. As long as he could find the culprit, she had no reason to interfere.
Time passed slowly as one servant after another went into the room and came out again, each leaving with a look of uncertainty on their faces. Eventually, the last servant left the room, followed by Kael.
When he stepped out, Seraphina glanced at him immediately and asked, "Did you find anything, Kael?"
He looked at her for a brief moment but did not reply. Instead, he simply walked past her without a word.
Her brows twitched slightly as she thought, "How dare you ignore me, Kael?"
Soon, everyone gathered once again in the living room. This time, Albrecht stood near the staircase, his posture straight and tense, while Arwyn stood beside him, her eyes calm and unreadable. As Kael and Seraphina stepped forward, both of them turned toward the pair.
Noticing their arrival, Albrecht's expression shifted slightly. He looked at them with a strange, uncertain look before speaking, "Did you find the culprit?"
Kael finally nodded once, his expression serious. "I did."
Both Seraphina and Arwyn looked at him with surprise, their eyes widening slightly. The servants exchanged nervous glances among themselves, whispering quietly as confusion spread through the room. Seraphina herself could not help but wonder if he truly meant what he said.
Arwyn was the first to ask, "Who is it?"
A long silence followed her words, stretching out so heavily that even the faint sounds in the room seemed to fade away.
Kael's gaze swept slowly across the line of servants standing before him, studying each one of them, until at last he raised his hand and pointed toward someone.
Seraphina and the others turned their eyes toward where he was pointing. His finger was directed straight at a maid wearing a white apron over a dark dress who stood in the middle of the line.
Kael's tone turned cold as he said, "The culprit is... Emy."
Gasps filled the air. Several servants looked at one another in disbelief, their eyes wide. Even Emy herself froze where she stood, her face pale, her lips parting slightly as though she could not even speak.
"What... Emy? Of all people. Oh, gods," someone murmured.
"No way. She would never dare to do something like that," another voice whispered.
Albrecht looked as though he wanted to say something, but he restrained himself and remained silent, his expression tightening.
Seizing the moment, Seraphina stepped forward and glanced at Kael, noticing his expression turn a little colder and darker. Her voice was calm when she asked, "Do you have any kind of evidence for what you are claiming?"
Kael met her gaze directly. "I don't... at least not now."
Seraphina let out a soft sigh, her eyes narrowing slightly. After a pause, she said, "What? Then how can you accuse someone like that in front of everyone? Kael, do you even understand what you are doing? This is not something you can take lightly."
He exhaled deeply, his expression unwavering. "I'm not joking. I'm sure of it."
She frowned slightly, the faintest irritation flickering across her face. "Then explain. How did you know she is the culprit?"
He replied quietly, "I will... don't worry."
Then he walked toward the woman, Emy, his expression cold and unreadable, and stopped only when two steps remained between them. His shadow stretched toward her feet as he looked down, his gaze sharp enough to make her entire body stiffen.
When he spoke, his tone was calm but heavy enough to make her heart falter. "Hey, tell me... aren't you the one who mixed the sleeping drug into everyone's dinner last night?"
Emy raised her head, meeting his eyes with an uncertain expression before replying in both a confused and nervous tone, "What are you talking about exactly? Why would I ever help Arienne get kidnapped? I would never dare to do something like that. You know, as her teacher and the one who takes care of her, I truly respect you, but you can't just come here and throw baseless accusations at me or try to threaten me with that look of yours. Do you even have any proof? Anything at all? If you do, then show me. I'll admit my crime if you can prove it."
Kael's lips curled into a smile, though there was nothing warm about that smile. It was cold, quiet, and unsettling, the kind that carried no humor at all. "I'm really sorry about that... I think I must've said it completely wrong."
The sudden shift in his tone caught everyone off guard. The shift was so quick, so deliberate, that it left Emy and the others staring in confusion.
Emy frowned, trying to recover her confidence. "Now you're just trying to twist your own words. Just admit that you have nothing to prove what you said. All this nonsense is nothing but a waste of time. Are you doing this just to make yourself feel right?"
Kael shrugged, ignoring her words, his tone as casual as it was cruel. "I think you misunderstood me, miss... no, Mrs. Emy," he said slowly. "What I meant was that you didn't just drug everyone. You never even helped the kidnapper."
Emy nodded quickly, relieved. "That's right," she said, but her voice faltered the next second when something in her eyes shifted. She stared at him as though suddenly realizing what he truly meant.
Kael tilted his head slightly, his expression darkened even further as dark flames seemed to ignite within his cold gray eyes. "In fact, you never even needed to help them in the first place. Because you're the kidnapper."
His words lingered in the air like a heavy mist that refused to fade.
For a long moment, no one spoke. The silence grew thick and heavy, and every person in the room turned their gaze from one face to another, trying to make sense of what they had just heard. No one had expected that, not even Seraphina.
Emy's face shifted from disbelief to anger as she let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "What kind of nonsense are you talking about? First, you accused me of being the helper, and now you're calling me the kidnapper? What's next? Are you going to call me a murderer too? Just what the hell are you trying to do here? Turn this place into a joke? This isn't a circus, Mister. If you're trying to play with words, you've chosen the wrong time for it."
Before Kael could reply, Seraphina's voice cut through the room, cold and sharp. Her eyes locked onto his back with that piercing, commanding gaze of hers that could silence even the boldest of men. "You'd better explain yourself, Kael. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to stop you. How do you even know she's the real kidnapper? Why are you so sure? Do you have any evidence at all?"
Evidence?
Did he have any evidence?
No, he didn't. Not a single piece. Not in his hand, not in his pocket, not anywhere. He had nothing to show, nothing to convince anyone with.
Then how did he know? How did he find out the truth when there was nothing to guide him? How could he look her in the eye and say such words with certainty?
The answer was far simpler than it appeared.
Wasn't it obvious? He had found every truth because of...
Serelina.
---
(Chapter Ended)
---
A/N: Can I have all of your attention, please! Your author is here. Well, last week I was short on time due to some personal matters, so I wasn't able to write according to the schedule. That's why this week I'm releasing only four chapters. I could still write one more chapter if I wanted to, but I'm sure the pacing would turn out terrible, so I won't. Sorry about that. Yeah, that's all I have to say... until next week. Thanks for reading by the way.
To be continued...